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.  

Masters of the Universe Review!

Masters of the Universe returns to cinema screens, another Mattel franchise, energized by Travis Knight’s direction! This is another Mattel movie after Barbie (2023), but now an action figure line. The original Masters of the Universe toy line was successful when it debuted in 1982. The toyline was created by Roger Sweet who had recently passed away on April 28th. 

Sweet wrote about creating the franchise in his book, Mastering the Universe: He-Man and the Rise and Fall of a Billion-Dollar Idea (2005). The toys had mini-comics and the first comic was, He-Man and the Power Sword (1982). It was written by Donald F. Glut with art by Alfredo Alcala. A year later was Filmation series, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, that ran until 1985. The spin-off, Princess of Power that featured She-Ra, hit toy shelves in 1984. 

The first animated film was He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword (1985). She-Ra: Princess of Power, the cartoon show followed running until 1987. The live-action movie, Masters of the Universe (1987), starred Dolph Lundgren as He-Man. Frank Langella turned in a fantastic performance as Skeletor. Travis Knight has also directed another toy franchise film with Bumblebee (2018). 

For Laika, Knight also directed Kubo and the Two Strings (2016). The screenplay team, who also are on the story team, includes Chris Butler who also wrote many of the Laika films with Knight including Missing Link (2019). Screenwriters and on the story group, Aaron Nee and Adam Nee, they directed The Lost City (2022) and Adam was one of the co-writers. 

Dave Callahan was also part of the screenplay writers and he co-wrote Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). The other story writers is Alex Litvak, he had written The Three Musketeers (2011), and also Michael Finch, the writer for John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). The film starts with the narration of Adam (Nicholas Galitzine). The rom com, The Idea of You (2024), starred Galitzine as Hayes Campbell. 

He also appears in this year’s The Sheep Detectives. There is the chorus singing “Eternia” from the score by Daniel Pemberton. The music for Project Hail Mary was also from Pemberton. It goes into the guitar of Brian May that gives the rocking 80’s sound. Adam introduces Eternia, “a world of endless beauty" including the city of Eternos. We enter Castle Greyskull, a castle with a massive skull and an entrance made from its gaping jaw. 

Inside, the Sword of Power is guarded by the Sorceress (Morena Baccarin). Mickey Fox is played by Baccarin in the police drama, Sheriff Country. The part of the Sorceress is basically a cameo. Young Adam (Artie Wilkinson-Hunt) is speaking to his mother, Queen Marlena (Charlotte Riley). Wilkinson-Hunt was in the sci fi comedy, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (2025). Riley was in the sci fi film, Edge of Tomorrow (2014). 

Also there is Cringer, the green tiger who also speaks in the voice of Fletcher Gleen as the Cringer cub. This is another cameo part with Tom Wilton taking on the older Cringer. It makes sense since if Cringer was Adam’s constant companion like in the cartoon, he would be an expensive effect. King Randor (James Purefoy) approaches them. Purefoy played Kantos Kan in John Carter (2012). He was also the lead in the swords and sorcery film, Solomon Kane (2009). 

King Randor takes his son away for training. Then, we get a close-up of Man-At-Arms' face played by Idris Elba. He reprised the role of Heimdall in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). Elba was also back voicing Chief Bogo in Zootopia 2 (2025). Man-At-Arms is also called Duncan, the only character name given besides the code names. He gives a speech to his trainees in his toy accurate green and silver armor. 

The group is older teens much older than 10 year old Adam. Young Dian (Delilah O’Riordan) is also one of the trainees. Her character came from the newspaper strip story, "At the Edge of The Darkest Night." Adam is paired off with Young Teela (Eire Farell) who is the adopted daughter of Man-At-Arms. They spar with swords, Adam dodges Teela’s strike, but is hit in his shoulder! King Randor appears and says to Duncan, "He's making a fool of himself." The king is demanding especially with his son being able to use a sword against older opponents. He throws a sword to Adam. 

King Randor duels against his son ends with Adam knocked down. He says, "This world is no place for the weak." A kinda bully to his son and the "Only Strongest Will Survive" is more in line with Skeletor. Man-At-Arms helps Adam up and gives him some advice, "When you fall, this is the chance to stand tall." Later, we find Adam at a balustrade staring into the distance of Eternia. Teela joins him. They see the Sorceress in the right eye socket of Castle Greyskull. 

Adam and Teela turn to see the invasion of Skeletor's horde! The soldiers of Eternia wear the Man-At-Arms armor. Ram Man (Jon Xue Zhang) slams into the Skel-Knights. Zhang was Stuart in the action movie, The Arbiter (2025). Fisto (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson) swings his giant, metal fist at Skeletor’s soldiers. Jóhannesson was Copperhead in Captain America: Brave New World (2025).Adam admits to his father that he is scared. Man-At-Arms appears with his guards and they are struck down by Skel-Knight blasts. 

He faces Skeletor's forces on his own. The family and Teela head to safety and Duncan stays back to protect them. He is confronted by Trap Jaw (Sam C. Wilson) who has a half-bear trap lower jaw and a cybernetic right arm with various weapon attachments. Wilson played Blood in House of the Dragon (2024). Teela turns back to see her father’s battle. Man-At-Arms uses his usual weapon, a mace, to bash Trap Jaw, but is pierced in the chest by his weapons! 

This may seem fatal, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, “It’s just a flesh wound”, as the saying goes from another movie. King Randor reaches a chamber with the map of Eternia on the floor. He fights, but he is captured by the Skel-Knights. The tide turns with the appearance of Skeletor played by Jared Leto. The lead in Tron: Ares (2025) was played by Leto. Also, the sinister Crump in Haunted Mansion (2023). Skeletor is a dark, hooded figure, blue physique, with a skull face that has two red points sunken in the eye sockets. 

He carries a staff with a ram's head skull, his Havoc Staff. He is able to go over-the-top with his villainy, but is also insecure. Skeletor tells Evil-Lyn that his laugh was the crescendo, a funny flaw for Skeletor. Trap Jaw is the main henchman for Skeletor.His confidence is boosted by his second-in-command, Evil-Lyn (Alison Brie). The body horror film, Together (2025), starred Brie as Millie. She also played Ally in the comedy romance, Somebody I Used to Know (2023). Skeletor blasts the head of Randor's statue with his Havoc Staff. 

Then, Skeletor gives a long villainous laugh while his soldiers look on. This includes Tri-Klops (Kojo Attah), the devil-like Goat Man (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) looks at Trap Jaw, and we see the bluish Spikor (James Apps). Attah was in the action movie, The Beekeeper (2024). Björnsson played The Mountain, Gregor Clegane in Game of Thrones. Apps is known for doing stunt work including The Running Man (2025). Adam and Queen Marlena reach the Sword of Power chamber. 

Adam picks up the sword from its case, this is like the Godkiller Sword in Wonder Woman (2017), the Sorceress is there and says, “Take the sword someplace safe.” She opens a portal, Skeletor unleashes his power, but it is held back by the Sorceress. Adam leaps into the portal, it is a swirling, rainbow tunnel. He finds that the Sword of Power tumbles away! We find that the now adult Adam Glenn, fifteen years later, now played by Nicholas Galitzine. He is telling his story to his date, Julie (Elena Rivers). Geminita was played by Rivers in the rom com, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025). 

He finishes saying, “That’s how I ended up in Oklahoma City.” Julie can’t believe his story and leaves. The Notebook (2004) is watched by Adam’s roommate, Hussein (Christian Vunipola), at their apartment. Vunipola was in the music drama, Singing in my Sleep (2025). His character is very much like Tom Kalmaku in Green Lantern (2011), just the ordinary guy who is outside of the adventure. The character falls flat and there really doesn’t seem to be a reason for him in the movie. He says Adam's therapist is blocking out a tragedy. 

Adam’s room is covered with his childhood pictures of Eternia, his picture of Ram Man falls, he flashes back to being mocked in his elementary school class about his favorite historical figure, he opens a box labeled Eternia and has a picture of his family. It would make more sense if there is no roommate and maybe he tells his story to a stranger on a park bench or his therapist. We hear the instrumental of The Cure’s “Boys Don’t Cry”, Knight has a great soundtrack sense, we see Adam late for work, and struggle to get his car to work. He is researching online to find his lost sword. His boss at Human Resources, Suzie (Sasheer Zamata), wants him to stop looking for swords. Zamata played Jennifer Kale in the supernatural Marvel show, Agatha All Along (2024). Adam later heads to the gym and gets some advice from a weightlifter. He returns to work, Suzie has a meeting with him, and in the middle of it, Adam gets a text, “I found your sword.” Masters of the Universe is everything you could want in a Masters of the Universe movie! 

Five out of Five Swords of Power! 

#MastersOfTheUniverse, #TravisKnight, #RogerSweet, #ChrisButler, #AaronNee, #AdamNee, #DaveCallahan, #AlexLitvak, #MichaelFinch, #NicholasGalitzine, #CamilaMendes, #IdrisElba, #JaredLeto, #AlisonBrie, #KristenWiig 

#JohannesHaukurJohannesson, #JonXueZhang, #ChristiaanBettridge, #JamesWilkinson, #KojoAttah, #CharlotteRiley, #JamesPurefoy, #SamCWilson, #KojoAttach, #JamesApps, #ArtieWilkinsonHunt, #EireFarrell, #DelilahORiordan, #ElenaRivers, #SasheerZamata  

Hollywood Show, May 30, 2026!

The second Hollywood Show of this year, the last one was January 10th, https://geektruth.blogspot.com/2026/01/hollywood-show-2026.html, this show featured guests from American Graffiti (1973), Jaws (1975), Grease (1978), Mamie Van Doren, and more favorites! The show takes place at the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel Convention Center, check https://www.hollywoodshow.com/default/main for the next show! I wandered the halls, the one at the side had Englebert Humperdink, Priscilla Presley, and the guests from Jaws on one side and American Graffiti on the other. In the main convention room at the other side table was the Grease filmmakers. I walked around a bit and the first celeb that I met was Margo Apostolos, she played Tokkat, a dark-furred Ewok who drew a bow in Return of the Jedi (1983); GC-OT3. Tokkat was the Ewok who was behind C-3PO when our heroes are captured. 

Grease Reunion panel at the Hollywood Show, Randal Kleiser, Barry Pearl, Michael Tucci, Jon “Bowzer” Bauman, and Lorenzo Lamas, author’s photo.

Next, I saw Joe Alves, the designer of the three sharks in Jaws, and Daniel J. Prince who wrote the book of Alves’ designs and artwork with the book Designing Jaws (2019). I also met Heather Locklear of Melrose Place fame. I kinda liked her Abby Arcane from Return of the Swamp Thing (1989), but c’mon!, I couldn’t get a photo signed from that movie. I went to the Grease panel with director, Randal Kleiser, Barry Pearl, “Doody” of the T-Birds, Michael Tucci, Sonny, Jon “Bowzer” Bauman from Sha Na Na, Johnny Casino & The Gamblers in the film, and Lorenzo Lamas, Tom Chisum, the football player who makes Danny jealous. Kleiser was asked about the ending with the car flying into the clouds and he said, “We wanted the audience to know that this is not a documentary” to the laughter of the audience. It was really to bookend the animated opening of the film. It was Llamas’ first film and he said that he improvised at the coaches’ speech, mouthing words to Olivia Newton-John’s Sandy, she had to respond when it was her take. 

The shark cast from the original mold, photo op, author’s photo. 

I had a great conversation with Bob Gunton who played Warden Norton in Shawshank Redemption (1994). He mentioned the three wardens that were in Stephen King’s novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (1982). It would of course be difficult to restart relationships with the lead character, Andy Dufresne, with new wardens. Then, I saw Annabella Lwin from the band, Bow Wow Wow. The music video, “I Want Candy” (1982), just made an impression for New wave fans.While taking some photos with Lwin, she just sang some beautiful, random notes into my ear, wow, made my year.  I went to see Randal Kleiser and picked up the last copy of his Grease The Director’s Notebook (2019). The Jaws Reunion Panel was also fun. Joe Alves said about the shark not working, “Let me tell you, it’s really hurtful, the people that worked on it, the effects people, [hearing] `Well the shark didn’t work, the shark didn’t work’, that’s total nonsense. I really get upset about it.” The shark was perfect. Outside of the panel, there was a photo op for $5, the lowest price at teh show. This was for a life-like figure of Quint on his fishing chair crushing a beer can. Next to him was the open mouth of the shark next to the yellow barrels. What a way to end the day at the Hollywood Show, with panels, incredible guests, and photo ops! 

#HollywoodShow, #MamieVanDoren, #EnglebertHumperdink, #PriscillaPresley, #MargoApostolos, #ReturnOfTheJedi, #JoeAlves, #DanielJPrince, #DesigningJaws, #HeatherLocklear, #MelrosePlace, #GreaseRenion, #RandalKleiser, #BarryPearl, #MichaelTucci, #JonBowzerBauman, #BobGunton, #ShawshankRedemption, #AnnabellaLwin   

Mortal Kombat II Review!

Mortal Kombat II hits theaters with the continuing cast, centering on Kitana, and the worlds are about to fall to Shao Khan! The video game franchise rebooted with the 2021 film and this is the first of the new Mortal Kombat movies to open in cinemas. Director Simon McQuoid returns with his second film. It is written by Jeremy Slater, who also wrote the screenplay for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire (2024), taking over from the writing team of Greg Russo and Dave Callahan. 

There is a pan to a church in the world of Edenia. Young Kitana (Sophia Xu) meets with her father, King Jerrod (Desmond Chiam) who is dressed in golden armor. Xu played Preschool Amy in a 2023 episode of Beef. Chaim was Dovich in the superhero series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). He gives her blue gemstone necklace which is a gift from Lord Raiden. Interesting the connection with this world and Earth Realm. Kitana is worred what will happen if her father loses the tournament. 

Everyone gathers outside including the queen, Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen). The sci fi action movie, Primitive War (2025) featured Nguyen as Con Nhen. In the courtyard, the citizens push forward to watch the battle, while the menacing figure of Shao Khan (Martyn Ford) starts down steps to the courtyard, I think there are shadowy person who may be his henchmen. Ford played General Karlak in the swords and sorcery film, Red Sonja (2025). The ruler of Outworld had also appeared in the form of Brian Thompson in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997). 

Shao Khan is one win to take over all of the realms in the ten Mortal Kombat tournaments. He is a massive warlord with a helmet that is half-shogun, half-skull mask, and red eyes. Shao Khan wields a massive warhammer which he uses against Jerrod’s sword. Jerrod stabs Shao Khan who is relentless and turns the blade against the king. He scores a Fatality against King Jerrod and Kitana cries at his death. Shao Khan declares that Edenia belongs to him. Queen Sindel attacks Shao Khan with a sword, but he takes it and makes the command to everyone, “Kneel or you die.” 

All kneel except Kitana who walks over to her father’s body. Shao Khan says that he will take the queen as his consort and Kitana will be his princess. She takes a blue cloth from him to wrap around her hair. This shifts to the older Kitana played by Adeline Rudolph. Bobbie Jo Song in Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024) was played by Rudolph. She is the protagonist who of course lives under Shao Khan’s rule. In the forest, Kitana battles Jade (Tati Gabrielle) with escrima sticks. Gabrielle played Nora Harris in The Last of Us series. A tough battle with Kitana untying her hair band to garrote her opponent. Jae had spent 20 years working for Shao Khan as his bodyguard.

This warrior duo living under a warlord is similar to Gamora and Nebula in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Jade gives Kitana a gift for the tournment, two razor fans which is her signature weapon. They report to Shao Khan’s throne room. Sindel is at his side. A report is given to him that spies found the amulet and Kano had stolen it. This moves to a garage where Johnny Cage played by Karl Urban is surrounded by a gang. Urban is known for playing Billy Butcher in The Boys. 

Johnny puts on his sunglasses, of course, The Scorpions’ “Rock You Like a Hurricane” is playing, while Johnny takes on the thugs. A woman in a red dress has a rocket launcher pointed at Johnny. He hits her with a pole. This is a highlight from the Johnny Cage film, Uncaged Fury, which is in the past since Johnny is at an autograph alley of a fan convention. He has no fans coming to his table. This is kinda silly since any action star even in the past would have many fans. Johnny takes his convention gear to his car at the convention’s garage. 

There he is met by Sonya Blade, Jessica McNamee returns to the part, and also, Raiden, with Tadanobu Asano reprising the role. McNamee also appeared in the family film, Windcatcher (2024). Asano was of course Kashigi Yabushige in Shogun (2024). Johnny makes a joke about Big Trouble in Little China (1986) which is funny since Raiden’s look was based on Lightning from that film! Raiden forms the portal. He tells Johnny, “Discover the man you were meant to be”, of course his character’s arc. 

Sonya and Raiden enter the portal and Johnny follow appearing at Raiden’s Temple. Also there is Jax (Mehcad Brookes), Cole Young (Lewis Tan), and Liu Kang (Ludi Lin).Brooks played James Olsen, the Guardian, on the Supergirl series. Tan played Sensei Wolf on Cobra Kai, the action series based on the Karate Kid films. Kerwin Tan was played by Lin in the Kung Fu series. The confusing part was that Cole Young at the end of the 2021 movie was about to look for Johnny Cage. Also, Sonya scoring a fatality against Kano (Josh Lawson) earned her aracana. 

So this sequel only takes the set up, without mention of the arcana that gave characters their powers, and characters and has little connection with the last film. In fact, Cole is reduced to a supporting role and his family is only mentioned in passing. The same with the character of Jax, we really need a back story for him. Liu brings up that his friend, Kung Lao (Max Huang) was killed. This discourages Johnny and he walks into another portal.   

Five Sunglasses out of Five! 

#MortalKombatII, #SimonMcQuoid, #JeremySlater, #AdelineRudolph, #KarlUrban, #JessicaMcNamee, #TadanobuAsano, #LudiLin, #MehcadBrooks, #ColeYoung, #TatiGabrielle, #MartynFord, #JoshLawson, #MaxHuang, #HiroyukiSanada, #JoeTaslim, #ChinHan, #AnaThuNguyen, #DesmondChiam   

The Mandalorian and Grogu Review!

The Mandalorian and Grogu jetpacks into theaters with crowd sensation Grogu in this next step of Star Wars! The movie is co-written and directed by Jon Favreau. He is the creator of the show, The Mandalorian, that started in 2019 and went three seasons to 2023. The other co-writer is Dave Filoni who was executive producer, writer, and director of episodes on the show. The last writer is Noah Kloor, who wrote one season three episode of The Mandalorian, and a staff writer for seven episodes of the spin-off show, The Book of Boba Fett. There is a prologue, two paragraphs covering the fall of the Empire, former Imperial Warlords are working towards the return of the Empire, in the Outer Rim, The Mandalorian and his apprentice, Grogu hunt down the ex-Imperials. 

There is a gathering of the ex-Imperial officers. The leader is Commander Barro (Hemky Madera), he played one of the Shadow Council members in season three of The Mandalorian, “The Spies” (2023); FC-TM3:7. They are also flanked by snowtrooper guards. Commander Barro announces to this council, “I am raising your tribute", a protection racket for his council.  Prefect Nobah (Cullen Douglas) objects and Barro ends his objection. Douglas was in episodes of the superhero show, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Edison Po. Barro gets a report of a perimeter alert. From the shadows, snowtroopers are blasted and taken out by his vibro knife and flame projector on The Mandalorian's vambrace. 

There is the sound of drumming and the theme from The Mandalorian show by Ludwig Göransson on the big screen makes it worth the price of a ticket! Barro leaves before The Mandalorian appears. The Mandalorian, (Pedro Pascal), was of course introduced in the first episode of The Mandalorian, in 2019; FC-TM1:1. His name, Din Djarin, revealed in the series is not used in the film. I think the most interesting part is the top billing of the stunt performers for The Mandalorian; Brandan Wayne and Lateef Crowder. This is probably the first time to have stuntees prominent in the credits, but besides being in The Mandalorian show, they are important in creating Din’s bearing and movements. 

Mando’s silver colored armor is made of beskar which is invulnerable to almost every form of damage. Din earned his armor from beskar given by the Client in “The Sin” (2019), first season episode; FC-TM1:3. In Legends, the term "beskar" was found in “The Mandalorians: People and Culture” by Karen Traviss in Star Wars Insider #86 (2006), EC-SWI86. It was retroactively applied to Boba Fett’s armor in Empire Strikes Back (1980); GC-OT2. He goes after Commander Barro. The snowtroopers are scrambled and also a MSE-6 repair droid, the tiny, black trapezoid droid. There is even the blue electronic droid pov as it slips past troopers and Mando taking down others. 

The mouse droid skitters to another passage to the snowy outdoor, but finds his way blocked by Grogu! The fan favorite character also was introduced in the premiere and has the Lone Wolf and Cub relationship with Mando. He has the look of an infant Yoda with long ears and green skin, but with big, black eyes. The name of The Child was revealed in the show. He uses The Force to lift the MSE droid and it shatters! Behind Grogu, a snowtrooper rides up a one person walker, the AT-RT. The All Terrain Reconnaisance Transport made its first appearance in Revenge of the Sith (2005); GC-PT3. Grogu is cornered, but manages to take cover behind some machinery. 

He is saved by The Mandalorian. Grogu leaps onto the AT-RT and Din tells him to hold on as he slides down the snowy slope with the walker. He finally makes it to the road before three AT-ATs (All Terrain Armored Transport) also called Imperial walkers. They are massive, elephant-like walkers first introduced in Empire Strikes Back (1980). Barro is in the cockpit and orders the snowtrooper pilots to blast him! The Mandalorian sends the chicken-like walker to weave underneath the war machine. Commander Fremmet crushes the stolen AT-RT with the second walker's foot. Din has escaped on his jetpack and plants three disc-shaped explosive charges. They explode sending the AT-AT toppling over a cliff to its destruction! The Mandalorian uses his jetpack to reach the roof of Fremmet's walker and destroys it with explosives.  

The snowtrooper pilots of the Barro's walker hears something on the roof. There is a circular passage to the center hold of the walker. Barro heads towards a INT-4 Interceptor ship. The small ship looks like the cockpit of the AT-AT with stubby wings, introduced in the mobile game, Star Wars: Commander (2014); DC-SWC. Din breaches the AT-AT cockpit, blasts the pilots, and fights his way to the hold. Barro launches his ship from the hold. Barro has left behind cartridge-shaped charges that fill the hold! Grogu tries to remind Din about the explosives, funny! The Mandalorian takes controls of the AT-AT cannons to blast Barro’s ship. Din jetpacks from the breached cockpit to a U-Wing transport ship. 

It is a ship with four engines and two long vanes in front, the ship was first seen in Rogue One (2016); DC-RO. The name of the ship has not yet been identified. The ship is piloted by Garazeb Orrelios (Steve Blum), he is known simply as Zeb, was introduced in the animated series, Star Wars: Rebels. His introduction was in the premiere episode, “Spark of Rebellion” (2014); FC-SWR1:1. He debuted in The Mandalorian with the third season episode, “The Pirate” (2023); FC-TM3:5. Zeb is a Lasat, tall with purple skin, a beard, and pointed ears based on an early design for Chewbacca. He flies to the tropical world of Adelphi which has the New Republic starfighter base introduced in "The Pirate." 

There are a number of X-Wing and Y-Wing fighters on the base. Zeb leaves The Mandalorian and Grogu as they head to the base cantina. Inside is Colonel Ward played by Sigourney Weaver. A new character introduced for Star Wars who seems to have fought in the Galactic Civil War of the Original Trilogy. Weaver also played Kiri in Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025). She tells Mando that the last job was "Messy, very messy" since she wanted a prisoner to lead to other ex-Imperials. Ward tells Din that the next job is in her sabaac cards, an Ace of Staves, Lord Janu. His location is unknown, but New Republic Intelligence is working with the Hutt Twins to find him. The Twins are brother and sister, introduced in The Book of Boba Fett, “The Tribes of Tatooine” (2022); FC-BBF1:2. Their first names have not been revealed. 

The Mandalorian has meet the Hutt Twins before and Ward explains that in exchange for Janu's whereabouts, they need to find Rotta the Hutt, the last heir of Jabba the Hutt. Rotta made his debut as an infant Huttlet watched over by Ahsoka Tano in her introduction, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008); GL-TCW. The pronunciation of the Hutt’s name seems to be “Rada.” Colonel Ward takes him outside to show him what will be his payment in advance. This is a new ST-70 assault ship like his Razor Crest. His last ship was destroyed in the episode, "The Tragedy" (2020); FC-TM2:6. Zeb joins the duo on their way to Nal Hutta, the homeworld of the Hutts. Nal Hutta, first appearance was in the now Legends comic book, Star Wars: Dark Empire #3 (1992) by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy. It debuted in canon with The Clone Wars season three episode, “The Hunt for Ziro”; GL-CW3:9.   

The character arc for Din Djarin is his role as foster father, the beginning of the series had him as an unexpected father, season two, he tries to find someone else to raise The Child, learns about his Jedi nature, and also find his own redemption as a Mandalorian, and then season three, he fully takes the role of father accepting Grogu as his apprentice. This film has The Mandalorian as realizing that he may not be around to raise his adopted son, from violence to his own lifespan compared to the hundreds of years for Grogu's species. He gives up Grogu to protect him on the cost of his life. Grogu's arc, he is basically just carried around in his hover pram, and kidnapped with The Force part of his character.

In season two, he reaches out with the Force to contact another Jedi and then he is given to Jedi Master Luke Skywalker to accept that part of his heritage. The Book of Boba Fett episodes link to the series, where Grogu rejects being a Jedi to be a Mandalorian apprentice like his foster father. Here Grogu finds himself alone, trying to save his father, actively taking a role in the action in the film. The only downside is that there are no epic moments like the Star Destroyer opening, Darth Vader's revealation to Luke, and Luke's accepting he is a Jedi. There is great action and scenes, but the film is missing powerful, memorable moments. The Mandalorian and Grogu is a return to cinematic Star Wars. 

Four Beskar Armors out of Five! 

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