Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a fascinating folly, taking that premise entirely seriously (there are four jokes in the film, one being the title) to the point that its blaming historical tragedies on vampires without a hint of levity is at least dubiously tasteful. It takes pains not to blame slavery on vampires, while happily blaming them for ( Read more... )

A collection of five hundred fairytales compiled a hundred and fifty years ago has been found in Germany, some not collected elsewhere such as The Turnip Princess.

Richard Carpenter has died. He was one of UK TV's great fantasy creators, with Robin Of Sherwood in particular being the defining version of the story for a generation, by turns mystical and gritty, tough and romantic, tragic and funny, influencing a variety of tellings ever since ( Read more... )

I figured it'd be fun (just about up there with The Rocketeer) but it's the funnest of the summer. Standup two-fisted heroics, hyper-Nazis, great effects, heartfelt emotion and a catchy song ( Read more... )

Even when it isn't like this outside.

Opening day at the refurbished Royal Museum of Scotland, 15000 people in the door, loads to see and do, dinosaur skeletons, sarcophagi, squid in jars, medieval weapons, Stevenson lighthouse mechanisms. On a quieter day I'll go through and pick something from every gallery to Who about.

A chapter of history has now ended. Looking back at September 11th 2001 and after, I remember being scared for people I knew (one had a father in New York and didn't hear from him for two days - he'd been helping the relief effort) and for what it would mean. Mostly since it's meant two wars, one justified by it and the other justified by bad ( Read more... )

Which sounds better:

Arthur Versus Predator

or

Alien Versus Pendragon

?

(Arthur without the King part unfortunately suggests a Rupert lookalike learning valuable life lessons, or possibly Russell Frickin Brand.)

Fifty years ago, Yuri Gagarin took off and left the Earth behind. A human being stepped beyond the world. We did that. Look up, and imagine what more we can do.

If the rain stops, I'm off to see jousting at Linlithgow Palace tomorrow.

As you do.

The Gorbals Vampire

Back in 1954, two policemen were called to a disturbance at a Glasgow cemetery. They discovered hundreds of children searching for a vampire with iron teeth ( Read more... )