Lara Pulver in Robin Hood 3.13

Potential spoilers below.

So, the big finale. I had done my best to avoid spoilers although I had read that both Jonas and Armitage would be leaving the show.

What we have is an episode that on one hand finishes the story and on the other hand it starts a new chapter. (I'm assuming the show will return, but what do I know.)

In short Robin, Guy and the Sheriff don't look like they will be returning. And I would assume that Isabella was also standing a little too close to the Byzantine fire, but fingers crossed that she survived.

In the end Isabella did turn into a boo-hiss type villain. I had been hoping that she would show a little bit of subtle horror at the path she was taking, a little bit of remorse after stabbing Guy or scratching Robin with the poison blade. Lara is clearly a good enough actress to show that.

Right now I don't feel like doing the whole screen grab type image thing so here's a photo of Isabella in episode 3.13. Note the poison bottle around her left wrist!



Ah, Lara looks nice with her hair down...

Ruth Wilson article

Thanks to Barbie for finding this Ruth Wilson article:

Ruth Wilson might have attracted attention playing Jane Eyre in the BBC’s 2006 adaptation of the dark, Victorian novel, but the 27-year-old actress is keen to prove her abilities extend beyond the small screen. In July, Wilson will take on the iconic role of Stella Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire” at London’s Warehouse Theater. She’ll star alongside Rachel Weisz as Blanche DuBois, and Elliot Cowan, who plays Stanley Kowalski. “It’s such a brutal play, full of passion [and] violence,” says Wilson. “With theater, you have that adrenaline kick — you’ve only got you, your voice and that’s it, so it’s quite scary. But I like scaring myself.”

QUICK STUDY: A former history student, Wilson researches her roles thoroughly. The actress took a road trip around America’s Deep South to prep for the part, taking in South Carolina, Mississippi and New Orleans. “New Orleans is an incredible place. You can understand why Tennessee Williams wrote about it,” says Wilson. “It’s got music coming out of every corner.”

SMALL SCREEN: Wilson hasn’t left her television roots behind. The actress will play Queenie in “Small Island,” a BBC adaptation of the Andrea Levy novel set in post-World War II London, which will make its debut on British screens in the fall. She also shot a remake of the Sixties spy show “The Prisoner,” with Sir Ian McKellen and Hayley Atwell. “It’s quite weird,” says Wilson. “We all have numbers rather than names. To some people it will make no sense, to other people it will be some kind of philosophical story.”

BIG PLANS: Frustrated by what she sees as a lack of compelling roles for women, Wilson says she’s working on putting on a film festival for female writers with Atwell and Emma Thompson. “Producers [say] women don’t bring in the money,” says Wilson. “That’s the aim of the festival: for writers to start improving women’s roles. And not to write boring dramas…[but] action movies and genre movies.” The actress also says she plans to direct films of her own at some point. “It’s probably a bit about control, actually,” says Wilson with a laugh. “Wanting to know from start to finish what the hell’s going on.”

Source:
http://www.wwd.com/lifestyle-news/eye/eye-more-girls-of-summer-2184297?gnewsid=be91869e934e6ed418829ac2bc9d5e36

Rebecca Hall in Sunday Express magazine

There is a two page article on Rebecca Hall in today's Sunday Express magazine. Here are my scans:

Lara Pulver in Robin Hood 3.12

I've decided not to go overboard with the screen grab type images for this episode. Below are a representative sample of Lara in the penultimate episode.

Isabella survives this episode. Fingers crossed that she survives the series.

Alexandra Moen and Lucy Liemann in Hotel Babylon

Yes, I know Hotel Babylon is trashy TV, but it's knowingly trashy so that makes it OK. It's back on the BBC tonight.

First point of interest for me is that Alexandra Moen's character returns. She was introduced to the show last year and got me watching. Previously she played Lucy Saxon (a.k.a Mrs The Master) at the end of the third series of the new Doctor Who.

The Second point of interest for me is that the trailer for the new series was on TV this evening and I'm pretty sure I spotted Lucy Liemann for a moment. I assumed she guest stars in an episode along the way.

Expect the inevitable screen grab type images!

Emily Blunt in Observer Film Magazine

Here's a heads-up on the next issue of Observer Film Magazine which will include an exclusive interview with Emily Blunt. The mag will be included with The Observer on Sunday 21 June 2009.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/competition/2009/jun/15/film-food

Lara Pulver in the Guardian (last month)

Here's the latest addition to my Lara Pulver collection. She was featured in the Guardian newspaper's G2 section on Monday 18 May 2009.

I've done a couple of scans and attempted to join them together. (If anyone out there is handy with photo shop you are welcome to try tidying it up!) Click on the photo for the big version.

Lucy Liemann Fan Website

Alan has created a Lucy Liemann Fan Website. That saves me creating one! Visit it at http://www.lucyliemann.net/.

Christina Cole in Surviving Evil trailer

Christina Cole has made a horror type movie about some TV people being chased through the jungle by some sort of creature. Sort of like Predator but with Billy Zane. It seems to be a UK-South Africa co-production. Might be OK and it's always nice to see Christina in something new. Here's the trailer...

Lara Pulver in Robin Hood 3.11

I had a break last week due to Lara not being in the "flashback" episode of Robin Hood. Now she's back so normal service has been resumed.

This week Isabella hunts Robin and Guy who have headed off to York to rescue their shared half-brother Archer.

Archer turned out to be a bit of a "scoundrel" in true Han Solo mold. One assumes he will become the new Robin when Jonas leaves the show.

One of my favourite moments was when they are looking for Archer in the cell to rescue him. "I'm Archer!" "I'm Archer!" say all the prisoners in perhaps a nod to Spartacus.

Now here are the screen grab type images of my favourite Sheriff, Isabella...

Terminator Salvation - first thoughts

Here's my first thoughts on Terminator Salvation a plot rehash or major spoilers.which I saw earlier this week. I'll try to avoid a plot rehash or major spoilers. I had been looking forward to this movie and also hoped it wouldn't be a misstep like Terminator 3.

Thanks to the time-travel plots in the previous instalments Salvation manages to be both a sequel and a prequel at the same time.

The movie is pretty much a non-stop action adventure from start to finish. There are not too many quieter moments or introspection. Normally this can get a bit tiresome but in this movie it works. I was sold on how dangerous this future world could be with numerous models of machines ready to attack at any moment. Some action moments play out without music which also increases the tension. The gritty post-apocalyptic landscape is almost a character in its own right.

Christian Bale plays the adult John Connor with his trademark intensity. It actually becomes a fairly repetitive performance. Glower, shout, glower, shout, yell, glower, etc.



However to my surprise he's not the star of the show. The main character turns out to be Marcus Wright, a man about to be executed in the opening scene of the movie. His journey is really the central one of the movie and Sam Worthington turns in an excellent performance as Marcus. If the movie works at all its because of that character and actor.



I liked Moon Bloodgood as resistance pilot Blair Williams. She turned out to have a lot more to do than I had originally expected.

Anton Yelchin did a great job following (or should that be preceding?) Michael Biehn as the young Kyle Reese.

Helena Bonham Carter turns up for two small scenes bookending the movie and does a lot with very little.

Bryce Dallas Howard frankly doesn't get to do very much expect do a concerned wife. Michael Ironside has a small role as a typical growley resistance leader.

And yes, we get to see a 1984 era Arnold head on a T-800. The CGI on that sequence was seamless and outstanding.

The opening credits are certainly inspired by that of the first movie and Danny Elfman's score does nod in the direction of Brad Fidel's famous themes.

All in all I enjoyed the movie. It's different from the originals but I would argue it has to be given the 2018 setting.

And more importantly it's better than Terminator 3.

Now, how about a third season of The Sarah Connor Chronicles?

Lucy Liemann in Reggie Perrin episode 6

And for the final time for this series here are my screen grab type images of Lucy Liemann in Reggie Perrin.

This episode was shown last Friday but as I have been busy I've only got around to doing them now.

Not too much Lucy in this episode, but I do like the eighth ones which I will call "Jasmine Gazes Wistfully".

The series was a bit hit and miss but was not a complete disaster. And any opportunity to see Lucy in BBC1 in prime time is to be welcomed.

The DVD is already out by the way!