Annabelle Comes Home Review!

Annabelle Comes Home is not far from a home of horror, but has enough of a story to sidestep somewhat tense terrors. Annabelle of is a supernatural relic recovered by the Warrens, Ed and Lorraine, in 1968. It was the subject of the first movie in the series, The Conjuring (2013) and spun off to its own movies; Annabelle (2014) and Annabelle: Creation (2017) both written by Gary Dauberman, who takes the director’s chair in this film. He co-wrote the movie with James Wan who directed the first two Conjuring films. Dauberman also co-wrote the screenplay for It (2017) and wrote the upcoming It: Chapter Two, out on September 6th.  

The movie is fictional, but has some real life characters. Conjuring 3 is the next movie in the franchise directed by Michael Chaves who also directed The Curse of La Llorona which was released on April 19th. The film opens with the extreme close-up of Annabelle, this is similar to The Conjuring, which nearly had me walking out of the theater. It continues with Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) explaining the nature of Annabelle to her current owners, Camilla (Sade Katarina) and Debbie (Kenzie Caplan). This is a repeat of the scene from the first movie with new actors. Wilson was last in Aquaman (2018), directed by Wan, playing King Orm and Farmiga is in Godzilla: King of the Monsters released on May 31st. It is welcome to see the return of both actors, but they are cameos here.   

The music by Joseph Bishara, who composed five of the Conjuring movies, is tense and moody. They take the doll and place Annabelle in the back seat of the station wagon. Driving on the night roads, they come across an accident, Lorraine can see the victim of the car crash standing. The couple is directed to take roads around the accident and of course the car stalls. Ed gets out to check on the engine and Lorraine notices that they happen to have stopped next to a cemetary.  

She sees the car accident victim in the backseat who admires the doll. Then, Lorraine sees spirits collecting at the cemetary gate, one pushes Ed into the middle of the road. 

A truck is about to run him over and the driver later says he lost control of the truck.  At their house, their daughter, Judy (McKenna Grace) watches as they bring in Annabelle. Grace played a young Carol Danvers in this year’s Captain Marvel. She plays the young protagonist who understands her parents’ work. Ed and Lorraine take Annabelle down to the basement room with Father Gordon (Steve Coulter) performing the ceremonies. Coulter is returning to the part from The Conjuring 2 (2016). They set her on a rocking chair, but then decide to put her in a case from a church. Lorraine announces, “The evil is contained.”

 It shifts to one year later, Judy is eating cereal watching television, beneath the bowl is a newspaper headline, “Heroes or Hoax?”  Her parents are about to set off to another case?, the events of the first movie, and intend to celebrate Judy’s birthday. Watching over Judy is her teen babysitter, Mary Ellen, played by Madison Iseman. The actress played Sarah in Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018) and is returning to play Young Bethany in Jumanji: The Next Level on December 13th. Mary Ellen is concerned over Judy which makes her interesting. On the television is a game show where a young contestant wins a doll, this happens to be the giant Raggedy Ann doll like the real life Annabelle. 

She drives Judy over to the St. Thomas school. During lunch, Judy looks over and see the spectral form of a priest. Mary Ellen goes to get some groceries for the party. She is joined by her friend, Daniela (Katie Sarife), who likes making trouble, but we find there is something more driving her.  Sarife is in the series Youth & Consequences and was in the tv movie Zombies and Cheerleaders (2012). These are basically the three main characters and there are enough story points that made all of the characters likeable for me. Daniela tries to get the grocery clerk, Bob (Michael Cimino) hooked up with Mary Ellen, they have a crush on each other. Bob has a nickname that runs through the movie and lives across the street from the Warrens. His character is kinda fun.  

Then, by the lockers, Judy is taunted by a boy (Lucas Luhan). Mary Ellen sends them away and Judy notices again the priest, whom she also sees as a bust, Father Michael Morrisey (the actor’s name is really Gary-7). At the Warren home, Mary Ellen discusses the bullying with Judy, they are joined by Daniela who notes that the bully is her younger brother, Anthony. She is interested in all of the supernatural trappings in the seemingly normal surburban house. Daniela wanders into the office and Mary Ellen goes in to find her. They see case files, Daniela points out the file of the Ferryman, his first victim looks exactly like Mary Ellen!  

She wonders about the coins placed on the eyes of the departed and Judy answers that they are for the payment of the Ferryman, Charon in the Greek myths. There are a number of paranormal forces introduced in this film, I wonder if one or more will lead to The Conjuring 3. Daniela activates the film projector that shows Ed holding up a cross and screaming to drive away evil. Mary Ellen seeing Judy disturbed by it turns off the projector. Later, in the kitchen, Mary Ellen is preparing a cake when Daniela brings roller skates for Judy.  Mary Ellen takes Judy out to try the new skates and has Daniela promise not to cause trouble.  

Annabelle at The Conjuring Universe maze, Horror Made Here, 2018, author’s photo.  

Of course, she goes to try to open the door to the artifact room, it is locked and she asks the spirits for help to open it. Then, she goes to the office and almost by accident finds the keys. Daniela opens the door and down the steps into the room. There is the black samurai armor, she finds coins on one of them, and she sees a television screen. A wedding dress hangs in the back. She plays two keys of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on a piano. We find out that Daniela is eager to contact the spirit of her father. 

She folds a picture of herself and her father in a locket called the Mourner’s Bracelet. Daniela’s attention of course leads to the case with Annabelle. It has a warning not to open it, but later Annabelle’s head bumps into the glass, Daniela goes to open it with the keys. She is distracted by the fire alarm going off with the burnt cake. Mary Ellen has returned and mentions that Judy has scrapped her leg. She hears a knock at the door and then sees a little girl (Samara Lee) who asks about Annabelle. Lee was in Annabelle: Creation (2017). 

Daniela goes out to check on Judy feeding the chickens in the chicken coop.  It is interesting to see the teen best friend talking to the young charge. Mary Ellen walks over to them and Daniela sees the image of her father through the office window.  We find out that Annabelle is a “beacon” to other spirits. They have to return her before the evils are unleashed. The terror is just tension, but doesn’t get into full scares. I like the resolution for the characters even if there is not the types of horror in The Conjuring. Annabelle Comes Home is decent as an entry in The Conjuring Universe, the character trio keeps the movie going, but there is not enough scares to earn its R rating!  

Three Coins for the Ferryman out of Five!  

#AnnabelleComesHome, #GaryDauberman, #McKennaGrace, #MadisonIseman, #KatieSarife, #MichaelCimino, #VeraFarmiga, #PatrickWilson

Happy Birthday Ray Harryhausen!

Happy Birthday Ray Harryhausen!  He was inspired by King Kong (1933) and worked with stop motion pioneer from that film, Willis O’Brien, on Mighty Joe Young (1949). Harryhausen worked on his own technique called Dynamation which integrated live action with his stop motion work in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953). The story was based on Ray Bradbury's "The Fog Horn" and they had a life long friendship.  Harryhausen began a long time partnership with producer Charles H. Schneer with It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955). His next movie spun off the alien invasion films with Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956).  Harryhausen ventured into the realms of fantasy and the Land Beyond Beyond in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958). He made creatures like the cyclops and the dragon into living, breathing animals. It stands as my favorite Harryhausen film.  A film that has the wonder of Jonathan Swift's novel was The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960).  Another favorite Harryhausen movie was Mysterious Island (1961) which had a group of Civil War soldiers stranded on an island filled with a giant crab and giant bees.

Ray Harryhausen, Comic Con, 2000, photo by the author.

A fan favorite of Harryhausen’s films is Jason and the Argonauts (1963). The skeleton fight at the end is one of the best special effects sequences. First Men in the Moon (1964) based on the H.G. Wells 1901 novel which also inspired A Trip to the Moon (1902). One Million Years B.C. (1966) is a classic for Raquel Welch’s fur bikini alone with cavemen battling dinosaurs. Then, there was The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977).  Harryhausen’s final film was Clash of the Titans (1981). Superior to the CG remake, it has the beauty of the Pegasus and a terrifying Medusa, I saw at a Harryhausen exhibit that the model has tiny threads of red hair which I didn’t see on film!  Ray Harryhausen appeared with the actress from his Mighty Joe Young, Terry Moore, in the 1988 remake. He received the George E. Sawyer Award at the 1992 Academy Awards. Harryhausen wrote Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life (2010) and The Art of Ray Harryhausen (2006). Harryhausen died in 2013, but his work continues with the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, his films, and museum exhibits. Happy Birthday Ray Harryhausen!

#RayHarryhausen, #MightyJoeYoung, #The7thVoyageofSinbad, #JasonandtheArgonauts, #OneMillionYearsBC, #ClashoftheTitans 

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge #3 Review!

We have been following the stories of Dok-Ondar, who seems more talkative than he is now at Galaxy’s Edge, offering a peek at Black Spire Outpost during the Age of Rebellion.  The issue features a cover by Tommy Lee Edwards which has Hondo Ohnaka, an important character in Galaxy’s Edge, full with stolen goods, clinging to a tree overlooking Black Spire Outpost.  The artwork showing Batuu gives an incredible vision of it that you don’t get wandering around at street level.  Ethan Sacks and Will Sliney, the writer and artist team, continue the Galaxy’s Edge story.  It opens with the bounty hunter Reme on the run at Merchant’s Row.  One towns person is carrying a glass of blue milk next to the Milk Stand, this is across from the First Order base.  Blasters fire and there is an unfortunate victim, he may never have another taste of blue milk!  Stormtroopers are trying to arrest Remex, blasting a target really doesn’t keep someone around to arrest, then he slips into a cargo hatch.  One stormtrooper gets hit from his return fire.  They find a woman in an orange robe.  They leave and he shapeshifts back to his normal form. 

He is caught in an alley by a tall alien and slammed against a wall in a chokehold.  This is Varg who works for Dok-Ondar!  Then, we get a one and a half page spread of Oga’s Cantina.  This is an overhead shot, again not something you can see at ground level, there are Jedi, droids, and some familiar aliens.  Remex enters right by the booth next to the DJ station.  This is correct from what I saw besides the aliens and droids.  He meets his boss, Kendoh, there to ask about leaving Batuu.  She wants to sell the relic and pay off their debts.  It looks like there is betrayals on betrayals as we move along with this story.  There is also an insert of DJ Rex, he of course is the pilot droid (canon from Star Wars: Rebels), from Star Tours.  The business and the characters bring a good story for the place, but I didn’t see any signs that Galaxy’s Edge has such things yet.  Kendoh meets with an Ikototch fortune teller, same species as the horned Jedi Master, Saesee Tiin.  The fortune teller has cleared her for her boss in the next booth, Hondo Ohnaka!  He of course is the bad penny showing up in Star Wars: Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels, and now Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run!  Hondo loves to tell stories, he brings one up about the Guardians of the Whills, watching him on hologram is Dok-Ondar.  Kendoh is looking for a pilot who can help them escape.  

Dok-Ondar at Galaxy's Edge, has he found his peace?, photo by the author.

It is Jedha, the setting of Rogue One, and a guardian in samurai-type armor is knocked out by a sonic weapon used by Hondo.  Dok-Ondar takes off his hood, eager for the relic, then they are ambushed by monks using blasters.  I think they are on stun blasts, but they are red in color, not blue.  Still, Hondo fires back, and wounds a monk’s arm.  While they are struggling, Dok-Ondar sees a crystal sculpture, he says carved by a lightsaber.  He explains that his parents on Ithor were killed for a relic.  Dok-Ondar searches for relics to connect with his parents, an interesting character motivation.  The monk smacks around Hondo while Dok-Ondar uses a laser torch to free the sculpture from kyber crystal.  It causes a cave-in and Dok-Ondar then uses a lightsaber to cut the sculpture free.  Again, the nature of lightsabers are not understood by comics writers, you can hold one, but to use it for any kind of work is difficult, but the energy makes it light and the blade cuts like a heavy weapon.  They run into another guardian whom you probably may know from Rogue One.  Hondo sees the relic taken by Kendoh and her gang.  It is connected to a mysterious fan favorite character!  Great action and design by Sliney.  An important issue showing more areas of Galaxy’s Edge, develops Dok-Ondar’s character, and tells its own story!  

Four Lightsabers out of Five! 

#StarWarsGalaxysEdge, #HondoOhnaka, #DokOndar, #Jedha 

Video Game Review - Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Review!

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite launched on June 21st on Android and iOS mobile phones by WB Games San Francisco and Niantic.  This would be my first mobile game since I didn’t have space on my phone until I cleared space for Galaxy’s Edge pics and video.  I missed Pokémon Go (which was also created by Niantic) and haven’t seen much game play for that game or Wizards Unite. I was able to download the game on Monday night.  Then, setup the game Tuesday morning, entering my birthday and wizard name.   There is a CG owl that flies past the Harry Potter: Wizards Unite title and down to the game play street level.  You are part of the Statute of Secrecy this group of Wizards go through the Muggle world (seen on your phone) that reveals traces of Foundables.  These are characters or fantastic beasts that are held captive by other fantastic beasts.  You are advised by Constance Pickering, in charge of the Statute of Secrecy Task Force, part of the Ministry of Magic.  She is a new character though there was an Adam Pickering, a Gryffindor student, in the video games.  

You also get comments from Harry Potter and Hermione Granger so this “feels” like Harry Potter.  It seems to take place after the movies and books.  Your first task is to recover a Foundable, in this case a very well known Giant, back to Hogwarts.  This is accomplished by casting a spell, tracing the pattern on the screen with your finger, which can be incomplete if you don’t trace it correctly.  It can also be a Fair, Good, or Great casting.  Sometimes you have to cast multiple times since the spell can be resisted.  You can use a potion to help in your casting.  It is amusing to see the fantastic beast in the Muggle world, I was by a bank where a Muggle was withdrawing money, while I was battling a Troll.  The graphics are good, the best is an open area, not something flat like a wall.  Once the Foundable is returned to the Wizarding World, you can place them in the proper area like the Room of Requirement, there are so many that it will take some time to complete them all.  When you start the game there is a warning, “Remember To Be Alert At All Times.  Be Aware Of Your Surroundings.”  This is not to be taken lightly, I found three Foundables in a shopping center, and then several more in the parking lot.  I had to very careful of staying out of the way of drivers and cars.  The other note is that it is free to download, but eventually you run out of Spell Energy and can't do any actions.  It is recharged by food and drink at Inns, they are found at parks and "landmarks", I found three in Los Angeles, but not in my area.  Otherwise, you have to buy items to get the Spell Energy to play. 

You also pick up various objects like a Precious Portkey Portmanteau.  There is a key for it, but you need to walk some distance to activate it.  You can also pick up Snowdrops and Armadillo Bile which can be used to brew potions.   Potions are needed for when you duel.  I had one duel, but couldn’t understand how you use offensive spells, I found out you slide over your opponent, until you lock on your target with enough time to cast the spell.  I was just using defensive spells, Protego, until I just quit. There are also Runestones that you win for opening chests after returning a Foundable.  The Runestones are used to make challenges at a Fortress.  I haven’t been to a Fortress yet.  These are all kept in your Vault which you can check anytime.  I found out about all of these after just playing the game so you can just pick up as you go along.  The interesting part is not only being in Harry Potter’s world, but also part of a story.  The Foundables are not a regular occurance.  Someone or some group unleashed them in an event called the Calamity.  You have to piece together what caused the Calamity.  I found a flag that indicated signs of Dark Magic, strangely next to a bank, then another one by another nearby bank.  Oh yeah, you know there is some Dark Magic going on there!  I reached Level 5 after a good day of playing.  It is some engaging game play because I kept veering from my walk to check on Foundables instead of getting some food!  Lastly, I found no urgency in going to Universal Studios Hollywood to cast new spells and see the night time show, but with Wizards Unite, I can’t wait to see what special things are at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!    

Four Foundables out of Five!  

#WizardsUnite, #HarryPotter, #Niantic, #WizardingWorldofHarryPotter, #UniversalStudiosHollywood 

Happy Birthday Alex Toth!

Happy Birthday Alex Toth! He was an incredible comic book and animation artist who started at DC Comics with Green Lantern #28 (1947).  Toth drew All Star Comics featuring Black Canary meeting the Justice Society of America and she joined the team in All Star Comics #41 (1948).  From 1957 to 1960, he had a great run drawing Zorro for Dell Comics.  Another favorite from that time is Four Color Comics #1085 (1960) adapting the Time Machine.  He became art director for the animated show Space Angel (1962-1964).  Alex Toth designed Space Ghost (1962-1966) for Hanna Barbara.  He also worked on The Herculoids (1967-1969) and Birdman and the Galaxy Trio (1967-1969).  

In 1973, Toth worked on the Super Friends animated series.  He contributed some pages to the limited Collector’s Edition #C-41 featuring the Super Friends.  One of my favorites of Toth’s artwork is Superman Annual #9 (1983).  The brilliance of Alex Toth’s artwork is it’s simplicity, just a few lines gives you emotion and a scene, he was an incredible draftsman. Also, his use of black brought a level of chiaroscuro to comic books.  There is a number of books that reproduce Toth’s artwork including Treasures Retold: The Lost Art of Alex Toth.  Alex Toth died in 2006.  Happy birthday Alex Toth!

#AlexToth, #Zorro, #SuperFriends, #TreasureRetoldTheLostArtofAlexToth  

Happy Birthday Minka Kelly!

Happy Birthday Minka Kelly!  She started in genre films with horror movie Devil’s Highway (2005), but she took notice with a brief part in 500 Days of Summer (2009).  Kelly had a long running part as Lyla Garrity in Friday Night Lights (2006-2009).  Then, she played Gaby in the series Parenthood (2010-2011).  Kelly played Eve French in the Charlie Angels (2011) series. She had the role of Jacqueline Kennedy in Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013).  

Minka Kelly at Comic Con, 2011, photo by the author.

Her most memorable genre role was as Detective Valerie Stahl, she played a Chrome, a genetically engineered for beauty, in Almost Human (2013-2014).  Kelly played Debbie Hunt in the bio drama, Papa Hemingway in Cuba (2015). She is currently playing Dawn Granger, one half of a super hero duo, in the DC Universe streaming series Titans (2018).  Dove is the calm, peaceful with the powers of flight, agility, and enhanced senses next to her parter Hawk played Alan Ritchson.  Happy Birthday Minka Kelly!

#MinkaKelly, #FridayNightLights, #AlmostHuman, #Titans 

Happy Birthday Joss Whedon!

Happy Birthday Joss Whedon!  He started writing on the sitcom Roseanne (1989-1990) and then Parenthood (1990-1991) before writing his own creation with the film of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992).  Whedon was one of the screenplay writers on Toy Story (1995).  He started creating the landmark show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1996-2003) with Sarah Michelle Gellar as the lead.  Whedon was the writer of the Alien: Resurrection (1997) film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet.  He spun off Angel (1999-2004) from the Buffy show.  Whedon was one of the screenwriters on Titan A.E. (2000), the animated film by Don Bluth about the refugees of Earth.  Whedon wrote the Fray (2001-2003) comic book which a had a future Slayer.  One of the finest sci fi shows on television was created by Joss Whedon, Firefly, with a short run from 2002-2003.  He started working on writing Astonishing X-Men from 2004 to 2008.  

Joss Whedon, he's on the right, at the Much Ado About Nothing panel, Wonder Con, 2013, photo by the author.

Joss Whedon was able to put a coda on Firefly with the film, Serenity (2005), but Browncoats will always carry on!  He picked up the Runaways writing from creator Brian K. Vaughn with issues from 2007 to 2008.  Whedon streamed the musical super villain show, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (2008) with NPH.  He created another show, Dollhouse (2009-2010) with Eliza Dushku as Echo.  Whedon co-wrote the clever horror film, The Cabin in the Woods (2012), with director Drew Goddard.  He wrote and directed The Avengers (2012).  Whedon followed it up with his film on Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing (2012).  He helped create the show, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., along with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen.  Whedon returned to the MCU with Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).  He added to the screenplay and directed reshoots of Justice League (2017).  Happy Birthday Joss Whedon!

#JossWhedon, #BuffytheVampireSlayer, #Firefly, #TheAvengers

Toy Story 4 Review!

Pixar’s flagship franchise concludes with Toy Story 4 bringing back favorite characters and fun with new characters!  It of course launched Pixar as a film studio in 1995 with the first Toy Story directed by John Lasseter.  The franchise seemed to be a trilogy ending with Toy Story 3 in 2010.  What was central to all of the stories was the friendship between cowboy toy, Woody (Tom Hanks), and astronaut space toy, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen).  The endurance of these Pixar films is that even with the first movie, they go beyond the premise of what happens when we leave toys alone.  Some of the films are fantastic, but the best reflect ourselves. 

A fault of other animated movies that try to jazz up their premises, but lose the story, fun, and heart.  This film is directed by Josh Cooley who previously directed the short, Riley’s First Date? (2015), that was included with the Inside Out (2015) digital and Blu-Rays.  He also worked on the story of the film along with John Lasseter, Valerie LaPointe, Rashida Jones, Will McCormack, Martin Hynes, and Stephany Folsom.  The screenplay is by Folsom and Andrew Stanton, director of Finding Dory (2016) who worked on the story for all of the Toy Story movies.  

We get the Pixar lamp, Luxo Jr., that resolves to it shining in a storm.  Very impressive visuals.  It begins nine years, post-Toy Story 2, in this case it sets up the basic story of Woody (no last name, but I’m suspecting it’s Hanks) watching out for the other toys.  Now, it is RC who is struggling in a storm clogged drain, Woody goes to the rescue, but then he finds that Bo Peep (Annie Potts) is being taken away.  Woody later explains how much Bo Peep and her lamp meant to Molly, Andy’s sister, so why she would be sold her is confusing.  Woody tries to rescue her, but she explains that it is her time to find a new owner.  Bo Peep, as well as RC, was missing from Toy Story 3 so this is a great return.  We shift through the past films to the current day.  

Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw), who is the new owner of the toys from Toy Story 3, now plays with Jessie (Joan Cusack) as her favorite.   The leader of Bonnie’s toys is Dolly voiced by Bonnie Hunt who was part of her original group of toys.  Jessie was introduced in Toy Story 2 trapped in a collector’s box.  She is an interesting character, given a moment here, but really she and Bullseye, Woody’s horse, are cameos.  Woody is left in the closet.  Of course the point is to give attention to everybody, not just the interesting ones, which is something that Bonnie will learn.  Bonnie is nervous about attending kindergarten, her parents tell her no toys are allowed, but Woody slips into her backpack.  

Bonnie gets the same treatment from the young kids that she gave to Woody, they ignore her, and a boy throws all of her table crafts into the bin.  Woody from his hiding place places some items from the bin to the table; a spork, pipe cleaner, rubber bands, popiscle sticks, and googly eyes.  So Woody is part of this Frankenstein creation.  Bonnie assembles these into her own toy, Forky, and once back in her room, Woody introduces the toys to Forky.  He is of course voiced by Tony Hale from Veep.  Forky is frantic, innocent to the world, and obsessed with trash.  A fun performance by Hale.  Woody tries to explain he is important as Bonnie’s toy, but Forky keeps throwing himself into the bin!  

Bonnie’s family goes on a road trip in the family RV.  Forky sees his purpose is to throw himself away and Woody has to keep constant watch over him.  Still, Forky manages to jump out of the RV window, and Woody follows after him.  The focus of the movie really is on Woody so it really puts Hanks’ character not as a leader, but seeing the change in his toy family.  Woody catches up with Forky and manages to convince him of his value to Bonnie.  There is of course more to this Toy Story than a buddy road trip.  They end up in the town of Grand Basin and they see Bonnie’s RV so Forky is ready to return.  Buzz Lightyear races to rescue his friend, but needs the guidance of his “inner voice.”  Allen voices his iconic character who was always self-confident, but now has to go on his own.  

Woody, though, is caught up looking at a lamp that reminds him of a friend in the window of the Second Chance Antique store.   This is a new setting to see the world of toys.  They enter the antique store and Woody tries to find Bo Peep.  Instead, they meet inside a baby carriage, Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks), and her henchmen dummies, the Bensons.  The dummies offer some creepy moments; shades of Willie in “The Dummy” (1962) episode of Twilight Zone.  Gabby Gabby, an interesting toy name since her voice box has been damaged, and her worry that she will not be adopted by a child.  Hendricks’ variation on the toy villain is brilliant.  She of course is interested in Woody since he has a working voice box for his pull string.  

Bonnie and her family enter the store so Woody and Forky head towards them, but Forky is taken by Gabby Gabby.  The RV leaves and Woody finds himself at a fair.  He is taken by a game attendant and offered as a prize.  Also, there are two stuffies, Ducky and Bunny.  They of course are voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele and it is great to have the duo of Key and Peele together again.  Very funny and they inject some energy to the film.  Woody is able to escape and finds Bo Peep on her own for seven years!  She has lost her pink hat and dress to now a blue outfit more fitting in her new role as an action figure.  This is really an adventure, but also a romance with Woody and Bo Peep which was unresolved in the previous films.  

Bo Peep brings a new dimension to the toys, the Lost Toys, and their world.  Potts transforms the love interest of Bo Peep into a take charge, independent leader.  At her side, or really shoulder, is the tiny Giggles McDimples, officer for Pet Patrol.  The name makes me laugh.  She is voiced by Ally Maki who is in the Cloak and Dagger show.  The casting opens up the Toy Story universe to a more diverse world.  They have to mount a rescue mission to save Forky, return to Bonnie, but there is the question of Bo Peep who has made her own life.  As part of the rescue, they need the help of another toy, Duke Caboom.  He is “Canada’s greatest stuntman”, complete with helmet and motorcycle, he reminds me of Evel Knevel as a toy, but as a character, more Super Dave Osborne!  

He finds that what happens when toys don’t play like they are promised.  Keanu Reeves of course voices Duke Caboom and proves he should be every film this year.  The animation is impressive from the rain drenched opening scene to the fun world building.  There is a number of end credit scenes so try to catch them all!   This appears to be year of concluding franchises and it looks like Toy Story 4 is a definitive conclusion of this franchise.  Still, where is RC, Etch, and Wheezy?  If there are more Toy Story films until Infinity and Beyond, can’t wait!   

Four Voice Boxes out of Five!   

#ToyStory4, JoshCooley, #Tom Hanks, #TimAllen

Happy Birthday Chris Pratt!

Happy Birthday Chris Pratt!  He started in television and one of his early parts was as Bright Abbott on Greg Berlanti’s Everwood (2002-2006) and The O.C. (2006-2007).  Pratt was the voice of Jake in the “Attack of the Terrible Trio” (2008) episode of The Batman.  He was Barry in Wanted (2008) based on the Mark Millar comic book.  Pratt played Officer Roman Duda in the Diablo Cody written horror comedy Jennifer’s Body (2009).  Chris Pratt began playing Andy Dwyer, one of his most well known roles, in Parks and Recreation (2009-2015).  He had parts in the dramas Moneyball (2011) and Zero Dark Thirty (2012). Next, Chris Pratt played Paul in Spike Jonze’s Her (2013).  Pratt had another winning role as Emmet Brickowoski in The Lego Movie, the animated film directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. 

Chris Pratt followed his animated role as Peter Quill also known as Star Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) directed by James Gunn.  His next part was as Owen Grady in Jurassic World (2015).  He played a version of himself in the kinda adaptation of the cartoon in Jem and the Holograms (2015).  Pratt was next the gambler and gunslinger, Josh Faraday, in the remake of Magnificent Seven (2016) directed by Antoine Fuqua.  Then, he was in the sci fi film, Passengers (2016), waking up Jennifer Lawrence’s character on their deep space journey.  Pratt returned as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) reuniting with his father played by Kurt Russell.  Then, there was this year’s Avengers: Infinity War where he took on Thanos.  He is returned to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom for director J.A. Bayona.  This year, Pratt returned to voice Emmett Brickowski in Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.  He was also in the Western The Kid.  Chris Pratt also was Star Lord was in Avengers:Endgame.  Happy Birthday Chris Pratt!    

#ChrisPratt, #ParksandRecreation, #JurassicWorldFallenKingdom, #AvengersEndgame 

Happy Birthday Nicole Kidman!

Happy Birthday Nicole Kidman!  She worked in tv and had the lead in the horror film, Dead Calm (1989) and then played Dr. Claire Lewicki in Tony Scott’s Days of Thunder (1990). Kidman was also in the Batman Forever (1995) as Dr. Chase Meridian.  Then, she played a witch in Practical Magic (1998).  A standout part was as Satine in the Baz Lurhmann musical, Moulin Rouge (2001)!  Kidman entered the haunted house of The Others (2001). In 2002, Nicole Kidman won the Academy Award for Best Actress playing Virginia Woolf in The Hours.  Then, she starred in the Frank Oz remake of The Stepford Wives (2004) trying to uncover the strange secret of the town and the wives.  Kidman returned to playing a witch in Nora Ephron’s adaptation of the sitcom, Bewitched (2005). 

Nicole Kidman returned to a singing part as Norma Jean in George Miller’s animated Happy Feet (2006).  Next, she played a psychiatrist trying to fight The Invasion (2007). She was Mrs. Coulter in the fantasy The Golden Compass (2007).  Kidman played the villainous taxidermist in Paddington (2014).  She played Miss Martha in the remake of the drama The Beguiled (2017). Kidman is currently Celeste Wright in the Big Little Lies series. She won the 2017 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for the show.  In 2018, Kidman played Queen Boadicea in the sci fi comedy How to Talk to Girls at Parties based on the Neil Gaiman story. She played Queen Atlanna, the mother of Aquaman (2018)!  Kidman is now continuing with season 2 of Big Little Lies which started on June 9th!  Happy Birthday Nicole Kidman!    

#NicoleKidman, #MoulinRouge, #BigLittleLies, #Aquaman

Happy Birthday Zoe Saldana!

Happy Birthday Zoe Saldana!  One of her early genre appearances was as Anamaria, the pirate who boat was taken by Jack Sparrow, in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).  It was in 2009 that Saldana had the role of Uhura in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek and also the Neytiri in Avatar.  Saldana was Aisha in The Losers (2010) based on the Vertigo comic.  She had the lead role of the assassin, Cataleya, in Colombiana (2011).  Then, she reprised the role of Uhura in Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013).  Then, Zoe Saldana took the role of the universe’s most deadly assassin, Gamora, in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).  She was the voice of Maria in the animated film, The Book of Life (2014).  

Zoe Saldana played the part of real life jazz musician, Nina Simone in Nina (2016).  Next, she returned in Star Trek: Beyond (2016).  In 2017, she returned ass Gamora in Guardians fo the Galaxy Vol.2 (2017) and was also featured in the Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission Breakout! attraction at Disney’s California Adventure.  Saldana played Mrs. Molle in I Kill Giants based on the Joe Kelly graphic novel.  She was the voice of Captain Celaeno in My Little Pony: The Movie (2017).  Saldana was again featured as Gamora in Avengers: Infinity War taking on her adopted father, Thanos.  This was also the year that she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 5th.  This year, she is incredible as explorer Adelina Fortnight in the Laika animated Missing Link.  Then, Saldana was back as Gamora in Avengers: Endgame.  She has upcoming the sequels to Avatar.  Happy Birthday Zoe Saldana!

#ZoeSaldana, #StarTrekBeyond, #Avatar, AvengersEndgame 

Happy Birthday Jodie Whittaker!

Happy Birthday Jodie Whittaker!  She won acclaim for her first film role in Venus (2006).  Then, she was in the comedy, St. Trinian’s (2007), as the receptionist Beverly.  Whittaker returned in St. Trinian’s 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold (2009).  One of her first genre roles was as Samantha Adams, involved with a teen gang taking on aliens in Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block (2011).  In 2011, she was in the Black Mirror episode, “The Entire History of You.” 

Whittaker starred as Beth Latimer in Broadchurch (2013-2017) with David Tennant and Olivia Colman.  Adult Life Skills (2016) was a comedy starring Whittaker as Anna.  In 2018, Jodie Whittaker became the Thirteenth Doctor with “Twice Upon a Time” (2017).  “The Woman Who Fell to Earth” began her series in Doctor Who. She was in the New Year’s special, “Resolution” (2019) and has the upcoming season for 2020.  Happy Birthday Jodie Whittaker!  

#JodieWhittaker, #Venus, #Broadchurch, #DoctorWho 

Happy Birthday John Cho!

Happy Birthday John Cho!  John started a genre career playing Mark Chao in a 1998 episode of Charmed.   He had a cameo in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000).  Cho voiced two 2001 episodes of the Static Shock animated series.  He played as as student in Ivan Reitman’s sci fi comedy Evolution (2001).  Next, Cho had a cameo in Stephen Soderburgh’s sci fi film Solaris (2002).  Then, John had an iconic role as Harold Lee in the comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004).  He played Teddy Wong along with Bradley Cooper in the sitcom Kitchen Confidential (2005-2006) and then The Singles Table (2007).  John voiced Vince Chung in the animated series American Dad! (2006-2016).  He then returned in Harold & Kumar Escape form Guantanamo Bay (2008).  Then, he had another career defining role as Sulu in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek (2009). 

Next, he played Demetri Noh in the sci fi series Flashforward (2009-2010).  Then, he finished out the comedy series with A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011).  Cho next was in the Total Recall (2012) reboot.  He returned as Sulu in Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013). Cho was in the supernatural series, Sleepy Hollow (2013-2014) as Andy Brooks.  One of my favorite roles for John was as Henry Higgs in the sitcom Selfie (2014) alongside Karen Gillan.  John Cho played Sulu in 2016’s Star Trek: Beyond.  He played Andrew Kim in the supernatural series, The Exorcist (2017).  He has a upcoming, on August 3rd, the drama, Searching, out this year about a father trying to find his missing daughter and may find clues to her disappearance with her laptop.  The Searching review is at: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/09/searching-review.html.  This year, he was in “The Wunderkind “ episode of The Twilight Zone on CBS All Access.  He has upcoming the Netflix series Cowboy Bebop playing Spike Spiegel based on the anime.  Happy Birthday John Cho!   

#JohnCho, #Harold&KumarGotoWhiteCastle, #StarTrekBeyond, #Searching

The Future of Galaxy’s Edge!

It is interesting to see Galaxy’s Edge before it opens to the public on June 24th.  There is excitment on visiting Black Spire Outpost, but it doesn’t seem like what was described in the website, D23 Expo, and in the press.  First, there was supposed to be droids wandering around Black Spire Outpost.  I saw a vacuum cleaner-type droid wander around the entire floor of the Galaxy’s Edge pavilion at D23 Expo.  If there is difficulty in having the droids interact with guests, they can have overhead platforms for them to travel on, and beep down at guests.  

There is another point, you can hear ships pass overhead, but I didn’t notice conversations in the upper levels like in New Orleans Square.  Then, I remember aliens and didn’t see any outside of Chewbacca.  I would like to see a Rodian like Greedo, Abednedos like Ello Asty, especially at the Resistance Base, and of course Teek.  I want a Teek stuffie, a Teek toy that you can maybe wind-up and have run, and take a pic with Teek. If it is too difficult to have aliens walking around in the heat, have a random window open up, and an alien to peek out.  I would like to see Teek out in the edges of Galaxy’s Edge running past outcroppings.   

A droid next to a Rise of the Resistance screen?, D23 Expo, 2017, photo by the author.

So, this brings us to the Smugglers, they are the faction that doesn’t have a presence like the First Order and the Resistance, but are somehow central with Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run.  I think they need characters to wander around Black Spire Outpost and give hints to guests like, “I hear Hondo Ohnaka needs a crew” or “If you have damaged the Falcon, there might be a bounty on you.”  As mentioned before, I think there should be a store to sell clothing and other merchandise to directly tie into Smuggler’s Run.  

I can imagine graphics showing parts of a starship, toys of the Falcon and the Corona-class armed frigate (basically a flying saucer) like the Acushnet used by Hondo Ohnaka’s pirates.  As I mentioned before I would like to see “I flew the Millennium Falcon” t-shirts promoted by Hondo Ohnaka, gold dice replicas, vests, and even a Hondo Ohnaka action figure.  Galaxy’s Edge needs to be more interactivity like quests and missions.  I would like it if guests report in to the Smuggler’s area to be sent to the cantina which authorizes Hondo to get the cargo (I would like Maz Kanata to be a part of it), next go on Smuggler’s Run, and then they have to scan (take a pic) of their result to finish the mission.  Maybe to get a special Sabaac chip!   

Instruments on display at D23 Expo, 2017, photo by the author.

Speaking of bounties, I think there should be a fourth faction considering that The Mandalorian series will be coming to Disney Plus on November 12th.  I imagine a shooting gallery with blaster rifles like the Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition.  There can be animated figures and even animated graphics like probe droids that maybe can explode if you hit them right.  This can even be set in Classic Trilogy setting like Tatooine or even Hoth.  It seems like Galaxy’s Edge doesn’t sell guns and that’s fine, but you can have guests practice with fixed blasters in the shooting gallery.  The Bounty Hunter section can also include buying helmets, including replica helmets, armor, gauntlets, pins, and t-shirts showing The Mandalorian.  

You can get a mission from the Bounty Hunter section which is a bounty that you have to check at the cantina, and find your bounty at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities.  Lastly, Galaxy’s Edge lacks any kind of musical entertainment.  This is a hallmark of Star Wars with the Cantina Band, the Max Rebo Band, and Shag Kava, the band at Maz Kanata’s castle.  It seemed like there were instruments displayed at D23 Expo.  I think it would make sense somewhere at the Market or by the Millennium Falcon.  This can be an alien, audio-animatronic, or even a human singer, also there can be a band that is on a screen.  It can even be a holo-transmission of a performance.  I would like the band to play classic tunes, basically music from all of the other bands, also “Life Day” and “Nub Yub (Ewok Celebration Song)”!  It will be fascinating to see how Galaxy’s Edge will develop from this point.     

#GalaxysEdge, #Teek, #BountyHunter, #CantinaBand, #Disneyland

Happy Birthday Neil Patrick Harris!

Happy Birthday Neil Patrick Harris!  We of course know NPH as the lead in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989-1993), an incredibly well written series from Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley.  He was the scientist, Carl Jenkins, in Paul Verhoeven’s sci fi movie, Starship Troopers (1997). Next, Harris voiced Peter Parker in the 2003 animated Spider-Man series.  Harris played Neil Patrick Harris in the comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004).  NPH had a long running role as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014).  Harris returned as NPH in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008). One of his iconic roles was in the musical short from Joss Whedon, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (2008).  Harris also voiced and sang the part of the Music Meister in a 2009 episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. 

NPH had a career hosting award shows with the Tony Awards in 2009, 2011-2013 and the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009 and 2013.  He played Patrick Winslow in live action/ animated The Smurfs (2011) and then starred as Neil Patrick Harris in The Muppets (2011).  Harris returned as Neil in A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011). Then, returned for The Smurfs 2 (2013) and also was the voice of Steve in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013).  In 2014, Hrris won the Tony for his Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  NPH was in two 2015 episodes of American Horror Story.  He also hosted the Oscars in 2015.  In 2017, he started playing Count Olaf in the Netflix show, A Series of Unfortunate Events, based on the book series by Lemony Snicket.  He played was in Alexander Payne’s Downsizing (2017).  Currently, NPH has the third season of A Series of Unfortunate Events.  Happy Birthday Neil Patrick Harris!

#NeilPatrickHarris, #DoogieHowserMD, #DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog, #ASeriesofUnfortunateEvents

Happy Birthday Chris Evans!

Happy Birthday Chris Evans!  One of Chris Evans’ early film roles was the lead in the comedy, Not Another Teen Movie (2001).  His first genre part was as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, in Fantastic Four (2005).  Evans provided the voice of Casey in the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2007).  He reprised the Human Torch in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).  Evans voiced Stewart Stanton in the sci fi animated film, Battle for Terra (2007).  In 2009, Evans had superpowers as a Mover, Nick Grant, in Push.  He was in another comic book adaptation, The Losers (2010), based on the Andy Diggle and Jock Vertigo comic.  One of his greatest comic book characters was as stuntman superstar Lucas Lee in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010).  

His iconic role was as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) directed by Joe Johnston and then The Avengers (2012). Evans’ next genre project was Snowpiercer (2013) directed by Bong Joon-ho and based on the French graphic novel. He reprised the role of Captain America in one of the MCU’s best films, Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and then later in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).  He faced his fellow Avenger, Iron Man, in Captain America: Civil War (2016).  A brilliant dramatic part for Chris Evans was as Frank Adler, the uncle of his genius niece, Mary, in Gifted (2017).  He also cameo’d in Spider-Man: Homecoming that year as Captain America.  Of course, we have Cap returning in Avengers: Infinity War.   In 2018, Evans was in the Broadway play, Lobby Hero, with Michael Cera (who played Scott Pilgrim).  Evans had one last time slinging the shield in Avengers: Endgame this year.  Happy Birthday Chris Evans!

#ChrisEvans, #ScottPilgrmvstheWorld, #CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier, #AvengersEndgame