Tag: adaptations

146 – Snow Much Drama

The drama around Snow White, the troubled remake of Disney’s 1937 masterpiece, is unfortunate because it really was unnecessary! Just a little bit of familiarity with the folktale published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812 could have spared the filmmakers (and some outspoken actors) a lot of time and trouble. Also in this episode, you get your last chance to ask show hosts anything! We’ll be having a mailbag party for our 150th episode.

There is also a video version of my thoughts on the Snow White drama, which are included in this episode:

I also had the pleasant surprise of seeing the new trailer for War of the Rohirrim, an upcoming film based on the legend outlined in the appendix to The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Here’s my reaction to that:

145 – Film Review: Harold and The Purple Crayon

I predicted that the film adaptation of Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson would focus too much on adults at the expense of telling a story for children. It looks like I was right.

And shockingly . . . I’m about to make the case that Deadpool and Wolverine is more of a film for the children (well, for the inner children of adults) than the adaptation of Harold and the Purple Crayon, because it centers the kinds of themes and adventures that kids actually care about, instead of focusing on a bunch of adult nonsense. I really did not expect to talk about Deadpool on a show about children’s literature, but there it is. I also didn’t expect to veer into the territory of beauty standards and cosmetic procedures, but it came up in a surprising and somewhat uncomfortable way.

144 – The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Quantum Theatre

Co-hosts T.Q. Townsend and Chloë Townsend (and the rest of the family) saw a very funny musical production of The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck put on by Quantum Theatre at Bradgate Park in Leicestershire. This was NOT a show that was just for kids. Parents were laughing just as much as the children, and the creative use of minimal costumes and props gave the play the familiar feel of the kind of acting that children naturally do.

One thing we forgot to mention in the review is how awesome the programs were! Usually play programs just have the synopsis and cast and such, but this one had a lot of interesting information for the kids to read as well as a bunch of fun activities to keep them occupied while they waited for the show to start. Never thought I’d review a play program, but I am pleased to have that as a first.

Catch future performances before the tour is over! Book tickets at www.quantumtheatre.co.uk.

Learn more about Bradgate Park in Leicestershire at bradgatepark.org.

138 – Can Peter Jackson Recapture the Magic?

Peter Jackson is getting the band back together to make movies about . . . finding Gollum?? For real? Will these films be any good? Will this be another case of a filmmaker trying and failing to recapture the magic? Find out what I think about the prospects for these new films. Check out the video version to witness a perfect reenactment of what happened when I went to see The Phantom Menace in 1999, complete with butterfly hair clips.

137 – Peter Pan Goes Wrong made us LAUGH

Co-hosts T.Q. Townsend and Chloë Townsend recently went to the Curve Theatre in Leicester to see Peter Pan Goes Wrong, a hilarious comedy interpretation of J.M. Barrie’s classic children’s play and novel about Peter Pan, the Darling Children, the Lost Boys, and of course, Captain Hook. The play was put on by Mischief Theatre, a company that specializes in the most spectacularly silly shows we’ve ever seen.

We talk about which parts of the technical production were the most impressive, which parts of the story were the most interesting, and which moments just made us laugh the hardest. This play lovingly pokes fun at a story we all know very well, and that’s why it works. It’s also an example of how classic children’s stories never go out of style, and that there is always a fun, creative way to reinterpret them.

The traveling tour of Peter Pan Goes Wrong concluded in our city of Leicester, and we were lucky to catch one of the very last shows. But you can see it on video, or hopefully one day see it on stage as we did! Make sure you get there early though, because the show starts before “the show.”

127 – Greta Gerwig Isn’t Right for Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia are getting the Netflix treatment, and I hope that they’re great. I hope they help an entire new generation of kids discover one of the best book series ever written. But I’m not encouraged by the appointment of Greta Gerwig as the director, because she’s proven twice now that if she’s handed a property made for children, she’ll make a film for adults.

You can listen in your usual audio feed, and there’s also a video version of this episode:

What do you think? Are you optimistic or pessimistic? What things do you think a filmmaker like Gerwig will do right and what will she do that messes around too much with the source material? And which adaptations of the Narnia series are your favorites?

110 – Percy Jackson and the Olympians Episode Two

I’m back to compare the new TV adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians to with its literary source. Episode 2 of the new TV series adapts chapters five through eight of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Percy is settling in to life at Hogwarts I MEAN CAMP HALF BLOOD, but he has to deal with bullies, new classes, and trying to figure out just who his dad is.

Listen and find out how many Snapes I awarded this episode. As I mentioned in my first review, whenever I take a look at an onscreen adaptation, I will award it from one to five Snapes based on how faithful it is to the children’s book it’s based on. I chose Snapes as I’ve always felt that Alan Rickman’s portrayal of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films has held up as an excellent example of how to translate a character from page to screen in a way that is faithful to the literary original and still leave room for the writer, director and actor to interpret the character in their own way.

108 – Percy Jackson and the Olympians Episode One

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the new TV adaptation of the beloved series by Rick Riordan. Find out what I thought of the first episode and how faithfully it interpreted the first four chapters of the original novel.

For a long time I’ve avoided talking about screen adaptations, but I’ve realized that some are too important to ignore because they have such a huge impact on the way that children’s literature is understood and remembered. So let’s dive in to the new Percy Jackson series which was . . . surprisingly good!

Have you seen the new Percy Jackson series? What do you think of it?

102 – Interview with Anne Fine

November’s Leicestershire Children’s Writer is the legendary Anne Fine, author of dozens of books including the Diary of a Killer Cat series, The Chicken Gave it to Me, Bill’s New Frock, Flour Babies, Madame Doubtfire, and her most recent book, Aftershocks.

Anne’s writing skill is matched by her sense of humor and her thoughtfulness, and it was a great pleasure to be able to speak with her. In our conversation, she discusses her latest work, her surprise that Bill’s New Frock remains relevant today, and how she really feels about the cat who inspired her to write Diary of a Killer Cat.

You can learn more about Anne and her work at annefine.co.uk.