Why Read Books?

 Why Read Books? Books to me has always been fun, you can dream up worlds reading novels, and make a your own collection on a bookshelf. It is always fun for me to stroll through a book store or library. The other part is book signings and events like the L.A. Book Fair. “I’m mad about books, can’t get my fill” as Frank Sinatra sang. We know recently that reading is a problem. The National University has found in 2026 54% (130 million), age 16-74 read below a sixth grade level. This is across economic and ethnic groups. Of course, there is always some form of reading. Still, what about reading on electronic devices on cellphones. The effects of doing so is found in a 2022 Scientific Reports article (which I read online by the way), “Reading on a smartphone affects sigh generation, brain activity, and comprehension.” 

The introduction stated, “In recent years, reading and studying on electronic devices has become more common.” The result is that the findings have shown, “the use of digital devices lowers cognitive performance.” I do flip through articles on my phone, but also read stories at length. This is a quick way to catch news items and entertainment interviews or stories that I might direct to online pages or Geek Truth stories. I have written a number of book reviews, the “Choose Your Own Adventure: At the Mountains of Madness Review!” has 73 readers. The 2025 book was by Jacopo della Quercia. It is a great primer before reading H.P. Lovecraft. Also, Afia in the Land of Wonders (2025), by Mia Araujo which was the first article for this year. Of course, my interest in the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show was from reading George RR Martin’s novella. It had been some time since I read it in the Legends (1998) anthology so I got a new copy and started reading it. 

Just a glimpse at my bookshelf, do you see any favorites?, photo by the author. 

This is the best part of reading, I get to create the Westeros of Dunk and Egg, I have specific pictures from reading apart from the Gary Gianni illustrations. This is the same with Game of Thrones, I had finished the George RR Martin book and I was excited that there was an Iron Throne photo op at Hollywood and Highland in 2011. This was before the show aired on HBO. Only one family was interested in a photo op with a throne made of swords! No one else was interested in the photo op, but this opportunity was from reading the book. Martin said the throne of the books is several times what is in the show, it is not hundred of swords, the throne is made of thousands of swords. All piled recklessly almost to the ceiling. I think the joust that had every Westeros citizen, crowds filling up King's Landing, and on the show, it was about 50 people. 

The real disappointment to me was the Red Comet that was in A Clash of Kings (1998). It slowly went across the planet so every person interpreted it for their own culture and purpose. In the show, it flashed by in one episode, and there was no reflection by characters. Your imagination exceeds any production budget on film or on television. I think specifically of reading Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes (1914). Highly recommended. You may have all of the “Me Tarzan” impressions and what you think the story may be about, but the actual book itself is another world. He rescues French officer, Paul D’Arnot, who helps teach him how to act in the human world. Tarzan goes to Wisconsin to find Jane. All of this is left out of the adaptations. I have a specific image of Tarzan for my imagination; lean with long limbs, a British aristocratic face, but also slightly muscular, and long hair. Alexander Skarsgaard in The Legend of Tarzan (2016) is maybe 75% close to what imagine from the Tarzan of the books. It is great to build the world in your own imagination from an author’s work. 

The Iron Throne from Game of Thrones, Hollywood and Highland, 2011, author’s photo.

I think making a library of books is like a scrapbook of your favorite memories which you can experience again and again opening the pages. The other part is that reading is your time and giving moments to yourself. I usually spend time reading by taking a walk, careful of my surroundings, and just getting exercise and getting my imagination a work out. I always bring a book to appointments and places like theme parks. Instead of grumbling how a line or wait is long, I take out a book and start reading, the time passes and I’m at the front of the queue. Another part is increasing your literacy and vocabulary. I had an Uber driver who wanted to read, basically teaching himself since English was not his first language, very admirable. I gave tips on taking time, not on a timer to get to some books, choice is very important. 

How about audio books? Listening is one of the modes for learning. I think for reading comprehension, it is best to read text, though I do like audio books for narration, but it sets the pacing, gives pronunciation (which would best with bimodal reading, listening to an audio book while following with a text), and character's voices, and an audio cast is great. Janet Varley is quoted in the article "Audiobooks and Literacy" (2020) by Emily Best, “By taking command of a physical book, readers do have an advantage over listeners. The limitation on the listeners’s ability to flip back to a particular passage creates a corresponding limitation on which books work in audio format.” In other words, the power of reading books is going back to a favorite page, going back and checking something, and re-read a description that might have confused you as a reader. So if audio books is your favorite, good, but hopefully you can also read the novel. I read Children of Blood and Bone (2018) by Tomi Adeyemi and then listened to the excellent audio book with narration by Bahni Turpin. 

We also know that reading is the best way to relax and get rid of stress because it is quiet time and engaging with a book. The MHFA England 2018 article (also read online), “Why reading can be good for mental health” noted, “Research by Dr. David Lewis showed that reading as little as six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by 60% by reducing your heart rate, easing muscle tension and altering your state of mind. That same study showed that reading was better at reducing stress than music, drinking a cup of tea, going for a walk and playing video games.” There is no need to jump into the classics, though I would recommend Frankenstein by Mary Shelley if there is interest from the Guillemo del Toro movie. So unwind with a good book, you can get recommendations here, and I will ask people at conventions for any favorite books. Plus, list any favorite books of your own in the comments!, I like hearing any reading recommendations! Reading books is like the key to the cave door, yes SNL reference, there are worlds awaiting you!  

   

#NationalUniversity, #ScientificReports, #ChooseYourOwnAdventure, #AtTheMountainsOfMadness, #JacopodellaQuercio, #HPLovecraft, #AfiaInTheLandOfWonders, #MiaArajou, #AKnightOfTheSevenKingdoms, #GeorgeRRMartin, #GaryGianni, #GameOfThrones, #AClashOfKings, #TarzanOfTheApes 

#EdgarRiceBurroughs, #TheLegendOfTarzan, #AlexanderSkarsgaard, #ChildrenOfBloodAndBone, #TomiAdeyemi, #BahniTurpin, #JanetVarley, #AudiobooksAndLiteracy, #EmilyBest,  #MHFAEngland, #DrDavidLewis  

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 Premiere!

Last night was the Avatar: the Last Airbender Season 2 Premiere and Fan Event! The live action show completed its first season with just a dramatically powerful finale. The new season streams on Netflix tomorrow, June 25th. It is of course based on the three seasons of the animated series that ran from 2005 to 2008. Fans in line seemed to prefer that show while I like the live action cast and its stories. I of course prefer both over the 2010 The Last Airbender film that was my first exposure to the franchise. Avoid at all costs. I also asked fans in line if they like One Piece, anime and live action series that are also streaming on Netflix, and there doesn’t seem to be any overlap. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender photo op at the season 2 premiere, Autry Museum, photo by the author. 

The Last Airbender season 2 premiere was at The Autry Museum across from the L.A. Zoo. I really have to visit the museum soon, check out: https://theautry.org for exhibitions and information. The event took place to the side of the museum, the parking lot and the lawn area. There are a number of screenings by Street Food Cinema there so again check the museum’s website. The first part of the premiere and fan event was a photo op with boulders, greenry, and the show’s title in green. This was very crowded so I went there later.  The bending moves are all based on martial arts and I could remember a particular moves so my last move was Jazz Hands. There were a number of food trucks and also one truck with a floating Appa. This is where I turned in a ticket for the Appa hat, a fuzzy bucket hat with horns. Many fans wore the hat and a few cosplayed characters.  

Next to the Appa truck was a photo op with Aang’s glider staff. The booth attendant was very helpful in explaining how it worked and adjusting the foot ramp. The Avatar: The Last Airbender photo op involved holding the bar, turning around, and holding the bar like the glider staff in flight. Also shout out to the photographer who had guest cellphones to shoot all angles. I tried different poses and ended with flapping my arms like a chicken! Across from the photo op was the Four Nations Ink Forge which had temporary tatoos from the Fire Nation or Air Nomads. A great activity for kids and also fans. Past the activity table was the bar and also concession stand. A ticket was also given in line for a free popcorn and drink. The stand also had a blanket and chair, for rent, that was helpful since there was a section for chair and blanket to watch the premiere. 

The cast and guests from Avatar: The Last Airbender at the premiere, author’s photo.

On the other side was a row of character posters. Then, there was another photo op, a giant, floating boulder. I didn’t get the photo op since the photographer faked takign picutres. A good photographer is valuable. The back area had the VIP seats, chairs and blankets, and then the rest of the grassy field. Right past the food trucks was a fenced off area. I got to see Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, he was meeting with fans in a really great blue suit, the other actors were at the VIP section and cast photo. I had told him that I like Uncle Iroh a little better than Carson Teva. I think while Teva is an X-Wing pilot, Iroh is Yoda. There was announcements to get to seats for the premiere. The showrunners, Albert Kim and Christine Boylan went on stage to thank the many artists who worked on the second season. Also, there was something promised after the credits. The episode itself, no review until it debuts on Netflix, but there was applause for favorite characters and actors and laughs. An incredible night for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender! 

#AvatarTheLastAirbender, #Netflix, #TheAutryMuseum, #StreetFoodCinema, #AppaHat, 

Toy Story 5 Review!

 The Toy Story franchise continues and do we need another movie?, answer yes with Toy Story 5 moving away from the neighborhood into the wider world and past with Jessie! A few caveats, Buzz Lightyear and to a lesser extent, Woody, are supporting characters. The other toys, some with new voices, are cameos. Next, it is not a film of wall to wall laughs, instead there is story and characters. 

Lastly, the movie explores many of the unanswered parts of the Toy Story world that is fun. Co-director, Andrew Stanton, returns to the franchise, he co-wrote the screenplay of Toy Story 4 (2019). His last live action movie was John Carter (2012)! Here, he wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay with co-director, McKenna Harris. She directed the animation short, Ciao Alberto (2021), based on Luca (2021), this is her first film as director and screenwriter.

It opens with some blurry eyes opening that see a palm tree. This is the awakening or birth of a toy and in this case it is the Hi-Tech Edition of Buzz Lightyear. It is interesting to see when toys become “aware” outside of the toy factory. He sees spaceship packages of Buzz Lightyear toys scattered around a beach. Then, he notices a broken cargo container. This almost feels like a nursery. Buzz sees another Buzz Lightyear who is deactivated. 

He lights up his chest symbol, his heart?, and then activates all of the Buzzes across the beach. The lead Buzz (Tim Allen) has the others follow him through the jungle. They reach the end of the tiny islet. A campfire is made on the beach with the lost Buzz Lightyears. One looks up and sees the stars. He says, “Star” and another Buzz says, “Command.” They all say, “Rendevous with Star Command” looking at the North Star. In the morning, the Buzz Lightyears have constructed a raft and leave the island faster than you can say Cast Away (2000). 

“A long time ago”, Jessie (Joan Cusack), the cowgirl toy, has the name of her first owner, Emily, written inside her boot. Jessie made her debut in Toy Story 2 (1999). Emily swings her around and says to Jessie, “I will never leave you.” Next, Emily sets down Jessie to go on her tire swing.  Jessie’s current owner, Bonnie Anderson (Scarlett Spears) was given the toys from Andy. Bonnie was four years old when she was introduced in Toy Story 3 (2010).

She was a year older in Toy Story 4 (2019), and now three years older in this movie. Bonnie makes the same promise that Emily made to Jessie. She is the leader of Bonnie’s toys including Buzz Lightyear, Wallace Shawn returns to voice the green T-Rex toy, Rex, as well as John Ratzenberger back as Hamm, the piggy bank. This is the final Toy Story film for Ratzenberger. 

Blake Clark voices Slinky since replacing Jim Varney. Don Rickles and Estelle Harris had voiced Mr. And Mrs. Potato Head. Now the potato couple are voiced by Jeff Bergman and Anna Vocino. There are also a few three-eyed alien squeeze toys. Bonnie’s toys from Toy Story 3 include Dolly (Bonnie Hunt), former leader of her toys, the blue Triceratops, Trixie (Kristen Schall), and Mr. Pricklepants, the hedgehog stuffie in lederhosen, now voiced by John Hopkins from Timothy Dalton. 

It is a massive cast and there a few lines, but most of focus is on other characters. Bonnie’s play is the wedding of Forky (Tony Hale) and Karen Beverly (Melissa Villasenor), both from Toy Story 4. The play sequences has dreamy, watercolor backgrounds. Buzz hides flowers he picked and Jessie looks at him. A hint of his affection for Jessie. At the chapel, Jessie pronounces Forky and Beverly, “husband and knife”, funny. Jessie suddenly panics that the maid of honor, Rex, is poisoned! 

Jessie has Buzz perform CPR with the “kiss of life.” Bonnie pauses her play and hides by a tree. Dolly remarks, “It’s the Jordan Twins.” The Jordan Twins are across the street at their house. Bonnie’s mother (Lori Alan) tries to get Bonnie to play with them, but she is too scared to ask them. Jessie breaks Bonnie’s hesitation to pull her own string which gets the attention of the twins. Across the street, Bonnie holds out Jessie, and says, “Hello.” The twins laugh and run off.

 

Bonnie drops her basket of toys and tells her parents, “Mom, dad, why would anyone want to be my friend?” Heartbreaking. Jessie wants to find out about the twins by heading across the street with her horse, Bullseye, in the setting sun. She sees through the living room window that the twins are slumped on their couch staring at their tablets. Jessie sees the other abandoned toys and is told, "The age of toys is over." Jessie says they are just a fad. 

Then, she climbs up the roof with Bullseye to see the houses of the neighborhood all have kids on their devices. This is of course one of the themes of the film, electronic devices providing games instead of toys sparking the imagination of children. At night, Bonnie's mom and dad (Jay Hernandez) talk about Bonnie. Her mother says, "She's the only one playing with toys." 

Dad on a cellphone orders a Lilypad tablet, a nice nod to the LeapFrog educational toys that also happens to have a tie-in, Toy Story 5 Explore & Learn Lilypad! The maker of the film's Lilypad is Eggman Technology. A nod to Dr. Eggman who appeared in Wreck-It Ralph and is in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise? Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee. For Tron: Ares (2025), Lee starred as Eve Kim. Lilypad greets Bonnie with a “Hi!” and she sweeps her toys to the side.

The rest of the day, she stares at the screen while her dad stares at his laptop. At night, Jessie and Bullseye are at the door of Bonnie’s room seeing her holding Lilypad. In the morning, Bonnie’s dad calls her for breakfast, and Jessie plans to confront Lilypad on the bed. She hops up and tries to explain that the toys have spent the summer trying to get Bonnie to be friends with the Jordan twins. Lilypad is busy with other functions, but shows Jessie that she recorded her conversation

The tablet of course has the same problem as the latest space toy, Buzz Lightyear, in the first Toy Story (1995). She is so self-confident with latest tech that she ignores others and doesn’t understand that groups are needed to solve problems. Lilypad shows Jessie that Bonnie has friends in her dance group; Kara, Chelsea, and Heidi. She sends friend requests to them through the group chat, The Pond. Bonnie rushes into her room and flips over Lilypad crushing Jessie. She discovers that Chelsea has invited her to a sleep over. Her parents see that Lilypad has solved Bonnie’s friend problems. 

Jessie reassures the other toys, “Bonnie still loves us. It’s just a phase.” The toys leave and Jessie takes the chance to slip into the closet and opens a chest to take out a walkie talkie. She tries to contact Woody, but Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves). The Canadian stunt man toy  was introduced in Toy Story 4. He says, "We're fingind more abandoned toys every day." Woody had stayed with Bo Peep at a new town that had a traveling carnival to find prize toys homes. Now, Woody (Tom Hanks) is up a tree to help out a trapped parachute toy before he is taken by a squirrel! The toy, Dr. Nutcase (Matty Matheson), is peanut-shaped with a luchador mask. Besides playing Neil Fak in The Bear, Matheson also voiced Cookie Bobby in Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie (2025).   

Five Lilypads out of Five! 

#ToyStory5, #AndrewStanton,#McKennaHarris, #JoanCusack, #TimAllen, #TomHanks, #ConanOBrien,#CraigRobinson, #ShelbyRabara, #GretaLee, #ScarlettSpears, #MykalMichelleHarris, #TonyHale, #WallaceShawn, #JohnRatzenberger, #JeffBerman, #BlakeClark, #ErnieHudson, #LoriAlan, #JayHernandez, #KrysMarshall, #AnniePotts, #KeanuReeves    

Re:tro Re:view - Star Trek: The Last Starship #1!

Somehow, Star Trek: The Last Starship slipped past me last year and it is brilliant! Usually, a limited series or short arc in comics will have one, wow, game changer moment. This one issue had such moments every few pages! Highly recommended to any Trekker or fan of great sci fi stories! The regular cover by Francesco Francavilla has a mass explosion of starships and one ship, golden, pulling away from the destruction. The IDW Publishing limited series is by the writing team of Jackson Lansing and Collin Kelly with art by Adrian Bonilla. Star Trek: The Last Starship Vol. 1 collects the nine issues in a trade paperback. 

Side note: I’m a casual Trekker, seen an episode here and there, so just on a cold read found wild concepts that tied into the various series. The latest Star Trek in the 24th century, 2401, was season 3 of Picard, “The Last Generation” (2023). The Last Starship takes place in the 31st century, 3069, so 669 years in the far future of Star Trek! The latest Star Trek show, Starfleet Academy, takes place post-The Last Starship, in 3194, the next century. 

It begins with the Captain’s Log, Stardate 749047.7, nine panels show a combadge with the  Starfleet star symbol. It is in some bright field and taken out by the blue, Andorian, hand of the captain. He says that it is a moment that has taken nine centuries! He polishes the badge with a cloth and then places it on his red uniform with white stripes. This reveals the U.S.S. Sagan, a new ship with struts from the front saucer holding the nacelles, four curved flanges that are separted from the ship! 

It is leaping into warp with two shuttles at its side. The U.S.S. Sagan has the best namesake named after Carl Sagan. Two green ships like lanterns follow them. A closeup of the eyes of Captain Delacourt Sato as he takes command. The massive bridge has a console on the level above the captain’s chair. It almost feels the wide bridge of the Space Battleship Yamato, but with digital screens and white walls instead of the dark, cramped bridge. Captain Sato addresses the delegate for the Gorn as the representative for the First Starfleet. 

The Gorn are a classic villain from “Arena” (1967), the eighteenth episode of the first season of Star Trek. It was written by Gene L. Coon based on the 1944 short story by Fredric Brown. Sato explains that the Gorn are the last “warlike sovereignty” and will be left in isolation if they refuse negotiations. The Gorn captain appears and the first officer, Wowie Carter, reports that the Gorn powered up their weapons! Sato quickly orders communications officer Valqis that any captain that goes to red alert “loses his chair”! 

He has navigation officer Hana to continue following the Gorn. Sato checks on engineering chief Silyk, a six armed, insectoid alien with a helmet, interlaced with beams. He reports that the warp field is stable, but “strange.” I really like this bizarre, beam controlled engineering, it makes me think of Salaak of the Green Lantern Corps. Captain Sato reflects on the conquering ways of the Gorn since the last starship battle, thirty five years ago. He says they have evolved from their past, “let that be our last battlefield.” A variation of the title from third season Star Trek episode, “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” (1969).  

The Gorn captain appears on hologram, we see moments of The Gorn, closeups of Sato and his combadge. The captain accepts Sato’s offer in a large panel and joins the Federation! Then, the Gorn captain says there is a “thrumming” and we get a small red panel of The Gorn! An explosion rips into the bridge! Sato calls for a red alert. He gets the report that the Gorn ships are gone. Also, warp core breaches for the Reykjavik, the Solana, and Martok, the rest are cut off. 

A historical victory bringing the Gorn into the Federation and then a tragedy of every warp ship destroyed! Silyk reports from engineering that they only have seconds. He says he felt the warp core breaches through “vibrations of space time.” Something has caused this tragedy, destablizing the dilithium matrix to destroy ships. This is an event that we found from the season 4 episode of Star Trek: Voyage in “Living Witness” (1998). An anti-matter phenomenon that caused his galaxy wide disaster, being or beings, it couldn’t be a hostile people, maybe beings that do not like being used to create warp drives? 

This is not a problem with the warp core that can be solved in an episode, but a way to destroy starships! I just like that a magical device that travels across the galaxy could be a liability. Moving at warp speed, Captain Sato says they cannot use escape pods, Silyk says torpedoes can be modified with a transport buffer. A closeup of Silyk’s helmet, eyes sliding back in worry, only one torpedo can be made that can hold four people! 

Silyk orders the youngest crew members, but Silyk apologizes. Sato says he has made a direct order, the torpedo launches, and Silyk says he is already dead! A two page spread has the destruction of the U.S.S. Sagan with long panels of the torpedo racing into open space. Another two page spread has the title page. Epic. Closeup of Sato’s closed eyes. It is 72 hours later on Earth. 

He in shadows on his bunk. Sato walks outside, his bright red shirt and white pants stands out from the citizens and buildings, the only other color is the orange of large screens showing The Burn, on buildings and one person’s datapad. Incredible colors by Heather Moore. A thin panel shows the shadowed citizens seeing the one trillion death toll. We see with the Golden Gate Bridge and Starfleet Headquarters that this is San Francisco. 

Sato continues his walk, his face down in shadow, towering above him is a trio of statues, Captain Janeway with a tricorder, Kirk in the center drawing a phaser pistol, and Captain Picard hand by his combadge. There are flowers placed at the base of the statues, it is mostly in shadows, a beautiful, chiaroscuro image. Tiny panels of Sato entering the large doors of Starfleet Command. He is at a row of seats holding his head and then his name is spoken. It is Wowie who apologizes and says that everyone is in a fog since they will pulled from the buffer. 

Five+ Warp Drives out of Five! 

#StarTrekTheLastStarship, #JacksonLanzing, #CollinKelly, #AdrianBonilla, #FrancescoFrancavilla, #CaptainDelacourtSato, #WowieCarter, #Silyk, #Hana, #Vilquis 

Re:tro Re:view - Dreamchild (1985)!

Dreamchild is a mash up of biography of Alice Hargreaves, the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland, and the surreal world of the book rendered by the Jim Henson Creature Shop! The film is centered around the work of Lewis Carroll, writer of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865). He is played by Ian Holm whom also starred in wild sci fi movie, Brazil (1985). The director, Gavin Millar, is who also directed the television adaptation of Noel Coward’s short story, Mr. And Mrs. Edgehill (1985). 

The tv ilm also starred Ian Holm. Millar had died in 2022. This film is written by Dennis Potter who also adapted the political thriller novel, Gorky Park (1983). He previously wrote “Alice” (1965) for The Wednesday Play BBC series and the movie expands upon his episode. The creatures by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop are brilliant depictions of the original illustrator, John Tenniel, but dark and twisted like the British puppet satire show, Spitting Image. The film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. 

A sinister organ plays the music for the opening title, a rumble, dark, ocean waves lap as we see storm clouds. Then, a pebbled shore with two shadowy figures, One cries pitifully, another draws back, a Gryphon extending his wings. This startles the elderly woman, Mrs. Alice Hargreaves (Coral Browne), and the Gryphon (Fulton Mackay) is angry at his crying companion, Mock Turtle. Browne played herself in the television drama, An Englishman Abroad (1983). Browne loved the movie so much that she paid for her own promotional tour! 

The woman asks why he is sad. Gryphon says that this “young lady” wants to know his history. Mock Turtle raises his head and says that when he was little he went to school in the sea. The lady asks why he called the school teacher tortoise. Mock Turtle (Alan Bennett) responds that it is because he taught us. We find that now there is Alice as a girl. Alice (Amelia Shankley) asks how long were the lessons. Shankley was in the television adaptation of A Little Princess (1986-1987). Mock Turtle counts down from 9. 

Alice finds it curious and the Gryphon chastises her because that’s why they lessen and become shorter! Excellent word play. We then get a title card about the setting 1932 when Alice Hargreaves is invited to celebrate Lewis Carol’s centenary. We are told it is “her first visit to the New World.”  We see the ship bob in the sea lit by its windows. This shifts to the morning where “All of Me” is sung in a ballroom. Outside, on the railing is Alice Hargreaves and Lucy (Nicola Cowper), Alice tells her it is their last night. Cowper was in the romantic film, Winter Flights (1984). 

Lucy looks back at a kissing couple. Alice tells her that she is going to bed. Lucy asks to go listen to the band, but this is brushed off by Mrs. Hargreaves. Rain is on the portal and Alice is still up looking at the Alice in Wonderland book, eerie music, as we see an etching of the ship. New York, Times Squre, a newsroom conference room of the New York Times. A reporter mentions the arrival of the “real Alice” He says that Columbia University is giving an honorary degree. He tells his editior that Alice is 80.  

Jack Dolan (Peter Gallagher) stops by the desk of a fellow reporter, Sally (Coris Corfman). Gallagher was in the tv movie adaptation of Long Day's Journey Into Night (1987).Corfman was in the comedy film, Funny Farm (1988). Sally gets the call about Mrs. Hargreaves arrival. Jack starts to tell her about Alice in Wonderland. The ship pulls into the harbor. Lucy is excited to see New York, but Mrs. Hargreaves leaves to her room. She looks at herself in the three mirrors. We see Alice in the cricket field playing with her sisters. 

Charles Dodson looks out his window and then hustles down in his professor robes to eavesdrop on Alice Liddell singing next to her sister playing the piano. She argues with her sisters about speaking proper English. She makes fun of his stuttering when her mother, Mrs. Liddell (Jane Asher) enters Alice gossips about Mr. Dodson, the mathematics teacher, photographing her. He was also taking photos of Tennyson. Her mother wonders why Mr. Dodgson talks to her and Alice admits, “He loves me of course.”  Jack pulls up to Cuinard Lane with Sally, the ship is about to dock. Other reporters bring along a sign welcoming Alice and another has brought a white bunny stuffie. 

Lucy looks at the reporters, then they charge up the ship’s steps at her, Lucy runs away. Still, they corner Lucy at a stage, asking about the “old lady”, rude. Sally says that they only want a press conference. Jack gently asks about Mrs. Hargreaves. Lucy pleads to the reporters not to call her Alice and instead address her as Mrs. Hargreaves. Jack escorts Lucy away and then later brings Mrs. Hargreaves with Lucy. The reporters again swarm barking out questions and filling the room with camera flashes. Mrs. Hargeaves explains that she is there to recieve the honorary degree for the centennary of Reverend Charles Dodson. Jack shouts at them to be quiet. 

Mrs. Hargreaves says, “I was simply the little girl to whom he told his tales.” She answers Sally’s question about the children of America that they will learn more than the reporters how to address their elders with respect. Also, to read “sensible books in the light not to damage their eyes yet not too harsh to entirely remove the shadows from the room.” Everyone is stunned. Mrs. Hargreaves and Lucy escape the crowd of reporters to enter a car sent by the university. 

At the Waldorf Astoria hotel, Mrs. Hargreaves is tired from all of the attention, Lucy answers the door, and finds flowers. This is carried by Jack who charms Lucy. He introduces himself as a reporter from the New York Herald Tribune. He is so excited about his editorial and reads his notes. Jack explains that they are in the middle of a Depression. He says people want “make believe” and hopes Mrs. Hargreaves to be the little girl, Alice in the books. Jack tries to charm Mrs. Hargreaves and when told she is 80 says she looks terrific! She claps her hands, smiles at his flattery, and Jack says that he could look back through the years. 

Jack says he could see why Lewis Carroll could see her as a dreamchild. Mrs. Hargreaves looks ill and says she feels like “someone stepped over her grave.” At Oxford College, Dodson rolls up the paper for his window. He has Alice in a red, Chinese robe with a paper umbrella as he prepares to take her portrait. Dodson looks at her quietly and says he “wouldn’t change one hair on her head.” Mrs. Hargreaves wants to lay down and rest. The older Mrs. Hargreaves has trauma from the time she inspired Lewis Carroll to write the Alice books. The film is a brilliant exploration of creepy obsession, literary genius and creativity, childhood trauma, and the twisted brilliance of the Wonderland inhabitants! 

Five+ Portraits out of Five! 

#Dreamchild, #GavinMillar, #DennisPotter, #IanHolm, #CoralBrowne, #AmeliaShankley, #NicolaCowper, #PeterGallagher, #ImogenBoorman, #EmmaKing, #JaneAsher, #FultonMackay, #AlanBennett, #CarisCorfman.