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Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time only caught a passing interest from me.  Movies based on games tend to be a hit and miss venture.  Add that to Disneys involvement and this project had caution written all over it, that is until I watched the trailer above.

I’m now excited about Prince of Persia.  The effects looks good.  I like the use of a broader variety of weaponry especially the more exocitic ones.  The trailer does a nice job of setting up the back and forth between Dastan and Princess Tamina, even if a bit cliche.

Prince of Persia hits the theaters on May 28, 2010.

Pilot / Story:  Based on the game Prince Of Persia.  Dastan is a street urchin in 6th century Persia. Adopted by the king as his heir after showing valor in battle in hopes of keeping the king’s two sons from fighting over the throne.  Dastan teams up with Princess Tamina  to rescue the Sands of Time, a gift from the gods that controls time, from the hands of the villainous nobleman, Nizam.

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The Sanctuary is a place of refuge, a safe haven, for those that are different from humans.  Known as Abnormals they are non-human intelligent creatures and humans with genetic variants.  They range from the cute to the extremely dangerous.

Dr. Helen Magnus, a 157-year-old English scientist, and her team of experts run the Sanctuary.  They try to help the Abnormals and learn from them.  Working toward a peaceful existence between the humans and the Abnormals.

The show follows the adventures of Dr. Magnus and her staff as they struggle to bring harmony between the world of the humans and that of the Abnormals.  This difficult task because of the more dangerous Abnormals like Vampires and Nubbins is complicated further when the Cabal goes on the move.  A shadow organization with desires to spark a war between the humans and Abnormals the Cabal desires to see the extinction of all Abnormals.

Sanctuary is a great contemporary fantasy show with a polder society full of a wonderful array of exotic creatures.  I loved the episode with the Yeti, their portrayal of vampires and werewolves.  Sanctuary is also not afraid to tackle those social issues which makes for great speculative fiction, never being afraid of asking what if and exploring it thoroughly.

Sanctuary was originally an independent production which used a web publication model.  After their first season became a big hit the show was bought up by Sci-Fi channel.  They did some re-writes did some new shots and aired what is now referred to as the first season.

Looking Forward at Sanctuary Season 2

• Finding out what happened to Ashley Magnus, who changed after being kidnapped by the Cabal at the end of the first season.
• Many more Abnormals including an oil rig extraction.
• The conflict between the Cabal and the Sanctuary heightens.
• The Tokyo Sanctuary.

For more read:  Looking Forward At Sanctuary Season 2

Sanctuary Season 2 Trailer 1

Cast

• Helen Magnus  Played by Amanda Tapping
• Will Zimmerman Played by Robin Dunne
• Henry Foss Played by Ryan Robbins
• Kate Freelander Played by Agam Darshi
• John Druitt aka Jack the Ripper Played by Christopher Heyerdahl
• Nikola Tesla Played by Jonathan Young
• Clara Griffin Played by Christine Chatelain
• Ashley Magnus  Played by Emilie Ullerup

More on the cast and picture here

Special appearance from

• Paul McGillion bringing Wexford back from the original web series but re-imagined.
• Michael Shanks who will play Jimmy who shares similar backgrounds with Kate.  For more read: Michael Shanks will be on Sanctuary!

Watch Sanctuary Streaming Online

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Overall Rating: 9.5

Merlin arrives in Camelot and learns that King Uther has forbidden magic, which is punishable by death — yet, it is magic he uses to save the life of Arthur, the king’s son.  Watch the episode streaming online above.

The Dragon’s call, the pilot show for Merlin is really well done.  It’s a great fantasy show and a well constructed pilot.  They did a wonderful job introducing thoroughly and succinctly the main character’s, establishing the setting and showing us the magic of the setting.  The writing is solid and a nice take on the Arthurian legends.

The look of Merlin is well done, I was particularly impressed with the castle used for Camelot.  The show starts out with a Camelot in the background and at first I thought ‘wow what a nice use of the mat painting effect.’  They zoom in and I was even more impressed because it still looks really nice.  Then they get up close and I realized it was not a mat painting effect but it was a real set or a real castle!  After watching a making of special I was pleased to find out that the castle is a real castle in France.  I very glad they used that for the setting because it adds so much to the believability to the show.

I really enjoyed how magic is handled in Merlin.  Fantasy shows turn me off when they claim to have magic but push for a realistic look by removing and muting most of the magic.  I’m also disappointed when a fantasy show goes so over the top with the magic that they undue the immaculate reality making it hard for me to get into the show.  In Merlin they struck a nice balance in the setting where there is magic, it occurs, it looks really nice but it is not over the top.

The characters are likeable, charming and show room for growth.  This is very promising for a pilot and I can’t wait to see what happens with Merlin, Morgana, Guinevere, Gaius, and Arthur.

Merlin is a must see for fantasy fans, and I would recommend it for everyone as well.  I look forward to watching future episodes of Merlin and am thrilled to know that the BBC are already working on the next season.

Likes

1. Very good job introducing the setting, characters, and rules.
2. The look of the magic
3. the set up for how magic works:  there are spells, enchantments and natural / elemental in nature.
4. Merlin character is likeable, charming, he has talent but unrefined, he has noble characteristics, and hot,
5. I like the shift in focus where Arthur is a spoiled noble ass and the focus is definitely shifted onto Merlin.
6. I love the introduction of Guwen with her watching from the window
7. very intrigued with Morgan and how she was set up
8. the witches spell rocked with her singing the song and stuff slowly changing
9. Merlin’s teacher being a physician / alchemist
10. the use of a real castle in France… i thought it was a matt painting effect and a really good one but they kept getting closer to the point where i realized it was a real castle.
11. good fantasy show
    1. two inept guards
    2. A Dragon
    3. the young adventurer in a new town picking fights without discerning who they are fighting with.
    4. lots of magic
    5. Sword play aka medieval weapon play daggers, morning star!!!, ect.

Dislikes / Concerns

1. the music is a little lighthearted at times when not necessarily appropriate like the fight scenes between Arthur and Merlin

For more read Exploring: Merlin

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An Americanized manga, Sorcerers & Secretaries hooked me with the name. I was expecting a evil-fighting admin assistant with a pen that dissolves evil and a stapler that will fend off the most intimidating magical creature. What I found was something completely different.

Nicole is a receptionist and college student who lives her life in a dream world that she spins through writing sword and sorcery tales. We can all relate to her immediately with issues such as, an annoying mom, annoying job and coworkers, wanting to write instead of work, and everyone in her life putting down her interests by saying “that childish fantasy stuff you like”. This tale started slow for me, but won me over with its cute book references and speculative fiction inside jokes that only we understand. Although the art is very American (circa 1980’s Sunday morning newspaper comics), the drawings of the bookstore are great and had me pause for a few minutes to read the titles. One cover I especially got a chuckle from was “LARP for Beginners”. A new twist in this tale is that the cute hottie at the bookstore actually likes the geeky, book-loving, allergy girl.

The author is definitely in our demographic and should be supported for that alone. However, this is not a tale I would recommend for its excellent fantasy story. This book is not so much a fantasy story as a romance where the lead is in love with the lead character in her fantasy novel. Like Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, the girl is wrapped up in a fantasy tale so completely that she cannot see a real guy who wants to date her. Still, an amusing, quick read and one that despite its cover warning 13+, is safe for all readers. Sorcerers and Secretaries is a great gift for your teenage cousins who are into the fantasy/romance genre.

If you enjoy this manga, you can read more about the series and download desktop images from this site: Sorcerers And Secretaries

Get your copy here from amazon and hlep support the project:

• Sorcerers & Secretaries, Volume 1
• Sorcerers & Secretaries, Volume 2

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Bride of the Water God is a must-own, simply because of it’s elaborate artwork. The fact that it also has an excellent story, is a plus.

The premise of the story is: A village in draught conditions decides to offer up one of it’s girls as a bride to appease the water god so that he will allow it to rain.  Soah, the bride girl is then sent out into the ocean in a boat. She seems to crash and drown, ending up in the land of Suguk, a magical place where the gods live.

Suguk has a large fish-shaped metal airship that floats above, maneuvering through the sky where rocks with waterfalls are suspended. When Soah meets the water god, Habaek, she finds he is just a boy.

There are interesting characters living in the world of Suguk such as the fire god, a witch with a cool tattoo over her eye, and a doctor who seems to want to steal Soah away. As the story progresses, we find that the water god can change into a gorgeous man at night. We also meet his mother, who everyone is scared of because she is the goddess of punishment, torture, and disease.
The scariest part of this book is when Soah goes into the forest and sees a dog. She reaches out to him because, like her, he is also a creature out of place in the magical world. Unfortunately, when she reaches out to him he turns into a monster with horrible teeth like an alligator. The gods call him Che, the tiger, ox-tailed monster who barks like a dog and eats humans.

I could go on all day about how much I love this manhwa. I could tell you about the masked messenger Banwang who poses as a dog with wings. I could awe you with descriptions of elaborate formal dress costumes and fanciful architecture, but it’s better you see for yourself by purchasing or previewing these books at Amazon.com.

Manhwa

A little bit about manhwa: It is the Korean version of manga. How do you know you’re reading a manhwa versus a manga? Well, as long as you enjoy the story, it really doesn’t matter, but for you sticklers out there, here are some differences:

• Manhwa’s are Korean-based, not Japanese.
• In the United States they are generally published in the bigger quality paperback size.
• Manhwa’s are read in the same direction as US text (not backwards like Japanese mangas).
• The art in most of the manhwa’s I’ve seen is traditional with beautifully elaborate drawings- the kind you would see on a fan or in one of my favorite books as a child, Tikki Tikki Tembo. By the way, although I know there is criticism about Tikki because of its over exaggeration of Chinese names, it is still close to my heart because it is the first time that I, as a little white girl living in a predominately white community, got to see another culture close up.
• Most of these manhwa feature a few pages in the front or back that are glossy color photos you just want to rip out and hang on your wall.

Bride of the Water God 1

Bride of the Water God 2

Bride Of The Water God 3

Bride Of The Water God 4 (preorder)

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Imagine That is about A financial executive, who can’t stop his career downspiral, is invited into his daughter’s imaginary world.  While in it he finds the solutions to his problems.

I like the idea of having a movie that would celebrate the imagination and it’s value  in our busy modern society.  That is why I love speculative fiction so much.  It allows me to look at a situation and ask what if.  Beyond that it allows me to put a difficult to approach situation / topic into a new context, one that is detached from myself so that I can approach it and think it through.  Imagine That appears to be a movie that is demonstrating this idea within a fantasy context.

Though I really like the premise and have hopes that the movie could show the value of celebrating our imagination, just relaxing and being silly when appropriate I also have concerns that it will focus too much on the silly, grotesque, and bathroom humor.  I love all three of these things but like my love for chocolate, too many candy bars only serves to make me sick.

Imagine That is a renter for me.  Eddie Murphy and Martin Sheen have a hit and miss track record with movies and the trailers just didn’t motivate me enough to want to rush out and see it.

To watch the trailer and get more info on Imagine That and other SF movies out in June read Theater or Renter: June 2009

Let me know what you think.  Will you go to see Imagine That in the theater on June 12th or rent it?

If you have seen it in the theater should I go see it and why?

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Out this week we have one DVD to feature:  Were the World Mine.

• Were the World Mine:  This is a modern fantasy retelling of  A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  The movie is about Timothy who is cast as Puck in his school’s upcoming production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”  The words of Shakespeare seize upon Timothy’s mind and lead him to create a love potion–which he uses to capture the heart of the school’s star rugby player, but also to make everyone see the world through his eyes. Soon the rugby coach is pursuing the school principal, the principal’s wife swoons for Timothy’s mother, and the school jocks are prancing around like ballerinas.  The trailers looks great.  I didn’t get to watch it in the theaters due to it’s limited release but Were the World Mine got good reviews.  I’m definitely going to rent this one.

Watch the trailer below.

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Review of:  Legend of the Seeker 122 Reckoning 

Overall Rating: 9

Richard’s plan to kill rahl goes horribly wrong, leaving Kahlan in the clutches of this evil tyrant.  Watch the episode streaming online above.

Reckoning is a good Legend of the Seeker season finally.  The acting and cinematography are great with a nice dramatic opening unfortunately there was a rushed feeling over this episode coupled with writing choices that took the story in a direction less desired and making the cliffhanger seem weak at best.  Overall though Reckoning is still light years ahead of other television shows in quality and it is still a really good Legend of the Seeker episode.

For more detailed conversation check out “The Confessed” a Legend of the Seeker podcast.  Where we discuss and geek out on everything from the show Legend of the Seeker, based on the Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. Including episode reviews, news, fun fan bits and community comments.

Likes

• The effects looked really good
• The use of washed out look
• Nice dramatic opening
• The acting was brilliant
• Shota:  I really liked seeing the return of Shota and how she stayed true to her goals and ambitions
• Cara:  I loved how Cara is so direct, unfearful and willing to talk back to Rahl.  This was really refreshing seeing another strong, thoughtful, independent female character.
• Nicholas
• Kahlan:  watching her stay consistant in her actions as everything being done for the Seeker and her love for him.
• Seeing Richards development come full circle in this episode:  from simple woods guide to where he is a formidable fighter without the help of the sword of truth and his ability to not only touch the Agiel but to wield it as a weapon in combat.
• Cara’s look when they are discussing that they are wasting heat.
• Richard helps Cara to see the truth

Dislikes / Concerns

• The pacing felt a little rushed, probably due to the amount crammed into one episode.
• deus ex machina ending
• For fans of the book they should have put in what the wizards first rule is somewhere in the season.
• We do not get to find out about Richards relationship.  Jennsen would have told Richard even if it was framed as a lie from Darken Rahl

Favorite Quotes

• “Forgive my lord.  My sisters and I are Mord’Sith not magicians.”
• “You can kill the master.  You can free the confessed.”
• “Sisters I have brought The Seeker…”
• “Who said anything about love… I’m talking about pleasure.”
• “You loved me from across time” (thanks Natalie)

For more Legend of the Seeker here

Get you copy from: 

Listen to “The Confessed” a Legend of the Seeker podcast here.

Get the books: The Sword of Truth, Boxed Set I, Books 1-3: Wizard’s First Rule, Blood of the Fold ,Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind

Legend of the Seeker: Season 1 Recap

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Spoiler Alert

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Nicholas:  The Creepy Nosferatu Rahl.  Son of Kahlen and Darken Rahl and also a male confessor.  I really enjoyed the dark twists around this character espically how his playmate Ethan was used as the introduction into Nicholas’ darker side.

I like how Shota saw where they came out at using the basin of water.  I also thought it was a nice touch of her character by having her stay and look for the key to the Rada’Han

What did you think about Nicholas and how they showed us the dangers of a male confessor?  I liked how they brought back up the dangers of the male confessor especially with scenes like the one with Edgermon betraying his Lord Rahl.

What were your thoughts on Zedd dying at his own wizard’s fire?

What did you think about the future of the Mord’Sith?  I would have loved an episode on just the betrayal and battle Nicholas on the Mord’Sith.

What did you think of the ending and Zedds ominous warning?

Discoveries

• Darken Rahl has already blasted Valeria into dust.
• “Magic of ordin is no more”
• Cara takes control of the Mord’Sith

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The inevitable question arose regarding the adaptation of Dylan Dog into the Dead of Night movie… Will you be true to the comic that the movie is based on?

Dan Forcey answered on Dead of Night official blog:

Changes had to be made:

I understand completely that some changes had to be made between the book and the film adaptation of it, but I hope… you will find that there are very good reasons for most of the changes. Unavoidable reasons in most cases that meant the difference between having a movie and not having a movie.

Remained true to the spirit:

We honestly believe that we’ve remained very true to the spirit and character of Tiziano’s character…

We are fans too:

I truly appreciate you and everyone else who is so very passionate about Dylan and I understand because I love him nearly as much as you all do. (And I only say “nearly” because I’m not Italian. )

Don’t pass final judgment without watching the movie:

…with all due respect, you cannot get out of the short synopsis that have been released publicly or the few photos you may have seen. Let me give you a parallel. If you go to imdb, you’ll find the following summary: “When wealthy industrialist Tony Stark is forced to build an armored suit after a life-threatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil.” Is that an accurate accounting of what the movie ultimately was? If you were an Iron Man fan and you read that, would you be excited to see the movie or would you have thought they had dressed some guy like Iron Man and called it that? Would you assume, based only on that, that it would be a faithful adaptation of the character you loved in the books?

Once you’ve seen it and if you hate it then, feel free to write me and I will humbly, genuinely, and personally apologize for letting you down, because that’s the last thing I want to do for you or any Dylan fan.  But, please, don’t judge us until you have the full “picture” (pun fully intended).

Will you be true to the comic that the movie is based on?

I hope so.  We’re all doing our best, but none of us know.  We hope so and at the very least we’ll be able to say we did the best job we possibly could under the circumstances.

I find it very reassuring to know that fans are working on this project, it gives me hopes for a more true adaptation from one medium into another.

Dan does bring up a question for me though:  What are the unavoidable circumstances that required change, beyond the obvious adaptation ones between print medium and motion picture medium?  The way in  which unavoidable circumstances are brought up hints of behind the scene political wrangling occurring.

For more read:  Early look at Dead of Night Movie

(via Dead of Night)

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Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian is the second in the Night at the Museum movies.  In it we follow security guard Larry Daley as he infiltrates the Smithsonian Institute in order to rescue Jedediah and Octavius, who have been shipped to the museum by mistake.

I really enjoyed the first Night at the Museum movie but I’m not holding my breath for this one.  From the trailers it looks like one badly repeated stale joke after another.  What worries me the most is that I only chuckled once at  one moment from the trailers.  My rationale is that trailers tend to feature the best the movie has to offer and if that is their best I’m not impressed.  The early reviews have only supported this concern.

I’m doubting if I will even rent this movie.  More then likely I will be made to watch it by family and expect to only enjoy the moments spent with family during that time.

For more on Night at the Museum read Theater or Renter: May 2009

Let me know what you think.  Will you go to see Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian  in the theater on May 22, 2009 or rent it?  If you have seen it in the theater should I go see it and why?

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Netflix lets you rent, watch and return DVDs from home – Try free for 2 weeks

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