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Post by kitty on May 29, 2012 23:00:00 GMT
Sorry, I didn't mean that day, oops. I left the "soon" part out, lol.
I thought Alan always says, "Next time on Masterpiece....", but could be dreaming that.
My PBS is not even showing Vendetta, and has a 'Viewer's Choice' in place of it next month. Hey, I'm a viewer, and I choose Zen!! ;D
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Post by greeneyedlady on Jun 11, 2012 0:57:52 GMT
ahh, Zen
I've been looking forward to tonight all week, thanks WGBH!
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Post by kissmekate on Jun 11, 2012 13:26:42 GMT
Just found this very nice blog entry about Zen: blogcritics.org/video/article/television-review-zen/My favourite bits: Leading the cast is the inestimable Rufus Sewell as Zen, the Venetian detective now working in Rome's main criminal investigation division. More often cast as the villain of the piece than the hero, given the opportunity to play the good guy for once he shines.Shot on location in Rome and the italian countryside Zen is as beautiful and lush to look at as it is well acted and directed. In fact the only slightly disconcerting element note in the series comes about because of the authenticity of its look. From his rugged good looks to his physical mannerisms Sewell comes across as thoroughly Italian. So when he opens his mouth and speaks with his British accent it is something of a surprise. With many of the cast being Italian and speaking accented English it's initially off putting. However, it doesn't take long to become so immersed in the stories that something as trivial as accents no longer matter. In fact, thinking of the alternative, actors attempting to put on accents, one quickly comes to appreciate the choice made to let actors speak in their own dialects. It actually ends up making the series more believable.Starting tonight, June 10 2012, at 9:30 p.m. and continuing for the next two weeks, don't miss the opportunity of stepping into this world. You won't regret it.Amen to that! Read more: blogcritics.org/video/article/television-review-zen/page-3/#ixzz1xUUfLnfQ |
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Post by robela on Jun 11, 2012 14:50:07 GMT
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Post by francesca on Jun 11, 2012 15:38:45 GMT
Just found this very nice blog entry about Zen: blogcritics.org/video/article/television-review-zen/.[From his rugged good looks to his physical mannerisms Sewell comes across as thoroughly Italian So when he opens his mouth and speaks with his British accent it is something of a surprise. ] I have never understood why anyone has a problem with this. Why should he have an Italian accent? If he was an Italian in the UK speaking English, then yes ... but Zen is an Italian in Rome speaking his native tongue . No accent!!! |
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Post by kissmekate on Jun 11, 2012 17:45:50 GMT
I never got the point of all that discussion either (we have German actors playing Italian cops, speaking German, of course - and not even looking the tiniest bit Italian!), but I liked how this reviewer seemed to have got over the initial doubts quickly when it became clear just how great the series was.
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Post by GreenEyesToo on Jun 11, 2012 18:09:50 GMT
Nice article - thanks, Kate. I don't know why people let the accent thing bother them so much - it would have been so much more noticeable if they were speaking with fake Italian accents. As it was, I thought using regional British accents worked well, because in any country there would be a mix of accents and Zen just reflected that. Having said that, I can understand how inconsistent it seemed, with the women having genuine Italian accents. But then, that was a reflection of where some of the money for the show came from so couldn't be avoided. It didn't detract from the excellence of the production - except for the nitpickers!  |
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Post by kygal on Jun 12, 2012 10:30:41 GMT
Seems there are always nitpickers. Its a shame people cant just enjoy something.
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Post by voiceover on Jun 12, 2012 14:29:20 GMT
I'm just jealous that they were showing Zen was it a repeat? still waiting for a BBC repeat.
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Post by kissmekate on Jun 12, 2012 14:52:33 GMT
And I'm still waiting for Zen on German TV  Guess that will never happen. (Oh well. Who wants Rufus's sexy voice dubbed anyway?) |
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Post by kygal on Jun 14, 2012 10:31:50 GMT
My mom is well trained. She called to say Zen is on PBS tonight.
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Post by francesca on Jun 14, 2012 20:53:33 GMT
My mom is well trained. She called to say Zen is on PBS tonight. "I just called to say your love's on I just called because I know you care I just called to say your love's on Cos you need him from the bottom of your heart." Stolen from Stevie Wonder LOL |
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Post by joyceinva on Jun 15, 2012 0:02:37 GMT
Ok about the accent thing. When you think about it, the complaints don't make sense. This is a series about an Italian detective and is set in Rome. If you want realism, then they should be speaking freaking Italian and the show should have subtitles. If they're going to be speaking English, why the heck does it matter what the accent is?
Still drives me nuts that people nitpicked about that. What? They should have relocated Zen to London?
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Post by kernowsqueen on Jun 15, 2012 0:28:38 GMT
Greetings
I alas have not yet seen Zen but the accent issue seems pointless - Example HBO's ROME - an almost entirely English cast spoke English as appropriate - some of my chums tried to create 'latin' subtitles as a lark ...
Actually if the characters affected Italian accents but spoke in English it would be more distracting and a bit insulting!
Sorry - I suppose I ought to see a series before I comment on it!
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Post by kissmekate on Jun 15, 2012 7:49:05 GMT
Actually if the characters affected Italian accents but spoke in English it would be more distracting and a bit insulting! Exactly. That was what Rufus said in one of the interviews, and I think he's absolutely right! I'm pretty certain nobody complained that Wallander didn't have a Swedish accent. |
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Guess that will never happen. (Oh well. Who wants Rufus's sexy voice dubbed anyway?)