The Dark Is Rising books are great.   But the film has very little in common with them in terms of title, plot, themes, atmosphere or characters.   They seem to have run out of money (and stopped reading) about halfway into the novel, which doesn't help.

I was rather bewildered by the decision to cast a black Norse god (in much the same way as I would be by Moffat's example of a male QE2).

I don't think it did.   The movie is just cut together from a combination of in-universe sources and an omniscient 'the real story', contrasting the two.

Wednesday Wot's on tonight: British invasion
Home Grown: The Last Leg (10pm C4).   Topical review, built on the success of the paralympics.

I belong in group A, near enough, so I plan on picking up To The Wonder.

I worked my way through the comments waiting for one about Shardik.   That one is just too bleak for me, or at least it was when I was 12 or so.

Well this is interesting.   I really can't tell if you're making this up as you go along.   I could use google but it would spoil the mystery.

Reitman suggested that people are only capable of '10% change'.   It's the same deal as Up In The Air.

Tuesday What's on tonight: unofficial UK freeview version:

Monday What's On Tonight: villainous British version
Home grown: Southcliffe pt2 (9pm C4).    First part was interesting and resisted the tendency to present mass murderers as rock stars.    Also, last ever Skins (E4 10pm).

I'm watching and enjoying it.   Haven't read any reviews, but the various female characters are well performed and interesting, IMO.   Could do without the 'magic' bits.

I really liked the first part of Sunshine.

Wot's on this weekend: unofficial UK freeview version:
Home Grown:   The Mill ep2 (C4 8pm Sunday).   I don't care about this, is anyone watching it?The White Queen ep 7 (Sun 9pm BBC1).

I really like it.   I remember when it came out I was thinking 'this feels very modern and of-its-time and fashionable' and then as time went on I started o think that there wasn't anything else out there quite like it and it's a real statement.

@avclub-facae3a3bb0a5db1f454941d1b900eee:disqus Only the male kid in the pic is a lead, the other two are NPCs.   The two other major characters in the storyline are Ezra Miller and noted uggo Emma Watson.

It's totally sincere.   I totally believe that the writer/director and everyone involved is 100% sincere.   I got the DVD fer cheap and it comes with a comentary, and they're sincere as hell.

Yeah Ezra Miller is the best thing in it.

Interestingly, when he died the obits all seemed to be for Iain Banks with no mention of his 'M' work, but I think he was actually a bigger figure in the genre SF community than otherwise.

Ok, but how is the veal?

Wednesday Wot's on tonight: unofficial UK freeview version:
Home Grown: The Crow Road ep4 (10.30 bbc4).   Last part of the Iain M Banks adaptation.   I'm surprised more of his stuff hasn't been adapted really.   I know Complicity was made into a film and The Wasp Factory into a musical (???)