Lucky Girl

Here's a pic of Kirsten Dunst in costume from the set of Sophia Coppola's movie about Marie Antionette. (via Pink Is the New Blog)

Have a Little Turkish Delight

You must check out Disney's lovely website for the Chronicles of Narnia. Tilda Swinton and Anna Popplewell (Daniel Deronda, Girl with the Pearl Earring, and Mansfield Park) are among the cast members of the adaptation, which is scheduled for release this year. Be sure to mouse around the 360 view inside Narnia (look for the lamppost, then go right). Plus: Take the Chronicles of Narnia quiz. --Kim

Prairie Rant

I know there is a generation of little girls who aren't so fortunate to have grown up with Michael Landon calling Melissa Gilbert "Half-pint." Maybe I'm just being bitter in my old-school devotion to the original version of "Little House on the Prairie," with that bitchy Nelly Olsen always shaking things up and the "let's frolick in the meadow!" closing credits. Yet curiosity prompted me to check out ABC's new version of "Little House on the Prairie" on Saturday night. (Nevermind why I was home at 8 p.m. on a Saturday night...)

Within the first few minutes of the show, I was immediately taken with the ruggedly handsome sexpot plowing the field, all scruffy-bearded and muscular as if he had just stepped off a Harlequin romance cover. "Who is thaaat?" I wondered. When two little braided girls ran up to this hunk and called him "Pa," i gasped out loud. Was I just -- dare I say it -- lusting after PAAAAA!!!!!?????

Frankly, I felt dirty. I checked out the actor (Cameron Bancroft) again and realized that he might actually be younger than me. Now I just felt annoyed. Laura Ingalls Wilder's epic installation of life on the American frontier certainly hasn't aged since I devoured every book in the third grade. But apparently, I HAVE aged enough to have the hots for a prairie dad. (Next, I'll be smitten with the Ingalls' aging neighbor, Mr. Edwards).

The episode I watched was part of a three-part presentations, which could get picked up for a regular series if it does well in the ratings. If I were 8 years old again, I might have been more jazzed about the episode. As it was, I was too busy wondering how people in the 19th century (including the Native Americans) had access to Crest White Strips. The cast's gleaming white teeth distracted me from their attempts to recreate history on the frontier. Has Michael Landon rolled over in his grave yet? -- Amy

Love Walks In

According to Hollywood Reporter, Sarah Jessica Parker will star in the adaptation of "Love Walks In," a novel by poet Marisa de los Santos. Marisa is also a contributor to my friend Nicki's upcoming collection of essays, The May Queen. --Kim

Crusade Controversy

The author of a non-fiction chronicle on the third crusade is accusing 20th Century Fox of stealing information from his book for this summer's Ridley Scott epic Kingdom of Heaven, which stars Orlando Bloom. (NYTimes)

Are you the next bard?

Check out this choose-your-own adventure game to see if you've got what it takes to be a successful Elizabethan playwright. -- Amy

See You In Court

From now until June 12, there's an exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Images of Fashion From the Court of Louis XIV, a rare collection of engraved fashion plates from the 17th century.

And on June 10 & 11 at LACMA, an international panel of experts will further explore many of our modern concepts of fashion by looking at the past. Presentations include music and dance from a ballet performed at Versailles.

F.Y.I., museum admission is waived after five, and is free all day on the second Tuesday of each month. -- Amy