Masterpiece on PBS Presents: Sherlock

Oct. 24, 31 & Nov. 7, 2010 on PBS

Synopsis: (From PBS)

"Two men who couldn't be more different — united by ADVENTURE! Blowing away the fog of the Victorian era, the world's most famous detective enters the 21st century. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Atonement, The Last Enemy) in the title role, Martin Freeman (The Office, UK) as Dr. John Watson and Rupert Graves (God on Trial, The Forsyte Saga) as Inspector Lestrade, Sherlock premieres onMasterpiece mystery! on Sundays, October 24, 31, and November 7, 2010 at 9pm ET on PBS (check local listings).

In with three criminally clever whodunits, A Study in Pink(October 24), The Blind Banker (October 31) and The Great Game (November 7), consulting detective Sherlock Holmes teams up with former army doctor John Watson to solve a dizzying array of crimes with his signature deductive reasoning. From the writers of Doctor Who, Sherlock is co-created and written by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat."

To learn more of this series, visit: masterpiece/sherlock.com 

The Ten Commandments on ABC

Since 1973, ABC has been airing the 1956 version of The Ten Commandments every year, with its airing date somewhere in between Passover and the Saturday before Easter. The only exception to this was in 1999 when they aired a remake which was in no way comparable to the classic. Luckily they switched back to the original the next year :)  I look forward to watching this movie every year and am always so grateful that ABC continues to broadcast it!

Here is the synopsis given by ABC:

Cecil B. DeMille's massive film spectacle, The Ten Commandments, one of the most popular box-office movies of all time, will air as an ABC Special Presentation, SATURDAY, APRIL 3 (7:00-11:44 p.m., ET), on The ABC Television Network.

Starring Charlton Heston as Moses, this dramatic Biblical epic is presented with an all-star cast, including Yul Brynner as Pharaoh, Anne Baxter as Queen Nefretiri, Edward G. Robinson as the overseer of the slaves and Yvonne DeCarlo as Moses' wife.

The film traces the story of Moses, from the time his mother set him afloat on the Nile, through his years as a young commander in Pharaoh's army to his betrayal and exile and, finally, his deliverance of the Israelites and the receiving of God's Commandments.

The Ten Commandments won the 1956 Academy Award for Best Special Effects and received nominations for Best Picture, Best Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing and Best Sound.

Visit ABC to learn more about scheduling for this movie event: abc.go.com/shows/the-ten-commandments

Emma - On Masterpiece Classic, January 24th

Masterpiece Classic's version of Emma begins this Sunday, January 24th. It will be split into a three part mini series which will air:
January 24 - February 7, 2010 on PBS.

Synopsis: (From Masterpiece Classic)

Emma Woodhouse (Romola Garai, Atonement) was born with the sun shining down on her. The radiant, privileged girl grows into a remarkable talent for matchmaking, as observed by her loving but disapproving father (Michael Gambon, Cranford) and childhood friend Mr. Knightley (Jonny Lee Miller, Endgame). When the decidedly less privileged Harriet Smith arrives, Emma meddles with fate to find her a match, until her flawless intuition is called into question. Dissuaded from more matrimonial predictions, Emma nonetheless continues to cheerfully contemplate superior men — and meets one of her own in the handsome, gleaming Frank Churchill. But after being so busy managing everyone else's heart, does Emma know her own? A fiercely funny new version of the Jane Austen novel, Emma was adapted by Sandy Welch (Jane Eyre).

Sherlock Holmes...Old story, new look.

"The game is afoot" or should I say movie? This Christmas, Hollywood gave us the present of Sherlock Holmes, staring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams. This movie is a  fast paced, high action adventure that never slows down. With some humorous banter between Holmes and Watson and the unquestionable good looks of Holmes this movie would seem to have it all...

When first hearing that there was going to be a new Sherlock Holmes movie, I was ecstatic. Then when I saw the trailer I became a little wary of what they had done to the Holmes character. There have been so many adaptions of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, but this one is by far the most edgy and loose interpretation. This is no suave and methodical Holmes, playing the violin in thoughtful silence. Instead he is more brawn then brains; from beating up villains with fists and sticks to wearing nothing but his pantaloons while participating in a boxing match.

- Here are some comparisons between the new Sherlock Holmes and the original.
                                                                                            
  New Version- Robert Downey Jr.

   Original Version- Basil Rathbone

The movie is set during Victorian England but has all the action, explosions, and crazy plots of today. The action never stops and can be a bit overwhelming at times. Besides the action, the plot is also intense, but that is better then no plot at all. The scene sets are very well done, the only complaint I have about them is that at times, I felt as if their clothes did not always flow with the time period.

Overall it is really a good movie, as long as you look at it with an open mind. If I compare the original and new version, I prefer the Sherlock Holmes played by Basil Rathbone in every way possible. Yet if I view this movie as if it's the first Sherlock Holmes movie I have ever seen and let it stand completely alone, it becomes a good movie.

Hopefully the rumored sequel will be more true to the original...even if just a bit.

A Christmas Carol For Everyone

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, I am sure you know of it and I'm sure most of us have watched it...but which one have you seen? This Book has been turned into a movie 17 times, and into Theatrical productions more then you can count! The versions range from strict interpretation to simplified 1/2 hour animation for children, and from a "dark" to a "light" (this difference in the strict interpretation). Here are a couple examples (which are my two favorites):

A Christmas Carol: 1938 staring Reginald Owen

Mickey's Christmas Carol 1983



A Christmas Carol is probably one of the most well known and loved stories ever, but how many of you have actually read the book? This story is so set in our minds from viewing productions of it, that we feel there is no need to read the book. If you do sit down and read the book you will be rewarded, for it is quite a surprise. Yes it is the same plot of course, but it takes you so much deeper into Scrooge's world. It actually makes Ebenezer look even worse then anything you have watched, which in turn makes his change of heart even more joyful. You will also be surprised by the subtle humor throughout the book.

No matter your age there is a version of Scrooge for you. And if you wish to expand your enjoyment of this wonderful story, read the original version yourself...written in 1843 by Charles Dickens.

To close this properly, and in honor of the great author Charles Dickens, let me quote the last line of his book A Christmas Carol:

"It was always said of Scrooge, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!
And so, as Tiny Tim observed,
God Bless Us, Every One!"