Screen Weres and Shifters

We haven't talked about this yet, so let's hear about your favourite screen portrayals of werewolves and shifters.

Here are a few of mine.

I remember some from my early love affair with old horror films - such as The Wolf Man with Claude Rains and Lon Chainey. I liked the gothic element in such films, and although I haven't yet managed to see it, from the trailers I think the 2010 remake with Anthony Hopkins follows this tradition.

The next one I remember was An American Werewolf in London, which to be honest I found a bit of a gorefest!   But it's now regarded as a bit of a classic, so maybe it's time for a re-watch!

And then there was Company of Wolves, based on an Angela Carter story, and I loved this to bits! It mingles fantasy, fairy stories and folk tales with a bit of  gothic horror and romance. It can be quite hard to follow - especially after a few drinks on a Saturday night! - but it's well worth the effort for sheer atmosphere.

Digging up my memory for old tv series about werewolves, I remember  a BBC one about a young woman who used to lock herself in her flat every full moon with a large supply of raw steak and hope she never got out. There was a plot about releasing wolves into the wild in the Scottish Highlands too - anyone else remember this? No idea what it was called now, but I got very involved in it at the time!

More recently, a werewolves made their appearance in Dr. Who, when the Doctor discovered one imprisoned in the cellar of a Scottish castle, primed to kill Queen Victoria. That was fun.

  

And of course, we have both werewolves and shapeshifters in True Blood. Sam is the amiable bar tender who can shift into any animal from insects up the food chain, but has a preference for this equally amiable dog.  Of course, he isn't always amiable as the series goes on...




Both shifters and vampires in True Blood, appear to loathe the werewolves, although of course Sookie makes friends with what seems to be a very honourable and attractive werewolf called Alcide.

What others have I missed? Tell us your favourites!

Marie

Screen Laughs

OK, I have to ask - what are the films or tv shows that make you laugh the most? Are they romantic?

My first love laughter wise, was the Marx Brothers, who have everything from zany slapstick to smart one-liners and even satire (Duck Soup). Any romance in the plot was generally a vehicle for Groucho to insult the lady he wished to marry (generally for her money), or was a bit of a side-line. I've already mentioned Fred and Ginger this week, and on the subject of old black and white films, I remember a series about a married detective that was quite sweet romantically and made me laugh too - The Thin Man?

I also love the earlier Steve Martin films - Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, All of Me, The Man with Two Brains, Roxanne etc. Romantic and side-clutchingly funny. But here's a weird thing - my nephew, who's in his early twenties, and loves comedy, had never heard of Steve Martin! We had to send him home with a book and a long list of films to track down.

However, most comedies I see these days tend to be children's! Shrek, Despicable Me, the ubiquitous Spnge Bob Square Pants etc; or the slightly unsuitable comedies full of swearing and drunkennes that my teenage sons have taken to watching whenever they get away with it! I still love Pirates of the Caribbean in all it's forms, especially Captain Jack Sparrow - and I have to say I also liked the romantic bit at the end with Will and Elizabeth meeting again after ten years :(.

What about romantic comedy tv shows? I'm sure there must be some, but right now, I can't think of any! Red Dwarf, funny as it is, isn't really romantic since poor old Lister's love life never really got off the ground! My son has started watching an American series called How I met your Mother, which is quite witty and entertaining! Reminds me of Friends a bit :).

Anyway, enough of my rambling! Let's hear your favourites! What have I missed?

Marie