Red Dwarf Cast in action S1

(image placements in progress)

Kristine Kochanski (Clare Grogan). Rimmer in crewcut. Cat courting NB belt

Olaf Peterson (Mark Williams) & crew ... "Holly" Hologram (Norman Lovett)

Red Dwarf S1 3*

Red Dwarf BBC TV I first heard mentioned by Big Bang Theory nerd Sheldon, whose flatmate Leonard is sweet on blonde neighbor Penny - single with pals Howie and Raj in Season 1, get girls by Season 7. Like original Odd Couple, slob squabbles with snob. Leonard/ Lister is shy, short, chunky, yearns for girl; counterpoint foil Sheldon/ Rimmer is smart(er), tall, thin; in both, aspirations over-reach abilities, crude rude interaction is adult, silly. Crash course spans Season 1 to revival X 2012.

My favorite RD effect is real, not computerized, when Lister's mouth widens sliding down behind quarantine glass to freak out Rimmer, but couldn't find on Youtube; found April Fool. Library loan Season 1 2002 dvd of 1988 season has fun extras; episodes are online, among other TV shows. The pilot "The End" written in 1983, was inspired by Dark Star scifi spoof.

Dave Lister (standup comic, non-actor Clapham-accented Craig Charles) is lowest maintenance-man Class 3 slob - breakfasts on beer milkshake and vindaloo, smokes ciggy in ear. While in stasis three million years, his smuggled black feline evolves into a humanoid descendant - swanky selfish tom Cat (dancer Danny John-Jules) "Ow. Ah. Eeah. How'm I lookin?". Only these two/189 crew survived radiation leak on grotty mining spaceship Red Dwarf (8' model). Control with 6K IQ, AI face Holly (Norman Lovett complained past mere voice-over) can sustain a single hologram for company, chooses room-mate Arnold J Rimmer (Chris Barrie), unfortunately obnoxious stiff-neck Class 2 Technician.

Visitors are memories, video recordings (no discs yet), holograms (Clare Grogan as love interest Kassie Kochanski), germs Paranoia (Lee Cornes) and Confidence (first TV appearance of Craig Ferguson, now double US citizen, TV talk host), dying Cat priest, toaster, meal machine. Against dull grubby grey (shade conflict was true), incongruous analog cinema-tape reel containers and Cat's lavish suits stand out dramatically. Despite the odd ruffle, jewel glint, contrasting chest hankies, his sinuous slim carriage lends cheery elegance, where paunchy over-hill Elvis-Elton-Liberace are gaudy and sad. Olaf Peterson, swarthy tattooed Swede (tartan cap in dim disco) is skinny teenage Arthur Weasley from Harry Potter.

X-rated for dialog topics. Futuristic-sounding expletives are smeg, gointz, gimboid, tot. Hol echoes the repeat phrasing that's always puzzled me in shows and life "Emergency. There's an Emergency going on. It's still going on. It's still an emergency. This is an emergency announcement ... "

Pictures (until I figure out how to place more than one on post)

Episodes 1-6

1. The End - Hol revives Lister, three million years in stasis after radiation leak.

2. Future Echoes - Deja vu travel time blips show twin boys in Lister's future.

3. Balance of Power - Lister takes chef exam to outrank Rimmer.

4. Waiting for God - Hol translates cat smell Holy book proving Lister is cat deity.

5. Confidence & Paranoia Sick - Lister hallucinations come alive.

6. Me (squared Two) - Rimmer holograms disagree.

Bonus Disc:

Takes thought to find Smeg-ups (sink-toilet gizmo) and Japanese-dubbed pilot episode (goldfish aquarium) from knick-knacks in messy bunk-bed room menu choices, innit. Worth the work, not just bleeps and pratfalls. Real cat Frankenstein escapes cage (explains why actual footage reveals Lister's white-enclosed privates bobble from his shorts, and milk flee saucer), aged actor stumbles "the righteous path of stubble-ess (slobbiness is a word?)", Rimmer: "I've been thinking ... no, I haven't", Cat can't find mirror to admire self, Rimmer can't find pencil to report Lister. Not sure if Japanese have accents that convey class, or how jokes fare that depend on local slang (also here correct scientific term), such as verruca (plantar wart remover) cream for footless man. "Syonara, unbelievable, dangereuse, my shadow, catto, oolala, crispy" need no translation.

Collector's booklet is more lively, says embarrassment over gazpacho cold soup incident from life. Many Boring extras. Models and Launch. Babies cry, then their polaroid develops).

Deleted (as usual, with good reasons besides time) and extended scenes (beer can)

Music (guitar) great from sweetly or starkly simple to sweepingly symphonic. The theme "Fun fun fun in the sun sun sun" makes sense at the start "no kind of atmosphere, all alone here". Audio (speaker-sided talking toaster) I skipped, good for those who like audio books. Clips, Trailer (Hol screen-portrait), Photo Gallery (pinup).

Launch = talking heads with trivia: Allan Rickman and Hugh Laurie liked the Lister part. Pure luck that a budget space in Manchester for "dangerous, edgy" spot took on London 3x (confirmed, several sources) 3-year (unconfirmed, single source) reject.

Commentary:

Mostly boring, though reassuring Lister ate milk powder instead of crew ashes. The three actors dwell on their youth (23), changing: thickness of the one-off silvery forehead-glued one-off cutouts, depth of Prince-Charles-like side part approaching Rimmer's ear, height of Rimmer's curls escaping gel as day wore on. May explain why images of later shows have inked stencil template H. If babies keep crying, adlib relevant remark. I found "bonan matenon" IS Esperanto for good morning.

Hanna 2011 1*

Hanna is a teen (Saoirse - Irish for freedom, sounds like Sasha - Ronan) raised alone in an Arctic -40 Finland forest by her father Erik (Eric Bana), with an encyclopaedic knowledge of languages, unarmed combat, hunting, "adapt or die". Trailer. Outside a frail slender pale blue-eyed blonde wisp; inside strength propels muscle. We fight fear alongside her. 1* disappointed by sad "You didn't prepare me for this"; he was better than some parents.

When she is ready to turn on the signal beacon, CIA agent Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett), artificial hard high-heeled redhead, will lead sadistic and skilled operatives to kill them first. Run, fight, run, enemy tortures innocent bystanders, run, fight, death. A brutal action thriller without usual macho male Big Guns shoot Bad Guys, compensated slightly by little girl kicks fierce.

Scenery spans arab Morocco 140 degree desert muzarin, Spanish campfire dance, opera and didgeridoo in Berlin graffiti slum, to Grimm's fairytale theme park. Music calls to her soul; speed excites her; noisy appliances, modern conveniences, and simple social skills confuse her. Even in the beginning in the lab, she doesn't want to kill anyone she doesn't have to, she shakes her head and walks away. Symbolism from the start, girl shoots deer in the head because she misses the heart, is carried to the final scene. (Wo)men are animals who kill anyone different as a threat? Kind of backwards happy ending, especially when sacrifice easily predicted. Why was that inevitable?

Bonus

Alternate ending overlaid incongruous bright (lonely) hope onto a frightening framework.

Deleted scenes proved good editor.

Anatomy of camp Escape from real tunnels in disorienting kaleidoscope to electronic theme

Commentary by director Joe Wright

He intended this film to be a fairy tale, a few intense visual images, implausible unreal acceptable, with a character who discovers music. I did not feel a balance. The ending, walking out of the wolf's mouth, was just wierd. I suspected something I couldn't put a finger on. His "circle motif" was uncomfortable subconscious repetition, never explained.

I recognized actors but couldn't place them, maybe because I'm such a BBC fan. Australian Eric Bana is in Munich, Hulk, and Star Trek films. Fake wig Marissa stand-in is Michelle Dockery, Lady Mary Crawley in Downton Abbey TV series. Sadistic whistling German rogue assassin Tom Hollander was Cutler Beckett in Pirates of the Caribbean. Sophie's mom, Olivia Williams was in TV Dollhouse series. Sophie's dad, Jason Flemyng, was Danny Quinn in Primeval.

A normal child's yearn for adulthood is in an extraordinary setting. Deep emotions convey in few words. As a North American, I missed the British bad-teeth director giving the wicked witch perfect Yankee teeth and taste for blood. Glad to hear producer Leslie also thought Erik should have gone into the snowstorm with a fur coat, not cloth suit. I'm glad I did not recognize a singing to lightbulb homage to Blue Velvet; all I remember about that film is feeling creeped out.

Spoiler:

I was hoping for explanations I did not get. Why did the father have to die? Why did she return to Mr Grimm when she heard the answers to the torture? Why a deer at the end? I disagreed that Marissa was unravelling then wanted to adopt Hanna to atone at the end. Previews hinted she was the mother. Whew. She was bad through and through. I like the premise, little girl wins, not the cost.

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).

Harry Potter Deathly Hallows 2*

Starts, middles and ends with death (see spoiler), chases in between. Professor Dumbledore's legacies give hints for students Harry, Hermione, and Ron to find and defeat evil Lord Voldemort. In a magical muggle-oblivious England of little green and much grey, they run, pause to solidify evidence, get attacked, escape, run again. Dark, dark, and more dark. Featurette 1* sad, confusing 3* effects.

Settings: Dursley's 4 Privet Dr, sky, Weasley's, wedding, Sirius' refuge, cafe, Ministry, woods, rocky shore, seaside, cemetery, village, old lady's cottage, forest, Luna's, enemy stronghold, cellar prison, beach ... Voldemort and minions pursue everywhere.

Clues: Horcruxes, Gryffindor sword to destroy horcruxes, birth-place Godric's Hollow, bar-circle-triangle symbol for three Hallows

Spoilers: Deaths: witch teacher of Muggles course, Mad-eye Moody, house-elf Dobby

Gnomeo & Juliet 5*

Lady Gaga sings with Elton John in my favorite scene the night flower meeting Preview Animated garden gnomes are in a split duplex: Capulet red magnificently courageously vital Juliet, and Montague blue, her equal, Romeo. (James McAvoy). (Means more in British accents - The Manchester United "Reds" and Chelsea "Blues" have near a century of competition in English Premier League soccer football.)

The motherless maiden, and fatherless garden rulers' only children are lucky daredevils. Elton John (he modified himself) songs both pump up emotion for important events, such as race between houses, and midnight raids, our couple disguised in black, and hint truth in the background, "How wonderful life is when you're in the world". I'm not a fan of musicals where people burst into song and dance unreasonably; this hits the spot. Spotted tracker doggy "Shroom" and Cuban plastic flamingo Featherstone (Jim Cummings - TV Tigger, Pooh) add more humor. Spoonerisms at the start, sweetness throughout.

The casting is impeccable. Delightful to recognize red cantakerous curmudgeon Richard Wilson from One Foot in the Grave's similar Victor Meldrew, again over the fence (also Doctor Who's Dr Constantine, Merlin's mentor Gaius). Lead roles are voiced by James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, parents Lady Bluebury Maggie Smith and Lord Redbrick, oh well, Michael Caine. Juliet's frog nurse Nanette Ashley Jensen I didn't remember from Phlegma the Fierce (added to the wonderful animated film, not in Book 1, How to Train Your Dragon). Who could do a better Terrafirminator than a real wrestler, like Hulk Hogan? Jason Statham, known for fierce fictional race-car driving, fills the same role in red Tybalt. Patrick Stewart is Shakespeare statue. Parton is the one and only Dolly in the world.

Spoiler: At the chorus finale, I couldn't help mourn the death. Thankfully, in the Disney world, clay bodies can be glued.

Extras:

Features show setting is Stratford-on-Avon. Opening, endings, deleted scenes were unused for good reasons. Worst part is repeated "see what you think" by director. GSI investigators, ruse wedding, quarrelling weathervanes just hohum in storyboard versions. I expected to see London in the credits, but Toronto? Nelly Furtado?

Did you know Don Featherstone invented the pink plastic flamingo in 1957, produced in pairs, signed on the backsides, and much other garden kitsch sculpture? Hunh.

The True Story of Puss 'n Boots 1-2*

Polish Trailer with funny scene is not Shrek Banderas, but does have silly song charm if you change expectation to French animated musical with English songs: "I'm so pretty" from West Side Story, Greensleeves, and classical themes: William Tell, Beethoven, Danube waltz. Clever inventions are ostrich carriages (reminiscent of Flintstone Rock Vegas dinosaurs), fly-swatter sceptre, two chase fight scenes, one on a conveyor (only similarity to Shrek).

Choose French audio for lips to match words, without bro, slang, hemm-hawwing. Queens say biggie, hat's off, bupkiss, and yup? William Shatner voices lead, but the high squeaky, repetitive, smarmy tones are undistinguishable and unpleasant. Architecture is mosque-like, other credits French and E. European.

Like classic Russian tales, youngest miller's son pony-tailed Peter inherits the large, nearly as tall talking cat, on condition he makes special stored red leather into tall boots and His older brothers get the mill. He and the Princess are supposedly magnificent dancers. Puss promises the boy's royal crush will result in marriage. At the first inn stop, the pixie-cut masked princess executes her dream passion, first and only real dance in the whole film. The rest are just poses. Why do women all have big hips? French?

The evil chamberlain in a creepy beetle carapace-like cape wants to marry her. Magic candies transform competing suitors into warty toads for a mountain castle dwelling ogre, who hulk-like grows giant octopus tentacles, but dreams of one day becoming a swan. Jamaican chimp pianist is our team's inside man, taming the monster with music.

Extras (in English) Shatner interview has silent question pages. Slide show has 17 stills that summarize plot ending with full cast bow Trailer covers full story. Phase4 previews: Gruffalo, Jane Lynch Disco Worms, Antonio Banderas (finally!) The Missing Lynx, Forrest Whittaker Dragon Hunters (How to Train a Dragon off-take, Not Original!).

* George Goodchild (1888-1969) UK writer - updated 29 Mar 2013

George Goodchild deserves Wiki entry. Wiki requires ISBN titles for reference first. Stub created, not submitted for review.
George Goodchild Memorial Trophy 2010 celebration. Please help?

George Goodchild (1888-1969) aka Alan Dare, Wallace Q. Reid, and Jesse Templeton, was an incredibly prolific successful British author. His career lasted over 60 years (1916-published after death, still reprinted); his output seemed unending, around 210 works, most under his own name.

Little is known of his life. Born in Kingston-on-Thames in 1888, he married Dora Mary Hill and had one son and two daughters. He lived at The Great Quarry, Guildford. Before full-time writing, he had experience in journalism and publishing. He died at Aldershot in 1969, aged 80.

Featured characters were Scotland Yard Inspector McLean, spy catcher Q33, Trooper O'Neill, cowboy Colorado Jim (Jack) and Nigel Rix. McLean appeared in The Weekly News even anonymously until 6 October 1979, ten years after Goodchild died, and inspired Dandy Inspector McLean Library published by D.C. Thomson. An early 1921 story in The Children's Newspaper was a rare contribution to the scifi genre. Only a handful of his books are still in print, recently some republished in large print. Colorado Jim is the only one on gutenberg.org as of Jan 2012.

Image of Children's Newspaper 1921)

This chronological list includes repetition and inaccuracies, you can help correct.

Films 7:

Colorado Jack (1921) from Colorado Jim

Bucking the Barrier (1923)

The Public Defender (1931) from The Splendid Crime

Condemned to Death (1932) from Jack o'Lantern

Trooper O'Neill (1932)

No Escape (1936) from No Exit

Series (includes collections)

Inspector McLean

1. McLean of Scotland Yard (Hodder & Stoughton London 1929)

2. McLean at the Golden Owl (Hodder 1930)

3. McLean Investigates (Hodder 1930)

4. How Now, McLean? (Hodder 1931)

5. Chief Inspector McLean (Hodder 1932)

6. 12 Dandy McLean Detective Stories (D.C. Thomson London 1933)

7. 12 Famous McLean Cases (Thomson 1933)

8. Dandy Against the Gangsters (Thomson Library 5? 1933)

9. Dandy Hangs Behind (Thomson 1933)

10. Dandy Nabs the Falcon (Thomson 1933)

11. Greta Dey's Confession (Thomson 1933)

12. Her Little Game (Thomson 1933)

13. The Pretty Daredevil (Thomson 1933)

14. The Prince of Crooks (Thomson 1933)

15. The Terror of Stapleton Quarry (Thomson 1933)

16. The Triumph of McLean (1933)

17. McLean Plays a Hand (Ward Lock London Melbourne 1934)

18. Yes, Inspector McLean (Hodder & Stoughton London 1934, Chivers NA 1995)

19. Death on the Centre Court (Hodder 1935, Green Circle NY 1936)

20. McLean Knows Best (Ward 1935)

21. McLean Prevails (Ward 1935)

22. Lead On, McLean! (Hodder 1936)

23. McLean Finds a Way (Hodder 1936)

24. McLean Remembers (Hodder 1936)

25. Call McLean (Hodder 1937)

26. McLean Takes Charge (Hodder 1937)

27. McLean Incomparable (Hodder 1938)

28. Again McLean (Hodder 1939)

29. McLean Excels (Hodder 1939)

30. McLean Intervenes (1939)

31. McLean Sees It Through (1939)

32. McLean Deduces (Hodder 1940)

33. Up, McLean! (Hodder 1940)

34. McLean Keeps Going (Hodder 1941)

35. McLean Non-Stop (1941)

36. McLean Takes a Holiday (Hodder 1942)

revised Inspector McLean's Holiday (Pan London 1951)

37. Uncle Oscar's Niece (Hodder 1944)

38. Hail McLean (Hodder 1945)

41. Inspector McLean's Casebook (Rich & Cowan London 1950, White Lion 1972)

42. The Efford Tangle (Rich 1950, Ulverscroft 1995)

43. McLean Carries on (Rich 1950)

44. McLean Predominant (Rich 1951)

45. McLean to the Dark Tower Came (Rich 1951, Ulverscroft 1998)

46. The Last Redoubt (Rich 1952)

47. McLean Steps in (Rich 1952)

48. Well caught, McLean (Rich 1953)

49. Double Acrostic (Rich 1954)

50. Trust McLean (Rich 1954)

51. Find the Lady (Rich 1955)

52, Watch McLean (Rich 1955)

53. The Last Secret (Rich 1956)

54. McLean Solves it (1956)

55. Forever McLean (1957)

56. Next of Kin (Jarrolds 1957, Harlequin Toronto 1957)

57. McLean Disposes (Jarrolds 1958)

58. McLean Scores Again (Jarrolds 1959, Ulverscroft UK 2004)

59. Follow McLean (Jarrolds 1961)

60. McLean Invincible (Jarrolds 1963)

61. Laurels for McLean (Jarrolds 1964)

62. McLean Takes Over (John Long London 1967)

63. McLean Knows the Answers (Long 1967, Dales London 2003)

Trelawney and other series?:

64. The man from the West (George Newnes London 1935)

65. (Mister) Q 33 (Trelawney) (Newnes 1935, Oddhams London 1935)

66. This Woman is Wanted (Newnes 1935)

67. Danger Below (Hodder 1937)

68. Having No Hearts (Hodder 1937)

69. Q-33 Spy Catcher (T) (Newnes 1937)

70. Dear Conspirator (M?)(Ward Lock London Melbourne 1948)

71. Companion to Sirius (M?)(Rich & Cowan London 1949)

72. Tiger, Tiger (M?) (Jarrolds 1959)

73. Savage Encounter (M?) (Jarrolds 1962)

Novelized from plays

74. The Barton Mystery, from Walter Hackett play (Jarrolds London 1916)

75. Tiger's Cub, Alaskan romance from George Potter (Jarrolds 1917)

Novels:

76. The Last Cruise of the Majestic (1917)

77. Behind the Barrage, a siege battery. (Jarrolds 1918)

78. The Land of Eldorado, seal islands (Jarrolds 1919)

79. Old Sport, warhorse romance, with Maurice Mottram (Jarrolds 1919)

80. Colorado Jim or The Taming of Angela (Robert Hayes London 1920, Watt NY 1922)

81. The Woollen Monkey (Lloyds London 1920)

82. The Compassionate Rogue (1920)

83. The Alaskan (Lloyds 1921)

84. A Message from Space (1921)

85. Trooper O'Neill (Hayes 1921)

86. Killigrew (as Alan Dare, Herbert Jenkins London 1922) repub Knight Takes Queen (George Newnes London 1935)

87. Klondyke Kit's Revenge (Jenkins 1923)

88. The Valley of Lies (Long London 1923)

89. The Isle Of Hate, as Dare (Jenkins 1924) (repub Newnes 1934)

90. The Valley of Lies (Long London 1923)

91. Jake Canuke (as Jesse Templeton, Hurst & Blackett London 1924) GG (Hodder 1932) aka The Call of the North (George Newnes London 1938)

92. Plain Bill, Alaskan romance (Jarrolds London 1924)

93. Tall Timber (Watt NY 1924, Hodder Stoughton London 1927)

94. The Man Who Wasn't (Jenkins 1923-4)

Hurricane Tex (Hodder 1925)

95. Out Of The Desert (as Dare 1925)

96. The Eternal Conflict (as Templeton, Hurst 1925), GG (Archer GB 1950)

97. The Feud (Hurst 1925) GG (Hodder 1935)

98. The Taming of Nancy (Red Letter 141 DC Thomson London 1925)

99. The Black Orchid (Hodder 1926)

100. Jim Goes North (Jim) (Hodder 1926)

101. Ace High (Hodder 1927)

The Eye of Abu (as Dare, Jenkins 1927) repub Newnes 1934

102. The Timber Wolf (as Templeton, Hurst 1927)

103. Meg o the Dale (Red Letter 179 DC Thomson London 1927)

104. Mushalong (Hayes London 1927)

105. The Monster of (the Grammount) Grammont (Hodder 1927, Mystery League NY 1930)

106. His Desert Maid (J Leng - Ivy 133 London 1928)

107. The Rain on the Roof (1928)

108. The Guarded Soul (as Dare, Jenkins 1928) aka Body and Soul (Jarrolds 1929)

109. Sands of Desire (as Wallace Q. Reid, Robert Hayes London 1928) W. Collins London 1933

110. The Freeze-Out (Hodder 1929)

111. Jack O'Lantern (Hodder 1929, Mystery League NY 1930)

112. Body and Soul (1929) (as Alan Dare)

113. The Elephant or The Man from Beyond (Hodder London 1929)

114. Between the Tides (as Templeton, Ward 1929) GG (Ward Lock London Melbourne 1937) abridged (Ward 1938)

115. The Bitter Test (as Templeton, Ward 1930)

116. Clay-Face (as Templeton, Ward 1930)

117. The Emperor of Hallelujah Island (Hodder London 1930, Houghton NY 1931)

118. The Splendid Crime (Hodder London 1930) as The Public Defender (Grosset NY 1931)

119. The Girl at Pine Creek (Thomson Red 242 1930)

120. The Girl who failed him (Thomson Red 259 London 1930)

121. His Bride from England (Thomson Red 203 1930)

122. Her Dear Tyrant (Leng Ivy 214 1931)

123. Ten Fathoms Deep (as Templeton, Ward 1931) GG (Ward 1938)

124. The Yellow Hibiscus (as Templeton, Ward 1931)

125. The Road to Marrakesh (Hodder 1931, Houghton NY 1932)

126. For Reasons Unknown (Hodder 1932)

127. Love's Challenge (as Templeton, Mellifont London 1932)

128. Petticoat Lane (Mellifont 1932)

129. Flagons of St. Niven (Mellifont 1932)

130. The Choice (Mellifont 1932)

131. Rosemary's Love Adventure (Mellifont 1932)

132. The House of Strange Adventure (Mellifont 1932)

134. The Singing Wheat (Mellifont 1932)

135. The Skeleton in the Cupboard (Mellifont 1932)

136. Winning Through (as Templeton, Ward 1932) GG (Ward 1935)

137. Bride of the Sierras (as Reid, Collins 1933)

138. Man from Peace River (Collins 1933)

139. Captain Sinister (Hodder London 1933)

140. Mountain Gold (Hodder 1933)

141, Rainbow the story of a dog and a man (Chapman & Hall London 1933)

142. The Jury Disagree, (with C.E. Bechhofer-Roberts, Jarrolds London 1934, MacMillan NY 1955)

143. Saskatoon Patrol (as Reid, Collins 1934)

144. Virginia's Quest (as Templeton, Mellifont 1934)

145. The Woman Accused (Mellifont 1934)

146. Mad Mike (Chapman Hall London 1934, Harlequin Toronto 1953)

147. Quest of Nigel Rix (Ward 1934)

148. Red River (as Reid, Collins 1934)

149. Dear Old Gentleman, with Roberts (Jarrolds 1935, Harper NY 1936)

150. Bluewater Landing (as Reid, Collins 1935)

151. The Homeward Trail (George Newnes London 1935)

137. Knight Takes Queen (1935)

152. Knock and Come In (Rix#?) (Ward 1935)

153. Son Of The South (as Reid, Collins 1935)Steve (1936)

154. Tidings of Joy, with Roberts (Jarrolds 1936)

155. Doctor Of The North (as Reid Collins 1936)

156. No Exit (Newnes London 1936)

157. The Rainbow Trail (as Reid, Collins 1936)

158. Rough Going (Ward 1936)

159. Summer Moon (Leng - People's Friend #429 1936)

160. Operator No. 19 (Ward 1937)

161. A Murder Will Be Committed (Robert Hale London 1937)

162. Yellowstones (Ward 1938)

163. Infamous Gentleman (Hale 1938)

164. The Prisoner's Friend, with Roberts (Jarrolds 1938)

165. The Square Deal (1939)

166. The Clock Struck Seven (1939)

167. We Shot an Arrow, with Roberts (Victor Golancz London 1939)

168. Forced Landing (Hodder 1940)

169. Known as Z.1 (Ward 1940)

170. Man Peter (Ward 1941)

171. Brave Interlude (Ward 1942)

172. Behind That Door (Ward 1943, F.A. Thorpe GB 2005)

173. Safety Last (Ward 1944)

174. The Last Ditch (Mellifont 1944)

175. The Footlight's Call (Mellifont 1945)

176. Wise Virgin (Mellifont 1945)

177. Lady Take Care (Ward 1946)

178. Cauldron Bubble (Macdonald London 1946)

179. East of Singapore (Mellifont 1946)

162. Rivers to Cross (Ward 1947)

180. Stout Cortez (Ward 1949)

181. Final Score (Ward 1950)

182. The Spanish Steps (Ward 1951)

183. Doctor Zil's Experiment (Ward 1953)

184. The Last Secret (Rich & Cowan London 1956)

185. The Danger Line (Jarrolds 1958)

186. False Intruder, Old Yukon (Jarrolds 1960)

Collections asst'd

187. Caravan Days, illus. C.A. Shepperson (Jarrolds 1916)

188. Umpteen Yarns from France (Jarrolds 1917)

189. Down Plug Street Way (Simpkin Marshall London 1918)

190. The Crimson Domino (Simpkin 1919) abrid (as Templeton, Mellifont 1933)

191. The Great Alone (Simpkin 1919)

192. Captain Crash (Hayes 1924)

193. Inch of the CID (as Templeton, Ward 1936) GG (Ward 1936)

194. Mountain Gold (1933)

195. Q33 (1933)

196. Mister Q33 (1935)

197. The Man from the West (1935)

198. This Woman Is Wanted (1936)

199. Q33-Spy Catcher (1937)

Anthologies containing stories by George Goodchild

200. Fifty Famous Detectives of Fiction (1983)

Short stories

201. Death in the Dance

202. The Siamese Cat

Non-fiction

203. The Last Cruise of the Majestic from the log-book of J.G. Cowie (Simpkin 1917)

204. Pinches of Salt from the Seven Seas (Jarrolds, 1918)

Plays

205. They All Do It and two other plays with Roberts (Jerrolds 1935)

Others, Edited by GG

206. The Lore of the Wanderer, an open-air anthology (The Wayfarer's Library London 1914)

207. England, My England, a war anthology (Jarrolds 1914)

208. The Miniature Classics (Jarrolds 1914)

The Blinded Soldiers' and Sailors' Gift Book (Jarrolds 1915)

209. Made in the Trenches, articles and sketches from soldiers, Ed. by GG & Sir Frederick Treves (G. Allen & Unwin London 1916)

210. A Century of Western Stories (Hutchison London 1936)

Salt 5*

Preview. Salt is senior CIA agent (Angelina Jolie), trusted until a senior KGB mastermind says she is a deep-cover mole. She knocks down anyone in her way, all the way to the protected president. She is the best, but for whom? My eyes get wider until forced to blink back tears when she finally finds her kidnapped beloved husband. According to DVD extras, the original scene was too nasty. Slow or fast, death is pain for those left behind to mourn. Humor, twists, run, and fight, fight, fight. Hoo-rah. Although the plot allows for sequels, pace faster, closer, harder than R.E.D., so unlikely.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice 4*

Balthazar (Nicholas Cage) has searched 1000 years for the heir "Prime Merlinean" (worst name ever) to take master Merlin's ring. Fantasia was the inspiration and guideline in modern New York City setting. Except for an homage to the original dancing mop scene, the core plot is simple. Shy reluctant teen nerd Dave (Jay Baruchel) gets power, pretty girl Becky (Teresa Palmer), and saves the world with science. Trailer.

Back story is complicated, well told. Veronica (Monica Bellucci), Balthazar's first love and fellow student absorbed evil Morgana (Alice Krige) inside herself, to save mankind from destruction. She was imprisoned in a Russian-layered Grimhold doll. Inside the next layer, Balthazar had trapped third student Horvath (Alfred Molina - Sheikh Amar, Prince of Persia), also infatuated with Veronica, Merlin's killer. When ten, Dave accidentally freed Horvath, but Balthazar kept them inside a Chinese jar ten-year trap.

Special effects are more real than computerized, real flaming fingers and fighting in fire, overall blazing. The action is so fast and big, I only saw humor and slapstick after. Humor is low-level "No time to pee? .. I can hold it" before first lesson. Balthazar's shaggy hair scruffy look says he spends all his effort on work. However, emphasis on out-of-place "pointy-toe" or "old-man" leather shoes is silly. Electricity-proof rubber soles on sturdy boots suitable for climbing would be more useful.

I have to rate high because zap-zing smash-crash whoosh-vroom fights from the start, effects and music are 5*. The fires are real. But I do not like, sympathize, or identify with the goof's whiny localized New York accent (much bettter toned down for Viking lad Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon film and Dragon Riders of Berk cartoons) and give-up skepticism (the script or the acting?). Movie not better soundless, however, because of big bam-boom flame-scream percussion-brass crescendos.

Voices have incredible power. The deep vibrato of Sean Connery shivers me inside out. Although Harry Potter is a helpless orphan, he sounds strong, loyal; we will befriend and stand with him to the end. This twerp has a nasal scratch-on-blackboard tone and hang-back attitude that grates. Even Cage talks distinctively through his nose. Combo turns me off and away.

I liked the ten-year old actor better. Until love interest 20-year old Becky (Teresa Palmer) compliments his childhood bus trip window drawing, King Kong lining up atop the Empire State Building, I had no idea. Merlin's third apprentice, villain Maxim, takes apprentice and releases Salem witch only to steal their power for the final break-out.

Big electric climax. Two big tear-jerker moments: when Dave finally finds his power

----------
Spoilers:
and when Morganna stops his mentor's heart, dead. Victoria is free and herself, Morganna dissolved, but Balthazar lies cooling.

Of course Dave knows electricity, and modern machines shock hearts into starting again. He gets his girl too. Double reunion for double happy ending.
----------

The Recruit 4*

Preview. Most of 4* is for watching Colin Farrell. Clayton apparently fails rigorous CIA training, partly because he falls for Layla. Al Pacino knows how to play a creepy older mentor who says he knew the boy's dad, a CIA hero, then asks Clay to seduce the girl (ick) and carry out a secret op.

I grew up on Get Smart, crawled under couches playing superhero with my brother, so I fall for this stuff. But who is the good guy here? Bang-up shoot-up ending. What a ride.

The Lightning Thief 4-5*

Preview. Book. If the Lightning Thief is not Percy Jackson, son of sea god Perseus, who is? Some cosmetic differences aside, the DVD plot pares silly humor, to the essentials of the Olympian series by Rick Riordan. Watch into the credits for a smile.

Pierce Bronsan as a strong, but not-white centaur is a better camp director than a sloppy wine god. Superb special effects, monsters, creatures, and realistic swordplay by the godlings make magic. Not-blonde Annabeth's eyes are compelling, despite not being grey. Percy takes his satyr protector Grover (who still eats cans), and appealing valiant Annabeth, daughter of battle-wise Athena, from their wilderness training camp to the underworld.

Ruler Hades wants Zeus's powerful weapon in exchange for Percy's human mom. Percy hopes explaining his innocence will suffice. Senior camper Luke lends winged shoes, an expandable shield, and a map to the three pearls needed to transport the questers home, without warning what protection must be vanquished.

Matilda 1*

1*. Preview. Matilda Wormwood is a precocious six year old, enchanted by books, trapped in an abusive family. Based on book set in a small English village described by author Roald Dahl, FBI agents (Paul Rubens as Bob) chase her dishonest dad Harry (Danny Devito) and mom Zinnia (Rhea Perlman). An academy of torture run by evil Miss Trunchbull (Pam Ferris in uglifying make-up, narrator of "Agatha Christie's Garden" DVD (5* review pending) bio set in her Devon home Greenway, and star of BBC TV mystery series Rosemary & Thyme) also bullies soft-spoken teacher Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz), who sounds British too.

I wanted to check out strong female heroes for children. But I was disappointed in the standard ugly equals bad and a supernatural solution. I did not find exaggerated abuse and murder funny, and preferred book. If you're looking for scary with fun effects, this film rates higher.

----------

Spoiler:

I guess Matilda developing telekinetic powers to vanquish threatening adults is better than an external deus ex machina fairy godmother.)

----------

Jumper 2*

Preview. Book. Fast fantasy action crosses continents, yet slow flat people faces. Hard to explain. Extras show indecisive director procrastination, maybe why I failed to connect with motherless teen hero David (Hayden Christensen), cheer for him and his hometown girl Millie (Rachel Bilson), and wasn't even sure if I had guessed the ending.
I like British sidekick Griffin (Jamie Bell), apparently the only actor constant from the start. Villain Roland (Samuel L. Jackson) and, suprise mother, Mary Rice (Diane Lane) provide counterpoint to the youths.

Hamish Macbeth S1 2* - Robert Carlyle

Salt theft. 2* all for Highland shots. M. C. Beaton's original books are better, but Scotland scenery is worth watching DVD. The lobsters from the third book,"Death of an Outsider" appear in the first Hamish Macbeth DVD episode, otherwise the setting is the main character in the shows.

Disconcertingly, actors, even his dog, are cast way different, adding a non-existent taller sidekick, and passionate Priscilla in clip. DVD Macbeth is small and neat, not tall gangly and red shock-topped. Star Robert Carlyle is better cast as creepy villain Rumpelstiltskin aka Mr Gold, in TV Once Upon a Time.

His dog is tiny fluffy cute white purebred and key in the worst episode, about ghosts, including the pet, instead of the true long lanky loping big yellow mongrel, sensitively smart. Hamish constantly lights homemade cigarettes, whereas book 3 clearly states he gave them up 3 months before, granted, after the first year's 2 murder events, because his crush disapproves.

Even Priscilla, daughter of the manor, proposes dramatically, ending DVD set 1, whereas in the book she is icy cool glacier-eyed porcelain, comfortably affectionate like with all her lifelong village pals. The series does give him other bed-mates, but he should bumble, naively appreciative, not smoothly dismissive of how a female cop progresses her career ambitions.

The curiosity of solving human motivations seems subverted to a soap opera mush. I know my TV has poor quality sound, add that to Highland accents, and louder music masquerading as heightened emotion, I played a lot with the volume control and tried to get the most out of the scenery, never as good in 2D as live, decades-old memories assure me.

Green Hornet 1*

Highlights all in preview. Too typical of Seth Rogen - credited lead actor, writer, producer - his favorite word is sh-. Potentially the story of a goofy nerd super-hero idolizer in over his head with hard criminals who alienates his only friend and sidekick (hard to hear through accent). Instead, boozy selfish slob uses brains of only buddy Kato, and employee (Cameron Diaz, seen only at chest level - boring). Kato's high-tech engineering and Diaz as the duo's unknowing mastermind are the best parts.

Children of Men 3* - Clive Owen

Preview. 3* are all for star Clive Owen, plot too disheartening. I refuse to read book about doomed hero in hopeless dystopia. To see him in action, even smoking, is my only reason to watch. His rugged dependable maleness is more like tough-charming Sean Connery James Bond than wimpy Daniel Craig. Smooth porcelain pale Julianne Moore is hard to peg as a terrorist leader, though maybe as idealist who marries former activist Owen two decades before.

Based on a P.D. James book, obviously from her "our industrialized society is going to hell" phase (I like her mysteries ONLY), the plot spans just three days, full of gunshots, running, pain, and fear, after an initial sad setup. In our near future, we despair, without human births for twenty years. Unhappy British clerk with hip flask whose marriage broke over baby boy's death in pandemic, mopes with reclusive hippie father, who raises and enjoys sharing marijuana, and cares for brain-dead wife.

The behind-in-rent scene is deleted, but gambling kept, reinforcing Owen's money motivation hiring on difficult job. His ex-wife now heads country's terrorists against anti-refugee policy and asks the only man she trusts enough, him, to get pregnant illegal immigrant girl to fabled "Human Project" lab ship safety.

Blatant Holocaust triggers, old people mutter German phrases, incomprehensible gypsy beckons, young coloreds die everywhere, cages, death camps. IRA-like balladeer totes machine-gun amid fusillade. Worse than "cautionary" tale.

Spoiler: Only fake baby girl and teenage-looking African mother survive to see rescue boat, when she promises to name super-easily-newborn after couple's dead son.

I am Number Four 4*

Trailer. Number Four, like in Book, is teen alien on the run in small-town US. His selfishness costs the life of the one who has cared for him most. Although I like the initial premise, I dislike how the sacrifice is glossed over.

Villainous Mogs destroy planets and chase survivors. Of nine children and guardians, three have been assassinated, others lost their adult companions. John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) falls in love. His "father" (eye-candy Timothy Olyphant) warns that "their kind" are faithful for life. Sweet blonde Sarah Hart (Dianna Agron) is dangerous.

Maybe Sean Connery started my soft spot for accents, the British slips out, and the Australian in "Number Six" (Teresa Palmer) adds dynamite impact in her own stunts. I want to grow up strong like her. The building doesn't really explode and burn in the background, but the effect is smashing, and she does dangle from high later. Perhaps because I already read the plot, I didn't get buried in emotion, fear, sadness or excitement, more admiration for the special effects.

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