The Fireside

At the moment, the future of the Narnia film series is in limbo. Yes, pre-production is happening, or beginning to happen on The Silver Chair but truly, to me, unless I see a trailer, or a poster etc. a movie simply does not exist. Remember all those false starts on Ghostbusters 3, and even The Hobbit ? Exactly. The movie could get canceled tomorrow (I hope not, but I'm going going somewhere with this. So, with that in mind, I have an idea, or a few ideas, on how Narnia could get rebooted and work all the way through so that all seven books will finally make it to onto a screen. Here it is. BBC self-reboots Narnia . Before the splendid 2005 live action film, BBC in the late '80s – early '90s made The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian, Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair as...movies I guess? I saw them – they weren't too bad. Old, and a little low budget but enjoyable (I prefer the more recent live actio...

Early Dickens Christmas story describes a Christmas dinner at the home of Uncle and Aunt George. Originally published in Bell's Life in London in 1835 under the name Scenes and Characters No. 10 Christmas Festivities. A Christmas Dinner Charles Dickens 1835 C hristmas time! That man must be a misanthrope indeed, in whose breast something like a jovial feeling is not roused - in whose mind some pleasant associations are not awakened - by the recurrence of Christmas. There are people who will tell you that Christmas is not to them what it used to be; that each succeeding Christmas has found some cherished hope, or happy prospect, of the year before, dimmed or passed away; that the present only serves to remind them of reduced circumstances and straitened incomes - of the feasts they once bestowed on hollow friends, and of the cold looks that meet them now, in adversity and misfortune. Never heed such dismal reminiscences. There are few men who have lived long enough in the ...

As you saw; either in theaters or courtesy of my latest blog post, The Hobbit  trilogy is finished. Peter Jackson's Middle-earth film saga has concluded. There are still some things to look forward to, at least on my end of things - the extended edition trilogy on blu-ray, a possible Complete Recordings of The Hobbit... but it seems I am nearing the end of my fantasy movie fix. There's no real telling of when we'll get the fourth Narnia  film, The Silver Chair , but the Narnia  chronicles are more light hearted than the Peter Jackson films. I do, however, see the light at the end of the tunnel. Enter Warcraft.  The film, due out in March 2016, is based on the very first PC game, Warcraft . I have played that game, Warcraft II, a bit of Warcraft III, and about a year and half worth of World of Warcraft . That sounds like a lot on paper, but really, I am pretty much unfamiliar with the mythos. I am quite interested and hopeful about the forthcoming film. I believ...

Well, this is it. Most likely the final Middle-earth film to ever be released. Herein, I shall review the film, spoiler-free.

The new 'black' edition of The Children of Hurin  by Harper Collins has now been released - in the UK (the release date for other areas, like Canada,  has it listed as February 17, 2015. So the best thing to do, is order it from  www.bookdepository.com , seeing as the book's already published, and they offer free shipping. Possibly Tolkien's last 'new' book set in Middle-earth / Beleriand / Numenor / The Realms & Legends That He Created, not counting anniversary, deluxe, or illustrated editions of works previously published. Long before the One Ring was forged in the fires of Mount Doom, one man—Húrin—dared to defy Morgoth, the first and greatest of the dark lords to plague Middle-earth. Thus did he and his children, Túrin and Niënor, earn the enmity of a merciless foe that would shape the destiny of all the ages to come. Only J.R.R. Tolkien, the undisputed master of the fantastic, could have conceived this magical tale of Elves and Men ...

Nope...not the basic peons you fight against in Doom . Nor is it Tyrion Lannister. It's the return of "The Bottle Imp" by Beau's! Last time. I only had one bottle before it was gone. Now, Beau's brought it back. I am not sure how long it will be around for...both this year, or ever . Russian Imperial Stout • 9.0% alc/vol The Bottle Imp is a strong, dark, roasty and rich creation. This rendition of a Russian Imperial Stout is also infused with a blend of Mexican and Ethiopian fair-trade organic coffee. Complex and contemplative, and with well-integrated alcohol warmth, The Bottle Imp is best served in a snifter, sipped slowly and savoured.

The epic conclusion to The Dagger and The Coin series is coming August 4, 2015. Lord Regent Geder Palliako''s great war has spilled across the world, nation after nation falling before the ancient priesthood and weapon of dragons. But even as conquest follows conquest, the final victory retreats before him like a mirage. Schism and revolt begin to erode the foundations of the empire, and the great conquest threatens to collapse into a permanent war of all against all. In Carse, with armies on all borders, Cithrin bel Sarcour, Marcus Wester, and Clara Kalliam are faced with the impossible task of bringing a lasting peace to the world. Their tools: traitors high in the imperial army, the last survivor of the dragon empire, and a financial scheme that is either a revolution or the greatest fraud in the history of the world. ISBN: 9780316204057 The Dagger and the Coin  by Daniel Abraham, in order: The Dragon's Path The King's Blood The Tyrant's Law The Wido...

Unfortunately, one of the movies I am looking forward to seeing, Exodus: Gods and Kings  got attacked by 'the critics'. Generally, that does not affect how I feel towards a film, nor do i pay that much attention to it. But it's at 27%  at the moment (top critics) on Rotten Tomatoes. I am sure I will still see the film, but perhaps not in theaters. Something similar happened with Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven, where the 'director's cut' on DVD was a vastly superior film (thanks to the success and footsteps of The Lord of the Rings  extended editions) which in fact, made the film pretty amazing. Likewise with Robin Hood , although there was not drastic enough difference between the unrated and theatrical. And, I saw this on Wikipedia: "I n an interview for  Access Hollywood , Scott claimed there was a "final" cut of the film that was 4 hours,   implying that the version released in theaters was reduced by 90 minutes." So I shall be...

I wrote earlier on when the winter beers started coming out, but I'd figure I would do up another post what with Christmas coming and all.  The type of beer that is 'in season' now is darker and heavier / heartier beers such as stouts and dark ales etc to help you stay warm during the colder months.  Here is what I would recommend to fellow beer drinkers to buy for themselves or for others. - Church Key Holy Smoke Scotch Ale 6.2% Alc/Vol 11 IBU (not a seasonal, but definitely enjoyed this time of year) A peat smoked Scotch ale. This unique brews heart is that 10% of the malt is kilned over a peat fire, giving beautiful, deep rich smoky tones to the beer. It pours dark brown with a light tan head. It is low in hop bitterness and its profile is dominated by the sweet and smoky malts. - Beau's Bogwater [winter seasonal] Eastern Ontario Gruit 6.6% alc/vol The inspiration for BOG•WATER came from the Alfred Bog, a truly unique feature of Eastern Ontario. The malt and y...

Thanks to a video that LCBO posted on their facebook page, I have discovered another beer (or brewery, rather) that I am interested in trying: St. Bernardus. The LCBO advertises and promotes the 'mixed selection' 6-pack. Inside of that, you get one of: - Wit traditional Belgian white beer developed and brewed in collaboration with the legendary Master Brewer Pierre Celis. This ale is very pale (whitish-yellow color) and quite hazy. The head is white and dense. In aroma, it has a wheaty, apple-like, tartness; herbal-spicy notes with coriander and orangey fruitness and honeyish sweetness. Very refreshing: perfect thirst quencher ! (5,5% ABV) - Pater 6 a traditional abbey style dubbel, chestnut in color, very fruity with notes of melon and very fresh banana, finishing with slight bitterness. Delightfully easy to drink. (6,7% ABV) - Watou Tripel (also exists as 750 ml bottle) traditional abbey ale brewed in the classic "Triple" style of Belgium's best Abbey...

As 2014 winds down, I am looking ahead to see what movies coming up in the next bit interest me. So, here is a look as of now...

Christmas is, shockingly, weeks away, and that is a magical time of year for children and young ones. For some of us grown ups, the inner child that resides in our hearts also stirs up.  So it is no surprise that I am going to recommend a few classic tales to entertain and entice children and younger readers, be it your own, or someone you know who has kids. Or even yourself if you fancy some post-Christmas shopping. 

There is a strong chance that The Hobbit (Part 3)  will be the last-ever Middle-earth movie. Peter Jackson stated this earlier which clears up any fans' hopes for future films (by him) : "The Tolkien estate owns the writings of Professor Tolkien.  The Hobbit  and  The Lord of the Rings  were sold by Professor Tolkien in the late '60s, the film rights,"  "They are the only two works of his that have ever been sold ... So without the cooperation of the Tolkien Estate, there can't be any more films." So there you have it. As I've known for quite a while, other films such as parts of The Silmarillion, or Children of Hurin  cannot, legally, be made. However, I can see future films as something like.... The Fellowship of the Ring  takes places 60 years after  The Hobbit . If more films are made between those two timespans, or other elements of the story not seen on film taking focus (especially The Lord of the Rings . The book is v...

According to Gamnesia, and other gaming sites, there is a major error which can, effectively, 'final smash' your WII U and the Smash Bros U  game. Read about it here:  http://www.gamnesia.com/news/new-smash-bros.-for-wii-u-error-can-leave-the-game-unplayable#.VH3bHtLF98E Very scary indeed. Bugs, glitches, crashes are one thing...but something on this scale is worrisome. I own the game and have been playing it often within the past two weeks, and everything is fine on my end of things. Once I saw the severity of this bug, however, I have decided not to play until there is an update or patch from Nintendo, either for Smash Bros. U, the WII U itself, or both (I'm playing other games in the meantime). I do have some observations, though: - I'm one of those people who doesn't like to leave discs in players, drives, consoles etc. So when I finish playing, I always take the disc out and put it back in the case. Which means I don't 'turn off' the console while...

The winners of the 2014 Goodreads Choice Awards have been announced! They were selected by users who voted in a serious of rounds. The winners are: Landline  by Rainbow Rowell ; Fiction  Mr. Mercedes   by Stephen King ; Mystery & Thriller  All the Light We Cannot See   by Anthony Doerr ; Historical Fiction  The Book of Life  ( All Souls Trilogy Book 3) by Deborah Harkness ; Fantasy  Written on My Own Heart's Blood  ( Outlander  Book 8) by Diana Gabaldon ; Romance  The Martian by Andy Weir ; Science Fiction  Prince Lestat ( Vampire Chronicles  Book 1) by Anne Rice ; Horror  Yes Please   by Amy Poehler ; Humour  The Opposite of Loneliness  by Marina Keegan ; Non-Fiction  This Star Won't Go Out   by Esther Earl, Lori Earl and Wayne Earl ; Memoir & Autobiography  The Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport ; History & Biography ...

I am not a big fan of young adult material, all that much. I've read, and enjoyed all seven of the Harry Potter books, and also enjoyed the films. There have been a few other YA books and movies since (and during) that, intentional or not, have tried to recreate (or 'cash-in', depending on your viewpoint) that level of quality, immersion and sizeable fanbase.  I believe that The Hunger Games  while possibly not the 'next' Harry Potter, is possibly the best young adult books (and films) since.  I was pleasantly surprised after reading the first book (and the rest of the trilogy) by the the story, as well as the fact that I enjoyed it as much as I did.  I was also surprised by the first film (as I was with a few of the Harry Potter films) that a movie this good could come from YA literature - it is a force to be reckoned with, that genre. Without a doubt, Jennifer Lawrence is the best aspect of that first film.  And, the same goes with Catching Fire , t...

"End? No, the journey doesn't end here" It is now less than a month to go before myself (and my eight companions) see The Hobbit (Part 3) , the last Peter Jackson Middle-earth film in cinemas. Online, when it comes to the comments users have posted for posters, trailers, etc. they mention 'the end' and they oft refer to Gandalf and Pippin talking about death.  Like Gandalf, I am here to tell you that this is not, indeed, the end.  So once you see the final Hobbit  film, there are some things you could do: - see it again! If anybody could not make it out to see it with you, offer to take them, or join their group.  - watch previous Middle-earth films - look forward to The Hobbit (Part 3)  Extended Edition (or, in my case, the 2D blu-ray trilogy box set; both of which should arrive next November)  - read some Tolkien ( The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion  and  Unfinished Tales  to understand and appr...

There is something I have noticed lately - some big (as in famous, high profile) authors that I follow have been writing smaller works lately. No, this is not a complaint but a trend I have noticed recently, which is most likely coincidence. I am most likely (literally) reading too much into it.  Some of these works are a part of the world of their more famous writings, other times it is unrelated. Here are some examples. The Ocean at the End of the Lane  by Neil Gaiman Great book. My paperback copy clocks in at...178 pages of story, and it begins on page 3. The Wind Through the Keyhole  by Stephen King This is basically The Dark Tower  Book 4.5, but it was written after the seventh book, which is where the story ends. Making this book the 8th one published. my paperback begins on page 3, and is 384 pages. This title is longer than The Gunslinger , though that one is the first book in the series. The rest of the  Dark Tower  books have are longe...

Brandon Sanderson has written a great pep talk to those participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) which is great for aspiring writers, such as myself. To read it, head on over here:  http://nanowrimo.org/pep-talks/brandon-sanderson-2014 Best of luck to everyone! 

Well, there is both good and bad news - George R.R. Martin is about halfway done The Winds of Winter, Book Six of A Song of Ice and Fire .  "..."I'm still in the middle of the book..." http://mashable.com/2014/11/16/george-rr-martin-charity-event/ Of course, he could have more done and is going back to the middle of the book to write or edit extra stuff in regards to the winners.  This is all speculation, of course, and is no indication of how much of  The Winds of Winter is completed. Bear in mind, he began working on the book in January 2012, and he was already about 200 pages in, which were transferred from Book Five, A Dance With Dragons . I think it's safe to say that 2015 release date is hopeful, and 2016 is reasonable and realistic. Also, 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of A Game of Thrones , the first book. Either way, I am looking forward to it.  Those worrying about the show overtaking the books remember this - George has a lot of input on ...

It is now the final round for the 2014 Goodreads Choice Awards, so you get those votes in! Here's who I voted for:  Fiction: The Bone Clocks  Mystery & Thriller: Mr. Mercedes Historical Fiction:  All the Light We Cannot See Fantasy: The Slow Regard of Silent Things   Romance: Written in My Own Heart's Blood Humor: Yes Please   History & Biography: In the Kingdom of Ice Debut Goodreads Author: Pierce Brown  Young Adult Fantasy & Sci-Fi: Red Rising   I'll announce who wins....