Dr Ben Sayle (100/100)
@bensayle.bsky.social
Writer. PhD in International History. Other interests include TV, film, gaming, and literature.
Funniest Bill Hader talking about Barry Block moments.
-Lying at a Q&A that Sally is the character most like him to spite an audience member who went on about hating her.
-Saying Barry wouldn't stand a chance against Walter White.
-Lying at a Q&A that Sally is the character most like him to spite an audience member who went on about hating her.
-Saying Barry wouldn't stand a chance against Walter White.
October 6, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Funniest Bill Hader talking about Barry Block moments.
-Lying at a Q&A that Sally is the character most like him to spite an audience member who went on about hating her.
-Saying Barry wouldn't stand a chance against Walter White.
-Lying at a Q&A that Sally is the character most like him to spite an audience member who went on about hating her.
-Saying Barry wouldn't stand a chance against Walter White.
Something I notice in histories of 19th Century/pre-Xinhai Revolution China is when the authors pick someone to paint as the Proto-Deng Xiaoping.
Stephen Platt & Patrick Shen do it repeatedly with Hong Rengan & Yuan Shikai. Marie-Claire Bergère too with Sun Yat-Sen albeit only once or twice.
Stephen Platt & Patrick Shen do it repeatedly with Hong Rengan & Yuan Shikai. Marie-Claire Bergère too with Sun Yat-Sen albeit only once or twice.
October 6, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Something I notice in histories of 19th Century/pre-Xinhai Revolution China is when the authors pick someone to paint as the Proto-Deng Xiaoping.
Stephen Platt & Patrick Shen do it repeatedly with Hong Rengan & Yuan Shikai. Marie-Claire Bergère too with Sun Yat-Sen albeit only once or twice.
Stephen Platt & Patrick Shen do it repeatedly with Hong Rengan & Yuan Shikai. Marie-Claire Bergère too with Sun Yat-Sen albeit only once or twice.
Very cold take but Jonathan Spence really was one of the best historians of China in the Anglosphere.
Masterly work is done balancing scholarly rigour with accessible writing. His Hong Xiuquan biography for example is the best introduction to learning about the Taiping.
Masterly work is done balancing scholarly rigour with accessible writing. His Hong Xiuquan biography for example is the best introduction to learning about the Taiping.
October 6, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Very cold take but Jonathan Spence really was one of the best historians of China in the Anglosphere.
Masterly work is done balancing scholarly rigour with accessible writing. His Hong Xiuquan biography for example is the best introduction to learning about the Taiping.
Masterly work is done balancing scholarly rigour with accessible writing. His Hong Xiuquan biography for example is the best introduction to learning about the Taiping.
One of the many great things about Romance of the Three Kingdoms is kid Cao Cao doing Tom Sawyer shenanigans but the narrative treats it like The Omen.
October 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM
One of the many great things about Romance of the Three Kingdoms is kid Cao Cao doing Tom Sawyer shenanigans but the narrative treats it like The Omen.
Here's a fun fact. Despite sharing a title with the book, the movie Fight Club is actually an adaptation of Francis Fukuyama's "The End of History and the Last Man"
October 5, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Here's a fun fact. Despite sharing a title with the book, the movie Fight Club is actually an adaptation of Francis Fukuyama's "The End of History and the Last Man"
Love that their first meeting is Zhang Fei seeing Liu Bei sigh at a recruitment poster and go "How dare you be upset at the thought of fighting for your country!"
I always forget that Guan Yu is the one who's a fugitive and Zhang Fei (a landlord) is the rich kid of the three.
I always forget that Guan Yu is the one who's a fugitive and Zhang Fei (a landlord) is the rich kid of the three.
By Chapter 2 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, we're told the Peach Garden Oath Brothers (Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, & Guan Yu) "lived in harmony, eating at the same table and sleeping on the same couch." There was only one bed, a literary tradition far more ancient than most would suppose.
October 4, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Love that their first meeting is Zhang Fei seeing Liu Bei sigh at a recruitment poster and go "How dare you be upset at the thought of fighting for your country!"
I always forget that Guan Yu is the one who's a fugitive and Zhang Fei (a landlord) is the rich kid of the three.
I always forget that Guan Yu is the one who's a fugitive and Zhang Fei (a landlord) is the rich kid of the three.
Finished it and unfortunately it didn't do anything for me. Lots of build-up and little to no pay-off.
I get the Kurosawa comparisons in theory but there was none of the visceral energy he brings to the table even in his quietest films.
I get the Kurosawa comparisons in theory but there was none of the visceral energy he brings to the table even in his quietest films.
Halfway through Sai: Disaster on Netflix after seeing stuff like "Kiyoshi Kurosawa vibes" & "what if Cure was a mini-series?"
On those grounds, they might have oversold it. Although it's certainly not bad & Episode 3 has that feel of everyone in the world suddenly being hostile to each other.
On those grounds, they might have oversold it. Although it's certainly not bad & Episode 3 has that feel of everyone in the world suddenly being hostile to each other.
October 1, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Finished it and unfortunately it didn't do anything for me. Lots of build-up and little to no pay-off.
I get the Kurosawa comparisons in theory but there was none of the visceral energy he brings to the table even in his quietest films.
I get the Kurosawa comparisons in theory but there was none of the visceral energy he brings to the table even in his quietest films.
Bi Gan's Resurrection is fine. A more hopeful version of something like The Beast, if you've seen the latter. But while the segments are usually more conventional, the overarching theme left me cold as "da magic of da movies" films usually do.
The use of a long take felt obligatory too.
The use of a long take felt obligatory too.
September 30, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Bi Gan's Resurrection is fine. A more hopeful version of something like The Beast, if you've seen the latter. But while the segments are usually more conventional, the overarching theme left me cold as "da magic of da movies" films usually do.
The use of a long take felt obligatory too.
The use of a long take felt obligatory too.
Halfway through Sai: Disaster on Netflix after seeing stuff like "Kiyoshi Kurosawa vibes" & "what if Cure was a mini-series?"
On those grounds, they might have oversold it. Although it's certainly not bad & Episode 3 has that feel of everyone in the world suddenly being hostile to each other.
On those grounds, they might have oversold it. Although it's certainly not bad & Episode 3 has that feel of everyone in the world suddenly being hostile to each other.
September 29, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Halfway through Sai: Disaster on Netflix after seeing stuff like "Kiyoshi Kurosawa vibes" & "what if Cure was a mini-series?"
On those grounds, they might have oversold it. Although it's certainly not bad & Episode 3 has that feel of everyone in the world suddenly being hostile to each other.
On those grounds, they might have oversold it. Although it's certainly not bad & Episode 3 has that feel of everyone in the world suddenly being hostile to each other.
Andrzej Wajda's Promised Land is great because there's no actual corruption arc. The protagonist is as awful at the beginning as he is at the end.
The only change is he's made to ditch the pretension of being better than the other industrialists in any way.
The only change is he's made to ditch the pretension of being better than the other industrialists in any way.
September 25, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Andrzej Wajda's Promised Land is great because there's no actual corruption arc. The protagonist is as awful at the beginning as he is at the end.
The only change is he's made to ditch the pretension of being better than the other industrialists in any way.
The only change is he's made to ditch the pretension of being better than the other industrialists in any way.
The Ashes is the least impressive of the Andrzej Wajda films I've seen thus far but it's astounding how much contempt for Napoleon seeps through the picture.
Ridley Scott directed a hagiography compared to Wajda.
Ridley Scott directed a hagiography compared to Wajda.
September 24, 2026 at 11:18 PM
The Ashes is the least impressive of the Andrzej Wajda films I've seen thus far but it's astounding how much contempt for Napoleon seeps through the picture.
Ridley Scott directed a hagiography compared to Wajda.
Ridley Scott directed a hagiography compared to Wajda.
Suddenly remembered The Caine Mutiny is quite conservative in its view of authority and rank and the obligations towards them.
[discourse voice] what’s the best conservative work of art
Trying to do a daily dumb little prompt to not think about The Horrors
September 21, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Suddenly remembered The Caine Mutiny is quite conservative in its view of authority and rank and the obligations towards them.
Apparently the Polish streaming service "35mm online" is offering nearly all of Andrzej Wajda's films for free until the end of September.
Had been meaning to watch more of his stuff since Kanal and Ashes and Diamonds.
Had been meaning to watch more of his stuff since Kanal and Ashes and Diamonds.
September 21, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Apparently the Polish streaming service "35mm online" is offering nearly all of Andrzej Wajda's films for free until the end of September.
Had been meaning to watch more of his stuff since Kanal and Ashes and Diamonds.
Had been meaning to watch more of his stuff since Kanal and Ashes and Diamonds.
Bi Gan's Long Day's Journey Into Night is a fairly straightforward, if non-linear, romantic noir story right up until the last hour when it goes single-take, Kaili-Blues mode.
My personal reading on the ending is it's a dream where he's preparing for the worst but still hoping for the best.
My personal reading on the ending is it's a dream where he's preparing for the worst but still hoping for the best.
September 19, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Bi Gan's Long Day's Journey Into Night is a fairly straightforward, if non-linear, romantic noir story right up until the last hour when it goes single-take, Kaili-Blues mode.
My personal reading on the ending is it's a dream where he's preparing for the worst but still hoping for the best.
My personal reading on the ending is it's a dream where he's preparing for the worst but still hoping for the best.
I wouldn't say 'the best' (I'm indecisive on these things) but Rio Grande was literally Howard Hawks and John Wayne thinking at High Noon was whiny pinko propaganda and they could do it right.
[discourse voice] what’s the best conservative work of art
Trying to do a daily dumb little prompt to not think about The Horrors
September 17, 2026 at 9:19 AM
I wouldn't say 'the best' (I'm indecisive on these things) but Rio Grande was literally Howard Hawks and John Wayne thinking at High Noon was whiny pinko propaganda and they could do it right.
Something Kayloe does bring up briefly is Sun Yat-Sen identified himself with Jesus as fellow revolutionaries.
Compare with Chiang Kai-Shek seeing his & China's ordeals in Job & Hong Xiuquan, whilst known for the "Jesus' brother" part, also envisioned himself as among the Old Testament Patriarchs.
Compare with Chiang Kai-Shek seeing his & China's ordeals in Job & Hong Xiuquan, whilst known for the "Jesus' brother" part, also envisioned himself as among the Old Testament Patriarchs.
In terms of the story they tell, both overlap in the broad strokes of how his life and efforts are interpreted. Only difference is Bergere goes deeper into Sun Yat-Sen's ideas & policies VS Kayloe's broader look at China. Kayloe's also more affectionate in his depiction.
September 16, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Something Kayloe does bring up briefly is Sun Yat-Sen identified himself with Jesus as fellow revolutionaries.
Compare with Chiang Kai-Shek seeing his & China's ordeals in Job & Hong Xiuquan, whilst known for the "Jesus' brother" part, also envisioned himself as among the Old Testament Patriarchs.
Compare with Chiang Kai-Shek seeing his & China's ordeals in Job & Hong Xiuquan, whilst known for the "Jesus' brother" part, also envisioned himself as among the Old Testament Patriarchs.
Saw Green Fish. It's good but you can also tell Lee Chang-dong was just starting out. A slightly unique ending for an otherwise standard neo-noirish plot.
There's moments though where you see the director he becomes. The family picnic will definitely remind you of Peppermint Candy's opening.
There's moments though where you see the director he becomes. The family picnic will definitely remind you of Peppermint Candy's opening.
September 16, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Saw Green Fish. It's good but you can also tell Lee Chang-dong was just starting out. A slightly unique ending for an otherwise standard neo-noirish plot.
There's moments though where you see the director he becomes. The family picnic will definitely remind you of Peppermint Candy's opening.
There's moments though where you see the director he becomes. The family picnic will definitely remind you of Peppermint Candy's opening.
Read Tijo Kayloe's biography of Sun Yat-Sen, "Unfinished Revolution" recently.
I enjoyed it & there's more background on Late Qing and Warlord China compared to Marie-Claire Bergere's, but the latter's still great & *far* more available so it remains my recommendation for a Sun Yat-Sen biography.
I enjoyed it & there's more background on Late Qing and Warlord China compared to Marie-Claire Bergere's, but the latter's still great & *far* more available so it remains my recommendation for a Sun Yat-Sen biography.
September 16, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Read Tijo Kayloe's biography of Sun Yat-Sen, "Unfinished Revolution" recently.
I enjoyed it & there's more background on Late Qing and Warlord China compared to Marie-Claire Bergere's, but the latter's still great & *far* more available so it remains my recommendation for a Sun Yat-Sen biography.
I enjoyed it & there's more background on Late Qing and Warlord China compared to Marie-Claire Bergere's, but the latter's still great & *far* more available so it remains my recommendation for a Sun Yat-Sen biography.
Watched Penda's Fen.
Liked it well enough but calling it "folk horror" seems a stretch. Far more "folk coming-of-age" than horror bar one or two scenes that by the end feel obligatory more than anything.
Liked it well enough but calling it "folk horror" seems a stretch. Far more "folk coming-of-age" than horror bar one or two scenes that by the end feel obligatory more than anything.
September 12, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Watched Penda's Fen.
Liked it well enough but calling it "folk horror" seems a stretch. Far more "folk coming-of-age" than horror bar one or two scenes that by the end feel obligatory more than anything.
Liked it well enough but calling it "folk horror" seems a stretch. Far more "folk coming-of-age" than horror bar one or two scenes that by the end feel obligatory more than anything.
Read a biography of Lord Beaverbrook last week and Stanley Baldwin was 100% right to have the ick about him from day one.
Rarely, if ever, picked a winning man or cause.
Rarely, if ever, picked a winning man or cause.
September 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Read a biography of Lord Beaverbrook last week and Stanley Baldwin was 100% right to have the ick about him from day one.
Rarely, if ever, picked a winning man or cause.
Rarely, if ever, picked a winning man or cause.
Terry Pratchett's "Once and Future" and definitely not Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court".
Merlin was historically progressive
September 12, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Terry Pratchett's "Once and Future" and definitely not Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court".
Wondering if I'll vibe with Bi Gan's Long Day's Journey Into Night.
Been getting into slower cinema and I liked Kaili Blues well enough. Long Day's Journey Into Night is supposedly even better but want to know before jumping in.
Been getting into slower cinema and I liked Kaili Blues well enough. Long Day's Journey Into Night is supposedly even better but want to know before jumping in.
September 11, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Wondering if I'll vibe with Bi Gan's Long Day's Journey Into Night.
Been getting into slower cinema and I liked Kaili Blues well enough. Long Day's Journey Into Night is supposedly even better but want to know before jumping in.
Been getting into slower cinema and I liked Kaili Blues well enough. Long Day's Journey Into Night is supposedly even better but want to know before jumping in.
Enjoyed The Guns of Navarone recently. Far more flint-eyed than you'd assume a movie from that period would be.
Convinced Spielberg sought a similar hard-nosed idealist ("it's hell but we *need* to do it but without becoming it") vibe for Saving Private Ryan but failed to pull it off.
Convinced Spielberg sought a similar hard-nosed idealist ("it's hell but we *need* to do it but without becoming it") vibe for Saving Private Ryan but failed to pull it off.
September 11, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Enjoyed The Guns of Navarone recently. Far more flint-eyed than you'd assume a movie from that period would be.
Convinced Spielberg sought a similar hard-nosed idealist ("it's hell but we *need* to do it but without becoming it") vibe for Saving Private Ryan but failed to pull it off.
Convinced Spielberg sought a similar hard-nosed idealist ("it's hell but we *need* to do it but without becoming it") vibe for Saving Private Ryan but failed to pull it off.
If someone wanting to get into 'classic literature' for the first time asked me where to start, it'd be Don Quixote every time.
September 10, 2026 at 8:59 AM
If someone wanting to get into 'classic literature' for the first time asked me where to start, it'd be Don Quixote every time.
"Reject modernity, embrace tradition" but for Yu Gi Oh games letting you have any card you have the password for instead of buying packs.
"What about online play?" Okay, don't do it there, but let me hack Story Mode the way God intended.
"What about online play?" Okay, don't do it there, but let me hack Story Mode the way God intended.
September 10, 2026 at 8:46 AM
"Reject modernity, embrace tradition" but for Yu Gi Oh games letting you have any card you have the password for instead of buying packs.
"What about online play?" Okay, don't do it there, but let me hack Story Mode the way God intended.
"What about online play?" Okay, don't do it there, but let me hack Story Mode the way God intended.