Hadestown: The Musical Review!

Hadestown is a masterwork of myth and Jazz music, a love story redressed as an American tragedy set in the Depression. The film had a limited release on July 24th for five nights, but it has been extended, due to its popularity. The musical has music, lyrics, and book by Anaïs Mitchell. She played Eurdyice in a tour in 2006-2007. The singer/songwriter released her concept album, Hadestown, in 2010. It debuted on Broadway in 2019 and won eight Tonys. This including Best Musical and Original Score.  

Also, Best Performance by an Actor in a Feature Role in a Musical, André De Shields, and Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography. Hadestown is of course based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. One of the early renditions of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth was in the Georgics by Virgil in 29 B.C. Hadestown brilliantly combines the myth and explores it through song and a 1930’s Depression-era setting, though it is said, “don’t ask where or when.” 

The movie is directed by Brett Sullivan who also directed Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical (2025). This was filmed at the Lyric Theatre in London with the original Broadway cast in 2025. The camera moves to the theater and then has a behind-the-scenes of the actors preparing to go on stage. De Shields says to himself, “Slow and steady, calm and ready.” The stage itself has musicians at the upstage, left and right, with some chairs and tables for the ensemble. 

In the center is the place for the Fates as chorus. Several chairs are in a semi-circle at center stage. The camera follows the actors on stage as the audience applauds. Great camera work that brings viewers from the actors to the stage. De Shields enters the stage and he kisses the heads of the seated leads. Above the stage is a balcony with two actors who look down at the stage. De Shields is stage left, dressed in a silver suit, and he unbuttons his jacket. It is like there is silence in the theater waiting for him to start the show. 

There is a trumpet playing and Mister Hermes (De Shields) starts humming joined by the ensemble. De Shields starred as a Legend in the "Sunday" segement of the musical film, tick...tick...BOOM! (2021). Mister Hermes sings about the railroad line which is the “Road to Hell.” He sings that it was “hard times." Mister Miracle introduces “three old women”, The Fates; Bella Brown, Madeline Charlemagne, and Allie Daniel, all enter to audience clapping. The names of the Fates in Greek myth are Atropos, Clotho, and Lachesis.  

They are dressed in grey like flappers, Jazz Age dancers, and also Greek robes. Mister Mercury sings, “And they was always singin’ in the back of your mind”, intriguing, not as Muses, inspiring people, but pushing towards destiny. He continues with his introductions next singing about a woman “With a suitcase full of summertime”, Persephone!, played wonderfully by Amber Gray. Gray played Gloria Valentine in the mini-series,The Underground Railroad (2021). Her performance reminds me of Eartha Kitt. She wears a green dress with ruffles and a white fur coat, a contrast to her husband. 

Next, Mister Mercury introduces the “king of the mine” found at the end of the railroad line, Mister Hades, powerfully played by Patrick Page. Pike Phillips, was a part played by Page for the movie musical, In The Heights (2021). He has white hair and beard, a dark, fancy suit, a black boot that makes me think of the Faun from Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), and a silver shoe on the right foot. Hades was also known as the god of wealth as well as the underworld. It is interesting to see the gods formerly addressed as “mister”, a title for gentlemen. 

Then, Mister Hermes introduces himself, "a man with feathers on his feet", a clever way to bring in the herald of the gods with his talaria, winged sandals, but especially here, I think it refers to his dancing! Mister Hermes weaves into and out of the narrative, as a guide and also observer to his tale. He sings, “It’s a sad song” which is picked up by the chorus. This is repeated over and over to make certain that the audience will know that the story will end in tragedy. 

Still, the audience returns again and again to the story. Mister Hermes introduces the “hardest working” Chorus, men and women in brown and tan jackets and pants, colors that reflect the earth. Next, he introduces the band, they burst out in lively jazz. Mister Hermes calms everything down to introduce “a poor boy workin’ on a song”, Orpheus (Reeve Carney). In the supernatural series, Penny Dreadful, Carney portrayed Dorian Gray. 

Orpheus wears a white shirt, brown suspenders and pants, he also has a red scarf. Only parts of his clothing aligns him with the chorus of regular folk. He is working as a busboy cleaning the tables. Mister Hermes explains that Orpheus' mother was his friend, in the myth, the Muse Callipe. He says the boy was "touched by the gods themselves." The phrase may mean mentally unbalanced, but here I think it is obsession, like the horror film, obsession to his music.

The boy sings, "La la la la la la..." This is the melody, parts of his song that he needs to complete, like Roger in the musical who is also writing one last song. The next person Mister Hermes brings into the narrative is a "young girl looking for something to eat", Eurydice, played by Eva Noblezada. The filmed musical, Miss Saigon: 25th Anniversary (2016) featured Noblezada as Kim. One of the themes is poverty and it is also an obsession. 

Eurydice wears a dark brown coat, brown vest like the Chorus, with a gold and black scarf, and black shirt and pants, aligning her with Hades? Mister Hermes sings, “Thus begins the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice.” The music comes to a crescendo. The Fates sing a haunting “Ooooh…”, the beginning of “Anywhere the Wind Blows”, a melacholy beginning. Mister Hermes says, Eurydice was a “hungry young girl”, the hunger seems more than physical need for food, but an emptiness past her runaway life. 

She places a candle down surrounded by the Fates. I get another image of the last candle for Mimi when she meets Roger in Rent (2005). Noblezada’s vocals are so strong. The candle is blown out by the wind of the Fates. Mister Hermes sings of Orpheus who unlike Eurydice is naive to the world so he took the boy under his wing. He tells Orpheus in "Come Home with Me" to talk to Eurydice and not come on strong. The music is just a gentle guitar. Orpheus sings and instantly tells her the title of the song, just awkward, but he is too taken with her! He sings along with the Chorus, not Orpheus alone, but in harmony. 

Orpheus continues that he is “the man who is gonna marry you.” It’s almost a slap in the head moment at his headstrong comment! Eurydice tells him her name and he sings, “Your name is like a melody.” I see the same dynamic of worldly and naive romantic leads as Satine and Christian in Moulin Rouge! (2001). She says he is a singer. He adds that he also plays the lyre. In the myth, the lyre is given to Orpheus by Apollo. Eurydice remarks, "Oh, a liar and a player too." She says she's known too many men like him, but Mister Hermes says, "He's not like any men you've met." 

Orpheus is encouraged by Mister Hermes to tell Eurydice what is working on. He tells Eurydice that he is working on a song and when sings it "Spring will come again."  The promise of his song could fill her emptiness, but she is suspicious. This moves to the upbeat "Wedding Song", Eurydice sings calling Orpheus "lover." She sings about how he will get wedding rings with how life is difficult. He sings that when he sings his song, rivers will sing and "break their banks" to bring gold that they will turn to rings. Again, Eurydice sings about who is going to set their wedding table. 

Orpheus sings that the trees will sing along laying their fruit on the table. The end of her hunger? Love the hint to the mythological Orpheus whose singing could make trees dance and move rivers. Eurydice wants him to sing his song and he sings the melody, "La-la-la-la-la-la."  Still, it is unfinished. This impresses Eurydice and she tells him to finish the song. The missing part I see like Roger trying to sing "One Song Glory" in Rent. It is something that obsesses Orpheus completely that he loses sight, like Roger, of the most important part, Eurydice. He brings her a red carnation, the symbol of their love. Orpheus' scarf is the same color. The great costume designs are by Abhinav Singh. 

Orpheus knows about the story of Hades and Persephone and Mister Hermes tells him to sing it in "Epic I." Persephone arrives to bring the party and summertime in "Livin' It Up on Top." She drinks heavily, not only to celebrate, but almost to wash away the sorrow of the underworld and Hades, an almost loveless relationship. Hades takes her away and Mister Hermes sings about Orpheus, "He could make you see how the world could be." Eurydice still is drawn back by her old life and temptations. The Fates tempt her in "A Gathering Storm" where Eurydice goes out for firewood. Mister Hermes blows a train whistle and we get the lively, "Way Down Hadestown."  The Chorus sing about "Give me morphine in a tin." I think this is the addiction that is fatal to Eurydice. 

Hades appears to sing, "Hey Little Songbird", tempting Eurydice and making her doubt Orpheus' song. He brings up the hardship fo the world, "See how the vipers and vultures surround you." The mythical Eurydice died by a viper bite. He offers the way out from the harsh world, an eternity in the underworld! He gives her coins which she places on her eyes, this is Charon's obol, the fee the ferryman takes to take souls across the River Styx. She descends on the turntable stage which also provides movement and dances. Orpheus has to brave the journey there and change Hades. This is a sad song, a tragedy, but we always return to it. Hadestown cuts into the heart of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth with song that makes the audience part of the narrative and experience this incredible show! 

Five+ Carnations out of Five! 

#Hadestown, #BrettSullivan, #AnaisMitchell, #EvaNoblezada, #ReeveCarney, #AndreDeShields, #AmberGray, #PatrickPage, #BellaBrown, #MadelineCharlemagne, #AllieDaniel  

Space Sentinels and The Freedom Force!

There is some incredible super team animated shows by Filmation in the late 70’s. First, who was the first black female superhero on tv? Filmation had some brilliant early action cartoons. One of them is Space Sentinels (1977), a pivotal year in fantasy and sci fi. It ran for 13 episodes. The introduction says "many centuries ago three young Earthlings were transported", they were Hercules (George DiCenzo), Astrea (Dee Timberlake), and Mercury (Evan Kim). 

The Space Sentinels were transported from Earth as teenagers, but now in the year 1985 look like adults. Their powers, of course Hercules has super strength, Astrea, shapeshifting!, and Mercury, super speed. The trio has “eternal youth” which inspired the mythological figures. Astrea is the first black female superhero, Black Vulcan debuted the same time on Super Friends! The group protects Earth from aliens, time travelers, and other threats. They are guided by Sentinel One (DiCenzo), he is a giant holographic head, I don't know, like Zordon in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers? 

Also there is the robot MO (Maintenance Operator) voiced by Filmation co-creator Lou Scheimer! MO looks like a squat robot similar Artoo, but reminds me more of the robots in Silent Running (1972). He is in love with Astrea who happens to be the leader of the team! I don't know many team leaders like Astrea except Storm leading the X-Men for a time. They have belts that allow them to fly like the Legion flight ring. Their base is a white, saucer-like spaceship at the base of an island volcano. Tubes send the team out to fly with the belts. 

A year later there was a segment called The Freedom Force in the show, Tarzan and the Super 7. There were five episodes that latest 12 minutes each. Hercules joined this team from Space Sentinels. The new voice actor was Bob Denison and the character rode on Pegasus. The leader of this team is Isis, the superhero from the live action Filmation show, The Secret of Isis (1975-1978). High school science teacher, Andrea Thomas, played by Joanna Cameron, found the Tutmose amulet in Egypt. This transformed her into the Egyptian goddess, Isis, now voiced by Diane Pershing. 

The main trio was Isis, Hercules, and Toshi (voiced by Michael Bell), a young Japanese hero who could transform into the giant Super Samurai. The other team member is Merlin, also voiced by Bell, who rode a magic carpet. Bell also voiced Sinbad, the legendary hero only made occasional appearances. His side kick was the squat and silly, Lamprey, who appeared in only one episode. So it was a team of five members. Their base is a golden pyramid in the Valley of Time. It had a dock next to a river, the River of Time?, and set in a clearing of a forest. 

The Freedom Force battles dragon riders, wizards, and even Morgan le Fey. In 2006, all of the Space Sentinels episodes and The Freedom Force episodeswith interviews and other material. The third episode, “The Plant Soldiers” was released on the The Secrets of Isis DVD in 2007. It is availabe with Fandango at Home, The Roku Channel, and Tubi TV. I would love if these shows were adapted into comics and especially re-run of tv. What happened to Astrea and Mercury? How did Hercules end up with the Freedom Force? 

Here’s some fan speculation. The Space Sentinels investigate a rift that is destroying the Sentinels. The rift starts to engulf the team, but Sentinel One uses the last of his power to protect the team in force bubbles. The trio are lost in time! On The Freedom Force’s Earth, Isis travels to the Valley of Time, and finds about the distruption of the rift. She finds the young Merlin, adult, but not with a long, white beard. Merlin has sensed the threat and says they will need more help. In modern Japan, they find Toshi studying karate, explaining his gi, and Morgan has found Merlin. 

Toshi is able to summon Super Samurai for the first time and overwhelms Morgan’s creatures and she retreats. The team has to travel one more time to ancient Arabia. Sinbad the Sailor’s ship is about to be destroyed by the rift. He is able to use his magic carpet to escape with Lamprey. Still, they are about to be taken into the rift, but Merlin’s magic saves them! In exchange for the rescue, Sinbad gives Merlin the magic carpet. They travel to ancient Greece, too late, the winds of the rift is about to consume Athens! 

Hercules is swept across the rift and saved by Pegasus! Isis uses the powers of all of the heroes channeled by Merlin to seal the rift. They find that Hercules has lost memory of his past, but still has dreams of Astrea and Mercury lost in time! Filmation is currently owned by DreamWorks Animation with distribution by Universal Pictures. They did release Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003). The closest superhero film was the comedy, Megamind (2010). How about revitalizing a classic show and tell new adventures in series, comic books, or movies?! Have you seen Space Sentinels or The Freedom Force? They have some great adventures! 

#SpaceSentinels, #GeorgeDiCenzo, #Hercules, #DeeTimberlake, #Astrea, #EvanKim, #Mercury, #LouScheimer, #MO, #TheFreedomForce, #TarzanAndTheSuper7, 

#BobDenison, #Hercules, #TheSecretOfIsis, #JoannaCameron, #DianePershing, #Isis, #MichaelBell, #Toshi, #SuperSamurai, #Sinbad, #Lamprey, #DreamWorksAnimation, #UniversalPictures, #SinbadLegendOfTheSevenSeas, #Megamind 

Obsession Review!

Obsession is an original film that has Twilight Zone touches, but dives into dark territory with a woman caught in a supernatural wish! The film is written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker who previously wrote and directed Milk & Serial (2024) that was released on YouTube. His next project is Anything But Ghosts. The wish premise is very like “The Monkey’s Paw” like W.W. Jacobs’ 1902 short story. The twist on the supernatural device where all things go wrong makes me think of the Twilight Zone episode, “A Most Unusual Camera” (1960). The movie goes beyond the premise though like other films produced by Blumhouse. The psychological part of the film is the most fascinating part beyond the blood. 

The film begins with a closeup of Bear (Michael Johnston), a young man in a swearter, speaking in a diner. He has the young look as the lead in the sitcom, How I Met Your Mother. Johnston starred as Corey Bryant on the supernatural show, Teen Wolf. This is the name almost everyone calls Baron Bailey. He talks to someone saying, “I would choose you over everything.” Then, we see the face of the woman (Chloe Breen), he is speaking to, rehearsing his speech. Bear’s friend, Ian (Cooper Tomlinson), cuts in to tell him that it was a cringey speech. Tomlinson co-starred with Barker in Milk & Serial. She tells him to give flowers or candy to his love interest before returning to her work as waitress.

Ian slips into the booth and tells Bear to call her “Freaky Nikki.” He says Bear is seven years late in asking out Nikki. Bear finds a spilled bottle of oxycodone pills, an opoid for severe pain. This was prescribed to Bear’s grandmother. He sees that his cat, Sandy, has died in the kitchen from eating the pills. Bear puts the cat in a garbage bag and then goes to his bedroom to cry. He sees a photo booth strip of Nikki, he is smiling, but she has a bored expression. Then, she is smiling with Ian. He scans through his phone with Ian’s text about going to trivia night. The red cat clock ticks with the eyes shifting side to side. Sound is powerful here, the sound supervisor is David Kitchens, with eerie tension. 

He scans through his phone to see Nikki’s Instagram posts. Nikki calls Bear and mentions that she dropped her crystal necklace down a sewer pipe. Bear heads to The Green Man gifts, an actual store in Burbank, to find a necklace for Nikki. His interest turns to what looks like a 50’s novelty toy, One Wish Willow, labeled, “You only get one wish.” This gave hints of the Twilight Zone. The shop worker, Viola (Haley Fitzgerald), tells Bear that people who do buy it complain. Bear buys it almost on a whim. At Barker’s Pub, Bear is with Ian and their friends, Nikki Freeman (Inde Navarette) and Sarah Harper (Morgan Lawless). Navarette played Sarah Cushing on the superhero show, Superman & Lois (2021-2023 and four episodes for the last season). Lawless played Maya Yang in the dramatic movie, The Hate U Give (2018).

Bear eyes Ian. Nikki realizes they are having a silent conversation. Bear orders a Pina colada and Nikki says, “I like a man who is feminine.” Nikki has taken a job and is leaving to write a story. Bear is talking at the bar with Nikki getting drinks with Ian and then Sarah dropping in. Then, he admits that Sandy, his cat, died, Nikki says she is sorry and hugs him. Outside in the parking lot, Ian says they are going to Guido’s Karaoke, but Nikki just wants to go home. Sarah goes with Ian to karaoke. Then, Bear offers Nikki a ride home. She asks Sarah for $20 and snatches it to give the money to an unhoused man huddle in a corner. Bear sees Nikki's compassion. She talks about her story and talking at work. On the drive to Sarah’s house, she says, “You’re the only person I get to talk about this stuff.” Uh oh, Bear is trapped in a dimension “as vast as space and as timeless as infinity”, the Friend Zone! 

Bear says he has something for her, but Nikki is disgusted at getting a gift. At Nikki’s house, she asks him how Bear feels about Sarah, having a crush on her. He just says he likes her as a friend. Nikki admits, “When I have a crush on a guy no one knows.” Nikki is a fascinating and complicated person. She is about to leave when Bear calls her Freaky Nikki. This upsets her. Bad advice from his best friend. The pivotal moment happens when Nikki returns to the car and asks, “Do you like me because if you do now is the time to tell me.” Bear says they are just good friends and this is where I lost all sympathy for him. He is complicit in everything that happens from that point. Alone, Bear opens the One Willow Wish box and finds the twisted mini-wand. In Celtic myth, which seems to be the theme of the shop, willows are the tree of enchantment. 

He snaps the branch and says, "I wish Nikki Freeman loves me more than anyone else in the entire world." It is a selfish wish trying to find a shortcut instead of dealing with genuine emotions. Bear starts up his car and then sees Nikki in shadow on her porch. Brilliant camera work by director of photography, Taylor Clemons. NIkki walks up to the car window and asks about Bear's gift. He says he left it at home. She offers for Bear to come into the house because she just lost her cat and then corrects herself that he lost his cat. Interesting confusion there. She continues to ask him to come inside the house and Bear asks if Nikki is ok. He glances at the broken One Wish Willow. Bear says she is drunk. 

Nikki says no, but then snaps like the real Nikki has been released by the Wish Nikki. At her porch, there is one light behind Nikki, but her face is entirely dark, no shadow. She brings up that her dad has died. This gets Bear to go into her house. This is of course Bear's wish, but just not how he wanted things to go which is his problem. In effect, Bear has manipulated her with the wish, and this has real world implications like gaslighting, job loss, or using drugs and alcohol to control a person. There is a jump scare at that point and just a shivering creepiness to Wish Nikki spiraling out of control. This had a couple walk out of the theater for my showing. There are some plot and character flaws, but nothing major. Obsession is fascinating depicting a woman whose smiles and laughs turn disturbing and the horror of control of another person!  

Five+ One Wish Willows out of Five!  

#Obsession, #CurryBarker, #IndeNavarrette, #MichaelJohnston, #CooperTomlinson, #MeganLawless, #AndyRichter, #HaleyFitzgerald, #ChloeBreen     

Lorcana Curator’s Collection drop at Pin Traders

Today was a day of crowds at Downtown Disney as Lorcana fans lined up in queues that filled the west end of the shopping area! The announcement of the new Lorcana set, Attack of the Vine, jumpstarted interest in the trading card game. What Illumineer fans were queuing up for was the Lorcana Curator’s Collection: Heroines Edition. This was an exclusive set like the Disney Lorcana: D23 Collection box that was offered at the 2024 D23 Expo. There was also an appearance and signing by Lorcana artist, Kendall Hale. The other place it was available was Disney Springs at Walt Disney World. I heard one eager fIllumineer was waiting since 6:30 p.m. the previous day! 

The Lorcana Curator’s Collection queue at Pin Traders continuing to the lines at the Lego Store and onwards!, author’s photo. 

I had made my way down to the Disneyland Hotel queue at 5:30 a.m. after a got a 5:00 a.m. text from a friend. The line went up to the security gate, which was then fans were told it hotel guests could only enter the gate, others had to wait until 7:00 a.m. When it was time, the group moved on past Pin Traders, also the Lego Store, which was where I was in line for a previous drop, and then onto a queue formed across from Jazz Kitchen. It went on well past that point and fans were still walking to get in the queues. This looked like a series of lines by the Disney Storyland Boutique store. The blue floor marking tape was rolled out for the series of switchbacks for the queues. 

                                        Lorcana Curator’s Collection: Heroines Edition                                            

The sun came up and was just brutal, a few fans had portable fans and drinks. The best part, of course, is making line friends. There was one from Brazil, another who lived in Texas, Connecticut, and New Jersey, plus two early Lorcana players! We had finally made our way after three hours and twenty minutes patiently waiting to Pin Traders. The Lorcana Curator’s Collection was limited to two boxes a customer. It came with a free promo Maleficent card. There were also Attack of the Vine booster boxes and packs, but the playmats were sold out. The Vine is the latest threat in this thirteenth Lorcana set. If features Monsters Inc., Up, and Turning Red cards.

Maleficent: Exultant Spellcast promo card

The exciting new mechanic is the Team like “Winnie the Pooh & Piglet - Hunny Mages”! It was about fifteen minutes too late to see artist, Kendall Hale, but I did say hi. The pre-orders for the D23 Lorcana Bundle started July 14 for picked up at the expo. includes, the D23 2026 Collection, Premium Hunny Wizard Playmat, Disney Lorcana Quest of Wonders: An Ilumineer’s Lorebook, Mickey Mouse - Brave Little Tailor and Tigger - In the Crow’s Nest pins, and Woody - Leader of the Toys promo cards. The D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event runs from August 14 to the 16th. Ravensburger promises Disney Lorcana Collection Quest events at game stores for August. It was an exhausting and fun experience at Pin Traders today with many Lorcana events this year! 

#LorcanaCurratorsCollectionHeroesEdition, #Lorcana, #AttackOfTheVine, #KendallHale, #PinTraders, #DowntownDisney, #JazzKitchen, #DisneyStorylandBoutique, #D23UltimateDisneyFanEvent, #D23LorcanaBundle, 

#D232026Collection, #PremiumHunnyWizardPlaymat, #DisneyLorcanaWuestOfWondersAnIlumineersLorebook, #MickeyMouseBraveLittleTailor, #TiggerInTheCrowsNest, #WoodyLeaderOfTheToys, #DisneyLorcanaCollectionQuest  

A Visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific!

 The Aquarium of the Pacific, since it opened in 1998, has oceans of aquatic environments and animals! It is located in the Rainbow Harbor area of Long Beach, just across the street from the Long Beach Convention Center. More info at: https://www.aquariumofpacific.org. The adult ticket is $49.95! Seriously. This may be due to the federal cuts to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. So places like the Long Beach Aquarium need you to support them. 

There are two new exhibits, but basically it is the same aquarium, so is it worth the price? Yes!, if you have never been to the aquarium, but no if you have already been to the aquarium and not interested in seeing animals again (like me!) or a new exhibit. Always support aquariums, zoos, and museums. The interesting center piece of the museum is the whale sculpture that runs through the bottom floor. To the left is the gift shop and exit and to the right is the area with medium displays of sea stars and fish.

A diver at Blue Cavern greets visitors at the Long Beach Aquarium, photo by the author. 

I did like the parent who pointed out a Nemo and then corrected herself saying it was an orange Garibaldi. This part also had a kiosk with information for visitors. Next is a massive window for the Blue Cavern displaying sea life off of the coast of Catalina Island. This has a Leopard Shark and Giant Sea Bass. Later, there were two divers pointed out features and answering questions to the floor filled with young kids. This leads to a winding hall past Spiny Lobsters and and Purple-Striped Jelly. Finally, there is a tunnel with windows at both sides for the Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions. 

The first floor opens to the ourdoor with gift booths, the Lorikeet Forest, Shark Lagoon, and the Moon Jelly Touch Lab. Up some steps is seating area for the seal and sea lion shows. The second floor leads to the Northern Pacific Gallery. There is an exhibit for Diving Birds including the Horned Puffin. It leads down to the Giant Pacific Octopus, Ghost who sadly died last year. The hall turns and goes to the large Sea Otter Habitat which had some tiers for sitting to watch the feeding show. The Southern Sea Otters were busy feeding and splashing around. The next room had the new exhibit, Frogs: Facing a Changing World, this had a number of small tanks. 

A pool of Moon Jellies at Jelly:Dreamscapes, author’s photo. 

One of them had the Axolotl, the Mexican Salamander that was featured in the aquarium’s commericals. The info card noted that they are black or brown, but this one is pale and pinkish. It had black eyes with pinkish external gills that give Axolotl their distinctive look. Some were colorful like the Blue Poison Dart Frog with black spots and blue skin showing the threat of its poison. The other new exhibit is Jelly: Dreamscapes. It had a pool of Moon Jellies and South American sea nettles. The sea nettles have yellow bells like a 17th century ladies hat with streaming, ghostly arms like a lacy trail of a dress and thin, red tentacles flowing like a fan. The guide book is great plus there is a pressed penny machine by the gift shop! The Long Beach Aquarium has fascinating displays of marine animals that are always new to discover!   

#LongBeachAquarium, #USFishAndWildlifeService, #AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums, #BlueCavern, #LeopardShark, #GiantSeaBass, #SpinyLobster, #PurpleStripedJelly, #HarborSeal, #CaliforniaSeaLion, #LorikeetForest, #SharkLagoon, #MoonJellyTouchLab

#NorhternPacificGallery, #DivingBirds, #HornedPuffin, #GiantPacificOctopus, #Ghost, #SeaOtterHabitat, #SouthernSeaOtter, #FrogsFacingAChangingWorld, #Axolotl, #BluePoisonDartFrog, #JellyDreamscapes, #SouthAmericanSeaNettles.  

Supergirl review!

Supergirl is good!, it is more memorable than Superman since it focuses on two characters,  and saves up the superhero action! The character was co-created by Otto Binder with Al Plastino in Action Comics #252 (1959). Binder also created Krypto with Curt Swan and gets a special thanks with Plastino in the credits. The movie’s story is based on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2021-2022), a limited series by Tom King and Biliquis Evely. 

Supergirl first appeared on film in 1984’s Supergirl played by Helen Slater. Melissa Benoist took the part in the Supergirl series and Sasha Calle in The Flash (2023). This film is directed by Craig Gillespie, the director of Cruella (2021) and also I, Tonya (2017). The screenplay is by Ana Nogueira, this is her first movie as writer. 

This is the next installment of James Gunn’s Superman (2025), preceded by the animated show, Creature Commandos (2024) and after Superman is the second season of Peacemaker. The film opens with a closeup of a record player, Krypto knocks it to the side, so it plays “This Summer” by the Sleigh Bells, then a look at a sparking floor panel, a Daily Planet headline of Superman saving the day, Krypto pees on it. 

All seen in the trailer which gives away too much of the film. Kara played by Milly Alcock, wakes up, hair a mess, sunglasses kinked to the side. Alcock is known for playing the young Rhaenrya Targaryen in the House of the Dragon fantasy series. Kara here, is a party girl, trying to drink herself across the galaxy. This is on red sun planets where she doesn’t have powers. It took some minutes or so to warm up to her jaded character. 

She turns on a screen where her cousin, Superman (David Corenswet) tries to check on her.  Similar to the end of Superman, Clark doesn’t know how to talk to her, and just gives her space to work out what she needs. His part is basically a cameo. Kara goes crowd surfing at a concert. Then, there is a floating bottle by a window as Kara plays with Krypto in space. The planet Evely is seen, named after the comic’s artist, a nice tribue to the artist since the planet was unnamed. 

It orbits a red sun and a ship encircles a lone house. There is a close-up of the villain, Krem of the Yellow Hills, played by Matthias Schoenaerts. He has metal beads embedded in his face, but his expressions look like the mohawk guy, Wez, in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981). Schoenaerts played Booker in The Old Guard 2 (2025). He is a mad, cruel villain and there’s not much more characterization than just villain. A weak part of the movie. Krem was a red-bearded barbarian who used a wooden bow in the comic.  

The house is the Knoll family, father, Elias (Ferdinand Kingsley) and mother, Delilah (Emily Piggford). Kinsley appeared as George Wilkins in the sci fi seres, Silo (2023). Piggord played Helen in the superhero show, The Umbrella Academy. Elias says, “Brigands, they come for my swords.” His wife tells him that they will give them the swords so that the mercenaries will leave them alone. Young Ruthye, played by Eve Ridley, watches from the doorway. Ridley was a Follower in 2024 episodes of the sci fi show, 3 Body Problem. 

Ruthye is the innocent girl who has only known her homeworld. In the comic, she speaks words like “expurgated”, even though she only lived on the farm. Ruthye speaks simply in the film. Krem enters the house and Elias hands over the key to the swords. Delilah offers a pie with a knife and Krem slams the knife into the pie. In the next room, their son, Emond (Bruce Lennox) listens to his headphones unaware of the threat. This is Lennox's first film. Emond bursts into the room in surprise, but is killed by Krem! 

Elias activates two devices that attach to Krem’s ship to destroy it. Delilah tries to fight with Krem, but he kills both of them. The only survivor is Ruthye who stands in a furred coat over the graves of her family in the morning. The ancient worlds with swords and bows with a warlord that kills innocents for swords makes me think of Thulsa Doom in Conan the Barbarian (1982). Kara is at a dive bar, the Whaletower, and puts coin in a jukebox that drops a disco ball from the ceiling. She says 23 will be the best year of her life. 

Ruthye opens the door with a mask, hood, and sword strapped to her back. She screams, “Attention!” Before she gets the room quiet and Kara sighs. Ruthye says, “I am Ruthye Marye Knoll of the Danastia Clan.” This is her introduction used several times like “I am Inigo Montoya.” She says her family was killed by Krem of the Yellow Hills and offers the sword of her father for a skilled tracker. A Pub Brute (Wil Coban) simply takes the sword and walks out of the bar. The brute slides the sword on the pack of his giant mount and gets into the saddle. 

Kara walks out of the bar and confronts him. He ignores her and Kara swings up to kick the Pub Brute. In turn, she is thrown back and starts to laugh, Kara says, "Look, I'm bleeding." This is interesting to see Kara's bravery without superpowers going against a massive alien. Krypto bites the Pub Brute and Kara kills him with the sword. She gives back Ruthye the sword, but doesn’t want to take up her offer. Later, at her ship, Kara gets another call from Clark and he says, “I’m worried you’re not going to find your people.” 

Kara replies, “That’s the thing Clark, I have no people.” This is Kara’s arc to find her place after losing her family and Kryptonians. It’s about this time that her character becomes empathetic. Kara is out in a field outside her ship playing with Krypto. Ruthye enters the starship and sees the Supergirl costume under a pile of belongings. She leaves with Krem and his Brigands entering the ship. His second-in-command is Drom Baxton (Diarmaid Murtagh), with a short red mohawk and beard with blue tatoos. Murtagh played William MacKenzie in the fantasy series, Outlander. 

Krypto senses them and starts looping towards the ship. Krem takes out a weapon that shoots a dart. Krypto whines and Krem leaves in Kara’s ship. Kara takes Krypto with Ruthye to an alien Healer (Keeley Forsyth). Ruthye translates for her. Krypto has been paralyzed by the dart and has three more rises or days. The antidote is carried by Krem. So Kara’s path is also to find Krem. She heads over to a starship stop, for a bus-like ship, the Wormhole Xpress. 

Four Ruthye's Swords out of Five! 

 

#Supergirl, #CraigGillespie, #AnaNogueira, #OttoBinder, #SupergirlWomanOfTomorrow, #TomKing, #BiliquisEvely, #MillyAlcock, #EveRidley, #DavidCornswet, #JasonMomoa 

#MatthiasSchoenaerts, #ThalissaTeixeira, #KadiffKirwan, #KeeleyForsyth, #DavidKrumholtz, #EmilyBeecham, #ImogenTurner, #FerdinandKingsley, #EmilyPiggford, #BruceLennox