Happy Birthday Gal Gadot!

Happy Birthday Gal Gadot! One of her earlier film roles was as Gisele Yashar in Fast & Furious (2009). It was fourth movie in the action movie franchise directed by Justin Lin.  Then, she played Naomi in the action comedy Knight and Day (2010). Gadot continued racing with Fast Five (2011) before her character reached the finish line in Fast & Furious 6 (2013). She played Natanya in the comedy Date Night (2010). Gal Gadot’s defining role was as Wonder Woman in Beavis. Next, Gadot played Jill Pope, the wife of Ryan Reynold’s character in the action film, Criminal (2016). Gadot returned to comedy as Natalie Jones, as the mysterious neighbor, in Keeping Up with the Jones (2016). In October 2016, she attended the United Nations Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls inducting briefly Wonder Woman.  She appeared with Lynda Carter and director Patty Jenkins.    

Everything of course changed when she returned as Diana in Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman (2017). The film brought in $821 million world wide and showed the break out success of a female superhero lead. Gadot later returned as Wonder Woman, as leader of legendary heroes in Justice League (2017). In 2018, Gadot voiced Shank, the race car driver in Slaughter Race in the animated sequel Ralph Breaks the Internet. Next year, she returned to the role of Wonder Woman in the slightly delayed Wonder Woman 1984! She of course appeared as Wonder Woman in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Gadot was the action movie Red Notice playing Sarah Black. She played Linnet Ridgeway Doyle in Death on the Nile. Gadot hosted and executive produced Impact with Gal Gadot. The National Geographic series featured six women who make a difference on their communities. She appears in Shazam: Fury of the Gods. Happy Birthday Gal Gadot!

#GalGadot, #Fast&Furious, #KnightAndDay, #DateNight, #Criminal, #KeepingUpWithTheJones, #WonderWoman, #JusticeLeague, #RalphBreaksTheInternet, #WonderWoman1984,#RedNotice, #DeathontheNile, #ImpactWithGalGadot, #ShazamFuryOfTheGods 

Peter Pan & Wendy Review!

Peter Pan & Wendy captures the magic of J.M. Barrie and expands it with a beginning and hints at an end! It is based on the 1953 Peter Pan animated classic. This was in turn based on chapters in the novel, The Little White Bird (1902), expanded in Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906), which featured Peter’s days as an infant growing up with fairies. Then, the play, Peter Pan; or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up (1904) which brought in Wendy, her brothers, and the adventures in Neverland. This finally became the novel Peter and Wendy (1911) which simply became known as Peter Pan. There are many films, television, and adaptations of many forms over the years including Peter Pan (2003). The director, David Lowery directed and co-wrote the remake, Pete’s Dragon (2016) for Disney, and also the brilliant Arthurian drama, The Green Knight (2021).  His co-writer is Toby Halbrooks who was one of the producers of The Green Knight. It is currently streaming on Disney+, but I think the film's scope deserves a theatrical release. The film begins, irising out to black and white photos of a infant girl, her mother, and the rest of the family through the years. 

We hear two boys at play with wooden swords. One boy with a top hat and glasses, John (Joshua Pickering) rushes up a stair, his younger brother, Michael (Jacobi Jupe) carrying his teddy bear. Pickering was in the British fantasy series, A Discovery of Witches, and Jupe was in the show, Britannia. The beginning mirrors what was in the 1953 Disney film. Then, it is up the circular stair case when the title appears, there is a green feather through the “t” in Peter. The animated version had a red feather. Wendy (Ever Anderson), in her blue night coat, carries a suitcase as her mother (Molly Parker) reminds her to pack. Anderson played the young Natasha in the MCU film, Black Widow (2021). Lost in Space, the sci fi reboot series, starred Parker as Maureen Robinson. We hear John taking the “treasure” from his mother’s room. Wendy enters the nursery room followed by her brothers still at their duel. She stares out of the window at the stormy sky and what awaits her the next day. Wendy overhears them with John playing Captain Hook and Michael as Peter Pan. This sets her to pick up another wooden sword and join the action! 

Their Newfoundland dog, Nana, barks at the play. Wendy disarms John’s sword and it smashes into a window! Their father, George (Alan Tudyk), in his suit, enters the nursery. Tudyk voiced the Scroll in Disenchanted (2022) as well as many characters in animated features. He sees the damage, again!, and asks who is responsible. John eyes Wendy. He is angry at her and takes backs their swords. Then, he takes away Nana, Wendy says she was having some fun, but her father says she is too old for fun. At the broken mirror, Wendy holds up the “treasure”, her mother’s earrings. Mrs. Darling enters, but Wendy goes to her bed to read Twisted Tale. Her privacy from others is from a drawn curtain. There are Disney books with the title that are spins on the animated movies so this might be a nod to them. Mrs. Darling tucks in the boys into their sheets. John looks at his watch. Michael asks his mother why Captain Hook hates Peter Pan. This is a question that is answered in this story! Mrs. Darling has a chat with Wendy saying that she should set an example as the big sister and a leader. This is the function of the boys so Wendy can take the step into being a young woman.  

Wendy notes that she is going to boarding school in the morning. Mrs. Darling says she had did the same thing, but Wendy says back that she doesn’t want her mother’s life, ouch! Her mother gently tells her daughter that she is growing up. Wendy says she doesn’t want to grow up. Mrs. Darling says that she can’t stop time, what Wendy will miss if she didn’t grow up, and what the world will miss without her. A It’s a Wonderful Life moment. Mrs. Darling starts to sing a lullaby, “All Grown Up”, which is very important. We pan over the house to see Mr. Darling let out Nana to the dog house and then through sparkles that flash towards the window! Closeup of the window, we see the tiny Tinkerbell (Yara Shahidi) look through it to see the children. Shahidi is known for the Black-ish spin-off comedy series, grown-ish as the lead character, Zoey Johnson. She uses her magic to open the windows. I love effect of her wings beating at blurring speeds like a hummingbird. POV of Tinkerbell checking on Michael and then John, who are asleep and then flying over to Wendy.

She opens the curtain and then blows pixie dust on Wendy. Also asleep, Wendy starts to float upwards! Tinkerbell guides Wendy over to the room, then suddenly snatched up by John!, Wendy falls. Michael says to Wendy that she was flying and that it was a “little bug” that did it! John opens his hands a little revealing Tinkerbell. She is angry and her voice comes out as a little bell ringing. John suddenly finds a sword at his shoulder! Peter Pan (Alexander Molony) tells him that Tinkerbell is a fairy. Molony was in the television horror movie, The Bad Seed Returns (2022). He stands balanced on the edge of a chair. Molony’s Peter Pan just embodies fun, but there is much more to the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up.  Wendy is stunned that he is real and not a story, Peter asks why he can’t be both, and starts to go through the room. Tinkerbell hops and points to a shaking drawer. Peter explains that he is looking for his shadow. His Shadow Self is Peter’s weakness, the tie to what I think is his past, and of course is magical. Peter Pan chases his shadow around the room and then finally holds it at the top of the stairs!

 

Peter tries to tie his shadow to himself and Wendy brings over a sewing kit. Tinkerbell tries to hold her hand holding the needle back, but Peter reassures her about Wendy. Peter can understand Tinkerbell, Wendy asks him how, and he explains she hasn’t learned to hear her. I really like the insert reactions and gestures of Shahidi. Her bell speech is keeping with the original character and film, but I think it could go a little further with Tinkerbell using ASL like what I expect with Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Peter explains he heard Wendy’s name from her mother’s calls. We see Mrs. Darling calling for Wendy. Peter has an innocent and interesting tie to the house. He says he was waiting for her to say what he had said before that she doens’t want to grow up. Wendy accidentally pokes him with the needle. He is suddenly frightened and Michael brings up their mother gives a kiss. Peter says he needs one, Wendy is hesitant, and then brings a thimble from the sewing kit. He accepts the “kiss”, and then leads them to the window to head for Neverland. John takes his top hat and Michael takes Mr. Bear. Peter says that they have think “happy thoughts” and some pixie dust. 

Tinkerbell lands on Wendy’s hands, Wendy closes her eyes, and thinks of her mother when she was young, playing, and spending time with her family. Wendy says this was when she was happy. She opens her eyes floating above Nana. Michael happily flies and John is a bit nervous. Wendy knowing she can fly starts to go all Supergirl and the others fly along with her. The music by Daniel Hart gently goes into “You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!” from the 1953 film, but no singing. Hart worked on Lowery’s films including The Green Knight. They soar through London, a fun scene even with all of the filmed flying!, and Peter bursts into super speed! The best part is flying through Big Ben which ties into the stopping of time theme and the pieces of clock pull back along with the Big Ben chime! They enter a time vortex, I’m expecting the TARDIS, and then float in darkness. Wendy reaches out to touch it and the darkness resolves into ocean water. Tinkerbell races ahead to the dark Neverland in the dawn. Wendy flies over a school of mermaids, speaking of The Little Mermaid, with bio-luminescent tails. All of this is very beautiful. The cinematography is by Bojan Bazelli who worked with Lowery on Pete’s Dragon. 

Wendy starts to run on a grassy hill with the others behind her. Then, Peter leads her to more islands of Neverland. There is so much to Neverland beyond a single island that I hope it is explored in other films possibly a Tinkerbell solo movie maybe featuring Pixie Hollow? Peter and Wendy fly around a cleft in two peaks followed by the others. They are seen by the lookout, Skylight (Jesse James Pierce) on the pirate ship, Jolly Roger! He leaps down on a rope to the deck, tries to rouse the crew, and goes to a cabin door. Skylight nervously knocks at the door and is about to say Peter’s name, but the door is knocked back by a gunshot! Stepping from the cabin is the stylish and brutal Captain Hook played by Jude Law. Albus Dumbledore was played by Law in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022). He reminds the crew not to say the name and then calls for Mr. Smee (Jim Gaffigan). The comedian has also been acting including the thriller, Collide (2022). Hook asks for a telescope and sees Peter Pan. He calls for inviting Peter for tea to the rousing cheers of his pirates!  

Wendy is flying when there is a boom below and a cannonball hurtles past her! Peter takes everyone down to a sea cliff overlooking Hook’s ship. Hook calls for a broadside blasting the cannons at the cliff! Peter flies them to another sea cliff. Hook sees him through his telescop and fires a cannon at him! The explosion tosses everyone to the sea! Waves rush in as Wendy is unconscious on a beach. She wakes and finds the fairy dust leave her hands. Wendy picks up Peter Pan’s hat and then runs up a grassy cliff to call out everyone’s names. She falls on her knees and then sees a girl, Tiger Lily, (Alyssa Wapanatâhk) on a white horse speaking to her in Cree. Wapanatâhk was in the comedy film, Rehab (2022). She acts as a lieutenant to the Lost Boys and watches over them and Peter. The other Lost Boys also approach. Nibs (Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez), wearing glasses and bear pajamas sees Peter’s hat. Birdie (Diana Tsoy) in her plant camoflague takes out her spear. Tsoy played Young Zhilan in Kung Fu’s episode, “Guidance” (2021). Wendy is stopped by an arrow loosed by Curly (Florence Bensberg). Tiger Lily asks if she is `The Wendy.’ She is questioned by The Twins (Kelsey and Skyler Yates) if she knows stories.  

Curly sends another arrow, but told to stop by Wendy and Tiger Lily who helps her up. Wendy realizes that she is the Tiger Lily of the stories. Tootles (Caelan Edie), wears a crown of reeds, says they are the Lost Boys. Wendy says they are not all boys. Of course the name is important, just ask the Dread Pirate Roberts, and the character names are the same. This seems to reflect the orphans at the Great Ormond Street Hospital whom J.M. Barrie gave the rights to his creation. Walking to the cliff’s edge is Slightly (Noah Matthews Matofsky) with the telescope carried by Bellweather (Felix de Sousa) with a mud-like mask. Matthews Matofsky is the first actor with Down’s syndrome in a Disney film, the last time I saw a similar actor was Chris Burke as Corky in the drama series, Life Goes On (1989-1993). He asks Wendy to describe her brothers. Tootles takes the wood telescope and asks if her brother has a bear. Wendy looks with the telescope, but can’t find anyone. The Lost Boys doubt Wendy saying she is too old. Nibs points out that she is looking in the wrong direction. Wendy sees her brothers brought aboard a boat, captured by pirates!, and they are brought onto the Jolly Roger. Smee says he had taken in Hook when he was their age trying to return to Neverland! They are taken to see Captain Hook! The pasts of Peter Pan and Captain Hook are respectfully expanded upon by Lowery and leaves room for more adventures! Peter Pan and Wendy is a fun and beautiful addition to the stories by J.M. Barrie!  

Five+ Sprinkles of Pixie Dust out of Five!  

#PeterPanAndWendy, #DavidLowery, #EverAnderson, #AlexanderMolony, #JudeLaw,  #JoshuaPickering, #JacobiJupe, #YaraShahidi, #AlyssaWapanatahl, #CaelanEdie, #FlorenceBensberg, #SebastianBillingsleyRodriguez, #NoahMatthewsMatofsky, #DianaTsoy, #FelixDeSousa, #KelseyYates, #SkylerYates, #MollyParker, #AlanTudyk, #JimGaffigan 

FIDM Museum - Art of Costume Design in Film 2023!

 The FIDM Museum’s annual event is the Art of Costume Design in Film usually in time for the Academy Awards! The exhibit opened on March 7th, the Academy Awards were held on March 12th, and it closes on May 6th. There were a number of nominated films from last year; Elvis, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Everything Everwhere All At Once, Babylon, and Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, all of which had costumes at the exhibit. This year, there was no centerpiece in the middle of the entry room. To the left, the first costumes that were seen were from Blonde, from costume designer, Jennifer Johnson. There was the pink dress from Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds Are Girl’s Best Friend” number in the film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). Then, the white ivory cocktail dress from The Seven Year Itch (1955), which shows up in photographs as an almost yellow color. All of the dresses worn by Ana de Armas in the movie. 

Next is the pink dress from Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris by nominated costume designer, Jenny Beavan. There were a few costumes from Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery including the outfits worn by Andi Brand (Janelle Monae), Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), and Birdie Joy (Kate Hudson). What surprised me was at the end of the left side was a display of Viking costumes. It made me wonder what film had Vikings and it turns out this was from The Northman, a film I did see!, from costume designer Linda Muir. It did feature the wolf headdress and furs of the lead, Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård). On the other side are costumes from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever which won Ruth E. Carter another Academy Award! New for me was the costume of Namor (Tenoch Huerta) with snake headdress, cloak, and Vibranium spear. Next to him is the new Black Panther armor. There was Queen Ramonda’s purple ceremonial dress worn by Angela Bassett. 

                                                               The costumes of Black Panther: World of Wakanda by Ruth E. Carter, author’s photo. 

To the right against the wall were the costumes of Downton Abbey: A New Era and Bullet Train including the big mascot Momomon! The next room had the Everything Everywhere All At Once costumes. There were two Jobu Tupaki outfits worn by Stephanie Hsu; a black one and her Elvis inspired costume. On another platform was the costume of Evelyn Wang, Best Actress Michelle Yeoh, Waymond, Best Supporting Actor Ke Huy Quan, and Best Supporting Actress, Jamie Lee Curtis, outfit as Deirdre Beaueirdre. Next to them was Academy Award nominee Mary Mophres’ costumes from Babylon. These include two dresses of Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie); a white dress and a very revealing red dress. On the other side of the room are three costumes from Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness; America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). The last display of the second room were costumes of Emerald (Keke Palmer) and OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) from Nope. 

The next room had a three costumes from The Batman; in the back was The Riddler (Paul Dano) who seemed to tower over The Batman (Robert Pattinson) and in the front was the black leather outfit of Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz). To the side is three costumes of Elvis designed by Catherine Martin who was nominated for the Academy Award. There is the Pink-And-Black Rockabilly Suit, the Turquoise Concho suit used in concerts, Elvis’ Black Leather Suit from the `68 Comeback Special. These were all worn by Austin Butler. At the other end of the long room I mistook for modern day cowboy costumes. This was actually costumes from Jurassic World: Dominon! The confusion over costumes from movies I saw continues. On the left side of the room were three unfamiliar outfits. They were from The Woman King, designed by Gersha Phillips, which I thought need more award recognition! In front was the costume of Nanisca (Viola Davis), and in the back, Izogle (Lashana Lynch) and Nawi (Thuso Mbedu). 

                                                                        Babylon and Everything Everywhere All At Once costumes, photo by the author. 

The confusion continued with what I thought was an astronaut movie. Nope!, it was Top Gun: Maverick, seriously. On the left side was the flight suit of Lt. Bradley `Rooster’ Bradshaw (Miles Teller), in the back is the High Altitude Pressure Suit of Captain Pete `Maverick’ Mitchell (Tom Cruise), and on the right is the leather jacket of Maverick. At the end of the left side were four costumes from Thor: Love and Thunder. In front was the steel colored armor of Mighty Thor (Natalie Portman) and on the other side is the gold and blue armor of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) with the massive Stormbreaker Axe. In the back is the black armor of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and the white robe of Gorr (Christian Bale). In between them are the props of Dragonfang, King Valkyrie’s sword, and Gorr’s Necrosword. The last room featured costumes from Avatar: The Way of Water which is strange since behind the scenes, the actors wore blue CGi suits. There was a case of two daggers, one had a conch-like handle and an abalone shell blade. FIDM’s Art of Costume Design in Film has the incredible opportunity to see the creativity and hard work of movie costume designers!   

#FIDMMuseum, #ArtOfCostumeDesignInFilm, #Blonde, #JenniferJohnson, #AnaDeArmas, #MrsHarrisGoesToParis, #JennyBeavan, #GlassOnionAKnivesOutMystery, #JanelleMonae, #DanielCraig, #KateHudson, #TheNorthman, #LindaMuir, #AlexanderSkarsgard, #BlackPantherWakandaForever, #RuthECarter, #TenochHuerta, #AngelaBassett, #WinstonDuke, #LupitaNyongo, #DowntwonAbbeyANewEra, #BulletTrain, 

#EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce, #ShirleyKurata, #StephanieHsu, #MichelleYeoh, #KeHuyQuan, #JamieLeeCurtis, #Babylon, #MaryMophres, #MargotRobbie, #DoctorStrangeAndTheMultiverseOfMadness, #XochitlGomez, #BenedictCumberbatch, #ElizabethOlsen, #Nope, #KekePalmer, #DanielKaluuya, #TheBatman, #RobertPattinson, #ZoeKravitz, #PaulDano, #Elvis, #CatherineMartin, #AustinButler 

#JurassicWorldDominion, #TheWomanKing, #GershaPhillips, #ViolaDavis, #LashanaLynch, #ThusoMbedu, #TopGunMaverick, #MilesTeller, #TomCruise, #ThorLoveAndThunder, #NataliePortman, #ChrisHemsworth, #TessaThompson, #ChristianBale, #AvatarTheWayOfWater 

Young Jedi Adventures, “Meet the Young Jedi”, Review!

The new Star Wars animated series is a number of shorts to interest our Younglings! The Lucasfilm Animation series has showrunner Michael Olson with Elliot Bour as supervising director. The first two episodes were shown at Celebration Europe on April 8th. Six episodes are currently streaming on Disney+. The first episode, “Meet the Young Jedi” is five minutes and serves as a quick introduction to the characters. It is set in the High Republic era so the Jedi are not tied to any place or event. Kai Brightstar (Jamaal Avery Jr.) confidentally ignites his green lightsaber. His friend, Lys Solay (Juliet Donenfeld), a Pantoran Padawan, points out the training droid is for older kids.  On top of the spinning top-like droid is Nubs (Dee Bradley Baker), a Pooba, who looks like a blue-furred bear. Kai is not worried so Lys activates it. The training droid rises up and then activates three lightsabers. The Padawans ready their lightsabers, Nubs has a blue lightsaber and Lys has a pinkish-colored blade which almost matches her purplish hair. We saw Younglings use training lightsabers in Attack of the Clones. 

Slow motion as the Padawans leap into battle and Kai introduces himself. They are sparring in an area of a Jedi Temple. He explains about Jedi being “strong in the Force.” There was a Legends book series, Young Jedi Knights by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta that took place after Return of the Jedi. Kai continues that they are at the temple on Tenoo, new Outer Rim planet. Then, he tells about Lys who “knows all about creatures”, leaping onto a rope to take a lizard-like beastie from the training droid’s lightsaber. Kai goes on to say they hope to be Jedi Knights as Nubs faces the training droid. He notices a flower and then is knocked upside down into a temple block. Nubs picks up the falling pillar from crushing the flower, Kai says, “He’s also the strongest Youngling I know.” The training droid presses Kai back and he says that he will turn it off. Kai back flips onto the droid, but is thrown off. Lys says to Nubs that they will use team work. They surround the droid, but the droid pins their lightsaber carrying arms. 

Kai uses a hologram to call for help from Nash Durago (Emma Berman). She is relaxing in her pilot chair. Nash points out her droid, RJ-83 (Jonathan Lipow), who is droid dome with two eyes and tiny arms. Then, tells Kai they will be there. The training droid spins throwing them away without their lightsabers. It threatens Nubs, but stops. It is held by Kai using the Force. He says they can all use the Force to stop the training droid. The trio use the Force to hold the droid in place, but Lys wonders who can shut it off. Then, we have the arrival of Nash with her ship, the Crimson Firehawk. RJ leaps on the training droid to open its access panel. Nash deactivates it with a push of a button and then flips RJ onto her back. They all hug as the lizard sets off a chain reaction toppling the pillars. The Padawans try to use the Force to hold a pillar back. It is safely held by Master Yoda (Piotr Michael). Kai accepts blame, but working together, Yoda gives them a mission. The Crimson Firehawk take the Young Jedi to new adventures! Young Jedi Adventures is fun, perfect for school age kids, and taking them into the Star Wars world! 

Four Training Droids out of Five! 

#YoungJediAdventures, #Tenoo, #Nash, #JamaalAveryJr, #Lys, #JulietDonenfeld, #Nubs, #DeeBradleyBaker, #Nash, #EmmaBerman, #RJ, #JonathanLipow, #Yoda, #PiotrMichael 

  

Spirited Away: Live On Stage Review!

Spirited Away: Live On Stage adapts Hayao Miyazaki's classic anime with brilliant theatrical touches!  The film adaptation is co-written and directed by John Caird who had previously directed Les Misérables the Dream Cast in Concert (1995) tv special. In 1987, Caird won the Tony Award for Best Director of Les Misérables. His co-writer was Maoko Imai. The stage adaptation debuted at the Imperial Theatre Tokyo on February 28, 2022. This was filmed during its 2022 run. The movie is presented by GKIDS Films for this year’s Studio Ghibli Fest. It is of course based on the 2001 Studio Ghibli movie which was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The anime won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The original score is by Joe Hisaishi with music, orchestration, and arrangements by Brad Haak. Toby Olié designed and directed the puppetry. He co-founded Puppetry in Motion and worked on the production of War Horse (2007). Chichiro Ogino is played by Kanna Hashimoto who originated the part along with Mone Kamishiraishi. Hashimoto was part of the Japanese idol girl group, Rev. from DVL. Her first film was the drama, I Wish (2011).  

We see the theater audience waiting below the center stage, it has ramps stage left and stage right and two stairs down the center stage. We see Chihiro walking from the stage left ramp to center stage. A light illuminates the car, where her father, named Akio in the anime, and mother, Yūko (Miyu Sakihi) are driving with a road. Their names are never mentioned. Trees are projected on the stage wall. She has roses for her birthday, this was a goodbye gift from her friend in the anime, and then we see the `Spirited Away’ title projected above them. Her parents point out their new blue house. The title drift away like flower petals. The father is recklessly driving down the road in the anime, but stops by a bullet-shaped Jizo statue. If is correct, Jizo statues are guardians of the road and protectors of children. A tunnel, doorway, is at the stage wall and this interests Chihiro’s parents. She is too scared, stamping her feet, to enter the tunnel. 

The Jizo statues, two in the play, turn with actor faces. This spooks Chichiro to enter the tunnel and the stage is plunged into darkness. We see rotating buildings on center stage and father says that it must be an old theme park from the 90’s, the same dialogue from the anime. We see people in tan robes, spirits, that scare Chihiro from the tunnel. In the anime, it is a bright summer day to contrast with the darkness of the tunnel. The stage for the play is not lit with heavy stagelights so it has some spookiness. The building rotates and then we see a yatai, food stall, and Chihiro’s parents start eating the dishes without anyone around. What I think is happening is that Chihiro is introduced to an adult world; her parents may be representing gluttinous adults. She walks off and the restaurant spins, a bathhouse roof drops on the stage. Part of the Shintō religion, belief in nature spirits, kami, invited to bathe to purify themselves. There is a miniature train that circles around the stage. The train becomes important later on. 

A boy later called Haku (Kotaro Daigo), in white robes, goes to warn Chihiro to cross the river. Spirits, actors in dark veils, surround her. Chihiro manges to find her parents, now with giant pig heads! They are led away by spirits that swat at them. One spirit chases Chihiro around the stage. She steps down the stage left stairs into the river and the spirits dance around her. Chihiro says to them repeatedly, “Go away!”, but then she is covered with a similar shroud. Then, she sees red-robed spirits walking, the anime has a riverboat arriving to unload the bathhouse guests. Haku arrives and gives Chihiro a berry to eat and keep her in the Spirit World. Doors fill the stage and surround Chihiro and Haku. They flip over to reveal the pig pen, but her parents are fully transformed into pigs. The bathhouse workers sing, the singing and dancing are more emphasized here, “Welcome spirits/nameless gods.” Among the spirits, is the Radish Spirit, tall, bulky with the two stalks as part of his face and a red hat. Great costume! Chihiro passes No-Face (Koharu Sugawara), he has a white, Noh-like mask and black body stocking and robes. 

No-Face is a quiet spirit that Chihiro invites into the bathhouse and takes on the dangerous greed of the spirits representing adults. Haku tells her to hold her breath or she will be seen by everyone. She is about to get to the other end of the bridge when Aogaeru, a green frog puppet, greets Haku-sama. Haku tells Chihiro the way to the boiler room, ask for a job, and to beware Yubaba. She asks how he knows her name and Haku says he knew her since she was little. A mystery that is later answered. The building turns into the steps and bridge, Actress Hashimoto pantomimes trip-running down the steps, a hilarious and terrifying moment in the anime! Then, we see Kamaji (Tomorowo Taguchi), who is a spirit with six puppetered arms and sings as we see Sooties (also called Soot Sprites) that are also on strings. Kamaji, a fun part for Taguchi, refuses to give her a job. Chihiro helps pick up a piece of coal from a Sootie and brings it to the boiler. This melts the Sootie for not completing its job. A woman appears in red robes, she is later called Lin, also played by Sakihi who plays the mother. Kamaji wants her to get Chihiro a job from Yubaba. He extends one arm across the stage to offer Lin a roasted newt. Lin agrees to take Chihiro and Lin reminds her to thank Kamaji. Politeness is important in fairy and spirit worlds. 

They take an elevator which is a platform with moving lights to a floor where the workers dance. Radish Spirit is about to enter the elevator and Chihiro hides behind him as the Foreman asks about the human. She reaches the top floor and bows to Radish Man. A chair tosses Chihiro into Yubaba’s office. Three green heads appear behind a black curtain. This is Kashira with two of the heads on a man’s hands while he wears a sumo-like mawashi lioncloth. We see Yubaba (Mari Natsuki) at her desk, grey hair in bun, almost witch-like face, and blue dress. Chihiro insists, “I want to work here!” Yubaba rages at her, splitting her desk, and a giant head forms around her. She is distracted by a baby’s voice behind the curtain, then a big baby foot smacks her!, this is Boh, her child. Chihiro continues to ask for work and a pen and paper float to her. Her name appears on screen, Yobaba sends away the “hiro” part of her name and then changes the rest to Sen. Identity is also another theme of this story. There is also environmentalism that involves the Stink Spirit!, purification of environment and spirit is important, but I also see the challenges of a child growing up in an adult world like Labyrinth (1986). It is still available, April 25, 27, and May 2nd. Dong' miss it! Spirited Away: Live On Stage has incredible actors, dancing and songs, Olié's puppets, all in a production bringing the magic of Miyazki's anime to life!   

Five + Herbal Soak Tokens out of Five! 

#SpiritedAwayLiveOnStage, #JohnCaird, #KannaHashimoto, #KotaroDaigo, #MiyuSakihi, #TomorowoTaguchi, #KoharuSugawara, #MariNatsuki

The Ark, “Everybody Wins”, Review!

The season one finale of The Ark, we are racing to find the Klampkins cure, resolve the situation with Maddox and the Ark-15, and Proxima-B has its own challenges! Re:cap: “The Last Thing You Ever Do”; Brice is unconscious on the bed with Dr. Kabir taking the blame and Alicia reassuring her. She says the results says that it isn’t the cure didn’t cause the heart failure, it didnt’ work, he still has the Klampkins in his blood. In the cell, Klaus walks away, as Maddox judges her daughter. Our heroes run to the shuttle bay, Garnet and Lane start the fight, Lane shocks a guard and they continue to the shuttle! Garnet tells ARk-1 that they are leaving with Lane and Trust. They are locked to Ark-15. Eva says they are manually locked to the ship! Garnet goes to hit the release, but Lane wants to unlock the shuttle! Lane locks the hatch and then releases the manual lock. Garnet flies the shuttle away. The weapon is turned to the shuttle and then blows up. Uh oh, Maddox has lost her weapon, Eva remotely destroyed it! Tough guy forces open the door and takes Lane into custody. “Everybody Wins” has Alicia reuniting with Angus and hugs him in front of everybody. Garnet has security to take away Trust. Felix tells Garnet that Brice is in med bay. Lane wants his bind removed and then begins bashing the guards once freed.

One guard falls activating the ship alarm on his wrist device. Brice has regained consciousness with Eva who was always at his side. Also, Dr. Kabir is there saying she followed the research. Brice is angry that he again had hope for the cure. Lane is running in the corridor and sees a number of personnel. He contacts Garnet and tells her to charge up the FTL. Lane says he will destroy the Ark-15’s FTL. Alicia and Dr. Kabir go over the cure. Dr. Kabir finds that the vial is missing the venom. She notes that exposure to helium will destory the venom. Alicia realizes that he ship’s air with trace helium will ruin the venom. Dr. Kabir says that the spider has to bite Brice. He is scared about putting his hand into the case of spiders. I like that Brice has fears along with his brash confidence. Brice lowers his hand, Dr. Kabir turns away, and the spiders crawl on his hand. Alicia is fascinated, but they don’t bite until Alicia knocks on the case. He pulls his hand out. Um, the spiders were crawling on his hand, did they just fall off? Lane has reached the engine room and sees a crew member whom he hits with the shock prod. He hits the FTL device with a crowbar, it sparks, and then his signal goes out. 

THE ARK -- “Everybody Wins” -- TIANA UPCHEVA, PAUL LEONARD MURRAY, PAVLE JERINIC, STACEY READ, CHRISTIE BURKE, RICHARD FLEESHMAN, REECE RITCHIE  --  Photo: Aleksander Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY

Maddox and her security have batons all around him. Lt. Brice doesn't know if the cure will work, Eva looks worried, Dr. Kabir shows Alicia her data pad. She is about to tell Brice, but Alicia blurts out that he is cured. He is cured and Eva hugs him. Brice is overcome with tears, I like Eva's tearful eyes, and everyone smiles. One problem solved! Garnet is at the bridge when Eva takes her seat. Garnet turns to her and realizes that Brice is cured. She starts to get emotional at her happiness. Garnet calls all of the council to the ready room. Brice walks in with an IV. Garnet notes that they have another bargaining chip with the cure. Brice wants to be ready with a gun when Maddox goes to the airlock. Garnet says that humanity was dying thinking like Trust and Maddox, I really like that thinking and not waiting for an apocalypse to think that way. Ms. Maddox (as she corrects Garnet) is angry at first, Garnet is bargaining for Lane and sharing the planet. Garnet says they will leave her there without a cure or FTL, so Maddox agrees to Garnet’s terms. At his cell, Garnet has told Trust about the deal, Trust says he wants freedom. Garnet laughs at this, says he can share programming with Maddox, or she will turn him over to her! He wants Cat to be freed. 

At the airlock, Maddox is there with her gunmen and Lane, she says to him that she won’t share Proxima B. Lane can’t believe in Maddox bringing gunmen and says Garnet will be prepared. The Ark-1 crew is ready, the shuttle hatch opens, and Lane appears. Then, Maddox who is checked, Garnet has her shuttle searched. Lane has his hand out to Garnet and she hugs him followed by Brice. Strickland comes out with Kelly. Garnet says that she killed on her ship and ends the deal. Maddox slaps her daughter. She wanted to be with her mother when she dies. Garnet agrees to bring Kelly and she is bound. Angus sees her and follows. Dr. Kabir points out the spider bite. Maddox puts her hand in the spider case without hesitation. Kelly says she is sick at the sight, requests to go to the restroom, and then knocks out Griff. Maddox brought up Kelly's father, I hope we don't see him later. Dr. Kabir shows Maddox how the cure works. She tears up, crocodile tears?, and Maddox wants her doctors to confirm the cure. Strickland walks in to tell about Kelly’s move. Maddox asks about the location of the "farm boy." 

At the dome, Angus is choked by Kelly and then bashed by Alicia’s shovel. Angus had knocked her out with a tray, now Alicia with a shovel, couples goals? Maddox walks in and finds Kelly bleeding from the wound. Angus takes responsibility and Maddox spares him for giving her CPR. At his room, Cat walks in to see Trust, she tells him that there was no memorial for Helena. He tries to kiss her and she puts him in the Friend Zone. At the medbay, Dr. Kabir says she can’t save Kelly, she can’t perform brain surgery. Maddox says she has equipment on board her ship and Garnet agrees to the arrangement. Garnet agrees to let Kelly be taken to the Ark-15. She tries to keep the agreement on going, but Maddox says they will never be friends. So, she has Kelly, in a way, and the cure, but no FTL or weapon on her ship. I don’t count out Maddox for her next move. Alicia is working on Proxima B’s dark side with Angus. He says she saved his life. They note they both had a first kiss with murderers. Alicia brings up their second kisses. Brice walks with Eva in the hydroponic farm. He says he asked Angus to give them some time alone. 

                                THE ARK -- “Everybody Wins” -- STACEY READ, RYAN ADAMS --  Photo: Aleksander Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY

Eva is still worried about the ship being fragile, Brice jokes they have Alicia to keep it flying. They kiss passionately. Later, Garnet asks slyly about the biodome with Brice. They see Lane and Garnet restores his commission, seconded by Brice. He asks Brice to call her Captain Garnet. Trust explains on a global map about the magnet rotation which has the devices forcing the planet to rotate. Garnet asks if Trust is sure, he has made mistakes, and she orders him to activate it. He asks that they have some distance away from Ark-15. Maddox says she is betrayed by Garnet, it is pulled by the gravity, Alicia realizes that Trust used on device to pull in Maddox's ship! Brice is shocked that Trust wants to kill four hundred innocent people as revenge for Helena. He says that the 150 people on Ark-1 can restart the human race. Alicia says they have only five minutes. Trust says the only way to save Ark-15 is to go towards the planet and shut down the device. If they move closer, they will be caught in the magnetic field. 

Alicia has their only option is to send the command before they lose communication. Garnet asks Lane's opinion risking humanity to save Ark-15. He trusts her gut instinct. Brice punches out Trust. Alicia inputs the shutdown command as they reach the gravity event horizon. The power is lost to the ship! The device shuts down and power is restored. The Arks pull away from Proxima-B. Everyone cheers! Garnet checks on Maddox and just brings up Trust's name. Maddox rethinks her trust in others. I’m getting happy vibes after all of the drama. Garnet brings up the deal with Trust to start the planetary rotation, Alicia has checked his work, and Sharon Garnet is ready for their new home. She gives the order for Alicia to start rotation. There are smiles and a little hope as Proxima B starts to rotate. Garnet has Strickland take Trust to his cell. Brice points out that the far side of the planet is burning with the cold of the dark side on the other side. Alicia suddenly realizes that the dark side of Proxima B has liquid methane! She realizes that the planet is turning into a bomb! 

Garnet has Lane contact Ark-15 to leave. Alone in the engineering room, Eva doesn't have enough power for the FTL. Brice notes a double chemical burn he once tried to escape. Eva activates it. It is like the Fast and Furious cars on nitrous! The planet explodes as they race to escape Proxima-B! Then, the ship gets a proximity alert as the ship is bashed by the planet’s fragments. Lane can’t contact medbay. Brice tries to call engineering. Alicia finds that the biodome doesn’t respond. Garnet tries a shipwide call, no response. Garnet sees hope with the Ark-15 pulling up. Maddox contacts them. A shuttle is sent with medical supplies and Maddox says she owes Garnet. I expect that the Ark-1 crew, the survivors, have to stay on Ark-15. Complications with Eva and Brice's relationship, she could be the one that is a medical condition now. Tensions between the crews as the Ark-1 is repaired, a new ship, new sets! Also, new cast members!, maybe they find that not all of the crew agree with Maddox. The Ark is a series filled with unexpected heroism, twists, and just a little hope as we see mankind searching for their new home! 

Five+ Compression Suits out of Five! 

#TheArk, #EverybodyWins, #ChristieBurke, #RichardFleeshman, #TianaUpcheva, #ReeceRitchie, #StaceyRead, #RyanAdams, #PavleJerinic, #ShaliniPeiris, #ChristinaWolfe, #JelenaStupljanin, #SamanthaGlassner, #PaulLeonardMurray 

The Mandalorian, “The Return”, Part II Review!

The Mandalorian season three finale concludes with Moff Gideon showdown, the fight for Mandalore, so spoilers ahead! Bo-Katan and the Mandalorian streak towards the base with their jetpacks, an impressive shot, followed by the Gauntlet fighters! Another aerial drop of Mandalorians along with The Armorer. Bo-Katan ignites the Darksaber, she’s the true leader of Mandalore!, and they descend to the base. The Imperial Armored Commandos fly to meet them, are they even a challenge?, the clash of both forces is a shot right up there with the Return of the Jedi Battle of Endor engagement with the endless TIE fighters! Bo-Katan slices through them! The door to Moff Gideon’s command center opens, Din Djarin walks in with his pistols followed by Grogu, he opens the door past the hologram map. Gideon announces the perfection of his clones, Grogu and Din take cover, he hoped to add The Force to them. That’s kinda not how it works. I guess he thought The Force was something that can be formulated. Mando comes out blasting and Moff Gideon sends a rocket that causes Din to pull back. Gideon puts on his helmet and Din hurtles at him with the jetpack. We have confrontations between the two of them before.

The Imperial Praetorian Guards come out, where were they?, on a coffee break?, and take on Mando. This is like the next to last level of a video game taking on the powerful henchmen, 1-UP life is you defeated them Din! He struck by their weapons, until IG-12 appears! He gives his droid war cry, “No no no!”, and the Praetorian Guards turn to him. Din rushes over to help Grogu, but Gideon strikes him down with a rocket. He continues, but Gideon lashes him back with a fibercord whip. The cave battle continues with The Armorer hammering commandoes. Bo-Katan slides on a platform and then turns to blast a few commandoes! The duel between Grogu and the Praetorian Guards continues, IG-12 is disabled by a staff and Grogu does a Force jump up to a circular ceiling platform with lights. The guards just kinda look at him running at Baby Yoda speed and Force Leaping across. Din takes out his vibro knife, Moff Gideon tries to bake him with his flamethrower, really he has to use new weapons. Physically, Gideon in his Dark Trooper armor defeats Mando. Bo-Katan continues the battle taking out commandoes with the Darksaber and then slams Gideon back. She tells Din to find Grogu. He picks up his pistols before leaving. It always has to be between Bo-Katan and Gideon. 

Moff Gideon activates his electro-bisento, did he develop the Praetorian guard weapons?, against Bo-Katan’s Darksaber. Grogu is going all Cirque du Soleil, but a guard cut the ceiling light with his vibro-voulge and has trapped him in the fragments. He can slam them with his Force levitation of the debris. Mando saves the day with his blaster. The Praetorian Guards use their electro-chain whips to trap Din. One is thrown by Grogu using The Force. Bo-Katan scores several cuts to Gideon’s Dark Trooper armor at his chest. Din is knocked down, but Grogu holds the Praetorian Guard’s vibro-voulge with the Force. He finishes off the last Praetorian Guard with his blaster. From the skies comes the burning Class 546 Cruiser. Axe Woves informs Bo-Katan and Koska to get clear since he is going to ram the base! Flash Gordon was doing the same with Mongo City in the 1980 movie. Moff Gideon has sent Bo-Katan almost at the edge of the base’s platform. He asks for the Darksaber in exchange for a warrior’s death. This enrages Bo-Katan to continue her attack. He manages to catch her weapon hand and crush the Darksaber! 

Gideon pulls off her helmet, he says Mandalorian are weak without their “trinkets.” He seems to be describing himself. She says, “Mandalorians are stronger together” as Din blasts him. Axe blasts the cockpit window and flies out. Other Mandalorians are also evacuating the battle ground. Like a heavy metal video, sparks start raining down as we see the end of Gideon’s base. Moff Gideon blasts Din and Bo-Katan protects him with her personal combat shield. Bo-Katan rushes at him with her shield, Gideon is knocked back by Grogu using the Force, he tries to reach for his trinket, but it is Force levitated away by Grogu. Din shoots Moff Gideon backwards and then Bo-Katan holds up her shield as the massive remains of the ship come crashing down. Gideon screams engulfed by the flames. We find in the inferno that Grogu is holding it back with the Force in a dome! This is like the finale of Ms. Marvel where she forms a dome to save them. A ceremony takes placce at the Living Waters, The Armorer is formally dubbing Ragnar. Din and Grogu watch from a corridor. The Creed is properly finished, The Armorer pours a tray of water on his helmet, and says, “This is the Way.” 

Din places Grogu at the edge of the Living Waters. He wants his apprentice to take the Creed, but The Armorer says he is too young to say the words. Din asks if he can be taken as a Mandalorian apprentice. The Armorer says he will need the permission of Grogu’s family. None present, Yoda has been gone for some time, Din says he will adopt Grogu. She announces to all that Din has adopted his son and that Din Grogu is his apprentice. Now, we have a first and last name! The Armorer says Din, the other Din, Din-1, has to leave to journey with his apprentice. Din, Jr. looks into the Living Waters. We move into the darkness to see the Mythosaur and then its image on a banner. In another ceremony, The Armorer gives a torch to Bo-Katan, without helmet, she re-lights the Great Forge. It feels like the award ceremony on Yavin IV, but no trumpet fan fare. Now they can forge the One Ring? It blazes blue with the clanging of the other Mandalorian gauntlets. Axe leads the cheer, “For Mandalore!” We have the N-1 starfighter break from hyperspace, he heads to the New Republic base, then enters the bar to see Captain Carson Teva. 

Grogu hops onto the bar to tuck into a bowl of snacks. He points out the head of a IG droid. Din explains to Carson that he is bounty hunter, but wants specific missions. The Adelphi Rangers spread thin in the Outer Rim to hunt Imperial remnants. Din wants to be an “independent contractor”, Carson has doubts it will be approved by the New Republic, but Mando wants this to be off the books. He start to walk knowing that Carson will take the job, asks for a “small advance”, and then points out the IG droid head. At Nevarro, Greef Karga gives Din the deed to a cabin “between adventures.” Din says he has a gift for Greef, IG-11 walks past the three Anzellian droidsmiths, the new marshal of Nevarro! At his cabin, Din Djarrin relaxes, it is like Obi-Wan’s hut, remote, but with a tree growing and a N-1 starship in the back. At a pond in front, Grogu suspends a Sorgan frog with the Force, then it irises in like a cartoon! “That’s all folks!” The ending feels rushed, with the finale, no further stories are really needed. Yes, there is the Shadow Council, Grand Admiral Thrawn, or no reunion of Boba Fett and Fennec Shand. I really like “Guns for Hire” and some of the Mandalorian covert scenes seemed to be in the way of the narrative. The finale of “The Return” is a good wrap up of season three of The Mandalorian!   

Four Bars of Beskar Steel out of Five! 

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