Reviews. History. Life.
Seventy-five years ago... Charlie Brown cartoons were usually cute and funny, but they were often poignant. One of my favorites from the 1980s was the little gem, What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? Originally broadcast on May 30, 1983, it's the continuation of the adventures Charlie Brown, Linus, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Woodstock and Snoopy had in the … Continue reading Hallowed Ground
Thus speaks the cover of The Hitchhiker's Guide To the Galaxy. The book within Douglas Adams' novel of the same title, it is the guide to anything that anyone might want to ask about life, the universe, and everything, and a lot that they don't think to ask. Arthur Dent didn't know that he would have to ask … Continue reading Page To Screen: The Hitchhiker’s Guide To the Galaxy
One of the most iconic tales of American literature is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Written by Washington Irving and originally published in 1820 as part of his Sketch Book, this story of ill-fated schoolteacher Ichabod Crane never fails to chill. It also never fails to find new life in various media. For those who … Continue reading Page To Screen: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
My son had his Spring Break at the end of March, and I took the extra free time to start revisiting most of the "House" series. Remember those? A family, several familes, or maybe just a random group of people would try to live as people did in a certain time in history, and it … Continue reading This Old House
Time to tuck in, people... Thanksgiving is on the horizon (unless you're Canadian, in which case you've already had it), and food is on everyone's mind. Even fictional food. Anyone who's spent any time watching Gilmore Girls knows Lorelai and Rory like to eat. A lot. Stuff that would make the rest of us gain weight just … Continue reading Cuisine, Stars Hollow Style
Jules Verne's Around the World In Eighty Days has captured the public's imagination ever since its publication in 1873. It follows Englishman Phileas Fogg and his valet, Frenchman Jean Passepartout, as they go around the world in (surprise, surprise!) eighty days or less. To say Phileas Fogg is precise and punctual is an understatement. We're talking … Continue reading Page To Screen: Around the World In Eighty Days
Swish, swish, swish... 🙂 There have been adaptations a-plenty of Robert Louis Stevenson's most famous work, Treasure Island. The entertainment world has produced over fifty for film and TV, over twenty-four major stage productions, six radio versions, five computer games, five musical scores, three audio books and two retellings. And a partridge in a pear … Continue reading X Marks the Spot
One of Old Hollywood's sweetest stories is the long-enduring relationship between Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. They knew each other almost all their lives, and while romance never entered the picture, there was always more than friendship there. Both started in vaudeville at very young ages (Mickey was eighteen months old, while Judy was two-and-a-half), … Continue reading Mick and Jootes
This is the first installment in my new, semi-regular series, "Page To Screen". I thought it would be interesting to analyze books that have been made into films--what was changed, cut, expanded, whether or not the adaptation was effective, and so on. I wasn't planning on starting with Anne of Green Gables, but you know how life is. It … Continue reading Page To Screen: Anne of Green Gables
Warning: Sorry, but you're no safer from spoilers today than you were in Part One. Less so, in fact, since I will be revealing the mysterious final four words Ms. Amy's been holding in her head for years. If you haven't watched A Year In the Life yet, well, you know what to do. When we … Continue reading Back To Stars Hollow, Part Two
Warning: There are spoilers a-plenty here, so if you're planning on watching A Year In the Life and haven't yet, go watch first. Unless you like spoilers, which I totally get. Anyhoo... If you remember my review of the MacGyver redux, you already know my position on Hollywood's reboot craze. Retreads, prequels, sequels, and adaptations make up more … Continue reading Back To Stars Hollow, Part One
Caveat: This review isn't spoiler-free, so if you haven't seen "The Rising" yet, proceed with caution. 🙂 It's no secret that Hollywood is crazy for prequels, sequels, and remakes. Even properties that haven't gone cold yet (like Dirty Dancing) are trotted out for makeovers. Hollywood has always remade films, but lately it seems to be the majority … Continue reading Das Reboot
