The King of Horror

People are not only rushing to Starbucks to get a taste of pumpking spice this Fall; it seems like everyone wants a piece of Stephen King's work as well. He's producing new material, adapting old work, and even collaborating at remaking some of his most well-known masterpieces.

In the works right now are remakes for It, The Stand, and a controversial sequel to Creepshow. King is also busy with two TV shows, Under the Dome and the somewhat successful Haven. And if that wasn't enough to keep a King busy, the court is buzzing with news of a 11/22/63 adaptation for Hulu. Omg!

So to celebrate all of this royal news, I thought I'd go down memory lane and highlight my top ten favourite Stephen King adaptations. I'm a 90's kid, I practically ate those for breakfast.

Enjoy!



10. Needful Things

Year: 1993
Director: Fraser Heston
Actors: Max Von Sydow, Ed Harris, Amanda Plummer
Summary: A stranger comes into town and soon thereafter, strange things begin to happen to the townspeople of Castle Rock, a recurring setting for King stories. King is known for his jabs at religion and the occult. And he doesn't shy away from that here, with the story being a parallel to human greed and corruption (represented by the devil.) This movie's cover always terrified me as a kid, with that shopping bag with the hand and head presing on it. Reason why I don't touch pregnant bellies, to this day.
Interesting Facts: Amanda Plummer, who portrays the young Nettie Cobb, can be seen in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as Wiress. Also, Sydow's character, The Devil, is seen driving an indestructible black car, possibly the same as in Christine, another King project.



9. Apt Pupil

Year: 1998
Director: Bryan Singer
Actors: Ian McKellan, Brad Renfro, David Schwimmer
Summary: An older gentleman with a secret from his past befriends a young man with an odd fascination that enthralls both of them and sends them down a spiralling vortex of lies, deception, and murder.
Interesting Facts: I still remember seeing the previews for this movie when I was twelve and it scared me. Haven't seen this movie since I was a teen, but still vividly remember the awkward tension between the two men, and this before I even knew what homosexuality was. Bryan Singer, who directs this movie, later went on to direct McKellan in the X-Men movies. Also, watch out for a small role from Joshua Jackson, who was just starting to transition into more mature roles.



8. 1408

Year: 2007
Director: Mikael Håfström
Actors: John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson
Summary: Following the death of his young daughter, an author dives into a world of deception and speculation and must somehow reconcile the two in order to save his sanity...inside a haunted hotel room.
Interesting Facts: This is the second "haunted house" story from King that has been adapted to the big screen, after The Shining, to gain both commercial and critical success. And those two movies share a further connection. The axe used by the fireman at the end of 1408 is the same axe that Jack Nicholson uses in the famous "Here's Johnny!" scene. Both films were also partially shot at the Elstree studio in London.



7. The Dark Half

Year: 1993
Director: George A. Romero
Actors: Timothy Hutton, Michael Rooker, Amy Madigan
Summary: A writer must battle his writer's block while also trying to stop his alter-ego from taking over his life.
Interesting Facts: King wrote this novel shortly after revealing his own alter-ego/pseudonym, Richard Bachman. This was also his last novel that he wrote before going sober, with his struggles depicted as the main focus of duality in the book. It's very auto-biographical! And look out for Sheriff Alan Pangborn, a character who appears in other King works! The transition to film was directed, with some disappointment, by George A. Romero of "Night of the Living Dead" fame.



6. Cujo

Year: 1983
Director: Lewis Teague
Actors: Dee Wallace, Danny Pintauro
Summary: A young mother, coming to grips with her failed marriage, takes her son along for a ride to the local mechanics. Shortly thereafter, they are attacked and terrorized by a sick Saint-Bernard.
Interesting Facts: I watched this movie AFTER watching Beethoven and another, less popular, film called Man's Best Friend. I was just starting my fascination for horror flicks and especially King flicks. So needless to say that it stuck with me throughout the years and Dee Wallace's performance still haunts me. Nothing quite as emotional as seeing a mom trying to defend her child. Sadly, an animal DID die during production; the main Saint-Bernard died during production of the movie.



5. Children of the Corn

Year: 1984
Director: Fritz Kiersch
Actors: Peter Horton, Linda Hamilton, John Franklin
Summary: Typical storyline. A young couple get stranded in a small, secluded roadside town and must fight for their lives against a cult of murdering children. (Yikes!)
Interesting Facts: This was Hamilton's year, as she also appeared in the movie that would make her a household name: Terminator. I didn't even know it was Hamilton who portrayed Vicki until I wrote this blog. Haven't seen this movie in forever and so was surprised to see such a recognizable name. Also, the kid who plays Isaac (John Franklin) still creeps me out. He's just like...a grown up version of Isaac. This shouldn't be!! lol Go check his bio, dude still looks like a child from the cornrows. (Yikes!)



4. Misery

Year: 1990
Director: Rob Reiner
Actors: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall
Summary: In the same vein as The Fan, Misery tells the story of an author who is rescued from a car crash by a woman who claims to be "his number one fan." It doesn't take long before admiration turns into obsession.
Interesting Facts: I didn't read this novel so was kind of surprised when I found out that Bacall's character isn't in the book as I find her to be the prime example of publishers in a movie so heavy on the hate towards editors and publishers. I mean, why didn't King come up with this character? He hates those people more than anyone else in the world. I also like that they made a nod to another King story when Annie references The Shining when she mentions that "a guy went mad in a hotel nearby." King is big on using characters and settings in a multitude of novels, so it's fun when the screenwriters keep that whimsical tradition.



3. The Mist

Year: 2007
Director: Frank Darabont
Actors: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden
Summary: A small town (duh!) is terrorized by otherworldy creatures following a freak storm that leaves most of the townspeople trapped inside the supermarket.
Interesting Facts: Frank Darabont is no stranger when it comes to adapting King novels into quality movies; he is the mastermind behind The Shawshank Redemption AND The Green Mile. Also, Frank Darabont brought Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, and Melissa McBride with him when he started work on The Walking Dead. If it's not enough that King admires Darabont's body of work, he congratulated the director by telling him that "I am genuinely frightened by your adaptation." I would have pee'd myself right there.



2. The Shining

Year: 1980
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Actors: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd
Summary: A family struggling with their own problems move into an isolated hotel where not everything is as it seems. Before long, the family must battle a supernatural force that threatens their safety and their sanity.
Interesting  Facts: There are complete University classes just about this movie and all of it's hidden meanings and symbolism, so I won't even attempt to pretend I know them all! Like this blogger who did an amazing job at breaking down the elements of this movie. That dog scene though...



1. Carrie

Year: 1976
Director: Brian De Palma
Actors: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving
Summary: A religious zealot who abuses her child is forced to watch her daughter develop telekinetic abilities that are quickly growing out of control.
Interesting Facts: First book from King that I ever read and also the first movie I saw that was based off of his work. Carrie has left a mark on Hollywood and this story has been remade twice, once for television and again last year. Amy Irving reprised her role as Sue Snell in the sequel The Rage: Carrie 2.



I suddenly have the urge to do a movie marathon this weekend.


Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

11/22/63 Fantasy Cast

Wow. It's been so long since I actually opened this account, let alone write an entry. But I was so excited when I found out that Hulu was working on a web series based on 11/22/63 by Stephen King, that I just couldn't contain myself any longer. Guys, another King series!!


So it's very easy to get lost when adapting a book to the small screen. I find it almost more painful to watch than a silver screen adaptation that robbed the gold from the soul of my favourite book. If it can't be adapted into something better, than don't touch it. Right?

And I am so biased when it comes to King adaptations because frankly, they can't go wrong. They just can't. There is too much framework and solid foundations in Stephen King's body of work that it's almost impossible to fuck it up. People have been adapting King novels for over three decades, ranging from Carrie to The Shining and without forgetting the abysmal yet still entertaining Storm of the Century.

Lately, King has been dropping bricks for novels and his two latest projects, Under the Dome and 11/22/63, have both been critical and commercials successes. Under the Dome was not only a fantastic book, but Brian K. Vaughn (peace be upon him) also managed to make it into a top-rated TV drama which saw it change major key elements that grounded the book in science-fiction, while still retaining that very quirky side of King that either makes or breaks the tone of the work.

I'm just thinking about It, where King's macabre view on childhood was mixed with a somewhat comical view on adulthood. It was a perfect blend of horror and slapstick. Or how about Pet Sematary, where we have zombie cats and murderous children all wrapped up in the same movie. It blended scare and laughs brilliantly.

With that being said, I hope they keep the quirky style that has been attributed to King while not being afraid of exploring the macabre and mysterious point of view of one of America's most recognized author.

You can read my Under the Dome Fantasy Cast blog entry here and see how my wishlist did not come to life. At all. lol. Still wish they had picked better actors. Buggers.

Now on to my top ten list of characters I believe should carry forward with the adaptation and which actor I would like to see portray them. Enjoy!


Milo Ventimiglia as Jake Epping AKA George Amberson

Jake Epping is the protagonist of this time-travelling story but also the antagonist, in the sense that he is creating all of these problems by changing what was. And who better to play Happy-Yet-Sad than Milo Ventimiglia, the king of the happysad face. He also has the ability to play older and younger quite well as evidence by his portrayal of Peter in Heroes. Overall, Milo has the sex appeal and charm to carry the weight of a character that is both troubled and optimistic, both in the past, the present, and the future. Take note Hulu, I want Milo.


Gemma Arterton as Sadie Dunhill

Sadie Dunhill is the typical 60's woman; soft, gentile, and loyal to her man. And what is great about this character is her willingness to become a modern woman; a desire that sets off a chain of events that puts Jake's mission in jeopardy. King has always been good at writing strong female characters, and he doesn't disappoint this time again. So it took all of one second to think of Gemma Arterton in this role: she's young, she's soft-spoken, and she can pull off the complexity of Sadie's character.


Hal Holbrook as Al Templeton

Al Templeton is the man that starts the fire but doesn't stay around to see its path of destruction. He's a very mysterious character and has a small but pivotal role in the novel. That is why I hope they expand his role for the Hulu adaptation. So many questions derive from this character: how did he find the timeloop? What does he know about the future that makes him so determined to send Jake, specifically, to the past? Why doesn't he keep this for him and take over the world? I know Holbrook is on the verge of dying but this man is flawless when it comes to drama and mystery. He has the face for it! Somebody give this man a role with substance!!


Scott Patterson as Deke Simmons

If the term "Bromance" had existed in the 60s, Deke Simmons and Jake's relationship would have been the perfect embodiment of it. Deke is not only Jake's best friend in Jodie circa 1960, but he's also his confident and helps Jake move along in his mission. I have a soft spot for Deke because he just doesn't know how to be mean-spirited. If there was ever a character that gave me hope for humanity, it's Deke Simmons. Scott Patterson has those charming eyes that would make anyone believe in him. And yes, another The Event alumni on the list.


Monica Potter as Mimi Corcoran

Mimi Corcoran is an odd character in the sense that she doesn't fit the 60's Texas era. I always suspected that Mimi knew more than she let on about Jake/George and the whole timeloop but it's never explicitly written in the novel. So I really hope they cast a big name to play this part and expand her character to someone more dubious or all-knowing. And I'm a sucker for Monica Potter's dramatic timing and southern flare.



Derek Luke as Harry Dunning

Harry Dunning is the janitor at the school that Jake works at prior to him jumping back in time. He's a very soft-spoken, quiet man who shares his childhood horror story with Jake, which touches the latter's heart so much that he jeopardizes his mission in the past to reconcile Harry's traumatic and violent childhood. During this time, Jake stumbles upon the kids in Derry. You know, the same kids who battled an evil clown in another King novel... Plus it would be the perfect role for Derek Luke, since he still has those boyish looks even though he's far from being a boy.


Lili Taylor as Ellen Dockerty

Ellen Dockerty is the quintessential stuck-up teacher that everyone had at least once in their lifetime. She plays by the book and her loyalty to the rules of life are challenged when she meets George/Jake in Jodie circa 1960. It takes a special kind of charm to pull off this kind of character because Ellen is both tough yet maternal, impulsive yet instinctive. And Lili Taylor proved more than once that she can play a character with dual personalities. Mel Gibson's Ransom, anyone?



Michael Stahl-David as Lee Harvey Oswald

This is where it gets interesting. Lee Harvey Oswald is the man responsible for gunning down and assassinating former president, and civil rights activist, John F. Kennedy. King's approach to this historical event is both well-researched and thoroughly detailed. Although he manages to humanize Oswald, he also doesn't back down from the hard facts: Oswald was deranged and believed himself to be a messiah of sorts. It won't be easy to play this part, but I believe Michael Stahl-David would be perfect at portraying Oswald, insanity and all. Whoever gets cast will surely have a lot of material to work with so I'm expecting a flawless performance for this part.


Sarah Roemer as Marina Prusakova

Another The Event alumni! Sarah Roemer is the only person I had in mind when thinking of Marina Prusakova, Oswald's mouthy yet loyal Russian bride. She stole my heart with her portrayal of Leila in The Event, and I'm hoping she does the same as Prusakova. It's going to be a tough part to play since the role Prusakova played in the assassination is both theoretical and documented, with everyone agreeing that she was kept in the dark about it all. I hope they venture with this role and flesh out the character of Prusakova as she was both the lover and the confident of Lee Harvey Oswald. Nobody knew him like she did.


Gil Bellows as James Hosty

James Hosty is the real life detective who worked on the JFK assassination and King took that ambiguity (a lot of conspiracy theorists believe Hosty played a part in the assassination) to insert Hosty into the narrative of 11/22/63. Throughout the novel, it is implied that Hosty has some sense of what is going on with Jake/George and every good mystery show needs a snoopy detective. And Gil Bellows personifies that characterization flawlessly. If nobody in this list gets cast except one, I hope it's Gil Bellows.


Agree or disagree with this fantasy cast? Either way, I think King fans are in for a treat! :)


Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

Warm Bodies. Cold Bodies. Dead Bodies.

I love zombies. Duhrr!


I have breaking news. I mean, its news for people who have an equally disturbing love for zombies. If the walking dead ain't your thing, then turn around and walk away. But make it quick, I feel a fever coming on...

That was a zombie joke up there! Totally dying of laughter here! Okay - so back to the serious soft tissue at hand. The super-zealous rom-novel Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion is being produced for the big screen. Now that comes to no surprise to me since everything YA is being made into PG so might as bloody well adapt the next best thing in YAfiction.

Warm Bodies is a tale of two lovers unable to find its balance. One is human. One is a zombie. Seems suuuuuuuper ridiculous but it is quite the opposite. Sure it plays on zombie stereotypes - what art form doesn't, right? - but where most mediums exploit the slapstick, Warm Bodies embraces it as if it wasn't infected at all!

There is no release date yet but I plead y'all to go out and buy/read this book because once the movie comes out you will all be like:

"Where did I hear that title before and why is everyone so excited about a zombie love story?"

Candles are out,

Eleven's Ink

Keep Calm and Carrie On

OMG - the event to surpass all events is just around the corner. Have you all heard the news? No? Okay, okay, I might be a little ahead of myself here but there are rumours of a possible Carrie remake. You know, the pigs blood, the creepy eyes, the gym on fire? Basically, the ultimate bully-revenge movie is about to get remade!

Sissy Spacek as Carrie in the 1976 original movie.

If that wasn't sex-noises to your ears, wait til you get a hold of this: Chloë Moretz (Hugo, Kick-Ass) has been selected to play the part of Carrie White. Although she wouldn't be my first pick (Dakota Fanning is - and I still think she would be brilliant in the role) i'm happy nonetheless that they chose a star who is ACTUALLY age appropriate for a movie centered around high school drama. It's going to be directed by Kimberly Peirce, the mastermind behind Boys Don't Cry and Stop-Loss.

The timing is perfect as this movie couldn't be any more relevant with all the anti-bullying movements going on around the country.

In theory, this is awesome. I mean, it's the best news since I found out Under The Dome might get the TV treatment. Carrie was the first Stephen King novel I read. When I watched that movie way back in the 90's, I had never experienced hype - or a sense of wanting and/or longing for something more. That movie created that feeling inside me. When the credits rolled, I noticed in small print the following:

"Based on the novel "Carrie" by Stephen King"

Now, it has to be said, I wasn't much of a reader back then. Sure, I was always at the library; I loved books, I just didn't read them. So when I went to the Aylmer public library the following day, I picked up the book and decided to give it a try. I found a spot in the beanie bag corner and started to read Carrie.

Can I state that this movie/book combination stirred something in me, brought me to where I am now - what with a love for horror movies, books, and writing - Yeah, I think I can. Factor in my french teacher's writing exercises and my active imagination, and you have there the cocktail of my foundation.

A teaser poster from FirstShowing

It just sucks balls that the movie comes out in 2013. After whatever it is that's suppose to kill us in 2012. *sigh*

Candles are out,

Eleven's ink

 

Under The Dome Fantasy Cast

I'm such a procrastinator. This post was meant for last week.

Stephen King novels are perfect foundations for movies or television series: Frank Darabont made a career out of adapting King novels into succesful movies (The Mist, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile); Carrie (1976) saw two of its stars nominated for Academy Awards (Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie). The Shining turned Jack Nicholson into a household name.


And so it was pretty delightful to learn that there is whispers of a possible Under The Dome television adaptation. The story centers around Dale Barbara, an army veteran who is called back into duty when Chester's Mill - a sleepy cottage town - is suddently, and inexplainably, shut off from the rest of the world. A forcefield nicknamed "The Dome" is sealing off the residents of Chester's Mill creating political envy, deadly powertrips, and hallucinations of Halloween.

Showtime has expressed interest in broadcasting the series but nothing is set in stone as of now.

This "Top Ten" list serves two purposes: Listing the ten characters I find interesting enough to be carried forward into the series AND assigning them an actor I see portraying the character in question.


John Goodman as "Big" Jim Rennie
Big Jim is a used car salesman, in every sense of the word. He is on city council and runs it with an iron fist. The most evil son-of-a-bitch i've ever seen in print. Once he realises the benefits of being sealed off from the world, he doesn't hesitate to abuse of them.

John Goodman would be perfect as the cunning yet short-tempered Jim Rennie. He's proved he could be versatile and he could pull off the charming sarcasm that rolls off Big Jim's fat ugly tongue!

Greg Kinnear as Dale "Barbie" Barbara

Barbie is fairly new to the town and gets to know - and befriend - the locals of Chester's Mill through his job as a cook at Sweetbriar Rose's. But when the town is sealed off and murders begin while bodies pile up, fingers are pointed and most are pointed straight at Barbie.

I can only picture Greg Kinnear when I think of Barbie. Not everyone could pull off the name Barbie and still look tough doing so. I have a feeling Kinnear could do that; he still carries boyish looks while maintaining an air of maturity. He would murder this part. No pun intended.



Patricia Heaton as Julia Shumway
Julia Shumway is the town reporter and Barbie's strongest ally. She has serious balls and demonstrates it time and time again; negotiating deals with the upper echelon of the army, advocating Barbie's innocence, and going against the supreme fuckin' ruler, Big Jim.

This one was actually a toss up between Heaton and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. But I went with Patricia Heaton because she has that imposing energy that Julia Shumway portrays. She could bring forth the character's brash approach to situations.



Topher Grace as Junior Rennie
Junior is not feeling so well lately. He suffers migraines that lead him to do unspeakable things that changes the town forever. Along with his dad, Junior Rennie helps to create a blanket of fear over the town and quickly emerges as Chester's Mill's most disturbed resident.

I can't remember exactly when I thought of Topher Grace playing Junior, but he would fit perfectly well in Junior's skin. He has that odd, creepy factor about him when he tries. And it's about time Grace comes back to television!!



Adam Scott as Eric "Rusty" Everett
Rusty is a paramedic-turned-doctor-under-crisis and general cool dude in town. He has a pretty laid back attitude but only before the "Dome" comes down over Chester's Mill. When he realises the schemes of power-hungry Jim Rennie, Rusty begins an investigation into the cause of this "Dome".

Adam Scott embodies the laid-back stereotype; shaggy hair, squaggly limbs, and dopey eyes. And he's proven his acting chops in drama (The Vicious Kind).



Ivana Milicevic as Linda Everett
Just another "tiddy cop" according to Big Jim. Linda is Rusty's wife and mother of his two kids. She also serves as an acting police officer but once the town becomes a playing ground for Jim Rennie, her loyalty is put in question.

There are several underused actors out there and Ivana Milicevic is one of them. She would play the protective mother type brilliantly! She's sweet yet stern when need be. If this character is well developped in the series, Ivana Milicevic could emerge as the shining star. (Biased! I love Ivana's work and Linda's character)


Kevin Durand as Peter Randolph
The dumb ass deputy who inherits the reigns of Chester's Mill Police Department when Sheriff Duke Perkins dies mere moments after the "Dome" covers the town. He follows Big Jim's every orders without question, leading him to act in unsheriff like ways.

Kevin Durand was on LOST and I hated his character so much! And when Peter Randolph sank deeper into Rennie's twisted plot, I couldn't help but to think of Durand. No offense Kevin Durand, but you seem like you could play a sheep looking for its shepherd quite effortlessly.



Glenne Headly as Reverend Piper Libby
There is something to say about Stephen King's rather comic portrayal of religious figures in his novel. They are either zealous (Reverend Lester Coggins) or rather disgruntled towards God. as is Reverend Piper Libby. I personally find her character compelling and charming, if only because of her odd relationship with God ("Hey Not-There!").

Glenne Headly was Tess fucking Trueheart in Dick Tracy. Just like I pictured Kinnear as Barbie, Headly is the first image I had of Piper Libby. Looks all sweet and innocent but packs a mean punch!



Chandler Canterbury as Joe McClatchey
Joe is a thirteen year old boy who sees the corruption before anyone else. He's rebellious at heart but tackles the difficult task of seeking the source of the "Dome".

Canterbury seems to be everywhere lately, appearing in Knowing, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and has television appearences in Fringe and Criminal Minds. He's the right age and could easily play the part of the rampant teen. Anyone BUT the kid who plays Carl in The Walkind Dead.



Samaire Armstrong as Samantha "Sammy" Bushey
By far the most touching character in the entire story - and there is a shitload of characters. Sure, she lives in a trailer, married a meth-head, named her kid Little Walter, and engages in lesbian activity but the abuse she suffers and the subsequent revenge she plots on her abusers is unsettling. A perfect character for dramatic television.

Armstrong fits the mold perfectly! She can play stank n' skank like no other as proven with her performance in Stay Alive. And she can pull off the emotional scenes that seem to encompass Sammy's life.




Agree or disagree with this fantasy cast? What character would you like to see on the small screen?

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

OMG - CHANGES!!

So I'm trying to find ways to blog more often and thought the themed month would inspire me to write more but it didn't; I'm actually having trouble finding a theme I want to dissect for roughly 30 days. I focus too much on the lenght of the blog which can tear me down after work. I would like to experiment with lighter posts to balance out the heavy Top Tens and Stories.

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...

Starting now, I'll have themed days, which is far more easier to commit to!


Here's what you can expect in the future:

• Movie Review Monday
• W/E Wednesday
• Top Ten Thursday
• Feelgood Friday
• Sleepy Sunday

Tuesdays will be reserved for blog stories - Catch up on Friday the 13th, The Infected, and its spin-off, The Infected:What Happened to David Price.

Let the changes begin!!  ;)

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

Everything Geek: The Buffyverse

Oh the "Verse". All geeks out there will agree that to turn anything from cult status to geek status, you have to add the suffix "Verse". Such as Buffyverse. It's like the universe 'cept only with Buffy shit. Isn't that a world we all want to live in? My thoughts exactly.


The Movie
Joss Whedon was toying with the idea of making a movie revolving around female empowerment for quite some time. He wanted something different than the damzel in distress. His first idea would be centered around an immortal waitress named Rhonda. Yeah, right, aren't we all glad he didn't go down that route!!

What finally emerged from the rubble was a light-hearted, sometimes spazzy, teen comedy about sex, drugs, violence, and school bullying. Joss has written a darker script and he did express dissapointment with the final outcome.

The movie showcased Buffy as a ditzy cheerleader who goes against the grain and fights the path that was laid out for her. It could have been great, but execs turned it into a so-so pop-culture movie that made more people laugh then scream.

I find Kristy Swanson was perfect for the role. She portrayed Buffy just as brilliantly as Sarah Michelle Gellar did, although this statement would not be well accepted at a Buffy convention. They hate the Swanson!! Rounding out the cast is Donald Sutherland, Luke Perry, David Arquette, Paul Reubens, Rutger Hauer, and Hilary Swank. Yes, the same Hilary Swank. Check out cameos by Ben Affleck and Ricki Lake!

The TV Show (seasons 1-7)
I already blogged about my love for this series here and here, so you're free to check out what contradictions can be found between the posts. :)

Okay, so I know I've said this a gazillion times, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer is hands-down the best TV show ever made. For one hour it made teens around the world laugh, scream, cry, question. It made us fall in love with some of TV's most detailed and complexe characters ever written.

Yeah, sometimes there was filler episodes about sharkboys or preying manthis teachers but the core stories were always spot-on and Buffy was known for having some of the best season finales in its time.

It comes at no surprise that even to this day, us fans are still begging for more. When I say Joss Whedon is a God, I'm not kidding.

The Tie-in Novels

You know a series or movies has gained geek status when they start making tie-in novels. These books are rarely considered canon to the original storyline and oftentimes features the characters in a dreamworld or alternate reality.

They were really popular during the show's duration but eventually less were made when the series finished after seven seasons.

I have yet to read any tie-ins merely because it isn't Joss Whedon's work. And what I like about Buffy is the interactions between the characters, it's all in their body language. Not so sure how that would translate into words.

The Graphic Novel (seasons 8-9)

I really wanted to continue with the Buffy storyline and even almost bought the first graphic novel, The Long Way Home, but for some reason I put it back on the shelf. I read alot about the graphic novel continuation and it just seems all a bit weird. Buffy has a lesbian relationship, people have magical powers, Dawn becomes a giant. It all seemed too comic-y for me.

But while doing a bit of reading for this blog, I found out there was a season 9, which went back to the more subtle terror of the tv series. I'm slightly more tempted to start the graphic novels now!

With all this plus the countless fan fiction on the internet, you can't really go wrong. A chick that kicks ass is pure geek. At its best!


Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

Best of 2011: Novels

I bought a lot of books this year and thanks to my iRewards card from Chapters, managed to save a whopping $104.45!!! I still haven't managed to read them all though. D'oh! So here's a quick glance at some books that have moved me this year. They weren't necessarily published this year, I just read the book this year.

Blood Red Road - Moira Young

I am a big fan of dystopian novels. I like the idea of a distant future where humans have regressed into barbarism and animal instincts. Blood Red Road by Canadian author Moira Young explores the world around Saba; a desert dweller obsessed with her twin brother Lugh. One day, a sand storm springs out of nowhere and with it comes men on horses. They say they want Lugh.

What happens next is a journey seen through the eyes of a desperate Saba, who will stop at nothing to find her brother. You will have trouble putting this book down if you like both action and compelling writing. There is no quotation marks in this book to distinguish the dialogue between characters. They talk in rough slang, staying true to the desolate future. A must read!

Rumour has it Ridley Scott has bought the rights to the books. Hopefully a movie is in the works soon!



One Second After - William R. Forstchen

According to the preface by Newt Gingrich or whatever his name is, this book was discussed in front of some government people or whatever. It's all very constitutional and super PRO-AMERICAN. I'm not a USA hater, but I can't stand how patriotic their books are. If you can put that aside, like I did, you will enjoy this book for what it is. A compelling piece about the threat of silence. And I mean utter fucking silence.

A small American town is suddenly sent into a blackout and find themselves forcing to band togheter to survive in a world without modern technology. Everything we take for granted like medicine, food, fuel, communications, and shelter is stripped away and all they have left is each other: "We're still Americans, goddammit!"

There is alot of conflict in this book. Diabetes, neighbouring towns, convictions. What works for one, doesn't necessarily work for the other. This book explains what would happen to humanity one second after.

A Red Herring Without Mustard - Alan Bradley

This is the third entry in the Flavia De Luce Mysteries by Canadian author Alan Bradley. I bought the first book without knowing anything about it. The title and cover had captivated me. Two years later, out came A Red Herring Without Mustard, or as I like to call it: Flavia All Grown Up.

The third book continues the tale of Flavia, a passionate chemist with a flare for mystery. She can solve a crime with only the help of her notebook and Gladys, her trusty bicycle. It all sounds childish but it's anything but. A charming novel that will sweep you off your feet and whisk you into a world of poison, jack snipes, 1950's countrysides, and gypsies.

Other notable novels:

• Tiger's Curse - Colleen Houck
• 11/22/63 - Stephen King
• SWAMPLANDIA! - Karen Russell

What novel had you wanting more?

Candles are out,

Eleven's Ink

November 19th: A French Revolution!!

I'm french-canadian. Maybe some francophone readers have not noticed it because of my main use of the english language, but I am certain anglophones have caught on that I don't master Shakespeares language.

Quebec, the province I live in, is the only francophone province in Canada. We have our own television networks and radio stations that cater to our linguistic preferences and every year, a slew of movies from La Belle Province are applauded across the world.

If you speak french, you should check out these 19 Produits du Québec.


Grande Ourse
A rare gem in Quebec television. The only hard sci-fi show and ohmygod did it ever kick ass! Because there is so little funding for arts and entertainment in Canada, big shows like these only air for one maybe two seasons with only 6-8 episodes each. More of a mini-series, really. They eventually made a movie several years later but it lacked the depth of the series' storyline. Stars my favourite Quebec actress Fanny Malette as Gastonne.

Aveux

I blogged about this show before here. Once again, this is more of a mini-series since it's only one season long. The casting is flawless, the acting is amazing, and some scenes will seriously leave you crying. So good!

Bon Cop, Bad Cop
Probably one of the most famous Quebec movie out there. It is bilingual and is a satire/dark comedy about the stupid fight between anglophones and francophones in Canada. It is kind of funny but you have to be in a particular kind of mood to laugh.

Elles Étaient Cinq
This is a really sad movie about the reality of criminal rights. Five girls host a party at one of the girls parent's cottage. Manon and Sophie decide to head to town to get more alcohol. When they return, a guy in a jeep stops when Sophie sticks her thumb out. What happens next changes the lives of all five girls and shines a light on how tolerent we are at parole hearings.

Babine
The very first Quebec fairytale. It leans more towards Grimm then Disney though. But all in all, it's still very much a family film and it contains everything and anything that makes this type of movie magical.

La Guerre des Tuques
Oh a classic! Every Quebecker has seen this movie in their lifetime. It's a staple during the christmas holidays and it still has its place in 2011. Kids will be kids!

Nos Étés
This one is still too fresh to be a classic but it will hold that title in the future. An epic tale of family ties, families at war, and all set in different time periods that marked our nation. Stunning series!



Les Chevaliers d'Émeraude
A very popular children's book series about knights defending their country against the humanoid insects that come from across the sea. It has been rumoured that it would be made into a television series but that has yet to happen. A spin-off book series set after the events of the twelfth and final book of Chevalier d'Émeraudes was released a couple of years ago but I lost interest.

NRJ 104.1

The most popular french-speaking radio channel in Quebec. Many celebrities have hosted shows on this dial that has been refashioned from Energie to NRJ, the international chain of francophone music. Thanks to it we get french remixes of popular songs. Unfortunately we also get this:

Lance et Compte

This series has been around for 25 years, spawned 7 seasons, 6 TV movies and a big screen adaptation two years ago. It launched the career of Marina Orsini, who has become Quebec's sweetheart. It included real NHL hockeys teams into the drama and is the most sucessful francophone show in Quebec.



C.R.A.Z.Y.

This film travelled the world and won numerous prestigious awards such as the City Award at TiFF, the Jury's Prize at the Morocco Film Festival, the Genie award for Best Motion Picture, and won the Audience Award at the American Film Insitute Fest in Los Angeles. C.R.A.Z.Y. uses classic rock music - mostly Pink Floyd - as a backdrop to the movie. It tells the struggle of a homosexual boy growing up in the 70's with four macho brothers and a very strict conservative dad.

Les Boys

Oh another classic movie. It was a major sucessful movie that was followed by three sequels and an equally sucessful tv show which is in its fourth season. It got a lot of critisicsm for having similar plotlines and ideas as Lance et Compte and even have some of the same actors. The theme song for the movie has become Eric Lapointe's most requested song. Let's listen to it.





Roméo et Juliette

Almost every country - or nation with enough ressources to finance a film - has remade Shakespeare's tale of star-crossed lover. In the Quebec version, the story has been modernized and depicts a harsh-reality of our social classes and how we've grown to accept it as is. One of the better versions of Romeo & Juliet.

Le Collectionneur

This movie is based on Chrystine Brouillet's bestseller of the same name. I absolutely loved the book about a detective trying to solve a string of murders happening in Montreal. The movie came out almost at the same time as The Bone Collector with Denzel Washington and it had audiences confused as the french translation for the Washington flick was similar to Le Collectionneur. Suffice to say, it's now become a cult classic.



Aurore

This is a story most Quebeckers wished they hadn't heard. The true story of Aurore Gagnon - a severely tortured child who eventually died at the hands of her step-mother - has been told numerous times but none more painfully accurate then the 2005 adaptation by Luc Dionne, a remake of the 1952 film Little Aurore: Child Martyr.



Un Souper Presque Parfait

I guess you can compare this show with The Food Network's Dinner Party Wars, in which people compete for a grand prize by trying to out-perform their fellow competitors in the fields of hosting and cooking. In the Quebec version, it is five guests and and they are featured from monday to friday with each day reserved for one of the competitors. It is oddly entertaining!!



Karmina

A vampire movie with Quebec slang. Ya, totally fucking hilarious!



Wariwulf

From the author of the Amos Daragon series, Bryan Perro branched off several years ago to devellop a story set in ancient Egypt about a boy with the mystical powers to transform into a wolf. There is ALOT of characters in this one, in the same vein as Chevalier D'émeraude but the story is weaven so much more intricately.

Fanny Malette

I love this actress so much she deserves her own showcase slot! I first saw her in the supernatural series Grande-Ourse and have been feverishly stalking her every moves since. She stole my heart in Continental: Un film sans fusils, and her portrayal of the conflicted mother in Les 7 Jours du Talion can take anyone's breath away and reduce them to tears. Hands down, one of our bests. Her portrayal of Gastonne in Grande Ourse is an example of how much quirkiness is tolerated in television. She was cast against producers wishes in the series Nos Étés as Nora but soon convinced TV execs when her character became a fan favourite. I hated her, but I loved hating her.

 

 

If you are away from home, I hope you enjoyed this! What's your favourite thing Made in Québec?

Candles are out,

Eleven's Ink