Because everyone loves a quiz

and the Guardian's are usually especially good: "Do You Know Your Literary Adaptations?" I scored a 9 out of 10 on this, but honestly it was mostly lucky guesses.



You scored 9 out of a possible 10

Pulitzer prize-winner. You loved Anthony Burgess's verse translations for the Cyrano de Bergerac subtitles (though you noticed the caesura was out on one of the lines), and you're always ready to spot where the film differs (inexcusably) from the book. Do you often spend your nights alone? (Whaaaat?? --Kim)

Good Knight

Franco Zeffirelli has adapted some of the greatest literary works for the screen, including one of my favorite films, Romeo and Juliet ('68). Tonight he'll be awarded an honarary knighthood for his contribution to British Arts. (Guardian UK)

You can order a poster similar to the one I own here. He's 81, but really shouldn't one be required to affect at minimum a token joust or something in order to receive a knighthood? --Kim

Trailer Park

The best-selling French novel A Very Long Engagement by Sebastien Japrisot is now a film starring wide-eyed waif Audrey Tautou. I saw the trailer before the debacle that was Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason and it looks promising in an epic English Patient way.



You can watch the trailer for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy here. Not much happens but it's still kind of thrilling.



Also, why am I so excited about the new Star Wars movie? --Kim

Pollyanna

Who out there DIDN'T bust out bawling when Hayley Mills' version of this eternal optimist fell out of a tree and was paralyzed?



Masterpiece Theater does a remake of the classic Disney film, Pollyanna, this Sunday, Nov. 28 on PBS. Incidentally, the story is based on a 1913 bestseller by Eleanor H. Porter.



Nothing like a cloyingly sweet young child to transform the grump in all of us. -- Amy

Regency House Party: Episode III

In this week's installation, we learned that women in the Regency Era were expected to act demure, shy and reserved around the opposite sex. All except for Countess Griaznov apparently, who, desperate for any attention from the men, decided to serve herself up naked on the dining room table! How this was sanctioned by her normally strict chaperone is beyond us, but suffice it to say her coquettish act didn't have its desired effect. The men in the room appeared visibly revolted having to dine with the countess's body sprawled across the table as if she were the centerfold in one of Hefner's mags. Bad form, countess -- bad form. Then again, this is the same woman who invited "doctor death" to dinner and listened in awe as he discussed the plastification of corpses.



With the addition of another lady and a few more gents to the party, we still can't figure out why the only bit of lovin' going on in this house of swingin' singles is between the very dorky Mr. Foxsmith and his middle-aged lover (yes, LOVER!), Lady Devonport. The two scampered off to the stables to spend the night at the end of this week's episode. It would be more scandalicious if it were the hunky host, Mr. Gorell Barnes leading the seduction, but unfortunately, he's too dull to have put any moves on the ladies so far. We've only got one more episode left to see any of the other guys in the house actually make a move. If the REAL men of the Regency Era had been as ineffectual at wooing women as these guys are, the sad trials of childbirth that we learned about in this episode would be a moot point. -- Amy

Hanks, but no thanks...

Tom Hanks already managed to monopolize every adult role in The Polar Express, and now I hear he's been cast as the main character in Dan Brown's literary cash cow, The DaVinci Code. The news irritated me, not only because I envisioned the book's Holy Grail-seeker, Robert Langdon, as someone WAY more sexy, but also because it confirms my suspicions that Tom Hanks has become the Hollywood equivalent of Wal-Mart.



On a more positive note, Newsweek magazine recently suggested a few more favorable casting choices:

Love interst Sophie Neveu: Julie Delpy, from Before Sunrise/Sunset.

Detective Bezu Fache: Jean Reno from The Professional.



(I won't hold my breath as it will probably end up being someone like "Apple's Mom" and Richard Gere in those roles. And since this book is about as commercial as they come, I guess it only makes sense.) -- Amy

Regency House Party: Episode II

Did Regency era activities include snogging on the lawn half clothed? That's some of what we witnessed in Part II of PBS's Regency House Party, as Mr. Foxsmith became more deeply (and illogically) enamored with one of the older chaperone women, Lady Davenport. Perhaps he neglected the younger ladies in the party because from what we've seen so far, they are uninteresting and whine a lot. Miss Braund and her chaperone nearly came to blows one evening, leaving our handsome host, Mr. Gorel-Barnes to attempt to restore order. It's unfortunate that Miss Braund suffered such a hissy fit, as Kim and I briefly had cheered when she received a daisy chain on her bed from Mr. Everett. Nevertheless, he simultaneously had the hots for Miss Hopkins and proved to be quite the player. Only the "Colonel Brandon"-like Captain Glover showed himself to be a true gentleman, using bales of hay to arrange the phrase "B Happy" on the lawn outside Miss Braund's window. How utterly romantic! The episode also included insights into the world of gothic entertainment and male vomiting. Truly something for everyone... --Amy