better late than never, they say :)

So... this is the latest news on Alatriste. When I logged on to Amazon a few days ago to make a complaint about that bootleg I received instead of the original Spanish DVD, the first thing I noticed was a BRAND NEW LATIN AMERICAN RELEASE, REGION 1, NTSC. I nearly flipped over, let me tell you.:) I ordered it as soon as I got an email from the bootleg seller with an apology and a promise to send my money back. I'm still waiting for the money, but the new DVD is here already. I found it in my mailbox this afternoon. Which is amazing enough in itself, since I ordered it about four days ago, and didn't expect it to arrive till sometime next week. So, if you happen to live in North America and are interested in owning a legal, region 1 copy of this movie, IT IS NOW AVAILABLE from a reliable source, and ships very fast too. And costs over fifty bucks, I might add. But, honestly, what does money matter where Viggo is concerned?...:D

Not sure I can make a coherent post about the movie itself right now, since I have only just seen it... but let me say only that it is beautiful. And heartbreaking. And very atmospheric. The photography is absolutely stunning. The music is a very subtle, but perfectly fitting background, adding even more depth to the images. The story itself could use another two hours to be told in sufficient detail, I believe, because too many of the characters and events are glimpsed too briefly; but that is the common problem of literary adaptations. I just need to read the books, I guess.:) In the end, though, I don't think it really matters that much whether you know exactly who is who, what they are plotting for or against and why. The overwhelming sadness and fatality of it all is a clear enough message on its own. And Viggo plays a perfectly heartbreaking tragic character - precisely because he is so understated about it. But that's Viggo. He possessed the ability to speak volumes with a single look or gesture twenty years ago already; it's just getting more and more refined. And don't even get me started on his scenes with Ariadna Gil. Oh. My. God. The one where he comes to see her at the hospital just made me bawl my eyes out... (not that it's a surprise; romantic!Viggo does that every time :P)

Anyway... I have to stop now. It's far too late for me to still be up and online, weekend or not. I just had to share the excitement.:D