Movies...Sophia Helin Scars Overcome

Television…To History Or Not To History

The major channels ABC, NBC, and CBS are complaining about declining viewership and the declining advertising revenue streams that are a result of this trend. Why would someone leave the programming they spent years following and pay for alternative programming? We don’t have all the answers, but in one instance, the answer is history. There is a complete absence of it on any of the major networks. Not a single series has a historical setting from any time period.

HBO’s Game of Thrones with its historical fantasy themes is set in the Seven Kingdoms and features intrigue upon intrigue. The staging is elaborate and the plots are involved. Viewers rave about it across a dozen social media sites. The series is based on the high fantasy books that were written by American author George R. R. Martin. It has an audience of 5 million viewers.

Showtime has The Borgias and its 16th Century Renaissance themes and The Tudors depicting England at its finest and not so finest, if that is correct English. Both set Showtime audience viewership records. Spartacus is still attacking Rome as we type.

The Vikings, a Norse classic, with Gabriel Byrne is on the History Channel. You will think of Burt Lancaster’s one eye if you ever come across that epic 1958 spectacular adventure The Vikings with Lancaster and Tony Curtis. It is on the ‘very old’ movie channel.

Lincoln, 42, and The Conspirator, all at the movies, did big numbers. Someone has to realize that if you grab the history buff for one hour, they may be interested in staying for the show or shows that follow. That is just good marketing!

If you haven’t had your fill of history yet from this discussion, try Arn: The Knight Templar on any of your relisting or On Demand channels. The Knight Templar was the best of the Christian soldiers and considered a part of God’s army. Netflix has it and you can watch some of the six episodes on various YouTube links. This Swedish series (with English and subtitles) is based on the trilogy of books written by Jan Guillou. It is a great historical fiction read from the time of the Crusades 1177AD.

The action runs from Jerusalem to Sweden and back again. It features three wars. The first has Saladin and his Saracens battling The Knight Templars for the control of Jerusalem. The second war is the one in Sweden between the Kings of Sweden and Denmark. Arn, the hero, and his family are in both wars. The third battle is between the Catholic Church and those that want some of the tremendous power it had at this time in history.

Like Annika Bengtzon: Crime Reporter, the Swedish crime series that has our highest recommendation, The Knight Templar's production values are outstanding. Saladin did live during this time and claimed Jerusalem after years of struggle. He controlled much of the Middle East and Northern Africa. Following his history will give you insights into why the Sunnis, Kurds, and other factions are still fighting one thousand years later.

Arn’s cast includes: Joakim Nätterqvist, Sofia Helin, Stellan Skarsgård, and Michael Nyqvist from The Girl With The Dragoon Tattoo. The story of how Sophia received the scars on her lip and over her body make additional great reading showing one more obstacle in life that can be overcome on the way to success. Her Swedish television crime drama hit The Bridge will soon be coming to US channels.

If you have some spare time Google or Bing the 25 top Swedish movie stars. You will be amazed at the list as it runs from Ann Margaret to Greta Garbo and more.

Movies…Iron Man 3 Is The Man Of Steel At The Box Office

Holy Batman! A $180 million first weekend take in the United States and a similar number in Europe puts Iron Man 3 in second place for opening movie revenues of all time. Robert Downey, Don Cheadle, and Gwyneth Paltrow, once again, fight the forces of evil in spite of Downey’s plea to be just left alone in the movie. He’s tired of saving people as Superman is in his upcoming movie. Sure! Downey is already thinking of a theme for number four and what he can save in that one.

The villain is Guy Pearce with the help of Ben Kingsley. Let us think. World domination or a Rita’s Water Ice franchise drives the evil-doers. The special effects and gadgets are better than James Bond, The Transformers, The Avengers, and Bambi. That is the 10th time Bambi has been mentioned in this column this year. The epic is a quick thrill ride for any comic book reader and fan of world-wide destruction. Two tulips up for this one!