Freddy

Although it was good to see Spooks back, for me Peter Firth is one of those very good actors who are taken for granted. Now 'duckface' is in it there are two from '4W and a F'. A question and a thought.

In the first part one of them went to use her mobile phone alas there was no signal but a minute later in the same spot the assassin was able to use his. Is that possible, as I don't have a mobile phone I am ignorant in its workings

Secondly, it struck me how much the discipline of writing and directing has had to change to make way for the new technology. There are one or two plots which have been used often ie. the guy hiding and his mobile goes off; the wrong phone picked up. It is such a constant in peoples lives but has it added to drama or detracted from it.
I simply couldn't imagine Regan or Carter, Rumpole or Morse having to put up with one. These chaps would use their initiative, skill and brawn(Rumpole the exception) to get out of any situation and not rely on phoning their boss.

regards
Freddy [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

"What I owe you Colonel Lawrence, is beyond evaluation."

Fellwanderer

Yes, quite possible. I missed it as I'd a dose of flu and forogtten about it so can't speak for the exact location but it is perfectly possible to move a few inches and find you lose [or gain] a signal.

FELL
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

Freddy

Cheers FELL

Part two is on tonight, you'll still be able to follow it through, no problem.

regards
Freddy

"What I owe you Colonel Lawrence, is beyond evaluation."

samkydd

I have seen a few films and television programmes in recent years that seem to exist solely for the purpose of demonstrating new technology to its audiences, and the story is often just padding! All that laptop claptrap from Independence Day and Mission Impossible! It's hard enough talking to a PC on your own network let alone putting a virus on an alien spaceship! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

The Bond films were probably one of the first to be inventive with technology, albeit mostly fantasy, but its funny that Bond only ever gets into a sticky situation where he needs the exact item given to him by Q at the start of the film to escape! The gadgets he had in the previous films are only used the once, and he never ever needs them again! Even though a circular saw in your watch would be handy all the time, as would a cheese wire, an ejector seat and machine guns in your car, and a miniature underwater breathing capsule, a fountain pen gun, and a tracking device in your shoe would be a must have item for every spy!

CSI seems to have the edge on basing their stories on state of the art technology, so much so that a recent news report from the States suggested that criminals were watching it to see how good the technology available to law enforcement is. Criminals are now able to ensure that they leave no traceable forensic whatsoever at the scene of crime!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Fellwanderer

Thanks - will try to catch it. Must admit that I found the last series going a bit OTT - and, before anyone else says it, it had nothing to do with the disappearance of Tessa Phillips! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif[/img]

One thing I forgot was that different networks would give different coverage as well - I'd missed the point that it was two different mobiles in the case you mentioned.

FELL
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

samkydd

I have seen a few films and television programmes in recent years that seem to exist solely for the purpose of demonstrating new technology to audiences, and the story often seems just padding! All that laptop claptrap from films like Independence Day and Mission Impossible! It's hard enough talking to a PC on your own network let alone putting a virus on an alien spaceship! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

The Bond films were probably one of the first to be inventive with technology, albeit mostly fantasy, but its funny that Bond only ever gets into a sticky situation where he needs the exact item given to him by Q at the start of the film! The gadgets he had in the previous films are only useful the once, and he never ever needs them again! Even though a circular saw in your watch would be handy all the time, as would a cheese wire, an ejector seat and machine guns in your car, and a miniature underwater breathing capsule, a fountain pen gun, and a tracking device in your shoe would be a must have item for every spy! I suppose his well tailored jacket would start sagging a bit under the weight of 40 years' worth of gadgetry! I suppose he could have a Secret Sam briefcase instead like I once had!

CSI seems to have the edge on basing their stories on state of the art technology, so much so that a recent news report from the States suggested that criminals were watching it to see how good the technology available to law enforcement is. Criminals are now able to ensure that they leave no traceable forensic whatsoever at the scene of crime!

The introduction of mobile 'phones is a real killer to writers because half the things a hero used to be able to do to demonstrate his wits and intelligence he just doesn't have to do anymore!

Stranded, he needs to steal the only vehicle in the area by hotwiring it and then drive like the wind to get to the airport to stop the bomber getting on board! Nah just uses his mobile now to warn the airport authorities and also call a taxi to take him home to a nice hot bath and his supper!

Desperately running from a gang of axe wielding killers through dark inner city streets and he at last finds a public telephone box, but the cord to the receiver is cut, what can he do now? Nah, no need to panic, just hide down an alley and dial the police on the mobile!

I think all heroes need to either lose their mobile early in the story, or have the battery go flat! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

samkydd

My posts are now appearing doubled up and uneditable! That's technology for you!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Steve Crook

I've watched all of this series of Spooks so far, including "next week's" one that was broadcast tonight on BBC Three.

Is it meant to be a comedy?

Apart from Macho Man Adam deciding that he can impersonate a Syrian despite his blonde hair & blue eyes (some people from Aleppo are blonde with blue eyes) and infiltrate an organisation that was too extreme for Al Qaeda ...

Adam does apparently speak Arabic but here he's mainly in Turkey so he just speak English, usually with a faint accent as his only disguise ...

He's followed everywhere by his faithful assistant Zafar, who somehow manages to get everywhere ahead of Adam despite Adam not knowing where he's being taken ...

And Zafar committing the cardinal error of saying "Over and out" to end a transmission (nonsensical WT procedure) ...

And their boss, Harry, using the alias Giles Farmer ...

Well I laughed

It has a few moments of drama in between the comedy spots.

But the set-ups are so obvious, it's easier to spot who's about to get hurt even easier than on Casualty

Steve

Jim

Freddy - who is 'duckface'. I've only seen 2 episodes of Spookes, so I'm a bit confused!
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/eek.gif[/img]

Good morning boys.

summerisle

Is it Adam's wife?

Give me Keeley Hawes anyday.

On an earler point, if Peter Firth wasnt in it I dont think I'd bother watching anymore!

Freddy

Duckface was the one who got Hugh Grant to the alter in 4W and a F only for him to say no so she hit him. She turned up in the first of the new episodes of Spooks as the new Director of Communication who had just returned from America. She blackmailed Harry.

Have only seen one of the new episodes so far so too early to comment but perhaps Kirk St. Moritz is waiting in the wings [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

Freddy

"What I owe you Colonel Lawrence, is beyond evaluation."