Happy Birthday Michael Biehn!

Happy Birthday Michael Biehn! He begun his genre career playing a Sandman in an episode of Logan’s Run.  Next, Biehn played Tom Reardon in the tv movie, A Fire in the Sky (1978).  One of his finest roles was as Sgt. Kyle Reese, time traveling to 1984 to save the future from The Terminator (1984).  He returned to collaborate with director James Cameron playing Corporal Dwayne Hicks in Aliens (1986).  One of my favorite roles was in the horror film, The Seventh Sign (1988) where Biehn played Russell Quinn, a lawyer who is witness to the Biblical apocalypse.  He returned to work with Cameron on his sci fi film, The Abyss (1989), as Lt. Coffey.  

Another brilliant film was Tombstone (1993) which had Michael playing Johnny Ringo, the drunk gunslinger taking on Doc Holliday in the one fo the best westerns.  He played Commander Charles Anderson in the action movie, The Rock (1996).  Biehn starred in the western tv series The Magnificent Seven (1998-2000) playing Chris Larabee.  In 2002, Biehn starred in the sci fi film, Clockstoppers, directed by Jonathan Frakes.  He played Sheriff Hague in the Planet Terror segment directed by Robert Rodriguez in the Grindhouse (2007) film.  Michael Biehn co-wrote and directed the thriller The Victim (2011) playing Kyle Limato.  Biehn was Buzz in the 24 Hour Rental tv series.  Next, Biehn was King Yannick in The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power (2015) released on Netflix.  He starred in The Shadow Effect in 2017.  Biehn stars as Roadkill Jim in a 2019 episode of the action show Curfew.  Happy Birthday Michael Biehn!   

#MichaelBiehn, #Aliens, #TheSeventhSign, #Tombstone, #TheVictim

Happy Birthday J.K. Rowling!

Happy Birthday J.K. Rowling! She changed the Muggle World with the publication of the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, in 1997.  The series followed young Harry Potter from age 11 to 17, growing up learning magic at Hogwarts with the dark destiny of having to ultimately face Voldemort.  The series concluded with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007.  The film series began with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) and ended with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011).  The only authorized biography was published in 2000, Conversations with J.K. Rowling.  In 2001, Rowling wrote Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages, to benefit Comic Relief.  In 2010, J.K. Rowling founded Lumos, her charity organization to help children.  Also that year, at the Islands of Adventure park in Orlando, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened, and walking into a fantastic world will never be the same with theme parks. Rowling launched the Pottermore website in 2011 filling in more of the Wizarding World and also news.  

She wrote an adult novel, The Casual Vacancy, in 2012.  In 2012, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London opened with The Making of Harry Potter at the Leavesden studio.  Rowling wrote under the pen name Robert Galbraith the crime novels featuring Cormoran Strike that began with the Cuckoo’s Calling (2013).  In 2016, Rowling co-wrote the stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany.  It was a sensation on the London stage winning nine awards and also on Broadway, taking the Tony Award for Best Play in 2018.  Also, released in 2016, was the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them which was produced and featured a screenplay by J.K. Rowling.  It was the first in a series of five films with the next film, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, released on November 16th.  Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, the mobile game, was released on June 20th, J.K. Rowling is not directly involved, but the Niantic game does continue the Harry Potter story.  Her series C.B. Strike was turned into a crime series from 2017 to 2019.   It is based on her book series under the pen name Robert Galbraith.  Happy Birthday J.K. Rowling!

#JKRowling, #HarryPotterandthePhilosphersStone, #FantasticBeastsTheCrimesofGrindelwald, #CBStrike 

Happy Birthday Kate Beckinsale!

Happy Birthday Kate Beckinsale!  One of her early film roles was as Hero, one of the romantic figures in Kenneth Branaugh’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy, Much Ado About Nothing (1994).  She starred in the horror film Haunted (1995).  Beckinsale had the lead role in the tv movie of Jane Austen’s novel Emma (1996).  She was Lt. Evelyn Johnson in Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor (2001).  Next, Beckinsale was in the romance Serendipity (2001).  She began the role of Selene, the vampire Death Dealer, caught up in the war between Lycans and vampires in Underworld (2003).  The next year, she starred as Anna Valerious, taking on Dracula and the other Universal Monsters in Van Helsing (2004).  Beckinsale then played actress Ava Gardner in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator (2004).  She returned as Selene in Underworld: Evolution (2006).  Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) was another horror action film for Beckinsale as Selene.  

Beckinsale played Carrie Stetko investigating a murder in Antarctica, in Whieout (2009) based on the comic book by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber.  Beckinsale returned as Selene in Underworld: Awakening picking up after humans captured her and has to save her daughter.  In 2012, she was in the remake of the sci fi action film Total Recall as Lori Quaid.  Beckinsale starred in the sci fi comedy Absolutely Anything (2015) written and directed by Terry Jones.  She played Lady Susan Vernon in another adaptation of a Jane Austen novel in Love & Friendship (2016).   Beckinsale played Selene again in Underworld: Blood Wars (2017).  She was in Marc Webb’s drama, The Only Living Boy in New York (2017).  Beckinsale currently stars as Georgia Wells in The Widow.  The story concerns Georgia uncovering the mystery of her husband’s death in the Congo.  It is streaming on Amazon Prime.  Happy Birthday Kate Beckinsale!  

#KateBeckinsale, #LoveandFriendship, #UnderworldBloodWars, #TheWidow

The Outpost, “Not In This Kingdom”, Review!

It is a castle at the edge of a bay, inside are three officials, the Holy Three (Andreja Maricic, Jelena Stupljanin, and Eilian Wyn), questioning Dred.  It is interesting to suddenly see the capital and the power behind the Prime Order.  For some reason, the religous and magical nature of the three reminds me of Legend of the Seeker, the series and books.  They have him on his knees in pain and Dred offers them a way to destroy the “false queen.”  Guards bring in the bleeding Garret.  The three sentence Dred to imprisonment in a cell.  At the Outpost, Gwynn talks to Naya, allowing in Baron Tobin.  He offers to play her at cards, they play for his army, and if she loses marriage to him.  Tobin notes that the forges are not working.  Gwynn says she doesn’t want to use slave labor.   In the misty forest, Talon and Janzo meets with Rebb, the demon, and the Dragman.  Talon is about to transfer her gift, she sees the Dragman, and instead takes her knife to her throat.  Garret wakes up, seeing a woman in white who checks on him, Sana (Jelena Gavrilovic), she says she is a healer.  He has been under her care for two weeks.  Garret tries to walk, but collapses.  We knew that our hero was not dead, but ending up in the capital is a greater threat. Sana has a vial of red liquid that she gives to Garret.  He falls asleep. The interesting part is that the capital is said to be ultra-religious, but there is no iconography or rituals like chiming the hour. 

THE OUTPOST -- “Not In This Kingdom” -- JESSICA GREEN -- Aleksander Letic/NBCUU International - ©2019 Outpost TV L.L.C. Courtesty of Electric Entertainment.

Night, a Plagueling tries to lash out at the Dragman in his cell. She takes off a necklace which she calls a key.  Talon holds it over the fire and the Dragman hears the names of the demons.  Naya enters Gwynn’s room and tells her that a woman claims to be a Blackblood.  The guards escort Rebb in.  She says that she can bring a demon and knows all of them.  Rebb wants Gwynn to order Talon to give her the gift.  It is strange that the Blackblood who has such contempt for humans would even attempt to get help from one.  Garret wakens, he tries to walk and opens the door to see a massive guard, Tormentor  (Magnus Samuelsson).  He taken to a cell.  They get into a fight and Garret ends up on the floor.  The Outpost, Janzo tries to hide the Dragman when Naya tells Talon to report to the queen.  She enters the queen’s bedroom and Talon is told about the Blackblood.  Talon’s trust is with the Dragman and rests on the bed next to a troubled Gwynn.  Garret is brought awake by a bucket of water.  The Tormentor is about to strike Garret, but is told by Sana he should have not taken Garret from the Institute.  Janzo’s lab, Naya enters to bring him the flowers he needed for the Plaugeling problem, and Rebb is there.  She takes out a knife and brings the Dragman down as the Plaguelings watch.  

THE OUTPOST -- “Not In This Kingdom” -- ANAND DESAI-BAROCHIA, ELIZABETH BIRKNER, JESSICA GREEN -- Aleksander Letic/NBCUU International - ©2019 Outpost TV L.L.C. Courtesty of Electric Entertainment.

At the bar, Naya brings the flowers, and offers to teach him to win over Talon.  She is stunned over his compliment about Talon’s eyes and he also says Naya’s eyes are like dung beetles.  We know these two are meant for each other, Talon considered Janzo like a brother, and he has more a connection with Naya.  Sana checks on Garret and she tells him she is helping him because Garret reminds her of her husband, Brion who was killed.  He was murdered by Blackbloods.  Talon is by the fireplace, Janzo sees her, sad over the death of the girl, Ilyn, known as the Dragman.  Rebb has also burned all of the names of the demons.  Janzo discovers a scroll with demon names that he believes was placed by the Dragman.  Morning, Sana helps Garret to walk, she sent a message to Gwynn.  She says that the reply was that there is a new commander.  Sana kisses Garret, just about every woman falls for him on this show!  Talon struggles with her decision and Janzo informs her that he buried the girl.  He sits next to her and gives her his poetic description of her eyes, but she laughs.  Garret declares his loyalty and fights with the guards, but is bashed by chair senseless.  There is a greater complication with the truth of Sana and The Tormentor.  We are getting closer to the Naya Janzo romance.  

Three Daggers out of Five!  

#TheOutpost, #NotinThisKingdom, #JelenaGavrilovic, #MagnusSamuelsson

Happy Birthday Lynda Carter!

Happy Birthday Lynda Carter!  She won Miss World USA in 1972.  Her first television role was in the television drama, Nakia, playing Helen Chase.  Her iconic part was the title role in Wonder Woman (1975-1979).  In 1978, Carter released her first album, Portrait, and she sung two songs in the Wonder Woman episode, “Amazon Hot Wax” (1979).  She played actress Rita Hayworth in the 1983 tv movie, Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess.  In the frontier series based on James Fenimore Cooper, Hawkeye (1994-1995), Carter played Elizabeth Shields.  She played Governor Jessman in the comedy Super Troopers (2001).  Then, she starred in Sky High (2005), the high school for kids with super powers, playing Principal Powers.  Carter played Pauline in The Dukes of Hazzard (2005).  

Photo of Lynda Carter at her Walk of Fame ceremony, 2018, photo by the author.

In the 2007 episode, “Progeny” for the Smallville series, Carter played Moria Sullivan, the mother of Chloe Sullivan given powers by Kryptonite.  Carter began playing President Olivia Marsdin in the Supergirl series.  In October 2006, on Wonder Woman’s 75th birthday, Lynda Carter attended an UN ceremony.  It named Wonder Woman Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls with Gal Gadot.  This was withdrawn after criticism in December.  In 2009, Cater released another album, At Last.  She returned to the role of Governor Jessman in Super Troopers 2 (2018).  On April 3rd, 2018, Lynda Carter was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  She released another album, Red Rock N’ Blues, that year.  Happy Birthday Lynda Carter!   

#LyndaCarter, #WonderWoman, #Supergirl, #SuperTroopers2

Happy Birthday Summer Glau!

Happy Birthday Summer Glau! She started out as a ballerina and played Prima Ballerina in the “Waiting in the Wings” (2002) episode of Angel.  Then, River Tam was her iconic role on Firefly (2002-2003), the sci fi western created by Joss Whedon.  She played a brilliant, though traumatized young woman experimented on by the Alliance. Glau returned as River Tam in the Serenity (2005) film. We discovered that the Alliance experiments had made River into a living weapon. Glau then played Tess Doerner in The 4400 (2005-2007).  Her next role was as Cameron Phillips, a Terminator sent to protect John Connor, in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008-2009).  

She guest starred as herself in “The Terminator Decoupling” (2009) episode of The Big Bang Theory. Glau had a role in another Joss Whedon series playing Bennett Halverson, the chief programmer, in Dollhouse (2009-2010).  In 2011, Glau played Orwell, a blogger and ally to the hero of The Cape. She was next Skylar Adams in Alphas (2011-2012).  She played Gwen the LARPer taking on a demon in the action comedy Knights of Badassdom (2013).  Next, Glau was the villainous Isabel Rochev, who becomes Ravager, in Arrow (2013-2014).  She worked with fellow Firefly co-star, Alan Tudyk, in his series Con Man (2015).  Summer Glau plays Miss Jones in two episodes of the Netflix series Wu Assassins which will debut on August 8th!  Happy Birthday Summer Glau!

#SummerGlau, #Firefly, #TerminatorTheSarahConnerChronicles, #WuAssassins

Blade Runner: 2019 #1 Review!

Blade Runner 2049 (2017) was one of the most brilliant sequels to expand on the complex dystopian world of the first movie, Blade Runner (1982).  The original film was based on Phillip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968). The marketing for Blade Runner 2049 included two live action shorts directed by Luke Scott, son of original director Ridley Scott; 2036: Nexus Dawn and 2048: Nowhere to Run.  There was also an aniae short film directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, he also directed two films in The Animatrix (2003) anthology that developed The Matrix films.  The new comic book, Blade Runner 2019, is written by Michael Green who co-wrote Blade Runner 2049 and co-wrote the new 52 Supergirl comic book with Mike Johnson.  The artwork is by Andres Guinaldo who has provided work for Marvel and DC.  The cover features the main character with handgun with a shadowy background, a mix of noir and anime, by Stanley `Artgerm’ Lau.  

There is a title page that explains the future where artifical beings called Replicants work and now are being “retired” by blade runners.  One of them is our protagonist, Detective Aahina Ashina, called Ash.  We have the chaotic streets of steam and signs of a polyglot of languges in the world of 2019, the setting of the first movie, there is a discussion of the price of body parts.  We resolve to Sunshine Botanics and inside is the aftermath of a fight with smashed pots.  Ash sits questioning her suspect, Benny, who is battered and bloody.  She mentions that she can sell Benny’s parts to a coroner and dares him to use his knife.  He does use it with brutal effect.  Ash leaves disappointed and gets into her spinner to fly into the cityscape. She gets a hot drink at a stand to talk with her contact, Wojciech, who gives her a missing persons case.  Someone has kidnapped the family of the owner of the Canaan Corporation, Alexander Selwyn.  Woljciech sends Ash to the Santa Barbara Archipelego.  Guinaldo gives us a two page splash vista of Ash driving her spinner above the city.  It has the look of European Heavy Metal artwork.  

Ash explains the wealthy flooded the area to create private islands and she lands her spinner to enter the Selwyn house.  I love the touches of world building.  Ash is greeted by Selwyn somewhere in the house, it is overgrown with vines, and she sees a cat that Selwyn says was made for his daughter Cleo.  Alexander Selwyn appears, glasses, and dishelved.  He explains Cleo and his wife, Isobel, were missing from the birthday party of Lydia Tyrell.  We know the name Tyrell from the pyramid corporate building of the Tyrell Corporation from Blade Runner.  He wants the matter private and mentions his daughter is “truly exceptional.”  Ash begins checking on the Tyrell family and Ash’s contacts on the street. She tracks the spinner which is a standout vehicle only used by the rich and police.  Then, she goes to the river to find the crash site. We get a look at Isobel and her daughter walking through the streets.  Detective Ashina returns to her apartment and reveals her augmentation that makes her an effective blade runner.  Lastly, we get Isobel reaching the home of a contact which leads us deeper into the mystery.   A mystery and a return to the Blade Runner world!    

Four Spinners out of Five!   

#BladeRunner2019, #MichaelGreen, #MikeJohnson, #AndresGuinaldo, #TitanComics

The Outpost, “This is One Strange Town”, Review!

Night at the Outpost, Talon takes a walk, hears the mysterious Blackblood, Rebb, and swings her sword.  She says the Dragman went with her and also explains that there was an alliance of humans and Blackbloods with her people ready to ambush the humans from the Plain of Ashes in the portal, but it wasn’t opened.  Rebb wants the gift Talon’s mother gave her to open the portal.  They get into a duel and Talon is defeated.  Talon is not the last of her people, but she has to deal with the Blackbloods in the portal or the humans will face another threat.  Later, Janzo walks with a bag complaining to Talon.  Gwynn is in the tavern playing cards with gamblers who can’t win against the queen.  Talon pulls her away and Gwynn shows the messages that the lords have sided with the Prime Order.  Janzo gives her a drink to sober her up.  He says that a new commander is needed.  Talon tells Gwynn to train the soldiers.  Morning, Gwynn makes battle plans, digging barrier trenches.  She walks with Naya and asks about the traitor.  A horn is sounded. 

THE OUTPOST -- “This is One Strange Town” -- AMITA SUMAN, DRAGAN MICANOVIC, IMOGEN WATERHOUSE -- Aleksander Letic/NBCUU International - ©2019 Outpost TV L.L.C. Courtesty of Electric Entertainment.

At a tower, Gwynn sees the approaching army led by Tobin.  The leader Tobin (Aaron Fontaine) speaks with an older woman (Glynis Barber).  Gwynn identifies herself and the other woman rides up next to him.  The two riders follow Gwynn and the Mistress goes out to see them. Naya prepares Gwynn, the bearded rider enters the chamber, he offers to turn over his army and land in exchange for marriage!  Queen Rosamund is about to send him away.  He says he will be her consort, not king, he just wants a son.  The Mistress is met by the woman, Gertrusha, who calls her Helen.  They are sisters and Gertrusha is the governess of Tobin.  The Mistress tells Brogan that she wants to raise the price of colipsum.  She wants to show her new gained wealth.  Gwynn plays cards with Talon discussing their plans.  Their conversation goes from Tobin to Garet.  Gwynn brings up Janzo and also that the baron offered to marry her.  Janzo is working at the inn and sees Talon drinking.  The Mistress calls for Janzo to get a drink for Baron Tobin.  He seems to be a new complication for the people of the Outpost.   

THE OUTPOST -- “This is One Strange Town” -- JESSICA GREEN -- Aleksander Letic/NBCUU International - ©2019 Outpost TV L.L.C. Courtesty of Electric Entertainment.

Tobin sees Talon walking down the steps, she talks with him, and slams his arm down.  Janzo brings the drink to Tobin.  Naya checks on Gwynn who tells her that she wants to set Talon up with Janzo.  Naya has a bit of jealousy especially when the queen orders her to make Janzo worthy for Talon.  He still is nowhere near solving the Plagueling problem.  Janzo is busy with his alchemy in his lab.  He is startled by Naya and she mentions the queen’s order.  She brings up a make-over for him and changes his posture.  His burly brother, Munt, is startled by Janzo’s appearance.  Tobin is not impressed by him.  Talon passes by Janzo.  Tobin grabs Naya and Janzo goes to her defense getting knocked out.  Naya checks on him.  Talon strikes Talon and slams him against the bar knocking the baron down.  Talon has a compress on Janzo’s head in his lab.  Talon admits she will turn over the gift to Rebb.  Morning, Wythers leaves his horse, and takes a torch to find his son.  He searches the bodies, but only finds Garret’s sword.  A mystery!, is Garret alive?, I think so, but not where he is now.  Complications, but no resolutions in this episode.  

Three Daggers out of Five! 

#TheOutpost, #ThisisOneStrangeTown, #AaronFontaine, #GlynisBarber

The Lion King Review!

Did you see an animated movie called The Lion King (1994)?  Then, you already have seen the new The Lion King 2.0 directed by Jon Favreau!  Same characters, same story, it is a shot for shot recreation.  The only difference it was rendered in CG and has stunt casting with mostly new voices.  Favreau of course has previously directed The Jungle Book (2016) which did a great job in making the story from the 1967 animated film fresh, brought in interesting voices, and did a fine job of world building.  I wish he devoted his energy in making a sequel for that movie.  The script is by Jeff Nathanson who wrote Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), it is more a transcription of the first Lion King.  

The credit should all go to the animation writers; story by Brenda Chapman, with characters by Irene Mecchi (she is co-created with the book of the musical), Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton.  It was co-directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff.  The recent Aladdin goes its own way with the characters, the musical had fun with the story, and the original of course is perfect.  The best version of The Lion King story was in the musical.  The animated story was intact, but the vision was vibrant; songs from the Lion King inspired album, Return to Pride Rock (1995), the characters brought to life with costumes, all manner of movement and puppetry, innovative dancing and set design.  Favreau has decided to ignore anything from the musical, which celebrated the spirit of Africa, and instead just hit the duplicate button on the computer for the film. 

The movie opens with a song called “Circle of Life”, it has animals heading past Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.  This is all identical to the animated film with a Pride Rock that has the animated design.  Rafiki, the baboon, climbs up to daub the lion cub, whom we of course know as Simba, and spoiler alert!, he sneezes.  So to replicate the emotion of the original, the CG animators just used the same poses of Simba, in the arms of his mother, Sarabi.  So, I wouldn’t go so far as saying the film is “soulless”, since it is just copying the original. In terms of “realism”, this movie was entirely animated, they didn’t film real animals and CG animated their mouths.  This is computer generated animals with CG animation.  

There are scenes where the animals scratch themselves, but that is about the extent of real animal behavior.  We pick up with Scar voiced by Chiwetel Ejiofor.  A brilliant actor who has starred in dramas like 12 Years a Slave (2013) and also popular movies like the upcoming Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.  He tries his best to add some depth to the character, we get hints that he tried to contest his brother, Mufasa, and may have recieved his facial scar from it.  Then, what was his name before, Yufasa?  The scene where he toys with a mouse is extended a minute with it crawling around Pride Rock.  Then, we see the king’s messanger and assistant, the hornbill Zazu voiced by John Oliver.  This where the movie goes off script, we get good improv lines from the comedians that seem to bring a little fun to the film.  

Rafiki, voiced by John Kani, returns to his tree home.  Kani is known for palying T’Chaka in Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Black Panther (2018).  He sees fireflies clustered around the tree and Rafiki puts a worm beneath them.  Then, he drops red dirt on them, to reveal the shape of the lion he names Simba.  Morning, the young cub, Simba (JD McCrary), is of course restless to go on patrol with his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones).  McCrary is the young star of the Disney Channel series K.C. Undercover.  He does a fair job of voicing Simba, but of course I would have preferred any of the current musical actors.  

It is of course it is great that James Earl Jones, one of the most distinctive baritones, returning to his iconic voice role.  He also returned to voice Mufasa in The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015) and of course Darth Vader in Star Wars: Rebels.  He is being honored as a Disney Legend at the D23 Expo this year.  Still, there is no new aspect to Mufasa’s character in this movie.  Mufasa takes Simba to a rocky outcrop to show him the extent of the kingdom, the Pride Lands, the duty to protect it, and to avoid the dangerous Shadowland.  Scar plants the tempting hint of the Elephant Graveyard in the Shadowland to his nephew.  Simba is sent to the lionesses where his friend, young Nala (Shahadi Wright Joseph) is given a bath by her mother.  Joseph is also incredible in Us and her singing is on point, previously she was in the tv movie Hairspary Live! (2016).  

Simba says they are going to the Watering Hole and his mother sends along Zazu to watch over them.  This leads to “I Just Can’t Wait to be King”, there was a preview of it at the AMPYs, Disney’s music award show, and McCrary’s vocals were not strong, but of course they work in the context of the film.  The strange part that I noticed was that the song lyric, “Everybody look left/ everyone look right.” In the animated movie, it was a way to get the animals at the watering hole to distract Zazu, but that part of the song just passes by so some of the fun is lost.  Simba is headed to the Elephant’s Graveyard to prove himself as a lion, of course Nala shows him that she is stronger pinning him down.  Then, they see the Elephant’s Graveyard which is a flat landscape with some hot springs pits.  

The “realism” dampens the dramatic reveal of the Elephant’s Graveyard to what I noticed, there was no elephants, no giant tusks or skeletons.  A disappointing world building unlike what was in Jungle Book.  There are of course hyenas with the more African sounding named duo of Kamari (Keegan-Michael Key) and Azizi (Eric André) instead of Banzai and Ed.  Key was reunited with his comedy partner, Jordan Peele, in Toy Story 4, and is in the upcoming Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance series.  André provides voices for Disenhantment and wrote and hosted The Eric André Show.  They are given the improv so have some funny lines.  I wanted more of Kamari and Azizi, they should have their own show.  The vicious leader, Shenzi (Florence Kasumba) sends them after Simba.  She also appeared in Black Panther with John Kani.  We find out that Shenzi has fought Mufasa before.  

The hyenas biting and snarling at the cubs might be disturbing to young audience members.  Simba and Nala of course manage to escape and Simba has a heart to heart talk with Mufasa.  The hyenas are met by Scar who mentions their constant hunger has stripped the land clean.  Scar starts a version of “Be Prepared”, it is short and more of spoken remarks, “Hey, be prepared, ok?”  There isn’t volcanic rising of the rocks, the silliness of the hyenas, dramatic lighting or bursts of steam.  The next morning, we have the gorge with Scar leaving Simba to practice his roar.  Then, there is the stampede of the Wildebeests.  Zazu informs Mufasa and they race to help Simba. 

The conclusion of this scene was very disturbing to little viewers in the animated film and an infant cried in this showing.  Simba is told by Scar to run and then sends the hyenas after him.  Simba topples over a cliff so Azizi and Kamari don’t try to follow him down.  Next, we get Simba wandering across sand dunes.  He collapses and then we get the arrival of the duo of warthog and meerkat, Pumbaa (Seth Rogan) and Timon (Billy Eichner).  Rogen voiced the very funny B.O.B.  in Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) and Master Mantis in the Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016).  Eichner has voice work playing Chief Pig in The Angry Birds Movie (2016) and plays Mr. Ambrose in the Bob’s Burgers series.  They are allowed to improv and have fun with their parts.  

We get them singing “Hakuna Matata”, there are other animals in their  jungle paradise; a guinea fowl, bush baby, and elephant shrew, no names.  Of course with all of the realism in the story, a predator feeding on grubs would not be possible, only small mammals would be able to function on that diet.  In other words, this is just cartoon logic.  We also see a thriving jungle culture, but no identification of the land.  Simba transitions to his adult form, now voiced by Donald Glover.  He is a completely brilliant actor in his show Atlanta and also voicing Miles Morales in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series.  Still, this film, Glover doesn’t seem to own the part.  He keeps to the script pages and doesn’t improv or bringing his own singing style to the songs.  This is also true of Beyoncé.  She has voiced Queen Tara in the Epic (2013) animated movie and Shine in the tv movie Wow Wow Wubbzy: Wubb Idol (2009).  

It appears to be meaningful enough for Beyoncé to have produced The Lion King: The Gift album.  Nala is introduced with other lionesses so I couldn’t distinguish her until I heard Beyoncé’s voice and thought oh, that’s Nala.  There is a slightly more expanded part for Nala, but no “Shadowlands” from the musical where Nala honors her pride, but has to leave them. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” is strange since it is set in the daytime with no change of the lyrics.  Beyoncé is one of the finest singers, but her flourishes in the song don’t fit well with the story of two childhood friends and their shy, emerging love.  We have Simba face his destiny, gather his friends, and make the final confrontation with Scar.  It is strange that the story is about finding the courage to face your past, but the filmmakers seemed to just recycle the past.  The filmmaking is timid in adding new details to the story, but The Lion King still has the same mane as the first movie!  

Two Roars out of Five! 

#TheLionKing, #JonFavreau, #BrendaChapman, #IreneMecchi, #JohnOliver, #KeeganMichaelKey, #EricAndre, #SethRogen, #BillyEichner.    

Happy Birthday Benedict Cumberbatch!

Happy Birthday Benedict Cumberbatch! One of Benedict’s early film roles was a supporting part as Paul Marshall in the adaptation Atonement (2007). One of his iconic roles was playing Sherlock Holmes in the contemporary setting of London in the series created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, Sherlock (2007-2017). In 2011, he was in the National Theater Live’s presentation of the Danny Boyle directed Frankenstein. He portrayed the Necromancer in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). In 2013, he played the villain in Star Trek: Into Darkness.  Then, Cumberbatch took the part of real life Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate (2013).  He later voiced Smaug and the Necromancer in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013).  Cumberbatch had a brilliant role playing the genius Alan Turing working to break the Nazi codes in The Imitation Game (2014). He voiced Classified, the British wolf and leader of the North Wind in the animated Penguins of Madagascar (2014).  

Benedict Cumberbatch completed the Hobbit trilogy in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014).  In 2015, Cumberbatch played the lead role of National Theatre’s production of  Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  He entered the MCU portraying Dr. Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange (2016).  Cumberbatch played a surgeon finding a cure for his trembling hands learning from the Ancient One and becoming Master of the Mystic Arts.  Cumberbatch had a cameo as Doctor Strange in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and then this year’s Avengers: Infinity War taking on Thanos.  He got acclaim in 2018 for his title role in the television drama, Patrick Melrose, based on the novels of Edward St. Aubyn.  He also has a lead role in the animated movie, The Grinch.  Cumberbatch also had that year the Andy Serkis directed Mowgli, released on Netflix, playing Shere Khan.  Doctor Strange turned in Avengers: Endgame.  He starring in the long delayed The Current War, playing Thomas Edison, it is scheduled to be at the box office on October 4th.  Happy Birthday Benedict Cumberbatch!     

#BenedictCumberbatch, #Sherlock, #DoctorStrange, #TheCurrentWar  

Happy Birthday Kristen Bell!

Happy Birthday Kristen Bell!  She had the iconic role of Veronica Mars (2004-2007), clever show created by Rob Thomas.  Next, Bell had the lead role in the comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008).  I actually took notice of Kristen Bell in the show Heroes (2007-2008) playing Elle Bishop with electrical powers. She played Zoe in the Fanboys (2009) film.  Bell voiced Cora in the animated movie, Astro Boy (2009). She returned as Sarah Marshall in Get Him to the Greek (2010).  Bell joined the musical Burlesque (2010) as Nikki.  Then, she was in the horror film, Scream 4 (2011), as Chloe.  Bell then starred in Colin Trevorrow’s debut film, Safety Not Guaranteed (2012). Then, Kristen Bell had another iconic role voicing Anna in the animated film, Frozen (2013). The klutzy, but spunky princess who could sing a duo with Idina Menzel charmed everyone.  

She also returned as Veronica Mars in the 2014 film that was crowd funded.  Kristen Bell returned to voice Anna in the Frozen Fever (2015) short that ran before the Cinderella live action movie.  She followed that short up voicing Priscilla, the sloth workers at the DMV, in Zootopia (2016) animated film. Bell was one of the Bad Moms (2016), Kiki, in the comedy movie.  She returned as Anna in Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017) that ran before the film, Coco.  Then, Bell was back as Kiki in Bad Moms Christmas (2017).  Kirsten Bell currently stars as Eleanor Shellstrop in the primetime television comedy The Good Place. In 2018, Bell voiced Jade Wilson in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.  She also voiced Anna in Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2.  Currently, Bell stars in the comedy series, The Good Place.  Kristen Bell returns as Anna in Frozen 2 and every Marshmellow knows that she is back in Veronica Mars.  Happy Birthday Kristen Bell!   

#KristenBell, #VeronicaMars, #Frozen2, #TheGoodPlace  

Shang-Chi in the MCU!

Marvel Studios currently has a Shang-Chi movie in development.  It is set to be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton who co-wrote and directed the drama The Glass Castle (2017).  The film has David Callahan as the writer, he is one of the writers for Wonder Woman 1984 and  Zombieland: Double Tap.  Marvel was unable to adapt the Kung Fu (1972-1975) martial arts television show, the rights belonged to Warner Communications which owned DC Comics.  The ideas of Bruce Lee were of course later turned into the Cinemax program, Warrior, starring Andrew Koji.  I wonder about the comic book since Shannon Lee is one of the producers and she was one of the co-writers of Bruce Lee: The Dragon Rises by Darby Pop.  

Marvel instead bought the rights to Sax Rohmer’s character, the villain, Fu Manchu.  Rohmer created the character in The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu (1913).  It was popular at the time.  The character also has a long cinematic history with The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) played by Boris Karloff.  Christopher Lee made several Fu Manchu movies; The Face of Fu Manchu (1965), The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966), and Sax Rohmer’s The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969).  The character continued until 1980 with The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu played by Peter Sellers.  The legacy of the stereotypical portrayal of the villanous Asian is one of the most persistent icons.   

Shang-Chi first appeared in Special Marvel Edition #15 (1973), a reprint series, until the success of the character created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin.  He was the unknown son of Fu Manchu and worked to take on his father and his organization.  Shang Chi was able to harness his chi for martial arts mastery to dodge bullets.  This was later turned into super powers.  The character continued in his own title, Master of Kung Fu, by Englehart and Starlin.  He was helped by Black Jack Tarr, a former British Army veteran, who was introduced in Master of Kung Fu #17 (1974).  Another member of their group is Leiko Wu who first appeared in Master of Kung Fu #33 (1975) by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy taking over the title with issue 29 (1975).  

She became his love interest.  They formed a group called Freelance Restorations in Master of Kung Fu #95 (1980) headquartered in Stormhaven Castle in Scotland.  The series had a long run, but note that some covers and interior artwork does feature absurdly yellow colored Asian characters and racial slurs.  There was a later limited series, Shang Chi: Master of Kung Fu (2002-2003) by Moench and Gulacy.  Shang-Chi was associated with other street heroes like Daredevil and of course Iron Fist.  He became part of the group Heroes for Hire formed by Misty Knight and Colleen Wing.  It seems like Shang-Chi was the best fit for the Marvel shows that were on Netflix, but it looks like he is intended for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  

Then, Shang-Chi joined Commander Steve Rogers’ Secret Avengers to take on the Shadow Council.  It was during this time that his father’s real name was revealed to be Zheng Zu in Secret Avengers #8 (2011) by Ed Brubaker and Mike Deodato, Jr.  It is more safer to use Zheng Zu for a rebooted origin.  Zheng Zu became Emperor of K’un-Lun, the city defended by Iron Fist.  He had won the Thirteen Chambers tournament to become emperor.  Shang-Chi joined the Avengers in Avengers #1 (2013).  His new uniform was a red and black outfit with bare hands and legs.  Shang-Chi gets a pair of electrified nunchucks in Avengers #11 (2013).  The nunchucks are not iconic with the character, Black Widow rarely used her Black Wiow’s Bite gauntlet weapon in the MCU, and it may stray into the stereotype.  

He developed the power to duplicate himself from the Origin Bomb in Avengers #38 (2015).  Shang-Chi was part of a group of Asian superheroes; Amadeus Cho now the Hulk, Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel, Cindy Moon also known as Silk, and Jimmy Woo who also formed Agents of Atlas.  This was in Totally Awesome Hulk #16 (2017) by Grek Pak and Mahmud Asrar.  The first appearance of Amadeus Cho was in Amazing Fantasy #15 (2006) and Silk first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #1 (2014).  Silk already appeared in the MCU in the form of Cindy Moon, a fellow student at Midtown High School played by Tiffany Espensen in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).  Jimmy Woo was introduced in Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) played by Randall Park.  

Woo had the Protectors join the new Agents of Atlas in War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #1 (2019).  It heralded the first appearances of Wave, Pearl Pangan, Crescent, Dan Bi, Io, and Luna Snow, Seol Hee.  The creative team was Greg Pak and Gang Hyuk Lim.  It will be interesting if some of the heroes are involved in the Shang-Chi movie.  The second largest movie market in the world, China, would probably have some influence in bringing heroes like Aero, Lei Ling, first appearing in Aero #1 (2018)!, and White Fox, Ami Han, she was introduced in Contest of Champions #1 (2015), to the big screen. 

In an April 27th interview with the News18 website, Kevin Feige said, “I think every movie that we do is a risk. We only want to do movies that people seem to think are risks.  Doing the story of an Asian-American hero of Chinese heritage is something that is very intriguing to us.  It will be really different and special.”  In 2015, Feige addressed on December 2015 with Entertainment Weekly, the controversy of the casting of the Ancient One in the Doctor Strange film, “I think if you look at some of the early incarnations of the Ancient One in the comics, they are what we would consider today to be quite, sort of, stereotypical.  They don’t hold up to what would work today.”  The Ancient One is a supporting character and of course Shang-Chi is a lead character.  There is Wong in Doctor Strange, he was basically a servant in the comic books assisting Strange, but is given more of a large role played by Benedict Wong in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and this year’s Avengers: Endgame.  

An Asian martial arts hero is a trap outside of the excellent films like The Grandmaster (2013) or of course Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).  It will be important to bring in HK or other Chinese film companies as co-producing partners which would help in distribution for China.  If Marvel Studios charges ahead without considering the market with the subject matter, then it would affect the Shang-Chi movie’s release.  The danger is stereotyping with the character.  The best course to go is with the screenwriter and director, Gareth Evans, or stunt coordinator, Eka `Piranha’ Rahmadia, from The Raid: Redemption (2011), or Iko Uwais who starred in The Raid films and was action choreographer for The Raid: Redemption and fight choreographer for The Raid 2 (2014).  He is in Stuber and also starred in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015).  

The fight scenes are intense, you don’t think about fighting style, but are just stunned at them.  Maybe Shang-Chi is brought into a mission to save Black Jack Tarr, Leiko Wu comes in to save Shang-Chi, and it is uncovered that they have to take down the operation of Shang-Chi’s father, Zheng Zu.  The film should be in the mold of a spy action movie like James Bond.  Shang-Chi’s martial arts should not be showcased, when we see him use them it should be awesome, but not the It’s Time to Use Kung Fu scenes.  The Raid is the best comparison for a Shang-Chi movie.  The ratio of fighting should be just a little more than what was in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).  The Shang-Chi movie has potential for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  

#ShangChiMovie, #DestinDanielCretton, #DavidCallahan, #SteveEnglehart, #JimStarlin

Strangelands #1 Review!

The second title in the Ignited Humanoids universe has beeen released with Strangelands #1.  It has a script by Magdalene Visaggio and Darcie Little Badger.  Visaggio is the creator of the Kim & Kim comic book.  Badger is writer and scientist with a Lipan Apache background.  I wonder if one of the main characters has a similar background.  The comic features art by Guillermo Sanna.  He has worked on Marvel Comics titles like Luke Cage.  The regular cover for Strangelands is by Mike McKone with our two heroes running from what looks like a portal of light.  Meanwhile, we see two faces looming in the background.    There is a short summary that brings us up to speed on Elakshi and Adam Land, not related, Adam is racing on a motorcycle while Elakshi finds herself on a train.  This is from the H1: Free Comic Book Day issue.  They are in Shanghai on the run from MI6, the British intelligence agency, as part of the Ignited.  There is a glimpse of the Colorado Mountains and Shanghai which are the two settings in the story.  

The beginning features the parallel narratives with the racing backwheel of the motorcyle.  Then, a basement room where a man in glasses, we find out later his name is Dr. Fletcher, wields a knife heated from a candle and a panicking man in a chair.  It is part horror thriller and spy action movie.  Elakshi shouts to Adam on the bike that they can’t be separated too far from each other.  The ultimate action rom com?  Elakshi is a Hindi name which means “woman with bright eyes”.  Possible pointing to her ethnic origin.  A man in a suit follows Adam firing at him with a pistol.  The mysterious man says that jellyfish will somehow heal the man in the chair because of his Thalassophobia, had to look it up, fear of the sea.  Poisonous exposure therapy?   Adam reaches out his hand and draws the handgun from his pursuer’s hand.  An interesting super power.  I’m familiar with the force field of the mutant villain, Unus the Untouchable, but this seems the reverse.  

Adam takes hold of the gun and the other man on the motorcycle draws out another gun.  Closeup of Adam’s hand as he uses his power to take the other gun.  Sanna’s art is interesting, I see simplicity of Mike Mignola’s lines with some of Kevin Nowlan’s facial detail, the action makes me think of Jim Cheung’s artwork.  The man in the chair screams out as the jellyfish is attached, it is a massive blob with strange tendrils, more alien creature than jellyfish. From the train window, Elakshmi tells Adam to use his powers to pull the train to him.  The helmeted man leaps from his motorcycle.  Dr. Fletcher uses some sort of power to zap the struggling man’s arm.  A strange Stephen King-type of powers on another person.    The conflict with the motorcycle riders ends with the helmeted man bringing Adam down.   Elakshi from the train fears that they are too far apart and sees the effect of their linked powers.  Adam uses his power to throw rubble at the shadowy agent.  The identity of the agent is hidden, does he have an Ignited power?, is it different people taking his form?  

Dr. Fletcher revels in drawing power from the swollen arm of his victim.  Elakshi uses her power to start bending the train’s structure.  Adam calls out to her and again sees the relentless pursuer so bashes him with a rock.  He then extends his power and then is yanked into the air!  The agent reaches out for him, maybe his power is to neutralize Adam’s power?, there is no physical contact between them, both wear gloves.  Adam is pulled upside down towards the train, an interesting panel.  Dr. Fletcher is satisfied that the other man is drained of life.  A bizarre villain is Superman’s foe, Parasite, that can drain super powers.  Adam slams into the back of the train.  Elakshi gives a ninja claw to climb into the train.  The helmeted man watches them and walks off.  In the train, Adam and Elakshi discuss their mysterious pursuer, they are on a search to lose their Ignited powers.  They are interrupted by a message on Elakshi’s watch from Kittyhawk, the unknown patron who may be the key to the Ignited.  There is a message, “Do you believe in magic?” and an arranged flight to Denver.  This of course brings them to Dr. Fletcher.   

The Lands head over to a Western themed building in Vazquez, Colorado.  They mention their worldwide quest taking them to Shanghai, Bangkok, and Wellington.  As in Wellington, New Zealand?  I wonder if this is where their adventures started.  They see a sign welcoming “Wild Saints” and Adam mentions his aunt in Texas.  The Lands met by a woman in a white shirt with the Wild Saints logo.  She says the organization was formed eight months ago, the time of the Ignition?, by Dr. Fletcher.  Also mentioned is Collective Consciousness Energy (CCE) that is used by the Ignited.  Then, Dr. Fletcher meets them and says that Kittyhawk has arranged their stay.  The comic book starts at a roaring train’s pace, but we don’t get a grounding of the characters to understand them.  There isn’t a time sense, the Lands have been on the run, but we don’t know for how long.  They are starting to use their powers, but we don’t get a sense of what happened with their first Ignition.  The characters are chased, but we need to know them well to run along with them.  Strangelands has some intriguing ideas, good action, and great potential. 

Three Jellyfish out of Five!   

#Strangelands, #MagdaleneVisaggio, #DarcieLittleBadge, #GuillermoSanna