
The original cover
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Q: Almost everyone knows about the 6-part 1988 British TV series The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (and the sequel series), but I recently came upon an earlier version: an animated movie that came out in 1978. Is it any good? — Daniel, Decatur, IL
A:The 1978 movie, which was directed and co-written by Bill Menendez (the guy who did the Peanuts specials), is considered a respectable adaptation, remembered fondly by kids of the era, despite having sub-par animation. Not surprisingly, it was released on DVD in 2005, around the time of the movie.
But there’s actually an even earlier version of the first book in C.S. Lewis’ classic series: a 10-part TV series, also from the BBC, from 1967.
Not surprisingly, the special effects were considered very weak — although the production has been given points for bravery and ingenuity.
Before you ask, no, the series is not available — in fact, reportedly only the first and eighth episodes still exist.

Q: How do you pronounce “geas”? — Mike, Oakland, CA
A: “GEE-ass” or “GYASS,” both with a hard “g.”
Q: Why does your site regard Spartacus to be a fantasy show? I always thought of it as a historical/action/drama show, but not as a fantasy. I’m not criticizing, it’s just something I’m curious about. Now, Xena and Hercules clearly belong in the fantasy genre and of course shows like True Blood, Supernatural, and even Witchblade, but Spartacus? I really don’t see it. I thought that until now it was a pretty good interpretation/retelling of events that took place. Of course they have taken creative liberties — like in every show — but if you call Spartacus fantasy, is Rome fantasy too? – Elvira
The Oracle Speaks:
It’s a fair question.
Here at TheTorchOnline.com, we define “fantasy” very broadly. First, we ask: does it include some kind of magic or element of the supernatural? Spartacus doesn’t qualify here (although there’s certainly a question of Spartacus’ grand “destiny,” which is played way up in the series). In most cases, that might be the end of the discussion.
But with Spartacus, we’ve decided there’s a definite comic book “sensibility” that tips it over into the fantasy category: the sex and violence are graphic and extreme, the plots and themes are larger-than-life, very much like a superhero. And then there’s the fantasy pedigree: co-creator Rob Tapert (creator of Xena), Lucy Lawless, Sam Raimi, and others.
We think this makes it squeak in as “low fantasy” (as opposed to “high fantasy,” which is classic swords and sorcery).
Ditto with this summer’s The Pillars of the Earth mini-series, which we also covered. The “magic” in the series was really only hinted at — if that. But we thought the medieval setting and the larger-than-life themes made it of interest to fantasy enthusiasts.
Would Rome qualify? Since that seems much more like straight historical drama — not even “action,” and definitely not “comic book” or “superhero vibe” — that seems like much more of a stretch.
Ultimately, though, labels are just labels – helpful to arrange information, but absolutely nothing to get bogged down over. In the end, what we cover here depends on what interests us. Smallville doesn’t, and never has, so we don’t really cover it, despite being pretty clearly “fantasy.”
On the other hand, every single person here went off-the-charts nuts for Spartacus. If we all loved it so much, we could only assume that most other fantasy enthusiasts would love it too.
Q: Did Jimmy ever get home from Living Island in H.R. Pufnstuf? What about the kid in Lidsville or the family in Land of the Lost? — Mammy, The House of Elrond (movie version), Middle Earth
A: Weirdly, none of these characters in Sid and Marty Krofft’s infamous Saturday morning TV shows ever made it home — owing mostly due to the fact that it was never known at the time of filming if the series was going to be renewed.
Indeed, in “Circle,” the last episode of the first season of Land of the Lost, the Marshalls discover that their own deaths in the Land of the Lost are what caused the “time doorway” that drew them there in the first place to open. This was intended to be a possible “finale” for the series — but it ended up being renewed for two more seasons (the Marshalls’ “deaths” notwithstanding).
Lidsville and Pufnstuf both had “farewell” episodes of sorts, though they were “clip” shows, recycling old material — probably for both budgetary reasons, and in case the shows ended up being renewed. Neither involved a return home.
In fact, though these shows were pretty influential (and are fondly remembered by many), their actual number of episodes is lower than you might think: there was only one season, 17 episodes each, of H.R. Pufnstuf and Lidsville, and only 43 episodes of Land of the Lost.
They were, however, repeated endlessly on TV, perhaps giving the illusion of more story than there actually was.
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The very concept of a damsel in distress has a flavoring of S&M, as a helpless maiden is often tied up and must be rescued. Return of the Jedi even showcased series heroine Leia in what has become the iconic, quintessential S&M-tinted damsel outfit — the infamous gold bikini — before employing a post-feminist twist and having her kill her captor herself. But nonetheless, the image of Leia bound and chained like a slave girl has inspired many a young libido to get started.
But as time marches on, the BDSM themes became more overt. Even the family-friendly series Legend of the Seeker features the Mord’Sith, an army of women dressed entirely in leather who specialize in torturing their victims. In one memorable episode, noble hero Richard is stripped and given the royal treatment by “Mistress Denna,” a dominatrix name if ever I heard one.
Q: Given all the sex and violence in Spartacus: Blood and Sand, will there be anything new in the “uncut” DVD version? — Wayne, Lakewood, CO
The Oracle Speaks:
Q: So I must know: will Lucy Lawless be back in the second season — not the “prequel” — of Spartacus? Basically, did she die in the finale? — MAGPIE, Toronto, Canada
The Oracle Speaks:
This past January, Spartacus: Blood and Sand premiered on the Starz network to much hype and expectation, and in a truly shocking twist, it actually delivered.
Just as the network promised, Spartacus pushed the envelope farther than any show that had come before it.
SD: It still comes down to the story and what works best for the characters. The only time I had a reaction to anything that’s said, is every once in a while I’ll come across a comment on the
Deknight casually makes a reference to social activism as an almost incidental side effect of their storytelling, but that is where the show is truly remarkable. That the show could be considered progressive is not a statement they’re attempting to make. It just is.
In other words, if it wasn’t already clear, Starz’s TV Spartacus is a far cry from the version of the story seen in the 1960 Kirk Douglas movie.
When the schedule for the upcoming season was announced, it was interesting to note that the network had added not one but two more fantasy or fantasy-ish series with Camelot and Pillars of the Earth (a mini-series). They’re also co-producing the next season of the UK sci-fi series Torchwood in collaboration with the BBC.
Their other medieval England series, Camelot, is yet another adaptation of Arthurian legend — apparently, the landscape has room enough for this and Merlin. Production has yet to begin, and no word has come out yet as to whether the tone will be similar to Spartacus – over the top, stylized, comic book aesthetic — or a more sober, serious Arthurian affair, such as the TNT version of Mists of Avalon.