Game of Thrones and the Red Wedding

Posted on June 3, 2013 at 11:35 am

Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

If you are a Game of Thrones fan, you already know the bad news. Those who know the books knew it was coming. In theory, fans understand that one of the elements that makes George R. R. Martin stories so unusual is that he kills off major, beloved characters. And thus we had what Entertainment Weekly described as “one of the most shocking, brutal and disturbing sequences ever put on television.” The slaughter of two major characters as well as many others lit up Twitter and Facebook with outrage and grief.

EW also has an exclusive interview with Martin. Here is an excerpt:

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How early in the process of writing the book series did you know you were gonna kill off Robb and Catelyn?
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN: I knew it almost from the beginning. Not the first day, but very soon. I’ve said in many interviews that I like my fiction to be unpredictable. I like there to be considerable suspense. I killed Ned in the first book and it shocked a lot of people. I killed Ned because everybody thinks he’s the hero and that, sure, he’s going to get into trouble, but then he’ll somehow get out of it. The next predictable thing is to think his eldest son is going to rise up and avenge his father. And everybody is going to expect that. So immediately became the next thing I had to do.

Since Song of Ice and Fire so often subverts reader expectations and avoids traditional fantasy storytelling structures, should fans have any real hope that this tale will have a happy ending? As The Boy recently said on Thrones, “If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.”
I’ve stated numerous times that I anticipate a bittersweet ending.

And New York Magazine has an interview with Michelle Fairley, who played Catelyn Stark, the bride who sacrificed herself in a failed attempt to save the man she loved. An excerpt:

You’ve inhabited her for so long. Is it hard to let Catelyn go?

I’ve had three amazing years working on this incredible series, and I’ve completely fallen in love with the character. She is infuriatingsometimes because she is so honorable. And she does constantly do the right thing. But she’s a driven woman. She’s strong. And that’s what I love about her, is that she’s grown since the death of her husband. She continues to grow. But it’s a growth that she has to do unwillingly because of the circumstances. It’s not about improving herself in an enlightened way. It’s about achieving her goal, which is to get through the suffering and get her children back together. All she wants is to get in, shut the gates of Winterfell, and keep them in there. And that’s not going to happen. And it is very hard, because the people I’ve worked with have become such good friends, the crew and everybody. So it is sad to say good-bye.

What do you think? What will happen next?

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Tribute: Jean Stapleton

Posted on June 1, 2013 at 7:22 pm

We mourn the loss of television great Jean Stapleton, who died today at age 90. Best known as Edith, the sweet-natured wife of the bombastic Archie Bunker on “All in the Family,” she was often the target of his insults but occasionally showed some asperity by standing up to him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F9vRVyV914

She had an extensive and varied background in theater, both before and after her iconic role as Edith Bunker. One of her best stage roles was the owner of the answering service in “Bells Are Ringing,” which she repeated on film. She even co-starred with the Muppets.

She will be missed.

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Interview with Ryan Simpkins of “Space Warriors” (and a Chance to Win A Trip to Space Camp)

Posted on May 30, 2013 at 12:00 pm

Space Warriors is the story of a group of extraordinary teens recruited for Space Camp, who battle for their chance to win a seat in the next shuttle to space, and learn the importance of teamwork, dedication and friendship when they get called in to save some stranded astronauts. It stars Thomas Horn (Extremely Loud Incredibly Close), Booboo Stewart (Twilight), Grayson Russell (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Savannah Jayde (Big Time Rush) and Ryan Simpkins (A Single Man, Revolutionary Road). The movie premieres on Friday, May 31st at 8/7c on the Hallmark Channel. I am proud to present an exclusive clip.

Viewers can win a free trip to Space Camp by signing up now, and tuning into The Hallmark Channel on Friday 8/7c to find the secret keyword on screen.

I interviewed Ryan Simpkins about making the movie.

What’s the scariest part of Space Camp?

Well space camp isn’t really that scary, because everything is super safe and there are people there to help you no matter what. That being said, there was this one simulator that spun you around in a huge circle and it would slowly get faster and faster. It would come to a point where you couldn’t even lift your arms or open your mouth! The only fear I had was the fear of throwing up, and that was just because it was so hot in there.

What’s the most fun?

I really liked the scuba diving. It really feels like you’re just flying or floating. We played basketball with a bowling ball (I accidentally dropped it on Michael’s head, but he didn’t even feel it)! I also lifted a two ton ball above my own head down there. We were doing flips and flying around- it was amazing. I also quite liked our jumpsuits. We didn’t have pockets to put our hands in, so we just held them at our collar as if we were Bane from The Dark Night Rises. We also looked like we were in Starfleet Academy cadets from Star Trek. That was nice.

If you were an astronaut, which job would you want?

I would probably want to be in charge of the robots. I don’t know why, it just seems cool. I have a lot of friends who build robots in school and then go to competitions and compete, and they absolutely love it.

What are the most important things an astronaut has to know?

I think they really have to know how to work together as a team. There is one part of the film where the Warriors get in a huge fight and completely blow a mission. They failed and they had to pay for it. There is another part where the astronauts are making an extremely important decision and they have to draw straws. They don’t fight about who wins the game of straws, or say that it was unfair, they just work together to keep each other safe.

What are the most important qualities an astronaut has to have?

They have to stay humble and know how to work together, or else their egos will get in the way of getting the job done and doing it right.

What surprised you the most in what you learned about the space program?

I had no idea that they had moon buggy races. It wasn’t in the original script and it hadn’t been written in until about half way through the shoot, and no one ever mentioned it because they just assumed everyone knew. It’s actually a huge part of space camp training. I was lucky enough to actually go and see some of the races when I went back for the premiere. It’s pretty intense stuff.

What did you and the other kids do to have fun while you were making the movie?

We did lots of things. Every night after filming, we wouldd go up to the fifth floor where they served food and we would play games like Janga or Uno and watch the Olympics together. When we were done we’d head down to the pool and swim for hours; playing Marco Polo, Football, or just throwing a penny into the pool and searching for it. We all went to see The Dark Night Rises in the Imax Space Center Theater, and I forced them all to see The Avengers (it was my 7th time seeing it. I love that movie). We also went to this Safari that you could drive through and the animals would come right up to your car. On the night of the premiere we had this giant sleepover and stayed up till three in the morning watching The Hobbit, some of the behind the scenes footage, having pillow fights, and eating junk food. We also watched LOTS of Netflix. I love that cast more than anything.

What’s the best advice you ever got about acting?

Acting is always a challenge. A great man told me that. It’s never going to be easy, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go for it.

What makes you laugh?

Bad puns. I’ll go back and watch Avatar: The Last Airbender and Sokka will tell a joke that I thought was the dumbest thing when I was little but I’ll die from laughter watching it now. I don’t know why but bad jokes just make me cry from laughing. Also Edgar Wright movies. I will laugh the entire time while watching one of those.

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Interview: Thomas Horn of “Space Warriors”

Posted on May 30, 2013 at 8:00 am

Thomas Horn, Jeopardy champion and star of “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” appears in this week’s “Space Warriors.” The movie premieres on Friday, May 31st at 8/7c on the Hallmark Channel and co-stars Ryan Simpkins, Danny Glover, Dermot Mulroney, Josh Lucas, and Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino.

Viewers can win a free trip to Space Camp by signing up now, and tuning into The Hallmark Channel on Friday 8/7c to find the secret keyword on screen.

Thomas Horn was nice enough to answer my questions:

What’s the scariest part of Space Camp?

I used a simulator called the multi-axis trainer that spins riders’ bodies in multiple axes, as the name suggests. Its a little bit nauseating and scary to watch, but it is less unpleasant than it looks.

What’s the most fun?

Conducting the space mission is definitely the most fun part of the camp, because you get to put what you have learned into practice. You get a feeling for what it is like to actually operate a spacecraft

If you were an astronaut, which job would you want?

I would want to be the mission commander, because they get to be in charge and make the final decisions on the spacecraft. It is the most difficult job, but also the most important.

What are the most important things an astronaut has to know?

As far as I know, an astronaut needs to be very familiar with physics and chemistry in general. Astronauts also have to know a large number of ordinary and emergency procedures.

What are the most important qualities an astronaut has to have?

An astronaut has to be clever and decisive, but also patient. They have to be hardworking, physically fit, and good team players. For my character in the film, this last requirement is the hardest.

What surprised you the most in what you learned about the space program?

I was really surprised when I heard that the astronauts returning from the Apollo missions had to land in the ocean, but couldn’t aim themselves very well, so they sometimes had to wait for hours to be picked up by a ship. That’s bravery.

What did you and the other kids do to have fun while you were making the movie?

We did a lot of swimming in the hotel pool (temperatures were 90+ for all but 2 days during the shoot), and we saw a lot of movies, including two in which my co-stars acted!

What’s the best advice you ever got about acting?

Be natural.

What makes you laugh?

Jokes are great, but the funniest moments are always accidental.

Contest: Dance Academy, Seasons 1 and 2

Posted on May 29, 2013 at 8:00 am

TeenNICK’s “Dance Academy” is the story of Tara Webster, who grew up on a country farm, but has always dreamed of being a professional dancer. When she’s admitted to Australia’s prestigious National Academy of Dance, she feels like all of her dreams are about to come true — but the school is tougher and more competitive than she ever imagined.

The DVDs of the first two seasons are now available, featuring behind-the scenes features and interviews. I am delighted to have a copy to give away. If someone in your family loves dance, this is a must-see. Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with Dance in the subject line and tell me your favorite kind of dancing. Don’t forget your address! (US addresses only) I’ll pick a winner at random on June 1. Good luck!

DANCE ACADEMY: SEASON 1 VOLUME 1

Far from home, and way behind on her dance training, Tara feels like a fish out of water, but she knows one thing — she’s not alone on this journey. In Sydney, she meets new friends, good-hearted Kat and good-guy Sammy, and falls hard for a new crush, Ethan. To round out her crew, there’s “mean girl” Abigail, a more experienced dancer who sees Tara as a threat, and Christian, an adrenaline junkie with a troubled past. Together they manage the pressures of exams, crushes and dancing, all the while knowing that at the end of the year not everyone makes the cut.

DANCE ACADEMY: SEASON 1 VOLUME 2

Tara returns from the holidays excited to have been awarded a first year scholarship, but the rest of the year is full of challenges no one could have seen coming. The group continues to put all their effort into dancing, but along the way some battle eating disorders, struggle with their parents, overcome physical injury and even deal with big breakups. With the end-of-year Nutcracker performance approaching, can the Academy group pull it together? And does Tara really have what it takes to stand center stage?

DANCE ACADEMY: SEASON 2 VOLUME 1

It was a rocky first year, but ultimately Tara got everything she wanted: a place in the top dance school in the country, friends she’ll know forever and she fell in love – twice! She even danced the role of her dreams. So Second Year should be a piece of cake. Right? In SEASON 2 VOLUME 1, Tara reunites with her friends and discovers the exciting news that they can all compete in a prestigious ballet competition, Prix de Fonteyn, to determine the best dancer in the world. Teacher Miss Raine spells it out for them: “Make no mistakes. Second Year counts. And you are all in competition.” Everyone must work harder than they’ve ever worked before on the dance floor and in life.

DANCE ACADEMY: SEASON 2 VOLUME 2

Tara soared to great heights during her first year at the Academy, but by her second year she’s learned that being on top – in dance, in life, in love – only makes for a long fall back down. In Season 2 Volume 2 the stakes are higher, the lows are lower, and the competitions are exhilarating. Tara and the entire crew must manage tragedy, relationships and the ultimate final showdown performance. Above all else, it’s their friendship that held them together this long. Will it carry them through into their third year?