Re:tro Re:view - Werewolf By Night #1!

Werewolf By Night #1 offers some strong art and an interesting lead!  The character was originally Jack Russell, Jacob Russoff, and was introduced in Marvel Spotlight #2 (1972).  He inherited his lycanthorpy and became a werewolf when he turned 18.  His first self-titled series started in 1972 with the creative team of Gerry Conway and Mike Ploog, ooth of whom worked on his first appearance.  A Disney+ Halloween special is planned for Werewolf By Night in 2022.  The character is described as a “Latino male in his 30s.”  Which really points to the third volume of Werewolf By Night in the 2020 limited series.  The first issue is written by Taboo, singer for the Black Eyed Peas, and B. Earl, Benjamin Earl. The art is by Scot Eaton, who pencilled many DC and Marvel titles including Friendly Neighorhood Spider-Man. The credits page has a moody, purplish sunset with a moon overhead.  The colorist is Miroslave Mrva.  This focuses on a rabbit in the “Arizona Desert, Hopi Tribal Lands.”  The Hopi Tribe is in northeastern Arizona.  A gunshot scares off the rabbit.  

Hunters, one with a Life Pharmacutical t-shirt, are watching the escape.  This is a new corporation for Marvel.  Russ has a rear mounted .50 caliber gun!  A woman rides up on a motorcycle telling them that they are on tribal land.  She has pink-streaked, dark hair.  The woman hears a howl and says that “He’s here.”  The hunters in shadow from the full moon start opening fire as a mass of hair passes them.  Then, we get a splash page of the werewolf with his claws out.  He starts tearing through the hunters, nice close-up of the werewolf snarling and reaching out with a claw, until the hunters leave in their truck.  The hunter closes towards the woman, we see their eyes locked.  The werewolf takes hold of the woman.  Captions explain that the werewolf curse is inherited.  Music is played and the werewolf transforms.  He notes that Molly, the biker, and his grandmother saved him.  He says his name is Jake.  Simliar to the first Werewolf by Night.  Then, we have Red Wolf is driving with his U.S. Marshal partner, J.J., a red-haired woman.  Red Wolf, William Talltrees, first appeared in Avengers #80 (1970), one of my favorite characters.  He has an orange caption box too, which got me a little confused, but Jake has a red lined box.  

They reach a building and start a search that ends with some green liquid.  The duo finds a man with fleshy tendrils from his head, calling himself the Pathmind, downloading computer data.  Pathmind is able to control automated guns and Red Wolf throws several knives.  J.J. fires a net that tangles the strange man.  They cuff him and take him away though he is still dangerous with his data he stole, a computer virus could wipe it away.  This shifts to Mal Mart where Molly and Jake are shopping, she wants to convince him to break into Life Pharmaceuticals.  They are looking for liquid to clear the drains from Jake’s shedding.  Granny Rora notes Jake’s earbuds that allow Molly to play music.  He wonders if there was a book to tell him how to live as a werewolf.  The Navajos call shapeshifters, skin-walkers.  Granny Rora tells him that he should write a book for his child with Molly.  At Life Pharmacueticals, a blocky building with a tower, Jake and another worker are scubbing a bathroom.  A bit confusing how Jake was a U.S. marshal and now a custodian.  They are interrupted by Mr. Wagner, a businessman, who tells them they are needed to help clean up a lab accident. 

They head to the third floor to clean the lab.  There is wreckage in the lab with wokres cleaning up in hazmat suits.  Mr. Wagner has them clean up without suits.  Jake has enhanced senses even in his human form, he can see something unusual with the greenish liquid and hears a conversation from an observation window.  The men are expects more subjects to arrive.  Later, Granny Mora relates a story from Jake’s mother of a girl who met a loving red she-wolf and a vicious grey wolf.  Molly spots a man and a woman driving a vehicle with night vision binoculars.  She sends Jake in werewolf form to take the first jeep while she watches on the cliff.  Werewolf stops the truck rips the door away and finds a mystery plus some dangerous protection!  The plot is a bit confusing, I do like Jake and Molly as a team, but questions remain about what is his purpose except to save the missing people.  Werewolf By Night #1 has some good werewolf action, an interesting main character, with some confusing plot points.   

Three Earbuds out of Five!  

#WerewolfByNight, #Taboo, #ScotEaton, #JakeGomez, #Molly #GrannyRora, #RedWolf, #JJ, #ThePathmind, #LifePharmaceuticals, #MrWagner  

Last Night in Soho Review!

Last Night in Soho is a brilliant film connecting two women in this thriller movie!  It is directed and co-written by Edgar Wright also known for his Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy; Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), and The World’s End (2013). Wright also was the director and co-writer of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) and recently the action movie, Baby Driver (2017).  The co-screenwriter is Krysty Norma Lesley Wilson-Cairns who also cowrote the war movie, 1917 (2019), her first film after writing for the series Penny Dreadful.  The movie opens with a woman dancing during the opening credits.  We find out that this is Eloise Turner (Thomasin McKenzie), a young fashion designer who lives in modern Cornwall, at the south west of England.  McKensive was in the drama, Leave No Trace (2018) and also recently in Jojo Rabbit (2019).  She listens to records from the 60’s, a collection from her mother, her connection to that era.  Eloise is a country girl, innocent, but she has the talent.  She looks in the mirror and sees her mother (Aimee Cassettari).  Eloise lives with her gran, Peggy (Rita Tushingham), the actress appeared in Doctor Zhivago (1965) and Being Julia (2004).  She believes in Eloise’s talent, but worries about her going to London since Eloise’s mother died there.  

Eloise fills her suitcase with records and then adds her clothes.  She travels by train and taxi, but leaves the taxi when the driver comments about her legs.  In London, she listens to a headset so we can get songs.  Eloise takes her suitcases to her dorm room.  There is a young man on the stairs (Michael Ajao) who asks to help her, but Eloise is too nervous.  Ajao played Mayhem in Attack the Block (2011).  Eloise finds her roommate, Jocasta (Synnøve Karlsen), is outgoing and has a circle of friends in the Mean Girls (2004) mode.  Karlsen was in the historical series, Medici.  She is Eloise’s bully that makes the 60’s fantasy seem like an escape Eloise also sees at the pub, John (Ajao), and he later becomes interested in Eloise, but gives her space to work out her problems.  Eloise returns to her dorm only to find Jocasta interrupting her sleep.  She finds herself trying to find rest, but ends up in the corner of a party. Eloise has finds an advert slip for a flat in SoHo, in the West End of London, and calls the owner, Ms. Collins.  She is played by the legendary actress, Diana Rigg, in her last film (the movie begins with the tribute, "For Diana."  Rigg is well known for playing Emma Peel in the spy series, The Avengers, she was in the James Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), and appeared recently in Game of Thrones.  

Ms. Collins likes the quiet life and tells Eloise that she doesn’t want any men after 8 p.m.  The neon lights of Café de Paris flash red and blue in Eloise’s apartment.  She brings up the covers to block out the light.  Then, Eloise finds herself in front of a theater billboard of Thunderball (1965)!  She walks into the Café de Paris and sees herself in reflections as a blonde haired woman (Anya Taylor-Joy).  The actress is featured in The Queen’s Gambit, also the Jane Austen adaptation, Emma (2020), and also was memorable in The Witch (2015).  The incredible designs of the 60’s nightclub are by Marcus Rowland.  The stunning costumes are by Odile Dicks-Mireaux.  The mysterious woman shrugs off the attention of men looking for the owner of the club.  Sandie (Taylor-Joy) wants to become a singer.  The bartender notes that she should talk to Jack (Matt Smith).  The actor is of course known for playing the Eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who, he was also Prince Philip in The Crown, and has upcoming Daemon Targaryen in the House of the Dragon show.  Jack is charming and takes Sandie out for a dance that quickly shifts to Eloise and Sandie in moments.  Brilliant cinematography by Chung-hoon Chung who worked with Park Chan-Wook with The Handmaiden (2016), the horror movie, Zombieland: Double Tap (2019), and in 2022, he filmed episodes of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. 

Jack punches an older man leering at Eloise and they run away to be together.  Eloise wakes up by her alarm, she slips into class at the London College of Fashion, and later works on a pink dress inspired (or obsessed) by Sandie.  Her design has the dress and Sandie’s face.  Also, there was another movie about a fashion designer in the 60’s, Cruella!  Ms. Tobin (Elizabeth Berrington) is impressed by Eloise’s design and notes the hickey on her neck which was given by Jack to Sandie. The fantasy or dream has a real effect on Eloise and this will also mean a danger.  Berrington played Charlotte in Quills (2000) and currently stars in the fantasy show, The Nevers.  The next night, Eloise returns as Sandie, Jack takes her to the Rialto nightclub, and she performs Petula Clark’s “Downtown.”  In the morning, Eloise dyes her hair blond like Sandie, and buys a white leather jacket.  She gets a job at the Toucan pub hired by Margaret Nolan’s character.  This is also her last movie, but she had a role in Goldfinger (1964) and the Carry On comedy films starting with Carry On Cowboy (1965).  Eloise sees the Rialto symbol above a massage parlor.  She is noticed by a Silver Haired Gentleman (Terence Stamp) who seems to recognize her.  Eloise discovers that Sandie's dream of being a singer has ended up as an exotic dancer.  There is a connection between the characters, a mystery behind what happened to Sandie, and some chills.  Last Night in Soho is stylish, a touch of the supernatural, and a bold movie for Edgar Wright, the actors, and all of the filmmakers!       

Five Pink Dresses out of Five!  

#LastNightInSoho, #EdgarWright, #ThomasinMcKenzie, #AnyaTaylorJoy, #MattSmith, #DianaRigg, #TerenceStamp, #MichaelAjao, #MargaretNolan

Re:tro Re:view - Star Wars: The High Republic #9!

 A new arc begins in Star Wars: The High Republic #9!  It features a Phil Noto cover of Keeve Trennis in armor about to put on a helmet.  The new storyline, The Shadow of the Nihil stars with “Chapter I: Jedi No More”!  It is written by Cavan Scott and art is by Ario Anindito.  The aftermath of last issue was the destruction of the Republic Fair by the Nihil!  The summary roll at the beginning, notes that the Jedi Council Member Stellan Gios was sent the Jedi to chase after the Nihil.  This occured months after the Drengir battle, but this is a speed stop from the fun breakneck pace like other Star Wars stories.  We get the cockpit of the Jedi Wayseeker, Orla Jareni, followinng The Force.  She reports to Starlight Beacon, the Jedi base in the Outer Rim, that she has not found the NIhil in the Soola system.  Then, she finds from her Targes Scanner that there may be incoming ships from hyperspace.  In half of a two page spread, Orla’s ship, the Lightseeker, is evading the blasts of a Nihil stormship.  The ship is struck and now stranded.  

Aboard the stormship in a splash page, is Storm Trennis, Keeve in disguise?, she has three large clawmarks across her face!  I was actually confused about her identity, there is no set-up of Keeve taking this identity.  The captions reflecting thoughts do not reveal the disguise.  I had to read a summary to understand this plot point.  The pilot, Terec?, also in disguise, has two facial scars.  We flash back to Starlight Beacon with the Jedi Council, Marshal Avar Kriss asks Gios for an update.  He says (in hologram form), that the United Republic Task Force has defeated the Nihil on three worlds.  Maru says that Lourna Dee, the Eye of the Nihil, was killed and this is why the Nihil may be retreating.  Stellan says two candidates may be the new Eye, one of which is a Talpini, an Ugnaught-like alien with pointed teeth.  The other is blurred.  Avar explains that the Chief of Security believes Nihil are at  Soola.  Jedi Knight Keeve Trennis says that the Drengir were seeded by the Nihil.  She argues with Stellan Gios and then wonders what was the reason for the fighting and sacrifice.  

It picks up with the starship battle.  A Jedi starcruiser, the Ataraxia, appears above the two starships.  Storm/Keeve puts a call to other Nihil that her ship, The Ransacker, needs assistance.  Jedi Vectors, starships with two top mounted engines, launch from the Ataraxia.  Sskeer is in command of Gold Drift.  Avar, at the bridge of the Ataraxia worries about Sskeer, back in action after dealing with the Drengir, and we also have a Jedi pilot, Nooranbakakanna, detecting incoming vessels.  This is an alien pilot with a great name, a Frozian, was introduced in the novel, The High Republic: The Rising Storm (2019) also written by Cavan Scott.  The Frozian has a weasel-like face, furred, with hair that is splayed out.  The Nihil ships emerge from hyperspace.  Keeve starts to target a Vector, there is anger in her face, if it is disguise, it looks like she is falling to the Dark Side.  The Vector is destroyed.  The ship is rocked and Terec reports that magclamps, pre-tractor beam or Nihil only use this technology?, have locked onto The Ransacker.  They drawn in by the Nihil and jump to hyperspace.  

Avar says that Keeve and Terec have been accepted by the Nihil on their spy mission.  Obi-Wan faked his death and took the identity of Rako Hardeen to infiltrate bounty hunters in “Deception” (2012) episode of The Clone Wars.  Keeve admits in her thoughts that she destroyed the Vector that was remote controlled by Terec’s twin brother, Ceret.  Flashback, Sskeer tells Keeve that Avar has a plan. The Jedi in Nihil disguise land and are met by a Croulete, the same as Unkar Plutt, who asks what Tempest they are in.  We go back to a debriefing by Maru that the Nihil are divided into three groups called Tempests and says that if asked, they should say they come from Pan Eyta’s Tempest.  He was killed in Cyclor, a Mid Rim planet in The Rising Storm.  The Creote doesn’t believe her and lashes out with an energy whip, still not identified, it could be a vibro whip or power lash.  Avar said in the debriefing that they will be tested and Keeve must act like a Nihil.  Keeve proves herself and bests the Creote.  Then, they are met by another Nihil in a powersuit, Zeetar, also from The Rising Storm.  He has a battle hammer and is placed in the chest area of the powersuit.  He looks like an Ugnaught with sharp teeth similar to the Jedi last issue.  Keeve has to face a final test to join the Nihil.  This issue brings in characters and concepts from Cavan Scott’s novel, but the comic book usually reads fine without relying on the books.  I kept thinking I missed an issue, and the flashbacks after months from last issue, is a bit confusing.  

Three Lightsabers out of Five! 

#TheRisingStorm, #Lightseeker, #StormTrennis, #UnitedRepublicTaskForce, #LournaDee, #EyeOfTheNihil, #Nooranbakaanna, #Zeetar 

Happy Birthday Cary Elwes!

Happy Birthday Cary Elwes!  His first movie role was as a disco dancer in film, Yesterday’s Hero (1979) written by romance novelist, Jackie Collins.  In 1985, he had a part in the horror film, The Bride (1985).  Elwes had a leading role, playing  Lord Guildford Dudley, in Lady Jane (1986).  The iconic part for Elwes was as Westley, the farm boy turned Dread Pirate Robets, in The Princess Bride (1987).  Next, he was Major Forbes in the Civil War film, Glory (1989).  Elwes was a race car driver turned rival to Tom Cruise’s Cole Trickle in Days of Thunder (1990).  He acted in the parody of Top Gun, Hot Shots! (1991) as Kent Gregory.  Then, Elwes played Lord Arthur Holmwood in the horror movie, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He was the object of affection for Alicia Silverstone’s character, her film debut, in The Crush (1993).  Elwes also had that year, the Mel Brooks comedy film, Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) playing the lead role because he “can speak with an English accent.”  In 1994, Elwes was Captain William Boone, in The Jungle Book, adapting Rudyard Kipling’s novel.   

He played another rival, stormchaser Dr. Jonas Miller, in the action movie, Twister (1996).  Elwes was the fiance to Jim Carey’s Fletcher Reede in the comedy, Liar Liar (1997).  Then, he starred in the tv movie, The Pentagon Wars (1998)  based on the James Burton book.  Elwes was in the “Ripper” (1999) episode of The Outer Limits.  He was also in the 1930’s political drama, Cradle Will Rock (1999).  Brad Follmer, Elwes, was in the ninth season of The X-Files.  He starred in the horror film, Saw (2004), co-written and directed by James Wan.  Elwes was Sir Edgar in the fantasy comedy, Ella Enchanted (2004) based on the Gail Carson Levine novel.  In 2014, he wrote about filming Princess Bride in his book, As You Wish.  He provides various voices on the comedy animated show, Family Guy.  Elwes was Mayor Larry Kline in Stranger Things (2019).  He played Gavin Hawk in the comedy show, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2019).  Professor Gelson was played by Elwes in the horror movie, Black Christmas (2019). Currently, Elwes stars in this year’s horror movie, The Unholy.  "As you wish."  Happy Birthday Cary Elwes!   

#CaryElwes, #PrincessBride, #Glory, #BramStokersDracula, #Twister, #Saw, #AsYouWish, #TheUnholy 

Fight Girls #4 Review!

Frank Cho’s AWA limited series is nearing its conclusion with Fight Girls #4 and we really get the fight girls of the title!  Last issue ended with Agent Matteo investigating candidate #7, Xandra Blackwater.  He was stabbed in the neck by The Butcher and kicks into a wall his colleague.  Cho’s cover has only two contestants left so Xandra is in the center ready to fight, #4 Tora Winter’s face is to the left panel in close-up, and a fist (either fighter) with number 4 below it.  We have the “Deep Min, Helgrave” buildings where The Butcher is kicked back into a wall.  Right back at him.  This is Agent Matteo who asks if he was Empire trained and The Butcher replies he was in Heavy Infantry, Shock Troop.  Matteo answers he was in Recon, Black Guard.  The fight has several swings and kick that breaks The Butcher’s rib.  Fight Boys?  Matteo says he is enhanced.  The Butcher says he was only delaying him for the rail gun.  The panel is in silhouette as we see the projective from the rail gun, a pistol, pierce Matteo’s head!  

Rail guns are usually rifles, the length for the electromagnetic rail to shoot the projectile, a weapon in Gears of War and Fortnite.  Nigel, his colleague, shoots Matteo two more times with his rail gun.  He helps The Butcher walk the alley noting that the cover is blown to “blondie”.  Xandra is wrapping up her wrists and gets the message that she is compromised and should run.  So they are operatives working with Xandra.  She has red hair and an eyepatch, her disguise, so she’s blond and maybe her eye under the patch may be surprising, different color, or something else.  She walks out into the lights of the arena.  We get the camera close-up of Xandra and then Tora Winter, she has short, dark hair with streaks of white, as we get the final challenge.   We get the two page spread with several small panels on the left with “Challenge 4: Combat.”  The panels show closeups of the fighters getting ready to attack, I keep hearing the Mortal Kombat song when Xandra leaps forward with a flying knee.  This is all narrated by the commentators, but this is blocked by Tora.  

Xandra throws swings and finally strikes Tora with her knee sending out specks of blood.  She closes in and then we get the crowd cheering and the prime minister watching from his window.  An assistant checks on the prime minister who asks for the security director.  Xandra closes in at the arena and Tora gives her side kick to the stomach!  Contestant #7 feels the pain and Tora moves in.  Contestant #4 shifts and tackles Xandra.  She pins Xandra and is about to give a knockout punch.  Xanra counters with a palm to the chin and then kicks her in the jaw in a large panel.  It is a back and forth battle.  Tora wipes the blood from her mouth, Xandra smiles, and then they shout in rage.  The two contestant in close combat, trade a kick and knee strikes.  Xandra gives her a kick to the chest, kicks to Tora’s chest, and others send her off the platform.  In partial silhouette, she falls on her upper back.   A long vertical panel has Tora knocked out and seeing stars.  She still manages to recover and sees Xandra above her on the platform.  They eye each other.  

Xandra gestures Tora to face her.  Contestant #4 walks up the steps.  The two contestants lock in their gaze and then their fists are up for the commentators to say is round three.  The prime minister watches the battle.  The security director says Agent Matteo has not reported in and Beta Team is sent to find him.  The prime minister angry that the security director says the investigation will take a week.  He says his niece is in a coma, this would be Contestant #1, Dyana Adamson, struck by Xandra in issue #1.  The prime minister says that once Matteo is found, then they can eliminate Xandra.  They both turn to see the battle.  We get a close-up of Tora’s blood splattering from her mouth from Xandra’s right cross.  She staggers and then Xandra draws back her fist to punch her, this is the panel from the cover!  Then, Tora swerves back and Xandra’s overextends her missed strike.  She catches Xandra in a chokehold, they struggle, and then Xandra falls with Tora holding her in a body lock with arms and legs restraining her.  Tora yells for Xandra to yield, but she refuses.  The outcome is probably not as clean cut with still an issue to go.  What forces will conspire against the winner?  Fight Girls #4 goes full MMA to win the title of queen of the Gilmoran Empire!  

#FightGirls, #Challenge4Combat, #AgentMatteo, #TheButcher

Dune Similarities with Star Wars and Game of Thrones!

Dune (1965), the novel by Frank Herbert, has influenced many sci films and other franchises.  The obvious one is Star Wars (1977), the desert planet, in the case of Star Wars, Tatooine.  There are desert dwellers, aliens, who scavenge, closest to the Fremen are the Sand People.  The Tusken Raiders survive in the desert with robes and face masks.  The Greater Krayt Dragon is in The Mandalorian episode, “Chapter 9: The Marshal.”  It plows through the sand of Mos Pelgo like the Sandworms in Dune.  Plus, a massive jaw to swallow prey, but it doesn’t look like knives are made from its teeth.  Sandcrawlers are like the Spice Harvesters that run on treads.  Speaking of the spice melange, spice is the object that was smuggled by Han Solo and Chewbacca.  It isn't very clear what is the Star Wars spice and why it is valuable.  

We do know there are spice mines in Kessel, there was glitterstim spice mined on Kessel, Star Wars: Jedi Search (1994) by Kevin J. Anderson explored Kessel.  It was part of the Jedi Academy trilogy.  The webs of spice spiders held the telepathic inducing spice similar to melage.  Sansanna spice was seen in the Clone Wars animated series.   Next, we have the Bene Gesserit with their well known use of the Voice, to control persons.  The Jedi have Mind Tricks or Affect Mind seen in Obi-Wan’s “You don’t need to see his identification.” The Bene Gesserit sisters could also use the Weirding Way, which is strike opponents at super speeds, this could almost seem like teleportation to enemies.  Similar to the Jedi’s Force speed seen in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999).  So there is comparisons of the Jedi to the all female Bene Gesserit in terms of their abilities.  

We also have the Sardaukar in Dune, elite soldiers who wore helmets, simliar to Imperial Stormtroopers.  Then, we will get to highest level of galactic society, the Emperor, of course in Dune and Star Wars.  There is Emperor Shaddam IV of House Corrino in Dune.  In Star Wars, there is Emperor Palpatine.  So that brings up our young hero, Luke Skywalker, growing up as a moisture farmer on Tatooine, and Paul Artreides, who was a young heir growing up on the water rich world of Caladan.  For both characters, Luke starts training as a Jedi with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Paul when he reaches Arrakis, start to develop their abilities.  Paul has to struggle with Bene Gesserit training and his awareness growing from exposure to the spice.  They have to understand their powers and responsiblities to fulfill their destinies.  By the way, if a lightsaber went up against a Holtzman generator shield like a lasgun, there would be a nuclear explosion destroying both combatants.     

  

Game of Thrones, the first season, felt exactly like Dune to me when I read the novel by George RR Martin.  We have the land of Westros itself with the The Wall, mostly ice and man made, at the edge of the Seven Kingdoms.  It was a defense against the White Walkers.  In Dune, there is the Shield Wall, also in the north that is a barrier to the storms and the sandworms.  This extends to the houses, comparing Dune to Game of Thrones; House Artreides were like the valiant members of House Stark, House Harkonnen, a sinister version of House Lannister, and the ruling house, House Corrino comparable to House Baratheon.  Then, we have the sandworms that are the dominant force on Arrakis.  On Westros, it is dragon power through House Targaryen.  Lord Eddard Stark is sent from Winterfell, obligated by King Robert Baratheon to join him at King’s Landing.  Similarily, Duke Leto Artreides is assigned to Arrakis and betrayed by the Harkonnen.  I also see young Arya Stark becomes a deadly warrior.  I see her very much like Alia, daughter of Lady Jessica.  These two works, Star Wars and Game of Thrones, may have roots that were grown from Arrakis like burrow bush!  

#Dune, #Tatooine, #Arrakis, #Fremen, #SandPeople, #GreaterKraytDragon, #Sandworm, #BeneGesserit, #Jedi, #Sardaukar, #Stormtroopers, #EmperorShaddamIV, #EmperorPalpatine, #LukeSkywalker, #PaulArtreides, #GameOfThrones, #TheWall, #ShieldWall, #HouseArtreides, #HouseStark, #HouseHarkonnen, #HouseLannister, #HouseCorrino, #HouseBaratheon, #EddardStark, #LetoARtreides, #AryaStark, #Alia

Dune (2021) Review!

Dune: Part One is epic sci fi cinema with an incredible cast and fantastic visuals!  This is the first part because the original novel was 412 pages.  The film is directed and co-written by Denis Villeneuve who last directed Blade Runner 2049 (2017).  Co-screenwriters include Jon Spaihts, who also wrote The Mummy (2017), and Eric Roth, the writer of the adaptation of A Star Is Born (2018).  It is of course based on the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert.  

He had written a total of four novels in the series.  His son, Brian Herbert, is executive producer and co-writer of Dune prequel and sequel novels expanding its universe.  The other author with Herbert on the Dune novels is Kevin J. Anderson, creative consultant for the movie.  The first film, Dune (1984) was directed by David Lynch who also wrote the screenplay.  Next, there was a mini-series of Dune (2000), and Children of Dune (2003), which adapted the next books; Dune Messiah (1969) and Children of Dune (1976).  Dune is currently playing in theaters, its epic scope almost requires viewing at large format theaters like IMAX, and also streaming on HBO Max.  

Darkness, there is a strange, metallic voice in Sardukar, “Dreams are messages from the deep.” Sardaukar are the Emperor's elite soldiers that are later seen along with Salusa Secundus, the prison planet.  There is some drums during the studio logos and then some thumping sounds, the thumper is a device that attracts the attention of the sandworms.  The music is by Hans Zimmer who also crafted the otherworldly sounds with Benjamin Wallfisch for Blade Runner 2049.  We get the narration of a woman, Chani (Zendaya) speaking about Arrakis, her homeworld.  Zendaya is currently in the dramatic series, Euphoria.  

This is an interesting beginning because the character of Chani shows up much later, but centers the film on Chani and her people, the Fremen.  There are beautiful vistas of the desert while the thumping continues.  Greig Fraser is the cinematographer, he also worked on 2019 episodes of The Mandalorian and Vice (2018).  Chani notes that you can see spice in the air.  The spice, called melange, is native to Arrakis and becomes a precious commodity that keeps the known universe functioning and heightens awareness, lengthens life, and makes intergalactic travel possible.  Then, there is the massive churning of a spice harvester.  They are landed at night and monitored by the Fremen including Chani. 

We see the offworlders, the Harkonnen, and the black armor is seen of other soldiers. Then, there  is the warrior, Beast Rabban (Dave Bautista), who walks up steps to see the fleet of spice harvesters in rows like beetles.   Bautista played Sapper Morton in Blade Runner 2049.  Here he has a bald head and pale skin common for the Harkonnens.  The Harkonnen soldiers have black, insectoid face plates with their robes.  Out of the sand, the Fremen warriors burst out and stab the offworld soldiers. Several rifles, lasguns, destroy the harvesters.  

Then, explosive shells like flares split apart and detonate at the Harkonnen positions.  Chani and the other Fremen retreat to rocky caves and she notes that the Harkonnens were withdrawn by the Emperor.  Endless rows of Harkonnen soldiers march towards the bay of a massive ship.  As the Harkonnen ships leave Arrakis, Chani wonders about the next occupiers of her world.  This sets up the conflict of the colonizers and the natives.  Next, we find Paul Artreides (Timothée Chalamet) asleep, Chalamet is in the upcoming film, The French Dispatch.  He perfectly captures a young noble caught in a world of deadly machinations.

Paul wakes up troubled by the brief images we see of Chani, the opening captures her character, and also Paul’s connection through the dreams.  A glowglobe hovers over him.  We see in Paul’s room the date, “Year 10191”, the far future.  Then, clouds blanket dark mountains with lightning rippling beneath patches of clouds blanketing “Caladan, Homeworld of House Artreides.”  Paul is at a dining table with his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson).  The actress was also in this year’s sci fi movie, Reminiscence.  

This dining room has three circular windows with wooden panels and a bonsai tree.  She tells him to wear full dress for the Emperor’s Herald and tests him to force her to give him a water glass.  Lady Jessica wants him to use the Bene Gesserit technique of The Voice, using vocal tones to manipulate people.  She is part of the Bene Gessert sisterhood that are an ancient order of women that influence events across the galaxy.  Paul’s voice comes out distorted, but he has failed.  Paul is caught between trying to follow his mother's Bene Gesserit training and his father's sensible noble rule.  In his room, Paul listens to a book recording of information on Arrakis, and he looks at an illustration of a Fremen still-suit.      

The book notes the sandworm called Shai-hulud by the Fremen.  They have the Eyes of Ibad, a Fremen term for their blue-within-blue eyes caused by the spice.  The book also covers the Spacing Guild which uses Heighliners, giant tube-shaped ships, to fold space and travel across the stars.  A shuttle from the Empire, an incredibly tall, egg-shaped vessel, makes a landing.  Representatives of the Guild, white-robed with face-less helmets filled with spice gas walk out with the Judge of the Change (Benjamin Clementine) in front of them.  

The Artreides representatives include Duke Leto Artreides (Oscar Isaac), Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), Lady Jessica, and Paul.  Isaac is in the dramatic series, Scenes From A Marriage, and Brolin is in this year’s drama, Flag Day and was also in Villeneuve’s crime film, Sicario (2015).  Gurney is the Artreides Warmaster.  Also, there is Thufir Hawat (Stephen Henderson), his eyes go white as he calculates to the last solaris, the trip of this congregation.  Henderson was in the sci fi series, Devs.  Thufir is a Mentat, able to make calculations at the speed of computers, which were banned since the Butlerian Jihad where humans had overthrown the thinking machines.  Mentats have a vertical, black stripe on their chins.  Much of the details of the Dune world are shown without explanations so I'm just filling in bits from research and my own knowledge.    

The Herald of the Change announces that he is there sent by Emperor Shaddam IV of House Corrino, he is mentioned, but not seen. Duke Leto stands forward and accepts the stewardship of Arakkis to the assembled officers roaring, “Artreides!” He seals the document with his signet ring.  A ship sweeps over the land and descends at a hangar. The pilot in a flight suit and helmet, is Duncan Idaho (Jason Mamoa), he leaves the ship and greets Paul. Mamoa currently stars in the dystopian sci fi show, See, with the new character is played by Dave Bautista.  

Idaho is the swordmaster for the Artreides and he is being sent out on a scout mission.  Paul confesses to him that he saw in a dream Duncan with the Fremen and that he dies on Arrakis.  Duncan shrugs it off and leaves.  Paul later sees his father at his grandfather’s grave to ask to go on the scout mission.  His father says that House Artreides has influence with the Great Houses and the Emperor creating a situation on Arrakis turning into a war that can weaken both houses.  Duke Leto hopes Duncan make an alliance with the Fremen.  He is a clever man who knows the forces against his house and wants to protect his family. 

Paul is combat training when Gurney enters and unrolls several blades.  He throws a dagger at the desk next to Paul.  Then, he starts his attack.  Paul activates his Holtzman generator on his leg, this creates a flutter as the shield surrounds his body, very similar to the book, instead of the blocky squares that are in the Lynch version.  Gurney warns Paul about the Harkonnen, he was in the slave pits and recieved his scar from Beast Rabban until saved by Duke Leto.  This shifts to the grey world of “Giedi Prime, Homeworld of House Harkonnen” with an industrial dome palace.  

A shuttle brings the arrival of Beast Rabban, who walks up next to Mentat, Piter de Vries (David Dastmalchian).  The actor was a standout as Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad.  Beast Rabban tells his uncle that they have left Arrakis and screams that the Emperor took away the Harkonnen's power.  Baron Vladmir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) behind steam, wipes his bald forehead like Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now (1979).  He has plans for Arakkis.  It is raining on Caladan when the Bene Gesserit sisters arrive.  Lady Jessica wakes up Paul to take him to the library to get checked by Dr. Yueh (Chen Chang).  The actor starred in the historical war film, Red Cliff (2008).  He warns Paul about the Bene Gesserit.  Lady Gesserit uses the Artreides battle language, a secret sign language to tell Yueh to keep silent about the meeting.  

Then, she introduces Paul to the leader of the Bene Gesserit, Reverend Mother Gaius Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling), the actress played The Abbess in Benedetta (2021).  The Reverend Mother has a black, tall hat like a chess piece and a veil.  There are incredible costumes by Bob Morgan and Jacqueline West.  She uses The Voice to force Paul to kneel in front of her and has him put his hand in a rectangular box.  The Reverend Mother holds a poison needle, a Gom Jabbar, at his neck which she will use if he removes his hand from the box.  Outside, Lady Jessica stands guard, but feels Paul’s pain.  

Paul struggles and she repeats the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear, “I must not fear.  Fear is the mind killer.”  He seems to get strength from his mother and looks steadily at the Reverend Mother passing the test.  Lady Jessica and the Reverend Mother walk back to her ship and the head of the Bene Gesserit says that Jessica has went against their orders.  She had a child believing he would be the Kwisatz Haderach.  This is the messianic figure that the Bene Gesserit have manipulated centuries of bloodlines to bring peace to the universe.  Paul has overheard their conversation and thinks he is forced to be a pawn.  When the Artreides finally reach Arrakis, the Fremen crowds shout “Lisan al Gaib”, “The Voice from the Outer World”, when they see Paul.  Thufir takes Paul and Lady Jessica in an ornithopter, transports that have six wings that flutter like hummingbirds, again right out of the books.  

He takes them to the city of Arrakeen which is next to the Shield Wall, a large range of mountains to protect from storms and sandworms.  In the novel, it was owned by Count Fenrig, a man close to the Emperor. Thufir takes Lady Jessica to review Fremen housekeepers and picks out the Shadout Mapes (Golda Rosheuvel). She was Queen Charlotte in the Bridgerton series. The Fremen woman has brought a weapon as a gift, a chrysknife, this is a Fremen blade made out of a sandworm’s tooth. Paul later reviews the book that explains the Fremen sandwalk, the walking motion that breaks up sounds that attracts the sandworms. Out of the wall, comes a mosquito-like hunter-seeker to assassinate Paul, but he is able to destroy it.  

The Reverend Mother has arrived at Geidi Prime to tell Baron Harkonnen that Jessica and Paul are under Bene Gesserit protection.  They meet in the Cone of Silence, a field to distort any audio from their conversation, but isn’t this like the same device in Get Smart, the comedy spy series?  The Baron rises up on suspensors to float above Piter with his black robe falling below him.  Thufir takes Duke Leto, Gurney, and Paul out to see the sabotaged silos.  Duncan has returned and tells them about the Fremen sietches, underground living areas.  Then, they meet with Stilgar (Javier Bardem), trusted by Duncan, who gives a Fremen greeting.  Bardem is in the upcoming bio drama, Being the Ricardos. 

In the morning, a carryall takes a spice harvester out to the desert.  Duke Leto meets with the Arrakis Judge of the Change, Dr. Liet Kynes (Sharon Duncan-Brewster).  She checks on Duke Leto’s stillsuit that cools and preserves body moisture allowing survival in the deep desert.  Duncan-Brewster was in Intergalactic, a sci fi show.  This is a gender change for the character, which I like, originally he was the father of Chani.  She guides them in an `thopter to see spice harvesting in the deep desert.  Kynes notes that there are spotter aircraft to check for wormsign, a sandwave that indicates surfacing of a sandworm.  Something like the Graboids in Tremors (1990).  The spice harvester is a flat, long vehicle on treads.  

Duke Leto is able to spot a sandworm.  Dr. Kynes contacts the spice harvester about the warning.  The carryall is about to dock with the spice harvester, but one cable is unable to connect, sabotaged by the Harkonnen!  Dr. Kynes notes that there is a crew of twenty one on the harvester.  Duke Leto has the crew escape on the `thopters.  Paul goes out to bring in the spice workers, but when he steps onto the sand, he is affected by the spice and has a vision.  Shai-hulud is approaching!  Paul hears, “The Kwisatz Haderach awakes!”  Gurney goes out to pull Paul who is kneeling by the harvester.  They escape as the sandworm engulfs the sand harvester!  The downside to the movie may be its pacing at two hours and thirty-five minutes, but an epic needs patience to unfold the story.  The destiny of Paul Artreides is arriving in Dune, he has to survive a Harkonnen attack, and the desert to meet the Fremen and Chani!  

Four Chrysknives out of Five! 

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