Treatment for a Galaxy Rangers Movie!

The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers was an animated series that was created by Robert Mandell who later created Starla and the Jewel Riders. It ran from 1986 to 1989 and featured animation from Tokyo Movie Shinsha which provided animation for many American shows like Mighty Orbots as well as Super Dimension Century Orguss. The show is said to be heavily influenced by Top Gun (1986), but also has some fascinating sci fi world building and Western settings. The animated series had some great music, a strong premise and diverse characters, and that cool factor that wants you to put on a badge and be transformed to a brave, outer space officer! This treatment is based on the first episode, “Phoenix” (1986) written by Robert Mandell.  It also indulges in some casting suggestions. 

Setting: The colony planet Kirwin on the frontier. The atmosphere has a coppery sheen like dusk with shreds of cirrus clouds. (This is more space-y than the animated episode, but we get more of a Western feel). We have several silos outside of the town square with a very Earth-like plain. The farmers are working on a geodesic greenhouse dome. A farmer, a woman with braided, brown hair, is saying the dryness of the climate is slowing the growth of lettuce, but the corn is on track for crop yields. We move from Kirwin’s orbit to near space where a triangular, red Crown Destroyer breaks from hyperspace. The Queen of Crown, speaking from red pulses in the Y-shaped hood opening of the cloaked Slaver Lords, demands collection of the new species, humans. (She was voiced by Corinne Orr in the animated series). There is a rumbling sound that startles the farmer. The silos explode and are burning. Red Crown fighters are descending. The soldiers in purple armor fire stun blasts at the colonists. The farmer cries out, “Who will save us?” 

We shift into space, stars streak by, then darkness. Next, we hear guitar riffs and then drums.  Narrator: “In 2086, mankind begins to terraform Mars.” We see images to the side of several ships traveling to and from Mars. “One hundred years later, two peaceful aliens journey to Earth to seek allies against the Crown Empire. In exchange, they gave plans for the first hyperdrive to colonize space.” There is the two aliens, Waldo and Zozo, who fly their ship and then we get the Earth ship shifting from hyperdrive to a new planet. (Actor Bob Bottone voiced Zozo and Henry Mandell played Waldo. The best actor for Waldo, a distinguished, calm, intelligent alien, is Bryan Cranston.  He of course was in Godzilla (2014). I think the perfect actor for Zozo, intelligence and child-like wonder, is Martin Klebba who was in the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).  Warwick Davis would be great Zozo and of course Peter Dinklage, but it may be not a strong part for him. The possible prosthetics would be difficult for actors).  

(Note: 2086 was the date that the aliens gave Earth hyperdrive in the cartoon, but I wanted to use that date to establish Earth is starting to terraform, make planets habitable, so they have the technology when they begin colonizing the galaxy. The time to learn terraforming I thought would be one hundred years). Narrator: “Earth has begun colonizing space expanding planets along the frontier in the next two hundred years.” We get glimpses of frontier worlds; farms with bulbous, purple crops, and strange plateaus of rock, with riders. (The time period of the movie would be 2386.) This is short clips of future history to a rock and roll beat.  “BETA, the Bureau of Extra-Terrestrial Affairs, has formed an elite group committed to promoting justice across the frontier.”  

We get from the darkness, beams of light and the fiery stamp of a golden badge, the Galaxy Rangers logo around a star. Then, we get a surge of music as the “No Guts, No Glory” song is played. Captain Zachary Foxx is escorting his family, wife Aliza, son Zack and daughter Jessie to Kirwin on their ship, The Phoenix. (He was voiced by Jerry Orbach who was in Law & Order. I think the actor who would fit the role is Eric Bana. He can handle action with the movie Troy (2004) and dramatic parts. Other possible actors are Thomas Jane and Skeet Ulrich. Zachary of course is the team leader). Zachary wears the uniform of a Galaxy Ranger; blue shirt with white frontpiece and shoulder plates, belt, and white leg armor.  

(I’m thinking Ashley Judd for Aliza though it is a small part. Other possible actresses are Milla Jovovich or Isla Fisher). He is taking his family to the sanctuary of Kirwin. Zachary was assigned by Galaxy Rangers to transport ambassadors Zozo and Waldo.  Zozo has long ears that point upwards, purple skin, and lemur-like eyes.  Waldo is tall, bald, with a wide, cat-like nose, and a white, half-beard. The Phoenix’s computer, GeeVee, a cyclopean computer icon plays a distress message from Kirwin about humans abducted from the colony. (Bob Bottone voiced GeeVee, very funny, and computer-like). He also reports that a hyperspace signature has been detected from Kirwin. Zachary drops Phoenix out of hyperspace and this causes an engine failure. Waldo reroutes power to the shields.  

The Crown Destroyer appears and fires blasts that overload the ship. GeeVee closes down.  Zozo and Waldo work to restore the ship’s systems. Waldo suspects that the enemy ship will breach the hull of the Phoenix. Zachary has everyone don oxygen masks. He is prepping the Phoenix’s shuttle for his family and the ambassadors to escape. The ship is rocked by the Crown Destroyer’s breaching ram. Zachary has everyone hold on as the breach is made and air is drawn out of the ship. He has Jessie and Zack enter the shuttle. The cockpit console has the image of the Queen of the Crown who threatens to capture the two aliens. They defy her and leave for the shuttle.  

(This shifts to the pirate Captain Kidd in the cartoon, but slows down the narrative with yet another character.  Also, a rescue and escape attempt, is too complicated.  It was really about the Queen so it's bringing the story back to her). The ram opens and several Crown soldiers are fired upon by Zachary with a pistol and Aliza with a rifle. (The Galaxy Rangers guns, back when the show aired, kids were ok to play with guns. Now, I think there should be stylized, white-barreled (no silver parts), blue handle WhiteStar 34 SmartGuns that shoot blasts of plasma, lasers. It has light blue pulses from the firing pin area). The ambassadors take cover, but Zachary moves them to the shuttle while his wife covers them. Zozo says he has overloaded the engines to cover their escape.  Zack begins to warm up the shuttle engines as GeeVee activates the computer console. This is detected by the Crown Destroyer control room and the Queen orders capture coils to trap the shuttle.  

The coils snake from the Crown Destroyer to wrap around the shuttle, Zack struggles with the controls, and manages to sever the ship connector. (The ship to ship breach is Star Wars, in early scripts breath masks were worn, but this brings a bit of realism to the story). Jessie worries about her parents. Zozo tries to work with GeeVee to shut down the engines and save them. The Crown soldiers are about to overrun Zachary and Aliza, she throws one to the side, Zachary is stunned and falls in the connector. Aliza is stunned and the Queen walks up saying that she will be a perfect subject for the psychocrystal. She is taken away with the Queen by the Crown soldiers to their ship. (Why is Aliza taken away and how can she be saved?  This will be answered in the film).  The Crown Destroyer starts to pull away as the Phoenix’s engines begins to overload. Zachary revives and sees the overload, he slips on a space suit to evacuate.  

An explosion engulfs the right side of Zachary's body. (The bionic profile in the show has half of his body with cybernetic parts, but this is never explained). He is able to drag himself to the airlock and sends himself off into space. The Phoenix explodes as the Crown Destroyer jumps to hyperspace. Zachary in his space suit is spinning unconscious from the ship’s destruction.  GeeVee has detected Zachary and recovers him with the shuttle’s robotic arms. He is placed in a decompression chamber and Jessie fears for her father. GeeVee plots a course to the nearest medical base. Galaxy Ranger medical facility, Earth. We get Zachary in a white gown being monitored by robots. Commander Joseph Walsh is met by Doctor Hartford who has just arrived from his home in Jamaica. (Hubert Kelly voiced Doc in the cartoon. For some reason, I’m instantly thinking of Richard Riehle for Commander Walsh. He has a gruffness).  

Doc is about 25, a genius, but a little goofy.  (I would absolutely cast Richard Ayoade if he is interested. Possibly Noel Clarke who was in Doctor Who or John Boyega if he is up for another sci fi movie). Doc says that he is more of a medic than a medical doctor, he is a doctor of computer science and robotics. He is of course the team medic and intelligence operative able to hack into any system. Doc has his handheld Computer Diagnostic Unit and attaches a cable to a medical console to send an AI tweaker program, Lifeline, to analyze the data. Walsh says that Doc is needed to save Zachary Foxx’s life with cybernetic replacements. Doc says that Zachary has severe damage on his right side, his skin is also burnt, but bio-tissues could enhance the acceptance of bionics. Walsh agrees to the procedure. After the operation, Zachary is recovering in bed as Doc is checking the diagnostics. Zachary revives and asks Doc what happened. He explains also that his wife was captured by the Crown Empire.  

Later, Zachary with a blue medical bands around his arm and side, finishes his debriefing with Commander Walsh. He gives Zachary the assignment to assemble a team for a new program involving the Series-5 implants. Zachary agrees and asks to take along Doc. Wolf Den, Beta Mountains. Doc explains to Zachary that there was a failed, experimental program using genetically-enhanced humans. He takes Zachary out to a range and shows him one of the survivors of the trooper program, Shane Gooseman. Goose has wild, blonde hair and a cowboy attitude.(He was voiced by Doug Preis in the series. Actors for Goose could be Logan Lerman who starred in The Three Musketeers (2011) or Joe Keery from Stranger Things). Goose's genetic DNA is unstable which is how he survived the trooper program. Goose spins his pistols and blasts several targets. A stray blast hits his shoulder. He mets with Doc and Zachary who see that his wounded skin has turned red shifting to a normal color.  

Goose is the forward element, stealth, and marksman for the team. He says he doesn’t want to be trapped there so he signs up. Colony world, Xanadu. The three Rangers are walking into a meditation hall  There is a young woman, Niko, who is in a yoga pose.  Niko is the calm part of the team, she is a telepath, but equal with her guns. (She was also voiced by Laura Dean.  I’m going to repeat my casting from the revised  Force Awakens; Jessica Henwick or Ellen Wong.  Niko’s last name would be appropriate for the actress in the part). She says she knows they are Rangers and that they are going to ask her to join the Series-5 program. Niko agrees to join to help control her telepathic ability. She is the communications and surveillance of the team. (I hope all of the voice actors who are still with us and interested would appear somewhere in the movie). This is the beginning of Galaxy Rangers!  We haven’t gotten to their Series-5 implants or using their powers, but the ground work has been established.     

#GalaxyRangers, #RobertMandell, #ZacharyFoxx, #DocHartford, #ShaneGooseman, #Niko 

Force Awakens Re:vised: Episode Four!

We are looking at Force Awakens with parts to make sense, fit in with the expanded material, and in the context of the Star Wars story.  Missed one?  Check here: Part 1: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-force-awakens-revised.html,   Part 2: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2020/04/force-awakens-re-vised-episode-two.html, Part 3: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2020/04/force-awakens-revised-episode-three.html.  We are at Maz Kanata’s castle, the Resistance and the First Order have been contacted, and Rey has seen visions from touching the lightsaber.  There is no sense of Rey terrified by Kylo Ren in light of that fear not present when she duels with him in the film.  She turns to see Maz Kanata who says the lightsaber belonged to Luke Skywalker (don’t worry an explanation is coming!) and tells Rey that it’s call is for her.  Maz Kanata continues saying that the path is being set for her, not on Jakku, but with someone else.  Rey answers Luke Skywalker.  Maz says she knows about the Force and tells Rey to close her eyes to feel the Force.  

Rey fears taking up the lightsaber and runs away into the forest.  This is about the same as the film, but Maz Kanata will be important later on and not end up as just as a cameo.  The Starkiller weapon is being charged up as we get General Hux’s speech inside of a base.  It seems ridiculous that a powerful weapon is fired with people around it, they would be wiped out from the shockwave alone.  Hux speaks about the New Republic’s treachery, but it seems cowardly to strike at them from a distance.  The Starkiller instead is moved within the Hosnian system.  Also, it seems to fire a blast that goes through hyperspace(?) and splits into multiple beams?  Hyperspace is confused in the Sequel Trilogy.  The New Republic fleet is destroyed so the fleet is on just one planet?  Hux seems angry yet whom in the First Order is he trying convince with his speech?  The scary part of dictators is not the screaming especially with no reaction from the crowd, it is when they are not screaming.  I also find it troubling that Hux somehow turns against the First Order when he is responsible for destroying several planets of people.  

Hux gives a grand speech mentioning the defeat at Endor and that the First Order was rebuilt from the fragments of the Empire.  He continues saying that the First Order will assert its place in the galaxy by eliminating the New Republic.  He puts on goggles (such a blast without protection would probably melt his eyes) and orders the weapon to be fired.  The blast is released from the Starkiller, we get orbital mirrors that split the blast, and Kylo Ren watches it from his bridge.  If the blast can be seen, why is there no evacuations?, everyone seems to be standing around watching it.  The blast impacts against a planet and then fills the sky of Hosnian Prime.  Rey drops to her knees in the forest.  Obi-Wan sensed Alderaan’s destruction, yet Luke and Rey feel nothing?     There is some serious inconsistency with the Force in the Sequel Trilogy.  Finn sees the destruction of the Hosnian planets on a ship screen and races back to the castle.  Rey sees the First Order ships approach and runs back.  Maz Kanata brings out the lightsaber, Han questions her about it (explanation next movie), and gives it to Finn.  Rey sees the destruction of First Order fleet on Maz Kanata’s castle which brings down Maz’s statue.   

There is no arrival of Kylo Ren’s shuttle yet, in the middle of a strike?, very risky.  Rey takes out a stormtrooper after flicking off the safety and then runs.  Han is taking on stormtroopers with his heavy blaster, we gotta have his no-look blast, very cool.  Chewbacca seems to just carry his bowcaster in the film, I see him as showing everyone what it could do, setting it on automatic fire and blasting three stormtroopers!  Droids and the smuggler’s at Maz’s castle fire a blaster cannon and blasters from the battlements.  It’s really strange to see that Maz has no defense for the castle and that the smuggler types are not in the battle.  There is some fighters against the stormtroopers in the film, but they are really in the background.  Maz tells Finn to use his lightsaber.  Word about lightsabers, you can activate them like Han with the Tauntaun, but not use it in combat unless you are a Jedi.  The Sequel Trilogy points out that Finn is not a Jedi, not this revision.  Han and Chewbacca are cornered and firing on stormtroopers.  Han asks for Chewbacca’s bowcaster and the blast is explosive tossing two stormtroopers (also gotta keep from the movie). 

Finn kills a stormtrooper with the lightsaber and then faces FN-2199, his former fellow stormtrooper, who calls him “Traitor!”  The stormtrooper wields a stun baton and knocks back with the stun baton Finn when they duel.  He is saved by Han’s blaster and Han moves to help him up.  There is a series of explosions as the defenders are smashed.  A short alien, Wollivan (this is Warwick Davis’ character), is blasted as the stormtroopers rush to take prisoners.  In the film, Chewbacca is armed and lets stormtroopers surround everyone?  Their weapons are confiscated and they are led away.  We see the landing of Kylo Ren’s shuttle.  Suddenly, we get TIE fighters exploding (a good action cut, it would make sense since X-Wings have long range weapons, proton torpedos), the stormtroopers take positions and set up blaster cannons as we see the waves made on Nymeve Lake.  Why would they use regular blaster rifles against fighters?  We see Poe Dameron’s X-Wing fighter, Black One, take the lead.  

Poe calls in as Black Leader, Rose Tico as Black Three, and Karé Kun (she is from the Poe Dameron comic book) as Black Two. This is important because I really want to see a female, main character, fighter pilot.  Also, the battle is basically just Poe flying, so it is great to have others.   Wait!  How did Rose get to an X-Wing fighter before the First Order arrived?  Rose was slipping away from Maz’s castle to take a speeder to reach the distant rendezvous point for the Resistance fighters.  The Star Destroyer arrived and the X-Wing fighters went to the rendezvous point to avoid detection. Poe might mention that Rose could have been late to the rendezvous point.  Rose engages a TIE fighter and blasts it apart as they are both descending to the castle.  The stormtroopers and cannons are tossed in an explosion.  Han, Chewbacca, and Finn recover their weapons.  In the film, X-Wings have blaster rifle-sized bolts to precisely hit stormtroopers?  They fire on stormtroopers and Finn reaches a stormtrooper lander throwing in thermal detonators from a stormtrooper belt to destroy it.  The Black One X-Wing destroys several TIE fighters and stormtrooper positions.  He is effective in attacking the enemy and lets a command shuttle go?  Finn cheers on Poe’s flying. 

#ForceAwakensRevised, #MazKanata, #PoeDameron, #RoseTico 

Happy Birthday Sir Christopher Lee!

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

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

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

DC’s Stargirl, “S.T.R.I.P.E.”, Review!

The pilot episode has teen Courtney Whitmore moving to Blue Valley, Nebraska.  She finds the Cosmic Staff and ends up facing the supervillain Brainwave.  Courtney manages to escape and encounters the big robot run by her stepfather, Pat!  We pick up with Pat trying to get Courtney to safety.  She climbs the back of the robot similar to Hiro and Baymax in Big Hero 6.  Pat activates the rocket boots of the robot and they fly into the night sky.  Brainwave walks out of the Blue Valley Tires store holding a burnt piece of Courtney’s school i.d.  S.T.R.I.P.E. the robot lands, this slams Pat in the cockpit, no effect on Courtney hanging on the outside which doesn’t sell the effect.  Pat opens the garage door to enter and opens the chest plate of his robot.  The Cosmic Staff seem to talk to Courtney before she is able to put it aside.  Pat explains he built the robot from old car parts and that the villain used mental powers and had red hair.  

DC’s Stargirl -- “S.T.R.I.P.E.” -- BREC BASSINGER, LUKE WILSON -- Jace Downs/The CW.

He knows that Brainwave was from the Injustice Society of America.  If he is trying to protect Courtney they should move back to Los Angeles.  Pat says that Icicle is the leader of group.  Again, Courtney is pushy with her step-father, no thanks for saving her life.  He tries to explain that Hourman survived and followed the villains to Blue Valley before he died.  Hourman gave the research to Pat.  He brings up costumes and Courtney wants to add a mask.  Courtney is all attitude and Pat never seems to play the mom card which might make sense since this potentially dangerous for the family.  The next morning, Pat tries to test out the robot including using its rocket fist in the fields.  He also prepares breakfast with Barbara remarking about the injuries on their faces.  Both try to explain its from falling on the basement stair.  Courtney is not interested in eating breakfast, this is near impossible since she fought in a battle, slept, and then not hungry?  

She opens the case with the uniform of Starman, her father which she takes away.  I’m still not certain how Pat can invent a giant robot and has absolutely no security measures for the JSA mementos.  The bully jock, Henry Jr. is getting ready for school, his father is wealthy and he doesn’t go to private school?  He is called by his father who asks about a girl that may have destroyed his car.  Brainwave uses his powers which causes a terrible ringing noise.  His son does not share his super powers.  Blue Valley High School, we have Courtney going to a Home Econ class trying to work on the suit suit.  You know because classroom are always kept unlocked?  Pat checks out a gym with a trainer, Larry.  Courtney heads over to her table while Beth has a video call with her parents.  The families and students are in the gym for Parents Night.  Brainwave is also there searching the students to find the girl in the i.d.  

DC’s Stargirl -- “S.T.R.I.P.E.” -- CHRISTOPHER JAMES BAKER -- Quantrell Colbert/The CW.

Courtney is also searching for Brainwave.  She tries to walk away as Brainwave follows her and finally sees Courtney, he also knows she’s Starman’s daughter.  He says she is going to bring the Cosmic Staff to him at midnight threatening her mother.  Courtney runs away.  She sees Pat and gets Barbara so they can leave.  At home, Pat tells Courtney to leave with the family if he doesn’t return.  He heads back to the garage and activates S.T.R.I.P.E.  Barbara thanks Courtney for being nice to her step father.  At the school parking lot, Brainwave sees the giant robot land, he tosses a car at the supervillain who throws it aside with his mental powers.  Pat doesn’t seem to care about damaging a resident’s car.  He sends the rocket fist, but Brainwave knocks it back.  S.T.R.I.P.E. is trapped between two cars.  Courtney takes out the super suit and rides the Cosmic Staff to battle.  Brainwave is blasted by the staff and Stargirl has arrived.  He sends two metal rods which she dodges in a twist.  Again, action parts is where Bassinger excels. Brainwave hits Stargirl with a metal pylon that has her dropping the Cosmic Staff. Another average episode with some plot holes.  

Three Cosmic Staves out of Five!  

#Stargirl, #Brainwave, #InjusticeSocietyofAmerica, #Icicle 

Happy Birthday Sir Ian McKellen!

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

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

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

Re:tro Re:view - The Patriot!

The Patriot is a 2000 film, throw away any pretense of historical realism, and get caught up in this tale of the cost of war and the people who fought to build this country! The historical underpinnings of the story with figures like Charles Cornwallis and of course George Washington and the setting of the American Revolutionary War are all true, but the rest is mostly fiction.  Another hesitation may be the lead, Mel Gibson, who is controversial, but hopefully audiences can separate actor from the role. This is Gibson in his prime, five years after Braveheart. There is also the director, Roland Emmerich, who is known for spectacle films like Independence Day (1996), but here he is not over-the-top, and allows this story its dramatic potential. The screenplay is by Robert Rodat whom also wrote Saving Private Ryan (1998).  

There is a close-up of a tomahawk placed in a chest of other weapons as we get the words of Benjamin Martin (Gibson) who says he feared his sins would return and he closes the chest.  Gibson had just finished Lethal Weapon 4 (1998). The music is somber, one of the best scores by John Williams, the previous year he composed the music for Angela’s Ashes (1999). I talked to one of the filmmakers who said that money was spent for the very best in all aspects of the production.  It shows on the screen. This opens at the farm where the two young sons, Nathan (Trevor Morgan) and Samuel (Bryan Chafin), see the arrival of the post rider carrying mail. The incredible visuals are captured by Caleb Deschanel, director of photography for Anna and the King (1999). At the house, Margaret (Mika Boorem) is showing letter cards to William (Logan Lerman) as the rider approaches the house.  

The rider gives the mail to the housekeeper, Abigail (Beatrice Bush), as older sons, Gabriel (Heath Ledger) and Thomas (Gregory Smith) are walking back from hunting. This is three years since Ledger was Conor in the fantasy series, Roar, so he was just about to break out as a star. Nathan and Samuel run to the barn to tell their father about the mail. Watching her father is Susan (Skye McCole Bartusiak), the youngest and probably most adorable, it is a large family of interesting siblings. Benjamin finds that the time he spent working on a rocking chair is a failure like other attempts, a funny moment, it shows he is not a builder, but a destroyer. We get that it is South Carolina, 1776, as we see Benjamin go to the grave of his wife, Elizabeth who died three years ago. There is a dissolve from the north star on the gravestone to the north star in the night sky.  

Margaret tells Susan that their mother is watching over them. Benjamin says good night to his daughters.Thomas is working on setting up his lead soldiers, this becomes important later, it is a childhood fascination, but not understanding of war. Benjamin comes down the stairs to pour himself a drink as Gabriel watches from his book. He asks about the mail and his sons race to check it. Benjamin tells his sons that he has been called to Charleston in the morning. The family rides in several wagons with Gabriel riding behind them on a horse to the town. It is impressive to see the town and ships at harbor (probably a matte painting, but nice). The kids rush to see Aunt Charlotte (Joely Richardson) who remarks that Susan is still not talking. Night, the town is filled with revelers and Gabriel goes to hear the speech of Peter Howard (Joey D. Veira). He has lost his leg and part of his hearing in the French Indian War which ended thirteen years before this time.  

Gabriel goes to talk to Howard’s daughter, Anne, played by Lisa Brenner in her first film. Brenner is also in the crime film, Bad Samaritan (2018), directed by Dean Devlin, producer of this movie.  She is still not happy that Gabriel put ink in her tea, a point that needs to be remembered later.  The next day is the levy for the Continental Army. Colonel Harry Burwell attends the meeting played by Chris Cooper who was in the drama October Sky (1999). He speaks about the upcoming signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the forming of a nation. This is said to be treasonous by James Wilkins (Adam Baldwin). The actor of course is well known for playing the mercenary Jayne Cobb in the sci fi show Firefly. Benjamin stands up to say he doesn’t want war with England fearing that it will be fought in front yards. Gabriel leaves to sign up for the army in defiance of his father. Harry tells Benjamin that he will put Gabriel under his command. The Don’t Tread on Me, the Gadsden flag, flies above the town and we get a dissolve to the British flag.  Gabriel narrates his letter to Thomas as we see British soldiers march into the town.  

We are introduced to General Cornwallis (Tom Wilkinson) and walking next to him is Colonel William Tavington (Jason Isaacs). Wilkinson was in the action movie Rush Hour (1998) and Isaacs, before playing Lucius Malfoy, played another colonel in the sci fi movie Soldier (1998). Benjamin later reads the personal writings of Cornwallis and calls him a “tactical genius.” Aunt Charlotte has moved to her plantation in the Santee River Valley. It is winter and we see Gabriel noting the defeats by the British Army in the North. He is moved back to South Carolina under Burwell’s command. Thomas reads the letter to his siblings as Benjamin watches them. He later takes out the tomahawk and red coat of his father. Benjamin sees his son and tells him he can enlist at 17.  Thomas asks about Fort Wilderness, but Benjamin doesn’t reply, this is a secret he keeps for most of the film.  The sun has set and a mist has fallen on the fields as there is sounds of gunshots.  All of the family goes to see what is happening. 

A weary figure appears with a pistol and later enters the house as the family is having dinner.  Benjamin has his pistol and then finds out it is Gabriel! Benjamin checks on his wounds and Gabriel explains that the army surrendered, but was cut down by the Dragoons. He was carrying dispatches. Benjamin watches a battle outside of his doorway. Morning, Gabriel wakes to see British and Colonial soldiers cared for by servants and family. British soldiers march in and then the Dragoons led by Colonel Tavington. He orders the house and barns burned and gets the dispatches. 

Gabriel says that he is the carrier and Tavington sentences him to be hanged, Benjamin tries to argue for proper treatment, and Gabriel lets out Benjamin is his father! This has tragic consequences, this may be too sad for some people. Benjamin runs into his burning house to collect rifles and his tomahawk. He gives rifles to Nathan and Samuel while telling Margaret to hide the others. They run into the forest, Benjamin instructs his sons about the ambush, and then sets rifles against trees. Gabriel is taken as a prisoner with several soldiers in the detail. It gets bloody with the young sons turned into child soldiers. All of the sons are stunned to see their father turned into a raging brute with his tomahawk, shades of his Fort Wilderness days. 

Colonel Tavington is shown to the lone survivor who says it was one man who ambushed them like a ghost. This may be based on Francis Maron known as the Swamp Fox. There was a Disney series with Leslie Nielsen playing the Swamp Fox. Wilkins declares his loyalty to Tavington. Benjamin takes his family to Charlotte’s mansion. The next morning, Gabriel is back in his soldier’s uniform, and leaves for the army.  Benjamin leaves his family and rides after his son. Gabriel is startled by a wagon of what looks like a looter, he enters the house to see a battle from a window, the two armies march calmly towards each other. He turns to see his father who says that General Gates is using British tactics and has lost to them. 

Cornwallis considers the Continental Army, “rustics” which he tells his second-in-command, General Charles O’Hara (Peter Woodward).  Benjamin and Gabriel ride up to the camp and Gabriel finds the tattered remains of a flag.  Burwell shows Benjamin the situation hoping to hold Cornwallis until the arrival of the French.  We get Jean Villeneuve (Tchéky Karyo) who knows about Fort Wilderness.  Karyo was in the film, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999).  He serves as the trainer for the soldiers, sometimes funny, but also a counter to Benjamin.  Burwell makes Benjamin a colonel to form a milita. 

Benjamin sends Gabriel to raise volunteers for the militia. Tavington meets with Cornwallis who is upset about his ruthless tactics.  Gabriel rides past several men hung from a tree and enters a church. There is Anne and her father, Peter Howard.  Gabriel makes an announcement to call for volunteers to Reverend Oliver (René Auberjonois).  Auberjonois is a genre favorite, unfortunately we lost him last year, but he was finishing the part of Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in 1999.  
One of the churchgoers, Dan Scott (Donal Logue) fears what King George would do to them.  Logue, before Gotham series, was in the comedy, Runaway Bride (1999). Anne speaks about the patriotism of all of the men. Volunteers stand including Dan Scott. This is my favorite moment of the film. 

They are all assembled when Gabriel goes to ask permission to write to Anne from Peter Howard. Very funny and establishes the romantic relationship. The volunteers are joined by Reverend Oliver. He is the Friar Tuck of the group. It is sunset when Benjamin and Jean ride up to a tavern. The room is full of rowdy types and later Benjamin signs up volunteers. An old man volunteers his slave, Occam (Jay Arlen Jones). Lastly, is John Billings (Leon Rippy), who was a soldier who fought with Benjamin. Rippy was in Emmerich's sci fi film, Stargate (1994). He is funny and serves as the Little John of the militia. The ragtag group of militia stand against the disciplined British soldiers with a very dark scene that tears through the innocence of the colonists, not historically accurate, but the spirit of the film is the threads that build a nation and the cost.  The Patriot is a war film that is on the epic and personal scale.

Four Flags out of Five!  

#ThePatriot, #RolandEmmerich, #RobertRodat, #MelGibson, #HeathLedger, #TomWilkinson, #JasonIsaacs, #ReneAuberjonois,  #DonalLogue, #JayArlenJones, #LeonRippy, #JoelyRichardson, #LisaBrenner, #JoeyDVeira, #AdamBaldwin, #GregorySmith, #BeatriceBush, #TrevorMorgan, #BryanChafin, #MikaBoorem, #LoganLerman, #SkyeMcColeBartusiak

Happy Birthday Doug Jones!

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

Doug Jones had a part as the supervillain Deathbolt in 2015 episodes of Arrow and The Flash.  He was the alien, Cochise, in the Falling Skies tv series from 2013-2015.  del Toro brought him on again as his muse playing female ghosts in Crimson Peak (2015). He also played The Ancient in del Toro's vampiric tv series The Strain from 2014-2016.  His latest part for del Toro was in his Academy Award winning film The Shape of Water (2017) as Amphibian Man.  He is brilliant in the part as the Kelpian Saru in Star Trek: Discovery.  Saru's story was explored in the Short Trek, "The Brightest Star" (2018).  He has played Baron Afanas in the What We Do In The Shadows series.  On top of his film and tv roles, Doug Jones is great to meet at conventions.  He embraces you, wraps you in a cocoon-like hug with his long arms, he is one of the most gentle souls I've ever met.  We wouldn't have believable aliens and figures of horror without him.  Happy Birthday Doug Jones!

#DougJones, #PansLabyrinth, #TheShapeofWater, #StarTrekDiscovery.