In a round about sort of way, I found this gif today. It features Emma Roberts, niece of Julia Roberts, known for her work with Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston in Meet the Millers, and on the Scream Queens, and American Horror Story television shows.
She obviously gnome-naps.
This is from a film short, Time of Day, which also stars Jon Hamm, and Kate Mara; featuring music by Thom Yorke. It is produced by the clothing company Rag & Bone from New York. Apparently they use these short films as ads? They're directed by a variety of people, some professional, some amateur. Some make more sense than this one.
But this one is clearly the best.... because gnomes!
The plot, basically, is a gnome-napping case. The world building from the original is expanded to include other knick knacks, toys, and statues like maneki-nekos, dolls, teddy bears, and gargoyles. There are puns and references to classic Sherlock Holmes and gnomes, or course. Apparently it's also a musical, with Elton John highly represented.
The beginning of the movie throws out some great ideas for a bunch of sequels, including Games of Gnomes, the Gnome Ranger, Spiderman: Gnome Coming, Indiana Gnomes.... I want to see them all!
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.
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 between giants and the best creatures in the world!
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!
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.
