Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

I didn’t used to be a fan of Ben Stiller, but he has grown on me over the years, showing a versatility and undeniable skill in his acting that I’ve come to appreciate.  The Night at the Museum movies are some of my favorites and this third installment is an immensely satisfying adventure, an outstanding last hurrah with much loved characters.  It also sorrowfully marks the final on-screen performances of both Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams, who both died before the movie was released.  There is a beautiful dedication during the end credits (which are well worth watching) to the two giants of cinema that I felt was both touching and wistful.  [Perhaps my feelings regarding the passing of Robin Williams have colored my thoughts about this movie, thus giving it a higher rating than I would have otherwise, but even if so, things happening in the real world have always impacted how we feel about movies and therefore I feel the five stars are justified.]

Something has gone wrong with the mysterious Egyptian tablet that magically brings the museum to life when the sun goes down.  Night guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) gets grudging approval from Museum Director Dr. McPhee (Ricky Gervais) to take the ailing tablet and Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek in a much better role than his deluded hacker on Mr. Robot) to the British Museum in London in order to consult with Ahk’s parents, Pharaoh Merenkahre and Queen Shepseheret (Sir Ben Kingsley and Anjali Jay).  Naturally a few of the others stow away in order to come along, including Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Attila the Hun (Patrick Gallagher), Sacajawea (Mizuo Peck), Dexter the monkey, and miniature cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and Roman legionnaire Octavius (Steve Coogan).  At the British museum, they meet Larry’s counterpart, night guard Tilly (Rebel Wilson), and exhibit come to life Sir Lancelot (Dan Stevens), the latter of which insists on joining the “quest”.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed already, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is absolutely bursting at the seams with an incredible array of fine actors, which also includes the great Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Rachael Harris , Hugh Jackman, Alice Eve and Matt Frewer.  Hugh Jackman is hilarious in a cameo as himself, Sir Ben Kingsley is always superb and Rebel Wilson is so good at the type of comedy that has you half-laughing and half-cringing.  The whole movie has beat perfect comedic timing, a rarity in films these days; it had me actually tearing up in places and howling with laughter in others.  Thoroughly enjoyable, lighthearted but also poignant and deceptively philosophical, I felt the whole thing was just perfect.  I’ve been to the British Museum more times than I can count, and it was such a pleasure to see familiar exhibits and galleries come to life.  Ben Stiller has completely won me over and his additional performance as Neanderthal Laaa was just icing on the cake.  A marvelous adventure for the whole family and my first impulse upon finishing the movie was to immediately watch it again, a sure sign it well-deserves its shining five star rating.  – BETHANY

For more on this fabulously fun film, frequent the Internet Movie Database

A prologue in 1930s Egypt, about the expedition that found the mystical tablet.

Something has gone very wrong at the museum.  (Ben Stiller and Robin Williams)

The grand opening of the new planetarium, complete with lots of “special effects”.

Rachael Harris and Dexter.

What is the matter with you guys?!

  Ben Stiller as Laaa.  Is that a hint of Blue Steel I see?

Larry and Ahk infiltrate the British Museum.  (Ben Stiller and Rami Malek)

‘I wonder why all the locals are running away?’  Steve Coogan‘s Octavius and Owen Wilson‘s Jedediah fall into an exhibit of Pompeii … that has come to life.

Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek) and his parents (Sir Ben Kingsley and Anjali Jay), who just might hold the key to fixing the tablet.

Dancing statues in the British Museum’s Far East wing.

                               Dan Stevens as Sir Lancelot.

Nope, nothing to see here.  Just your standard passengers on London’s public transportation.

Alice Eve and Hugh Jackman in their sensational cameos.

The lion statues from Lord Nelson’s column in Trafalgar Square come alive.

A promotional shot giving a nod to a sequence in the movie involving the art of M.C. Escher.  (click to see a much larger version)

Museum Director Dr. McPhee (Ricky Gervais) and night guard Tilly (Rebel Wilson).

It’s tough to say goodbye.

 

I couldn’t decide which of these previews was better, so I solved the problem by simply including them both.

 

Photos courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, 21 Laps Entertainment, 1492 Pictures and TSG Entertainment (unless otherwise credited in clickable form)

 

Dracula Untold

It is such a pleasure to see Luke Evans in a decent movie, unlike the ghastly Hobbit films which did their best to completely destroy a beloved children’s book.  Dracula Untold, as the title implies, aims to put a different spin on the classic story of the genesis of Dracula and does so with stunning detail and a compelling narrative.  Vlad is a complicated man, forced from his Transylvanian home as a child and trained to be a killer by the Turks.  As an adult, he is sickened by what he has become and returns home to try and lead a normal life.  His kingdom prospers and he loves his beautiful wife and son.  But their idyllic existence is shattered when the Turks show up, rudely rejecting the usual tribute of silver and instead demanding 1,000 boys to be raised as Vlad himself was, to be merciless killers.  Horrified by the prospect, Vlad instead seeks out a nameless horror haunting a mountain and strikes the fateful bargain.

Let me be clear – this is not a horror movie per se, but one of action, drama, romance and fantasy.  It’s the story of a man who loves his family and country so much that he’s willing to do almost anything to protect them.  There are some creepy crawlies and such, plus a few gross-out moments, but they are kept to a minimum so as not to detract from the themes of nobility, loyalty, love and justice.  “My father was a great man, a hero, so they say. But sometimes the world doesn’t need another hero, sometimes what it needs is a monster.”  These words are spoken by Vlad’s son, Ingeras, who provides crucial bits of narration.  It’s a deeply personal tale and you can’t help but root for Vlad as he fights to defend his family, his people and what he believes is right by any means necessary.  It doesn’t hurt that Luke Evans is inordinately hot and his enemies are ruthless and insufferable.  It’s downright fun to watch him wreak vengeance on the Turks, exploring the extent of his new powers as he also valiantly fights against the urge to drink human blood, which would seal his fate for all eternity.

The soundtrack, composed by Ramin Djawadi is fantastic, perfectly capturing the mood of the film and heightening the story in subtle and stunning ways.  The sets are incredible, the locations sublime and the cinematography,  wardrobe department and armorers should win an Oscar for their superb efforts.  John Schwartzman, the director of photography, is known for his work in such films as National Treasure: Book of Secrets, The Bucket List, Pearl Harbor, Seabiscuit, and Armageddon, and Dracula Untold more than earns its place among such august company.  When I sat down to watch this, I was expecting just another vampire movie, but this is something else altogether.  There are quite a few nods to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, even including a proto-Renfield, which added a nice sense of continuity with Dracula canon.  I enjoyed it tremendously and was thrilled to see the ending opening the door to possibly let the adventure continue in another film.  “Let the games begin.”  – BETHANY

For more on Dracula Untold, visit the Internet Movie Database

Stylistically, this movie was an elegant action tour de force, minus the comic book cheesiness of say, 300.

Vlad’s wife, Mirena, beautifully played in heartbreaking detail by Sarah Gadon.

The villain of the piece, Sultan Mehmed (Dominic Cooper), onetime friend of Vlad.

Tywin Lannister, uh, I mean Charles Dance as the Master Vampire.  “What kind of man crawls into his own grave in search of hope?”

“Run to your mother.”  Vlad and his son Ingeras (Art Parkinson).

From warrior to a one man army.  “Never forget who I am.”

Vlad and Mirena (Luke Evans and Sarah Gadon), as Vlad struggles against the urge to drink.

       One of the brutal erstwhile Transylvanian boys raised by the Sultan to be sadistic cold-blooded warriors.  (Thor Kristjansson)  Nice hairdo, dude.  So, er, unusual.

Things get downright batty.

The beautiful castle sans bats.

Vlad the Impaler in his son of the dragon armor.

                          Regrettably this scene was cut from the movie, but isn’t it lovely?  Dracula Untold somehow manages to become a fairy tale with Vlad as the monstrous hero.

“It’s not a child’s place to save his country.”  Family really is the heart of the story.

Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Michael De Luca Productions,  Dentsu and Fuji Television Network

Bitten

Don’t be fooled by the Horror classification; this is a paranormal noir type drama, not a freak fest. It’s a very adult story of a pack of werewolves that includes the only female werewolf in existence. Well played by Laura Vandervoort (who is not coincidentally very easy on the eyes), she’s conflicted about her werewolfitude (not a real word, but it works, doesn’t it?) and seeks a normal life. Why she would look for it in Toronto beats me, but she tries to carry on a relationship with a very nice guy whom she has to lie to on a regular basis, which as we all know is the basis of a great romance. (Sorry, my cynicism was showing) Thus far, werewolves are the only supernaturals in the narrative, which is a welcome respite from other shows that seem to be populated with just about every supernatural being, provided they are aesthetically pleasing.  Season two introduces witches, but since the show is based on book series Women of the Otherworld, this is not terribly shocking.

Bitten is an interesting and compelling look at a secret world that is taken seriously by the writers, who delve in detail into how such an underground society might work. The mythology here is different than other werewolf stuff out there, so don’t expect it to play by your rules. Complex relationships and back stories, with more than a splash (say, a bucketful) of murder and suspense make this show truly addictive. I’ve become invested in what happens to the characters and I really have no idea where the story might go. A cool, sexy show that seems very real, once you’ve clicked on your suspension of disbelief switch. Characters act in accordance with their established personalities, which means the drama isn’t manufactured just to create interest. Worth watching if only to see Stonehaven, the ancestral home of this pack of wolves that hides many, many secrets. – BETHANY

For more on Bitten, visit:  The Internet Movie Database

         The werewolf effects might not be the best but …

Click here to tour Stonehaven, the werewolf lodge

There are some seriously hot guys on this show.  Nick Sorrentino (Steve Lund)  Logan Jonsen (Michael Xavier) and Clayton Danvers (Greystone Holt).

Lest you think she’s just a pretty face, Laura Vandervoort (Elena Michaels) has a second degree karate black belt and does many of her own stunts.

That girl is seriously ripped!

            Nick and Antonio Sorrentino (Paulino Nunes), with a conveniently displayed headline.

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Why do bad guys always hang out at scuzzy motels?

Pack Alpha Jeremy Danvers (Greg Bryk) favors button down shirts and vests.  Somebody has to keep it classy!  Note the wolf totem in the background.

Logan’s girlfriend Rachel Sutton (Genelle Williams) does NOT own a Bed and Breakfast in Bear Valley.  This joke is aimed solely at fans of Warehouse 13.

(This set of images found on Pinterest)

         Clay is a professor of anthropology but his job is never mentioned again after the introduction.  Maybe the university fired him for biting attractive co-eds.

 

Photos courtesy of Entertainment One, Hoodwink Entertainment, No Equal Entertainment, Space and Syfy

The Color of Magic

Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, much like its character Cohen the Barbarian, is “a lifetime in [its] own legend”. This movie tells the stories from the first two books of the Discworld series, The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic.  To be honest, I don’t think the first few of books in the series are Pratchett’s best for several reasons, but mostly because the mythology of Discworld hadn’t yet been fully distilled in the author’s mind. Therefore I don’t object too much that the script takes enormous liberties with the narrative, as many of the changes are arguably for the better. Discworld is a genre unto itself, high fantasy taken to such extremes that it passes through the fabric of reality and comes out on the other side in a completely different universe, the result being quite profound, wickedly satiric and of course hilariously funny.  It has been said that Sir Terry Pratchett did for fantasy what Douglas Adams did for science-fiction and I most heartily concur.

Bringing such a world to life on film is a challenge of epic proportions and I applaud director Vadim Jean‘s efforts.  The author himself was involved and even gets a credit for it: ‘Mucked about by Terry Pratchett’.  I loved the shots from space of the Great A’tuin, the world turtle (of indeterminate gender) and the costumes in general were really wonderful with the wizards in particular being quite spectacular.  Cohen the Barbarian was fantastic as a wizened up old hero, Bethan the ditzy erstwhile druid sacrifice was funny and The Luggage was excellent. Tim Curry was a genius choice to play dastardly Trymon, a ruthlessly ambitious wizard, and I was thrilled to see Jeremy Irons as Lord Vetinari. Unfortunately, Irons gives the Patrician a slight speech impediment, where he pronounces R’s as W’s. This makes Lord Vetinari a little ridiculous, hardly the imposing and quietly menacing figure from the books. I also have no idea why Sean Astin was cast as Twoflower, as the Disc’s first tourist is supposed to be from the Agatean Empire (on the Counterweight Continent), which is portrayed in the books as being vaguely Asian with slight Japanese and Chinese flavors (their favorite delicacy is ‘squishi’). All in all though, a great introduction to Discworld which will hopefully inspire you to explore the books. For fans of the series, it’s a rare treat to see the magic of the books come to life and even though it’s never going to be like you imagined it in your head, it’s fun to see what it looks like in someone else’s. – BETHANY

For more on this movie, visit:  The Color of Magic IMDB

For more information on the great Sir Terry Pratchett, the Discworld series and other books, visit: http://terrypratchettbooks.com/

This is Great A’tuin, the sky turtle, who swims through the cosmos.  Discworld rests on the backs of four elephants who stand on A’tuin’s shell.  Really.

Twoflower, Ankh-Morpork’s first tourist (Sean Astin) and Rincewind (David Jason), whose hat reads ‘Wizzard’.

The harbor of Ankh-Morpork.  The Tower of Art at the Unseen University dominates the city’s skyline.

                                    This is The Luggage, made of rare sapient pearwood – note all the little legs under it which allows for self-mobility.  Sometimes when Twoflower opens the lid, it’s full of gold (top left).  Other times, it attempts to eat people (upper right).  And still other times, it produces clean folded and pressed laundry smelling of lavender.

Discworld’s rimfall, around the edge of which runs the Circumfence.  *pauses for laughter*

Tim Curry as the wizard Trymon.  How does that hat stay on?  It’s bigger than his head!

Jeremy Irons as Lord Vetinari, Patrician of Ankh-Morpork.  The little dog is named Wuffles.

Cohen the Barbarian (David Bradley) and Bethan (Laura Haddock).

The Octavo, a powerful magical book containing the eight greatest spells in the Multiverse, one of which has escaped and taken up residence inside Rincewind’s head.

Wyrmberg.  Here there be dragons.

                            Death, voiced by Christopher Lee holding the lifetimers of Rincewind and Twoflower.

The trailer for The Color of Magic:

A cartoon in which Twoflower explains how he obtained The Luggage:

(image courtesy of deviantart.com)

                           (image courtesy of deviantart.com)

Sir Terry Pratchett himself at a convention, followed by The Luggage. (image found on flickr)

(image courtesy of davidgustafik.deviantart.com)

(image found at isawlightningfall.blogspot.com)

Photos courtesy of RHI Entertainment and The Mob Film Company (unless otherwise noted)

Under the Dome

I am not a fan of Stephen King, but fortunately I did not know this was based on one of his books when I started watching, otherwise I never would have given it a shot. Obviously I have not read the book, so my review is purely objective and based solely on the merits of the show itself. The premise is deceptively simple, featuring a mysterious dome that comes crashing down on Chester’s Mill, completely cutting the town off from the outside world (and splitting a cow in half – yuck!  And they show it over and over and over …). But the premise of Lost was simple too, an airliner crashing on a mysterious island somewhere in the Pacific, and that show had one of the most detailed and complex narratives ever. The comparison is apropos, as there are layers upon layers of mysteries and questions, both under the dome and about the dome itself, and nobody is really what they seem. But unlike Lost where everything was an unknown, part of the creepiness factor in this show is due to a familiar environment suddenly becoming alien and hostile. Secrets come to light and lots of things that would otherwise have remained hidden are suddenly thrust to the fore. There’s plenty of talent here with a huge cast of characters, but getting an acting job on this show isn’t likely to be long term as more characters tend to get whacked here than on Game of Thrones (which is really saying something!). There is great character development throughout, as each person changes and evolves to the point that it’s hard to know if there are any clear cut good or bad guys. The show does ask great questions, such as if the “government” requires you to surrender your guns for the safety of the general public, it also follows that only said government will then have readily available weapons. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Life under the dome acts as a microcosm for the larger world, illustrating the practical and the not-so-practical tenets of civilized free society. I think it’s fascinating and enjoyed the second season as much as I did the first. – BETHANY

Deputy Linda Esquivel (Natalie Martinez) discovers you can look but you can’t touch.

     Dale “Barbie” Barbara” (Mike Vogel) illustrates you also can’t hear through the Dome.

Angie McAlister (Britt Robertson), Joe McAlister (Colin Ford) and Elinore “Norrie” Calvert-Hill (Mackenzie Lintz).  There are a lot of shots like this of people looking on in dumbfounded amazement/concern.

When Domes become magnetic

This show has a thing for butterflies.  Monarchs, to be specific.

   Barbie (a dude, I swear!) and Julia, as played by Mike Vogel and Rachelle Lefevre.

James “Big Jim” Rennie (Dean Norris), a used car salesman cum town councilman who’s very good at looking out for number one.

Big Jim’s son, James “Junior” Rennie.  Yes, a lot of people on this show have nicknames in quotes.

   Photo courtesy of http://ijusthateeverything.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/under2.jpg?w=930

Photos courtesy of Amblin Television, Baer Bones and CBS Television Studios (unless otherwise noted)

Constantine

An interesting concept although I have a few major theological problems with the movie. Like many other films portraying a human taking on demonic forces, this one makes God look very weak and uncaring. Constantine himself refers to God as “a kid with an ant farm”. The idea that our world is the result of a running bet between God and the Devil is appalling. The movie also runs absolutely roughshod over the concept of human free will and espouses a very legalistic view of salvation. But belief issues aside, this does have a lot of very cool special effects, a great soundtrack and even a few priceless laughs. I loved the image of what you thought was just an average human suddenly revealed to be an angel protecting another person from a demon. If you’re afraid of creepy crawlies or have a weak stomach for gore and other assorted nastiness, best steer clear. Rachel Weisz gives an excellent performance and Keanu Reeves does what he does best: playing Keanu Reeves. This movie isn’t going to win any awards or critical acclaim, but it is entertaining. Be sure to watch the bonus scene at the end of the credits. – BETHANY

Keanu Reeves as John Constantine, an über-cynic who believes but has no faith.

Just another workaday exorcism

Not everyone is what they appear to be – that’s no glare in Tilda Swinton’s eyes

Angela Dodson, a confused and frightened LAPD Detective (Rachel Weisz), getting the 411 on John Constantine.

An uncomfortable interlude with a demon.

Speaking of demons, John pays a visit to hell.

So, not a convenience store clerk?

Photos courtesy of Village Roadshow Pictures, The Donners’ Company, Weed Road Pictures, Batfilm Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment, Roadshow Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures

 

Winter’s Tale

Once I got over my disappointment that this wasn’t in any way connected to Shakespeare’s play, I absolutely loved Winter’s Tale. It’s a gorgeous romantic and inspiring story underpinned by the classic good vs evil paradigm. Russell Crowe and Will Smith went totally against type and played villainous characters with panache and eerie stillness, and Jessica Brown Findlay steals the show as doomed beauty Beverly Penn. Every time I thought I had figured out where the story was going, the writers surprised me by veering in a totally unexpected direction. I understand the screenplay is based on a much loved and exponentially more complex book which I have yet to read and many fans are upset by how little the movie has in common with its source material. However, judged solely on its own merits, this is an incredible story that celebrates each and every unique human soul along with some rather profound observations about human nature and the purpose of the universe. “I’ll tell you something that should chill your blood. Now matter how far we tip the scales our way, no matter how many of them we turn dark, nothing seems to break their capacity for hope. They pass it back and forth like the flu at a preschool fair. We’re losing, Lucifer. One bright star at a time, we’re losing.” I guess even bad guys gripe with one another around the metaphorical water cooler. My favorite visual element has to be the White Horse (anybody know where I can get one?) – those spectacular ethereal wings! I was moved by this beautiful and enchantingly thoughtful film, an uplifting and meaningful fairy tale that will restore your faith and inspire you to hope. Immensely satisfying! [I have since read the book, which I loved, and there is little resemblance to the movie. However, I love them both equally. The movie is an impression vaguely related to just one of the story lines in the book, but as long as you don’t expect the two to be similar, you can enjoy them both.] – BETHANY

For more on Winter’s Tale, visit http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1837709/?ref_=nv_sr_1

A dreamy scene utilizing some subtle but spectacular special effects.

Beverly Penn and Peter Lake at a dance in the Coheeries.  I don’t care for the haircut they gave Peter’s character, but everything else is gorgeous.

Did Peter steal the horse or did the horse steal Peter?

Why yes, I do sound like the Lucky Charms leprechaun but I’m still plenty scary.

Some rather obvious symbolism

Photos courtesy of Village Roadshow Pictures, Weed Road Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and Roadshow Entertainment

The White Queen

This was definitely not a good time period in which to be a woman, but this lot of valiant females certainly made the best of it. Britain’s famous War of the Roses, a long struggle between houses York and Lancaster for the throne of England, reads somewhat like a football game with a crown substituted for the ball. But this reboot, based on the spectacular books by Philippa Gregory, eschews most of the bits known to the modern audience courtesy of Shakespeare’s plays and instead focuses on the women rather than the men, and also spiking the story with shades of the supernatural involving the Woodville ladies. This puts a whole different spin on everything and is probably a good deal more accurate (well, except for the clandestine witchery). After all, history is largely written by the winners and Shakespeare was writing under a Tudor monarch, so it follows that perhaps his version of events might be a trifle suspect. The timing of this mini-series coincides with the the archaeological find of Richard III’s remains at Greyfriars Church, lending further relevance to the modern audience. They say truth is stranger than fiction and this complicated story about a tumultuous time period in England’s history certainly backs that up.

The production values for this series are staggeringly extravagant, filmed largely in Belgium where lots of authentic architecture from the period still stands. Gorgeous costumes, elaborate sets, intricate jewelry and stunning locations make the whole thing come to life in lavish detail. The casting is top notch and my personal favorite is Aneurin Barnard playing Richard of York (The Duke of Gloucester) as handsome and thoughtful, a far cry from the villainous hunchback of Shakespearean legend. Because this series focuses on women, their marriages and children, it does include a fair amount of sex, so be prepared for lots of bared bosoms and backsides. True, there was very little suspense (at least for me) as history classes inadvertently provided spoilers, but it was still richly entertaining. Enthralling and gripping, I binge watched the whole thing in two days and would love to see more of Gregory’s books adapted for television. – BETHANY

For more specific information on The White Queen visit: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2372220/?ref_=nv_sr_1

                     Aneurin Barnard playing Richard, the Duke of Gloucester – hardly the evil hunchback!

The three key women in the story – Elizabeth Woodville, Anne Neville and Margaret Beaufort.

The three key men – brothers of the house of York

Edward IV of England (Max Irons) wooing Elizabeth Woodville

Lord and Lady Rivers, parents of Elizabeth Woodville.  Nice, er, headdress.

You can’t have a costume drama without James Frain!  Here he’s playing the Earl of Warwick, known as the Kingmaker.

Anne Neville, daughter of the Kingmaker

On IMDB, the top five key words for The White Queen are: sex scene, bare breasts, female nudity, throne and England.  Just so you know what you’re getting into.

Photos courtesy of Company Pictures, Czar Television, Playground Entertainment, BNP Paribas Fortis Film Fund and BBC Drama Productions

Witches of East End

It’s a real pleasure to see a good TV show that is entirely female driven. Julia Ormond is amazing as Joanna Beauchamp, ancient but still hot witch extraordinaire, who lives in a sleepy New England town with her two daughters, Ingrid and Freya. Joanna and her sister Wendy both bear unique curses, as we discover in the first two episodes. Wendy has nine lives and can transform into a cat, while Joanna is doomed to lose her daughters over and over as they endlessly reincarnate, grow up as practicing witches then invariably die young. In an attempt to thwart the curse, this time around Joanna has kept the truth about their supernatural abilities a secret, but magic isn’t something that can stay hidden for long. There’s an interesting mythology at work here that is unique to this show, an origin story that is very mysterious and has yet to be fully revealed. The writers have lots of fun delving into Ingrid and Freya’s past lives with some really gorgeous period costumes. Fate is a big theme in the show, with destined love affairs that often go tragically wrong and enemies from the past that just won’t stay there. Not as dark as the subject might lead you to believe but there is plenty of eldritch drama and some very creative plot lines. The writers delve into the ethics of magic, issues of right and wrong, the consequences of certain choices and whether or not good intentions can lead you straight to hell. Beautiful people, gorgeous sets, some way cool visual magic and lots of romantic intrigue, but don’t think this is just a supernatural soap. The characters are well drawn and all act according to his or her personality rather than just doing or saying things in order to manufacture drama. I’m delighted by these oh-so-cool witches and disappointed that season 3 will not be forthcoming, and worse, the cliffhanger at the end of season 2 will never be resolved. – BETHANY

For more on all this witchy-woo, visit: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2288064/?ref_=nv_sr_1

                               Joanna Beauchamp (Julia Ormond)

Wendy Beauchamp (Mädchen Amick)

It wouldn’t be a witch show without a grimoire or two.

It’s also necessary to have your characters live in an appropriately Victorian house.

Mrs. Magic Mike – Freya Beauchamp, played by Jenna Dewan-Tatum

Ingrid (Rachel Boston), Wendy and Freya

How’s a girl to choose between guys like Killian and Dash Gardiner?

Next door neighbor and mother of Dash and Killian, Penelope Gardiner (Virginia Madsen).  Nope, she doesn’t look like trouble at all!

Below, pictures of the Beauchamps in various time periods:

Photos courtesy of Fox 21, Film Café, 3 Arts Entertainment, Curly Girl Productions and Lifetime Television

The Almighty Johnsons

New Zealand brings us another great fantasy dramedy with lots of action, interesting plot lines and hilarious tongue-in-cheek humor. However, unlike the PG rated likes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Legend of the Seeker, this show is most definitely for adults only. Expect lots of strong language, drug and alcohol use, violence and sexual situations – basically people behaving badly in all sorts of creative ways. Disclaimers aside, imagine the Norse gods grew tired of Scandinavia and relocated to New Zealand. Axl Johnson appears to be a relatively normal human, but on his 21st birthday he learns he and his brothers are each a reincarnate of a Viking deity. Hey, great birthday present, you might think, but it comes with a whole pile of complications, caveats, rules, and dangers from multiple quarters. Since they are gods in human form, their powers are somewhat less than awe-inspiring and it falls to Axl to take up the quest to restore them to their former glory. It seems New Zealand is absolutely littered with gods and goddesses of the Aesir, each with their own agenda and personal struggles, compounded by divine baggage. Despite being gods, these people are far from perfect, often irresponsible at best and reprehensible at worst, but watching them stumble and sometimes fall actually endeared them to me. The show seemed a bit slow at first but I soon became invested in the characters and got sucked in to the all the intrigue, subplots and romantic entanglements. There are some whopping twists, great lines and excellent character development, making this vastly entertaining if not terribly intellectually stimulating. I think of it as a somewhat guilty pleasure, full of empty calories but undeniably delicious. Season 2 is even better, with moral dilemmas, ethical conundrums and the addition of some very compelling personalities. – BETHANY

For actors’ filmographies, interesting trivia, quotes and all sorts of things, visit: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1752076/?ref_=nv_sr_1

The Johnsons – Anders, Axl, Ty and Mike

I wonder how many movies and TV shows have done a tableau of their characters modeled after da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’?

Axl has a run-in with a goddess and she’s not happy.

What, don’t you have a tree in your living room?

Is it a good idea to shoot arrows at the god of the hunt?

Dean O’Gormon as Anders Johnson. Oh, my bad, this is Fili in the appalling Hobbit movies.  He does make a good dwarf, though.

Ah, here we go.  Anders Johnson, or Bragi the god of poetry.  Anders shamelessly uses his power to sweet-talk anyone into doing just about anything.

Huh, looks like Ty (Jared Turner) lost a bet.  He’s Höðr, god of all things dark and cold.  He’s not a happy person.

Photos courtesy of South Pacific Pictures, All3Media International, Umbrella Entertainment and Syfy