A to Z Challenge - S

Top 10 Favorite Kids Movies - "S" Edition

There are too many "S" movies when I had been considering the top 10 adult section. So, again I just did the kids section. It's simpler and causes less anxiety and stress. I did include one extra, so technically it should be a top 11. Did your favorite make the list?

So Dear to My Heart (1948)

Saludos Amigos (1942)

Sky High (2005)

Snow Dogs (2002)

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)

Summer Magic (1963)

Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

Sword in the Stone, The (1963)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Sound of Music (1965)

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Once Upon a TIme

Once Upon a Time, ABC

March 20, 2013

The Evil Queen - Regina

Who watched the epic episode where it was hashed one will die? My money had been on Cora and I was right. With the new discovery that Rumpelstiltskin is actually Henry’s grandfather, I knew he wouldn't be the one who perished. This gives Regina the renewed evilness in revenge for Snow White (Mary Margaret) who, with the instructions from Mr. Gold (Rumpelstiltskin), used dark magic against Cora (meanwhile, tricking Regina to assist in her own mother’s demise). On a side note: I think Rose McGowan did a fabulous job in the backstory of Cora, the Miller’s Daughter.

Rumpelstiltskin - Mr. Gold

Some things that are irritating me about the story plots: Henry is mad at his mother for not telling him the truth about his father. I get this, but I don’t particularly like how he keeps bringing this up. He needs to get over it and understand that some choices aren't black and white, his mother did the best that she could, and she made the choice not to tell him for his own safety.  Snow White’s moping was sad; I understand that she did something that maybe wasn't the right choice. Again, it was the best choice she could make at the time with the knowledge she was given. No one is perfect; she did what she had to for her family. She needs to get over it too, it was going to be either Cora destroying (everything) her family, or she would have to get rid of Cora. It wasn't an easy choice, obviously, but she did what she had to do. If Regina holds this over Snow White’s head (especially since she’s seen the dark spot in her heart) it will be tedious.

Ethan Embry - Outsider

I probably need to re-watch a couple of the episodes because I can’t recall what happened to Captain Hook. The last I can remember he was left in New York after they went for Rumpelstiltskin son (who is also Henry’s father). That is something I do look forward to exploring more; the relationship between Henry, his biological mother, and biological father. I want to know more back story in Emma & Bane’s history and was their more to the story. 

Snow White - Mary Margaret

I did like the back story of Ethan Embry’s character. Before the Evil Queen (Regina) used magic to create Storybrook, a father and son were camping in the woods. After the magic storm that changed Fairy tale Land’s fates, the father and son explore the new town.  They meet Regina, the town mayor, and are invited to her house for dinner. Things go horribly wrong when Regina wants to keep the boy. The father sacrifices himself (who is taken into custody) so that his son could run to safety. The back story emphasis on the key chain that the father gave to his son and in one of the last scenes we see Ethan Embry’s character start his car and then it is revealed that the key chain is the one that the father bestowed to the son. He’s there searching for his father and hopefully he’ll learn of his father’s fate.

What did you think of the last episode? Do you think Snow made the right choice going to Regina?

Until next time or the next… dream

K.E.Nowinsky

Once Upon A Time: One Will Die

Once Upon a Time: ABC
March 10, 2013
The ads for this weeks episode are everywhere. "Once Will Die" is the promise, the question is - which one? Last week we were left with Rumpelstiltskin that had been stabbed by Captain Hook. Here they highlight the Evil Queen (Regina), Mr. Gould (Rumpelstiltskin), the Queen of Hearts (Cora), Prince Charming, Snow White, and Emma. If I were to bet, my money would be on Cora. The Queen of Hearts is also Regina's (the Evil Queens) mother. It has helped us to understand Regina's back story as to why she is so wicked. However, she keeps teetering - is she good or is she bad? Does she have what it takes to be just and righteous? The one thing that keeps her anchored toward good is Henry, who is her adopted son. Emma is the biological mother to Henry. Both Regina and Emma have had a natural plight because of Henry and the situation.

Cora, or the Queen of Hearts, has the wicked urge to become 'The Dark One' (which is Rumpelstiltskin's power). She is manipulating Regina (her daughter) to believe if she (Cora) has all this power that she can finally have Henry. They achieved one step closer last week when they obtained Rumpelstiltskin's dagger (that will kill him so Cora can absorb his powers). Cora being 'The Dark One' would scare me more than Mr. Gould having the power.

Something that keeps popping up that I wish they would clear up. If Emma is Prince Charming and Snow Whites daughter, then is she Emma Charming or Emma Snow? I would love to see her embrace her 'fairy tale' background and become this awesome Disney princess warrior or something. I also look forward to seeing Henry's progression, considering he is a prince too. Rumpelstiltskin is Henry's grandfather and as much as he can be bad, I think he does good too (in his own way). I really enjoy his character and would be really sad if he dies.
Until next time or the next... dream
K.E.Nowinsky

Oncers: Dagger Drama

Once Upon a Time, ABC
"Dagger Drama"
March 7, 2013
Since this past Sunday's dramatic episode of Once Upon a Time, I have had time to think about the complexities within the different relationships.  **Spoiler** If you haven't seen last weeks episode then don't read any further. Finding out that Snow's mother was actually poisoned by the Queen of Hearts. On top of that Rumpelstiltskin is Henry's grandfather? How much more complex can it get?
So, it has been advertised that this weekend's episode that someone in Storybrook "will die."  I also saw a preview of Cora (Queen of Hearts) as a younger woman played by Rose McGowan. It should be an interesting episode.

Last weekend it was 'dagger drama' - Cora wants the dagger for herself, Regina wants Henry.  Rumpelstiltskin, Emma, Henry and Bane are in New York. To his surprise Mr. Gould (Rumpelstiltskin) is stabbed by Captain Hook. Emma was able to knock him out - and as far as we know he is still locked up down in the buildings basement.  Mr. Gould is touched that his estranged son is concerned about the stabbing, which they quickly learn is also poisoned.  They need magic - and fast.
Henry is still mad at his biological mother (Emma) for lying to him all these years about his father. He is showing minimal retaliation from this betrayal by submerging himself in his new father's world.  There still seems to be much more to the Emma and Bane relationship, that I am sure we will learn soon enough.
Back to Cora (Queen of Hearts), she wants the knife to call upon "The Dark One" a.k.a Rumpelstiltskin, a.k.a Mr. Gould. Cora's objective is to kill Mr. Gould to obtain the powers for herself.  Regina (Evil Queen) is game as long as she gets her step-son Henry in the deal.
What I didn't particularly like about last weeks episode was how in a memory Snow has about her mother and the morals she instilled. Snow's mother tells her that the choice she made pertaining to the candle and saving her life showed strength (when Snow thought it showed weakness.) Fast forward to Prince Charming and Snow finding the dagger, purple smoke bellows to reveal the deadly duo of Cora and Regina. They sacrifice someone that was close to Snow to get her to give the dagger.

The problem I have with this is that Snow was brought up to understand the weight of her decisions. She shouldn't have given the dagger to Cora - Snow should have realized her friend was going to perish either way. Cut to Snow sobbing on Prince Charmings shoulder.
What's going to happen next?  We'll have to wait for now.  Luckily, Sunday is not that far away.
Until next time or the next... dream
K.E.Nowinsky

Oncers

"Once Upon A Time"

retrieved from Google Search

March 1, 2013

Today (because I am still procrastinating) I thought I would talk about another show that I like to watch, Once Upon A Time, on ABC.  If you are not familiar with the show, it follows a dual reality.  There is the fairytale land and then Sunny Brook, which outsiders are not supposed to be able to enter.  The main characters are Snow White (Mary Margaret), Prince Charming, Emma (daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming), and the Evil Queen (Regina).  Long story short – Emma was brought to Story Brook in order to break a spell. Who brought Emma to the spell bound town? Her own son that she had given up for adoption, by the way, was adopted by Regina (The Evil Queen).  Another important main character is Mr. Gould (Rumpelstiltskin) who has his deals everywhere. 

There are so many fairytales woven into the story line that I couldn’t possibly do it justice here.  However, season two has introduced us to more characters, which are quickly becoming a modern family.  The last episode we discovered Henry’s (Emma’s son, and Snow White and Prince Charming’s grandson) father is Rumpelstiltskin’s son – which (hold on to your hats) would make Henry his grandson.  One big happy family!  Add in distant relatives as Regina was Henry’s mother for a while (adopted mother) and now Regina’s wicked mother (The Queen of Hearts) is in the picture and causing chaos as well.  We also learned in the last episode of Rumpelstiltskin’s prophecy that was told to him, that Henry could be his undoing… *dramatic “dunn-dunn-DUN!”*

"Once Upon A Time" - (Magic is Coming)

retrieved from Google Search

March 1, 2013

We know that fairytales are not reality.  I like how the show incorporates the different realms, how fairytales are real.  We each live our lives and it adds to our own personal fairytale.  I read a great quote on Facebook the other day, “…today is the first page of your 365 page novella.”  We each have our own experiences and stories to tell.

Until next time, or the next… dream.

~ K.E.Nowinsky

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