Old things, you've got to read this!

[storyfan.livejournal.com]

A Washington Post review of "Jeeves and the Wedding Bells," the new Jeeves and Bertie novel sanctioned by the Wodehouse estate, is firmly dissed.

Here's the good part: The reviewer says the reader can find better stuff right here on our illustrious comm!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2013/11/05/jeeves-and-the-wedding-bells-is-worse-than-bad-fanfiction/?algtrack=mixedrecfill-2&tid=btm_rex_2

Something to ponder

[caligularib.livejournal.com]

I like to toy with the idea of how my favorite stories would play out in different settings (fanfic reader, duhdoy.)  In particular I like the way different stories can be adapted to different time periods, like BBC's Jekyll or Sherlock, or any time someone puts Dickens or Shakespeare in a different time period.

It seems to be harder to do, or at least less common, with comedy than with drama or horror.  Some stories are so entrenched in their time periods it seems impossible to imagine them at any other time.  One of my favorite movies is 1966's The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming! about a small town that falsely imagines that it is being invaded by the Soviet Army.  (If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it.)  I love trying to find ways to update that humor to a 21st century, although I haven't found a good way so far.

As for Jeeves and Wooster- while we don't have the same type of servant class anymore, in this decade especially there is still a large disparity between the upper and lower classes.  A Bertie-esque character could easily be reimagined, a sort of goodhearted male Kardashian.  A Jeeves character would be harder I think, and how the two wold interact would take some polished plot writing.  But I think it could be done.  Even if not under the exact guise of being a modern-day Jeeves and Bertie, but a kind of spiritual heir.

Anyhow.  TLDR; do you think a modern day Jeeves and Wooster setting could be convincing?  How?  Why or why not?  Any other period stories you'd like to see updated?

Freaky Friday notion

[caligularib.livejournal.com]

What would happen if Jeeves and Alfred Pennyworth (Batman's butler/valet) were swapped by handwavey fiction magic?  How would they all react to each other?  I think Alfred would be very kind to Bertie, although a bit too indulgent maybe in sartorial matters.  Jeeves could be invaluable to Bruce Wayne, but I'm not sure he'd ever see eye-to-eye with him on going out in public in a rubber suit.