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Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
1977 | Comedy, Family

"There are lots of amazing Muppet Christmas movies, but none come to close to touching the heart of this scrappy little story of a young otter who just wants his mom to have what she wants for the holidays. Henson presents poverty without pandering, no small feat for a made-for-TV puppet show. In its own way, it’s a beautiful retelling of O. Henry’s Gift of the Magi. The talent show at the end has some of Henson’s funniest gags ever. And what exactly are those squirrels doing?"

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Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Cinder in Books

Jan 11, 2021  
Cinder
Cinder
Marissa Meyer | 2012 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
6
8.5 (96 Ratings)
Book Rating
It was an interesting retelling of Cinderella only more futuristic, with people living on the moon and cyborgs living amongst people.

I liked the story but wasn't blown away by it. It kept me reading but at the same time I wasn't completely absorbed into it, like I am most other stories.

The thing between Cinder and Kai was cute, I just wish their had been more scenes of them together in the book.

I'm intrigued by what will happen in the next book, and maybe at some point I'll buy it and read it.
  
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David McK (3547 KP) rated Sharpe's Waterloo (1997) in Movies

Jan 8, 2023 (Updated Jan 8, 2023)  
Sharpe's Waterloo (1997)
Sharpe's Waterloo (1997)
1997 |
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The final part in the original run of TV movies based on the Bernard Cornwell books of the same name (although there was another such book to go at the time - 'Sharpe's Devil'), in which the now-retired Sharpe - alongside Harper, Hagman and Harris - find themselves partaking in the final decisive battle of the Napoleonic Wars: that of Waterloo.

As befits such an epic battle, this is an epic retelling of the events of the same (although, as always, liberties are taken and the lack of budget sometimes shows!)
  
The Penelopiad
The Penelopiad
Margaret Atwood | 2005 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.0 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
The woman's side of the story.
I remember reading The Odyssey as a child, but I honestly don't think I gave Penelope a second thought (I don't think Odysseus did, either!).
This is Penelope's side of the story, told by her and her 12 unfortunate handmaidens. It shows how men ruled all aspects of life, even when they disappeared on their adventures for 20 years.
It's a very theatrical retelling - the handmaidens deliver their chapters in poetry, song and little plays. Penelope has a very modern turn of phrase (let's just say that I don't picture an ancient Greek!), perhaps something she has learnt in the fields of Asphodel, perhaps!
Penelope comes across as very clever, cunning even. She distracts and holds off the attention of the many suitors who are sponging off her riches. She has no love for her cousin, Helen of Troy, either. She is to blame for Odysseus disappearing for 20 years, after all.
A funny, insightful retelling of Penelope's story, and the story of the injustice suffered by the 12 poor handmaidens. The men don't come out of this story at all well, by the way!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this.