By Grapthar's Hammer ...

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

We long in the Red Dwarf fandom knew Alan Rickman, of course, as an early consideration to play Lister. Though I personally saw him more as a Rimmer candidate (the same way I saw Alfred Molina as more Lister than Rimmer), I have no doubt he could have pulled off the hippie slob type and done so well in his own way, though I do like better than we got an actor of color who probably interpreted the character differently.

Everybody else knows him more from Harry Potter movies and, of course, as perhaps the original blockbuster villain in "Die Hard." But he also did a great turn as a mash-up of the Nimoy-Stewart template in "Galaxy Quest," perhaps one of the seminal sci-fi fandom movies. The creators and actors knew enough about fans and fandom to make fun of it, but also to respect both, and no more was that more apparent than in Rickman's "By Grapthar's Hammer" going from a world-weary actor's hated sneer to an actual action hero's battle cry near the end of the movie.

Yippie-ki-aiee, Alan.

Comments

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

All the respect to Alan but I'm glad he wasn't cast as - as Rob and Doug have pointed out - both he and Molina would have been off to Hollywood after a couple of series and the show as we know it would have been over almost before it began, like "The Young Ones". It might well have been brilliant nonetheless, but I prefer the longevity and the cast we ended up with. :)

One of his lesser known roles is Colonel Brandon in "Sense And Sensibility". He did a good job of wooing a very young Kate Winslet without coming across as creepy.

I really must watch "Galaxy Quest".

[lordvalerymimes.livejournal.com]

Galaxy Quest is brilliant. I need to rewatch it actually, haven't seen it in years. I think I have the DVD though.

[kronette.livejournal.com]

My go-to for Alan is Robin Hood. I'll cut your heart out with a spoon. Why a spoon, cousin? Because it'll hurt more. *cries* He was too damn young.

Followed by Die Hard and Dogma and Hitchhiker's Guide with Martin Freeman. Now I'll need to rewatch the Harry Potter movies :(