Godzilla: King of the Monsters Review!

Godzilla: King of the Monsters continues the MonsterVerse, gives nods to the classic G-Films, and brings some stompin’ kaiju action!  It all started with Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla (2014) and then Kong: Skull Island (2017).  The best part of this film is the touches of the Shōwa G-Films starting with the original Godzilla (1954), Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1965), and Destroy All Monsters (1968), one of the best of the later G-Films. The G-Films are the longest running franchise and even survived the 1998 movie.  

The Godzilla nods were brought in by filmmakers who are clearly G-fans not taking the concepts and giving CG polishes. Kudos also to Bear McCreary who brings in themes from Akira Ifukube; “Godzilla Main Title”, it gives a drive with the violins and then the brass, drums bring in the presence of Big G and “Mothra’s Song”, with a nice shakuhachi flute piece.  Most audiences have the perception that G-Films are poorly dubbed with monsters in rubber suits.  

I’ve seen almost all of the G-Films, through Shin Godzilla (2016), and what the mis-informed have to realize is that they are different genres.  It ranges from horror films, to sci fi, fantasy, and spy films.  The film is directed by Michael Dougherty who directed the horror movies Trick `r Treat (2007) and Krampus (2015).  He co-writes the screenplay with Zach Shields who co-wrote Krampus.  They are part of the story team along with Max Borenstein who wrote the screenplays for Godzilla and Kong: Skull Island.      

The film opens with the descent of the H.A.L.O. jumpers and the destruction of San Francisco in 2014 with the first Godzilla.  We see in the ruins, a family with father in a firefighter coat, Mark Russell (Kyle Chandler), wife, Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga), and child.  Chandler is known for Argo (2012) and Super 8 (2011), and the drama series Friday Night Lights.  We find that Russell becomes separated from his wife over the death of their son.  He is the protagonist of the film and ties in all of the story lines. 

Farmiga stars in the Conjuring franchise including the upcoming Annabelle Comes Home, also The Departed (2006), and played Norma Bates in the Bates Motel (2013-2017) series. It picks up with the domestic life we see a picture of the family and then Emma and her daughter, Madison (Millie Bobby Brown) now a little more grown up as a teen.  Brown is of course recognized for playing Eleven in Stranger Things, soon to be in a third season, she also played another Madison in the Intruders (2014) series about another secret organization, and played the Young Alice in episodes of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (2013).  

Madison is the innocent character that is pivotal to the story.  She gets a text from her estranged father, but Emma recieves a call that sends them to the Monach facility in Hunnan Province, China.  The world wide settings are interesting, but there is one place missing, Tokyo, which was Godzilla’s usual stomping ground, it may be part of the agreement with Toho to keep Gojira in their part of the world.  The other part is the pacing, there are character moments, and then we shift into the action.  

This brings them to the secret base in which is being held the larva stage of the Titanus Mosura.  The Titans are the name of the giant monsters though I’m used to kaiju or daikaiju for the giant monsters.  Mothra is a fan favorite that had her own film in Mothra (1961) and was given a modern trilogy called the Rebirth of Mothra.  The design of Mothra is one of the best in the film.  Still, the movie needs a Mothra song with singers in the end credits or somewhere, it was a worldwide hit.  I would have liked an updated song with a duo like Puffy AmiYumi.  

Dr. Emma Russell has brought her device, the ORCA, which she hopes will send signals to essentially control the Titans. The control devices are a trope of kaiju films including Destroy All Monsters.  Madison reaches out to touch the awakened Mothra. There is also another device from the G-Films, but that would be spoiler territory!  Next, we get the congressional hearing of Monarch.  Heading the hearing is Senator Williams played by the distinguished CCH Pounder who played Mo’at in Avatar (2009) and the new sequels, Irene Frederic in Warehouse 13 (2009-2014), and also The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013).  

Attending the hearing is two characters from the first Godzilla movie; Dr. Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) and Dr. Graham (Sally Hawkins).  Serizawa of course was the scientist who was important in the 1954 original film.  Watanabe is well known for playing Katsumoto in The Last Samurai (2003), starring in Inception (2010), and this year, Pokémon Detective Pikachu.  Serizawa is the voice of reason who seems to understand the kaiju.  Hawkins has a stand out role as the lead, Elisa Esposito in The Shape of Water (2017), she is also in the Paddington films, and played Poppy in Happy-Go-Lucky (2008).  

Joining them is Dr. Sam Coleman played by Thomas Middleditch.  The comedy series, Silicon Valley, features Middleditch as Richard Hendricks, he is also in the sci fi film Replicas (2018), and the Zombieland: Double Tap sequel that opens on October 11th.  Coleman is Director of Technology for Monach and I found his character to be a funny counterpart to the action.  He argues that the Titans are returning to restore the world.  They are called away and the congressional investigation story point is dropped.  The world building is good, but the problem is that in the five years since Big G appeared there are no defenses or shelters for civilians like in Pacific Rim (2013). 

The Monarch facility is inflitrated by brutal gunmen led by Jonah Alan played by Charles Dance.  He has made a career out of playing memorable characters with of course Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones (2011-2015), Underworld: Blood Wars (2016), and Dracula Untold (2014).  He takes Emma, Madison, and the ORCA device.  This moves to the wilderness where Mark Russell is observing the feeding of wolves.  The Monarch aircraft arrives with Serizawa and Graham who show him the footage of his family’s capture.  We find out that Mark has created the ORCA as tech to send away killer whales from stranding.  He believed it was destroyed, but Emma has re-built the device.  

They head to the Monarch base, Castle Bravo, which is underneath an oil rig in the middle of the sea.  The name refers to the nuclear weapon tests at the Bikini Atoll.  There they meet some of the other members of the Monarch team; Dr. Ilene Chen (Ziyi Zhang), Dr. Rick Stanton (Bradley Whitford), Colonel Diane Foster (Aisha Hinds), and Chief Warrant Officer Jackson Barnes (O’Shea Jackson, Jr.).  

Zhang of course made her debut in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2009), the brilliant film The Grandmaster (2013), and she was in the The Cloverfield Paradox (2018).  Zhang’s character is one of the most interesting new additions to the Godzilla cast with connections to the G-Films legacy.  She also has a twin sister that has a connection with the Mothra movies.  Whitford is known for playing Josh Lyman in the drama The West Wing, the horror movie The Cabin in the Woods (2011), and Get Out (2017).  His character is basically in the movie to deliver corny jokes and doesn’t prove his value.  

Hinds is currently in the series 9-1-1, she starred as Harriet Tubman in Underground (2017), and was in Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).  Her commander is cool in maintaining order in the kaiju fight.  Jackson Jr. was of course known for playing Ice Cube in Straight Outta Compton (2015), Den of Thieves (2018), and he was also in the comedy Long Shot this year.  They have to take the Monarch super plane, the USS Argo, to combat the rise of the Titans.  The plane is a vast flying wing like the stealth bomber with everything needed to fight kaiju including fighter jet support.  There is of course many super vehicles like the Super X in Godzilla (1984) usually with an armor or weapon that can try to stop Godzilla.  

In Antarctica, is the Titan called Monster Zero which of course refers to the classic Godzilla vs. Monster Zero.  This is Ghidorah who first appeared in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964).  He has always been Godzilla’s greatest nemesis with his three heads, wings, and golden scales.  Also in the fight is Rodan who first appeared in his self-titled 1956 movie.  It is explained that the aftermath of Godzilla in San Francisco that the greenery cropped up which is a kaiju bringing the balance to the environment.  

The battles are intense bringing the power of kaiju, but a warning here - the sound design is great, but very painful for my ears.  I love the biggest screen and biggest sound, but not in this movie.  The human characters were criticized for being weak, but they are there to move the story along and for the most part I liked the family dynamic.  There are some plot points that are weak like the twist with Emma Russell, but the movie is fun.  I look forward to Godzilla vs. Kong next year which was set up in this film.  Godzilla: King of the Monsters earns Big G his title!   

Three ORCAs out of Five! 

#GodzillaKingoftheMonsters, #MichaelDoughtery, #KyleChandler, #MillieBobbieBrown, #VeraFarmiga, #KenWatanabe, #ZiyiZhang, #AishaHinds 

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Battle Plans!

Strategizing is of course key for a high traffic, early opening of a theme park area and attractions. I’ve been to the opening of Car’s Land and the re-opening of Star Tours. So what is the best plan? It is up to you. Remember that you check in at Star Wars Hangar Bay in Tomorrowland. You get your wristbands there. You can check-in two hours before your Galaxy's Edge time. It is There are two entrances to Galaxy’s Edge, one by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the former Big Thunder Ranch (which had delicious bbq by the way), and the other right at the exit of Fantasyland, by the Red Rose Taverne. The first entrance is close to the Resistance base, Resistance Supply, and there is a path that leads into Black Spire Outpost. I see this as getting the most of the story of Galaxy’s Edge.

Entrance to D23 Expo Galaxy's Edge preview, 2017, photo by the author.

The other, Fantasyland adjacent, entrance leads directly into Black Spire Outpost. This would be the route to go directly to the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run attraction. The Rise of the Resistance attraction opens later in the year. The shops I’ve been hearing have a three hour wait time. You have four hours to explore Galaxy’s Edge! This may be exaggerated since Galaxy’s Edge has not opened. Still, I saw a queue that stayed over night to get the exclusive pins at the El Capitan Theatre the next day! There are a number of “shoppers” who buy items to of course sell on ebay. If your focus is getting those items go directly to the store.

Most of them will be in Black Spire Outpost. I plan on going at a later date to buy merch, but I do want to get a glimpse into the stores; Savi’s Workshop (lightsabers) and the Droid Depot. There is no store that stands out to me at this time. I want to buy a shirt and maybe a pin, but there is also a Galaxy’s Edge merch area at Star Wars Launch Bay. Of course, the other highlight of Galaxy’s Edge is the food and drink. Oga’s Cantina is basically a bar with snacks. Plus, there is DJ Rex. I'm told this has a queue longer than the Falcon ride.  So this will be saved for last with staying in the queue and having the stormtroopers kick me out.  The other is Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo or Ronto's Roasters.  It looks like Kat Saka's Kettle is for snacks and the Milk Stand has of course the blue milk most people are going to try.  Most likely at the two hour mark.

Galaxy's Edge model at Star Wars: Launch Bay, Disneyland, 2018, photo by the author.

It may be interesting to see what Galaxy’s Edge specific merch is at Resistance Supply and First Order Cargo. I think Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities will have some audio-animatronic figure of the proprietor and part of the Galaxy’s Edge comic book. Possibly like Ollivanders at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. By the way, that land will be my standard against Galaxy’s Edge. Seeing the approval of George Lucas and Mark Hamill for Galaxy’s Edge at the dedication ceremony last night is good, but it is a high standard that Universal Studios set. Again, Batuu is not a Star Wars world we have seen before, so we are not walking into the world of a movie. Still, of course the anticipation of walking into a Star Wars world, not Tatooine or Endor, is just too compelling. 

So this brings us to the Millennium Falcon. I expect heavy lines (obviously) for this attraction, but if you start off your Galaxy’s Edge time stuck in a queue, not fun. The other factor is the overlap of times.  The first and last part of your reservation time will be filled with people with other wristbands.  I'm told it is a 60-75 min. wait at those times.  The Falcon ride has a 20-30 min. wait, so my estimate would be towards the middle of your reservation time.  It is the highlight of my planned Galaxy’s Edge time. I have a reservation for June 6th so my plan is to share with everyone so you will have an enjoyable time there. I have not stepped foot into Galaxy's Edge so plans are subject to change. If you are going in the summer, a crowd calendar says it will be crowded, but June 26-27th, Wed. and Thr., July 2-3rd, Tue. and Wed., are good.  Busiest days are mid-June to August 22nd.  What are your plans? What are you most likely going to hit when you enter Galaxy’s Edge?

#StarWarsGalaxysEdge, #Disneyland, #Batuu, #BlackSpireOutpost

Cloak and Dagger, “Blue Note”, Review!

We get "96 Months Ago”, Andre is looking to get ready to go on stage with his trumpet, he believes he will hit the “Blue Note”, to take the audience and become a god.  He hits the note, but his headache makes him drop his trumpet and collapse on stage.  Then, we get “Now”, Andrew at the record store, takes an album from the “Mikayla” section and plays it.  We also see the “Melissa Bowen” label.  Tyrone makes a red symbol on the floor, a door opens and it is Tandy, they are still looking for Andre.  Tyrone’s idea is to find people who know every street.  Tandy is going to go on her own.  He puts on his hood and cloaks away.  Tandy calls up her mother and tries to apologize.  She gets a text from Mikayla.  O’Reilly/Mayhem, O'Mayhem?, is behind her and wants her to stay out of it.  She drives Tandy telling her that the girls from the Viking Motel were released and the ones in jail are humming some song.  Andre still has a hold on them.  They stop and see the body of Lia.  Tandy and O’Reilly/Mayhem drives her away and Lia hums in the back.    

CLOAK AND DAGGER - “Blue Note” - AUBREY JOSEPH, OLIVIA HOLT - Alfonso Brescani/Freeform. 

Flashback, “92 Months Ago”, again.  Andrew walks the night streets with a briefcase. He leaves his phone behind.  Adina picks up her phone to speak to her son.  Tyrone is following Solomon, the teen gang member he saved, using his Cloak powers.  He asks about Conners, but his mother of course has hesitant answers.  Tandy uses her Dagger powers and touches the hand of Lia.  It is darkness, with a record player only playing static, over Lia’s body.  Tandy walks past Brigid Mayhem, she has out her Light Dagger, and O’Reilly/Mayhem says that Tyrone may be the answer.  At a diner, Tyrone meets with Solomon who is reading a newspaper article about Luke Cage.  A nice tie-in with the Netflix MCU, but strange since it seems all of the shows are getting cancelled.  He can’t read so Tyrone reads for him.  He of course needs help to find Andre.  Tyrone gets the call from Tandy and leaves.  “92 Months Ago”, it is raining, and Andrew is about to jump.   There is the Roxxon oil rig explosion.  He is later in a hospital bed, Lia is a nurse there telling about his condition, he wants the curtains closed.  She says he was seen jumping by other people.  He says he lost his music.  

She touches his hand and he first enters the record store.  Empty shelves of records.  He finds one record, “Avandalia Dewan”, black with the pulse.  Andre plays the record and is relieved.  Of course, the first person corrupted by his powers.  “Now”, Tandy is nervous as O’Reilly/Mayhem disassembles a gun and then Tyrone cloaks in.  He sees the body of Lia and Tandy brings him up to date.  They both use their powers to enter, again darkness and static, Tandy suspects they have found the people drained by Andre.  There is a table of light and dark mist, Tyrone puts him hand in it, and they find themselves at the hospital.  Nurse Lia talks with Andre who wants to take her to another place.  There is another gate next to them that Tandy reaches in.  A concert hall, a young Lia in glasses, is playing violin for her parents.  Tandy goes to talk to her and asks for the music to help a friend.  There is one record left in the shelf, a record with a rainbow in the croner, Andre takes it out to play and hears the violin playing.  Andre in the hospital stands up to confront Cloak and Dagger.  Tandy throws a Light Dagger with no effect.  He wants an audience big enough to hit the “Blue Note.”  He still doesn't understand in his selfishness that lessening his pain is causing pain to others, he wants to "share" his pain.  They break away from Lia in the church.  Tandy tells O’Reilly/Mayhem that Andre plans to put the entire city in the same state as Lia.  

CLOAK AND DAGGER - “Blue Note” - BROOKLYN MCLINN - Alfonso Brescani/Freeform. 

A girl enters the shelter greeted by Andre, and another, the record start filling the shelves.  He talks to the assembled group.  Lia watches.  “Now”, Tyrone tells Tandy that he may have found Andre.  He cloaks into a night street, there is gunfire.  O’Reilly/Mayhem is impatient and goes to shoot Lia.  Tyrone cloaks away the gang leader’s men, the Corner Boys, and grabs him.  Tandy argues with Mayhem/O’Reilly.  Tyrone has cloaked gang members to the top of the Roxxon building.  Tandy has a gun pulled on her by possessed O’Reilly.  Even though Lia menaced her, Tandy fights for her, inside she knows Lia is innocent.  She throws her Light Dagger knocking away the gun and tackles her.  Tyrone lays it down to the gang members that the innocent should not be part of their drug chain, he takes away the aggressive leader, and cloaks him back in.  Tandy and Mayhem fight, she holds a Light Dagger to Mayhem.  She brings Lia in a wheelchair to the hospital and Tyrone cloaks in saying Andre is at his old Club Delight.  He cloaks them to the back of the club.  Tyrone discusses that they may have to kill Andre together.  He opens the door to the club.  An interesting episode as we get the stories of Andre and Lia.  Not as manipulating villains, they are, but people.  It is sad to see Lia as a talented and giving person turned to working with Andre.  This is really the cost of what happens to victims and the people caught in the fight.  

Four Light Daggers out of Five! 

#CloakandDagger, #BlueNote, #AndreDeschaine, #AvandaliaDewan

All is True Review!

William Shakespeare is an enigma, we know the works, but little about the man, his life is laid bare in Kenneth Branagh’s film, All is True.  Another caveat, I’m an English major and Shakespeare is foremost with my interests, and I made the journey to the Globe Theater in London and Stratford-upon-Avon in 2009.  The movie has a strange route, it had a limited release last year to try to qualify for the Academy Awards, it opened in the UK in February this year, and now has a limited run in the US until it opens in a wide release.  Kenneth Branagh’s first film, Henry V (1989) was a brilliant adaptation of Shakespeare’s drama, I saw  his full version of Hamlet (1996) with intermission, he is also known as an actor/director with Murder on the Orient Express (2017).  He has made seven films based on Shakespeare’s work with this movie now looking at the Bard himself.  The film is written by Ben Elton who has written for the Blackadder series and starred as Verges in Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing (1993). 

It begins with the title card that it is the year 1613, William Shakespeare was mounting a production of Henry VIII when a cannon set the theater on fire and burned it down.  We see the silhouette of Shakespeare against the fire at night.  The play was under its alternative title, All is True.  Shakespeare retired from that moment.  The interesting part is that we get shots that are distant, Shakespeare’s face is in shadow, there isn’t closeups until later, so we are in the outside looking in.  He rides a horse back to his house in Stratford-upon-Avon.  He sees a swan swimming out in a lake.  This is something I noticed at Stratford-upon-Avon there are flocks of swans everywhere.  He sees a vision of a young boy, whom we later find out is Hamnet (Sam Ellis), his departed son.  I keep hearing Hamlet, even knowing it is about Shakespeare’s son, it feels that the play has some resonance with the playwright’s life.  William returns home, but is not welcomed by his family since he not visited in twenty years.  

The family is led by Anne Hathaway, not the actress, his wife played by Dame Judi Dench, and Judith Shakespeare (Kathryn Wilder).  Dench is a formidable actress, she won the Academy Award for Shakespeare in Love (1998), known for playing M in the James Bond films including Skyfall (2012), and also starred as Princess Dragomiroff in Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express.  Anne has held the house and family together even after the death of Hamnet and her missing husband dedicating his life to the theater.  He is a stranger in this house and has him stay in the guest room.  Wilder also had a part in Murder on the Orient Express, she played Chaulk in the historical drama Frontier (2017-2018), and currently plays Ashley in the mini-series Adulting.  Judith is interesting as the twin sister of Hamnet and seems to resent her father’s idolizing of him so she is withdrawn and lonely.  She is also bitter about her sister, Susanna, and her looks.  The cast features some of the best actors in a gentle, but dramatic story. 

Shakespeare's garden and house, 2009, photo by the author. 

The family dynamic makes me think of The Lion in Winter (1968) based on the James Goldman play.  The family members using their most personal and family knowledge against each other in the most hurtful ways comes into play later in this film.  The other member of the Shakespeare family is Susanna Shakespeare played by Lydia Wilson.  Her first film was Never Let Me Go (2010) based on the Kazuo Ishiguro novel, then she was in the Richard Curtis directed romantic time travel film, About Time (2013), and also played Kalara in Star Trek: Beyond (2016).  Susanna Hall has married John Hall (Hadley Fraser) and has a child, Elizabeth.  She has caused scandal with an affair with Rafe Smith and puts her husband into the town’s dispute with his Puritan beliefs.  William Shakespeare is busy with making a garden to honor Hamnet, but he is clumsy in his attempts.  We get his legacy now in a small town instead of London and visited by an interested writer and later, the Earl of Southhampton.  He is played by Sir Ian Mckellen,Mckellen was Gandalf in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013), he was Magneto in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), and he will be in the musical film Cats as Gus The Theatre Cat.  The earl is a patron of Shakespeare and wants him to return to London. There are family secrets centered on the lost Hamnet, Shakespeare as a person, and a family that needs to be made whole.   

Five Quills out of Five! 

#AllisTrue, #KennethBranagh, #JudiDench, #KathrynWilder 

Happy Birthday Sir Christopher Lee!

Happy Birthday Sir Christopher Lee!  He played various parts in television series, Tales of Hans Anderson (1952-1955). Lee was known for the Hammer horror films starting with The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) in which he played the monster and co-starred Peter Cushing.  This was also directed by Terence Fisher another longtime colloborator. He played his iconic role in as Count Dracula in Horror of Dracula (1958) directed by Fisher with Peter Cushing playing Dr. Van Helsing.  Next, he played Sir Henry Baskerville in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959) with Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes.  He played another figure of horror in The Mummy (1959).  Lee was able to play the master detective in Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962).  He starred as Billali, follower of the lead character played by Ursula Andress in She (1965) based on the H. Rider Haggard novel.  He returned to his iconic role in Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1965) and then Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968).  Then, he was in 1967 and 1969 epsiodes of the spy show The Avengers.  There were more Dracula films with Count Dracula (1970) and Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970).  In the Billy Wilder movie, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970), Lee played Mycroft Holmes, brother to the famous detective.  

Sir Christopher Lee continued with Scars of Dracula (1970) and Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972).  He was in the horror classic, The Wicker Man (1973), as Lord Summerisle. Lee played the deadly Bond villain, Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974).   The recent iconic role for Lee was playing Saruman in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).  Then, he was in a sci fi franchise as Count Dooku in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002).  Next, he returned as Saruman in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and finally The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).  His final appearance as Count Dooku was in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).  He played Dr. Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) directed by Tim Burton.  Lee played First High Councilor in The Golden Compass (2007).  He voiced Count Dooku in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) released to theaters.  He was knighted in 2009.  Lee was Monsieur Labisse in Hugo (2011) directed by Martin Scorsese.  He starred in Tim Burton’s adaptation of the tv series, Dark Shadows (2012).  Lee returned as Saruman in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) and then The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). One of his last roles was voicing. In Angels in Notting Hill (2015).  Lee died in 2015, but he will always be immortal in his many films.  Happy Birthday Sir Christopher Lee!  

#SirChristopherLee, #HorrorofDracula, #TheManwiththeGoldenGun, #LordoftheRingsTheFellowshipoftheRings, #StarWarsAttackoftheClones 

Aladdin at the El Capitan Theatre!

Aladdin is one of the event Disney movies so this made me buy a ticket to the El Capitan Theatre since they have special events.  So I signed up the moment tickets were on sale.  It was an 8:20 p.m. showing which was unusual because 6 p.m. was the usual time for the fan event.  I went down to the theater, the orchestra seating line was to the right, past the Jimmy Kimmel Live! studio.  I realized that audience members were exiting the theater from the 6 p.m. showing.  They carried a poster and other items, but didn’t seem happy.  This didn’t seem to be an option when I went to theater’s website.  There were two photo ops and once I entered it seemed like people were everywhere.  A line went to concessions, to get the VIP popcorn and drink, and of course going to find seats.  I went down to the basement which has the costume and props.  

Cave of Wonders photo op, El Capitan Theatre, photo by the author.

There were two walls; on the left was the props from the film; props from Jafar’s Study; a black bag and pouch, and books, Jafar’s Lamp, the Magic Lamp which had treasure form the Cave of Wonders, Jasmine’s Bedroom props; two dishes and a pillow, Jasmine’s Brooch, and maps.  On the other side were the costumes used in the movie and designed by Michael Wilkinson.  The first room on the right had the Genie’s outfit worn by Wil Smith with areen shirt, gold belt, purple coat, necklaces, and the gold bracelets which are more elaborate than the simple gold bracelets in the animated film.  This is the human form that the Genie takes, but misses the aqua blue turban (apparently Will Smith acquired it).  Facing the Genie is the Prince Ali robes that Mena Massoud wears for the movie.  It has the white turban and feather and white robes with gold stripes and belt.  I would have liked the oufit Aladdin wears as a thief; the red vest, white shirt, cap, and pouch with shoulder strap.  

Genie costume, photo by the author.

The center room has the Magic Carpet prop, it is in blue with more elaborate designs including the tigers in gold medallions instead of the purple cloth with gold statue heads and red fire in the original.  In the last room is the royalty of Agrabah.  On the far right is the costume of Navid Negahban’s Sultan.  His robes have the red trim, gold belt, and turban with jade piece and feather.  Naomi Scott’s Jasmine dress has the cool blue (it’s looks green in person) color of the original, but is more elaborate, she has a gold crown with cool green in the panels (not at the exhibit), in the original the princess had a headband with blue crystal.  The animated film also had massive gold earrings and a thick gold necklace.  Jasmine’s movie costume has a thin gold necklace, her outfit is more reserved ending in a pointed gold colored bottom that reaches her navel instead of the original’s top that exposes her stomach.  There is also a pattern of designs in gold more befitting a princess.  I also liked that Jasmine has several dresses instead of one.  

Jasmine's dress, photo by the author.

The Jafar costume worn by Marwan Kenzari is also interesting.  It has a more rounded turban than the pointed hat, also his black robe ends with flaring points.  The movie costume has a collar and gold plating and a black cape.  The red robes also reflect the animated movie, but he also has interior gold in the robes.  The turban also has the ruby crystal and red feather.  There is also the staff prop.  The cartoon staff is gold ending in the shape of a cobra.  The movie has snake scales and a jade pattern down the throat.  The first photo op is when you enter the lobby.  In front of the Aladdin at El Capitan Theatre backdrop, there is rock pedistal with the Magic Lamp.  The line is to the right and extends to the stairs.  You rub the lamp and there is a blue light and smoke appears!  The other photo op is the Cave of Wonders.  

Magic Carpet, photo by the author.

This was actually difficult to find, but eventually I figured out it was to the left of the orchestra area.  The queue leads to the left of the theater and back stage.  You are led across the stage past the organ and eventually to the Cave of Wonders which has two massive cobra statues with red eyes.  The cast members were very patient directing impatient guests.  Unique to the theatre was a large metal popcorn tub which is separate from the VIP ticket and a large cup that has a topper that has the Magic Lamp.  Unfortunately, the lid is not tight, so I would recommend only filling the cup with half way so it will not spill.  The poster and soundtrack download were only for the fan event 6 p.m. screening so essentially I could have gone any day to get the same opportunities.  Still, I enjoyed the film so much I came out smiling.  I hope can get a chance to see Aladdin at the El Capitan Theatre!  

#Aladdin, #ElCapitanThtre, #MagicLamp, #CaveofWonders 

Happy Birthday Sir Ian McKellen!

Happy Birthday Sir Ian McKellen! He has brought magic to our lives, but is esteemed as a theatrical actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company, I was fortunate enough to see his performance in Richard III at UCLA.  He played the lead in David Copperfield, a 1966 television serial based on the Charles Dickens’ novel.  McKellan was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1979.  McKellan’s first film lead role was playing the author in D.H. Lawrence in the bio film, Priest in Love (1981).  Mckellan was knighted in 1991.  He was memorable as Death in Last Action Hero (1993).  Then, McKellan portrayed Bill Kraus in the tv movie And the Band Played On (1993).  He played Geoffrey in Six Degrees of Separation (1993) based on the John Guare play.  One of my favorite roles was Sir Ian McKellan as the eccentric, but brilliant Reinhardt Lane in The Shadow (1994).   In 1995, he again took the lead role in Richard III.  Sir Ian McKellan played director James Whale in Gods and Monsters (1998).  Then, he was in the Stephen King adaptation, Apt Pupil (1998).  He had an iconic role as Magneto in X-Men (2000).  Then, there was another iconic part as Gandalf the Grey in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).  

He continued as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and also Magneto in X2: X-Men United (2003).  Gandalf went into the west in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).  McKellan played Sir Leigh Teabing in The Da Vinci Code (2006) based on the Dan Brown novel.  Also in 2006, he played Magneto in X-Men: The Last Stand.  He was the voice of Iorek Byrnison in The Golden Compass (2007) which adapted the Philip Pullman book.  He reprised his part as Gandalf in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013). McKellan starred with Derek Jacboi in the television comedy Vicious (2013-2016).  He played Magneto in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014).  Then, completed Gandalf’s story with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). He played Sherlock Holmes in the drama Mr. Holmes (2015).  Another incredible part was as Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast (2017).  McKellan plays Henry Wriothesley in All is True (2018) starring and directed by Kenneth Branagh.  He has on December 20th, Cats (2019), the musical where he plays Gus The Theatre Cat.  Happy Birthday Sir Ian McKellan!   

#SirIanMcKellan, #TheLordoftheRings, #X-Men, #AllisTrue, #CatsMovie 

Aladdin Review!

Director and co-writer Guy Ritchie brings a new vision to the tale of Aladdin that is fun and familiar!  So a little caveat before we get to this review, I’m biased since I worked at Aladdin’s Oasis in Disneyland.  I had a walk through role in the show carrying a tray of “food” during the “Prince Ali” number.  Then, I saw the animated Aladdin (1992), the first movie I saw at the El Capitan Theatre.  Last year, I saw the Aladdin musical at the Pantages Theater.  All of that aside, what I noticed is that each incarnation of Aladdin is entertaining in its own way.  

Guy Ritchie is known for films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Sherlock Holmes (2009), and the uneven King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017).  Aladdin propels Ritchie back to blockbuster status and though the idea of his direction in a Disney film seems unusual, he injects his energetic style, creates a movie that has the heart of the animated film, handles the lively musical and dance numbers, and adds some new character developments.  The co-writer of the screenplay is John August who also wrote 2012’s Frankenweenie (2012) screenplay, Big Fish (2003), and the screenplay of the animated Titan A.E. (2000).  Ritchie and August share writing credits for the film, but it relies on the screenplay of the 1992 movie by Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott, and Terry Rossio.  

The film opens with a sailing ship and then we see a smaller merchant ship.  On board is the Mariner played by Will Smith who decides to tell his children a story.  This leads to the “Arabian Nights” song which has a slight change, “It’s chaotic, but hey, it’s home” instead of “It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.”  The music is by Alan Menken who worked on the score of the original movie.  He brings in some Arabic instruments to the music.  This leads to a pan through the land of Agrabah and also glimpses of our characters; the monkey Abu picking pockets on the streets, Aladdin (Mena Massoud), his partner in crime, then the Sultan (Navid Negahban), Jasmine (Naomi Scott), and her tiger Rajah in the palace.  The perspective shifts with the parrot Iago to the desert. 

Then, we move to the Cave of Wonders where Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) sends a hapless volunteer into the cave.  He of course needs the “diamond in the rough” to enter the cave.  This of course leads to Aladdin played by Massoud.  He was also Kamal in the drama Run This Town, earlier this year, playing Tarek Kassar in the Amazon Prime series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (2018), and starred in the Canadian teen drama Open Heart (2015).  His likability drives the movie with the romance and friendship relationships and action.  Massoud uses talk singing, but has good vocals and this may be his breakout film.  We see Aladdin’s quick fingers and clever monkey pal, Abu, gets them a bag of dates which he gives to children.  One moment like the cartoon and we know why Aladdin is the “diamond in the rough.”  

Then we get Jafar (Kenzari) returning to see the candidates for the cave.  Kenzari played the conductor, Pierre Michel, in Murder on the Orient Express (2017), he also starred in the horror action film, The Mummy (2017), and was in the remake of Ben-Hur (2016).  Jafar was the character that I thought departed the most from the 1992 movie.  Here, he is more deceitful and less extravagantly evil, it also is interesting to see that he built himself up to Grand Vizier from the same thieving background as Aladdin.  We see his evil at throwing a henchman into a pit saying the search for the “diamond in the rough” is hopeless.  

Then, we have Jasmine in robes, giving children some food, and the merchant wants her bracelet in exchange.  Naomi Scott has a developed part with Jasmine, we find later that she wants more of a rulership role with Agrabah since her father is getting older.  She was of course Kimberly, the Pink Ranger, in Power Rangers (2017), starred in the real life drama The 33 (2015), and was in the Disney Channel teen musical Lemonade Mouth (2011).  I think this also a break out role for Scott.  Her singing is powerful and she gets a new solo song, “Speechless.”  Her costumes bring up the work of Michael Wilkinson that are beautiful, colorful, and nods to the animated film while covering up her midriff and Aladdin’s chest.  Again, Aladdin is clever as a thief, and gets the bracelet away and this of course leads into the “One Jump” chase.  It reminded of the Parkour styled acrobatics in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), but there is comedy and weaves in Jasmine also on the run.  

One of Aladdin’s pursuers is Hakim (Numan Acar) who is the head of the guards and important in the movie.  The chase brings up Thief of Bagdad (1940), which has a hero teaming up a thief Abu (played in this case by Sabu), finds a genie (Rex Ingram), and faces a sorcerer named Jaffar (Conrad Veidt) to win a princess.  Aladdin departs enough from that it feels original.  It ends up with Aladdin winning her confidence and Jasmine pole vaults across to safety.  Aladdin takes Jasmine to his secret place, she calls herself Dalia, the name of her handmaiden.  He returns her bracelet which belonged to her mother.  Jasmine explains that she is confined to the palace because her father was worried about her with the death of her mother.  

Aladdin shows Jasmine a look at the palace and she notices the arrival of a prince and has to leave.  Aladdin notices that Abu has taken the bracelet.  At the palace, we see the arrival of Prince Anders (Billy Magnussen).  He was in the Disney musical film, Into the Woods (2014), Bridge of Spies (2015), and also this year, Velvet Buzzsaw.  Dalia (Nasim Pedrad) approves of the prince, but the prince reaches out to Rajah and Jasmine sends him away.  Pedrad is of course known for being a part of the cast in Saturday Night Live, she was also in the comedy series New Girl (2015-2018), and voiced Jillian in Despicable Me 2 (2013).  The character is a new addition to the Aladdin story, but absolutely essential as a female friend to Jasmine and important in her own way.

Her father is the Sultan played by Negahban who plays the Shadow King in the cable series  Legion, he was also in 12 Strong (2018), and played the title role in the horror movie Djinn (2013).  His characterization is not befuddled like the animated movie and does not have the obsession with toys and mechanical things like the character in Thief of Bagdad.  The diversity of the cast is one of the strong points of the film.  Still, there is no Arabic words or expressions in the movie unlike Thief of Bagdad.  Jafar argues for the invasion of Shehrabad, the former kingdom of Jasmine's mother, using the power of his cobra staff, but Jasmine interrupts them. 

Aladdin slips into the palace, this is noticed by Jafar’s parrot, Iago, voiced by Alan Tudyk.  It seems like Tudyk is getting experience voicing animated birds, with Heihei in Moana (2016), also playing K-2SO in Rogue One (2016), he is currently playing Mr. Nobody in the streaming show Doom Patrol.  A minor role, he didn’t have the funny lines or nasty villainy of Gilbert Gottfried.  Aladdin carries in a tray of tea.  This leads to a very funny exchange with Jasmine trying to convince Aladdin that Dalia is the princess.  He discovers the truth, taking a brooch from her hair, and promises it to return it the following night.  Aladdin runs into Hakim and the guards in the hall.  He finds himself in the desert with Jafar who makes the bargain to take him to the Cave of Wonders for the lamp.  This will get him the riches to win the princess at least this is what leads Aladdin to risk his life.  

Aladdin passes through the tiger-shaped cave entrance, but drops to the cave floor.  He shows his compassion freeing the Magic Carpet from a heavy rock.  Then, he is tempted by the riches, this is a great development since Aladdin has to deal with his poverty and also the threat of touching the forbidden treasure.  He makes the climb up to reach the lamp, but Abu who was warned by Aladdin, falls to the temptation and grabs hold of a giant ruby.  The cave collapses and erupts with lava, Aladdin has to use his acrobatic skills to escape, and grasps the ledge at the edge of the Cave of Wonders.  Jafar takes the lamp and Abu whirls around him before Aladdin is thrown down.  Aladdin is trapped in the cave and of course gets some help by rubbing the lamp.  Out comes the Genie played by Will Smith who brings his humor and charm to the part. Smith is of course well known for parts such as the Netflix film, Bright (2017), the comic book movie, Suicide Squad (2016), and dramas like Concussion (2015).  

There was some criticism about Smith filling in the part played by Robin Williams, but Ritchie is clever enough to make the Genie like the rest of the film separate from the other versions.  Smith injects fun including handling some songs, but the only part that is lessened is going over similar jokes and lines like the original cartoon.  I noticed this listening to his end title song “Friend Like Me” with DJ Khaled which brought an energy to the song which should have changed in the film.  There is also a twist to his character that makes me eager to see the movie again.  Of course, he transforms Aladdin into Prince Ali, and Aladdin has to struggle with finding his true self while in the trappings of a prince.  The film is filled with spectacle in the parade and dance numbers, the work of choreographer, Jamal Sims, that remind me of Bollywood.  Aladdin is a fun retelling that stands apart on its own, a diamond in the rough! 

Five Magic Lamps out of Five! 

#Aladdin, #GuyRitchie, #MenaMassoud, #NaomiScott, #WillSmith

Happy Birthday Doug Jones!

Happy Birthday Doug Jones! He is a gift for every genre film. Jones started out as Mac Tonight from 1987-1989. He had a role as a clown in Batman Returns (1992) and played Billy Butcherson in Hocus Pocus (1993). Then, he played a kangaroo fighter in Warriors of Virtue (1997). His first association with director Guillermo del Toro was in Mimic (1997).  Jones terrified everyone as the Gentleman in the Buffy the Vampire episode "Hush" (1999). Another del Toro movie had him playing Abe Sabien in Hellboy (2004). One of his greatest roles was as Fauno and the Pale Man in del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth (2006). Jones portrayed the Silver Surfer in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). He returned as Abe Sapien and played two other roles including the Angel of Death in del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). Doug Jones had a role as Gerald in Felicia Day's The Guild and also played Saarebus in her Dragon Age: Redemption (2011).

Doug Jones had a part as the supervillain Deathbolt in 2015 episodes of Arrow and The Flash. He was the alien, Cochise, in the Falling Skies tv series from 2013-2015. del Toro brought him on again as his muse playing female ghosts in Crimson Peak (2015). Jones also played The Ancient in del Toro's vampiric tv series The Strain from 2014-2016.  His latest part for del Toro was in his Academy Award winning film The Shape of Water (2017) as Amphibian Man. At the same time, he was filming the brilliant part as the Kelpian Saru in Star Trek: Discovery and currently plays him on the series.  Jones also plays Baron Afanas in  the What We Do in the Shadows series. On top of his film and tv roles, Doug Jones is great to meet at conventions. He embraces you, wraps you in a cocoon-like hug with his long arms, he is one of the most gentle souls I've ever met. We wouldn't have believable aliens and figures of horror without him. Happy Birthday Doug Jones!

#DougJones, #TheShapeofWater, #StarTrekDiscovery, #WhatWeDointheShadows 

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge #2 Review!

We are getting more glimpses of Black Spire Outpost, not much about the First Order Cargo area since the story also focuses on the occuption by the First Order.  There is a very nice Tommy Lee Edwards cover of Greedo, heavily armed, walking in Black Spire Outpost with a moisture vaporator, a Chevin, a massive alien that is mostly trunk, and a Quarren, Squid Head, in the back.  The story is by Ethan Sacks with art by Will Sliney.  The issue, "Shoot First, Questions Later" Part 2, begins with the final moments of Ki-Adi-Mundi on Mygeeto in Revenge of the Sith (2005).  The stormtroopers enact Order 66 and Ki-Adi-Mundi falls with his lightsaber.  So the premise of this story is that the lightsaber ends up on the black market.  The clone troopers after following Order 66, don't retrieve Ki-Adi-Mundi's lightsaber?, I think all evidence of the Jedi would be returned to Palpatine.  

This shifts back with a splash page of Dok-Ondar’s place with several stormtroopers.  There is a commander, who may be the sergeant introduced last issue, it is not really clear.  It would have been nice for the stormtrooper to identify himself, maybe he is a cameo character, and the up and coming Imperials like to throw around their names.  Plus, he doesn’t have his helmet on so we see his facial tatoo like an inverted dagger and blue, bionic?, eye.  It is established in Force Awakens (2015) that stormtroopers don’t remove their helmets in public areas.  Minor error, but it does add up here.  He takes the lightsaber, belonging to Ki-Adi-Mundi, and activates it, “Zzhhooom”, is it a car?  This is an image from the comic books, everyone seems able to use a lightsaber, it is possible to activate one like Han did in Empire Strikes Back (1980), the weight is deceptive since it is energy running through the blade.  A stormtrooper using one even for a threat is just not understanding Star Wars.  Two strikes.  

Dok-Ondar’s assistant identifies him as a sergeant, but again we don’t get a name.  Behind the sergeant is a recording device and we get a closeup of its blue lens.  This was set up by Remex and his fellow bounty hunters, Kendoh, and Wooro.  Their ship, which is a hodge podge of parts like Podracer engines and wings like a Lego constructed ship, is also at Black Spire Outpost.  Remex mentions their job on the Moon of Avedot.  Kendoh shushes them to watch the holo recording of Dok-Ondar’s guests.  He tells them the story of the lightsaber.  It flashes back to Mygeeto with Vice Chairman Anolo of the Banking Clan.  There is a blaster bolt that pierces the window.  Greedo was using a long-range blaster rifle with Takvaa, a greeno-skinned horned face Nikto.  Greedo mentions that he is working for Jaba the Hutt.  They take a skiff and work out the next part of their plan.  Dok-Ondar’s assistant, not certain her name either, threatens the sergeant.  Greedo is not really a sympathetic character and there are problems with the canon here.  It is not a strong issue, plus no real Galaxy’s Edge peeks or information, but there’s still more to Remex and his gang trying to find the second piece of an artifact in Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities.  Hopefully, the series will get back to the fun of the first issue. 

Two Lightsabers out of Five! 

#StarWarsGalaxysEdge, #KiAdiMundi, #Greedo, #JabbatheHutt 

Happy Birthday Ginnifer Goodwin!

Happy Birthday Ginnifer Goodwin! She has worked in television including the series Ed from 2001-2003 as Diane Synder. The drama, Mona Lisa Smile (2003) starred Goodwin as Connie Baker.  Next, she was Cathy Freely in the comedy, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004).  In bio pic, Walk the Line, Goodwin played Vivian Cash, the first wife of Johnny Cash.  She provided voices over the years for Robot Chicken (2005-2014).  Goodwin played Margene Heffman in Big Love from 2006-2011. She voiced Jeane Marie St. Cloud in the 2012 animated short, Electric City. 

Ginnifer Goodwin's signature role was as Mary Margaret Blanchard also known as Snow White in Once Upon a Time from 2011-2018.  In 2013, Goodwin played Jacquelin Kennedy in the tv movie Killing Kennedy.  Then, she voiced the Pixie Hollows fairy Fawn in Tinker Bell and the Legends of the NeverBeast (2014). Her high profile role was voicing Judy Hopps in Zootopia (2016). Goodwin Recently, Goodwin starred in the “Point of Origin” episode of The Twilight Zone where she played Eve Martin, a housewife who discovers that there are strange truths about her life.  Happy Birthday Ginnifer Goodwin!

#GinniferGoodwin, #BigLove, #OnceUponaTime, #Zootopia