Movie Time: Wet Bandits Not Included

This is a new film on the Netflix. Gnome Alone is a standard "kid saves world from supernatural doom" plot enhanced, obviously, by adding gnomes. Not really sure why garden gnomes are the only line of defense against a reality eating clonal colony from another dimension, but I'm not complaining.

This film has everything. Female protagonist? Check. Estranged parent/child relationship? Check. School-age stereotypes? Check. Cute little monsters from another dimension? Check. Gnome Warriors? Check. Pink Hair Dont Care? Check. Message about how cell phones and social media are a huge distraction and reality is way better? Double Check.

Despite the obvious pun, this film has nothing to do with Macaulay Culkin, Christmas, or protecting the home from burglary. Not an amazing film, but still pretty enjoyable and fun, if not predictable. It does have some interesting ideas about extra dimensions, and how alien life can be portrayed. But it is a kids' film, and so these things are not fully explored beyond what the plot needs. 

Gnitting Gnomes Love You Too

via GIPHY

On Giphy, user Mochimochiland makes stop motion GIFs. They are handcrafted, knitted gnomes and other silly things. Check out some of my favorites. 

via GIPHY

via GIPHY

Well, I like Gnomes Fighting Giants, but I Wouldnt Say I Love it

Recently, Netflix produced and released a new show from Matt Groening, the creator of Life in Hell, The Simpsons, and Futurama. Disenchantment is pretty good, as animated series go. It is not as good as Groening's past creations, but I remind myself that it is only Season 1, and there are plenty of brilliant scenes that show the potential greatness.

Set in a medieval fantasy universe, Disenchantment follows a princess protagonist who hates being a princess protagonist and would rather drink, fight, and goof off. There is a demon personification of her Id, and a goofball, milquetoast elf to round out the main characters. The world seems to be full of crazy, silly, sometimes dark versions of all the fantasy tropes, from overbearing kings and over enthusiastic knights, sick and depressed serfs, to monsters and fantasy beasts of all kinds.

During the first episode, we are treated to a terrific scene while the elf character is traveling through the kingdom for the first time. He comes across a battle of some kind between giants and the best creatures in the world!

Just in case my imbedded video fails, the link is here to the youtubes. Sorry about the captions.

Apparently, ewoks aren't the only undersized species to punch above their weight. 

Hurl that Gnome!

 

At this point, everyone is familiar with the Google Logo. Every so often, the logo changes to celebrate a holiday or anniversary or something special. They call it a Google Doodle. Today's Google Doodle is probably the best Google Doodle EVER!

June 10 isn't Gnome Day, or the day the first gnome was made or whatever. But this week is National Garden Appreciation Week (10-16), and I suppose Garden Gnomes fit into the theme.

The Doodle is a game. You get to catapult gnomes great distances, and as the fly, they spread seeds that sprout flowers! It's rad. Click the pic above to link to the game!

Hide and Seek: Oswego Edition

The Lake Oswego region in Oregon has a park service that has a good idea for encouraging outdoor exploration. 

Three gnomes Oak, Greenie and Blossom are hidden throughout the region's 45 acres of recreational facilities. What started out as a simple scavenger hunt to boost attendance seems to be turning into a local mascot brand. The article from Lake Oswego paper is in the picture of the icons below. 

Comics Time: Humon Edition

I love internet comics. You may recognize this cartoonist, Humon, from her personifications of countries that appear in Scandinavia and the World, which is hilarious and highly recommended. She does do other things from time to time, including an entire book illustrating the different sexualities found in nature called Animal Lives. The Humon Comics homepage is linked to the badge up top. Below I've included her best illustration ever, clearly, from a series on mythology and folklore in her native Scandinavia.

Gnome Collector

Parks and Recreation

Today on Gnomes in the Gnews, more gnome home hijinks! As reported in Newsday from Long Island, a community in Nassau is all about gnome homes in their park. 

Apparently in Millpond Park in Wantaug, people enjoy little homes created in the park along some of the trails. Unlike some other parks I've written about, this park embraces the phenomenon/hobby. The Newsday logo above links to the story.

The story can also be found in the Long Island Press.