pontisbright - SJA/my childhood crossover casting squee!

Dec. 7th, 2007 12:02 am (UTC)

I'd seen some tabloid pics of Emma Thingy which said that was what it was, but I was a bit suspicious and assumed it was a film anyway. Am so thrilled that someone I already love to bits is being Petrova, because if they messed her up, they'd have made me hate it already.

I'm sure I did read that one, but I think only once (compared to the insanely huge number of times I read Ballet Shoes). Thursday's Child was my absolute favourite, though. Liked all the 'Gemma' ones, though Gemma herself was a bit slappable. And White Boots made me want to have a skating skirt, which is possibly still the case.

gingerelanor.livejournal.com wrote:

Dec. 7th, 2007 04:43 pm (UTC)

Don't know Thursday's Child, but I loved the Gemma ones, and White Boots was awesome. In fact I read that this summer for some reason. I also liked Curtain Up, which on investigation has now been renamed Theatre Shoes, because of course that makes more sense. :/

spiritedchaos.livejournal.com wrote:

Dec. 7th, 2007 01:14 am (UTC)

Oh marvelous, was beginning to worry that there'd be nothing to watch over the holiday (Christmas has never been the same since the Beeb stopped putting on the cosy Sunday afternoon family dramas, in fact that was how we all knew Christmas was coming - Narnia was on)

Didn't everyone was to be Petrova? She was by far the most awesome.

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Dec. 7th, 2007 01:21 am (UTC)

I'm fairly sure everyone on LJ wanted to be Petrova. She seems to fit. :)

Children of Green Knowe and The Box of Delights, that's how a BBC Christmas works. A friend of mine has the latter: someone is selling dodgy tv-to-dvd transfers of Green Knowe while we wait for the Beeb to grow a clue and give us a proper dvd, which I'm sorely tempted by. And I confess if I feel Narnia-ish I shall watch the film, as instead of having the nostalgia that lots of people seem to have for them, I mostly have 'omg wtf LUCY?'. (I'm sure she was a lovely person, but...she was the Petrova, and they messed her up.)

evil_plotbunny: A bunny goes where a bunny must (Default)

evil_plotbunny wrote:

Dec. 7th, 2007 01:36 am (UTC)

There was Children of Green Knowe?!? WANT!!!!

BBC needs to start releasing more of their children's book adaptions. I'm desperate for The Witches and the Grinnygog and I'm sure there are others I don't even know exist.

Dec. 7th, 2007 01:39 am (UTC)

Oh god, honestly, in my memory it was the VERY BEST THING EVER COMMITTED TO TELEVISION. Time may have made that less true, but gosh I loved it so. haven't seen it since I was about 12. If I do end up getting the dodgy dvds I may well....er...endeavour to share. ;)

I don't remember them doing The Witches - unless it was as Jackanory? Or am I mixing things up and that's a different book?

evil_plotbunny wrote:

Dec. 7th, 2007 01:56 am (UTC)

Not the Witches, The Witches and the Grinnygog by Dorothy Edwards. It was one of half a dozen British shows shown on Nickelodeon when they were first starting out under the umbrella title The Third Eye.

It was one of those kids getting involved in ancient magics type books, that the British do so well. I've managed to acquire the book since then, but I'd really love DVDs.

But I have a set of the Green Knowe books by my bed, and I was just thinking I was due for a reread.

Dec. 7th, 2007 01:48 am (UTC)

Ooh! http://www.raretelevision.com/witches-and-the-grinnygog-the-1983-dvd-p_1141.html

I don't remember it at all, but it looks very thrilling.

evil_plotbunny wrote:

Dec. 7th, 2007 02:11 am (UTC)

Tempting. Very very tempting. *should be saving money for England not buying lots of DVDs* :(

evil_plotbunny wrote:

Dec. 13th, 2007 12:47 am (UTC)

I have found a torrent source. Email me for details. My lj id at gmail.

Dec. 13th, 2007 12:53 am (UTC)

Aww, bless you! No worries, I bit the bullet and paid for a dvd on the basis that I'd be wanting to share it with other people and possibly use it as a pressie - plus sadly my ISP doesn't play nicely with torrents. Have allowed myself only one episode so far, but oh, it's so so so utterly perfect and beautiful and the music alone makes me squeak and cry with nostalgia. Am saving it up till it's a bit closer to Christmas and I can go full on for the festive thing.

But thank you!

evil_plotbunny wrote:

Dec. 13th, 2007 12:55 am (UTC)

You're welcome. I just thought I'd offer, since you had just told me it existed. :)

It's downloading as we speak. I am so looking forward to this.

And they have the Witches and the Grinnygog, but no one's seeding at the moment. Maybe tomorrow.

Dec. 13th, 2007 01:04 am (UTC)

Oh, you'll love it, I'm sure. I know I have the nostalgia-goggles on from having watched it when smallish, but it's a really sensitive adaptation of the book, slow in a charming way, and while the effects are naturally terrible (they appear to have simulated the Great Flood by just sort of colouring in the fields in blue: looks hilarious) there's still that fabulous BBCish feel to it. And they obviously cared about it enough to do certain things properly, like having Tolly's mouse look exactly like it should, and all of that.

Will put The Witches and the Grinnygog on my reading list!

evil_plotbunny wrote:

Dec. 13th, 2007 01:17 am (UTC)

I've loved the BBC productions I've seen so far. And I watch classic Who, I can deal with dodgy special effects.

I think you'll like it.

evil_plotbunny wrote:

Dec. 7th, 2007 01:33 am (UTC)

I think I may be more excited about this too. And Yasmin Paige as Petrova is sheer casting win. *bounces and waits eagerly*

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Dec. 7th, 2007 01:40 am (UTC)

I can't think of a more perfect piece of casting: all the way through SJA I was thinking 'am amazed I haven't seen her in more things, hope I do soon'. Yay Yasmin!