Fun day out

A day in Dundee today.

After watching another five episodes of the Doctor Who story “The War Games” this morning, Kate, Beth and I went to Dundee with Andrew. We lunched on salads and shared a cheesy-bites pizza at Pizza Hut, before a brief shop at Toys “R” Us. Beth bought a turntable for her wooden railway, and we got presents for Jill’s son Keith, whose second birthday party we then attended at Kidzworld, an indoor play establishment on Old Glamis Road.

After a fun time at the party, we got back to St Andrews in time for a quick shop at the new Nisa Extra supermarket on Market Street, before home and rolling Beth into bed.

Fun day out

A day in Dundee today.

After watching another five episodes of the Doctor Who story “The War Games” this morning, Kate, Beth and I went to Dundee with Andrew. We lunched on salads and shared a cheesy-bites pizza at Pizza Hut, before a brief shop at Toys “R” Us. Beth bought a turntable for her wooden railway, and we got presents for Jill’s son Keith, whose second birthday party we then attended at Kidzworld, an indoor play establishment on Old Glamis Road.

After a fun time at the party, we got back to St Andrews in time for a quick shop at the new Nisa Extra supermarket on Market Street, before home and rolling Beth into bed.

For Your Eyes Only

This afternoon I developed an urge to watch “For Your Eyes Only”, my favourite Bond film, so now it’s playing on the Blu-ray. I’ve watched it more than any of the other Bond films; I think Roger Moore is at his best in this film, and the supporting cast (including Julian Glover and Topol) are excellent. I find there is more to see in this film every time I watch it.

There are also downsides; the pre-credits sequence is possibly the worst of the lot of them (although deftly executed), and the best thing I can say about Bill Conti’s score is that it is of its time. But the title song — and the opening title sequence — are excellent.

John Glen’s direction is effective; without flair, but very good in the action sequences, especially the sinking of the St Georges. The locations are gorgeous — the Havelocks’ yacht in Greece, Gonzales’s villa in Spain, the ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo, and the mountain-top monastery of St Cyril’s.

There is less reliance on gadgets than in previous and subsequence films; perhaps a reaction against the excesses of “Moonraker”. Bond’s Lotus is symbolically destroyed near the beginning of the film, which is followed by a chase with him driving a 2CV.

Walter Gottel, as General Gogol, is a joy, and Charles Dance has a small but memorable role as a thug. And Carole Bouquet has beautiful eyes.

What a film.

For Your Eyes Only

This afternoon I developed an urge to watch “For Your Eyes Only”, my favourite Bond film, so now it’s playing on the Blu-ray. I’ve watched it more than any of the other Bond films; I think Roger Moore is at his best in this film, and the supporting cast (including Julian Glover and Topol) are excellent. I find there is more to see in this film every time I watch it.

There are also downsides; the pre-credits sequence is possibly the worst of the lot of them (although deftly executed), and the best thing I can say about Bill Conti’s score is that it is of its time. But the title song — and the opening title sequence — are excellent.

John Glen’s direction is effective; without flair, but very good in the action sequences, especially the sinking of the St Georges. The locations are gorgeous — the Havelocks’ yacht in Greece, Gonzales’s villa in Spain, the ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo, and the mountain-top monastery of St Cyril’s.

There is less reliance on gadgets than in previous and subsequence films; perhaps a reaction against the excesses of “Moonraker”. Bond’s Lotus is symbolically destroyed near the beginning of the film, which is followed by a chase with him driving a 2CV.

Walter Gottel, as General Gogol, is a joy, and Charles Dance has a small but memorable role as a thug. And Carole Bouquet has beautiful eyes.

What a film.