Category: Series
Reign | Season One
My series review of “Reign | Season One ” created by Laurie McCarthy and Stephanie Sengupta
In my view…
Last year I have been on holiday to Edinburgh, Scotland. So I knew a bit of the history about Mary the Queen of Scots. And I was wondering if this series is based on real facts, is it historical true? Sadly it is not historical accurate. It is a costume drama of fiction and a bit of fantasy. So what is exactly true and what is not…I dare not say.
The first season is about Mary Queen of Scots fleeing to French court somewhere in Paris – no it is not Versailles – and preparing to marry Francis the Dauphin of France. This first season is about alliances, friendships, love, intrigues, the threat of war, power, nobelty and of course how to reign. Everybody is trying to find out how to do that best in his / her own environment and in his / her own way.
The episodes differ a bit from one to another. There are many plot changes and unsuspected events or habits that appear. The middles episodes of the whole season are becoming cruel so it is not suited for underaged children to watch. Especially when you do not know if such scenes are historically correct. Or is it fantasized cruelty? Makes me shiver and I do not know if I will completely watch the second season.
And how about the Scottish accents? Mary Queen of Scots and her four ladies named lady Aylee, lady Greer, lady Kenna and lady Lola. Great actresses but who speaks really Scottish? It is not a Scottish production but a mixture of all kinds of English accents. I love the history of the ‘Great British Castles‘ which is also a series with lots of historical facts presented by Dan Jones. The castle chosen for this series is ‘Ashford Castle’ in Count Mayo, Ireland. So in short I am not sure if I really like the series Reign because of the historical facts and the quick turnarounds in the episodes. I love the costumes though and the choice of crew and the diversity of day and night scenes and festivities.
Trailer:
I hope you like the series. It is worth to try watch it! I am not telling too much about the story – never do in my reviews – you have to see the series yourself and make your own opinion.
Greetings by Sophie
Series Facts:
Easter Series | Top 5 2018
This weekend it’s Easter so it is time for an ‘Easter Series’ list. What to watch during the Easter days?
The story of Easter has to do with religion. But for kids it has also to do with rabbits, chocolate eggs, chickens, colored Easter eggs and so on. And being as a family together for a long weekend.
Netflix offers a few films and series that are all about….rabbits and chickens. Here is the little list:
- Peter Rabbit (series 2012) – three seasons, 25 episodes in total of each 22 minutes.
- Wallace & Gromit | The Curse of the Were Rabbit (2005) – film of 85 minutes.
- Gaspard and Lisa (series 2011) – one season, 25 episodes in total of each 20 minutes.
- Miffy | Longer Stories (2005) – one season, 4 episodes in total of each 24 minutes.
- [PEGI 12] White Rabbit Project (2016) – one season, 10 episodes in total of each 48 minutes.
Wallace & Gromit | The Curse of the Were Rabbit (2005) trailer:
Where are you looking forward to at Easter this weekend?
Greetings by Sophie
Lost in Space (2018)| Series | Trailer
In the month of April, Netflix will air a new series named ‘Lost in Space’. Maybe this series will become my new series to watch after I have finished ‘The Vampire Diaries | Season 7′
or ‘The Queen | Season Two’.
‘Lost in Space’
The first season of this series will consist of 10 episodes of each an hour length. According to IMDb not the average 44 minutes. I am wondering if these series will be distinctive enough of ‘Star Trek – Discovery | Season One’ so I can watch both series for some variety and that I will not mix up the storylines. The genre is science-fiction and it is a remake of a 1960s science fiction series about a family that has accidentally survive in this universe. The ten episodes will be online at once on April 13th, a friday so you could binge-watch if you like it.
The family ‘Robinson’ who it is all about, will be played by Toby Stephens, Molly Parker, Mina Sundwall, Taylor Russell and Max Jenkins.
The trailer
YouTube Description:
“Lost in Space | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix
Views 2,955,221 | Likes 38K | Dislikes 1.5K
The Robinson family, part of a highly trained mission to establish a new colony in space, is unexpectedly pulled off course forcing them to crash land on a lost planet. Danger will find them. Lost in Space premieres April 13, 2018. Watch Lost in Space on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80104198
Lost in Space | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix http://youtube.com/netflix
Have you heard of the 1960s series ‘Lost in Space’?
Enjoy watching!
Greetings by Sophie
Books to films in 2018
The book becomes a film anno 2018
The new year is already for two months on its way, so it is time for a new list of books that are / will be filmed to become films in 2018! This post is a listed overview of which books will be seen as film in theatres this year.
Also I have seen along the internet several lists, and I have put everything together and checked with IMDb. The dates mentioned are those looked up today (March, 5th, 2018).
The list sorted by release date
The release date is the date expected to be released in theatres in The Netherlands unless otherwise mentioned.
January 2018
- 4th, You Were Never Really Here
- 25th, The Maze Runner | The Death Cure – James Dashner
February
- 1st, 12 Strong – Dough Stanton
- 8th, Fifty Shades Freed – E.L. James
- 22nd, Every Day – David Levithan
- 23rd, War with Grandpa – Robert Kimmel Smith
March
- 1st, Red Sparrow – Jason Matthews
- 12th, Annihilation – Jeff VanderMeer
- 28th, Peter Rabbit – Beatrix Potter
- 29th, Ready Player One – Ernest Cline
April
- 4th, A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle
- 16th, The Guernsy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer
May
- 31st, Lean on Pete – Willy Vlautin
June
- 14th, Love, Simon – Becky Albertalli
- 14th, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot – John Callahan
July
- Unknown yet…
August
- 3rd (USA), The Darkest Minds – Alexandra Bracken
- 9th, The Meg – Steve Alten
- 16th, Crazy Rich Asians – Kevin Kwan
- 17th (USA), Three Seconds – Börge Hellström and Anders Roslund
September
- 21st (USA), The House with a Clock in its Walls – John Bellairs
- 27th, The Little Stranger – Sarah Waters
- 28th (USA), Little Women – May Alcott
October
- 4th, Boy Erased – Garrard Conley
- 11th, First Man – James R. Hansen
- 11th, I Still See You – Daniel Waters
- 19th (USA), Where’d You Go, Bernadette – Maria Semple
November
- 8th, Book Club – book related
- 15th, Fantastic Beasts | The Crimes of Grindelwald – J.K. Rowling
- 28th, The Grinch – Dr. Seuss
- 29th, The Girl in the Spider’s Web – David Lagercrantz
December
- 13th, Mortal Engines – Philip Reeve
- 20th, Mary Poppins Returns – P.L. Travers
To be announced in 2018:
- Angels Four – David Nott
- Ashes in the Snow – Ruta Sepetys
- Beautiful Boy – David Sheff, Nic Sheff
- Bel Canto – Ann Patchett
- Down a Dark Hall – Lois Duncan
- Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
- Mary, Queen of Scots – John Guy
- Monster – Walter Dean Myers
- Ophelia – Lisa Klein
- The Aftermath – Rhidian Brook
- The Aspern Papers – Henry James
- The Bell Har – Sylvia Plath
- The Black Hand – Stephan Talty
- The Long Home – William Gay
- To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before – Jenny Han
- We the Animals – Justin Torres
- Zeroville – Steve Erickson
Anno 2019 – All new to the list!
Some books are already coming next year!
Total = films
- January 25th (USA), The Nightingale – Kristin Hannah
- March 1st (USA), Chaos Walking – Patrick Ness
- October 11th (USA), The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt
Unknown exactly, but announced – Total =
I have previously written about films in 2016 and 2017 and unknown coming ups in the blog post: Books to Films in 2016. This list underneath here is an addition to the unknown list.
- A Book of Common Prayer
- A Confederacy of Dunces
- A Great and Terrible Beauty
- All the Bright Places
- American Tabloid
- An Ember in the Ashes
- Angelfall
- Arclight
- Artemis Fowl
- Battle Royale
- Beautiful Disaster
- Beautiful Ruins
- Birdsong
- Blonde
- Blood of Eden
- Blood Red Road
- Born to Run
- Brilliance
- Climb to Conquer
- Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares
- Daughter of Smoke and Bone
- Depth of Field
- Earthseed
- East of Eden
- Eleanor & Park – Rainbow Rowell
- Facing the Wind
- Firelight
- Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock
- Forgotten
- Gone
- Graceling
- Heist Society
- Hourglass
- I Would Tell You, But Then I Would Have to Kill You
- Illuminae
- In the Garden of Beasts
- Incarceron
- Infinity
- It’s What I Do
- King of Heists
- Legend
- Let It Snow – John Green e.o.
- Lie Down in Darkness
- Looking for Alaska – John Green
- Love May Fail
- Matched
- Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus
- Men of Granite
- Monument 14
- Obsidian
- One Last Thing Before I Go
- Origin
- Paranormalcy
- Pure
- Queen of the Tearling
- Red Queen
- Shadow and Bone
- Shiver
- Significance
- Sister
- Six Years
- Sorta Like a Rock Star
- Soul Seekers
- Splinter Cell
- Struck by Genius
- The Age of Miracles
- The Alchemist | Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
- The Bell Jar
- The Billionaire’s Vinegar
- The Bone Season
- The Chronicles of Narnia | The Silver Chair – C.S. Lewis
- The Crowded Room
- The Devil in the White City – Erik Larson
- The Divergent Series | Ascendant – Veronica Roth
- The Diviners
- The Emperor’s Children
- The Engagements
- The Forest of Hands and Teeth
- The Giant Under the Snow
- The Good Lord Bird
- The Grapes of Wrath
- The Graveyard Book
- The Infernal Devices | Clockwork Angel
- The Invisible Man
- The Iron Trial
- The Looking Glass Wars
- The Merciless
- The Night Circus
- The Psychopath Test
- The Raven Cycle
- The Rules of Inheritance
- The Scorpio Races
- The Secret Life of Houdini
- The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll
- The Silent Wife
- The Sky is Everywhere
- The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
- The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
- The Testing
- The Thicket
- The Thin Man
- The True American
- These Broken Stars
- Three Little Words
- Three to Kill
- Tiger’s Curse
- Tunnels
- Van Cliburn
- Violet Town
- Wake
- Wicked
- Wicked Lovely
- Why We Broke Up
- Wings
- You Shall Know Our Velocity
Which film are you looking forward to, to see in theatres this year?
Greetings by Sophie
Pinterest | Top Five Today | Netflix Series
Are you curious for which series I am currently watching on Netflix?
On Wednesday I write about series. A series review or stuff related to series. To finish a series takes a lot of time, watching a lot of episodes and now and then it is more than others. A series can differ from two episodes in a season to twenty-three episodes in a season. Often a long documentary is split into multiple parts, for example two or three. But it is still a documentary because it is informative and made once without enlarging it every now and then. When a series has four or more episodes, I see it a real series. Not a documentary; independent of the category or subject.
Top Five Today
Hereby the five series I recently watch on Netflix. The posters gathered on my Pinterest.
The most royal series and therefore now one of my favorites. And oh the English accents, for a non-native English speaker / writer.
Year start: 2016 | Seasons: 2 | Categories: Drama, History
A story about a – partly criminal – family living in Birmingham in the 1918’s. Just after the war. Interesting subject and point of view during that decade.
Year start: 2013 | Seasons: 5 | Categories: Crime, Drama
What I like most about the series is that you can rarely predict the happenings, plot twists, change of characters and so on.
Year start: 2009 | Seasons: 8 | Categories: Drama, Fantasy, Horror.
If you have visited once – or plan to visit – one of the biggest in the history of Britain castles … this series is a nice addition of information and views of the territory and areas of the castle.
Year start: 2015 | Seasons: 2 | Categories: Documentary, History
Because of the combination of technology, the graphics and the fantasy futuristic story, I like this series a lot! A nice new Star Trek series. If you have seen none, one, two or even all of the films of Star Trek… this series is for everybody who loves a bit of technology and fantasy. You do not need prior to this series the knowledge of all the films and stuff… you can just start with this series as an independent series.
Year start: 2017 | Seasons: 1 | Category: Science-Fiction
Which Series do you watch?
Greetings by Sophie
My pinterest profile board:
Sherlock | Season One (2010)
My series review of “Sherlock | Season One (2010)” created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat
In my view…
Sherlock Holmes is a very well known character in the detective literature written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The books are very famous and since 2010 it is – partly – filmed in a series way. And yes I say partly because it is adjusted to the time period we currently live in. The (high-)tech technology of today but the complexity of mysteries in crimes is of all time.
It is incredible how Sherlock Holmes – played by Benedict Cumberbatch – talks and thinks so rapidly. And even John is talking more rapidly in the upcoming seasons than he managed in this season. Of course it is a series, filmed and directed and mounted by a crew, but it is definitely also a skill of really good acting! As an actor as he didn’t practice his lines as rapidly as they were supposed to be; than you would have noticed it. But he did. In fact a few nice additions to this series and interviews and stuff can be seen on YouTube at the Graham Norton Show.
Another nice fact: this series is translated in at least seven languages. I have written previously about it in ‘Sherlock in seven languages‘. Those languages are: English, Italiano, Español, Français, Deutsch, Čeština and Russian.
The obvious story at the beginning is about the genius consultant detective Sherlock Holmes meeting for the first time with Dr. John Watson. From then on they go on an adventure. An adventure that will last way more than just one season of three long 90 minutes episodes, but I will only review the first season in this post. The big adventure is about Sherlock Holmes himself. Who is he really? What does he like? How does he think so incredibly quickly and sharp. Thinking clearly is not always the case…or well…that’s just the case of an episode, and more widely seen his character now and then if you can still follow me haha.
The main characters
Beside Sherlock Holmes himself and Dr. Watson, there are a few characters that play a big role throughout this season. The landlord woman of their house is Mrs. Hudson and they work together with D.I. Lestrade on all the cases. Quite quickly miss Molly Hooper begins to play a role within the series as well as Sherlock’s brother Mycroft Holmes.
The first episode of Sherlock | Season One (2010)
A Study in Pink
“A woman in pink is the fourth in a series of seemingly unrelated suicides, but Sherlock Holmes deduces that the deaths are actually murders most foul.” – Netflix description
“War vet Dr. John Watson returns to London in need of a place to stay. He meets Sherlock Holmes, a consulting detective, and the two soon find themselves digging into a string of serial ‘suicides’. ” – IMDb description
Tips / tricks / confusing
After – nearly bingewatching – this series completely with the fourth season, I can give a little advice for watching this series:
English is not my mother tongue; though I am quite fluent in English. I use subtitles because especially Sherlock Holmes speaks so rapidly with lots and lots of details in his sentences. I never want to miss a single detail because as a watcher of this series you are thinking together with them. You are asking yourself the ‘who dunnit?’ question. So: subtitles on! Oh and not in my native language Dutch because several translations are not correct and / or missing words.
My second advice is this: prepare your environment with a bottle of water and a healthy snack. Because for 90 minutes your brain will be thinking about the story, what it sees, the sounds and just thriller of the series too! So it’s not a ‘sit back and just relax’ series, no it is a ‘the game is on’ series!
It can be confusing that Sherlock talks so rapidly and it can be a bit confusing if you have read the novels but discover that they are not exactly the same. For example already the title: is it ‘A Study in Pink’ or ‘A Study in Scarlet’ ?
My third and last advice is to watch
Trailer:
This trailer is uploaded on YouTube by ‘The Empty Hearse’ and is not officially made by the BBC. But nonetheless this is a nice recap of several scene shot throughout the whole season.
I hope you like the series too. It is definitely worth to watch it! I am not telling too much about the single episodes – never do in my reviews – you have to see the series yourself and make your own opinion.
Greetings by Sophie
Series Facts:
Arrow | Season Four
My series review of “Arrow | Season Four” a creation by Berlanti Productions, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television .
In my view…
Previously I have written about the first three seasons: Arrow | Season One , Arrow | Season Two and Arrow | Season Three.
In this season there is there is one main enemy named Damien Dhark. But besides him and his dark magic, there are some really incredible little stories which are wrapped around the main threat. Therefor you get the idea and opportunity to watch every episode seperately. Also the past of The Arrrow on Lian Yu has a main story throughout the season. What I like most about this season and what is kinda hard to explain or write in words, is the choreography!
From a twist of a quiet part to a lot of action. I am beginning to wander who is the choreographer of all these actors and actresses? Because the choreography is really amazing in this season! You recognise that every actor and actress has improved his or her skills. Lovely to see and it really locks your attention. It goes that quick that in no time suddenly an episode has finished and you need to watch the next one.
After Arrow | Season Three you expect that the main character Oliver Queen is finally a bit done with big and important – sometimes hurting – secrets for his closest family and friends. Suddenly a secret, he never knew about in his past before was trapped on the island Lian Yu, turns up. Out of the blue, is told as if it is a small thing. But it is big and hurts a few people. Will the truth comes out? Will Oliver Queen be forgiven? That is what I was curious for too throughout the season. I am curious for the fifth season!
The main characters
In the review of Arrow | Season One, I have written about the main characters Oliver Queen, his mother Moira, his sister Thea and his friends.
In the review of Arrow | Season Two, I have written about the new characters: Roy Harper. detective Quentin Lance, Sara Lance.
In the review of Arrow | Season Three, I have written about the new character Damien Dhark. The Ra’s Al Ghul character is also very important in this season.
This season there is one character that is gonna play a big role: Damien Dhark. But who he is and what he does becomes more clear by every episode.
In this fourth season Damien Dhark is one of the most important characters who is against Team Arrow, against the world and pro dark magic. There are several smaller characters such as Noah Kuttler, Barry Allen, Ruvé Adams and Lyla Michaels. And they are playing such important roles in the story that every time they appear, something will change. Also the character Felicity Smoak plays a bigger part in the story which I really love. Her character as a smart IT woman who even runs a big high tech company, incredible how she all combines it and – in series time – for three years works together with The Arrow. I love the gear, the computers, the gadgets, the facts, the talks about it.
Rating
My rating this time is though a 8 / 10 because there is even more going on in this season than in the previous one. The bottom line and the main goal throughout the story is quite clear, but there are so many different side effect. To say it like that. And such a speed difference between the first episodes and the middle part and the last episodes and the middle part (between episodes 5 and 15). It did not become confusing, it was just a lot to take in to. And at the moment when I am writing this review, recalling every part or change of the season is hard. This season feels also like an inbetween. You think it would be strange if the story of The Arrow ends here. Towards the end there are major changes and more are probably coming up in the fifth season. I am looking forward to it because I am curious for how all things will settle. This all together makes it for me a rating of 8/10. The inbetween season you have to see if you love and like minor minor things with major major characters.
The first season had its stories and conspiracies. The second season is love for its action and the third season for the combination. This fourth season I love for its choreography in the fights, the many little side facts and stories and of course last but not least: the high tech and new gear! Wow this series gives you inspiration.
First episode of season four
Green Arrow
“A new enemy lures Oliver Queen back to Starling City and forces him to put on the hood once more.” (source IMDb)
The first episode of this third season had it’s première on 7 October 2015. A rough two and a half years after the first episode of season one (3 February 2013). The 23rd and last episode of this season was aired on 25 May 2015.
Series Facts:
Arrow | Season Three
My series review of “Arrow | Season Three” a creation by Berlanti Productions, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television .
In my view…
Previously I have written about the first two seasons: Arrow | Season One and Arrow | Season Two
This season is after the second the most storytelling one. Some characters are back in the world of Starling City, a world beyond even occurs and nearly everybody has his or her own secrets. The Arrow started with one man and is now formed as a group. But the group is not working well together and they try, or at least ‘The Arrow’ tries, to have a break from being the hero of Starling City and fight the unrightousness.
There is only one character that plays a constant small but important role in this season. Sadly he has to go, for now…if he comes back in the further seasons which could happen, is not clear right now (I am still watching season 4).
There is not móre action in this season, but the fighting skills are definitely improved and makes it a beautiful season full of fighting scenes and choreography to watch. In this season is very important about what is history, what is said. About the future, what will be said, is promised and so on and therefore this season feels like an inbetweener. Soon after the second season you start with this season. And after finishing it you are eagerly waiting to start with the fourth season.
So if you liked the second season of Arrow because of it’s action and the first season because of it’s stories and conspiracies. This season combines both to the next level! Watch every episode carefully because now counts everything what has been said or done.
The main characters
In the review of Arrow | Season One, I have written about the main characters Oliver Queen, his mother Moira, his sister Thea and his friends.
In the review of Arrow | Season Two, I have written about the new characters: Roy Harper. detective Quentin Lance, Sara Lance.
This season there is one character that is gonna play a big role: Damien Dhark. But who he is and what he does becomes more clear in season 4.
My rating this time is a 9 / 10 because there is so much information put in just 23 episodes and so much is going on. It feels like a season that is the ‘inbetweener’ and is still a bit confusing after season two. The distinction between season two and season three, and season three and season four is not that big which makes it more of a one complete story. And in my opinion this season is a bit more dark and sad. Though there is also a lot of happiness and love. Such contrasts and a little grey area. This makes it for me a rating of 9 / 10.
First episode of season three
The Calm
“As a new enemy emerges seven months after Slade’s attack upon Starling City, Oliver Battles with the help of his teammate Roy. However, with the Arrow’s presence elsewhere someone he had loved dearly is hurt.” (source IMDb)
The first episode of this second season had it’s première on 17 January 2015. Nearly a two years after the first episode of season one (3 February 2013). The 23rd and last episode of this season was on 17 May 2015.
Series Facts:
Arrow | Season Two
My series review of “Arrow | Season Two” a creation by Berlanti Productions, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television .
Title: Arrow | Season Two
Genre: Action / Adventure / Crime / Drama / Mystery / Sci-Fi
Creators / Screenwriters: Greg Berlanti / Andrew Kreisberg / Mark Guggenheim
Writer (book): Comic books: Morton Weisinger and George Papp. Appeared first in ‘More Fun Comics #73’ in November 1941.
Country: USA
Language spoken: English / Spanish / Chinese
Release Date: 5 January 2014
Time: ~ 42 minutes every episode
Production Companies: Berlanti Productions, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television
IMDb rating: 8,1 / 10
Rating: 9, 8 / 10
This is definitely my favourite action and adventure series!
I hope you like the series too. It is worth to watch it! I am not telling too much about the story – never do in my reviews – you have to see the series yourself and make your own opinion.
