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Uh,
so, the weekly media and creature brain dumps have been on a very unofficial hiatus lately. Kinda ironic and weird since I referred to them in my bio and I really did wanna continue both series no matter the engagement. Long story short, busy boring adult and job stuff, writer’s block, and some conflicted decisions about Media Mondays and Creacher Fridays.
But I think I came to a few ultimate changes I feel good about.
First off, I’m changing and being a bit more forward about the scheduling for the “weekly writes”. As much as I hate to break the alliteration, I think a bi-weekly posting quota would be a lot more sustainable and enjoyable in the long run. Maybe even with the goal of breaking both up into seasons if they get to a long enough point. If anyone cares to know they’re also rigidly scheduled to go up at 3:59 pm on their designated days, Eastern time.
I’m also set on changing the name of Media Marvel Mondays. The intention of “marvel” in the title was to give off a similar vibe as “pondering my orb”. Like, hey, here’s a thing that I’m rotating in my mind and I’d love to spit some exposure and praise to because it left a string impression on me once. Well, the search and tag things do something predictably different when you go looking for stuff with both the words “media” and “marvel” in them. I think my alternative has a better ring and distinction to it. From here on the Monday rambles are gonna be coined as
Media Musin’ Mondays
With the updated tag(s) to mention of course.
No change to Creacher Feature Friday, but I will continue the hiatus on that one for a little bit longer because it has gotten very out of sync with the media series. I’d like to catch its sibling up in the meanwhile and prepare to drop a more proper introduction for me self in the means while ;)
This is still a pretty fresh and moist page and I’m having good fun in watching some of its roots find something to sink into.
Edit: holy crap, happy 100th post, blog
（・◇・）/~~~
Scarlet’s side things would love suggestions!
Hey mutuals, new followers, etc. if you’re not aware, I have a couple little sorta-biweekly-series of rambles on my blog. Long story short, interesting real world species on Fridays, and on Mondays, little nuggets of media that have bored into my brain.
Media Musins and Creacher Features have been continuing their lil slump for a while now. It’s not that I haven’t been writing for the other-Friday posts, but I’m trying to get caught up with the Monday ones so they can be at the same number. Granted, I’ve been very busy with this latest fandom possession and an animation I started a little bit back. Work’s been a drain as well, and while I get around to clearing my plate better, and finishing up my current drafts, I wanted to take a moment to remind you all that I am gladly accepting topic suggestions/requests for either side of the coin!
Replies or notes to this post would be a fine spot, but don’t be afraid that my ask-box will bite either. I love hearing from others and even small pointers are a great source of inspo to get somewhere from the start again.
There’s not really any strict barring around what could fly for Creacher Feature suggestions- other than a strong preference for unique animal species and that you not submit a topic I’ve already gone over before. Check the list on my pinned post or the sorting tag for examples and what’s already been done
As for Media Musings, the general “aim” I have been going for is short and sweet. Steering away from long novellas, movies, and series in favor of giving the spotlight to the works that wowed us by being little gems among stones. Your favorite art game you remember playing as a child. A short story that haunted you for years. That song that made you shut the world off and out to get lost in its own corner. Larger media is not unwelcome wholly, especially if it has a more indie or underrated quality to it. Ditto on reviewing examples. I may drag my feet a step or two on the execution, but I will be listening as I keep sowing these grounds.
Mr Horatio Knibbles.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE (Dir: James Clark, 1966).
Cheap and cheerful Christmas movie from the Children’s Film Foundation.
Cocky kid Gary (William Burleigh) boasts to friends in a hospital ward that he can secure them a Christmas tree by 6PM on Christmas Eve. Determined to make good his claim, he and his younger siblings Jane (Kate Nicholls) and Sam (Anthony Honour) trek the 30 miles to London’s St Vincent hospital, stolen tree in tow, ill advisedly accepting lifts from strangers and finding themselves in evermore ridiculous situations as the movie progresses.
Like all CFF productions The Christmas Tree has a certain slapdash appeal. None of the cast seem particularly professional, with the exception of Brian Blessed, the Z Cars actor on familiar ground in a minor role as a police constable.
Its amateurish charm is actually probably the The Christmas Tree’s greatest asset. What submarines the film is its ludicrous plot involving cantankerous bus conductors, armed robbers and a circus troop. The three waifs, who must rank among the dopiest kids in history, somehow manage to evade parents, police and avoid being shot at by the army as they wander onto a military rifle range.
It is difficult to think of a movie with less of a grasp on reality. I am sure it entertained young audiences hyped up on sweets and sugary pop at the Saturday Morning Pictures in the 1960s, but viewed today it is quaint and corny and less than thrilling.
I can’t honestly say I would recommend The Christmas Tree to anyone other than those with an interest in British cinema. Clocking in at just over one hour, it is short enough to watch out of curiosity. It may hold nostalgia value for those who saw it as a child but I can’t see it appealing to kids raised on Star Wars and The Avengers.
100+ movie reviews now available on my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME! Link below.
BUSH CHRISTMAS (Dir: Ralph Smart, 1947).
Set during the Christmas holidays in the small valley community of Mara Mara, Bush Christmas follows the adventures of five children: brothers John (Morris Unicomb) and Snow (Nicky Yardley), their big sister Helen (Helen Grieve), English evacuee Michael (Michael Yardley) and friend Nesa (Nesa Saunders). After some horses are stolen from their ranch home, the kids decide to take the law into their own hands and set out into the Australian bush in order to track down the thieves and rescue the precious animals.
Bush Christmas was one of the first feature films from Rank Organisation's Children's Entertainment Film unit; a department which would eventually evolve into the Children's Film Foundation (CFF).
Although low budget, it feels significantly more polished than the usual, appealingly amateur, CFF output. Director Ralph Smart keeps the action moving at a steady pace while cinematographer George Heath captures the locations beautifully. Filmed in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, the location photography is a definite plus and lends an atmosphere unique in family movies of the era.
Chips Rafferty, then Australia's biggest homegrown movie star, hams it up nicely as Long Bill, the leader of the horse thieves. John Fernside and Stan Tolhurst are his cohorts, alternating some broad comedy with the required menace, as they are outwitted every step of the way by the kids.
Performances from the youngsters, none of whom had significant acting careers as adults, are appealing and natural. Nesa, the only indigenous lad, is slightly stereotyped, perhaps to be expected considering the era in which the movie was made. However, I feel the stereotyping is more naive than negative; with his knowledge of bush crafts he is shown to be the most intelligent and resourceful of the gang.
Set during the Australian summer, Bush Christmas is not especially festive for western audiences and is suitable viewing all year round. It is a modest little movie, but an engaging one at that. Perhaps a mite dated, but with enough comedy and action as to make it a worthwhile watch, especially for those looking for an alternative to modern family fare.
For a longer, more in-depth review of BUSH CHRISTMAS visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME! Link below.
