Jacen

Inthe18thcentury,LouisdeBourguignonisworkingwiththeMalichot’sgang,buttheirwaysaretoo’unethical’forhim.Hecreateshisownband,actingunderthenameofCartouche,makingaudaciousrobberiesofmoxia.cctherichpeople,andevendistributingthetakingswiththepoor.Thus,cartoucheattractsthepeople’ssympathies,Venus’slove,andhatefromthePoliceandMalichot...Cartouchecanescapeallthetrapstheysetathim-excepttheentrapmentsoflove.Eventually,hewillbesavedbyawoman,atherowncost.

Inthe18thcentury,LouisdeBourguignonisworkingwiththeMalichot’sgang,buttheirwaysaretoo’unethical’forhim.Hecreateshisownband,actingunderthenameofCartouche,makingaudaciousrobberiesofmoxia.cctherichpeople,andevendistributingthetakingswiththepoor.Thus,cartoucheattractsthepeople’ssympathies,Venus’slove,andhatefromthePoliceandMalichot...Cartouchecanescapeallthetrapstheysetathim-excepttheentrapmentsoflove.Eventually,hewillbesavedbyawoman,atherowncost.

TwoGermancomputerpioneerswhogotocourtinthefightagainstanapparentlyinvincibleopponentinordertoberecognizedastheinventoroftheGoogleEarthalgorithm.Theseriesilluminatesboththehackersceneinpost-reunificationBerlininthe90s,aswellastheidealisticworldofearlySiliconValleyandtheharshrealityofamulti-milliondollarprocess.

Settobroadcastintwoone-hourfilms,thisfamilytreatisinspiredbytheclassicbooksofBarbaraEuphanToddandispeggedtobetheTVeventoftheseason.MackenzieCrookhastakenScatterbrookfarmandtheinfamouscharactersofthiswell-lovedtaleandinjectedthemwithatenderandauthenticcharm.Thisistheperfectfamilyadventure,packedwithafun,mischievousspiritanddeliveredwithanenvironmentalmessage.MackenzieCrook,(PiratesOfTheCaribbean,Detectorists)whohaswritten,directedandstarsasWorzelGummidge,hasgatheredahostofbothaccomplishedandbrilliantactorswhoaresettoappearinthiseagerlyanticipatedadaptation.PlayingTheGreenMan,creatorofthescarecrows,whoarrivestoScatterbrookinepisodetwo,iscomedylegendSirMichaelPalin.Hesays:“It’salovelypartforme,butthewholescriptisverymemorableandtouching,andveryfunnytoo.Itquiteskillfullyweavesinsomethingforeverybodyallthetime.”ZoëWanamaker(MyFamily,HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone)willplaytheeccentriclocalaristocrat,LadyBloomsburyBartoninepisodetwo.Shesays:“Thewholethingissocharmingandinventive.It’sthesortofthingI’dwatch.I’msureitwillbeahugesuccess.Iknowitwill-it’sdivine.”VickiPepperdine(GettingOn,TheWindsors)takesontheroleoftheformidableAuntSallyinepisodeone.Shesays:“There’ssomethingforeverybody.It’sgotthishearttoit,andyou’dbehardpushedasanadultnottoengagewithit.”StevePemberton(LeagueOfGentleman,Benidorm)willplayMrBraithwaite,thefarmer.Hesays:“Thisisthekindofshowthewholefamilycanenjoytogether.Ithasalotofhumour,alotofvisualhumourtoo,andIthinkkidswillenjoywatchingthechildrenbeingcentraltothestory.”RosieCavaliero(GentlemanJack,CleaningUp)willplayMrsBraithwaite,sheadded:“It’sastoryabouttheimagination,andchildrenescapingintothisdifferentworld.Mackenzie’sversionistotallycontemporary.”OnestowatchIndiaBrown(HettyFeather)andThierryWickens(makinghisTVdebut)willplaySusanandJohn,twocitychildrenspendingtheirsummeratScatterbrookfarmwhoquicklybefriendWorzelandbeginasummerofadventures.Thefirstepisode,TheScarecrowOfScatterbrook,seestwoyoungstrangersarriveinthevillageofScatterbrook.It’snotlongbeforeSusanandJohnencounterWorzelGummidge,theScarecrowofTenAcreField.TheirworldissentspinningintoconfusionwhentheyrealiseGummidgecomestolife.TheonlypersonmoreshockedisWorzel,whenhediscoversthatthechildrenarenotinfactfellowscarecrowsbuthumans.Theirworldsshouldnevercommunebutfatehasconspiredtocreateanextraordinaryunion.Theseasonshavestoppedandtheharvesthasn’tarrived.Therhythmofthenaturalworldisoutofkilterandthisunlikelytriomusttrytoputitright.Magic,mysteryandmayhemunfurl.Thesecondepisode,TheGreenMan,welcomesanothermysteriousarrivaltoScatterbrook.TheGreenManisthecreatorofscarecrowsandkeeperofscarecrowlore.Heisn’tatallhappythatWorzelisconsortingwithhumans.Elsewhere,localaristocratLadyBloomsburyBartonisholdingafete,withaScarecrowcompetitionthatWorzelisdeterminedtowin.WhatwillTheGreenManandWorzel’smostcompetitiverival,SoggyBogartmakeofitall?WorzelGummidgeiswrittenanddirectedbyMackenzieCrookandisaLeopardPictures,TreasureTroveProductionsandLolaEntertainmentproductionforBBCOne.ItisExecutiveProducedbyKristianSmithforLeopardPictures,LisaThomasforLolaEntertainment,MackenzieCrookforTreasureTroveProductions,withrightsholdersPatrickD.PidgeonandEricS.RollmanexecutiveproducersforPidgeonEntertainment,Inc.ItisproducedbyGeorgieFallonandAlexMoodyistheCommissioningEditorfortheBBC.Furthercasting:FrancescaMills-EarthyMangoldTimPlester-ClartyColinMichaelCarmichael-SoggyBogartAndrewJamesSpooner-FlatAlistairPhilHulford-HannahHarrowTomMeeten-HMSOdneyChristopher-RobertBarlow-RagBagKiranShah-ChopperandRootBoundCharlieMayhew-RustleSprouterLucyMontgomery-JackiePuddingGusBrown-OswaldPollypopMalikIbheis-TrikeBenLangley-DriverMariamHaque-Receptionist

Thisearly70’sgiallobyUmbertoLenziiscertainlyamongthebestinhisfilmographyandalsointhewholegenre.PersonallyIthinkLenzi’sbestfilmsarethefunnycartoon-turned-filmKriminal,thestylishgialloSevenBlood-StainedOrchids,theexplosiveNapoliviolentaandthis.IntheeightieshedidplentyoffilmtrashinformofEatenAlive,HitcherintheDarkorBlackDemons,allofwhicharerippingsomethingoffand/orverydullandslowmoving.KnifeofIcecamewhenthegialloboomwasatitshottestandtheresultisconvincing.Technicallythefilmissuperb,containinggreatcinematographyinthebeginningwhenwelearnaboutthemaincharacter’straumatowardstrains.Fromthispointon,Lenzishowsushisabilitytobenefitthewidescreenand,forexample,thebicyclerideneartheforestisgenuinelybeautiful!ThisscenealsoshowsLenzi’sabilitytobuildsuspense,veryslowlybutmeaningfully.Afterall,therearen’tsomanymurdersinthewholefilm,onlythesuspensecirculatingaroundthemurderer’sidentity.Onesuspectisadevilworshipperwhichbringsnewaspectstothemystery.Sincethefinalscenetakesplaceinachurch,onecanwonderifLenziwantedtocommentonsomething,maybethehypocriticalmoraleofchurchandsuperstition.Themaincharacter(CarrolBaker)ismutewhichdemandsalotfromherfaceandeyes.Theactressworksverywell,givingusabelievableperformancecirculatingaroundtheemotionsoffearandmentalpain.Theotheractorsaregood,too.Thefinally,however,maynotgivetoopositiveasightaboutfemalesexsincetheyallareexpressedrathernegativelyinthefilm,onewayoranother.Stillthisiseasilyamongthemostnoteworthyinthegenre,notasbloodyastheArgentofilms,forexample,butequallysuspensefulandvisuallyalsointeresting.

ApianistnamedGarvey,whiletravelingonatour,getsoffthetraintobuycigarettes,andlearnsfromasalesgirlthatthecitiesimaginedbyGrinreallyexist.Forgettingabouthistour,hegoestooneofthesecities,wherehemeetsthecaptainof"TheWaverunner"...ThefamousbardAlexanderGalichwrotethescripttothisfilm-oneofthe1960sbestmotionpictures.ThefilmfeatureshiswonderfulsongsasperformedbyGalichhimself:"AshipwassailingfromfarawayAustralia...","Thingswillstraightenout,there’snothingtoworryabout..."...Inthe21stcentury,thecinemawillbedifferent;perhapsit’snatural.Andyet,it’sapity...

In 2245 - the Earth’s sun has dwindled and no longer provides the energy needed to sustain human life.Five hired mercenaries travel to an uncharted planet to collect a rare mineral known as stardust to replenish the dying star. After their spaceship crashes on the alien planet, they are stalked and hunted by a creature far more advanced than anything they have ever encountered before…

Basedonthebestsellingbookofthesamename,TheBeckoningSilencefollowsmountainclimberJoeSimpsonashetakesononeoftoughestchallengesofhiscareer.FreshfromhishorrificordealinthePeruvianAndes-asrecountedintheOscar-winningdocumentary"TouchingTheVoid"-SimpsonattemptstoascendthetreacherousNorthFaceoftheEiger,amountainthathasclaimedthelivesofmorethan60people.Facedwithgrowinganxietyanddoubt,Simpsonpushesonwardandupwardinhisunyieldingquesttotraversesomeoftheworld’smostinhospitableterrain.TheBeckoningSilenceisapowerfultestamenttotheenduranceofthehumanspiritinextremeconditions.

TheConnershasbeenrenewed!KareyBurke,president,ABCEntertainment,announcedthattheABCTelevisionNetworkhasorderedasecondseasonofthefreshmanhitcomedy.

In2261,theVorlonsjointheShadowWar,buttheirtacticsbecomeaconcernforthealliancewhentheVorlonsbegindestroyingentireplanetswhichtheydeemtohavebeen"influenced"bytheShadows.Disturbedbythisturnofevents,Babylon5recruitsseveralotherpowerfulandancientraces(theFirstOnes)totheircause,againstboththeShadowsandtheVorlons.CaptainJohnSheridanreturnstothestationafterescapingfromZ’ha’dum,butataprice:barringillnessorinjury,hehasonly20yearslefttolive.HeisaccompaniedbyamysteriousaliennamedLorienwhoclaimstobetheoldestsentientbeinginthegalaxy.HoursbeforeSheridan’sreturn,Garibaldiisrescuedandreturnedtothestation,inratherdubiouscircumstances.HeismarkedlymoreparanoidandsuspiciousofotheralienracesandofSheridanthanhewasbefore.CentauriEmperorCartagiaforgesarelationshipwiththeShadows.LondoMollariengineerstheassassinationofCartagiaandrepudiateshisagreementwiththeShadows.LondokillsMr.MordenanddestroystheShadowvesselsbasedontheCentaurihomeworld,inanattempttosavehisplanetfromdestructionbytheVorlons.Aidedbytheotherancientraces,andseveralyoungerones,SheridanluresboththeVorlonsandtheShadowsintoanimmensebattle,duringwhichtheVorlonsandShadowsrevealthattheyhavebeenleftasguardiansoftheyoungerraces,butduetophilosophicaldifferences,endedupusingthemaspawnsintheirendlesswarsthroughouttheages.Theyoungerracesrejecttheircontinuedinterference,andtheVorlonsandShadows,alongwiththeremainingFirstOnes,agreetodepartthegalaxyforever.AftertheShadowsaredefeatedGaribaldileaveshispostassecuritychiefandworksonhisownasa"providerofinformation".HebeginsworkingforoneWilliamEdgars,aMarsTycoon,whoismarriedtoGaribaldi’sformerlove.WhileheworksevercloserwithEdgars,hebecomesincreasinglyaggressivetowardsSheridanandeventuallyleavesBabylon5.MinbarisgrippedbyabriefcivilwarbetweentheWarriorandReligiouscastes.DelennsecretlymeetswithNeroonoftheWarriorcasteandconvinceshimthatneithersidecanbeallowedtowin.Shetellshimthatshewillundergoaritualwhereinshewillbewillingtosacrificeherself,butwillstoptheritualbeforesheactuallydies.WhenNeroonseesthatsheactuallyintendstogothroughtheentireritual,herescuesherandsacrificeshimselfinstead,declaringthat,althoughhewasbornWarrior,inhisheartheisReligious.AspartoftheongoingconflictbetweenEarthandBabylon5,GaribaldieventuallybetraysSheridanandarrangeshiscaptureinordertogainEdgars’trustandlearnhisplans.GaribaldilaterlearnsthatEdgarscreatedavirusthatisdangeroustoonlytelepaths.Itisthenrevealed,thatGaribaldiwasactuallyabductedbythePsi-CorpsattheendofSeason3andre-programmedbyBestertoprovideinformationtohimattherighttime.BesterreleasesGaribaldiofhisprogramming,andallowshimtoremembereverythinghehasdonesincebeingkidnapped.Edgarsiskilledandhiswifedisappears,butisreunitedwithGaribaldiaftertheendofthewar.GaribaldihelpsfreeSheridanandreturnhimtothecampaigntofreeEarth.AnallianceledbyBabylon5freesEarthfromtotalitarianrulebyPresidentClarkinashortbutbloodywar.ThisculminatesinClark’ssuicideandtherestorationofdemocraticgovernment.Marsisgrantedfullindependence,andSheridanagreestoresignhiscommission.TheLeagueofNon-AlignedWorldsisdissolvedandreformedintotheInterstellarAlliance,withSheridanelectedasitsfirstPresidentandcontinuinghiscommandoftheRangers,whoaretoactasagalacticequivalentofUnitedNationspeacekeepers.Intheseasonfinale,theeventsof100,500,1000,andonemillionyearsintothefutureareshown,depictingBabylon5’slastinginfluencethroughouthistory.Amongsttheeventsshownarethepoliticalaftermathofthe2261civilwar,asubsequentnuclearwaronEarthinvolvinganewtotalitariangovernmentintheyearAD2762,theresultingfallofEarthintoapre-industrialsociety,thelossandrestorationofhumanity’sknowledgeofspacetravel,andthefinalevolutionofmankindintoenergybeingssimilartotheVorlons,afterwhichEarth’ssungoesnova.