Wish + Q&A with Directors, Producers, and Songwriters!

The Wish screening and Q&A was on November 28th, Tuesday, presented by American Cinematheque. It was a free screening open to the public held at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica at 7:30 p.m. The theatre has a single screen with really great sound, comfortable seats, but without a restroom. The film itself filled almost every seat and I noted that there was one boy seated behind me who couldn’t stop laughing at the chicken scene. He also gave out a screeching laugh, pure joy, when the forest animals attack a character! So this was a very entertaining film and I enjoyed watching it again. 

Wish Q&A panel; Chris Buck, Fawn Versunthorn, Peter Del Vecho, Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones, Julia Michaels, Benjamin Rice, author’s photo. 

After the screening, there was a Q&A hosted by Drew Taylor, a reporter for The Wrap. The panel consisted of directors, Chris Buck and Fawn Versunthorn, producers, Peter Del Vecho and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones, plus songwriters, Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice. Buck mentioned the wishes that were Disney animated films. Versunthorn described the bullet point of the movie, “What if a star came to Earth?” The star in question at one point talked and was a shapeshifter. 

Buck mentioned that Star was based on a bouncing ball and had expressions based on Mickey’s face. Versunthorn also pointed out that Wish is an original fairy tale. Work on Wish was described by Del Vecho as “quickly turned from pressure to joy.” Michaels talked about the challenge of writing songs that fit in with the Disney legacy, “My childhood was all Disney songs. Even to this day, I still listen to `So This is Love’ and the Peter Pan soundtrack.”  All of the panel members had funny and interesting stories to tell about working on Wish which entertained everyone at the screening!  

#Wish, #AmericanCinematheque, #AeroTheatre, #DrewTaylor, #ChrisBuck, #FawnVersunthorn, #PeterDelVecho, #JuanPabloReyesLancasterJones, #JuliaMichaels, #BenjaminRice. 

Universal Monsters: Dracula #2 Review!

Universal Monsters: Dracula #2 is a dark look at Dracula takes his victim and the introduction of the person who could stop him! The narrative of the first issue was told in the perspective of Renfield, his sanity lost in the florescent glow. This is the adaptation of the classic horror film directed by Tod Browning. Dr. Seward and John Harker are interested in the case. Mina and Lucy talks about the deaths at the ship that took Renfield to England. 

Lucy sees next door in Carfax Abbey, Dracula! The regular cover by interior artist, Martin Simmonds, has a Dracula with his hands on Renfield with his pale, glowing face in straitjacket, bat wings behind him, and a closeup of the bleeding eyes! The second issue by James Tynion IV and Simmonds has Lucy and Mina walking from a party. Mina recalls from the meeting that the count that they met was from Transylvania. John sees that Dr. Seward is shocked and he explains that Renfield’s ship left Transylvania. This scene was at the opera balcony seats. 

We see the reddish image of Castle Dracula. Mina and Lucy head to a carriage while John tries to have Dr. Seward get a drink with him. We see a closeup of Dr. Seward’s eyes and then the blur of color of Dracula around a drab crowd. The face of Dracula has a reddish mask with a background bathed in blood! This fills up a panel and then Dracula is gone. Dr. Seward agrees to the drink. 

The image of the two walking in the night is a mix of oranges and black! Then, a panel whe they are seen clearly before closeups of a wolf’s red eys and fangs! This unfolds to a two page painted spread of Dracula, glowing red eyes, holding Lucy leaning back in a white dress. Next, there is the frozen jaws of tiger stuffed as a carpet in a private club. At the fireplace, an elderly man in glasses says what killed the men in the ship was a “vampyr”! 

Dr. Seward and John watch the man talk, the doctor scoffs at him, but John says he is a doctor. The older doctor walks over to him and introduces himself as Professor Abraham Van Helsing. The professor is interested in seeing Renfield, but Dr. Seward says he is too fragile. Van Helsing leaves them with a warning. At Lucy’s room, she is impressed at the count’s voice, and also that Castle Dracula is out of a fairy tale. Mina leaves her. 

We get a page divided by images of Lucy combing her hair, saying Dracula’s name, and eyes smoldering red. Hands reach out for Lucy, her eyes red, and Dracula’s hand reaches out for her! Renfield is crawling on the floor of the sanitarium. He feels weak from Dr. Seward whom he think is “stealing” his essence. He feels that he is giving the gift to “her” and starts to scream! At Lucy’s home, she opens the curtains and then there is a splatter of red that creeps up the page. 

Dracula stands outside. A closeup of his red eyes. Lucy dances back to her bed with red  dripping down the page. There is a panel of Dracula’s face, and then swarms of bats! A bat flies to Lucy’s window. Then, red flaring eyes and fangs, it approaches Lucy! The bloody and ark images are brilliant, artistically rendering the visuals of Karl Freund. Dracula, red eyes, has one claw on Lucy’s shoulder as her bed is stained with blood.  There is a blood streaming from Lucy’s neck and then a closeup of Dracula’s fangs! The embrace of Lucy is violent and artistic here. 

Renfield is seen in closeup and slowly gets smaller and smaller. He pleads that he wants to taste power and than he is only human, but wants more.  In the morning, Mina checks on her father, Dr. Seward. He says he had fallen asleep and then talks about the man who upset him. We get closer and closer to Dr. Seward’s face, feeling that the world around him is becoming insane. I like the thoughts and doubts of Dr. Seward. Mina goes to check on Lucy and then her scream is heard! There is sketchbook pages of Simmond’s layouts for the issue. Tynion IV and Simmonds explore more character and the violence that was in the scenes of the 1931 classic! 

Five Blood Samples out of Five! 

#UniversalMonstersDracula, #JamesTynionIV, #MartinSimmonds, #Lucy, #Mina, #DrSeward, #JohnHarker, #Renfield, #AbrahamVanHelsing 

Doctor Who Special, “The Star Beast”, Review!

Doctor Who returns in the special, “The Star Beast”, this time on Disney+, but all too familiar in the form of the Tenth Doctor, now the Fourteenth Doctor! Doctor Who is a long running sci-fi program that aired on the Beeb from 1963 to 1989. The loss of actor, William Hartnell, led to the clever device that the Doctor regenerated into the Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton. 

I recall the Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, when the series aired on PBS. I was fortunate to met the Fifth Doctor, Peter Davidson, at Gen Con in 2013. The Seventh Doctor was played by Sylvester McCoy who also played Radagast in The Hobbit films. The anamoly was the Doctor Who (1996) movie that starred Paul McGann and aired on Fox. Out of the Time Vortex, the show returned courtesty of executive producer, Russell T Davies. There was a new direction for the Ninth Doctor in “Rose” (2005). 

The Doctor was played by Christopher Eccleston who also starred as Malekith in Thor: The Dark World (2013). Doctor Who was known for cheap effects and wild villains including Martians and Abominable Snowmen. The show guided by Davies had improved effects, imaginative villains like the Slitheen or Raxacoricofallapatorian, and nods to the classic episodes. 

The Tenth Doctor regenerated into the likeness of David Tennant and the show reached the height of its popularity. “The End of Time” (2009-2010) finished Tennant and Davies time in the Tardis. It shifted into other Doctors, but also seemed to move way from the show’s history and my interest. The regeneration cycle of the Time Lords was only twelve, but we have already seen the Master defy the regenerations. The Doctor was given a new regeneration cycle in “The Time of the Doctor” (2013). 

Jodie Whittaker played the Thirteenth Doctor, the first female Doctor, though we have seen the First Doctor’s granddaughter, Susan (Carole Ann Ford), and Romana (Lalla Ward). The Doctor faced her previous forms; First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth in “The Power of the Doctor” (2022). The Thirteenth Doctor was struck by The Master’s energy beam and later regenerated into the form of the Tenth Doctor! 

On the 60th anniversary, there is the return of Davies and also Tennant! We get an introduction of the Fourteenth Doctor in his suit next to a cosmic backdrop. He starts, “Once upon a Time Lord…” He discusses Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), his friend, fellow Tardis passengers are called Companions. Tate, comedian and star of The Catherine Tate Show, appeared in “Doomsday” (2006) and became a series regular. We see Donna with her laptop talking about her “dream of impossible things.” 

In “Journey’s End” (2008), Donna saved the universe by taking the knowledge of the Doctor’s cloen, she became the Doctor Donna. Part human and part Time Lord, but the Doctor needed to wipe her memory fo their adventures or she would die! Donna eventually marries and has a daughter, but feels something is missing. She says she has more dreams as if something is coming closer. This moves closer into our two characters. 

The Doctor says, “I think the story hasn’t ended yet.” A great intro that possibly gets new viewers up to speed. Then, we get the show’s opening with the Tardis spinning through the Time Vortex. The story, always first in British shows, is by Davies from a story by Pat Mills and Dave Gibbons. This stunned me. It is based on the comic that ran in Doctor Who Magazine starting with issue #19 (1980). This starred the Fourth Doctor and was reprinted in the Marvel comic, Doctor Who #1 (1984). 

We see London at sunset, at an alley, the Tardis materializes. The chameleon circuit of the Tardis malfunctioned so it is trapped as a familiar blue police box. I once saw the police box on a random English street in 2009! There is the groaning sound of its materialization and thump. The Doctor opens the door and walks into the street. 

It is directed by Rachel Talalay who also directed episodes of season eight with Peter Capaldi, the Twelfth Doctor, and also episodes across several other seasons. Capaldo played the Thinker in The Suicide Squad (2021). The Doctor walks cheerfully into streets filled with holiday celebration. This always gives me pause with the Christmas specials, something always goes horribly wrong. He sees someone awkwardly carrying packages and rushes over to help. 

The Doctor takes away some packages revealing Donna! She thanks him and he replaces the boxes! He takes back an armload of packages and then she calls for Rose! The name is familiar since she also was a Companion, Rose Tyler (Billie Piper). Finally, her daughter, Rose (Yasmin Finney) walks up to help. Finney starred in the teen romance show, Heartstopper, that is on Netflix. She was buying a bag of eyes for her online business. 

The Doctor is about to introduce himself to Rose, but there is an explosion as a fiery streak races across the sky! Donna is too distracted while everyone else watches the phenomenon! The Doctor identifies it as a spaceship. Rose tells her mother, but Donna says she is worse than her grandad, this is Wilfred (Bernard Cribbins) who is a Companion of the Doctor. The ship crashes as Donna has happily stacked her packages. She calls The Doctor, “skinny man”, and cautions him about his tight suit, funny! 

 DOCTOR WHO - - “The Star Beast” - - DAVID TENNANT - - Sally Mais/BBC Studios/ Bad Wolf/ Disney.

A man in taxi car also shouts Rose’ name, The Doctor tries to get him to drive him to the crash site. He says that is his daughter and wife, this is Shaun Temple (Karl Collins). The actor had a cameo part in this year’s The Flash. The Doctor shows him the i.d. of Grand Master of the Knowledge to show his authority, but Shaun corrects him that it reads, “Grand Mistress”! The psychic paper is used by The Doctor for any identity, but of course needs an update to his male form! Funny! 

He has Shaun drive with his catchphrase, “Allons-yi!”, French for “Let’s go”!  On the ride, he says Donna kept the Noble name, the same with Rose, and he doesn’t care, Shaun says, “I’ve got the best two girls in the world.” Shaun is the perfect man for Donna since he doesn’t try to change her and loves her. The Doctor brings up about winning the lottery, before he left Donna, he gave her the winning ticket, £166 million! Shaun says they bought a house, but she gave it all away to charity! 

A BBC reporter notes the crash landing at the Millson Wagner Steelworks factory. He is taken away by U.N.I.T. soldiers. U.N.I.T. is the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce that was introduced in “The Invasion” (1968) with the Second Doctor.  It works with any alien threats and worked with The Doctor many times. The area is secured by Colonel Chan (Jamie Hayden). The Doctor enters a fence using his sonic screwdriver. 

This is his handy device that can open locks and have a Swiss Army knife of electronic uses. He enters the building and finds an upright ship being extinguished by U.N.I.T. soldiers. The Doctor overhears a woman talking with Colonel Chan. This is a science advisor (Ruth Madeley), who uses a wheelchair. She says that the ship parked in the building and didn’t crash. On the London street, some boys bully Rose calling her Jason, a transphobic joke, Donna tells her to ignore them. 

At home, Donna tells her mother, Sylvia (Jacqueline King) that she lost her job. King appeared with Tate in her eps. A very critical and fearful mother. Rose asks her grandmother if she saw the ship, but she denies it. Donna tells her daughter that she would burn down the world for her. Rose takes out a box as Donna talks with Sylvia. Then, she brings up spaceships like Gramps, Wilfred. Donna wonders why he talked about aliens and then he stopped and then she forgot everything. 

Rose takes out the box to the rubbish bin when a neighbor boy, Fudge (Dara Lall) says that the ship sent out an escape pod. He runs off to see it and finds out that the pod has an open hatch! She runs to get her cellphone and then hears a clatter in the alley. She finds that it is a furry alien with a Tarsier-like face saying, “Meep meep.” This is voiced by Miriam Margoyles who was Professor Sprout in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011). 

DOCTOR WHO - - “The Star Beast” - - CATHERINE TATE, YASMIN FINNEY - - Alistair Heap/BBC Studios/ Bad Wolf/ Disney.

It says it is being hunted by others. Fudge is on his phone talking about aliens when he sees two tall, bug-like aliens with reddish eyes! The Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to form a screen to scan the ship. He is greeted by the science advisor and tells her that the ship is a “double-bladed dagger drive.” Also that that there are two sets of aliens at war. She introduces herself as Shirley Anne Bingham, UNIT Scientific Advisor 56. He says he is Scientific Advisor Number One! 

Shirley recognizes The Doctor and he says he doesn’t know himself. He says he wore a bow tie, then was a Scotsman, and then a woman! The Doctor brings up Donna and says if she remembers him, she will die. Then, he covers over the night’s events and that things are converging on Donna! The Doctor uses the sonic screwdriver to slip into the back of a truck and waves goodbye to Shirley. Colonel Chan reports to Shirley that a signal was found from the ship. 

There are stairs up to it and Shirley sends him on, the soldiers climb the steps, and are about to access the ship. The door opens and a energy reaches into the eyes of the soldiers! They turn in unison and close the visors over their eyes. Rose runs with a knapsack to her workshop, a garden shed, next to the house. The Meep is looking at her stuffies and wants them to be its friend. Rose says that they are toys. The Meep says it wants to go home and Rose says she feels she’s from a different planet. 

They hear Donna and Rose tells The Meep to hide. Donna notices the Meep, identical to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), love it! The Doctor leaves the truck as U.N.I.T. soldiers deploy. He hears Donna and heads to the house. Donna is stunned at the Meep and Sylvia hears The Doctor banging on the door. She angrily tells him about Donna dying. The Meep clings to Donna’s leg. The Doctor says he is cute and uses the sonic screwdriver to enter the house. Sylvia punches him! She shouts that it is all not real, then Shaun arrives! 

Colonel Chan heads to the escape pod site guarded by Major Singh (Ronak Patani). He sends his squad back to the factory and then reports about the Meep. The Doctor is bandaging the Meep’s hand. Donna says the “mad Paddington” could be sold for a million quid, always funny! The Doctor asks about Wilfred and Donna says he’s not with them anymore. He mourns Wilfred, but Donna says he’s in sheltered accomodations. Shaun explains that there was an offer to house him by U.N.I.T.  The Doctor says that he will send the Meep home and Rose takes offense at his gender label. He asks the Meep about its pronoun to which it answers to The Meep. 

It explains the Wrarth Warriors are hunting the Meep for their fur. The Doctor says the Meep is a “fashion victim”, kinda funny. It says that it breaks its hearts and The Doctor is amazed it also has two hearts like Gallifreyans. U.N.I.T. soldiers knock at the door, The Doctor answers and uses the sonic screwdriver to see their glowing eye, he closes the door. Then, the wall explodes as the Wrarth Warriors invade! A family caught between aliens and possessed soldiers! Of course, there is a Whovian twist to all of it with the fate of London and Donna Noble at stake! The Doctor Who Special 1 is a wild start with still the question of why the Fourteenth Doctor looks like the Tenth! 

Five+ Sonic Screwdrivers out of Five! 

#DoctorWho, #TheStarBeast, #RussellTDavies, #RachelTalalay, #DavidTennant, #CatherineTate, #YasminFinney, #JacquelineKing, #KarlCollins, #RuthMadeley, #DaraLall, #RonakPatani, #JamieHayden, #MiriamMargoyles  

#WilliamHartnell, #PatrickTroughton, #TomBaker, #PeterDavidson, #SylvesterMcCoy, #PaulMcGann, #ChristopherEcceleston, #PeterCapaldi, #JodieWhittaker, #CaroleAnnFord, #LallaWard,#BilliePiper, #BernardCribbins, #PatMills, #DaveGibbons

Justice League vs. Godzilla vs King Kong #2 Review!

It is round one with the battle in Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. King Kong #2! The DC and Monsterverse collide with the second issue. Brief recap of the first issu: Clark is about to propose to Lois when there is the arrival of Godzilla to Metropolis. The Legion of Doom invades the Fortress of Solitude. They battle the rest of the Justice League and Toy Man sets off an explosive that sends them to Skull Island. Toy Man has taken the dreamstone from the fortress and makes a wish about the Titans! This returns us to Superman flying towards Godzilla! The regular cover by Drew Edward Johnson has Godzilla blasting his atomic breath while Superman pries open his jaws! Issue #2 is by Brian Buccellato and Christian Duce. It opens with Superman trying to reason with Godzilla outside of Metropolis, a sudden change of setting. 

Instead, Godzilla growls, his eyes, spines, and mouth blaze with atomic power! The detail and shadows of Godzilla’s scales is incredible. Then, we get a two page spread that has smaller panels of Superman knocking back Godzilla with a punch! This moves back into Metropolis as Superman flies towards Godzilla. The King of Monsters slams him back with his tail! Superman is sent hurtling through buildings! He is knocked into the wall of an office and asks about the safety of the workers. One man mentions the copier is broken and Superman says there is insurance that will cover it. The Flash arrives and says the rest of league is on its way. Then, we get an almost complete splash page of the Justice League; Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern projecting a ship for Green Lantern. 

Wonder Woman says to GL that Cyborg, the team’s coordinator, said that it is important. Cyborg cuts in and says that there are more big problems! The Titan, Scylla, a Kaiju with long, spider legs, Nautilius shell body, and Cthulhu-like tentacles, appears above the Iron Heights Penitentiary, home city of the Flash. It appeared in Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019). Lumbering towards Themysicra, Wonder Woman’s island, is mammoth-like Behemoth with massive tusks also introduced in the same film. The demon-like bat Titan, Camzotz appears in Gotham City. It debuted in the graphic novel, Kingdom Kong (2021). The Titans are set like Destroy All Monsters (1968) at different cities, but the important locations of the Justice League. Godzilla roars as Superman closes in and Cyborg reports that he contacted all available heroes! 

Hawkgirl is headed to back up Superman, The Flash, GL, and Supergirl go to entral City, and Wonder Woman and Green Arrow defend Themysicra. Batman in the Batwing reports that he will take care of Gotham. Robin, Damian Wayne, wonders about the Titan, and Batman identifies it as a Mayan legend, Camazotz. He has sent in Nightwing, Batgirl, and Red Hood (also Batwoman who is unseen) to help, they run on a Gotham street. Um, taking on a giant Kaiju, they are outmatched. Cyborg is flying towards Gotham. Black Canary is also headed there on her motorcycle.  Wonder Woman is flying holding Green Arrow’s arm. They find an unknown island, Skull Island, and she lands him there. Diana tells Oliver that Cassie, Wonder Girl, is on her way to Themysicra. We see waterfalls drop from a cliff as GA says it is not his first desert island, tying to his origin! 

At an arctic dome, Black Manta asks about the location of the other members of the Legion of Doom. Cheetah says Captain Cold and Gorilla Grodd are going to Central City. He says Giganta was wished to Metropolis and explains that he knew Toy Man took the dreamstone. Mercy Graves, Luthor’s assistant, is surprised he appeared in his LexCorp office. She was introduced in the Superman: The Animated Series fifth episode, “A Little Piece of Home” (1996). He answers that it was Toy Man and she updates him about the evacuation. He says that he will go to the bunker after he gets a download of all of the information. Superman gets Godzilla’s attention. A closeup of Godzilla’s eyes is menacing and then he throws his head back to roar. His head is struck by Hawkgirl’s mace. We see Lois Lane still at the dinner table with Godzilla in a shadow against the moon. Great visual. 

Jimmy Olsen takes her away from the rooftop. We see the horrific Camazotz flying between the Batsignal and the moon, another excellent image. Batwoman is in her Batplane and just evades the jaws of the Camazotz. Batman hits it with a missile from the Batwing. Robin is in the Batwing, but basically disappears from the comic. Nightwing and Batgirl can only watch as the two vehicles take on the Titan. It unleashes a sonic screech, but Batman and Batwoman pull away from the blast. He says they have to lure it over the Gotham Bay or Gotham Park. Batgirl and Nightwing are on the street helping civilians stay out of the falling rubble from the battle. Red Hood is on a rooftop taking aim with a high powered rifle, it looks almost like a cannon. He says he is targeting the Titan’s eye, but Batman warns him not to attack from the city. Nightwing and Batgirl tell Jason Todd not to shoot from the street. 

Cyborg is closing in, but Red Hood take sthe sniper shot piericing its eye! Gruesome. The Camazotz sends out its screech which explodes the rooftop, but Red Hood leaps away. The rubble starts falling and Nightwing says they have to try to save what innocents they can rescue.  They are saved by the sonic blast of Black Canary. Nightwing argues with Red Hood. Then, Batgirl knocks him out. Fun. The arrival of Cyborg might put together a plan with the help of teamwork to stop the Camazotz. Batman says the “sonic nature” of the Titan is its weakness. Cyborg takes one of the Batplane’s engines to make a sonic amplifie. They just need the Camazotz’s frequency to stop it. Still, even with Shazam helping Superman, it may not be enough to stop the King of the Monsters! We haven’t seen King Kong, but he may be with Toy Man at the Fortress of Solitude. Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. King Kong #2 has some clever moments in taking on the Titans, the threat across the DC universe, and consequences for one hero! 

Five Dreamstones out of Five! 

#JusticeLeagueVsGodzillaVsKong, #BrianBuccelato, #ChristianDuce, #Godzilla, #Superman, #TheFlash, #JusticeLeague, #WonderWoman, #Supergirl, #Hawkgirl, #GreenLantern, #GreenArrow, #Scylla, #Behemoth, #Camazotz, #Robin, #Nightwing, #Batgirl, #RedHood, #Cyborg, #BlackCanary, #SkullIsland, #BlackManta, #Cheetah, #LexLuthor, #MercyGraves, #LoisLane, #JimmyOlsen, #Batwoman, #Shazam 

Wish Review!

Wish is a fulfillment of the Disney100 celebration and tells a story of Asha resisting the control of hopes and dreams! It is co-directed and co-written by Chris Buck, the co-director of Frozen II (2019), and Fawn Vrrasunthorn is the co-director who prviously was the had of story for Raya and the Last Dragon (2021). The writing team includes Jennifer Lee, co-writer of Frozen II, and Allison Moore who writes for the Beacon 23, sci fi show. It opens like Disney animated classics with a storybook. We get that wishes “make you who you are.” The king becomes a sorcerer and the kingdom of Rosas is formed at an “island deep in the Mediterranean Sea.” King Magnifico gathers the wishes of citizens at 18 and takes their worries away about their wishes. This goes to a cottage where we see Asha voiced by Ariana DeBose. The actress has been a sensation since she played Anita in West Side Story (2021). Asha is a hopeful character who is about to turn 18.  

She places an insignia on her grandfather, Sabino (Victor Garber). Sabino is about to turn 100 years old. Garber appeared in the drama, Family Law. Sakina, Asha’s mother, voiced by Natasha Rothwell arrives at that time. The actress plays Belinda Lindsey on the series, The White Lotus. Sakina is there excited about the Wish Ceremony interrupted by the bleats of the goat, Valentino. He is voiced by Alan Tudyk, who has voiced many Disney characters including Strange World (2022). The animal sidekick here reminds me of Kiki's Delivery Service (1989). Asha wonders if they could understand him. She runs over to the docks to meet with a group of newly arrived immigrants. She shows them around the castle singing “Welcome to Rosas.” The songs are written by Julia Michaels who sang “In This Place” for Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) and Benjamin Rice who worked on A Star is Born (2018).  

The citizens of Rosas dress colorfully and the new immigrants wear more subdued yellow and brown colors. King Magnifico (Chris Pine) arrives with a flourish and fall of roses. Pine starred as Edgin in this year’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and also sang as Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods (2014). Asha meets with her friend and baker of Magnifico cookies, Dahlia voiced by Jennifer Kumiyama. A 2012 episode of the comedy, awkward featured Kumiyama. She also performed at Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular at Disney’s California Adventure. Dhalia has a wooden crutch at her side to help her walk, which almost didn't notice. She practices questions with Asha about her interview as the king’s assistant. Dhalia asks about her weakness and then tells Asha, “You care too much.” The other friends enter, there are six which seemed to be a few too many.

The cynical and short, Gabo (Harvey Guillén) is doubtful about Asha’s chances, he’s the Grumpy of the friends, but lacks the charm. Guillén is known for playing Guillermo de la Cruz in What We Do in the Shadows. Safi (Ramy Youssef) has allergies and sneezes on a cookie! Youssef appeared in the series, Ramy. Another friend is Bazeema (Della Saba) who suddenly appears and is shy. Saba voiced the young Judy Hopps in Zootopia (2016). Sleeping at table is the Simon (Evan Peters), he is burly, but low energy. Peters played Pietro Maximoff in WandaVision. The other friends are Hal (Niko Vargas) and  Dario (Jon Rudnitsky). Since they are human and not extreme in their character traits, I didn’t pick up that they are like the Dwarfs. They are interrupted by the arrival of Queen Amaya played by Angelique Cabral. Big Sky features Cabral as Carla. 

The queen gives Asha advise will they walk up steps and adds, “I’m rooting for you.” They enter a library and Queen Amaya leaves her. Asha looks at a tapestry that has a burnt edge and then a book behind a case. She looks closely at it and the magic symbols fly like glowing insects around her. These are returned back to the book by King Magnifico voiced by Chris Pine. Edgin was played by Pine in the fantasy film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. He also acting and sang in the musical movie, Into the Woods (2014). Magnifico, great name, has a grandeur about him. Asha says, “I can’t do much”, except that she acts as an ambassador to new citizens and also can sing! She does say her father was a philosopher that studied the stars. Magnifico says he had also lost his family which made him study magic. 

He takes her to his laboratory using magic to open the doors. Floating around the ceiling are the wishes, blue, glowing globes, like balloons. Magnifico says, “They are a part of your heart.” The king says he has kept the wishes of all of the people. He allows one wish to be made every month in the Wish Ceremony if it is helpful to the kingdom. Asha is stunned that so many wishes are held and not fulfilled. Magnifico begins the song, “At All Costs”, later joined by Asha who walks towards the wish of her grandfather. Inside the wish, Sabino is playing a guitar. Asha tries to ask if he can get his wish granted. Magnifico takes her to the main stage with Queen Amaya. Her seven friends are awed that Asha is on stage with the king and queen. Two new citizens give up their wishes. Magnifico grants the wish of Sania (Nasim Pedrad) for her to the best tailor. Pedrad played Dalia in the live action Aladdin (2019).  

Asha joins her family and wants to tell Sabino his wish. He says he doesn’t want to know his wish since it will never be fulfilled and break his heart. Asha walks into the forest with Valentino and sings, “This Wish”, a powerful, memorable song. She sees a vision of her younger self and her father sitting on a tree branch. Asha makes her wish to the stars and there is a wave that spreads throughout Rosas giving the citizens a feeling of joy. Magnifico tells Amaya that it is a warning. The Wish Star appears, almost a stuffie, it is a orangish star with a yellow face. Star has the child-like character of a Studio Ghibli creature like the soot sprites. Asha chases Star through a barn and the lil’ feller is caught in a red sweater. Star is amused by Asha and zips through the thread forming a star shape through the trees to answer her question. He awakens mushrooms, trees, and a rabbit thumping its leg. The last one is just a hint of the Easter Eggs. 

#Wish, #ChrisBuck, #FawnVrrasunthorn, #JenniferLee, #AllisonMoore, #JuliaMichaels, #BenjaminRice, #ArianaDeBose, #AlanTudyk, #ChrisPine, #JenniferKumiyama, #HarveyGuillen, #EvanPeters, #RamyYoussef, #DellaSaba, #AngeliqueCabral, #VictorGarber, #NatashaRothwell 

Killers of the Flower Moon Film Exhibit!

At the Culver City Apple Campus was the film exhibit for Killers of the Flower Moon! This featured many of the filmmaking items, including costumes and props, used in the making of the Martin Scorsese movie. The film is based on the David Grann non-fiction book which covered the Osage murders known as the “Reign of Terror” in the 1920s. Outside of the building was a 1920’s era black car. The exhibit begins with a plaque showing “Wi’-gi-e” (2009), a poem by Osage poet, Elise Paschen. This is a poem meaning “Prayer” that deals about the death of Anna Kyle Brown. A ramp leads to statements by Scorsese and Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear. Below it is Scorsese’s personal copy of Killers of the Flower Moon, marked in pencils with Post-It notes throughout the pages. 

The costumes of Reta, Mollie, Annie, and Minnie at the Killers of the Flower Moon Film Exhibit, author’s photo.

There is a long panel showing a field of purple viola flowers and the Oklahoma hills behind recreations of grass. This ends with a section showing a quote by composer, Robbie Roberston, who passed away after completing his work on the movie. It begins, “Starting at Six Nations when music comes along in my life.. and then to my history with Martin Scorsese, all the movies leading up to `Killers of the Flower Moon’ - the fact ahtt we’re getting to do a western in our own way, you couldn’t have written this.” Robertson’s guitar is mounted next to Scorsese’s quote, “Robbie Robertson was on of my closest friends, a constant in my life and work.” The beginning of the exhibition shows a very meaningful subject with Paschen’s poem and then how personal it was to the two filmmakers. 

This leads to a tent with a table with four hats worn during the wedding ceremony of the film. A large photo of the wedding guests are seen behind it. The exhibit features the work by costume designer Jacqueline West. This is followed by the wedding attire of Mollie Burkhart played by Lily Gladstone and the suit, blanket, and hat of Leonardo di Caprio’s character, Ernest Burkhart. Then, there are quotes by West, “The blanket for the Osage women was like armor. They almost didn’t go out of the house without a blanket.” There was a display of the various blankets, it was stunning to see the patterns and colors up close. Three costumes followed of a male and female ancestor as well the attire of Lizzie Q (Tantoo Cardinal), the mother of Mollie. 

The costumes of the Osage Officiant, Mollie’s Baby Naming Ceremony Attire, and Ernest Burkhart, photo by the author.

Director of photography, Rodrigo Prieto’s quote had a plaque explaining the natural colors used with in photographing Mollie, her family, and the Osage. A wall mount had some photos and a quote by casting director, Ellen Lewis, “Lily Gladstone is the heart and soul of this film.” This had the black blouse and blanket of Mollie Kyle with a photo of her character at a river. Then, there was the costumes of a Osage officiant and Mollie’s Baby Naming Ceremony Attire along with Ernest’s costume. On the other side of the room is a recreation of Mollie’s bedroom with props that made it look like walking on a set. The costumes of all of the Kyle sisters is almost a centerpiece that leads to the rest of the exhibition.

It features the blankets and brown collared dress of Reta (Janae Collins), Mollie’s custom blouse, the Brown River Dress of Anna (Cara Jade Myers), and black dress of Minnie (Jillian Dion). A case of jewelry, fans, and other props are next to the display. On the next level is the black and white dress worn by Cardinal at the Cannes film premiere. Next to it was the red blanket worn by consulting producr, Chad Renfro. This limited edition blanket was for a fundraiser for the Osage Nation Foundation. Above it is an Osage quote, “Against all odds, the Osage people will endure.” The area to the left had the room and wooden table where the Osage men and women met to discuss the situation with six costumes from the film. A quiet area. Behind it is the recreation of McInroy’s Billard Parlor. 

Recreation of the billard parlor with the costumes of Tom White, William Hale, and Ernest Burkhart, author's photo. 

A case had an Osage moccasins, hat, and jewelry. Another one had more props, the book, Osage Culture & History, a paddle, and the insulin bottle. Standing in front of the barber’s chair is the suit and overcoat of William Hale played by Robert DeNiro. Behind him at the corner of the parlor is charcoal suit and hat of agent, Tom White, played by Jesse Plemons. To the side of the cue wall rack is the hat, orange and brown striped Pendleton Coat, and leather boots of Ernest. Past the billard table is a wall with hats and a mounted bison head. Killers of the Flower Moon is an introduction to the Osage people, their culture, and traditions. It covers the tragedy of the Reign of Terror, but also showcases the story of Mollie Kyle and her family. It offers audiences the chance to learn more about her story and about the Osage Nation. Thanks to Apple and all of the staff for an exhibit that encompasses the themes of the movie, some of the beauty of the Osage, and the work of the filmmakers of Killers of the Flower Moon!  

#KillersOfTheFlowerMoon, #Apple, #MartinScorsese, #DavidGrann, #ElisePaschen, #GeoffreyStandingBear, #RobbieRoberston, #LilyGladstone, #LeonardoDiCaprio, #TantooCardinal, #RodrigoPrieto, #EllenLewis, #JanaeCollins, #CaraJadeMyers, #JillianDion, #ChadRenfro, #OsagNationFoundation, #McInroysBillardParlor, #RobertDeNiro, #JessePlemons 

Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Review!

Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes looks back at the story of Coriolanus Snow, a woman tribute, and the machinations of the Capitol! Director Francis Lawrence continued the Hunger Games franchise with the second film, Catching Fire (2013), to its conclusion with Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015). The screenplay is by by Michael Arndt, who co-wrote Catching Fire, and Michael Lesslie, he adapted Macbeth (2015). The story was continued by author, Suzanne Collins with the 2020 prequel novel, set 64 years before Katniss Everdeen in Hunger Games (2008). I have read the Hunger Games books, but not this book. This was the story of Coriolanus Snow who was president in the first novel. He was played by Donald Sutherland in the films. The character’s first name refers to the Roman general in the 5th century who was also the subject of Shakespeare’s tragedy.

The film opens with snow falling on a desolate city, the dystopia of Panem. This is the events of the Districts rising against the Capitol. A young, five year old boy, Coriolanus (Dexter Sol Ansell), and girl, Tigris (Rosa Gotzler) take cover under a building. They confront a dog that growls at them and then see a man cutting into a body which Tigris explains that he is starving. Coriolanus takes them away to enter a house. He is told by Grandma’am (Finnoula Flanagan) that is father was killed by a rebel in a forest. Flangan played Catarine Towani in An Ewok Adventure (1984) and Eloise Hawking in the Lost tv series. She gives Cory his father’s compass. We see the image of the father in a stained glass window. This moves to Part I: The Mentor; there are three parts dividing the movie. 

The older Coriolanus (Tom Blyth), now eighteen, is in a house that has lost any wealthy trappings. Blyth played the title role in the Western MGM+ series, Billy the Kid, and played Archie Baldwin in the drama, The Gilded Age. Grandma’am tells Coriolanus, “Let’s make him proud” and calls over Tigris (Hunter Schafer). Jules Vaughn is played by Schafer in Euphoria. Tigris appeared in Mockingjay - Part 2 played by Eugenie Bondurant. His cousin brings his shirt which she has cobbled together to be a dress shirt. Grandma'am places a white rose on his lapel, she has few roses left in her garden. He walks over to the Capitol with a building high statue of a woman with crossed swords. Coriolanus meets with fellow classmate, Clemensia Dovecote (Ashley Liao). The actress was Lola Wong in the comedy show, Fuller House and this year’s Paramount+ romance, Love in Taipei. 

Coriolanus is the star pupil and they are headed to The Reaping; the ceremony before the tenth annual Hunger Games. He meets with the others including his friend Sejanus Plinth (Josh Andrés Rivera) whose father was wealthy enought to move them from District 2 to the Capitol. Rivera is in this year’s drama, Cat Person, and played Chino in West Side Story (2021). Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis), the head gamemaker of the War Department takes the podium. Davis had the starring role in The Woman King (2022) and starred as Amanda Waller in The Suicide Squad (2021). Gaul revels in the games, she has distinctive black and white hair and brown and blue eyes. 

She introduces the Dean of the Academy, Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage), the creator of the Hunger Games. Dinklage stars in this year’s rom com, She Came to Me, and is known for playing Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones. Casca is looking for them to be mentors, for the first time, to the tributes of the Hunger Games. He says they should make the tributes “spectacles not survivors.” They assigned to their tributes, one male and one female, and Coriolanus is given District 12, a coal mining district. His tribute is seen on a rounded screen, low tech like a classic television screen, so there is a progression into the sci fi of the later Hunger Games films. This is Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler). The part of Maria in West Side Story was the debut of Zegler who was also Anthea in this year’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods. 

She wears a partially country girl dress and also fanciful with rainbow colors like a gypsy. Lucy Gray walks up, scooping up a tiny snake, and then dropping into the dress of a girl, Mayfair (Isobel Jesper Jones)! This is revenge for stealing her boyfriend, Billy Taupe, and also arranged for her to be tribute since she is the mayor’s daughter! Lucy Gray is struck by the rifle of a Peacekeeper, the armed soldiers of the Capitol, and the rest of the people start singing. She gets up and begins singing, “Nothing You Can Takes From Me.” Coriolanus watches her on screen. Zegler can of course sing and Lucy Gray is part of a band called the Covey. She drops the microphone, gives a defiant bow to the camera, and is taken away. 

He brings up the money that will be awarded with the Plinth Prize for having a winning tribute. This award is given by Sejanus’ father. Casca says to Coriolanus, “Good luck with that songbird.” Later, Coriolanus asks how he can gain the trust of Lucy Gray, and Tigris tells him to put himself in her place. The train with the tributes arrives and Corolanus is there to meet Lucy Gray. The tributes are handcuffed, the later Hunger Games, we saw the tributes given luxurious treatments before entering the arena. He welcomes her to the Capitol and offers her the white rose. Lucy Gray tears off a petal to eat it! Peacekeepers lead the tributes away to the back of a truck. A tribute attempts to run away and Coriolanus slips into the truck. The tributes are angry at Coriolanus and Lucy Gray says he is her mentor. 

All of them are dumped out onto a pile of rubble which happens to be inside the fences of the Capitol Zoo. This makes me think of the Twilight Zone episode, “People Are Alike All Over” (1960). It had Roddy McDowell as an astronaut finding he is examined by Martians in a zoo. Covering the arrival is Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman (Jason Schwartzman), television host, former weatherman and he likes also to mention magician. Schwartzman played Gideon Graves in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), also voices Gideon in the animated Scott Pilgrim Takes Off as well as starring in the recent comedy film, Quiz Lady. Schwartzman is hilarious and perfect as a parody of news hosts. There is a Caesar Flickerman during Katniss’ time who had been host of the Hunger Games for 40 years so they are connected, but Caesar was host 24 years after Lucky. 

Lucky Flickerman presses Coriolanus about why he is with the tributes. Coriolanus responds that Lucy Gray invited him to meet the neighbors. Afterwards, he asks her to sing again, but she tells him to get some food. The tributes are not fed or treated well. One young tribute girl, Dill (Luna Steeples), has a cough from tuberculosis and may not survive the night let alone the Hunger Games. Casca says Coriolanus’ action was a violation of Academy rules. Gaul asks Coriolanus about the reason for the Hunger Games. He says it is to punish the Districts for the rebellion against the Capitol. The tributes are forced to enter the games. Coriolanus suggests that the Hunger Games should open citizens to place bets on the tributes and for them to get gifts that will help them. Gaul asks him to write up his proposal. At the lunch area, Sejanus sees Coriolanus sneak a half of a sandwich to his side. 

At the zoo, Coriolanus offers the sandwich to Lucy Gray. She tries to get her fellow tribute from District 12, Jessup (Nick Benson), to also take a sandwich from Sejanus. The help from the mentors is disrupted by one mentor, Arachne (Lilly Cooper) who is cut by her tribute, Brandy (Luna Kuse). The Peacekeepers open fire and kill Brandy. The first death of a tribute, outside of the games, and a mentor reveals the danger of the situation. Grandma’m warns her grandson of his songbird. Coriolanus writes up his suggestion. He and his fellow mentor, Clemensia, are escorted to the laboratory of Gaul. Animal specimens are in tubes throughout the lab. Gaul questions them about the writing of the proposal. Clemensia cuts off Coriolanus. Gaul says the proposal was thrown into a massive terrarium of snakes and wants Clemenia to pull it out! The snakes will recognize if the writer of the paper. A snake lashes out to bite her and Clemensia falls dead. 

Gall's next order is for the mentors and tributes to spend an hour discussing strategy. The Hunger Games arena is not high tech, it looks like a sports stadium, Coriolanus meets with Lucy Grey. She tells him that Peacekeepers had killed her mother. He says that his mother died in childbirth and that they are both orphans. Coriolanus wants Lucy Gray to sing in her interview. She says she will think about it if she gets a guitar. Then, there is an explosion that tears a part of the arena! Coriolanus asks for help. Lucy Gray is able to pry the rubble off of Coriolanus. When Coriolanus revives his family tells him about the rebel bombing. This is the first time we hear of the rebels working against the Capital. The relationship of between Coriolanus and Lucy Gray is complicated and may see her through the Hunger Games. Still, we are taken to his fall as Coriolanus survives this world, and becomes the dark figure we saw in the Hunger Games films and books! There is clever world building by Collins in the story. Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has the early life of Coriolanus Snow, mentor to Lucy Gray, a darker world than the Hunger Games!  

Five White Roses out of Five! 

#HungerGamesTheBalladOfSongbirdsAndSnakes, #FrancisLawrence, #MichaelArndt, #MichaelLesslie, #SuzanneCollins, #TomBlyth, #JoshAndresRivera, #HunterSchafer, #FinnuoulaFlanagan, #AshleyLiao, #ViolaDavis, #PeterDinklage, #JasonSchwartzman, #NickBenson, #LunaSteeples, #LillyCooper, #LunaKuse