Universal Studios Fan Fest 2026!

This is the second year for Universal Fan Fest Nights and it was crowded with fans! There is still May 9th, 14, 15, and 16th left for the event. Check out: https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/hhn/en/us/things-to-do/events-and-seasonal-activities/fan-fest-nights. The comic convention look was missing. The lanyards were a paid item. The cosplay of course had Harry Potter robes, a few Luffy Straw Hats and bounding-type outfits, and I saw a great group of D&D cosplayers. The mobile food ordering didn’t seem to work, but I found it was working towards the end of the night. I was a little late due to traffic so this threw my schedule off, I missed the One Piece show. So I thought I would try for the meet and greets. 

The Sailor Moon's photo op was confusing, one line was ending and the other was full, so what about the next?, dunno team members didn't make it clear. So I decided to go to Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (the Japanese name): The Miracle: Moon Palace Chapter Deluxe. This 4D film (without the 3D) like the previous one, Jujitsu Kaisen was from the Japan theme park. The outside curtain above the entrance showed Sailor Moon and Chibusa, who apparently is a little girl who time travels from the 30th century (the time of Legion of Super-Heroes?) to Sailor's time.

I think there is also Luna, a talking cat?, couldn't tell because it was just a sphere. I thought it was a robot. Sailor in her teen form, Usagi Tsukino, with Chibusa is planning a celebration on the moon with Mamoru Chiba, the guy who becomes Tuxedo Mask. Queen Nehelenia is in the background looking for the Silver Crystal. They head to the Moon Palace and are joined by the other Sailor Guardians; Sailor Venus, who has metal powers using her Wink Chain, Sailor Mercury with water powers, Sailor Mars, she can control fire, and Sailor Jupiter, she brings the lighting and thunder. 

Tuxedo Mask dances with Sailor Moon. Queen Nehelenia appears and drains the power of Sailor Guardians to use against them! Chisbusa arrives with the Outer Guardians; Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, and Sailor Pluto. They power up Sailor Moon to take on the queen and they need you to make the heart symbol to break her staff. They take a group pic at the end. It's an ok show, only one setting, the Moon Palace, the Sailors sweep past you, yup, but it just doesn't use the full effect like the Jujitsu Kaisen show.

Next to the exit of Sailor Moon was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, one thing just led to another all night. I saw a handler for a dragon with no name. Then, I headed to Hogwarts, to the right is the roller coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff. So I was a little confused that entrance to Forbidden Forest: Search fro the Hippogriff, was not there, but the entrance is in Hogwarts. You have to note to team member that you don't want to go on Forbidden Journey and then go to another entrace. 

The general wait time was 60 minutes, I had the express pass so went right in line with my handy wand. You are led in the back area of Hogsmeade into a forest. This part gets very Horror Nights, spooky, but there are many team members at every part to guide you. You reach the Hogwarts professor and cast the first spell, an easy one, "Lumos" to lead you in the darkness. He leads you to a bunch of books torn apart by Cornish Pixies and another easy spell "Immobulus." They are frozen and the professor sets down the Monster Book of Monsters after a guest touches its spine. 

 

A centaur appears at the Forbidden Forest: Search for the Hippogriff, Universal Studios Fan Fest Nights, author’s photo. 

Then, it’s off to a part of the forest filled with webbing (netting). I'm not certain how the Acromantula, giant spider, was handled. There was a creature, but it looked too much like the tree for me. Then, there was an encounter with a centaur, I think this was an animatronic, Wow. The professor says they are only looking for the Hippogriff. Next, some Devil's Snare blocks the way, but the professor untangles the plant with sunlight from the Lumos Solem spell, didn’t know this one. 

Finally, there is more Devil’s Snare that has trapped the Hippogriff. Another Lumos Solem parts the Devil’s Snare fully revealing the Hippogriff, Fleetwing, bathed in light. I was immediately bowing to respect him. Impressive. Once I left, right there was the tram, so took it without any rest. The express pass got me on the tram. A video plays on the monitors explaining that a movie is being filmed and you are an extra. The mystery is to find the identity of the Phantom Director with help of the Scooby Gang. 

From the tram video I thought it was the Art Director, I think that was who it was at the Big Reveal. The tram lets you off at Little Europe where the horror films were made. This was the cool part, Frankenstein made giant shadows on a wall. Dracula was at the fountain of the Court of Miracles. The Universal Monsters, Dracula, Frankenstein, the Bride, and Wolfman just cameo. They do have glow stick light ups around their costumes so the monsters stand out. 

There is a guide, the Mystery Inc. Manual, that is at the tram loading area and also copies when you exit the tram with pencils. You have to go around and find clues, everything I heard about it on YouTube is that the clues were too confusing, so I just went around to find characters. Shaggy was at the Snacks by Shaggy tent, kinda funny, and Velma was at a video village with monitors and clues to track the Phantom Director.

Daphne was at the Wardrobe Dept. tent, Wolfman moved right past me to find her, no reaction from me because I think werewolves are cool. She outwitted him with a stick that had his face on it! I was exhausted going round and round in circles, signage is needed for different areas with character faces on them. So I headed to the Big Reveal had the Scooby Gang on a stage that was behind all of the tents. The Universal Monsters chase them overhead on screens and finally the trap catches the Phantom Director! It was an ok show, though the area is kinda small. 

I took the tram back and it was 4 minutes to the One Piece show so instead I headed for the Lower Lot. Dungeons and Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep was the only returning experience. I used the express pass and went to a single line, took about 15 minutes, I knew to stay on the right side with the book shelves of magic items. So I was able to activate the crystal ball. The hostde was a Human Bard, not a Dwarf like last year, and the host on the other side was the devlish Evilina. The last time, the Mimic, the monster like a treasure chest with teeth, was on the left side near the entrance. 

Daphne outsmarts the Wolfman!, Scooby Doo x Universal Monsters, photo by the author. 

This time it was on the right, I don't know what was special on the other side. The Dragonstaff is found in the treasure room that also has the Beholder. I was so busy taking pics of it that the group moved on, not this time, I rushed forward to see the last part of the show. Laralay Starshadow, who amazingly looks like the Elf at the beginning shows up ready to take power. Evilina uses the Dragonstaff on her and saves the day! Fan Fest still doesn’t have shirts with the logos of the attractions so merch is still weak. 

The next part was a little tricky, trying to find Jurassic World: Journey Through The Eras. It wasn’t next to the Jurassic World ride and I kept getting directions from team members. The walk through was actually around the corner of the elevators! Once you pass the elevators overhead, there is the Jurassic Park sign and under it, none other than John Hammond! The founder of Jurassic Park was complete in white, straw hat, and cane, spot on! Inside the park was the T-Rex from Jurassic Park (1993). 

Next to her, was the InGen convoy truck from The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). I later saw Dr. Henry Wu there! On the side was Dr. Ian Malcolm, this actor was brilliant, really the character of Ian Malcolm just like Jeff Goldblum! I think one of the best actors at Fan Fest. He is in front of a Jurassic Park jeep. Next to him is Ned Ledry, very funny!, he has the yellow jacket. After the photo I said, “We’re dino food.” Behind Ned is the Brachiosaurus. 

In the center is the Gyrosphere from Jurassic World without windows. At the end was the InGen river boat from Jurassic Park III (2001) towing a cage with a Velociraptor on top! There is a small area for a show with trainers trying to contain Velociraptors, very crowded so I didn’t see it. Instead of a show, they should recreate moments from the first film. All of the characters from JP1 were there, maybe the hunter is needed, then it would be on the level of Back to the Future: Return to Hill Valley!  

Dr. Ian Malcolm at Jurassic World: Journey Through the Eras, photo by the author. 

When I reached the Upper Lot, I hustled over to the last showing of One Piece Grand Pirate Show. This is at the same location as Waterworld, but I think I mistakedly passed it. It was actually a One Piece street, right around the corner of Sanji’s Galley, there was the bar, One Piece: Grand Pirate Den, to the side was the meet and greet. Every seat is a good seat since the characters walk every side next to the seats and the railing. The Marines in the pre-show were funny looking for pirates. 

A Marine boat passes by complete with gatling gun.Most of the same sets and vehicles as Waterworld. Tashigi is also looking for pirates at the railing. Admiral Borsalino is looking for the Straw Hat Crew. Usopp with the suspenders and Sanji in black suit are on the dock at Midori Island. They are searching for Pop Greens which will give them powers. Monkey D. Luffy arrives on a boat piloted by Nami. The boat maneuvers and Luffy jumping around are kinda crazy. Luffy is dropped off at the dock and is of course hungry with a growling stomach. 

Zoro in green gi walks along the railing and then Nami. On the other side, she fights off Marines with her staff, but ends up captured. Nami is fighting for the people of the island. On a tower, Zoro battles Tashigi. On the dock, Sanji back flips and kicks two Marines. Then, it is Zoro’s turn with his swords! The stunts are fantastic. Usopp flies over in a basket. Next, it is Luffy’s turn to hold onto a cage. He reaches Usopp and Nami, then the gatling gun blasts him! He takes the bullets and projects it back, throwing two Marines into the water! 

Luffy faces the villain at the railing. Usopp uses his sling shot to blast the Marines on the other side. At the tower, Buggy the Clown has shown up! Tony Tony Chopper struggles with a Marine, funny! Sanji appears with his leg in flames! He flips and kicks Marines. Then, Tashigi takes control of gatling gun to shoot at Zoro who deflects the bullets with his swords! Admiral Borsalino has an energy sword to try to stop Buggy, but he can split himself apart. Luffy joins the fight. The Pop Greens have become unstable, the Straw Hat Crew, and even Buggy escape.

Monkey D. Luffy faces Buggy the Clown in One Piece Grand Pirate Show, author’s photo. 

The island explodes and gouts of fire right next to you give a spectacular finish. This show is thrilling, more topical than the almost forgotten Waterworld so I hope it returns and maybe take over Waterworld. There was a Meet and Greet outside, but it was already closed, you have to dedicate the night to get to the Meet and Greets. Sanji’s Gallery had long lines, but more reasonable towards the close, so I was able to order Nami’s Tangerie Breeze, tangerine and lime juice, club soda and honey with a tangerien slice and mint sprig, $12.00, it was good.  

I would probably go for a cheaper drink, the alcoholic drinks were of course more expensive, a fountain drink. I chose Franky’s Loco Moco Burger, one of my favorite Hawaiian meals, it was a burger with slices of pork (made me think of Spam), fried egg and onion rings with “miso cola gravy.” It came with “star-shaped tater tots.” $18.99, a full meal, by the way just get one item and a drink, it becomes pricey! I also got the One Piece Floating Bottle, $20, it’s a nice collectible. It ended up a little more than twice the price of the three course meal at Hogwart’s. The One Piece show is a can’t miss, Jurassic Park experience was great, and the Forbidden Forest, all highlights. There was much to do at Universal Studios Fan Fest Nights, except rest, memorable and exhausting fun!   

#UniversalStudiosFanFestNights, #PrettyGuardianSailorMoon, #TheMiracleMoonPalaceChapterDeluxe, #SaolorMoon, #Chibusa, #TuxedoMask, #QueenNehelenia, 

May the Fourth Be With You 2026!

The Return of May the Fourth Be With You, Star Wars Day, builds on the excitement for The Mandalorian and Grogu! The movie comes out on May 22nd, but today was the limited time-menu Burger King items for the movie. I got the BBQ Bounty Whopper meal, the burger did not have BBQ sauce for some reason, instead there a creamy sauce. The patty was thin, about 10% beef taste. I had the Whopper a few days back, it’s a good burger and I could recognize the beef. It came in a silver Mandalorian box. 

No Mandalorian carton like it said in the app. Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries, chicken taste 10%, the garlic cream sauce smelled great, I ate three, but just got too greasy. It has a small fry container with the ears popping up. I did not see The Mandalorian and Grogu King Jr. Meal which was supposed to be available on April 28th. It was not listed in the app. So no toy. There was one of the four collectible cups, in silver etchings Din Djarin carries Grogu with other characters around them. I did not try Grogu’s Blue Cookie Shake or the Imperial Cheddar Ranch Tots. 

May the 4th Be With You LEGO Mural, Downtown Disney, author’s photo. 

My usual Star Wars Day is to go to Downtown Disney and check out the Star Wars Trading Post. I did read about the LEGO mural which I worked on last year so went to that area next to the LEGO store. There was a long queue with many Star Warriors wearing t-shirts and other gear. The May the Fourth Be With You mural was already completed. I had seen a photo of the mural yesterday which had only a few tiny gaps. I thought there was a build and take LEGO of Grogu in his Hover Pram. Instead it was a N-1 Starfighter. It was kinda difficult, the bricks weren’t shown, nor that pieces needed to be connected upside down. So thankfully there was a cast member to help out. At the SW Trading Post, there was a line for the Galactic I.D., there are six different designs, I saw a red plastic card. The waiting time was three hours!, pass. 

Imperial Remnant AT-ST, Clang Talking Action Figure, Grogu Toy and Funko, Star Wars Trading Post, photo by the author. 

A cast member said that there was another Galactic ID booth arriving today. It looks like a regular photo booth. The pins, had a Mini Jumbo Pin, $39.99 with the Mandalorian, the May the 4th logo, and other characters in the background. It was sold out in the morning so I missed it. The two available May the 4th pins were The Mandalorian and also Grogu, $21.99. Also, a mystery pin box, $34.99. This are available at disneystore.com. I also saw The Mandalorian and Grogu Remote Control Speeder Bike, $29.99.  

The Mandalorian and Grogu Action Figure Set has Zeb, The Mandalorian, Grogu, and R5-D4 figures, looks great, but I spent my max on the pins. The Mandalorian Talking Action Figure, 13” is priced at $37.99. The Clang Talking Action Figure goes for $59.99. At Disney Store, I picked up a Ahsoka May 4th pin, Din Djarin and Grogu pin with “This is the Way” on Grogu’s tunic, and a Star Wars Day Collectible Key that discounted to $10. All of which I didn’t see at Trading Post. Star Wars Day was intense with the many Star Warriors ready for The Mandalorian and Grogu!  

#MayTheFourthBeWithYou, #BurgerKing, #BBQWhopper, #GrogusGarlicChickenFries, #DowntownDisney, #LEGOStore, #MayTheFourthBeWithYouMural, #N1Starfighter, #StarWarsTradingPost, #GalacticID, #MiniJumboPin, #TheMandalorian, #Grogu 

#MysteryPinBox, #TheMandalorianAndGroguRemoteControlSpeederBike, #theMandalorianAndGroguActionFigureSet, #TheMandalorianTalkingFigure, #ClangTalkingActionFigure, #Ahsoka, #DinDjarinAndGrogu, #StarWarsDayCollectibleKey. 

Free Comic Book Day 2026!

 Yesterday, was a busy and very fun Free Comic Book Day! For me, it started at Golden Apple Comics; https://goldenapplecomics.com. There was a list of the free comics with six to choose with a red pen passed around. The queue moved up to a table where the comics were put in a bag. There was the chocie of a Spider-Man: Brand New Day poster or bubble gum to put on an Olivia Rodgrigo wall for social media. The next table had William Katt who was signing his Greatest American Hero Free Comic Book Day issue. Writer Don Handfield was also there. Greatest American Hero was one of the most fun superhero (before superhero) shows. School teacher, Ralph Hinkley (Katt) was chosen to wear a supersuit from aliens. 

William Katt, aka Ralph Hinkley, The Greatest American Hero!, Golden Apple Comics, author’s photo. 

It gave various abilities including flight, but Ralph was awkward using the suit since he lost the instructions! He had the help of his lawyer girlfriend, Pam Davidson (Connie Sellecca) and FBI agent, Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp). This was the time around Superman III (1983) so superheroes were really going the wacky route. 25 years until Iron Man. Katt wrote a Greatest American Hero mini-series for Arcana in 2008. One of the best parts of the show was the theme song, “Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)” by Joey Scarbury. Inside the store, there was David M. Booher, writer of Canto. He was signing Free Comic Day Avatar Legends. Outside of the store were boxes of donated $1 comics fundraising for the Golden Apple Foundation. 

The Hivemind duo of Jackson Lansing and Colin Kelly!, Collector’s Paradise No Ho, photo by the author. 

Next, was Collector’s Paradise with the North Hollywood location.; https://comicsandcards.net/?srsltid=AfmBOoqirzvmW0cl6yPO8pSMSm-NiqhRG5DfTnTDxuDIxgMMK4xeciiE. They also have stores in Pasadena and Winnetka. The Free Comics table had five comics. The special guests were Jackson Lansing and Colin Kelly. They signed the Free Comic Book Day Masters of the Universe comic. There is a Dungeons and Dragon back-up story in the comic written by the Hivemind team of Lansing and Kelly. They had copies of Batman/Wonder Woman: Truth signing by Jim Cheung from Wednesday April 29th My last stop was at Pulp Fiction Long Beach, https://pulpfictionlongbeach.com/. They had barrels of donated goods for the Long Beach Rescue Mission! There was also one free comic, but there were others at $1 that goes to the charity.  Free Comic Book Day was a great event for comic book fans and new fans! 

#FreeComicBookDay, #GoldenAppleComics, #WilliamKatt, #GreatestAmericanHero, #DavidMBooher, #Canto, #AvatarLegends,  #CollectorsParadiseNoHo, #JacksonLansing, #ColinKelly, #Hivewind, #PulpFictionLongBeach, #LongBeachRescueMission 

Choose Your Own Adventure: At The Mountains of Madness Review!

 Choose Your Own Adventure: At Mountains of Madness is a bold merging of one of the most powerful horror tales from H.P. Lovecraft with the young readers’ sensation! H.P. Lovecraft was a weird fiction writer known for his stories in pulp magazines. He is known for the short story, “The Call of Cthulhu” (1928), his brilliant novella, The Shadow over Innsmouth (1936), and his other novella, At the Mountains of Madness (1936). The best of the writing is in Annotated H.P. Lovecraft (1997) edited by S.T. Joshi who provides footnotes that put the stories in context. The book contains “The Call of Cthulhu” and At the Mountains of Madness.   

Choose Your Own Adventure was a book series that started with Edward Packard’s The Cave of Time (1979). This was followed by Journey Under the Sea (1979) by R.A. Montgomery. Packard and Montgomery wrote many books in the series over the years. It ran into 184 books all the way to 1998. They ranged from science fiction, fantasy, and cryptozoological creatures. They took young readers all over the world and into fantasy realms. It gave the reader the lead role in the story and a control of the narrative choosing the different paths. Also, the reader could rewind and find a more satisfying ending. There were spin offs like the Walt Disney Series by Jim Razzi beginning with Snow White in the Enchanted Forest (1985). 

Other IPs include The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles by Richard Brightfield and Choose Your Own Star Wars Adventure based on the original trilogy by Christopher Golden. The new series, Choose Your Own Adventure: New Classics started with Time Travel Inn (2021) by Bart King. The new book is the sixth in the unnumbered series. Jacopo Della Quercia is the author of the book, also the name of a Renaissance sculptor, who has written The Great Abraham Lincoln Pocket Watch Conspiracy (2014). The illustrator is Hannah Krieger who was also the artist for All My Friends Are Ghosts (2020). There is a prologue that introduces the Choose Your Adventure concept of the reader being in charge of the story. It may end poorly, but still you can go back to where you left off, a spawn point in video games, and make new decisions. 

Then, you, the protagonist is introduced, a teen counselor at a summer camp. Yes, a summer camp like so many horror movies! This of course has a twist since summer in Antarctica is the winter season! You are there as part of Miskatonic Summer Madness. Miskatonic University is the base for many of the Cthulhu Mythos stories. There is a double meaning for the camp since madness, insanity, is the safest ending in Lovecraft works. This is a test to see if I could somehow make it intact from the Lovecraftian horrors intact! A nice intro to the Cthulhu Mythos. Next is a two page map of Antarctica with your Camp Starkweather at the southern end next to the Ross Ice Shelf. The upper part of the map is blank, the unmapped Mountains of Madness! 

The introductory page says your parents urged you to go saying, “We’ll watch your every move.” Kinda sinister. Your time just consists of playing games and watching movies for $82,018.90 for six weeks to be paid in gold coins? There is just three days left and then you can return to Arkham, Massachusetts. The seemingly normal city first appeared in “The Picture in the House” (1920) and of course inspired Arkham Asylum which houses Batman’s rogue’s gallery, introduced in Batman #248 (1974). You wake up with a headache, the days have no sunlight, polar night. Then, the AI developed by your parents, BROTHR, wakes you late for your schedule. Yup, a computer intelligence which may be helpful, but may also be like MU/TH/UR 6000 in Alien (1979). 

It can move and follow around rooms from your smartphone, to your laptop, and any electronic device. I made the choice to check in with Nurse Peters, health updates are important when dealing with students. She says half of the campers suffer headaches! She is looking to enter the Space Force, BROTHR lists the camp personnel; campers and the two other counselors. Nurse Peters says Sky has nightmares and Jackie has nosebleeds. The conditions hint at the strangeness around weird, Cthulhu Mythos places, but still seemingly normal. Nurse Peters gets privacy from BROTHR and warns you about Miskatonic University! You head over to the Rec Room and see the two counselors; Elenor and Sky. 

You bring up if Sky has drawn his nightmare like Nurse Peters told him. He shows a picture that looks like a hyakume from Japanese mythology; it is a yokai, humanoid with folds and covered with eyes from head to legs! Sky tries to go get some sleep. I made the decision to check on the “troublemaker” campers, the others are the bookworms and the gamers. The bookworms are Jackie who has constant nosebleeds and Moon, the youngest camper. The gamers include Sam, the tallest person in the camp, athletic, and also intelligent with robotics. Also in that group is Guy, who was in the Arkham Academy military school, his father is a famous scientist at Miskatonic University. 

The troublemakers are J.R., a teen pilot, and “Shemp”, a jokester who is obsessed with the Three Stooges. J.R. says that he can’t fly for the day on his father’s plane due to the high winds. BROTHR sends out an alert, this is for whichever camper group you join, and says that Camp Moore has sent out an emergency transmission. This camp is unknown to others, but it is where your parents work! Nurse Peters rushes in her first aid kit to say they have to go there. She gives J.R. the coordinates. The message comes on the loudspeakers gives the warning from Camp Moore from your mother, “We found the specimens! They live!” Then, an “incantation”, I think I know which one, makes everyone cover their ears. It then shifts to “Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!” This filled me with dread. 

The choice comes up with checking out the transmission or stay at the camp. Guy knows who gave the incantation, the Elder Things! His father had studied the Elder Things at Miskatonic University. Why he would share any of it with his son is dangerous. The choice comes up with checking out the transmission or stay at the camp. Guy knows who gave the incantation, the Elder Things! His father had studied the Elder Things at Miskatonic University. Guy reveals that he knows about such things from the Necronomicon! Why his father would share any of it with his son is dangerous. Sam silences Guy for saying the name of the Book of the Dead. Her parents died with the book in battle! Elenor stays at Camp Starkweather with Sky as the others are on the rescue team. 

At the hangar is the De Havilland Canada Twin Otter, twin engine plane seen in an illustrationtwo pages later. J.R. makes you the co-pilot. He gives you temporary control and then the winds pick up! You can take control or J.R. I chose taking charge getting Guy and Sam to help with the handle against the storm. You manage to get through the storm and head to the camp. BROTHR appears on the plane controls and says that the closest medical facility is at Vostok Station. He contacts the station speaking in Russian, but translated by Sam this turns into shouts and gunfire! Another option to retun to Camp Starkweather or continue on to Camp Moore, y’know where your parents are in danger? J.R. struggles against thekatabatic winds from the mountains. 

J.R. manages to land the plane and everyone else goes out with flashlights. A copy of a page blows into your hand and Sam translates that it is from the Necronomicon! You idenfity it is from your mother based on Roman numerals. Nurse Peters is missing so another choice of going to find her. You later ask Sam about the Elder Things and she has reasonable knowledge of them even Cthulhu! She leaps into the darkness with her ice axe and manages to kill one of the creatures. BROTHR leads you to Nurse Peters who is at the deserted camp which has tracks of heavy tentacles! I have not cracked a revealing ending yet. All of the campers have a very evil reason for being at the camp! There are countless dangers even before you reach the Mountains of Madness! Choose Your Own Adventure: At The Mountains of Madness is like a combination of Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors, Aliens, a touch of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein with the looming terror of the Cthulhu Mythos! 

Five Emergency Transmissions out of Five! 

#ChooseYourOwnAdenture, #AtTheMountainsOfMadness, #JacobDellaQuiercia, #HannahKreiger, #HPLovecraft, #BROTHR, #Sam, #Guy, #Shemp, #Moon, #Jackie, #NursePeters,#Elenor, #Sky, #JR

Michael Review!

Michael tells the story of the music icon with all of Michael Jackson’s songs, Jaafar Jackson’s performance, and impressive concert shots!  The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua and he also directed the action movie, The Equalizer 3 (2023). The script is written by John Logan who also was the writer for the horror musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). Interest in the film may be if you like Michael Jackson’s music and as a person. This is up to the point of 1988 before all of the controversy. The bio pic presents its story and audiences should be ready to accept it as is, be entertained, and not expect what they want out of it. 

It opens with a crowd cheering before we see Michael Jackson (Jaafar Jackson) from behind walking up to the stage, we have the beginnings of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” Jackson is making his film debut. He is of course the nephew of Michael Jackson and the son of Jermaine Jackson. The spotlight follows him. This moves to 1966, Gary, Indiana. The face of young Michael (Juliano Valdi) looks through a window at kids playing outside. This is Valdi’s first film, he has previously worked in television including an episode of 9-1-1, “Handle with Care.” 

In the living room, Michael’s father, Joe Jackson (Coleman Domingo) takes him to stand in the line up of his brothers; Jermaine (Jayden Harville), Marlon (Jaylen Lyndon Hunter), Tito (Judah Edwards), and Jackie (Nathaniel Logan McIntyre). Domingo was last in The Running Man (2025) playing Bobby T. This is also a movie debut for actors, Harville, Hunter, and Edwards. Penn was played by Edwards in the podcast series, Six Minutes. McIntyre was in the drama series, All American. Also in the room is mother, Katherine (Nia Long) and sister, La Toya (Amaya Mendoza). Long was in the powerful thriller, Missing (2023). 

Mendoza is also acting in her first movie. Joe is watching his sons perform from the couch. He says to Michael, “I need you to look at me” focusing on the audience. Later, we see Joe drive up in his Volkswagon Van in the snow. He is returning from work at the steel mill. He enters the house and says to the group, “I booked you a few gigs.” At dinner, he asks his son if they want to work at the steel mill, then asks if they are willing to fight for it. This is good to focus on the goal for the group, but it is more control with his own disappointments. 

Joe has the group dance and tells them to reach out ot the wall, but don’t touch it. Interesting stage directions for the fledgling group. At a club, we see the Jackson 5 perform and of course Michael is a stand out. Afterwards, Joe wants them to practice, but Katherine says they have school tomorrow. Michael starts to complain and Joe takes out his belt. The brothers are stunned. Joe starts giving a belt whooping. Michael runs off and then curls up in the corner of the bathroom. Katherine knocks at the door, but Michael is alone. Later in his bunk bed, Michael looks at the illustration of Peter Pan in a book under covers with a flashlight. 

Also, we see Michael looking at the Wizard of Oz, I thought this book in particular should have resonance with his part of the Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978). 1968, the Regal Theatre, 1968, the Jackson 5 are behind the curtains. Michael mouths the lyrics as he watches Gladys Knight & the Pips perform. They go on stage to an excited audience. A woman behind Joe walks up to him and says she is Suzanne de Passe (Laura Harrier). The actress played Patrice Dumas in BlacKkKlansman (2018). She says Michael has “perfect pitch” and that she works for Motown. Suzanne gives Joe her business card.   

At a recording studio in Los Angeles, Motown president and producer, Barry Gordy (Lorenz Tate) watches alone at the recording booth. Tate also played Quincy Jones in Ray (2004). Michael begins to sing and Barry interrupts him, “Michael, you’re moving too much.” Michael was dancing, but then keeps his legs still, while he still moves while singing. His brothers sit quietly on the couch in the booth. Joe says he just needs five minutes, but is ignored by Barry. Afterwards, Barry remarks to Michael that he “sung the song better than Smokey himself.” 

He shows Michael about the recording equipment, Joe appears, and then Michael hugs Barry. This is the first sort of affection we’ve seen with Michael. Suzanne watches a monitor in a tv studio as the Jackson 5 are filmed for The Ed Sullivan Show. Then, they walk out to photographers flash. Barry Gordy asks Michael’s age and he says he is 10. He is told to say that he is 8. At a press conference, Michael is asked the same question and he replies, “I’m eight, sir.” It is stated that their hit song, “ABC” is at the tops of the charts. 1971, Havenhurst, California. Michael is on his bed talking to his mouse. A nice nod to the 1972 horror film, Ben, where Michael sang the end credit song. 

Joe brings in Bill Bray (KeiLyn Durrel Jones) to be head of security to always watch over Michael. Jones played Remi in the drama, Succession. As a bodyguard, Bill is ever present and tries to be sympathetic to Michael, but is mainly there to protect him. Afterwards, Michael brings popcorn to sit with his mother to watch the classic musical, Singin’ in theRain (1952) on tv. Katherine says she is uncomfortable with his pet rat. Michael replies, “They’re no my pets, they’re my friends.” We can see here that Michael is lonely and disconnected to others besides his family. 1978, the now older Michael (Jaafar Jackson) looks out of a window. The same shot that introduces the young Michael. We see Michael at both ages from the outside, revealing a film perspective, a reflection not a close look at Michael Jackson. 

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