A Complete Unknown Costume Exhibit at ASU FIDM!

A Complete Unknown, the film by James Mangold, has an extensive exhibit that is currently at the ASU FIDM Museum! A Complete Unknown: Design Behind The Scenes features the work of the movie’s costume designer, Arianne Phillips. It runs to January 18th, this Sunday, open to the public and free, don’t miss it! The exhibit is devoted to this film and I’m usually attending the Academy Awards exhibit of several movies from the year. This was more fascinating since there were backdrops and music that really transported me into the time. It begins with the Holland Tunnel signs that lead to the Greenwich Village backdrop.

 

The costumes of Bob Dylan (Timothee Chalamet) and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) with the Monterey Folk Festival backdrop, ASU FIDM Museum, photo by the author. 

The costume of traveling Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) is seen with jacket, scarf, cap in hand with gloves, at his side is his guitar. Against the back wall is artwork of the costumes which looks like snapshots of the movie. This moves to Dylan standing in front of a club backdrop with red curtains. He is dressed in vest, his harmonica holder, pants, guitar case and guitar. Next to him, seated, is Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), in striped black and purple dress over a black, long sleeve shirt. In the center of the room is the orange sweater and jeans of Bob when he was recording music complete with microphone stand. The props are also from the film featuring the work of production designer, François Audouy. 

Next to the club is the Gas Light Cafe backdrop with Bob seated with his wool lined jacket, jeans, and guitar. Lastly, is the backdrop of Pete Seegar’s home. The outfit of Pete Seegar (Edward Norton) includes his brown jacket, wool sweater, and jeans next to his banjo. Next to him, is his wife, Toshi (Eriko Hatsune), who was dressed in sweater, jeans, and boots. They are casual and dressed for the outdoors. Their children are together; Danny (Riley Hashimoto), Mika (Maya Feldman), and Tinya (Eloise Peyrot). On the other side is the home of Joan Baez where she has a black sweater, tan slacks while Bob is sitting with striped shirt and black slacks. There is interesting props of records, beer bottles, and a type writer. 

Pastiche of the The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan album with Bob Dylan (Chalamet) and Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning), author’s photo. 

This leads to the iconic album cover of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963). It has Bob with his tan jacket, blue t-shirt, and jeans next to Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) with her green coat and black shirt. Then, there is the red, Triumph motorcycle, in front of the Monterey Folk Festival, 1963. Bob is there with his tan jacket, black shirt, jeans and has his hand at his side. Next to him is Joan’s black dress with beaded necklace and her guitar. It has a vine pattern on the neck of the guitar. The other room has Bob with his black leather jacket, orange shirt, and electric guitar when he was playing at the Newport Folk Festival, next to him is the orange patterned dress and coat of Joan. 

The backdrop has the festival stage and some of the crowd. Behind them is the blue dress of Sylvie with her handbag ready to leave the festival. Against the wall is the backdrop of the Viking Motel with the grey suit of agent, Albert Grossman (Dan Fogler). Then, Bob’s long sleeve green shirt with white polka dots and black pants. I really liked that there were three displays of Bob’s different hair styles as wigs. The hair for the film was by Jaime Leigh McIntosh. On the other side of Bob and Joan at the festival is the black vest, white shirt, and black pants of Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook) with his guitar.  At the back wall are four outfits worn by Bob including the industry party with his formal black suit. There are no cards providing information about the costumes and characters. Still, the music is playing and it really feels like being at the Gas Light Cafe and Monterey Folk Festival! Highly recommended!, don’t miss this exhibit, especially if you need a little music and movies to your day! 

#ACompleteUnknown, #DesignBehindTheScenes, #ASUFIDMMuseum, #AriannePhillips, #FrancoisAudouy, #JaimeLeighMcIntosh, #BobDylan, #TimotheeChalamet, #JoanBaez, #MonicaBarbaro, #PeteSeeger, #EdwardNorton, #ToshiSeeger, #ErikoHatsune, #DannySeeger, #RileyHashimoto, #MikaSeeger, #MayaFeldman, #TinyaSeeger, #EloisePeyrot, #SylvieRusso, #ElleFanning, #AlbertGrossman, #DanFogler, #JohnnyCash, BoydHolbrook  

Absolute Wonder Woman #3 Review!

Absolute Wonder Woman #3 has the beginning of Wonder Woman's first battle with the demonic Tetracide and flashes back to show what she will sacrifice! In the second issue, Wonder Woman has emerged from exile in hell to win the first battle of Gateway against the Harbinger Prime demon! She reunites with Steve Trevor whom she rescued on the Wild Isle in hell. Now a massive, Tetracide, shambles onto the shore of Gateway City, Diana tells Steve that it is “Death, personified.”! It is a beast, grey like the cloudsm a wide, almost insectoid head, long, crab-like legs, and a mass of tentacles in its center! She tells that she will buy Commander Cole some time to evacuate the city. The cover by Hayden Sherman has glowing white eyes while in the background is a red symbol and behind it the shadowy form of the Tetracide. 

At the Natural History Museum, there are banners of Greek helmets in front of it, the museum personnel is watching the news. One man asks about Barbara, I’m assuming it is Barbara Minerva, Cheetah and we see in another circular panel, a closeup of Barbara, glasses, red hair in pony tail, staring at the screen with her coffee. The reporter just can’t properly describe the scene. She says, “Wonder Woman”, before running out of the room. The Boardwalk, Wonder Woman flies into the city to draw in the Tetracide. Before her is the sign of a restaurant or pub, The Kraken, kinda clever. At the command center, Wonder Woman explains she used magic to try to slow the Tetracide. She debriefs the room about how the Tetracide kills so they can fight it after she dies! 

Wonder Woman tells them that it means, “The Four-Killer”, and kills by death of fear, mind, body, and soul! One soldiers says fear is not bad and she corrects him that it is the “greatest ” with the population of the city. We see then patterns on a Greek vase of the Tetracide, incredible designs, she says the demon will remove fear of it. The Tetracide will create a sound, like a mythological Siren?, that will everyone to its jaws! The mind death is being unable to feel, paralyzing the victims, so then there is the death of the body. It digests the victims! She ends the debriefing telling everyone to leave and to run if they can! Steve tries to get Diana’s attention, she wants him to help with the evacuation before the sound. Wonder Woman walks to the beach to see Pegasus. 

She tells him to stay away from the demon and try to use his hellfire. Closeup as she places her forehead to his head as Diana tells Pegasus that once the Tetracide tentacle touches him, Zeus will not resurrect him. Wonder Woman flies towards the demon with her blazing, red Nemesis lasso and massive Athena Blade. She is tiny next to the roar of the Cthulhu beast. Closeup of Diana’s eyes turning red. She throws her sword tied to the lasso that cuts into the Tetracide’s hide. She weaves the Nemesis around the demon to contain it, but it bellows its screech! Above the demon, Pegasus gives it a blast of hellfire as Wonder Woman continues to fly around it. A valiant effort, but this demon is on the Cthulhu level. 

The Tetracide uses a tentacle to pluck out the Athena Blade and tosses it into the water. The lasso unravels with the lost blade. Diana lets out a curse and then takes out an axe to slice the demon tentacles! Still a tentacle binds her right hand! Then, we get the two page credit page! We return to the Wild Isle as Diana is wrapped up in the tentacles of the Hydra. Steve is running up with the same axe used by Wonder Woman. He slices a tentacle and they both run as the five headed, crimson beast screeches at them. Daina holds open the jaws of one mouth telling it that she respects the monster, but gives her word for it to let Steve go. At a campfire, Steve asks Diana if the Hydra could understand her. She says most creatures can understand her, but says the Hydra knows strength. 

He wonders that hell is harsh and painful, and yet Circe and Diana made a home. She tells him "Love is transformative." I really like the sentiment. Steve tells her about Gateway City, how the sunset reminds me of his mother. At the home, Diana closes a book, she has Steve collect some firewood and tells her mother that she found the spell to send Steve home. Extreme closeup of the spellbook's page at the word, "A sacrifice." Circe tries to her warn her daughter about the sacrifice. Then, Steve enters with the firewood. At night, Circe wakes up to see Diana kneeling in a hooded robe. Steve is asleep. A closeup of the hood with part of Diana's face, she says if she is a great warrior like her mother told her, she has to succeed in her first mission. 

Diana tells Circe that Steve is a test. She says she is to be the "great warrior", then Diana has sacrificed her "dominant arm"! It rests next to the fire! This shocked me so much that I didn’t realize what I was seeing, the severed arm! The narrative shifts to Circe as she works with her daughter next to a blaze of a green fire on the beach. Steve is walking up as they chant the spell. Circe narrates that she underestimated Diana, “Her capacity for love.” Steve’s hand starts to fade. Circe adds, pain, sacrifice, then Steve is back on the Gateway City beach, and lastly, honor. She adds, “This child would change the world.” On the Wild Isle beach, Circe says she is sorry Diana did not say goodbye, but her daughter says she will see him again. 

The Gateway City battle, Wonder Woman’s right arm, the one she had lost is trapped in the Tetracide tentacle. She closes her eyes casting a spell. Then, he arm is freed and she falls in a sequence of panels, until she flies with the axe! She walks into the command center and a soldiers is startled that she lost her arm. Wonder Woman explains that she lost the magic arm, she made with her mother. She reminds Jacoby that the soldiers have to evacuate. She starts assembling pipes and mechanisms to her arm as Steve watches. A cyborg arm! This character can’t be cooler; sorceress, warrior, and now cyborg! Steve says he has realized what Diana sacrificed to return him. We don’t really know what condemned him to hell. She yells at the crowded room for the soldiers to leave or they will be running towards the Tetracide. 

Steve tells Diana he doesn’t want to leave her alone, but she says he was worthy of saving and has to go. Barbara is running and slams into the cyborg arm of Wonder Woman! Diana has caught her and tells her to go into the Kraken to tell Steve Trevor to help her escape. Barbara calls out, “Wonder Woman!” Diana pauses to turn to Barbara who says that is the name of the champion of the Amazons. Barbara says she has studied the Amazons. Julia Kapatelis was a historian and ally of Wonder Woman introduced by George Perez in Wonder Woman #3 (1987). It looks like Barbara shares the interest of Julia. Diana wants to know more from Barbara who introduces herself as Barbara Minerva. The Tetracide lets out another call! Wonder Woman flies into battle. Absolute Wonder Woman #3 continues the epic battle with the Tetracide, we understand a little of its nature and threat, while getting more about Diana’s sacrifice and bringing in Barbara Minerva! 

Five Athena Blades out of Five! 

#AbsoluteWonderWoman, #TheLastAmazon, #KellyThompson, #HaydenSherman, #WonderWoman, #SteveTrevor, #Circe, #BarbaraMinerva, #Jacoby 

2024 Favorite Films!

2024 has a number of fantastic cinema works that are impressive artistically and on emotional levels. Here are ten films. The first is Dune: Part Two since it is fantastic in director Denis Villeneuve’s vision. The film presents visual worlds like the Harkonnen arena, just powerful in filming it in black and white infrared that fit into the world building. It also makes Roman arenas seem plain. The part of the film that had Paul Artredies (Timothee Chalamet) question his destiny adds to the dramatic story. His conflict with Chani (Zendaya), fighting for her people, brings what I thought was the intent of the author, Frank Herbert. This would be the danger of a messiah figure leading to the univeral jihad. It becomes more apparent in the second book, Dune Messiah. 

Javier Bardem’s Stilgar is just perfect bringing laughs while keeping to the absolute loyalty to the Kwisatz Haderach. The music by Hans Zimmer was a great. I really feel that his score plussed the narrative while the first film was low key like a muttering hum. This movie’s music felt epic. The ten Academy Award nominations might give a nod to Dune: Part Two. It looks to get special effects, sound, production design, and film editing like the first Dune film. Competition is heavy so it may lose out to other movies. I think I’m most disappointed that Villeneuve did not get a Director’s Guild Award nom. It lessens the chance of an Academy Award nom. 

The film that was devastating was the documentary, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. His story was played on the news, but the film shows Reeve’s private life; his wife, Dana Reeve, sons, Will and Matthew, and daughter, Alexandra Reeve Givens. The connection is of course the role that was closely identifed with Reeve, Superman, but it is the jumping off point to show the humanity of Christopher Reeve. The review is here: https://geektruth.blogspot.com/2024/09/superman-christopher-reeve-story-review.html. There are other documentaries that may make the Oscar nomination list, Daughters, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, and Dahomey, but I hope Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story gets the nom for Reeve, his impact on cinema, and our lives.  

Next is A Complete Unknown, a feat pushing the boundaries musician biopic, excellent work by James Mangold. I was thinking about the shift from Bob Dylan to Pete Seegers and realized that Mangold had a focus that widened from Dylan to the music scene and time period. It doesn’t shine a light on Dylan, his portrayal is of a complicated, flawed artist capable of great work. Chalamet got the Best Actor nom from the Screen Actors Guild, well deserved, Edward Norton for Best Supporting Actor, and Monica Barbaro, Best Supporting Actress. Most likely, this will be repeated for the Academy Awards. A Complete Unknown is currently in theaters, check out the review: https://geektruth.blogspot.com/2025/01/a-complete-unknown-review.html, not to be missed! 

An excellent  cinematic work, by another talented director, Robert Eggers, is Nosferatu. Still, playing in theaters, it is a dark and powerful rendition of the original horror classic from 1922. Eggers’ film is not only a tribute to the best of the horror genre, but to cinema itself with its roots. Bill Skarsgard puts in a stunning performance as Count Orlok, I heard his voice outside where the movie was playing, and can instantly recognize that it was Nosferatu! Lily Rose Depp’s Ellen is career defining pushing her as an actress. It is a shame that Eggers is not recognized, passed up by the DGA, but some technical awards might be given like special effects, I really see make-up getting a nom, also sound, the movie is powerful in creating a soundscape, and I would say cinematography by Jarin Blaschke. 

I don’t know if it is the horror genre that may be too niche for the Academy, but you can watch the film and see for yourself: https://geektruth.blogspot.com/2024/12/nosferatu-review.html. Almost in contrast, Inside Out 2 was a surprise surpassing the original, brilliant as an animated movie. It is  one of the best child development works. Kelsey Mann should be applauded as a director creating an animated work that is meaningful beyond the entertainment. I think Mann and co-writers, Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, should be nommed for their story work. It is fantastic that Amy Poehler returned as Joy and also had territory to explore as Maya Hawke’s Anxiety complicates the life of Riley. The film expands on the characters and world that was established by the first Inside Out (2015). Inside Out 2 looks to be nommed for Best Animated Film, but I think its importance should extend to best screenplay. It is currently streaming on Disney+. Don’t forget the review!: https://geektruth.blogspot.com/2024/06/inside-out-2-review.html.

Another film favorite is Megalopolis. This film would not be on any critics list, but it is impactful to me as a work of art. It is bold in what it presents, this city of the future like Metropolis (1927), and challenging in its narrative. I found half way through to stop trying to work out what is happening and just let the imagery, sound, and story brush over me as an experience. The story of an artist, in this case, architect, Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), shows what artists face in creating a work. In this case, the city of Megalopolis, also a romance with socialite Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmmanuel) who acts as his muse, family comes into a play, conflict with her father, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Espotisto). There is also politics and corruption especially with femme fatale Wow Platinum (Aubrey Plaza) and the scheming Clodio Pulcher (Shia LaBeouf). An incredible cast. I see it as the stuggle to build a utopia, a sort of trilogy, with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga as a dystopia or post-apocalypse, and Dune: Part Two as epic sci fi, philosphical, and building several worlds. 

This film is not for everyone, it is challenging as cinema, and may not get any noms. I would hope special effects, production design, costume, and music, but again this movie just may not get award recognition. I hope that those willing to give it a chance will watch it: https://geektruth.blogspot.com/2024/10/megalopolis-review.html. Next, another film that was crafted by the vision of its director, Alex Garland and his war time thriller, Civil War. At the time of its release, there was confusion that it directly was commenting on the political election. The movie is an allegory on battlefield reporting and is set in America, but the opposition to the government, the Western Forces, a combination of Texas and California is not playing on a possible future. 

It is a journey like Apocalypse Now (1979) except on the road with veteran photographer Lee Smith (Kirsten Dunst) traveling with the inexperienced Jessie (Cailee Spaeny). I think Dunst and Spaeny are worthy of best actress and best supporting actress noms. Lee says at one point that her photographs were to send a warning back home, but conflict is inevitable. Of course, Spaeny also figures into a later favorite film. They are traveling to Washington, D.C. and find the conflict that makes the war seem senseless. It is always harrowing to see it all play in familiar settings, the point of Garland, which is fascinating to me visiting the Gettysburg battlefields. It may not get award recognition, but I think the cinemtography and sound are stunning. Civil War is currently streaming on Max, review is here: https://geektruth.blogspot.com/2024/04/civil-war-review.html. 

The next three were all unexpected surprises. The first is Alien: Romulus which revitalized the long running franchise. The film by Fede Alvarez was fresh in making the familiar Xenophobes into threats in new ways. It brings the franchise back to its horror roots. Young people trapped in a haunted house. Except in this case a space station that is going to crash and holds secrets with its experiments! More important is to have characters that you feel want to make it to the end. There are of course the two leads, Rain (Spaeny again), and Andy (David Jonsson) who is stunning as a Synthetic who is childlike and then turns into a cold mastermind. I think of it as part of a complete Alien trilogy. It is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Read the review: https://geektruth.blogspot.com/2024/08/alien-romulus-review.html. 

Mufasa: The Lion King had a high bar to cross under the shadow of the Lion King and turn the tide on the Disney live action adaptations. I believed that director Barry Jenkins would take the movie over the line. Check out the review before we continue: https://geektruth.blogspot.com/2024/12/mufasa-lion-king-review.html. Mufasa had the added songwriting skills of Lin Manuel Miranda. I liked that storytelling is part of the film, the mythological journey to find paradise, in this case we have a new word, Melele. It has the finest voice cast and I would say one of the best casts in movies period. Aaron Pierre voices Mufasa and Kelvin Harrison Jr. is the voice of Taka. I also like Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, but was really impressed by Thandiwe Newton voicing Eshe since she is the teacher of Mufasa. The visuals are stunning. The movie is a cinematic gift worthy of entering the world of the Lion King. Mufasa: The Lion King is playing now in theaters. 

#FavoriteFilms, #DunePartTwo, #DenisVilleneuve, ##Nosferatu, #RobertEggers, #BillSkarsgaard, #LilyRoseDepp, #CivilWar, #AlexGarland, #KirstenDunst, #CaileeSpaeny, #AlienRomulus, #FedeAlvarez, #MufasaTheLionKing, #BarryJenkins, #AaronPierre, #KelvinHarrisonJr, #TiffanyBoone, #ThandiweNewton 

The Band of the Crow: Welcome to Brigantia Review!

A crowdfunded exclusive fantasy comic, The Band of the Crow is a magazine sized graphic novel, it is an introduction to the original world of Brigantia! This comic book is from Crowfire Studios and will hopefully expand to print form in comic book and bookstores. It is created by Arvid Nelson who is known for the Rex Mundi series that was published by Image Comics and then Dark Horse Comics. He has also worked with other franchises with Kull for Dark Horse, Dynamite Entertainment’s Warlord of Mars, and the Legendary Pictures comic, Skull Island: The Birth of Kong. The artwork is by Oren which is the first work for the artist outside of Malaysia and it is promising. Find availability and details at: www.thebandofthecrow.com. 

The main cover by Oren has a collage of characters, the red haired Therial, the Troll who looks more like an Elf with green skin and dark hair carrying a sword, Otri, and a large face of a blonde haired woman who is not yet introduced. Oren’s characters has a slight manga influence and his detail is intricate. The first pages are full page illustrations like a chapter book. It tells of the Eternal Cold, eight centuries ago, that covered the Known World. The image of a ruined city blanketed by snow with only crows occupying it with a crescent moon above it. There are steps, trees, and Romanesque buildings. Highly detailed art by Oren. Then, we are told of the Holy Daughter, Julian, who was born on the eve of the Eternal Cold. I really like that there is a religious aspect to this fantasy world. 

Another page shows a red banner with three cirlces of gold with spears raised to the clouds encircling the shinging sun, birds, crows?, fly in a scattered line. Julian had warned about giants from the cold, but only a few of the faithful believed her. The tale explains that lands were taken in Her name until the arrival of “our people”, which I take to be Brigantia, the island setting. Julian, whom we see with long, dark hair raises an object that sends out rays. She had taught the followers of the Faith of the God Child, Sorcery, that defeated the giants. The last of manking is on the Island Refuge, and the Great Frost is still beyond their borders. Then, we get a full page spread of what looks like a monastery similar to Meteora in Greece, on a mountain with a single tower. 

There is a gate on the side, the only entrance. All of this is under the night with a crescent moon. A prayer to the Mother of Mercy is heard. Then, we get another large panel, the statue of Julian holding the God Child with a gold laurel crown stands at an alcove. Kneeling in pryayer is Therial, who has a test the following day. Some candles illuminate the statue, stunning colors. He is about to finish his prayer asking to be delievered “from the shadows” when a clawed hand touches his shoulder! Another cinematic splash page has Therial yanked back by his cloak this has the troll, Otri in tribal armor,  green skin, and wild, brown hair with braids. Several of his fellow troll warriors are behind him and I was impressed by a circular, stained glass window with Julian and the God Child along with hands. 

Otri threatens Therial with his sword and instead he shouts a warning about the trolls. Funny and the spiky panel looks like the manga style! The troll leader holds his hand over Therial’s mouth and says his trolls will kill him. Otri says that they are only there for gold and don’t want to kill anyone. A closeup of Therial’s eyes as he says it is a “poor house of the goddess.” Otri turns holding his sword to Therial to see a troll hand grasping the gold crown! He says he lost his patience. Then, the trolls are surprised by black tendrils wrapping around them! Otri, in the troll language, wonders what is attacking them. The crown is dropped and one troll says it is the shadows! Another says it is magic, skraeling magic, like a curse. Skraeling is an Old Nurse word meaning “barbarian” or “shout.” 

A splash page reveals the sorcerer of the shadows, Ancasta, a dark haired woman in a white dress emerging from the chapel door. Her hands out to send the shadows, Ancasta asks Therial why he is there, and he answers that he has to “walk the Knot”, his test. Interestingly, we only saw Julian from behind and in statue form, but Ancasta may resemble the goddess. The trolls semed to have shrugged off the shadows and Otri is ready to attack Ancasta! One troll rushes at her with an axe, but is thrown back by the shadows! Otri says she can’t stop all of them, he roars leaping with two blades, Ancasta sets herself. They unleashes the shafows to toss the trolls! She sends a shadow tendril to choke Otri, a closeup of her hand as she slams him into the ceiling, and then opens her hand flinging him through the door! Great use of action and perspective! 

The trolls start to run to their ship and Ancasta follows them, she says, “Tell the rest of your kind - “, but can’t complete her words. She gasps, her arms are outstretched and the trees seem to lean towards her. An excellent way to show disorientation. Her husband, Morin, rushes to her side. He has a red cloak and green tunic, his face looks like a modern day administrator around middle age than a noble. Ancasta is kneeling by a tree holding her head, her necklace has the glowing pendant we find out is a Fale. It may be what contains the magic. A closeup as she holds her belly and Ancasta mentions it is their child that made her weak. Morin gives a suspicious look them as he helps his wife. Ancasta says that Therial was at the chapel when trolls entered. They seem to have some sort of plan as we see a closeup of Ancasta’s face as she says they could use the event to their advantage? 

Men in brown tunics and robes see them at the chapel's entrance. Behind them, quietly, is Therial. The bearded head of these monk-like figures asks if Mael Morin took care of the trolls. We see Ancasta’s eyes as her husband hints that they won’t have trouble from the trolls. He wears a Fale, but may not be magical. The clergy leader says the students would have been inspired to see him take on the trolls before the test. He wonders why the trolls returned. Morin says they have to be ready for the test and the others bow to him. The leader holds the hand of Maleth Ancasta, but she seems distant. I like the different titles for these nobles which appear to be similar to duke and duchess. Therial looks at Ancasta as he is taken away. Morin tells his wife it is best that the people think he protected them. He has to keep his “magisterial authority.” I like the politics here, the monks are all men, the only person with any kind of power, magic, is Ancasta. 

In the morning, at the chapel’s meeting hall, Therial explains he was in the chapel during the troll attack. I think Morin should have checked with Therial about the “official” account of the trolls. Therial and the other students wear white tunics. There are red banners with what looks like golden owls. Therial is asked by his dark haired friend Rollo if he is related to Ancasta. Morin the Fifth is announced at a balcony. He holds up his Fale, a locket with a ruby-like center and several gold etchings around it. Morin says he used it to defeat the trolls. The students have finished their studies after “ten winters.” Their test is to enter the Endless Knot to find a plant, a sprig of it will increase their Sorcery a “hundredfold”! It is a dangerous test that will lose them forever, make them lose interest, but the goddess may guide them to their Fales! Band of the Crow is not formed yet, but Therial’s test may prove himself as a sorceror and lead him to join a group that can save Brigantia! I’m ready for more adventures with the Band of the Crow! 

Five+ Fales out of Five! 

#TheBandOfTheCrow, #WelcomeToBrigantia, #CrowfireStudios, #ArvidNelson, #Julian, #Therial, #Oren, #Otri, #Ancasta 

Double Feature: Mufasa: The Lion King and Wicked!

Two fantastic films, a double feature, in one day, with a walk down Hollywood Boulevard, and Citywalk! I had planned on going to the movies on the second week after the holiday traffic had died down. I discovered that the last day for Mufasa: The Lion King at the El Capitan was on Sunday! I kjnew that I wanted to see the film again in 3D and there would be enough to see it at the El Capitan. The only challenge was that there were only two showings; 9:30 a.m. or 7:30 p.m. I was awake enough in the morning to give the early screening a try. I don’t think I’ve been to Hollywood that early. I arrived about a half hour before the movie started so I decided to walk down the boulevard and take some Walk of Fame star pics. 

I headed north from the El Capitan Theatre about a block and got a good pic of Viola Davis’ star  especially since she was given the Cecil B. DeMile award the previous night. Also, Roger Corman’s star which was cracked at the base. The condition of the stars vary especially outside of major venues. There was Christopher Reeve’s star that was nice and shiny. The stars around the TCL Chinese Theatre is almost always busy with foot traffic so this was a chance to get some quick pics. It was so early at the Chinese Theatre that the security guard was moving the gates. I crossed back to the El Capitan and saw Dr. Dre’s new star. The theater was closed and I was the first member for the showing. Four other adults were later in the audience towards the back of the theater. 

There were a few photo ops and also a light and projection pre-show, colorful and of course with the film’s lively score and golden confetti spraying down on the seats! The Dolby 3D glasses give a clean image, but the effect is just a little better than without the 3D. Afterwards, a large, double-sided poster with Mufasa and Taka was given out. It was about 11:30 when I left the theater so I thought I would go to Citywalk and maybe catch the 12:00 showing of Wicked. At the time, the crowds started to fill up Hollywood Boulevard, but the traffic was not too heavy. I knew that they had the Wicked costumes at the AMC Citywalk and decided not to go on a separate trip. At that time, the crowd was light to medium, not the densely packed crowd of busy times. 

The four Wicked costumes, worn by the actors, on display in the lobby have the glare from the daylight and theater lights. On the left side was blue suit with gold etching of Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey. Then, the black dress with intricate patterns, shoulder belt, and hat of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo). Across a poster distance is the case for pink dress with ruffled sleeves of Glinda (Ariana Grande). Then, the orange and blue sweater, blue shirt, and black trousers for Boq (Ethan Slater). In the room to the left are some tables and also three costumes from Nosferatu which was playing in IMAX at the theater. The left side case next to the large movie stand is the blue jacket, silver bow and tan trousersl of Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult). 

Costumes from Nosferatu, photo by the author. 

He also has a grey shirt and white shirt underneath! I also noticed with Thonams and Friedrich that they both have gold pocket keychains, badges?, on the right side. Next to him, is the white night gown of Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp). The dark blue jacket of Frederich (Aaron Taylor Johnson) has a gold collared undershirt and light blue trousers. On the side wall was a few other costumes including the red cheerleader outfit of Missy Pantone (Eliza Dushku) celebrating the 25th anniversary of Bring It On (2000). Wicked Sing-Along, there were still a good audience in the theater,  the singing seemed to come from the back where there were musical theater guys. I actually liked the lyrics showing up on screen showcasing Stephen Schwartz’s work and I’m used to subtitles at home for dialogue and complicated fantasy or sci fi words.    

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have a new intro giving some vocal warmups before the singing! I think watching the musical on stage would give me an appreciation of the songs, I had already seen the movie, and also the characters. I still don’t like Boq and I think Fiyero seduces Glinda more in the film. In the stage musical, he is flirty with everyone, and Glinda becomes more obsessed with him. Howard Ho does an insightful breakdown of the “Defying Gravity” riff, a must see if anyone is interested in Wicked, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwO-ftWR0mc. Also, I still love Erivo’s singing, but the staging of “Defying Gravity” was still better in the musical. I did try the Wicked Emerald City Freeze, green apple, Icee, I didn’t see the Popular pink flavor. I made a visit to the Epic Universe store and picked up a Dark Universe shirt. 

#MufasaTheLionKing, #ElCapitanTheatre, #WickedSingalong, #JonathanBailey, #CynthiaEria, #ArianaGrane, #EthanSlater, #Nosferatu, #ThomasHoult, #LilyRoseDepp, #AaronTaylorJohnson, #BringItOn, #ElizaDushku