Top Chef Texas: Fit for an Evil Queen

Okay, now here's a reality show using fairy tales that I actually watch. Yes, John and I enjoy watching Top Chef together so this upcoming Wednesday's episode on 1/18/2012 will be a little more fun for us with the theme.

Here's the episode description from the Bravo website:

This week’s Quickfire is all about awareness in the kitchen. The chefs will have 30 minutes to create a dish of their choosing, but this is no ordinary Quickfire. Once time begins, various ingredients will start to come into the kitchen via a train. The chefs must select ingredients coming into the kitchen via train and create a dish incorporating the best of these ingredients. For the elimination challenge, the chefs embody evil on the plate and serve a gothic feast fit for a queen. This dish should demonstrate various cooking techniques, textures and flavors, but more importantly, the diners should visually see the “evil” components on the dish. Actress Charlize Theron, who plays the Evil Queen in the film Snow White & The Huntsman guest judges, along with Emeril Lagasse, head judge Tom Colicchio, and host Padma Lakshmi.

Interesting challenge. And more evidence that the promotional work and competition between the two Snow White movies is going to be fierce in upcoming months. This movie isn't even out for four more months.

Here are two more promos being show on tv put on YouTube by others, not great quality but with more previewing than the one above:

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Into the Woods Coming to the Silver Screen

 

I've been wondering about this one for a while, such an obvious choice and Hollywood finally agreed. Yes, from my post header you can see that the Broadway musical hit, Into the Woods, is going to get a movie treatment. Yes, there is a DVD of the Broadway performance, but that's not nearly the same is it?

From 'Chicago' Director Rob Marshall Tackles Fairy Tales with 'Into the Woods' at Hollywood.com:

The man behind the Academy Award-winning Chicago and minor dud Nine has signed on to shepherd a feature version of Stephen Sondheim's classic Broadway show Into the Woods for his Pirates family, Disney. Marshall began cooking the idea up a year ago when he was working with mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer on On Stranger Tides and the adaptation couldn't make more sense in the current landscape. After Tim Burton's blockbuster Alice in Wonderland, fairy tales are all the craze, with ABC's Once Upon a Time and NBC's Grimm bringing in solid ratings and Snow White and the Huntsman, OZ: The Great and Powerful and Maleficent all prepping for release in the next two years. Into the Woods, which melds a series of fairy tale characters and stories, including Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Cinederella, is a perfect fit.

It's unclear if Into the Woods will be Marshall's next project—he's currently working on a remake of The Thin Man with Johnny Depp, plus a possible fifth entry in the Pirates saga—but without he pressure of the current fad, we may see the musical sooner than later.

And what? Thin Man? Oh noes! I love Thin Man. I adore Thin Man. I am very worried about The Thin Man now. William Powell and Myrna Loy cannot be replicated. We own and watch the box set regularly.

But that isn't pertinent to SurLaLune, is it? Now is your chance to think up your dream cast for a film version of Into the Woods. Who would you want to play who? Of course, we would love to see Bernadette Peters reprise along with some others. I enjoyed Vanessa Williams when I saw her in Los Angeles. But I am not really attached to any current stars. What about you?

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'Maleficent’ Finds a Director

I hadn't noticed much news about this one recently, but hadn't forgotten. Apparently it is still under consideration. Excerpted from ‘Maleficent’ Finds a Director in Production Designer and VFX Supervisor Robert Stromberg by Angie Han:

Over the past two years, Disney’s Sleeping Beauty retelling Maleficent has attracted the attention of several high-profile directors. Tim Burton was the first one attached to the project, back when it was first announced, and Darren Aronofsky, David O. Russell, and Guillermo del Toro are among the other names who’ve been rumored or who have expressed interest in the film.

The man who’s actually landed the job, however, is somewhat lesser known. Disney has tapped visual effects supervisor and production designer Robert Stromberg to helm the film, which will mark his directorial debut.

Scripted by Alice in Wonderland scribe Linda Woolverton, Maleficent follows the Sleeping Beauty tale from the villainess’ point of view. [Angelina Jolie] has been attached to star as the self-titled “Mistress of All Evil” since 2010. Maleficent falls neatly into the revisionist fairy tale trend that’s hot in Hollywood at the moment, along with such movies as Snow White and the Huntsman, Mirror, Mirror, and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.

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Disney Defrosts, Thaws Out "The Snow Queen"

Remember a year ago when many people were upset when the media blitzed that Disney was foregoing fairy tale films for the foreseeable future--I discussed it some in my Thoughts on Tangled post. Yes, only a year later and we have Princess Sofia announced and even bigger news, Snow Queen is being defrosted.

Now, I have a long history with Snow Queen and have mentioned it before. Back in 2000 when my husband worked for ABC Online, he rode the train to Burbank and became friends with a few of the Disney animators. A few dinners and conversations later, I had some backdoor insights and peeks at Snow Queen which were fascinating. To sum up: It was nothing like the fairy tale, at all. There was a Snow Queen. That's it. If the plot had been described to me without any preface I wouldn't have ever placed it as the HCA tale.

Then Disney needed to layoff employees to make its year end numbers--which included those animators and my husband--and Snow Queen was tabled yet again. ABC was in the state that NBC is in today and Disney itself wasn't doing much better. VSPs (voluntary severance packages) were the topic of conversations, not The Snow Queen. I've lost count how many times the project has been tabled. And, fortunately, my husband was kept on a few extra months to finish some major projects so we walked away with the package and a new job the following Monday, a blessing since we had moved across the country for the job, far away from family and a much lower cost of living standard. Our rent then was hundreds more than our mortgage now that we live back in Nashville.

But now, with headlines about defrosting, thawing, etc. the media is announcing that the film has been resurrected yet again. Just one article is here but a news search will produce more. There's not much beyond the title and confusion over whether it will be handdrawn or CGI but the consensus is that it will be 3D. I still don't understand Hollywood's misconception that 3D sells seats and DVDs. They might consider offering women viewers some strong female roles and some non-gross romance. (See Movie crowds dip to 16-year low as apathy lingers By DAVID GERMAIN.)

Now the movie will be one word-titled "Frozen." Yes, those onscreen TV guides have oversimplified our lives. And we wouldn't want to disenfranchise male viewers with a girlie title either.

I enjoyed Tangled. I'm not a Disney fan, but I am not a big detractor either. Honestly, more of my own distaste comes from those days dealing with Disney in Burbank when my husband was employed there and I worked down the street at a branch of the Burbank Library. But that's neither here nor there for this post.

As always, I am happy about any big media project that brings more focus on fairy tales, and, let's face it, Disney is hard to surpass for visibility. So let's hope "Frozen" finally gets defrosted, cooked and served at our tables!

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Puss in Boots (2011): DVD Release 2/24/2012

Puss in Boots (2011) has been announced for DVD/Blu-ray release for February 24, 2012. It really is about three months now between theatre release date and DVD release date. No wonder I have less and less interest in going to the movies anymore. Well, then there's also the quality and content of the movies, but that's another conversation... Still, I tend to preorder the few movies that interest me since a DVD is still less than a trip for two to the theatre and I can watch it again.

You currently have two options for formatting: Puss in Boots DVD and Puss in Boots (Two-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy). The prices are average right now but I imagine they will drop a few more dollars which will happen automatically if you order somewhere with a lowest price guarantee like at Amazon.

Also, for a limited time, you can save $5 select discs when you use the code "SOFTPAWS" at checkout on Amazon. I almost missed that, so I wanted to point it out to you, too.

I haven't seen the movie yet. Probably won't until it is on DVD. I haven't seen The Muppets yet, either. I just finally saw and enjoyed Kung Fu Panda 2 with the family over the holidays. I am not much of a movie goer anymore as I said. But since The Muppets DVD is already up for preorder, too, I will probably wait.

 

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Disney Announces Princess Sofia

From For Disney, a Younger Princess By BROOKS BARNES at the New York Times:

This week the company plans to announce “Sofia the First,” a television movie and series centered on a girl princess. It’s a first: Disney’s princesses until now have all been adults (Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and so on).

“Sofia the First” will play on both Disney Channel and Disney Junior, a channel aimed at children ages 2 to 7 that is set to make its debut in the coming months. The company’s hope, of course, is for the character to spawn all kinds of consumer products. It’s a solid business bet; the Disney Princess toy line generates about $4 billion in annual retail sales.

From Disney unveils newest princess, Sophia the First, for toddlers: Hoping youngest belle of the ball will appeal to younger kids BY Sashana Maitland at NEW YORK DAILY NEWS:

Nancy Kanter, general manager for Disney Junior Worldwide, told Reuters that “Sophia the First” will feature "plenty of pretty dresses and sparkly shoes," but with an emphasis on "what makes a real princess is what's inside, not what's outside."

And from Disney Announces New Princess:

Sofia the First, will be an animated movie as well as a TV series that will focus of this oh-so-cute purple-gowned child princess. The tiny princess adventures begin with Sofia’s mom marries the king of their storybook world. The two new royals then pack up their old lives and move into the castle, where they start their fancy new fairytale lives. In addition to gaining a step brother and sister, Sofia will also have guest encounters with existing Disney Princesses like Cinderella and the pretty fairies from Sleeping Beauty!

So this time, a corporate construct not based on any specific character. What do you think?

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Bunyan: The Trailer and a Poster

Okay, because I am curious about all of the films that are using fairy tales and folklore for inspiration, I consider it my job to share even the obscure, strange ones I have no intention of seeing myself. Horror, readers here know, I don't do horror. And this one inspired a two minute protest from John about how Paul Bunyan is his hero, not a monster to fear. "And what about Babe the Blue Ox? I love Babe the Blue Ox!" Yes, sometimes it is disappointing when Hollywood gets a hold of beloved tales, isn't it, sweetheart? Just be glad it's not John Henry which would be even more devastating.

Here's a synopsis and a trailer, too:

Kids at a first-time offenders' boot camp discover that the legend of Paul Bunyan is real but is much more horrifying than they could have imagined. They incur the wrath of the 15-foot monstrous giant, who was banished from town 100 years ago and thought dead.

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Jack the Giant Killer (2012) First Movie Poster

A few of you were quite excited about the trailer for Jack the Giant Killer (2012) yesterday, so I thought I should share the poster. Well, I would anyway, because that's why I'm here, but I am looking forward to more exciting iterations of the poster, I admit.

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Jack the Giant Killer (2012) Trailer

In theaters: June 15th, 2012

"Jack the Giant Killer" tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittinglyopens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend--and gets the chance to become a legend himself.

Genre: Action and Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Official Site: http://www.jack-the-giant-killer.com
Director: Bryan Singer (Yes, of X-Men fame, among others)
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ewan McGregor
Writers: Darren Lemke, Christopher McQuarrie, Dan Studney

And while we are here, here is a trailer from the original film from which the new one drew inspiration. Watch for the magic cloak effect that my John loved.



So what do you think?

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New Graphic Novel: Jim Henson's The Storyteller Volume 1

 

Jim Henson's The Storyteller Volume 1 was released this week. (And appeared on Davina's fairy tale wishlist, too.) This is not a new DVD release, but a book release of graphic novel interpretations of folk and fairy tales, not just the ones in the original tv series either. I have previews of some pages below as well as a description of the book.

From the publisher:

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: Jim Henson's the Storyteller

The much-loved, live-action/puppet combination TV show is now a graphic novel series! Archaia and The Jim Henson Company are proud to present ALL-NEW tales of fantastic wonder and extraordinary myth, as told from the tongue of The Storyteller and his loyal canine companion! Witness worded wonderment from a cavalcade of craft creators, including Roger Langridge (The Muppet Show comic, Thor the Mighty Avenger), Marjorie Liu (Black Widow), Ron Marz (Green Lantern, Artifacts), Jeff Parker (Thor, Thunderbolts), Francesco Francavilla (Detective Comics), Chris Eliopoulos (Franklin Richards) and Janet Lee (Return of the Dapper Men). Plus: a never-before-seen story adapted from a screenplay by The Storyteller's original author, Academy Award® winner Anthony Minghella (The English Patient).

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Red Riding Hood Makes a Worst List

It's that time of year. Time for worst and best lists. Fairy tales made a worst list, well, at least a movie version did.

Time Magazine's Top 10 Worst Movies: 3. Red Riding Hood:

In keeping with Hardwicke's Twilight past (she helmed the first film), Red is ripe with twisted messages about sexuality and beckoning werewolves, but, hard though it may be to believe, it's much, much sillier than Twilight. Seeing what Hollywood did to this fairy tale is a reminder to not get too excited about the prospects of next year's Snow White & the Huntsman and Mirror, Mirror.

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Snow White and Huntsman: New Photos

Here are some new photos supposedly of a funeral procession from the Snow White and the Huntsman film which is apparently near the end of filming. No glass coffins here. And the smiling at a funeral procession is interesting...

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Another Film: Snow White: A Deadly Summer in 2012

This hit the media today--at the least the media that covers horror films--so I'm not linking to a specific source since they all used the same press release.

Look! Another Snow White film! Snow White: A Deadly Summer in 2012.

This is set to be a straight to DVD release next year starring Shanley Caswell, Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, The Expendables), and Maureen McCormick ("The Brady Bunch"). And if that's the Eric Roberts, brother to Julia Roberts, that's even funny. Now Emma Roberts has to get herself a Snow White film, too. (If it's not the same Eric Roberts--I'm too lazy to check, oh well.)

eeeeeeep.....

Synopsis:

A modern retelling of a timeless tale. Snow is abducted at the order of her wicked stepmother and taken to an isolated wooded discipline camp, run by a ruthless hunter. When each of her fellow seven campers begin dying off one by one, Snow must uncover the dark and twisted secret of the forest before she becomes the next victim.

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Good News Grimm Fans!

NBC just announced that they have ordered a full season of Grimm. From 'Grimm' Gets Full-Season Order, Thursday Night Tryout:

NBC's new hit fairy-tale drama "Grimm" has been granted a full-season order, and will receive a special Thursday-night airing next month, the network announced Monday.

In what might be an experiment to test the waters for the series in a new time slot, NBC will air an original episode of the show Thursday, Dec. 8 at 10 p.m., followed by another original episode the next night in its regular time slot, Friday at 9 p.m.

Despite its less-than-desirable Friday night time slot, "Grimm" has performed well for the network, delivering a 2.1 rating/6 share in the adults 18-49 demographic for its Oct. 28 series premiere, a 62 percent improvement over the network's average in the time slot last season. Growing from there, "Grimm" has averaged a 2.3/7 in the demo and 6.9 million total viewers, improving the network's performance in the demo by 50 percent over the equivalent period last season.

That means BOTH fairy tale shows have been picked up for full seasons and are doing well, which I am sure followers here are some of the fans leading to this success. I finally caught up with Grimm over the past week and once again, I like it although I am not overwhelmed yet. Perhaps I feel this way since this past week's episode, Lonelyhearts, has been my least favorite. I like both of them for different reasons and am not going to compare them here, but I wondered if both would survive the first few episodes when I first heard about them, not because I doubted the shows, but the networks who are very fickle. But viewers are supporting the shows and it will be interesting to see where they go now with the knowledge they have 22 episodes to play with.

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Trailer for Brave

The trailer for Pixar's Brave for which I have read so many conflicting reports of it being or not being folklore based. Well, it appears to be in a very general way, but no specific stories here. It's set to be released June 2012. I usually enjoy Pixar films and at least we are finally getting a heroine from them.

If it's a success--and when is Pixar not?--I imagine a slew of Scottish influenced stories descending upon us. Hmmm, what Scottish folktale would you love to see as a movie? I vote for Kate Crackernuts. Someone out in Hollywood get right on that for me, yes?

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Mirror, Mirror (2012) Official Trailer #1

And here's the first trailer--it's the best version on YouTube so far--for Mirror, Mirror starring Lily Collins and Julia Roberts, the first Snow White movie in 2012.

So which one do you prefer? This one or Snow White and the Huntsman?

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Puss in Boots (2011): Any Fans?

So, has anyone seen Puss in Boots yet? I imagine so and somehow imagine myself the last person who hasn't considering its box office success. My question for you readers is: How many fairy tale references are actually in it? A few? A lot?

I see beanstalks, castles and golden eggs, so yes, a few, at least.

Little did I know when I planned my vacation that so many films and shows would be happening during my absence!

The last official trailer before the film's release:

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Once Upon a Time: Four Episodes In

Above is the preview for the next episode.

This next Sunday will be a byweek for Once Upon a Time, but we now have four episodes aired in the US. I myself finally got caught up with the series over the weekend after only seeing the pilot before my vacation trip. I think last night was my favorite so far probably because I liked the more episodic content as well as the Cinderella/Rumpelstiltskin mash-up element to it.

Or perhaps, after four episodes, I am simply more comfortable with it and more forgiving of the flaws and more interested in the storytelling. Like Cinderella being called "Ashley" in one storyline last night. Less obvious than I expected of the show, so I was happy with it. Does that make any sense?

Besides, I prefer Robert Carlyle as a villain than the wicked queen whose motivations and understanding are still not working as well for me. Are we really to believe that a small town life is a "curse" she loves just because it gives her control? Cursing herself to curse the others? And how is that really a curse? Their lives don't seem so horrible to me...sure, no true love, but it doesn't seem to be working so well for them in their fairy tale existences either.

Besides, Carlyle had some of the best lines last night and delivered them well for having to play a supernatural villain.

So what are your feelings about "Once Upon a Time"?

The good news if you are a fan so far is that ABC has picked up a full season of the series.

From AOLTV:

The fall has been kind to ABC; after recent full season orders for 'Revenge' and 'Suburgatory,' the Alphabet network is doubling down with pickups for two more of their freshman series, fantasy drama 'Once Upon a Time' and Tim Allen's 'Last Man Standing.'

Though 'Once' has only aired two episodes so far, it's already the highest-rated new drama of the season, managing an average 12.3 million viewers and a robust 4.0 rating in the coveted adults 18-49 demo.

My goal this week is to finally see Grimm, because, no, I haven't yet. TV has not been a priority for weeks and weeks and weeks in my little world. I admit I am also squeamish about it since I don't care for the violence that I've seen so far and my husband said the pilot is violent. I am a Downton Abbey/Pride and Prejudice sort of girl overall despite my fascination with Bluebeard, who sounds like a perfect fit for Grimm actually, in all his incarnations.

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Snow White & The Huntsman New Posters

I shared the new trailer yesterday but failed to share the new posters and banner. So here you go... They appear to be Photoshopped versions of the original stills released several weeks ago.

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Snow White & The Huntsman Trailer 1

So that's the first trailer for Snow White & The Huntsman movie. Better than I anticipated actually but then it dwells on Theron and not Stewart who I have a hard time not seeing as Bella Swann, alas.

In theatres June 1, 2012.

I have a feeling that by the end of 2012 I will be really weary of Snow White. She is certainly the belle of the fairy tale ball right now. Although I like her much better after reading so many of her stories while editing Sleeping Beauties: Sleeping Beauty and Snow White Tales From Around the World. I didn't like her much before that, but I do now, so that is a boon. My view of her is no longer dominated by Disney and I doubt it ever will be again.

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