Saving Mr. Banks

Via Word and Film, two of my favorite entities in the universe, Walt Disney and P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins, star in a December release "Saving Mr. Banks." 

The film is about Walt attempting to get film rights to the Mary Poppins character and P. L. Travers reluctance to let her character be made into something silly.







Walt (Tom Hanks) comes across in the trailer as a bit of an oily type and P. L. Travers (Emma Thompson) is a bit of a stiff upper lip type, very much like her own character.  Still, I'll be right there on opening day.

The movie with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke was a wonderful thing, full of magic and music that you find yourself singing just out of nowhere.

The book series, however is one of the best fantasy series ever, with Mary being a much more serious person and the magic being much more incredible and just amazing.  You should read them all:

Coming to the Small Screen This Fall!

I don't watch television at all in the summer, but we're halfway to fall when potentially exciting new programs will debut.  And favorites will return, yay!   I only watch genre television shows, and they're the same genres that I read:  Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Horror, Historical.  Anything that doesn't fit there doesn't exist for me. Poof.  (Then I looked through the list and pick some off genre shows...doh).

It turns out there are actually far more than the usual shows I am willing to give a shot.  Nice!  The descriptions are from TV Guide's Fall Preview.  Take a look for great pictures and the many shows I thought looked too horrid to mention.   http://www.tvguide.com/PhotoGallery/2013-New-Fall-Shows-1065172/1065300

The 100 (CW) Nearly a century after a nuclear war has destroyed civilization, a spaceship sends 100 juvenile delinquents back to Earth to investigate the possibility of re-colonizing. Based on the forthcoming Kass Morgan book of the same name, Jason Rothenberg will write and executive-produce with Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo. Henry Ian Cusick, Isaiah Washington, Paige Turco, Kelly Hu, Thomas McDonell, Eli Goree, Eliza Taylor, Christopher Larkin, Marie Avgeropoulos and Bob Morley will star.   

Almost Human (Fox)
This action-packed buddy cop show is set in a future in which LAPD officers like John Kennex (Karl Urban) are partnered with highly evolved human-like androids like Dorian (Michael Ealy). Fringe's J.H. Wyman, who will write, will reteam with Lost's J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk as executive producers. Minka Kelly, Lili Taylor, Mackenzie Crook, Mekia Cox and Michael Irby will also star.

Believe (NBC)
An unlikely relationship develops between a young girl (Johnny Sequoyah) with a gift and a man (Jake McLaughlin) sprung from prison who has been tasked with protecting her from the evildoers who covet her power. Harry Potter's Alfonso Cuaron and The Forgotten's Mark Friedman will write and executive-produce with Lost's J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk. Kyle MacLachlan, Delroy Lindo, Sienna Guillory, Arian Moayed and Jamie Chung will also star.   


Don't ask:

Cosworld (Syfy)This six-episode docuseries lifts the veil on the world of cosplay competition. The series follows some of the hottest cosplay stars as they travel to various comic book conventions around the country. The show tracks their process as they create extravagant costumes and transform themselves into amazing fictional characters in the hope of impressing the convention judges.

I would never even peek at this but for the two remarkable stars:

The Crazy Ones (CBS)A single-camera, half-hour workplace comedy about a father-and-daughter team in the world of advertising. (Oscar winner Robin Williams plays the dad, while Sarah Michelle Gellar is the daughter.) Ally McBeal's David E. Kelley will write the pilot and executive-produce with Arrested Development's Dean Lorey and McBeal's Bill D'Elia. James Wolk, Amanda Setton and Hamish Linklater will also star.


Sounds Horrible but I'm a HUGE Dracula fan.

Dracula (NBC)
Inspired by the classic Bram Stoker novel, this drama stars The Tudors' Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the title role. Based on a script from co-executive producer Cole Haddon, this version finds Dracula in London posing as an American entrepreneur who wants to bring modern science to Victorian society. But his true plan — to seek revenge on the people who ruined his life centuries earlier — is thwarted when her falls hopelessly in love with a woman named Mina (Jessica DeGouw ), who seems to be a reincarnation of his dead wife. Dracula will be executive-produced by Colin Callender, Tony Krantz (24), Gareth Neame (Downton Abbey) and Anne Mensah.


I dunno. Terry O'Quinn and an intriguing enough premise...

Gang Related (Fox)
A gang member (Ramon Rodriguez) sent in to infiltrate the San Francisco Police Department and rise through its ranks must balance his obligations to his crime family with an increasing sense of loyalty to his new "family": the SFPD's Gang Task Force. Fast Five scribe Chris Morgan will write and executive-produce with V's Scott Rosenbaum and Brian Grazer. Jay Hernandez, Terry O'Quinn, Cliff Curtis, Sung Kang, RZA, Shantel VanSanten and Inbar Lavi will also star.

Six Million Dollar Man gets microchipped?

Intelligence (CBS)At the U.S. Cyber Command, a unit has been created around one agent (Lost's Josh Holloway) with a very special gift — a microchip has been implanted in his brain that allows him to access the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Michael Seitzman will write and executive-produce with American Horror Story's David Semel, who will direct. Michael Rady, Meghan Ory, Marg Helgenberger and James Martinez will also star. Will Yun Lee, P.J. Byrne and John Billingsley will guest-star.


I might have watched the original if Raymond Burr hadn't been doing that wierdo heavy breathing thing by then.  The new guy looks much more...dynamic.

Ironside (NBC)In a remake of the 1960s drama, an acerbic police detective (Blair Underwood) who uses a wheelchair pushes and prods his hand-picked team to solve the most difficult cases in the city. The Sopranos' Michael Caleo will write and executive-produce with American Horror Story's David Semel. Spencer Grammer, Brent Sexton, Pablo Schreiber, Kenneth Choi and Neal Bledsoe will also star.

I like the Marvel Comics based movies but do not believe this has legs.

Marvel's Agents S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)Based on Marvel Universe's fictional and secret law-enforcement agency. Avengers' Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen will write and executive-produce. Clark Gregg will reprise his Avengers role, joined by Ming-Na, Brett Dalton, Elizabeth Henstridge, Ian De Caestecker and Chloe Bennet.


Just because I love him.

The Michael J. Fox Show (NBC)Michael J. Fox returns to TV as Mike, a former New York news anchor who goes back to work but still manages to find time to drive his wife (Betsy Brandt) and three kids crazy. The show is executive-produced with Fox by Sam Laybourne and Will Gluck and also stars Conor Romero, Juliette Goglia, Jack Gore, Kate Finneran and Wendell Pierce.

Probably doomed but I like the premise and Christian Slater.

Mind Games (ABC)From Awake's creator Kyle Killen, the project is a provocative workplace ensemble about the complicated relationship between two brothers — Steve Zahn and Christian Slater — who head an agency that uses the real science of human motivation and manipulation to solve its clients' problems. Megalyn Echikunwoke, Gregory Marcel, Wynn Everett and Cedric Sanders will also star. Ron Rifkin will guest-star.

Liked MASH and ER.  Will likely not watch after a peek but who knows.

The Night Shift (NBC) Think M*A*S*H-meets-ER. A motley crew of rogue ex-Army surgeons bring humor and rock-n-roll energy to the night shift at a chaotic trauma center in San Antonio, Texas. 90210 scribes Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah will write and executive-produce with Taken's Pierre Morel. Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under), Jeananne Goossen, Brendan Fehr, Brigid Brannagh, Jill Flint (Royal Pains), Ken Leung (Lost), Robert Bailey, Jr. and J.R. Lemon will star.

I do not think this concept/place has enough depth to deliver stories of the caliber of the original Once Upon a Time series.  I also fear they are spreading themselves and their concepts/plotlines too thin doing this extra show.  I hope I am wrong.

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (ABC) The Wonderland-set Once Upon a Time spin-off is told through the eyes of Alice (Sophie Lowe), who has a generous heart, but carries the scars of a long and hard life. Once producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz will write and executive-produce alongside Jane Espenson, Zack Estrin and Steve Pearlman. Emma Rigby, Michael Socha, Peter Gadiot and Paul Reubens will also star.

What's not to like?

Reign (CW) Watch as a 15-year-old Mary Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane) arrives in France, betrothed to Prince Frances (Toby Regbo). She must survive fierce foes, dark forces and a world of sexual intrigue. Outlaw's Stephanie Sengupta and CSI: Miami's Laurie McCarthy will write and executive-produce. Celina Sinden, Torrance Coombs, Jenessa Grant, Anna Popplewell, Megan Follows, Rossif Sutherland and Caitlin Stasey will also star.

 Potential heartbreaker or mind boggler.

Resurrection (ABC)What happens when the people you have mourned and buried suddenly appear on your doorstep as if not a day's gone by? The lives of the people of Arcadia are forever changed when their deceased loved ones... return! Based on the novel by Jason Mott, the pilot is written by Criminal Minds' Aaron Zelman. Matt Craven, Frances Fisher, Samaire Armstrong, Sam Hazeldine, Nicholas Gonzalez, Devin Kelley, Mark Hildreth, Landon Gimenez, Omar Epps and Kurtwood Smith will star.

Whoa.

Sleepy Hollow (Fox)
Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) partners with Sleepy Hollow's sheriff (Nicole Beharie) to solve the mysteries of a town ravaged by the battle between good and evil. Fringe's Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci will write and executive-produce. Orlando Jones and Katia Winter will also star. John Cho will guest-star.

Cheesy concept. Might be just the thing.

The Tomorrow People (CW) Based on the U.K. series of the same name, it's the story of several young people — Peyton List, Robbie Amell, Luke Mitchell and Aaron Yoo, among them — from around the world who represent the next stage in human evolution, possessing special powers like teleportation and telepathy. They work together to defeat the forces of evil. Chuck's Phil Klemmer will write and executive-produce with The Vampire Diaries' Julie Plec and Arrow's Greg Berlanti. Mark Pellegrino and Madeleine Mantock will also star.       

July in the Garden

Winter finally left. Heat is da bomb.  My vegetables love it except the peas.  My main project this year aside from growing veggies is to move everything inside my fenced area.  It will be a lot easier to maintain all in one place.  And beautiful, right?  A few pictures from June snuck in at the end.

Random garden photos.  Yes you do see weeds.  Heat, torrential rains, a sleepy gardener. These things add up.  Chipping away nonetheless.

A miniature bee balm. Very crimson, though it doesn't show it here. Perfectly matches the coloring and bloom time of another plant Stacys Humello (sp?).

Coreopsis Zagreb

Coreopsis Moonbeam

A zinnia mix seedling that should be in a pot but nooo.

Black Dragon Coleus from seed.

Shasta Daisy Snowcap.

Munstead Lavender.

A rogue Hens and Chicks. I've never had one flower like this before.

Stacys Humello (sp?)  Really a lovely upright plant with crimson/purple flowers.  Dark green leaves too. Too washed out but voila, here it is.

My cornfield!  Not knee high by the fourth of July by a longshot.

A Closeup wherein it looks waaay more like a stalk of corn.

White lilies from one of those "mixes" you get free when ordering bulbs.

A pink lily from the same mix.

I thought this was daylily Naomi Ruth when I took the picture but it is clearly not.

Checking my maps to see what these are before I move them.  I love pink.

Lily Tiger Babies.  I thought somehow when I planted them they would be small, short, baby like, but they're tall and happy so I will let them stay where they are.

Two different lettuces, my cucumbers and some swiss chard.  Just so pretty.

Yukon Gold Potatoes, marigolds and a tomato from seed. 

A tradescantia.  I have numerous, and love their many variations of color.  (June pic)

A white allium.  Hoping to add more this fall. (June pic)

A hosta with an iris draped over its leaves. (June pic)

Everything here but the trees will be moved and these gardens sodded over.  (June pic)

Through the Looking Glass?

Coming Soon.Net reports that a sequel to the Alice in Wonderland film with Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp is in the works.  I'm not sure who all is signed on but Mia and JD are the key players for me.

It seems to me I have been reading that the first Alice film wasn't so well received (though I loved it) and I thought it screamed for a sequel to see where our brave Alice went next.  Here we go!

To Oz!

I watched the Wizard of Oz every year for its annual telecast since I was quite young.  I never saw it in color until I was in my 20s because we didn't have color TV at home. I know.  What 's up with that?

One year, I was combing the drugstore where I bought my comics and sometimes paperbacks (because I had some enormous amount like $5.00 in my pocket and I could get comics, buy a couple paperbacks, eat at the lunch counter in Woolworth's and buy a new shirt.  Yo), and  to my amazement I found a copy of the book The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

Unreal.  There was a book based on my beloved movie?  As it turned out the movie was based on the book but oh my, the book was so very different.  Dorothy was younger, braver, smarter than the Dorothy Gale on screen.

The Land of Oz was a place of unimaginable wonders.  The china doll people, the quadlings...she had so much farther to travel, so much more danger and adventure.

 

If I was captivated before, I was enraptured now.  I'm certain that her amazing adventure is what led me to begin reading science fiction and fantasy stories (along with my comics infatuation).  Once you've seen incredible places and traveled impossible places all you want is more.

Over the years I've collected countless variations on the original Oz book illustrated by various artists.  No one can match the original Denslow drawings but they each offer just a bit different interpretation and a chance to revisit Oz.

What brings Oz to mind are two recent things I've come across (Aside from the dubious Oz the Great and Powerful):

Game developer American McGee (who has made very scary Alice in Wonderland games) is working on a Kickstarter campaign for Ozombie, with a glorious steampunkish Oz having problems with the munching folks.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spicyhorse/ozombie

Also I found there is a Royal Blog of Oz which is just a wonderful read all about the Oz books by a set of folks who know and love them well.  They also review new anthologies and movies so it is just a ton of fun.

Happy Fourth of July!

I wanted to just put in a quick entry with a cute picture but there were too many to pick from so below we have a fine selection of Fourth of July Greetings.