MASTER AND COMMANDER ...

Is a 2003 movie starring Russell Crowe as a captain in the Royal Navy as he hunts down a French privateer ship in the Napoleonic wars. The movie is based on a series of twenty books - and an unfinished twenty first book - called the 'Aubrey-Maturin' series by English novelist Patrick O'Brian that are known for their historical accuracy.

                                                                   © 20th Century Fox                                       © Patrick O'Brian                                                                                                       

The movie itself is astonishing for its dedication to that historical realism. It may have been more well known were it not for the fact that 'The Lord Of the Rings: The Return of the King' came out at the same time. The movie called 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' to give it its full title doesn't follow the books exactly but tells its own self-contained narrative that is enjoyable without needing to have read the book series.

Here's a link to the books series on Amazon where you can buy them and here's a link to the movie on Amazon where you can buy it.

MOUSE HUNT ...

Is an excellent movie directed by Gore Verbinski about two brothers (similar to Laurel and Hardy) who inherit a large mansion and in trying to sell it have to fight off its only other inhabitant, a mouse. The movie is hilarious and the CGI mouse is a lot better then people give it credit for.

                                                                                                                                                    © Dreamworks Pictures

Here's a link to the movie on Amazon where you can buy it.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE ...

Is a picture book for children by American author and illustrator Maurice Sendak and is about the adventures of a young boy who is sent to bed without any supper. It is a vibrant and exciting story which I would recommend for anyone who likes fantasy.

                                © Maurice Sendak

Here's a link to the picture book on Amazon where you can buy it. 

OPEN ME ... I'M A DOG! ...

Is a children's picture book by Art Spiegelman (the creator of 'Maus') and follows the adventures of a dog stuck as a book (the very picture book itself) after being turned into one by an evil wizard and his subsequent adventures to get out of the predicament.

      © Art Spiegelman                             © Art Spiegelman

Here is a link to the picture book on amazon where you can but it.

THE BROTHERS GRIMM ...

Is a movie by Terry Gilliam that is a brilliant mashup of all the traditional fairytales in a way only Terry Gilliam could do. It is a bit similar to the movie 'Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters' in its premise of monster hunting siblings in a fairytale world but much less disappointing in execution! I happened to watch the movie just after doing some pretty intense folklore research and can say that it is excellent in its combination of all the various sources.

                 © Miramax                                                             © Paramount Pictures

It isn't as well known as some of Terry Gilliam's other Movies but is just as good.

Here is a link to The Brothers Grimm on Amazon where you can but it.

 And here is a link to Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters on Amazon where you can buy it.

SPACEWARP ...

Is the title of a new comic series started by Pat Mills (the creator of 2000AD) and is intended as a non nostalgic sci-fi series similar to 2000AD, but intended for a modern audience. Only one issue has been published as of yet and a separate volume collecting the run of one of the serialized stories has been released titled 'Hellbreaker: Fire in the Blood'.

                              © Millsverse                                                             © Millsverse                                         

Here's a link to the Spacewarp website. And here's a link to the comic on Amazon where you can buy it.

STUDIO PONOC ...

Is a Japanese animation studio founded by Yoshiaki Nishimura, the former lead film producer at Studio Ghibli. So far they have produced two movies and a selection of three short films. Their first movie is called 'Mary and the Witch's Flower' and is based on a novel called 'The Little Broomstick' by British writer Mary Stewart, known for her romantic mystery stories and children's books.

The movie feels like kind of a mashup of different aspects of earlier Studio Ghibli movies and the story doesn't quite come together fully but the animation is very polished and for a first movie it is brilliant.

         

                                © Studio Ponoc

It is Studio Ponoc's more recent collection of short films (called 'Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Film Theatre, Volume 1') though that really shine, with each one in a different style and having a different theme. The first story involves two small crablike children who live in a stream - rescuing their parents - and the other two involve a boy with a critical allergy to eggs and an invisible man.

                                                              © Studio Ponoc                                         © Studio Ponoc

Studio Ponoc has also done some advertising and short work, one of which is inspired by Olympism and called 'Tomorrow's Leaves'. 

Studio Ponoc's second movie called 'The Imaginary' (otherwise known as 'Rajah in the Attic' in Japan) is about an imaginary boy's adventures and the girl who imagined him. The movie is based on a children's picture book of the same name written by poet and performer A. F. Harrold and is illustrated by artist Emily Gravett. It is very well animated with a nice watercolor look - different to 'Mary and the Witch's Flower' - that incorporates subtle 3D computer effects. The plot is more grounded then you might expect for a movie about the imagination and it feels that with this movie Studio Ponoc has fully stepped away from any earlier Studio Ghibli influences and should be considered a serious studio in its own right. The art style does make me think a bit of Studio Ghibli's 'Ponyo' though, in that it is colorful and slightly reminiscent of children's crayons which also makes me think of the '5 Worlds' comic book series by Mark Siegel and others. Who I did a previous blog about you can read. 

                                                                   © Studio Ponoc

                                      © A.F. Harrold & Emily Gravett                       © A.F. Harrold & Emily Gravett 

                                                                                                                © Studio Ponoc

Here is a link to the Studio Ponoc's website. And here's a link to A.F. Harrold's main website and here's a link to A. F. Harrold's Children's website. And here's a link to the hardcover edition of the picture book on Amazon where you can but it. And here's a link to 'Mary and the Witch's Flower' on Amazon where you can buy it. And here's a link to Modest Heroes on Amazon where you can buy it. And here's a link to 'The Imaginary' on Amazon where you can buy it.

CAT WEATHERILL ...

Is a children's book writer and performer, she runs writing workshops and has written several children's books. Her two most interesting books are called 'Barkbelly' and 'Snowbone', they are a series and she took inspiration for them from Italian folktales. What is interesting about the series is that it has a really authentic air of strangeness to it, something that most fairytale style books do not manage well. The story is very adventurous and fun to boot and the sequel continues things in an interesting way. I would recommend them if you want something fun and a bit different that isn't a huge series.

                        © Cat Weatherill                                                    © Cat Weatherill

Here's a link to her children's book website. And here's a link to her adult performance website.

And here's a link to her books on Amazon where you can buy them.

EDEN THREE ...

Is the name of a short four part anime Netflix series which follows the adventures of a young girl called Sara Grace in a post-apocalyptic world where robots continue to take care of the planet. The series is short but has a lot of plot twists and the animation is done very well. It is really interesting how all the characters are designed as well.

                                                                                      © Netflix                                               

A Manga adaption was also done.

CHARLES VESS ...

Is an American comic and fantasy artist who has illustrated the work of Neil Gaiman and Ursula K. Le Guin among others. He has also worked for Marvel and DC comics and now runs his own press called 'Green Man Press' where he publishes his own work. 

       © Charles Vess                                     © Charles Vess

Here's a link to his website.