Images

9 Hampton Court 1915 by Walter Jerrold, illustrator E.W. Haslehust, at Gutenberg
- Lion Gate, Pond Garden
8 Loathsome Dragon by David Wiesner and Kim Kahng 1987
back cover -ship ; pg 7,14,28 warlock, Queen, King, Margaret, Childe Wynde, Toad
7 Beautiful Creatures animé by Cassandra Jean;
6 Hugo Pepper by Chris Riddell (text Paul Stewart) #3 Far-flung Adventures;
5 Paintings by Emily Carr: Cathedral, Seascape, War Canoes;
4 Photos of painter Emily Carr;
3 Burglar's Fate and the Detectives by Allan Pinkerton 1884 at Gutenberg.org
- Holdup at Geneva Bank, "Hands up, Newton Edwards!",
- Dig up bag of gold, Everman placed hand;
2 Loor, Mallor in Merchant of Death artist Carla McNeill,
Richard Scarry's Operation in Busytown;
1 Iron Man: Extremis by Adi Granov - Trio, Back cover;


9 Hampton Court 1915 by Walter Jerrold, illustrator E.W. Haslehust, at Gutenberg
- Lion Gate, Pond Garden


8 Loathsome Dragon by David Wiesner and Kim Kahng 1987
back cover -ship ; pg 7,14,28 warlock, Queen, King, Margaret, Childe Wynde, Toad


7 Beautiful Creatures animé by Cassandra Jean




6 Hugo Pepper by Chris Riddell (text Paul Stewart) #3 Far-flung Adventures
Cressida Claw, Mermaid Daisy, her sister Lily

Mermaid on a Bicycle, Hugo Pepper


5 Paintings by Emily Carr
- Cathedral, Seascape, War Canoes


4 Emily Carr, painter


3 Burglar's Fate and the Detectives 1884 by Allan Pinkerton at Gutenberg.org
- Holdup at Geneva Bank, "Hands up, Newton Edwards!",

Dig up gold, Everman quickly placed hand on young man's shoulder


2 Merchant of Death artist Carla McNeill & Richard Scarry Busytown Operation


1 Iron Man: Extremis by artist Adi Granov Trio, Back cover

EarthSea 4*

dvd 2004 Earthsea, from Ursula LeGuin 1980+ series, is an 4* awesome vista of spectacular British Columbia Canada mountain cliffs, green trees and moss, blue sea and sky, schooners great and small, sails flapping, computer castles, in 1001 islands, an imaginary medieval time of cape, crown, sword, staff, horse. Trailer. Humor is humanizing, lighter and better than Tolkein or Rowling, less loss of loved ones, plus moral of self-acceptance. Fun at School.

Blacksmith's son Ged (Xmen Iceman Shawn of the Ashmore identical twins), bright blue eyes in hobbity rufflable red-gold curls aspires to more than a peasant's future. He has dreams and visions of a lovely brunette Tenar (Kristin Kreuk) beckoning him down an dim stone maze. On his departure from the village, his white-haired teacher Marion (Betty Philips, not voice) gives him a necklace to wear always, her only possession when washed ashore, memory lost, in a great storm. Evil King Tygath (Sebastian Roche, royal English accent amid plebian NA voices) conquers with Kargide troops and schemes with lover luscious blonde priestess Kossil (Jennifer Calvert, home Vancouver to London) for immortality by releasing the destructive Nameless Ones. Legend says the Amulet of Peace to heal Earthsea was broken and lost long ago, when a similar pair enacted the same plot, and a great storm destroyed much.

"Of course the other half of the amulet isn't secreted away in some flowery meadow next to a babbling brook (where the film began)" scoffs Ged, heading down into tombs below bloodthirsty horde headquarters, following advice of a delightfully lithpy toothy growl of dragon Orm Embar (unaugmented Peter Kent).

The quest passes through a world of great natural beauty, (Stargate Digital Vancouver) special-effect vicious spooks, and the aforementioned tricky riddling fiery dragon. Although not elevated by any unusual spark of distinction, this is the fairy tale classic we've always known, a lovely legend of faith and redemption, to sweet madrigal song chorus and rhythmic drums. Title track.

DVD dated 2004, probably no sequels, too bad.

Spoilers to the plot, not the end:

Treacherous Kossil poisons the temple leader Reverend Mother Thar (Isabel Rosselini). Animal husbandry expert Ogion (Danny Glover) gives Ged secret name SparrowHawk, but the boy is too impatient and heads for the island Roke school of magic led by English-accent Arch Magus Nemril (Alan Scarfe in own white beard). His pride and ability challenged, he gravely errs. From the temple guardians, he releases the soul-devouring Gebbeth (Mark Acheson) who kills all in his path to consume Ged. But steadfast pal Vetch (Christopher Gauthier) diverts his attention from food to help.

Scene Selection has sound track on every choice, an unusual bonus I like

Extras:

The World of Earthsea made real

Five days to midnight, not much of a trailer

Director Commentary

Robert Lieberman covered skin, tempered violence, hid dragon's body, left out lesbians. Subtlety has better effect than soapbox shouting of LeGuin. I'd puzzled over some oddness of Ged's father's voice. Turns out a heavy Scot brogue was dubbed over, as was the old lady Mary for an older soft English quaver, and a soldier. The director seemed unaware of the British high-class accents cast those who (thought they) were. Threw me when cameo venerated religious icon Lady Elfarren (Amanda Tapping) spoke normal Canadian, not her TV Sanctuary British accent. Juxtaposed against a modern phrasing and slurring is an archaic style I'd prefer more.

Deliberate incorporation of light crackles, flickers (3K candles), livestock, birds, water in every shot, real smoke guns, huts, cracking floorboards, 3K+ scrolls, magnified eye, amalgam of known cultures (Africa, Middle East, Moorish), avoiding look-alike long white hair and beard and pointy hats (our 21st century earth still has magic-users who look like Ogion), make us unconsciously accept sets and costumes as reality. Styrofoam has come a long way. I was unaware of the re-used sets; it lends continuity. Costumes add to my sense of reality: linen, leather, brocade, silk, fur, chain-mail. His sense of clown white makeup diminishing the scariness of the Shadow, teeniness of dungeon doors, the foreboding formidable. corresponded to mine.

Avoiding heavy melodrama or slapstick cartoon, the director strikes the right balance. What to do if a rat won't go though a hole and has to be stuffed through? Write extra lines and crack a tubby joke. Traditional closing scenes bring the cast together; on 1001 islands, a magic beam lights everyone. I used more trailers than my usual review, because none seem to correctly convey the balance of scenery, action, humor, and caring (too much silence, indoors, dreamy romance, or dark) in the original.

Spoiler Trailer better scenery gives away end

Tales from Earthsea is an 2010 anime version

Gift of the Night Fury 3*

Full. Short sweet Winter Festival Snoggletog tale about the Viking village of Berk. All the dragons fly away, leaving nothing to celebrate. When Hiccup gives Toothless a tail replacement that allows independent flight, the Night Fury takes off too, and stays away, even when the boy finds the other runaways.

Extras: Gobber's Training Secrets demonstrated for six types, 4 deleted scenes (storyboards plain), Game, How to sketch baby Gronkle, Snoggletog party howto, Previews for Kung Fu Panda 2 (KF Fighting, TV series, Secrets of Furious Five dvd, game), Puss in Boots, plus songs from Shrek (I'm a believer), How to train your dragon (Fly High), Madagascar (Move It, Penguin Xmas), MegaMind (medley).

Eragon 5*

trailer 5* Eragon film is a conventional interpretation of an unusual book. Brave farmboy Eragon (Edward Speleers) finds glowing blue stone left by beautiful maiden Arya (Sienna Guillory). Finally, movie brothers who look alike, Roran (Chris Egan). Even when I have seen the film before, more than once, I still laugh when the rock hatches into a mischievous dragon Sephora, and cry when old teacher Brom (Jeremy Irons) takes his last ride.

Unfortunately, I am disappointed with extensively traditional ugly villains: red taloned Durza (Robert Carlyle), menacing King Galbatorix (John Malkovich), flat pebble-eyed dragon faces, and white - skin, dress, horse - delicate princess Arya - at least she rides and fights herself. Tiny humans flee vicious monsters through mountains, forests, incredible Hungary vistas, to the final fiery battle, actual not studio or computer sets.

Closing songs, "Keep holding on" by Avril Lavigne struck a chord since I first heard it, and soft "Once in every lifetime" also suit emotional moods. Well chosen and executed.

The 2-disc extras, interviews, start with young author Paolini in his inspirational Montana home. I'd love to fly with them in an Imax theatre. He started Eragon at 15 and signed with a major publisher at 19. Wow. Book review

How to train your dragon 5*

Book website.

My GoodReads review.

Trailer.

Creators coming out with Croods -- prehistoric brave girl goes gaga over shoes?! Hope as good as this.

DVD
Same gang led by red-hair (sticks up straight) Viking lad Hiccup (Jay Baruchel - still nasal, but better than live in Sorcerer's Apprentice)), heir to Viking tribe, but different plot than Cressida Cowell's book. Book has only boys, Toothless is tiny rude selfish spoiled pet. Onscreen, he rides on enthusiastic friendly helpful BIG Night Fury. Film adds his cheeky crush Astrid (America Ferrara). Best pal Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), plump hefty, pampers his round motherly Gronkle.

Voices in film only are Ruffnut (Kristen Wiig), Snotlout (Jonah Hill), Gobber the Belch (Craig Ferguson), and Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler). Cast, new and old, can be found at special Wiki.

Loved by three generations in my family, I recommend the tale as fun for all ages. Special effects, explosions, flying, silly faces, scary monsters, honor, imagination ...


TV
New adventuress air on TV. Like in animated film, Hiccup limps, is sweet on cheeky Astrid, rides BIG Toothless Night Fury. New voices are includes Ruffnut (Julie Marcus), Snotlout (Zack Pearlman), Gobber (Chris Edgerly), and Stoick (Nolan North). Closing morals are more specific to their situation.

Some episodes continue in two parts. (I thought I'd missed Ep5 resolution, twice, till I watched #6 Alvin (2) online.) Alvin the Treacherous (Mark Hamill) seems skinnier, smarter, elusive rather than fist-in-your-face. thus scarier in the books. I like re-playing and freezing favorite bits on my PC.
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Spoilers:
Nasty old Mildew (Stephen Root) sneakily forces away the pets, destroys the armory, so Berk is defenceless against Alvin's marauders. Why does Stoick (Nolan North) order Alvin's ship burnt? I'd take it for the Berk fleet. Stoick, tribe chief and Hiccup's father, finds his own Thunder-wind voiced ride.

I don't always agree with concluding morals. In Thawfest, Snotlout is strongest, his dragon control weaker. "Keeping the tribe strong" is a leadership quality, but "losing gracefully"? I prefer "Do your best".
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Review: Dealing with Dragons

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



"Dealing with Dragons" (Enchanted Forest Chronicles 1) by Patricia Wrede begins a sweet 5* series; I already smiled my way through the rest. This gem may be my favorite, a cherry among bittersweetest chocolates, because the silliness never falls overboard, just tickles my funnybone. Along the lines of Mercedes Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdoms, Princess Cimorene rebels against Tradition. Her parents stopped her beloved lessons: fencing, cooking, Classics, any intellectual or physically improving learning. So she ran away.
(Spoilers:
TO the dragons. Luckily, she knew just enough for Kazul; to sort and catalog her Latin scrolls, library and treasures; to supplement a guest banquet from the borrowed Horn of Plenty with Cherries Jubilee.
Fatalities are simple, quick - wizard eaten, dragon King poisoned - without superfluous violence or gore. Dragons are human-ish (good may succumb to temptation), wizards bad, and royals can be more than decoration. Alternative use for lemony washwater: Banzai! She makes friends: another princess and witch Morwen with many cats. She cleverly outwits a jinn, and conspiring enemies. Her happy ending is better than marriage, for her.)



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