EVIL QUEENS

I loved Disney animated movies when I was a wee one. And I was always drawn to the evil queens in them. Now... I'm on the fence with this new release from Disney. The Seven Dwarfs as CGI??? Wouldn't it have been better to pay working actor midgets for the parts? I have no idea who Snow White is, but she does look wholesome and annoying enough like Snow White to get the part. But from what I've seen from many clips, Gal Gadot was a perfect choice for the Evil Queen. When it comes to Wicked Queens----and I have known my fair share kids, having at times been one myself- the evil queen from the 1937 animated classic is unsurpassed. but other than Gal, the rest of the cast is from Nowheresville. She looks like the 1937 Evil Queen come to life, in every detail.

Gal Gadot was working consistently before her breakout role as Wonder Woman, and since then has cemented her place in Hollywood as an action star. This reliance on a certain kind of role and lack of character range has led to some of the criticism pointed towards Gadot...which made her casting as the Evil Queen all the more surprising. Gadot doesn't give the Evil Queen an action make over but plays her from what I hear relatively straight. Despite not having much experience playing villains before taking on the role in Snow White, Gal Gadot's best moments in the film seem to be delicious, she just might have potential playing antagonist. And looks like she played it with gusto. I'm not sure who is casting the villains in these live action movies, but they are brilliant in their job. The first was Angelina Jolie as Maleficent. She NAILED that. The casting and look and evil, the voice and laugh, couldn't have been done better. It was like the animated Maleficent came to life right from the cartoon film.

Then they nailed it again, with the fabulous Cate Blanchett, one of the Casa's all-time favorite actresses, who played Lady Tremaine with comic, snarky, snobbish evil behaviors.

And they did it again, with Emma Stone who portrayed Cruella Devil, who couldn't have been more perfect to play the eccentric, obsessed, manic fashion maven and thief and who adores dalmatian fur. Now that we saw how Cruella became the woman she is, it will be interesting to see how and if they continue to show the more evil and bad Cruella in the forthcoming sequel.

I took a pass on the Little Mermaid. Never was a fan of the movie. And it also didn't feel as dark as the selections here. But I do believe Gal Gadot is going to continue the traditional of bringing home a very striking performance and likeness to the Evil Queen, like her predecessors have done. And who knows, maybe she will start playing more evil roles. I have also loved most of the Batman movie trilogies, so I think Gal could possibly be a shoe in for an excellent Poison Ivy.

THE VISTORS

 With a good friend of mine out of town and couldn't find a pet sitter I told him to bring Hans and Franz to the Casa du Borghese for the week.

Meanwhile....

Buster Bolfig

Sophie Lucille

What could possibly go wrong this week???

MOOD BOARD

Another weekend wooshed by! It was a good weekend, a melancholic one, even though nothing was done outside, what with being away Saturday. Besides the garden clean-up is done, and its much to early and cold, at least till were out of threat of any last frost, to do any new plantings...but the bulbs are coming up nicely. I have always noticed that with spring the hornies, I call them go up, have you noticed? The Mistress has already felt my libido and testosterone getting stronger and raging. I feel like a compass near north walking around. Some friend of mine over 50 say they don't get that anymore. Not the case here. I know what you're thinking, could it get any worse? You are always vivacious Mistress. Yes and it does, every spring! I think the Lad is going to put me out to stud in the field.

Hmmmm, that invitation gives me all kinds of ideas for a fun party theme! Oh... yeah...

Happy Monday dears!

THE GRAND FINALE

Yesterday found the Mistress, the Capitol Street Duo- The Dame and Russel the Love Muscle, MM#1 Fan and Cello Josh in Philadelphia for the Grand Finale Concert of the "King of Organs"...the Wanamaker Organ. It's been played for mid-day or evening concerts every day since around 1911, even after the legendary John Wanamaker's closed, but another retailer was always in place, so the building and organ went on continually.  Now troubled Macys closed the location along with another 100 or so locations. Philadelphians still in shock over this location. The doors never being closed since the inception of John Wanamaker's. It's also still up in the air if the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, an organization of people worldwide who donate to keep the organ as fit as a fiddle, and its organ musicians, and team of service and maintenance will even have access to the organ. The organ can't sit quiet for too long. We all worry about it, and many in Philly are fearing with trepidation its fate, even though it is a registered landmark. While I'm sure it will play again once day, regardless, it was the end of an era. It's always been intertwined with our family. The last organ performance was perfect and a building rattling one at that, with a slew of organist from all over for an all-day concert. It was both sad and nostalgic and put me in a melancholic mood the rest of the day. I'll let my snaps speak for themselves.

The Crystal Tearoom.

We did get one good chuckle, when Russel said I should get this on a tee shirt for myself.

All my years in the place and somehow, I never noticed this on the entrance to the organ booth. Here are two videos for those interested in its sound and a great video on its history. Hearing it in person was quite amazing. Philly trips won't be the same without a stop in. You can also click on the tags in the links section to read my various posts of the place over the inception of this blog. 

It seems another piece of my youth is gone. They certainly don't make places like this anymore.