A New Era for Downton Abbey

Beautifully acted, wonderfully filmed, and with a musical score that is gorgeous, Downton Abbey A New Era is worth your time and money. Of course, Maggie Smith gets in her quips but the movie belongs to Hugh Bonneville and Michelle Dockery. No spoilers here. Go see it on the big screen.

Favorite TV Couples

It seems only appropriate to take a look at some of our favorite television couples on Valentine's Day! Let's start with one that's been debated ever since the end of the series: Monica and Richard on Friends. This was the real love affair that should have lasted. Tom Selleck's character brought charm and confidence, and he was the perfect foil to Monica's anxiety and her overbearing need to control every circumstance. Chandler and Monica? Well, they was almost as bad an idea as Joey and Rachel.

He didn't' deserve her.

Fast forward a few years. Castle's greatest strength was always in its relationship between witty playboy novelist Richard Castle and the beautiful, smart detective Kate Beckett. The drama was good, the backstory compelling, the supporting cast first class, but the tension between Kate and Castle commanded center stage. Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic brought depth to what could have been stereotypical characters. It's too bad that their bad blood in real life ruined a great television show!

He didn't honor her.

Who didn't love Lucy? Desi Arnaz certainly did on the show- but in real life his "romantic connections" beyond his marriage eventually doomed it to failure. When will we learn it never pays to break our marriage vows? Lucille Ball remained a beloved icon all of her days for good reason. She was funny, smart, talented, and a great business woman. A woman ahead of her time.

Bringing out each other's best.

The Crawleys of Downton Abbey are high on the television couples list. Matthew's strength and kindness - with a determination to do what is right- played magnificently against Mary's often shrewd, cold, seemingly heartless pragmatism. Like true love always does in a marriage, the best traits are brought out in each partner as they walk down their road together. However long or short it may be.

He worked hard to get her.

Wade and Zoe. Season One of The Hart of Dixie certainly makes you think it will be "Golden Boy George Tucker" who will win her affections. My wife and I really enjoy this take on Doc Hollywood as we love the South with all its peculiarities. Some of the supporting characters are our favorites on the show, but I was always rooting for dark horse Wade Kinsella to win Zoe's heart.

It took him awhile to see who she was, but he got there.

I'm still pissed that NBC cancelled this show. (Yes, I meant to say that!) Timeless was one of the best series to hit the airwaves in years. Lucy and Wyatt. You knew it was going to happen, Ma'am. You really did. It's too bad a pending cancellation caused the writers and producers to rush the story line. And it robbed viewers of what should have been years of great historically based time adventure stories. Sometimes television's modern business demands for instant profitability are worse than those from Rittenhouse. 

He grew up, too.

Marlo Thomas did have a career before playing Rachel's mother on Friends. She and Ted Bessell, played Donald and Ann Marie to 50's/60's relational sensibilities (wise man, childlike woman) but there was a sweet relationship there where each brought more to the relationship than what was seen at first glance. No worries, friends, television would attempt to correct this problem, eventually swinging the pendulum to the other end of the extreme. Men became buffoons and women the wise keeper of sanity and the family unit. One day, they will get it right and present a balanced realistic view of what each partner contributes.

My favorite TV couple? The one who sits on our couch watching these shows! None of these women remotely compare to my beautiful and wise wife! My Valentine's Day blind date years ago. Happy Valentine's Day to my one true love...

Dan Steven's Ticket

Is he a Beast or is he a Beauty? In The Ticket, this little known film by Ido Fluk, a incredible performance is waiting to be discovered. Dan Stevens just kills it. Apparently Downton Abbey only scratched the surface of what this man can do. 

Dan Steven's in The Ticket. 

A bit of storyline: Unexpectedly, our main hero James regains his sight after living without it. Discovering the world through new eyes (sorry, I couldn't resist), this causes him to reconsider the way he's lived his life. Good choices or bad choices, which will it be?

This is not a one man show, however. 

Malin Ackerman's nuanced performance as his wife may be just as powerful and in a sense, just as disturbing, as that of Dan's portrayal. Oliver Platt rounds out the cast as the best friend.

Although the viewer thinks they can see it coming, the film delivers suspense and surprises one after another all the way to the end. It's next to impossible to take your eyes off Stevens and his every move. The last twenty minutes delivers one of the most gripping, unnerving, scenes in modern cinema. 

I'm starting to think this man can do anything. Watch this film.

Counting Down to Downton

The series may certainly be over in the U.K., but here in the good old United States,we cannot wait for the final season of Downton Abbey to begin! Having picked it up in Season Two by watching the series on DVD, we weren't sure we enjoyed the series. All it took was episode three for us to go from"It's ok" to "I can't wait to watch more!" Michelle Dockery and Dan Stevens were great fun to watch as Mary and Matthew, as was just about every servant found  downstairs. 

We certainly missed  Matthew as well as other characters that were sent off- particularly Siobhan Finneran's evil Mrs. O'Brien and Lady Sybil, played by Jessica Brown Findlay. With all the changes the series went through, the show faltered only so slightly at times, while Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess sharply kept things from becoming maudlin even in the worst of times.

One week and counting- and then farewell begins...

Castle Jumping the Shark?

Perhaps it happens to all television shows. Is it inevitable? I'm not sure. Could Castle be the exception?

Let me say this upfront: I love this television show. Like most of the ones we watch, we did not come to follow it from its inception. We were stuck at home on a wintery day, and we wanted something fresh to watch. We have loved Friends, Criminal Minds, and Downton Abbey, but frankly, we were a bit bored. 

Gotta love the 40s!

I stumbled upon Castle. Of course, I knew of it, but we had never really watched the show. Not that I can remember the episode, but I can say we were taken by Nathan Fillion's charm as Rick Castle and the sharp and savvy take on Detective Kate Beckett played by Stana Katic. So we decided to check out the series from the beginning- thank you, Netflix. Instant win from episode one.

Of course, we have our favorite episodes! We love the suspense of the continued storylines of serial killers (3XK- could there have been a better ending!?! No. Absolutely perfect!) and crooked senators. The humorous stories are great fun! I love the retro episodes, Blue Butterfly and Once Upon A Time in the West, among many others. 

Season Eight, however, is leaving us wanting more. Why they have split makes sense from a network ratings standpoint, but it does not make sense from the storyline itself. Episodes One, Two and Three left me cold. I'll say I don't trust one new recurring character and don't like the other. But here's hoping the series redeems itself...and brings Kate and Rick back together were they belong.

Downton Abbey: The Drama Continues

Compared to Season Four, this year's Downton Abbey has seemed to rebound- and by a large margin. Gone is the dreariness after the loss of Matthew and Sybil. It's replaced by the return of a fresh and sassy Mary, a determined Edith, and a newly feisty Cora. The men tend to fall into place as usual- especially Mary's suitors- but good old Tom appears to be on his way out. Can it really happen? Will he really leave jolly old England for the States? Stay tuned.

The Return of Downton Abbey

OK, I admit it. I really enjoy Downton Abbey. Television rarely has an evening drama so engaging and never one with Maggie Smith in it. So, what's not to like? And it returns tonight for season six in the States.

My friends in Scotland don't think much of it, but then they are used to living in an area with such grand and quaint and charming homes. The entire mix of lower, upper, and middle class houses combined with lush greenery and a history full of grand tradition.

Confession time: I like the television show enough that I sometimes read ahead... and you'll never guess what happens this year!

Best and Worst of 2014

A mix of the important, the personal, and the fluff related to entertainment-

The Worst: 

• The killing of young black men all over America, both by the police and by black on black violence
• Young black men (and all people) choosing to break the law, placing themselves in the position of having to encounter police
• Meryl Streep's ridiculous swipe at Walt Disney
• Losing my job
• The continued move of American business operations to overseas locations at the cost of jobs for our citizens
• Disney's continued characterization of Epcot. Losing Norway to Frozen
• Maroon 5's latest album
• Lame plans for Disneyland's 60th Anniversary
• Middle Eastern thugs terrorizing the nations and beheading innocent civilians
• Joel Osteen and his brand of "Christian" wealth and prosperity doctrine. Sure worked for Jesus and certainly works for most of the Christians suffering all over the world- yeah, right!
• Americas continued reliance on abortion as birth control
• Hollywood's seeming emphasis on dumb, over the top, sex fueled entertainment
• Continued genocide all over the world
• The state of disrepair at Disneyland Paris
• High prices for cars and high fees to use public transportation
• Texting when a conversation deserves face to face communication
• The continued high price of airline tickets
• Frontier Airlines' website
• Too many reality television shows
• Remaking Disney animation classics into Live Action films
• Over the top greed in the business world. CEO salaries out of control
• When friends disappoint and show their true colors
• No Friends movie in the future
• Thugs posing as athletes in professional sports
• Sports leadership making excuses for such behavior and being slow to respond appropriately
• "Naked" television
• Excessive awards shows on television
• Putin's moves toward a new Soviet Union
• The new Polynesian Village Resort Lobby at Disney World
• The number of broken effects at Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland and all over the park in places you'd never expect
• The high cost of health insurance and the mess of Obamacare. When will our government understand its never better or cheap to add even government layers of oversight to a social service?
• News stations that interpret the news versus delivering it
• Kim Kardashian's exposed butt. Niki Minaj's too. Should I add Miley Cyrus' self-degradation to this list?
• Musical artists that have to swear and use highly crude sexual language to sell their music
• Parents not disciplining their kids in public and giving into their every whim
• Big Hero 6 not being the breakout hit it deserves to be
• Suits at Disney refusing to give Frozen an E Ticket attraction in the Magic Kingdom where it belongs
• The price of Disney one day park hopper tickets
• The legalization of marijuana in Colorado
• School shootings continue on
• The infiltration of humanism in the Christian church 
• The devolution of Epcot
• Fewer Caribou Coffee locations
• The French air traffic controllers strike during our vacation
• The lack of an Avengers film this year
• Having to book attraction and meal times far in advance at the Florida Disney parks
• No new original, non-IP based attractions at the Disney parks
• A wet and green summer
• Losing Shakira on The Voice
• Seeing friends lose their children and their parents
• Not enough time to give this blog the attention it deserves
• Shoddy concept art by Disney for new additions
• Disney's focus on more retail and restaurants than creating groundbreaking attractions in its parks
• The overall dumbing down of America by bringing culture to the lowest common denominator

The Best:

• Everyday heroes serving in their communities
• The announcement of Incredibles 2
• More grandchildren
• Cleaner air
• Films that value family, such as the Thousand Foot Journey
• The addition of Ratatouille to Disney Studios Paris
• The return of old school R&B music
• The continued excellent maintenance of the exterior of the show buildings at Disneyland
• A hot cup of coffee and a quiet morning to read and pray
• Picking apples with my grandsons
• The transformation of California Adventure and the hope of the suits finishing the job in the original areas of the park
• The new and overdue investment into the Africa section of Disney's Animal Kingdom
• Adam Levine and Blake Shelton bromance on The Voice
• Watching my son in law get baptized
• Alain Littaye and the Disney and More website
• God's continued faithfulness even when I do not understand what He allows
• The excellent refurbishment of Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• A trip to Switzerland- almost free
• A supportive wife and family
• Having more than enough to be able to give to others
• Tim Tebow on Good Morning America. A great match of human interest stories and good-hearted host.
• A new job
• Seeing Christians boldly live out their beliefs by following Jesus at all costs
• Longer movie previews
• Finding personal joy and fulfillment even while making less money
• Chipotle and their barbacoa tacos
• Better treatment of immigrants
• Lower gasoline prices
• Aging gracefully and without plastic surgery
• Rumer and Harriet making new music
• The overall good sportsmanship at the World Cup
• Old albums finally coming to compact disc
• The generosity of friends and family at unexpected times
• Removal of the Hat at Disney's Hollywood Studios
• George Benson
• Watching our favorite local Chinese restaurant survive the economic downturn
• Visiting our son, daughter in law and grandson in Kansas City during game six of the World Series
• Universal's new Harry Potter attractions and the transformation of both the Studios and Islands of Adventure
• Having four living parents, especially as we are grandparents ourselves
• Walking along the beach in Laguna
• Praying for physical headings that would take God doing a miracle- and seeing it happen
• The forums at A&M Corner and WDW Magic
• H&M comes to Denver
• The return of Downton Abbey
• A night of Ticket to Ride with family and friends
• Great Reads by David Platt and Francis Chan
• Five Guys' french fries
• The new Union Station in Downtown Denver
• Discovering great BBQ in Orange County
• Finding new friends when you least expect it
• The upcoming details for the remake of Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Having faithful and wonderful readers of this blog!
• ...and so much more

Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens Returns to the Screen

Did Matthew Crawley's death on Downton Abbey happen all too soon? Are you now a fan of actor Dan Stevens? Wondering where he's gone? Wonder no longer.

American fans of the popular family fantasy movie Night at the Museum will uncover Dan playing Sir Lancelot for the third installment in the series, Secret of the Tomb. Of course, Ben Stiller will return as will Robin Williams and Owen Wilson.

After a seriously minded television show and a well done but depressing turn in Summer in February, everyone's favorite British export takes a stab at a lighthearted comedy. Coming in December 2014 in the States and in January 2015 overseas.

Insight and Sounds 6th Birthday

Six years- and after 1500 plus posts- my, what changes have taken place! Not only have their been many additions to our family in both children getting married and then having children of their own, there's been big career changes, personal challenges, and many blessings. And sometimes those challenges that are painful result in big blessings.

This blog has become something I never saw coming: a travel journal, a diary, a review of contemporary music and a look backwards at classic releases, and a running commentary on the state of the Walt Disney Company and its attractions, films, and changing philosophy.

Sure, the site is still filled with concept art of theme park attractions! I love that stuff! That will probably never change. 

I thought about providing a list of articles I really enjoyed writing, but then, I thought, as with many blogs I like, there's much fun in discovery! So, I'll just mention some, and let you have a bit of a treasure hunt. 

• The multi-part series on the creation and evolution of Disney's Animal Kingdom.
• A look at the music of Karen and Richard Carpenter, album by album.
• Trip reports through Europe, full of photos- including a few trips to Disneyland Paris in various seasons.
• The transformation of Disney's California Adventure- a multipart article on Disney's Bargain Basement Imagineering and the change in attitude and cash infusion to make it a must-see park. Concept art galore, updates on construction through the years, and multiple trip reports.
• Book and television reviews (Downton Abbey is hot for a reason!)
• Family photos over the years
• Retro Epcot and Disneyland art and photos.
• Disneyland Attraction Poster Series- a land by land look at posters with commentary.
• Want perfect abs?
• Loving Jesus and keeping life focused on Him.
• And much more.

Thanks for reading all these years. And onward we go for however long it happens. Blessings!

Downton Abbey Season Four Wrap-Up

To quote Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities as a very appropriate way to wrap up Season Four of Downton Abbey: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..." 

Aside from the expected story line of how Lady Mary will survive her beloved Matthew's death, the fourth year of the series seemed to play out like an elongated cruise on television's Love Boat. It seemed everyone was eventually bitten by the bug- even Thomas Barrow, who seems more in love with himself than ever.

As perhaps expected, the most powerful performances came in episode one. Michelle Dockery's deft handling of Mary's widowhood was surpassed only by Penelope Wilton's subtle and extremely moving portrayal of a mother grieving her only son. Not to be outdone, Maggie Smith's delicate engagement of Mary with a rare confession of love for her granddaughter ranks right up there with the best the show has offered this year.

The Daisy/Ivy/Alfred triangle has run its course and much silliness ensued before it ended. Mrs. Hughes, it seems, has turned into quite the plotter, by necessity manipulating circumstances to save the day. Even though she found herself in the middle of what could be a great storyline, Lady Edith continues to bore, yet it seems to be more of the writer's fault than that of Laura Carmichael. Of course, Cora is always silly, more than a bit naive to everyone around her, and her husband the Earl of Grantham continues his downhill slide into insignificance. Let's not talk about Rose, but I will say that Gary Carr as Jack Ross deserves an extended time on the air.

The "Desire of Suitors"- well, it is a quite well chosen description. Evelyn Napier never stood a chance. The name betrayed him from the beginning. Tom Cullen's Lord Gillingham is charming, kind, but overly enthusiastic much too early. Clearly, Mr. Blake is the lead contender for Mary's affections, positioned as the one with a backbone but a good heart- shades of Matthew. Yet, I'm rooting for Tony. I'd love to see him do and say something unexpected to win Mary's respect and help her realize she doesn't know everything about him. 

Rumor's of Michelle Dockery's departure persist. I do hope she hangs around long enough to bring a satisfying ending to the show.  It's her wit, her resilience, and her dedication to taking care of the estate that make her appealing and propel the reason for watching. At this point in the series, should she leave, the cast and story would be lost without her. 

(Photograph by Nick Briggs.)

Downton Abbey Season Four Tonight

The long wait is over! Sure, Karen Carpenter has always been a guilty pleasure, but now, Downton Abbey takes first place as the guiltiest pleasure ever. My wife and I did not love the first few episodes of Season One, but by episode four, we were hooked.

Season Two is my favorite thus far. The World War I angle was fascinating to watch. Season Three was full of drama- ending with the most unexpected and unwelcome surprise.

What will Season Four hold? Most likely, Downton will continue to draw in viewers with its mix of wit and melodrama. Tom Branson, excellently played by the gifted Allen Leech, pulls us American common folk into the world of the aristocracy he once served. It's a compelling and intriguing storyline. Certainly, the story most viewers are curious about is that of Lady Mary. As a new widow and young mother, I'm betting Michelle Dockery's portrayal is spot on. So, grab a cup of tea tonight, enjoy a scone or two, and enjoy the return of a cultural phenomena.

Downton Disney

Everyone is in a stir these days when the subject of Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney rises to the surface. Many, myself included, are disappointed if not outright angry that the suits closed Adventurer's Club and other favorite hotspots that were part of Pleasure Island. 

Others are frustrated by the tossing aside of Hyperion Wharf and it proposed waterfront area. Perhaps the eldest of Disney fans remember the Village Marketplace and miss the quaint and quiet atmosphere.

Disney Springs is here, but I think I have a plan to make many folks happy.

How about a total revision of the place and dub it Downton Disney? With apologies to the writers, producer, and actors of Downton Abbey, can't you just see an Epcot styled village populated with shops and restaurants from the early 1900s? Wouldn't you just love to bump into your favorite PBS series characters? Just watch out for O'Brien in that back alley! You know she's not up to anything good.

(Photograph from Trip Advisor.)

Shocker: Matthew Crawley Dead in Vehicle Turnover!

Television rarely gets interesting these days. The avalanche of reality shows and trash that focuses on the poor life choices of teenagers just doesn't hold my attention. I know I am the wrong demographic. What are you going to do?

PBS' Downton Abbey has to be one of the few exceptions. Clearly, I'm not the right demographic either, but I got hooked about three weeks ago. Friends had been saying what a great show it was, so one afternoon, my wife and I decided to jump into Season One, Episode One and see what the fuss was all about.

It was a better than average show, but there wasn't much to keep me involved, I thought. We decided to watch one more episode. Then something clicked. Hugh Bonneville's benevolent Robert instantly caught my attention. (And isn't this role for him the last thing you expected after seeing him as Bernie in Notting Hill?) His eldest daughter Mary, played wonderfully by Michelle Dockery, was the least likable lead I remember in a long time, but there was something there. With a large cast, it was difficult to pick a standout.

But there she was: Siobhan Finneran as O'Brien, the nastiest, most deceitful chamber maid ever. So evil that she makes other villains quiver. Every scene she enters rivets us to the screen, the perfect counterpoint to Mr. Bates, and we were hooked, catching up all the way to the finale of Season Three. 

What about the now lost Matthew Crawley? He became quite the country gentleman in the hands of Dan Stevens, and we came to admire him a lot. His depth was based more of what he did not say than what he did, making him an intriguing character. During the war or when he stood up to Robert in remaking the estate was when his true strength of character come out. Seemed as if writer Julian Fellowes was starting to know what exactly to do with such a nice guy.

Now he's dead and gone, and Mary's left to find another man to tumble with. Will the storyline and the other characters be enough to keep us watching? Time will tell. We've dropped Grey's Anatomy from our list as its creator lost her way years ago. Perhaps Julian will learn from Shonda Rhimes' mistakes. Season Four better be good.