Author Archives: Sarah Sommer

About Sarah Sommer

Sarah is a journalist and an artist who lives in the city. She loves movies and television. She reads early and often. Sarah also helps out over at BSCkids.com and our other sites!

9 Doctor Who Episodes You Might Not Know Were Inspired By Novels

“Doctor Who” is and always will be my FAVORITE show of all time. And after spending an entire snowy weekend rewatching all the seasons, I realized something. Many of the episodes (or serials in the earlier seasons) were actually based on or inspired by novels. Some of them were incredibly obvious like the “The Shakespeare Code” which appears in season 3 of the revived series. Also “The Myth Makers” serial from season 3 in 1963. That whole serial is based on the Illiad. Not to mention “The Unicorn and the Wasp” in 2008 is based on novels by Agatha Christie

However, those are just to obvious. (and there were over 20 in my original list till I cut it down to 9). So here are 10 episodes of “Doctor Who” that you might not have known were inspired by novels. Allons-y!

The Android Invasion

This is the fourth serial of the 13th season and was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 22 November to 13 December 1975. It featured perennial favorite Doctor, Tom Baker and Sarah Jane Smith as the companion.

To most this seems a simple Auton or android storyline that appears in much of science fiction. And they would be right, partly atleast.  This serial was originally influenced by the film and novel Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It would be the last Terry Nation script for Doctor Who for four years.

Some people will notice the similarities which is why it is number 10 on the list (and not number 1).

Image of the Fendahl

This is the third serial of the 15th season and was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 29 October to 19 November 1977. It featured once again, Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor, and Leela as the companion.

This is one of my favorite references and inspirations for an episode ever. Not only is it my favorite show, but this episode is inspired by my favorite little known Kurt Vonnegut Jr. novel, The Sirens of Titan.

The major plot device of this episode, that alien life has influenced and pushed along the evolution of mankind and brought contemporary humanity to where it is today, is highly influenced by the plot of the 1959 Vonnegut novel.

Underworld

This is the fifth serial of the 15th season and was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 7 January – 28 January 1978. It featured once again, Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor, and Leela as the companion (along with K-9!)

I think this is one of the most blantant episodes inspired by written work. The reason it is on the list is because I love the way it references the work that inspired it. Jason and the Argonauts (And I am not entirely faithful that the population has read that particular myth anyway.)

The references are MANY in this episode. We have the “Minyan” race which are related to the Minoans, the search for “P7E” references Persephone, and character names such as Jackson “Jason”, Orfe “Orpheus”, Herrick “Heracles”, Tala “Talaus”, Idmon and Idas. The connection is highlighted at the end of the episode, with the Doctor likening Jackson and his journey to Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece.

This one is obvious, but I love the parallels it draws while retelling the story in a new setting.

Revelation of the Daleks

This is the sixth serial of the 22nd season and was first broadcast in two weekly parts on 23 March and 30 March 1985. It features the sixth Doctor portrayed by Colin Baker and the companion Peri Brown.

This particular episode was loosely based on the book The Loved One written by British novelist Evelyn Waugh. It is also in part, influenced by the film and novel Soylent Green (novel  Make Room! Make Room!). It features the eating of people as a food source which is promptly stopped by the Doctor in favor of something similar to the soybean.

Paradise Towers

This is the second serial from the 24th season and was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 5 October to 26 October 1987. It features Sylvester McCoy as the seventh doctor and has Mel as a companion.

“Paradise Towers” is storyline that follows a luxurious 22nd century high rise apartment building now fallen into disrepair and chaos. It has gangs that are always fighting and yes there are robots. This seems like a pretty standard set up for an episode but it is actually based in part on the J. G. Ballard novel High Rise, which depicts a luxury apartment building which descends into savagery.

And yes, this episode aided in one of my fears of swimming as a young child.

The God Complex

The first on this list from the revived seasons of “Doctor Who.” It is the eleventh episode of the 6th season (renumbered beginning when it was revived in 2005) and first broadcast on BBC One, BBC America and Space on 17 September 2011. It featured Matt Smith as the eleventh doctor and Amy Pond and Rory Williams as the companions.

This isn’t the first of the revived series to base on literature but it was the first that was obvious but needed to be said. And no not because of the minotaur. I mean yes that is based on mythology but that is not the point that needs to be made. This episode was highly influenced by Stanley Kubrick’s film The Shining which as most know is based on the novel of the same name. The overall look of the hotel it takes place in as well as the use of long corridor shots are very reminiscent of The Shining. 

However there is another influence that many might not catch. George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four inspired much of this episode as well. From the concept of rooms containing each person’s deepest fear, which is a major plot point toward the end of the novel. But also in the quoting of the english nursey rhyme “Oranges and Lemons” is also in the novel.

Remember: “Here comes a candle to light you to bed, here comes a chopper to chop off your head!.”

Planet of the Dead

This is actually a special that aired in between seasons while David Tennant was off being Hamlet for a year. It was the first of the four specials aired between the fourth and fifth season. It aired in April 2009 and featured David Tennant as the doctor and a one time companion of Lady Christina de Souza.

This one isn’t an adaptation as such but a direct influence. The writers used the novel  The Highest Science as a jumping off point for this episode. The novel featured a train stuck on a desert planet but the writers substituted the train for a bus and went from there.

The Eleventh Hour

This is the first episode of the fifth season and also the first episode to feature eleventh doctor Matt Smith. It also featured companion Amy Pond for the first time. (Also pretty awesomely it feature amateur astronomer and The Sky at Night presenter Patrick Moore in a guest appearance as himself!)

While the main influence of this episode came from a crack in the writers’ sons bedroom wall, he also drew inspiration from A.A. Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner. This is noticeable in the scenes where the new doctor claims to like everything but then proceeds to reject everything offered to him. Finally Amy (or Amelia) figures it out and he is able to eat something to fuel his regeneration. Definitely one of the silliest influences but nonetheless it is one derived from a children’s book.

The Girl in the Fireplace and MANY many others.

This one is kind of a doozy so I put it in the end. There are two characters who are influenced by one novel. It is not necessarily that their story lines in each episode were inspired by novels but more of the core of their person and their relationship with the Doctor.

The novel? One of my favorite, The Time Travelers Wife written by Audrey Niffenegger.

When knowing someone who can time travel, you have to assume you may or may not have met them prior when they were, well, time traveling. What makes these two characters so similar to the novel is that they are both women, who meet the doctor as children when he is an adult, and both have romantic escapades with him.

The first character only appears in one episode, “The Girl in the Fireplace” which is the fourth episode of the second season featuring David Tennant as the Doctor and the companion Rose and Mickey. The woman is Madame de Pompadour (the mistress of King Louis XV). The Doctor greatly admires her and through the course of the episode falls for her (and she falls for him apparently since she was a child….?)  He falls into her world at different time periods through her life, promising to return for her (and making out with her) while the episode is structurally different from the novel it features a similar understated connection.

The second character is a biggie. Not just for this article but for the Doctor, for the fans, and for the over all mystery of the question “Doctor Who?”. River Song. She rests as one of the most enigmatic characters in the series at the beginning because of her familiarity with the Doctor, the fact she knows his name, his REAL name, and also that she seems to know many different versions of him. The character creation and conception of River was directly influenced from the name novel. (Steven Moffat must have loved that novel as much as I did). Much like River and The Doctor, Niffenegger’s lovers in the novel experience an asynchronous and tragic love story. Also River, when he first meets her, she has known him her entire life (much like Clare and Henry in the novel) and she informs him that she is his WIFE. She is literally a Time Travelers Wife. This ends up occurring at the end of the season 6 when the two actually wed.

So bam. 9 Doctor Who Episodes you probably didn’t realize were based on literature, and if you did, then bravo because that means you probably like the show just as much as I do.

New Hunger Games Character Stills Released

We almost a month away from the big screen premiere of The Hunger Games and with that comes tons of new stuff. Recently released were several new stills from the film featuring some of the main characters.

The images feature a close up of Katniss and Peeta, as well as Gale Hawthorne, Effie Trinket, Caesar Flickerman, Cinna, Haymitch Abernathy, President Snow, Cato and Clove, and Seneca Crane.

Along with the character still, a brand new IMAX poster for the film release was also revealed online.

The film is a adaptation of the bestselling novel, The Hunger Games, which is the first book in the trilogy. It is followed by Catching Fire and Mockingjay. It first novel and film follows Katniss Everdeen as she volunteers to be a tribute in the 74th annual Hunger Games, where her and 23 other tributes will fight to death as entertainment and a reminder of the power of the Capitol. Only one winner can emerge as victor. Her and her fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark, are mentored by former victor Haymitch Abernathy as they try to survive the games.

The film will (finally) come to theaters on Mach 23.  It has Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, Liam Hemsworth as Gale, Elizabeth Banks as Effie,Woody Harrelson as Haymitch, Lenny Kravitz as Cinna, Wes Bentley as Seneca, Stanley Tucci as Caesar, Donald Sutherland as Snow, Alexander Ludwig as Cato, and Isabelle Fuhrman as Clove.

You can see the image gallery below:

Elizabeth Banks Talks Hunger Games, Harry Potter & What To Expect

Courtesy of the people over at BuzzSugar, who recently sat down with star Elizabeth Banks, we have a good idea about what she thinks regarding the upcoming film The Hunger Games as well as Harry Potter and her other film What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

Banks talked about how she feels about her film, The Hunger Games now that she is a parent. Banks plays the role of Effie Trinket in the upcoming film adaptation of the novel by Suzanne Collins.

She also spoke about her role in the film, What to Expect When You’re Expecting which is a film adaptation of the incredibly popular pregnancy manual. It was written by  Heidi Murkoff and is one of USA Today’s “25 Most Influential Books” of the past 25 years.

You can see the interview below:

As a parent, did you have any reservations about The Hunger Games’s dark subject matter?
EB: The movie is going to be PG-13, and I think that’s about right. My nephew’s 11, and he read it and loves it. The book has adult themes, for sure. Gary Ross, the director, and Suzanne Collins [who wrote the novels] did a great job patrolling what happens visually in the movie, what we can show and what we can’t show. But I remember taking my 6-year-old niece to a Harry Potter movie with those dark shadow things that were scary as sh*t, and the guy doesn’t even have a f*cking nose. That’s like nightmare stuff, in my opinion. This is a lot of hand-to-hand combat, but it’s nothing you wouldn’t see on a video game or an episode of “CSI.” We don’t have guns.

What was it like making the transition from The Hunger Games to What to Expect When You’re Expecting?
EB: They’re just so different, it’s literally night and day. I don’t have the same voice, I don’t have the same hair, I don’t have the same anything. Literally nothing, it’s completely and utterly opposite. The good thing about this is that it’s a role much closer to myself, so it’s easier.

What helps you get into character?
EB: Well what’s great about both of these characters, Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games, and Wendy, is that there’s so much external stuff to build the character with. Effie has the great wigs and the crazy clothes, and the accent, and all that. That’s all something that really helps feed you. And this character has the boobs and the bump and the back pain, and the shoes that don’t fit, and all of those things that really feed you in the moment, which is great. It’s a lot easier than having to come up with a bunch of emotional sh*t that you have to deal with from internally. They’re nice characters that you build from the outside in, instead of from the inside out.

The Hunger Games is set to hit theaters on March 23 and What To Expect When Expecting will hit theaters May 18th.

Personally, I am super excited to see Banks in the role of Effie. From the trailers I’ve seen, she really fits the way I pictured her when I read the books. It was definitely nice hearing her opinion about her character considering we’ve heard from other members of the cast already.

And also, she is right on about Harry Potter.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

Courtesy of CraveOnline, we now have behind-the-scene featurette for the upcoming film, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

Even though the film is not scheduled to hit theaters till June 22nd, there has already been tons of photo stills and two new trailers released for the film.

If you were a fan of the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (which has also been optioned for a film) then you will love this new project from Seth Grahame-Smith. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is also written by Grahame-Smith and follows our 16th president as he hunts down the undead and has vengeance against them.

The epistolary-style book is written as a biography of Abraham Lincoln, based on “secret diaries” kept by the 16th President and given to the author by a vampire named Henry Sturges.

When Lincoln is eleven years old, he learns from his father Thomas Lincoln that vampires are in fact real. Thomas explains to his son that a vampire killed Abraham’s grandfather (also named Abraham Lincoln) in 1786. Young Abraham is also shocked to learn that his beloved mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln succumbed not to milk sickness but rather to being given a “fool’s dose” of vampire blood, the result of Thomas’s failure to repay a debt. Lincoln vows in his diary to kill as many vampires as he can.

The cast for the upcoming film includes:

  • Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.
  • Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Mary Todd Lincoln, Lincoln’s wife.
  • Rufus Sewell as Adam, the lead vampire villain.
  • Jimmi Simpson as Josh Speed, Lincoln’s friend and assistant.
  • Dominic Cooper as Henry Sturges, Lincoln’s mentor in vampire hunting.
  • Anthony Mackie as William Johnson, Lincoln’s valet and friend.
  • Robin McLeavy as Nancy Lincoln, Lincoln’s mother.
  • Alan Tudyk as Stephen A. Douglas, an American politician from Illinois.
  • Marton Csokas
  • Cameron M. Brown as Willie Lincoln, Abraham and Mary’s son.

You can watch the featurette below:

New Pinball Shuffle Game/App Release Has Surprising Origins

When reading that title you might be thinking, “Hey….Wait a minute that doesn’t have to do with optioned things!” and thats what I thought at first. But then I found out this popular new game is actually a game based on the indie comic Stabb Gunner by Joseph Krzemienski.

The original artwork is a defining feature of Pinball Shuffle. Postage, Inc. co-designed the game play and did 100% of the artwork which is derived from Stabb Gunner, an indie comic by Joseph Krzemienski.

“This game meshes classic pinball with the creativity of modern game development,” says Postage, Inc. 3D Animator Riley Hearn. “We know that a good pinball machine is based on a great story and stellar artwork, so we made sure Pinball Shuffle had both.”

The game/app has been released by Postage, Inc., a post production, visual effects, and animation firm. Pinball Shuffle is their second iOS/ MacOS 3D game.

Most pinball games are pretty much the same. You use triggers and bumpers to try and keep the ball in play as long as possible, racking up as many points as possible. But Postage, Inc. took this concept one step further when designing their game.

According to the press release, in the Indie-Comic Based pinball game, you play as Gunner, the perfect assassin (who is apparently a smokin’ hot indie rocker between hits). She sports a bold attitude with a sling of weaponry across her back while clad in the shortest shorts and form-fitting flight jacket. An assassin neither for good or evil, Gunner is tricked into attending the pinball tournament hosted by Well Dressed Man. He hopes to use the tournament as a way to discredit and destroy any would-be heroes in Scene City. In his attempts to rid the city of crime and maintain his utopia, however, he also creates crime. While playing on a pinball table that resembles an iPod (and Gunner’s personality), Well Dressed Man sends his minions, Jefe Grande and Technosaurus Flex, on the table to distract or defeat you as Gunner.

“With ten missions and two bosses, Pinball Shuffle encourages gamers to explore every part of the table instead of just mind numbingly hitting the ball around to gain points,” says Founder of Nuclear Nova Software Jake Leveto.

What also makes this game unique is that is features dynamics that gamers would not normally experience with an average pinball table. Players are able to rack up more points when the pinball grows in size during higher levels of the game. There are three levels of difficulty including “Weak Sauce” (Easy), “Play It Cool” (Medium), and “Get Massacred” (Advanced). In the “Get Massacred” level, players have the chance to test their skills at a shooting gallery when the score gets high enough. Gamers also have the option to follow the pinball’s movements throughout the board with a fixed camera.

The game’s programming, physics, and digital distribution were thanks to Nuclear Nova Software. The game is now available at the MacOS and iOS App stores.


Battle Royale: Complete Collection Soon To Be Released In North American

If you have read The Hunger Games, but haven’t seen or read Battle Royale, then you are missing out. But for the first time in North America, BATTLE ROYALE and BATTLE ROYALE: The Complete Collection will be available on Blu-ray™, DVD and digital download on March 20th from Anchor Bay Entertainment.

BATTLE ROYALE. A title that has shocked, thrilled and unnerved audiences. A film whose fiendishly simple premise has inspired many imitations, including the upcoming The Hunger Games motion picture. The film is based on the 1999 global best-seller by Koushun Takami, the futuristic tale first came to the screen in 2000, directed by the legendary Kinju Fukasaku. Authors, filmmakers and film fans the world over consider the film and its 2003 sequel Battle Royale II: Requiem sacred cinematic classics.

The official press release for the film describes the plot taking place in the near future, the economy has collapsed, unemployment has soared and juvenile crime has exploded. Fearful of their nation’s youth, the Japanese government passes The BR Law: Each year, a 9th grade class is sent to a remote island where they will be locked into exploding neck collars, given a random weapon, and forced to hunt and kill each other until there is only one survivor left. Chiaki Kuriyama (Kill Bill) and screen legend Takeshi Kitano (Boiling Point, Brother) star in the movie that has been argued, acclaimed and banned around the world. More than a decade later, it remains one of the most savage, shocking and emotionally powerful films of all time. Now experience the complete Director’s Cut of Kinji Fukasaku’s uncompromising masterpiece — nominated for 10 Japanese Academy Awards® — available uncensored and unrated for the first time ever in America.

 

John Carter Sequel Already In The Works?

Disney’s John Carter adaptation hasn’t even been released yet and the writers has already begin work on the sequel. Comingsoon.net recently reported that Stanton and his co-writer Michael Chabon have begun talking and planning for the sequel.

John Carter is the big screen adaptation of the series written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The sequel is tentatively being called, John Carter: The Gods of Mars, based on Burroughs’ second novel.

This IS only talk though. The project hasn’t actually been green lit by Walt Disney Pictures, but chances are that if John Carter does well in the box office that the sequel will move forward. After all, Disney will need to contend with hit series movies like the popularity of The Twilight Saga and the upcoming Hunger Games. With the popularity growing in the field of franchised movies, Disney will definitely want to jump of the bandwagon with their own movie series to promote.

Word is, is that the movie  is awesome enough to merit a sequel but those of us who haven’t gotten a sneak peek of it, will have to wait till the film opens on March 9th.

Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games

Hunger Games Star Credits Mom For Role

Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games hasn’t even hit theaters yet but fans and critics alike are already talking about star Jennifer Lawrence’s role in the film. Lawrence portrays the main character of the film and book series, Katniss Everdeen. We haven’t seen her in the role yet, but from the trailers her performance is already buzzing. But this star credits one person for taking the role, her mother.

Lawrence recently revealed in a new interview with Total Film that if it weren’t for her mom pushing her to take the role, she might not have taken on the film.

When it came to the lead role in The Hunger Games, Lawrence told a story of how her mother called her a “fraidy cat” when she was considering passing on the film. Her reasons being that she was worried that it might be to big of a project for her to take on.

“I always got asked why I did indies, not studio films, and I said it was about the script, it’s not about how big it is,” Lawrence relates. “And she was like, ‘This is a script you love, a character you love, and you’re about to turn it down because of the size of it? You’re a hypocrite!'”

Lawrence also revealed that it was actually her mother who read the book first and suggested that she consider auditioning for the role.

“My mom has a terrible habit of reading books, telling me to read them and then me doing the movie – she did the same with ‘Winter’s Bone.'”

Either way it happened, I am happy Lawrence decided to audition and take the role. I can’t blame her though for thinking it might be to big of a project. If you have read all three books you know that it only gets harder for our lead character as the story progresses. Thankfully, she has signed on for all four movies based on the trilogy and I am sure this series will rock the world.

The Hunger Games is the film adaptation of the book of the same name written by Suzanne Collins. It is based on the first book in the trilogy followed by Catching Fire and Mockingjay. You can read the article about why The Hunger Games casting for the film is perfect here.

‘Hunger Games’ Film Director Says It’s a ‘Very Faithful Adaptation’

If you are like me, you are counting down the days till The Hunger Games hits theaters. But if you have read the books you are probably a little frightened of what they might do with the beloved trilogy. (There have been very few times when a film adaptation wasn’t off base from its source). However, according to a recent sit-down with the director of the film, Gary Ross, we know a little better what to expect from the adaptation. Continue reading →

“The Walking Dead” Season 2 Episode 9 Sneak Peek

Can’t wait for the new episode next week in “The Walking Dead?” Well hopefully this will help you make it that long stretch till next sunday. Episode 9 of season 2 is entitled, “Triggerfinger” and we have two sneak peeks for the new episode.

The comic book turned hit television show has been taking the world by storm. After its midseason premiere that rocked the ratings, many will be looking forward to this new episode.

In “Triggerfinger” Rick, Glenn and Hershel find themselves in another deadly battle when they are trapped in a bar and get involved in a gun fight of survival. Lori comes across danger when she is unexpectedly hit by a car. Shane also attempts to rescue her and return her to the farm.

Another clip from the sneak peeks shows Andrea criticizing Shane over his methods of getting what he wants. But the argument ends when Shane points out that he and Andrea have something in common.

You can wait to watch “Triggerfinger” on Sunday, February 19 at 9/8c on AMC or you can wait to watch the new episode after watching the two exclusive clips below: