Wondercon, Saturday, 2019!

Saturday was about the only day I had free and I was able to get a badge for that time.  It is of course the busiest con day and I would compressing a weekend of activity into a single day.  I was over by the badge check in, Hall E, but there was a line at the other end of the Anaheim Convention Center.  Here’s the thing about Wondercon, there are long lines and waits, but you will be able to accomplish the reason you are queuing up. The line went back to Hall E, into another queue, and then finally I got my badge.  Then, waited in another line to enter the con.  In other words, these big cons require a certain amount of patience.  Cosplay, there were a few Aquamen and Meras, a good number of Captain Marvels, and of course Harley Quinns.  My favorite was a Dr. Harleen Quinzel, but I missed taking her pic.  So this con entrance opens to Artist’s Alley and I found another consideration.  Creator signing times.  Of course, I’m used to creators taking breaks, but this is something new.  There is multiple signing times and for the most part you have to either be dedicated to spending your day there or lucky to be at the booth during signing times.  I had only a single day, so I was carrying around books for no reason. 

Wondercon, Anaheim Convention Center, photo by the author.

My goal for the day though was the Warner Bros. Pictures autograph session.  They kept it a secret, but there was massive Shazam! banners on the front of the con and of course there was the movie premiere the last night.  I found out that I had to pick up a wristband at Hall E at 1:45 p.m. so that time needed to be set aside.  I set certain booths on my phone, checked it, but basically did the Con Floor Sweep.  Choosing an aisle and making my way from one end of the con to the other, looping around to check the next side.  My usual retailer wasn’t there so this con was all about the variants.  Graffiti Designs, who keep a good stock of shirts, also had foil variants for $15; this is my usual high end for variants until this time.  There was a foil variant of Shazam! #4 by Jim Lee, another Jim Lee cover for Detective Comics #1000, and an impressive Sandman Overture #1 3D cover.  I also picked up some variant covers from Tom King’s booth mostly because they are pre-signed and I wouldn’t be able to get them signed by him.  Still, the covers that really captured my eye were by an artist I haven’t seen before, Natali Sanders, you can get comics and prints from her website, Dark Silver Studio.

Missing Link panel; Chris Butler, Arianna Sutner, John Craney, and Nelson Lowry, photo by the author. 

Another great part of the con was the photo ops.  There was the Stargate, a ramp leads up to the Stargate where you can take your pic, it also was a booth for Stargate Command, a digital service that offers Stargate content.  Next to it was Missing Link!  There you can take pics with Link, Sir Lionel Frost, and Adelina Fortnight! I saw them walking through the con for breaks.  I love taking pics with all of the Laika characters.  They seem to have as much fun meeting fans.  I then went to find the Missing Link panel, this was in the new North building of the convention center.  There was writer and director, Chris Butler, he wrote the screenplay for Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) and also ParaNorman (2012), Arianne Sutner, Laika’s Head of Production and producer, John Craney, puppet production supervisor, and Nelson Lowry, production designer.  Butler noted that Adelina was styled after the Gibson Girl, a 19th century promotional standard created by Charles Dana Gibson.  His initital drawing of Link was described to him as a “hairy avocado with legs”, funny!  Sutner said a week’s work would result in a minute or two of film!  Missing Link was said by Craney to be the first movie where Laika successfuly used miniatures.  There were figures of Link, Sir Lionel, and Adelina that were placed on the table.  A short scene was shown from the film, the characters face the villain while a storm tosses the ship.  There is some hilarious scenes of shifting perspective, Inception (2010) has nothing on Sir Lionel, an incredible panel!     

Godzilla: King of the Monsters panel; Zach Shields and Michael Dougherty, photo by the author. 

Later in the day was the Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line panel at the arena.  The first up was Annabelle Creation which is coming out on June 28th.  There was a video introduction by director and writer Gary Dauberman.  He was written the Annabelle films and also the It movies.  There was a trailer, a few times I felt shivers, it features the daughter of the Warrens, Judy (Mckenna Grace).  Grace was in Captain Marvel this year.  Her babysitter is played by Madison Iseman who was also in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017).  Her character goes to the Warren’s Occult Museum in the basement.  We see all of the artifacts from the other movies.  This when things go wrong and Annabelle unleashes every evil force from the basement!  I won’t spoil the scene with Judy, but it is great terror!  Then, there was the panel for Godzilla: King of the Monsters, out on May 31st.  On the panel was co-screenwriter, Zach Shields, and director and co-writer, Michael Dougherty.  The director was asked about Mothra and he said “Mothra is not a giant animal, she’s a goddess.”  A clip was shown of Ghidorah, not hidden in shadow, fully shown rising from the ice.  Then, unleashing lightning blasts from each mouth!, Dougherty noted that each head moves independently not puppetered.  Godzilla appears to take on Ghidorah.  This was the best.  

Shazam! panel; Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, and David F. Sandberg, photo by the author. 

Afterwards was the Shazam! panel so let’s rewind a bit to the autograph session.  At the DC booth, they passed out copies of the Shazam! special edition comic book that will be available at AMC theaters opening weekend.  There was also the Shazam costume on display at the booth.  The autograph session had the filmmakers sign a Shazam! poster.  It was great to see the director David F. Sandberg, I mentioned it was great to see the humor in the movie, he added that there were horror elements.  Then, I saw Asher Angel and said he was charismatic in his scenes.  I told Zachary Levi that it was great to see a real life superhero and he gave me a fist bump.  Also, at the table was Mark Strong and Jack Dylan Grazer.  This same group was at the Shazam! panel.  Sandberg said when “The studio called me I was finishing up Annabelle: Creation.”  Levi mentioned that one of the best parts of the movie for him was “getting to be a real life superhero without being killed by Cate Blanchett.”  Very funny.  Angel said about Billy Batson, “He’s really not the nicest kid at the beginning of the movie.” Grazer discussed his character, “I love Freddie…I incorporated a little bit of myself.”  Levi greeted a fan, “Hi, Charles Bartowski” since he was dressed up as his character from Chuck.  The fan asked him to compare superspy to superhero.  This was a bit surprising since this question could also apply to Strong who was also a superspy in the Kingsman films.  It was a fun panel and a great way to end Wondercon.  A very tiring day, but a memorable convention!  

#WA2019, #wondercon, #MissingLink, #AnnabelleComesHome, #GodzillaKingoftheMonsters 

What We Do In The Shadows, “Pilot”, Review!

What We Do In The Shadows airs on the FX network on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. The original film in 2014 was a documentary about vampire roomates, it is dry humor, and absolutely hilarious!  The pilot is directed by Taika Waititi and it is written by Jemaine Clement. Waititi is of course well known for Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and also directing Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016).  Clement is part of Flight of the Conchords and plays Oliver Bird in Legion also for FX.  We are introduced to the humble man with glasses, Guillermo (Harvey Guillen) who notes that it is nightfall.  Guillen was Benedict Pickwick in The Magicians (2017-2018). He notes that he is a vampire’s familiar and checks on his master.  Through his coffin, he has Guillermo give his dramatic introduction, but is unable to get out of the coffin.  Then, Nandor (Kayvan Novak) is able to raise from his coffin.  Novak was also in the comedy movie Four Lions (2010), a satire that also stars Riz Ahmed.  Then, we get the show’s opening which features the characters in Old World paintings, then a series of photos.  

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS -- “Pilot” -- KAYVAN NOVAK, HARVEY GUILLEN, MATT BERRY -- John P. Johnson/FX. 

Nandor calls for his other roommates, Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), dressed in black, and Laszlo (Matt Berry).  Demetriou was in the sitcom Stath Lets Flats.  Matt Berry is a legend of Ha! Ha!s in another horror comedy Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace (2004). Nandor tells them that he wants to read a letter and then explains to the documentary cameras that he was a soldier in the Ottoman Empire.  He was called Nandor the Relentless.  His roommates finally give in and go into the next room.  Nandor explains some hygiene rules of half-drunk victims.  Laszlo and Nandor bare their fangs and get into a struggle.  The next story is told of Laszlo with Nadja adding to his story of his village plagued by leprosy.  He was seduced by Nadja who took the form of a bat creature.  Nadja joins the roommate dispute hissing and showing her claws, Laszlo sits down, and Nandor is calmed. She suggests to identify victims with marker pens.  Nandor then explains that the letter comes from Baron Afanas.  He is announcing his visit.  Laszlo notes that the baron wants vampires to rule the world.  Nadja says that she had an affair with the baron.  The classic pictures paired with her explanation is very funny.  

Then, Laszlo talks about his affair with the baron.  The roommates plan for the baron’s arrival including a van, black, and Laszlo wonders about Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) who joins them.  Proksch was Daniel Wormald in Better Call Saul (2015-2017) and Nate in The Office (2010-2013).  He is a middle aged, humble man with glasses and a sweater.  Colin is a psychic or energy vampire who shows his office where he drains energy by talking to co-workers!  He can also drain vampires and Nadja nods off!  The house, Guillermo goes about his familiar duties and shows his photo modeling Antonio Banderas’ Latino vampire.  Then, we see him going out as a LARPer, dressing as a knight, and meeting his group including Jenelf played by Beanie Feldstein.  Night, Laszlo and Nadja are dressed up in their Old World outfits, and ambush one victim with his blood pouring on his friend!  Laszlo turns into a bat and bangs into a lamp!  Then, we get Nandor and Guillermo at the market, he wants glitter so he can sparkle like Twilight!  Nandor goes over his problems with Guillermo trying, but sometimes makes clumsy errors.  

Nadja notes that she follows a man (Jake McDorman) taking a photo of him in his apartment.  She thinks it’s her boyfriend reincarnated.  This is while Laszlo is busy with his familiar, June (Mary Gillis).  Nandor leads the other roommates to the ceremony downstairs and accidentally opens the door to Collin’s room.  They find a boat to hold the ceremony.  Guillermo is excited to become a vampire.  Nadja meets with what she thinks is her boyfriend Gregor, but he says his name is Jeff.  Nandor, Guillermo, and Laszlo meet the virgins, his LARPer group!  Nadja walks with Jeff and laughs her head off, then mentions that she was getting physical with Gregor until she took off his head!  Jeff wants to get her number, but she transforms into a bat to get to the apartment.  Nandor starts the ceremony with glitter on his cheeks.  The casket opens and the mummified form of Baron Afanas (Doug Jones), rips into the throat of June, very Bram Stoker’s Dracula!  The baron greets Laszlo and Nandor tells Guillermo to bring in the virgins.  Guillermo brings in the LARP group.  Baron begins to tell the roommates that they need to conquer the New World (including Staten Island) and notices the documentary cameras.  He goes to sleep and the roommates see themselves as failures.  Later, Guillermo leads his master to the victims, but Colin has drained them of energy!  Nandor says that he has not forgotten Guillermo.  He gives Guillermo a painting for their anniversary!  This show is the perfect addition to the countless vampire series.  It sends up the concept of vampires and has fun with it.  

Five Coffins out of Five!  

#WhatWeDoInTheShadows, #TaikaWaititi, #JermaineClement, #KayvanNovak 

Happy Birthday Nathan Fillion!

Happy Birthday Nathan Fillion!  One of his early parts was as Private James Ryan in Saving Private Ryan (1998), part of Captain Hamill’s unit.  He also joined the cast of Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place in the second season as Johnny Donnelly.  Then, Fillion had a part in the comedy Blast from the Past (1999).  An early genre role was as Michael Ryan in the “Starcrossed” (1999) episode of The Outer Limits.   Then, he was in the horror movie Dracula 2000 (2000).  In 2003, he appeared as the evil Caleb in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Fillion’s iconic role though was as Captain Malcolm `Mal’ Reynolds in Firefly. Browncoats know that the show only had a short run, but we treasure those eleven episodes more than any television series!  It was a great suprise to see all of the cast return for the Serenity (2005) film.  Fillion played Bill Pardy in the James Gunn horror film, Slither (2006).  A fun part was Fillion starring as Captain Hammer in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (2008).  

Nathan Fillion at the Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention, 2006, promoting Slither, photo by the author.

He voiced Steve Trevor in the Wonder Woman (2009) animated movie.  Another iconic role was as the mystery novelist Richard Castle in the Castle (2009-2016) series. Fillion worked again with James Gunn on his superhero comedy Super (2010).  He played himself in 2011 episodes of The Guild.  Then, he voiced Green Lantern in Justice League: Doom (2012).  Fillion had a comic rol as Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing (2012).  Johnny was voiced by Fillion in Monsters University (2013). He returned to voice Green Lantern in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013). Next, he voiced an alien inmate in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).  Fillion again voiced Green Lantern in Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015).  In Alan Tudyk’s series Con Man, Fillion played Jack Moore, the successful action star.  For Cars 3 (2017), Fillion voiced Sterling.  Fillion was Jacquest Snicket in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2018).  He voiced Green Lantern in The Death of Superman (2018) and Reign of the Supermen this year.  His current role is playing John Nolan in the police series The Rookie.  Happy Birthday Nathan Fillion! 

#NathanFillion, #Firefly, #Castle, #TheRookie 

Happy Birthday José Luis García-López!

Happy Birthday José Luis García-López! The work of this Spanish artist spans issues of Detective Comics in 1975. He provided art on the Hercules Unbound limited series before launching the Jonah Hex solo title with Michael Fleisher. García-López also launched DC Comics Presents teaming up Superman with many characters in the DCU. He pencilled the tabloid sized Superman vs. Wonder Woman and Batman and the Hulk.  In 1982, the DC style guide featured García-López’s artwork putting a stamp on DC characters. García-López worked on the Atari Force series with Gerry Conway that took the premise started in mini-comics to incredible visuals for this sci fi world based on the video games. One of the most interesting and mature title was another collaboration with Conway with the Cinder and Ashe limited series. This comic is about private investigators with ties to the Vietnam War now in New Orleans. Still, one of my favorites for its bold artwork and writing. 

In the 90’s, García-López worked on a few Batman titles, Legends of the Dark Knight, Batman Returns: The Official Comic Adaptation, as well as a few Superman issues, Superman: Kal and Superman, Inc. He also provided artwork for the Twilight limited series with writer Howard Chaykin which gave a mature update to DC’s space heroes.  One of his most impressive recent issues was Doctor Strangefate combining DC and Marvel characters. García-López also worked on two graphic novels On The Road to Perdition featuring Max Allan Collins’ hard-edged noir series. He worked on JLA Classified with Gail Simone. In 2015, García-López illustrated Batman `66: The Lost Episode based on novelist Harlan Ellison’s unproduced script for the Batman television program with Len Wein adapting it.  This artist has a fresh, unmistakable style that is dynamic and powerful. He can span across genres from superheroes to science fiction to detectives set in the real world. Happy Birthday José Luis García-López!

#JoséLuisGarcíaLópez, #CinderandAshe, #OnTheRoadtoPerdition, #Batman66TheLostEpisode

Shazam! Review!

Shazam! offers a fun take on superheroes and a strong cast, but strays too much like Aquaman with the Geoff Johns’ take on the comic books.  The formerly Fawcett Comics character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2 (1940) by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck.  The comic book was more popular than Superman. The character says the name Shazam! which actually stands for Solomon (biblical king not Greek god), Wisdom, Hercules, strength, Atlas (Titan not god), stamina, Zeus, power (the lightning power?), Achilles (hero not god), courage, and Mercury (the Roman name of the god), speed.  These changes are all forgivable because the name is so cool, the names are mentioned briefly by the wizard. 

He was also the first superhero to arrive on film with the Republic serial Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941).  Fawcett Comics went out of business after a copyright lawsuit from DC Comics in 1953.  In 1972, DC Comics licensed the character for their own comics title, Shazam, in 1973.  Strangely, Marvel Comics trademarked the name Captain Marvel for their own character who also has a movie out this year!  The DC comic featured art by co-creator C.C. Beck.  There was a popular Filmation live action tv series, Shazam, that ran from 1974 to 1976.  DC Comics brought the character into their own universe with the Crisis on Infinite Earth limited series. The character ended up joining the Justice League.  Geoff Johns and Gary Frank brought Shazam into the New52 with their back-up stories in the Justice League title.  The character didn’t prove to be popular.  Johns relaunched the character in a Rebirth Shazam tile with artist Dale Eaglesham.  It is an incredible and complicated history of a comic book character.  

Shazam! is directed by David F. Sandberg who previously directed the horror movies Lights Out (2016) and Annabelle: Creation (2017).  The screenplay is by Henry Gayden who earlier wrote the screenplay to the family sci fi movie Earth to Echo (2014).  He co-wrote the story along with Darren Lemke who was the screenwriter for the Goosebumps (2015) movie.  The opening begins in 1974, we get a station wagon driving on a snowy road in upstate New York, there is the young son, Thad (Ethan Pugiotto), his older brother, Sid, bullies him over his Magic 8 Ball, and his father, played by John Glover, whom I recognize as another comic book father, in Smallville.  Thad’s Magic 8 Ball suddenly has strange symbols on it and he finds that he is alone in the car in a strange cavern which is later identified as the Rock of Eternity.  

There is a brief cameo appearance that had me freaking out as a fan of Captain Marvel (the original).  He finds that there are grotesque stone statues, these are the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man representing the sins.  Then, he finds the wizard Shazam played by Djimon Hounsou, who is also in the MCU this year with Captain Marvel and was voiced King Ricou in Aquaman (2018).  He says he is the last of the Council of Wizards.  The wizard has a staff and tests young Thad who hears the voices of the Seven Deadly Enemies that promise him strength to prove himself to his father.  He reaches for a globe called the Eye and the wizard says he has failed and sends him back.  Thad is excited at seeing this new world, but his father spins the car out of control and crashes.  His brother blames him and Thad sees a message to “Find Us.”  We have the young Thad and later the young hero to compare their paths.   

Now this moves to Philadelphia.  In the current day, police are told by a kid, Billy Batson (Asher Angel), now age 14, that robbers are at the back of a store.  I like his "Holy Moley!" remark right out of the comics.  Angel played Jonah Beck in the Andi Mack series.  He has a certain charisma as a lead.  They check it out and Billy drops the gate in front of the store.  He goes to the police car to check the computer and find his mother.  Billy locks at the bag of Geno’s Steaks (a Philly staple) which the officer pleads for him not to take, but he does so anyway.  His selfishness strikes me as a misunderstanding of the character.  Billy Batson is a true hero, check out Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam (2010), young Billy gives his bag of snacks to rats, defends a homeless man from bullies, and gives him his only subway token.  

This movie reminds me of Green Lantern (2011); Hal Jordan there has to learn how to use his will power, he is not inherently strong in will.  There is more reckless behavior which might be a contrast to the super heroism and magic, it might be teenage wish fulfillment, but it didn't interest me.  Billy tries to go a house that he looked up, he is nervous and has a flashback, a young mother played by Caroline Palmer tries to win a carnival game for young Billy (David Kohlsmith).  He wanted a stuffie tiger, but she wins him a toy compass key chain.  They leave surrounded by crowds and Billy chases after the compass.  He finds that he has lost his mother.  Current day, Billy finds that it is the wrong person and the police officer also pulls up.  He is taken to the social worker, Ms. Glover, played by Andi Osho.  She is a comedian and is currently in the Curfew series.  Ms. Glover tells Billy that he should give his new foster home a chance, they are both former foster children.   

His new foster parents, Victor Vasquez (Cooper Andrews) and Rosa Vasquez (Marta Milans) drive Billy back to their home.  This was on December 6th from what was later said in the movie.  Andrews plays Jerry in The Walking Dead and Milans is in the El Embarcadero series.  Their comfy home is open to another member to the foster family.  First to greet Billy is the spunky Darla Dudley (Faithe Herman) who hugs him.   Herman plays Annie Perason in the drama This is Us.   Also there is gamer Eugene Choi (Ian Chen).  The actor plays Evan Huang in the comedy Fresh Off the Boat.  Billy is also sees Mary Bromfield played by Grace Fulton busy with her CalTech application.  

The last film for Fulton was Annabelle: Creation.  Her character, Mary Marvel, was introduced in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 (1942) created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze.  Interestingly, Binder later co-created Supergirl in Action Comics #252 (1959).  Rosa tries to introduce all of them to Billy and takes him up the stairs to his room.  They pass another foster son, Pedro Pena (Jovan Armand), who just shrugs.  Armand has been in television including playing Troy in The Middle.  These other characters might be interesting, but for the most part are relegated to cameo parts, they were introduced in Flashpoint #1 (2011) by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert.  In the New 52, they appeared in Justice League #8 (2012).  

Billy is then introduced to Freddie Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer), who is wisecracking, walks with a cane (never really explained), and a super fan of superheroes collecting a Batarang replica and a bullet that was fired at Superman.  Grazer played Eddie Kaspbrak in It (2017) and the upcoming It: Chapter Two.  The character first appeared in Whiz Comics #25 (1941).  He goes to Fawcett Central, a nod to the comics, he goes through a security check.  This is strange since there is absolutely no supervision in the front of the school and the lunch area.  Freddie clings to Billy, but runs into trouble with two bullies, the Breyers, Burke (Evan Marsh) and Brett (Carson MacCormac).  

While Billy is getting to know his foster family, we are introduced to a study where Dr. Lynn Crosby (Lotta Losten from Lights Out) questions a woman about her experience at a strange cavern.  Intrigued is the older Thaddeus, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong), the actor is known for playing Merlin in Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017), and also played Sinestro in the Green Lantern.  He finds out the correct symbols from the woman and opens a door to the Rock of Eternity.  The fate of Dr. Crosby is similar to half the universe in Avengers: Infinity War, but it is more horribly realized so this might be disturbing to young viewers.  He is now given the power by the globe which shrinks so he can insert it into his right eye, another part of the Johns’ version.  Now with the power of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, he blasts the wizard Shazam, and frees them from being trapped as statues!  

The bullies clip Freddie in front of the school with their truck.  They get angry at him for putting a dent in their truck and start to beat him up.  Billy tries to walk away, but ends up striking the bullies with Freddie’s cane.  The rest of his foster family checks on Freddie as Billy has to outrun the bullies.  He finds himself in a subway car and again there are symbols before Billy is taken to the Rock of Eternity.  The Wizard Shazam is weak, has Billy take hold of his staff, and say his name.  A flash of light and Billy is transformed into Shazam, an adult form now played by Zachary Levi, with red costume, white cape, and glowing lightning bolt symbol on his chest.  Levi currently voices Eugene on Tangled: The Series and of course was Fandral in Thor: Ragnarok (2017).  The super hero finds himself on the subway car with astonished people.  

He of course teams up with Freddie to find out how his powers work.  They try to keep the superhero a secret, Freddie dubs him Captain Sparkle Fingers (his superhero name is never clear), and the Seven Deadly Enemies, in cloudy, demonic forms (please no more cloudy villains!), tell Sivana to find Billy before he learns his powers.  Still, it takes days for him to find the superhero even though he is on Youtube videos and newscasts!  Billy continues to make illegal and selfish actions, yes, he has to learn to be the hero.  The film has a mid-credit and end credit scenes.  It opens in theaters on April 5th.  One of the best parts of this film is that the promotion has improved, they show only the Shazam and Freddy parts in the trailers and leave out the rest of the foster family, they are a surprise.  There are slightly fresh takes on superheroes, a theme of family, and some humor.  I love the character and the cast, but for me, it does not fulfill the fun potential.  

Three Lightning Bolts out of Five! 

#ShazamMovie, #DavidFSandberg, #AsherAngel, #ZacharyLevi 

Us review!

Jordan Peele’s latest horror thriller, Us, had me squirming in my seat from the tension, but the film's ending needs work.  Peele has shown he is brilliant as a comedian on Key and Peele (2012-2015), but was incredible as a filmmaker with his debut film as writer and director, Get Out (2017).  Comparisons should not be made with that movie, but there may be some comparisons to be made with the upcoming Twilight Zone which is executive produced and hosted by Jordan Peele.  

He has stated that he was inspired by the “Mirror Image” (1960) episode of the original Twilight Zone.  The show had a woman waiting for a bus and sees someone who looks like her at the depot!  It seems like the title not only speaks about the family and their dark reflection, but also points to the nature of ourselves.  It begins with a text explaination of tunnels that run throughout the country.  This and other scenes at the opening seem disconnected, but it all comes together at the conclusion. Then we get an opening of a television screen, there are video cassettes of Goonies (1985) and C.H.U.D. (1984) as well as a few others, we get a news report about the Hands Across America.  Then the film has the 1986 date.  

There is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk which features the Giant Dipper roller coaster, it is a historic landmark, Santa Cruz is a little north of Monterey.  There is a family, a father, Russell (Yahya Abdul-Mateen), mother (Anna Diop), and little daughter (Madison Curry).  The casting is an interesting convergence of superhero actors.  Abdul-Mateen played Black Manta in Aquaman (2018) and Diop plays Kory Anders in the Titans streaming series.  The father wins a Thriller t-shirt at a carnival game for his daughter.  She has a candy apple as she is left with her father playing Whack-A-Mole.  The daughter starts to wander off, she passes a strange man with a sign, “Jeremiah 11:11”, it’s meaning might be a spoiler!  

She continues down steps to a night beach with thunder clouds overhead.  The young daughter is compelled towards a funhouse which promises finding yourself.  It starts to rain and the power goes out.  This got me on edge.  Mirrors confuse her and then she looks at someone who looks exactly like her!  The tension is eased when we get the titles with a pullback from rabbits.  Then, we get a “Current Day” with another family, the Wilsons; mother, Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o), father, Gabe (Winston Duke), and kids, older sister, Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph), and younger brother, Jason (Evan Alex).  Of course both Nyong’o and Duke were in Black Panther (2018), but this is really a showcase for Lupita Nyong’o.  

Duke was winning as M’Baku in Black Panther, but here he has a different side as a dad joke father, wears glasses, but still has a massive frame.  Zora is a teenager who is more interested in her headphones and later we find that she gave up running track.  Jason (named after producer Jason Blum?), he likes his gorilla mask (shades of M’Baku?), and is trying to flick a magic trick lighter.  I can’t wait for the next projects of both Wright Joseph, (she has upcoming the live action Lion King) and Alex.  There are moments of humor that are perfect, working with the film’s story, and relieving some of the tension.  Gabe has rented a cabin in the woods, yup there is always a horror warning there, but he is even more excited for his motorboat on the lake.   

He also hopes to go down to the beach to meet with friends, the Tylers, but Adelaide is hesitant.  We get that the young girl who met her doppleganger at the fun house was Adelaide.  The family drives over to Santa Cruz beach.  They meet at the beach, Kitty Tyler (Elisabeth Moss) and her husband, Josh Tyler (Tim Heidecker).  Moss is of course known for playing June Osborne in The Handmaid’s Tale.  Later, we see Moss play a side of her character that is completely creepy.  Heidecker is part of the comedy duo Tim & Eric and last year he was in Ant-Man and the Wasp.  They are the wealthy vacationers who love to drink and relax.  Their daughters are Becca (Cali Sheldon) and Lindsey (Noelle Sheldon).  The actresses are twin sisters.  Jason heads to the bathroom and passes the funhouse, now called Merlin’s Forest.  He sees what looks like almost like a scarecrow, a man in a coat.  Adelaide panics and searches the beach until finding her son.   

They return back to the cabin, Duke gets a moment that had the audience laughing, but Adelaide is disturbed and wants to leave.  This is when Jason discovers that there are is a family; four, silent people, dressed in red, standing in the driveway.  Adelaide calls the police and Gabe goes out to confront them.  They continue to stand silently, their faces hidden by the shadows, so Gabe returns to get a baseball bat.  One of the four gives a signal and the two, young members of the group scatter.  The bulky member heads towards the cabin.  Gabe tries to close the front door as the big man in red rams into it!  The tension reaches a high point here.  We find out that Adelaide and her family face identical counterparts, they are listed with names, but that never comes into play in the film.  Gabe is wounded facing his double.  

Adelaide’s doppleganger, Red, speaks in a raspy, strained voice.  Nyong’o is terrific as a disturbed woman and also a mother struggling to keep her family alive.  The doppleganger for Jason, Pluto in the script, has a strange mask like something in an insane asylum.  He speaks only in animal grunts which is the same as the rest of the family.  They, called the Tethered (also in the script), all carry golden scissors which is their primary weapon!  The horror of duplicates taking over most reminds me of the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) especially Donald Sutherland's screeching roar.  Jason seems to catch on quickly on who they are and also other things so he might be pivotal if this film has a sequel. This is a battle for survival and a chase in the night for the Wilson family.  If the scope of the film was kept to this family it would be great.  There is an attempt to show this incident has spread, but no explanation on how it occurred and who is responsible.  I think there are hints, but nothing satisfying.  It has been noted by critics that US could also stand for United States and the sins inside are released outside.  If so, I would have liked a better set up earlier in the film.  Still, for a good part of the movie, it had me at the edge of my seat and I can't wait for the next Jordan Peele film! 

Three Gold Scissors out of Five! 

#UsMovie, #JordanPeele, #LupitaNyongo, #WinstonDuke

Happy Birthday Sonequa Martin-Green!

Happy Birthday Sonequa Martin-Green! One of her first roles was in the thriller Blind Thoughts (2008).  She played Kanessa Jones in the television drama Army Wives (2009).  Then, she appeared as Courntney Wells in The Good Wife (2009-2011).  Then, Martin-Green had a long running role as Sasha Williams in The Walking Dead starting in 2012.   

In the second season of Once Upon a Time in 2013 she played Tamara seeking magic around the world. Martin-Green finished her time on The Walking Dead with “What Comes After” (2018). Then she moved to the stars with Star Trek: Discovery as Michael Burnham, the foster sister of Spock!  We are near the end of season two of Star Trek: Discovery.  Happy Birthday Sonequa Martin-Green!

#SonequaMartinGreen, #OnceUponaTime, #TheWalkingDead, #StarTrekDiscovery 

Star Wars: Resistance, “No Escape: Part Two”, Review!

We pick up with General Hux’s hologram speech and the firing of Starkiller Base destroying Hosnian Prime. Torra encourages Kaz to get into the fight.  They make their way down a corridor.  Kaz sees Yeager and Captain Doza in a prison cell, CB-23 frees them, and Torra hugs her father.  Kaz explains that the First Order destroyed his planet.  Torra tells Captain Doza that they need to get Colossus Base flying and he says it hasn’t been done in twenty years.  Stormtroopers find the prisoners in their cell with the droid, but not force field.  Kaz and Torra knock them down with Captain Doza and Yeager stunning them with their blaster rifles.  Neeku finds that anyone in the corridor will be sent to the sea.  He excitedly tells Kaz the plan.  Neeku opens the doors flooding the corridor, Kaz and CB-23 just get into the blast door, the stormtroopers are flushed out.  

STAR WARS: RESISTANCE -- “No Escape: Part Two” -- Disney/Lucasfilm. 

Torra distracts the stormtroopers and they are flushed out.  Really to their deaths, there are sea creatures that pick up their bodies.  The Chelidae tells Neeku that Aunt Z is sending them a message.  Commander Pyre is informed about the loss of troopers.  Agent Tierny says the sympathisizer should be taken off-world.  This doesn’t make too much sense since the spies they are trying to find are on the base.  It’s also amazing that they can’t see a record of the base, where the commands are coming from and how to avoid the flushing trap.  If not, some contingency to recover troopers from the sea.  Commander Pyre orders the evacuation on a shuttle.  Yeager and Captain Doza move into the control room.  He contacts Kaz who is busy running with Torra from yet another flushing attempt.  Yeager flanks the shuttle bay.  Kaz calls out to her from above.  Yeager also confirms the spying and the sympathizer feels betrayed.  

STAR WARS: RESISTANCE -- “No Escape: Part Two” -- Disney/Lucasfilm. 

Kaz gives the signal to Neeku, the base’s engines ignite, the shuttle and TIE fighters pull away.  Commander Pyre, Agent Tierny, and stormtroopers open fire.  CB-23 pulls down the stormtroopers.  Agent Tierny holds out her hand for the sympathsizer and she takes it.  Yeager has them run for their ships as the TIE fighters fire on the base.  Captain Doza frees the pilot Aces.  Yeager, Kaz, and Torra open the hangar door to see TIE fighters!  Could they be saved by the Aces?  Hype Faizon destroys two of the TIE fighters and then they see Aunt Z.  I think she would have enough influence and resourcefulness to assemble a few fighters on her own.  Yeager, Torra, and Kaz make a fighter squadron.  Captain Doza destroys a First Order fighter with the base cannonas.  Kaz finds the pirate ship in the clouds and they fire on the First Order.  Synara is there to give orders.   Major Vonreg is firing on Kaz and he can’t shake him!  Then, a Star Destroyer appears!  It fires on the Colossus Base.  This Star Destroyer doesn’t have tractor beams?  Kaz sends coordinates to Neeku for a hyperspace jump.  Kaz swoops into the base while Major Vonreg targets Yeager and then Kaz destroys him, most useless villain in Star Wars with no line of dialogue in his battle or death!  The Colossus Base jumps into hyperspace.  Aunt Z kisses Hype.  Neeku says he did not complete the coordinates to D’Qar.  Um, this seems like the same as Last Jedi, Colossus Base may get to D’Qar with the Resistance fleet already having left the planet.  An ok ending to Season One, the racing premise was weak, as was the threat of Major Vonreg.  It still has some action, we finally get the beginning of this part of the Resistance, and Neeku proves to be more than comic relief.  

Four Lightsabers out of Five!   

#StarWarsResistance, #NoEscapePartTwo, #ColossusBase, #Neeku 

Happy Birthday Alan Tudyk!

Happy Birthday Alan Tudyk!  One of his early roles was in the comedy Patch Adams (1998).   I took note of Alan as the supportive, but sarcastic Wat in A Knight’s Tale (2001).  Alan provided voices in the animated Ice Age (2002).  A well known role was Hoban `Wash’ Washburne, the most incredible pilot in sci fi, in Josh Whedon’s Firefly (2002-2003). He brilliantly played Sonny in the adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s classic, I, Robot (2004).  Tudyk was in the sci fi film capping the end of Firefly with Serenity (2005), “I am a leaf on the wind.  Watch how I soar.”  Alan returned to Ice Age: The Meltdown in 2006.  He provided several voices to the animated Astro Boy (2009).  He was one of the leads in the horror comedy Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010). Another fun role was as Stephen Douglas in the adaptation of the Seth Grahame-Smith novel, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012), one of my favorite recent horror movies and use of 3D. 

Tudyk started his association with Disney animation voicing King Candy in Wreck-It Ralph (2012). He had a hilarious performance as voicing Duke Weselton in Frozen (2013).  Alan was the voice of the ambitious businessman, Alistair Krei, in Big Hero 6 (2014). Alan begun his own creator owned series, Con Man, and played Wray Nerely, a former sci fi actor now working at conventions.  Then, he was the sly thief, Duke Weselton, in Zootopia (2016).  Alan’s true acting ability was as the chicken, Heihei in Moana (2016).  He was incredible as security droid K-2SO in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Another favorite part for me is as Van Wayne, the cousin to Bruce Wayne, in the superhero sitcom Powerless (2017).  He returned as K-2SO in the VR experience Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire.  He returned to voice Alistar Krei in Big Hero 6: The Series and Then, he plays a new character, KnowsMore in Ralph Breaks the Internet.  He currently plays Mr. Nobody in the Doom Patrol series on the DC Universe streaming serivce.  It was just announced that Tudyk voices Iago in Aladdin out on May 24th!  Happy Birthday Alan Tudyk!

#AlanTudyk, #Firefly, #WreckItRalph, #DoomPatrol

Strolling Through the (Theme) Park One Day: Warner Bros. Studio Tour - 2019!

Last year, I went to Warner Bros. Studios for the Horror Made Here event on October 29th, by the way, it’s the 80th anniversary of Batman so the Arkham Asylum most likely will be there.  Also, IT: Chapter 2 is this year, so I also see the return of the IT house.  These houses were great so mark it on your calendars!  The occasion of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour was opening of the Aquman exhibit on March 5th!  I also missed seeing the Wonder Woman exhibit and others.  The Warner Bros. Studio Tour has statues of Bugs Bunny, it is welcoming, but there is unfortunately Looney Tunes is not featured with the rest of the tour.  The animation studio is separate from the studios, but I would like a kid’s section, drawing tables, and a showcase of some of the shows, including DC animated films and Animaniacs which is mentioned on the tour.  First, you get a screening of Warner Bros. films, this of course gets you ready to see the sets and production facilities to make the movies possible.  

Aquaman (Jason Mamoa) armor, photo by the author. 

You meet your guide, in this case Eddie from Miami, and board a tram.  The best part is you can have your camera (or cell phone) out and take pics.  It is awesome to have a gate open and see the water tower in front of you.  Also, I find it fascinating to see the names on the parking spaces.  Another part of the tour was the tram stopped at a square and Eddie took us into a building facade.  It looked like an empty warehouse with stairs and also props lying around.  Eddie showed us on his phone the video of the Flash fighting Supergirl, she was under control in the “Invasion!” episode of The Flash in season 3.  Later, we were taken to Stage 30, which had the sets for Lethal Weapon. No pictures were allowed on this part of the tour.  This is the current show airing on Fox with Damon Wayans playing Detective Murtaugh. We were taken to a motel set, then over to the Los Angeles Police Department set with desks for all of the officers.  It is impressive to see the level of detail with each desk having personal touches.  The set looked like a police station with no power and empty.  Then, we were led to the morgue and shown how they shoot the scenes.  This was all new for me, but probably an alternative since I usually went to the Ellen stage when they weren’t filming.  

The armor of Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), photo by the author.

The highlight was of course the Warner Bros. Archives.  This had the Justice League for Beavis and Suicide Squad, but is now divided between Aquaman and Wonder Woman.  Near the stairs is the statue of Romulus with the bottle.  Then, past it is the Aquaman (Jason Mama) orange armor with his trident in front of a waterfall-like backdrop.  To the right is the costumes of Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), his mother, in her white armor and Tom Curry (Temuera Morrison), his father.  Also, there was the prop of Atlanna’s crown.  On the other side is the green armor of Mera (Amber Heard).  There is the codex prop and the large cylinderical hologram projector.  Then, there is the costumes of Aquaman and Mera in their Kingdom of the Deserters attire.  Next, there is the Trench-like armor of Atlanna.  To the left is the purple armor of Orm (Patrick Wilson).  There were the dueling armors of Orm and Aquaman.  Then, the armor of King Nereus (Dolph Lundgren).  There is a great photo op of the throne of Atlan with the trident.  Towards the front on the left is the costume of Vulko (Willem Dafoe), a Men-of-War armor full lit, and then the armor of Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), I was drawn to this one next to the orange armor.  It also has the dagger prop.  

The ballroom dress of Diana (Gal Gadot), photo by the author.

The next part of the exhibit is Wonder Woman.  To the right is the World War I photograph of Wonder Woman and the soldiers.  Next there is the armor of Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) in an artistic display.  In the center is the photo op of the Godkiller Sword which you can take hold and behind it is the armor of Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen).  Then, there is the Amazon training outfit of Diana. Next, there is the book of Amazon history prop.  At the very end of the exhibit is the armor of General Antiope (Robin Wright) and display of Amazon weaponry, shield, and helmet.  There is the costumes of Etta Candy (Lucy Davis) and Sir Patrick Morgan (David Thewlis).  Then, the stunning blue dress that Diana wears at the ball, and Diana’s disguised costume with glasses.  There is the journal of Dr. Maru (Elena Anaya) prop next to her costume with apron and glasses.  There is the prop of the Godkiller Sword.  Then, Wonder Woman’s armor with fur coat and shield on the World War I battlefield.  The soldier outfit of Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) is next to her.  

The dress of Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) from Crazy Rich Asians, photo by the author.

Upstairs is the floor for Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts.  I immediately went to the right to see the Fantastic Beasts displays.  There is a two layered cabinet that has the desserts created by Jacob Kowalkski (Dan Fogler).  There is his costume and the suitcase on his bed.  Next to the desserts is the costume of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne).  Then, there is the nightclub dresses of Tina (Katherine Waterston) and Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol).  Around the corner is the suit of Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) with a MACUSA backdrop.  Leading to it is the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book prop from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.  I didn’t have much time with the tour getting ready to move on.  The total time there is about fifteen minutes.  

There is an area with all of the vehicles from the Batman films called Enter the Batcave - The Batmobile Collection.  It is great to see the vehicles, but they are all parked.  I think there should be some television screens to show the vehicles in motion.  There doesn’t have to be actors which might be difficult, just the Batmobiles on the road.  The final part of the tour is Stage 48: Script to Screen, an overview of design, writing, and other stages of filming.  New for me was the Crazy Rich Asians costumes, there is the multi-colored dress of Rachel, costumes of Rachel and Nick, Peik Lin's red outfit on a couch, a wedding dress, and outfits of Eleanor and Astrid.  I wondered why there were just casual costumes at FIDM.  Also, throughout is costumes of the recent A Star is Born.  The experience was very fun and really gets a sense of how film and television shows are made.  I hope everyone gets the chance to go to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.  I’m already thinking about going again.   

#wbstudiotour, #aquaman, #wonderwoman, #crazyrichasians