Bill & Ted Face The Music Review!

Bill & Ted Face The Music is a return to a time traveling phone booth, a dense, but fun loving duo, and this story is about their daughters!  The film is currently at select theaters and video on demand.  This of course is the last movie that started with Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) and then Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991), so this is twenty-nine years later!  The film is directed by Dean Parisot who also directed Red 2 (2013) and the sci fi comedy, Galaxy Quest (1999).  The screenwriters are Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon who created the characters, wrote the previous films, and also the comedy Imagine That (2009).  It opens with narration by Thea Preston (Samara Weaving) and Billie Logan (Brigette Lundy-Paine).  Weaving is in the drama series Hollywood and was in horror comedy Ready or Not (2019). Lundy-Paine was in the drama, Bombshell (2019) and stars in the series Atypical.  They do great reactions similar to their fathers and the women are the heart of this movie.  

They introduce their fathers catching viewers up from the other movies.  This is William S. “Bill” Preson, Esq. and Ted “Thedore” Logan (Keanu Reeves).  Winter starred and directed the comedy Smosh: The Movie (2015) and was also known for the horror movie The Lost Boys (1987).   Reeves of course has an incredible run of movies including John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) and his early filmwork includes Point Break (1991).  They of course form the band Wyld Stallyns, and in Bogus Journey they write the song that will unite the world and bring harmony to the universe.  This didn’t happen and instead Billie and Thea note that the band broke up.  It looks like they were a one-hit wonder and soon faded from the music scene.  We find that there is a disruption with time, famous historical figures disappear, finding themselves in the place of their counterparts.  We get the center of space and time, take that Gallifrey!, San Dimas, California. Bill & Ted are in suits at a wedding.   

This is the wedding of Missy (Amy Stoch), who was previously married to Bill & Ted’s fathers, and Deacon (Beck Bennett), the younger brother of Ted.  Stoch is one of the few continuing actors in the Bill & Ted movies and was also in the drama Amber Rose (2010).  Bennett is known for Saturday Night Live and was in the comedy The Party Is Over (2015).   Bill & Ted introduce the wedding party to their daughters, both 24, and wives who were medieval princesses, Elizabeth (Erinn Hayes) and Joanna (Jayma Mays), the wives were played by different actresses every film.   Hayes was in this year’s comedy Holly Slept Over and previously was in the comedy series Childrens Hospital.  Mays was in the musical series Glee and also the bio comedy American Made (2017).  Ted also introduces his father, Chief Logan (Hall Landon Jr.), who has a slightly larger part in this story. 

Then, they give as a wedding present, the world premiere of their “sonic creation”, uh-oh.  It is a combination of throat singing, bagpipes, and really just the most annoying sounds together!  Their daughters groove to it, but not the rest of the wedding party.  Chief Logan has had enough and disconnects the power.  Bill & Ted pack up their equipment in a van and Chief Logan disbelieves their adventures.  Bill & Joanna are later walking in a hallway and meet with Ted and Elizabeth.  They all meet with the marriage counselor, Dr. Taylor Wood (Jillian Bell), who tries to be patient with the duo.  Bell was in the comedy Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019) and she was also in the action comedy 22 Jump Street (2014).  Bill & Ted can only give a “we love you” to their wives, they of course are inseperable, and Joanna & Elizabeth need to work out their session by themselves.  They find their daughters listening to music and back their fathers.  

Ted is considering selling his Gibson Les Paul guitar and ending the duo.  This is when there is the arrival of a white, egg-shaped time traveling vehicle.  Billie & Thea watch the arrival from the window.  The traveler is Kelly played by Kristen Schaal.  She was in teh comedy series The Last Man on Earth and the comedian was also in this year’s action comedy My Spy.  Bill realizes that she is Rufus’ daughter, he of course was their mentor in the other movies played by George Carlin.  The music of course is the problem and she takes them to the future. It is a future of blue skies, white buildings, and cool, blue pools. They also see the phone booth, a hologram of Rufus, who explains that it was his first time traveling vehicle.  They meet The Great Leader (Holland Taylor) and the Great Ones.  Taylor was in the romance film, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020) and also the comedy show Two and a Half Men.  She says that they did not unite the world and notes that the duo has 77 minutes to write the song or reality will be destroyed! 

Kelly is there is help them and gives a pocket watch that has a saying from Rufus.  This is kinda fun really about how an over-the-hill band tries to capture some of its former glory.  Ted has the idea of going forward in time to get the song from their future selves.  They go to Rufus’ phone booth time machine to try to find the song.  This of course goes into unexpected territory with future Bill & Ted very much changed from their present selves.  Future Ted says that they have lost their wives at couples therapy.  The goofy duo explore a future that gets more and more desperate.  Winter and Reeves have fun returning to their classic parts.  Kelly argues with her mother, The Great Leader, that her father believed in Bill & Ted that they will find their song.  The Great Leader has the interpretation that the duo must die to restore reality.  

She takes her daughter to see the latest pale robot (Anthony Carrigan).  He is brilliant in the comedy crime series, Barry, and was in the police drama based on the Batman comic books, Gotham.  The robot can form his own time travel pod.  Kelly travels to the present to look for the robot and instead has Billie & Thea travel in Kelly’s egg to form a band made of members across time!  This includes a guitarist played by DazMannStill and another musician portrayed by Jeremiah Craft.  It really shifts to the daughters to save reality by basically playing out the first movie.  The beginning is slow paced until it goes to time traveling with Billie & Thea.  The adventure also involves Death played by William Sadler.  He was outwitted by Bill & Ted in Bogus Journey.  Sadler was also in the horror remake The Grudge (2020) and was Heywood in The Shawshank Redemption (1994).  Bill & Ted Face The Music has a strong ending that wraps up the series with a message about the world!   

  

Four Time Circuits out of Five! 

#Bill&TedFaceTheMusic, #AlexWinter, #KeanuReeves, #SamaraWeaving, #BillieLogan, #BrigetteLundyPaine

Happy Birthday Jack Kirby!

Happy Birthday Jack Kirby!  To understand how comic books, superhero comics, the work and the appeal, you have to understand Jack Kirby.  His extreme poses and action exploding out of the panels are the language of superhero comic books today.  The King of Comics, started as an in-betweener at the Fleischer Studios working in animation.  Then, he started work at the Eisner & Iger studio creating artwork working in many genres for Wild Boy Magazine.  Kirby moved to Fox Feature Syndicate working with writer Joe Simon on the Blue Beetle comic strip. The duo worked together on Captain Marvel Adventures #1 (1941) for Fawcett Comics.  They joined Timely Comics, which later became Marvel Comics, and created Captain America Comics #1 (1941).  It sold out and became an iconic character for Timely/Marvel.  Captain America was the subject of a movie serial in 1944, some movies in 1979, a film in 1990, and entered the MCU played by Chris Evans in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).    

The Simon and Kirby duo created romance comics with Young Romance #1 (1947).  Kirby then worked for DC creating the Challengers of the Unknown, a quartet of explorers who survive a jet crash to investigate strange dangers in Showcase #6 (1957).  In Challengers of the Unknown #3 (1958), written and drawn by Kirby, the group gets super powers including projecting flame and invisibility.  He worked with Stan Lee introducing monsters like Groot in Tales to Astonish #13 (1960).  The tree-creature made his way to the screen in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).  What launched the Marvel Age of Comics in the Silver Age was Fantastic Four #1 (1961).  There have been numerous films that tried to capture the magic of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s creation including the recent Fantastic Four (2015).  They turned a monster into a hero with The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962) who had his MCU movie in Incredible Hulk (2008).  Then, Thor in Journey into Mystery #83 (1962).  His latest solo film was Thor: Ragnarok (2017).  They co-created Ant-Man in Tales to Astonish #35 (1962) with Larry Leiber.  Also, the Wasp in Tales to Astonish #44 (1963) with Ernie Hart.  Their latest film is Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018).  

Next, the team co-created Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #39 (1963).  2008's Iron Man started the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Lee and Kirby brought the heroes together in The Avengers #1 (1963).  The recent blockbuster, Avengers: Endgame, featured the characters. They also created Black Panther in Fantastic Four #52 (1966).  The character was featured in his own film in Black Panther (2018).  The Lee and Kirby duo created the X-Men and villain Magneto in X-Men #1 (1963).  The latest X-Men movie is this year’s Dark Phoenix.  When Kirby went to DC Comics, he created the Fourth World drawing and writing New Gods #1 and also their nemesis Darkseid, who Kirby introduced in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #134 (1970).  Darkseid and his Apokalips henchmen were shown in the Zack Snyder's Justice League that will stream on HBO Max next year.  Kirby returned to Marvel and created The Eternals in The Eternals #1 (1976).  Their film comes out next year.  Jack Kirby was pioneering in comic books, animation, he created film concept art that was used by the CIA seen in Argo (2012).  He died in 1994, but his legacy will always be remembered by fans and audience members who love the Marvel Cinematic Universe and comic books.  Happy Birthday Jack Kirby! 

#JackKirby, #CaptainAmerica, #FantasticFour, #Avengers

The One and Only Ivan Review!

The One and Only Ivan has a certain charm of talking CG animals, a fun human cast, and the inspiration of the true story!  It is of course based on the Newberry award-winning novel by Katherine Applegate published in 2012.  The film is directed by Thea Sharrock who also directed the romantic drama, Me Before You (2016).  Mike White wrote the screenplay and his other screenplay was School of Rock (2003).  It is currently streaming on Disney+.  The opening has the castle fogged up so it looks shadowy and then this is wiped away by the paw of Ivan.  We can see his gorilla face before he introduces himself.  The narration is by Ivan voiced by Sam Rockwell.  He voiced Hickory in the animated Trolls World Tour (2020) and was Captain Klenzendorf in Jojo Rabbit (2019).  Talking animals means CG animals, but there is enough realism to get past any CG hang-ups, it is really the vocal performances that brings the drama and comedy. 

Ivan is a gorilla content with performing in his show.  He points out the freeway billboard that features himself. The book is all from Ivan’s perspective, his thoughts instead of talking, also no talking from the humans or other animals in the book.  This then shifts to the Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, the real mall was in Tacoma, Washington, then we get the inside of the mall.  It is complete with a seal fountain and the tent where they have the circus.  We get introduced to Mack played by Bryan Cranston, owner of the circus, complete with red, ringmaster costume and a fake British accent.  Cranston is known for such films as El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) and was the voice of Chief in the animated movie, Isle of Dogs (2018).  He introduces his animal acts; Henrietta (Chaka Khan), “The baseball playing chicken”, the Frankie the Seal (Mike White), and Murphy (Ron Funches) who sings, “Rabbit in a fire truck!”  It is a number of fun voices, but they are supporting characters.   

Mack gives a grand introduction to his next act, “The queen of the big top, Stella!”, then his poodle, Snickers (Helen Mirren), who performs tricks with Stella, and in Ivan’s enclosure is the stray dog voiced by Danny DeVito.  Lastly, there is Ivan who climbs out of his enclosure and on the upper stage, he gives some roars and a chest thump.  After the show, we see the girl, Julia (Ariana Greenblatt), she is busy sketching Ivan next to Ivan’s enclosure.  Greenblatt was young Gamora in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and has the upcoming musical, In the Heights.  Her father is George (Ramon Rodriguez) who takes care of the animals.  Rodriguez played Bukuto in Iron Fist and was in the action movie, Need for Speed (2014).  Mack confides in Ivan that they need an act to bring in crowds to keep the circus running.  At night, Stella (Angelina Jolie) talks to Ivan, she’s an older, gentle elephant.  Jolie is a producer on the film and was in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) and plays Thena in the upcoming The Eternals.  

Ivan worries that the crowds are not coming in because of his performance.   He resolves to being the headliner again.  Mack is busy getting the circus ready including the parrot, Thelma (Phillipa Soo), the only talking animal understood by humans of course.  Soo is known for playing Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton and also the military drama, The Code.  Thelma repeating Mack is kinda funny.  Ivan tries to give an enthusiastic performance, but gets light applause.  After the show, Julia gives her extra crayons to Ivan along with some paper.  Mack rages against the dog in Ivan’s enclosure to the maintenance man, Castello (Owain Arthur).  Costello is about to enter Ivan’s cage, but he is frightened by the gorilla.  Later, Ivan uses a red crayon to sketch a beetle.  After Ivan's show, we see Mack excited about something on the phone.  Julia looks at Ivan’s drawing and shows it to her father.  She names the dog Bob.  

The next morning, Mack is excited, Bob goes to the dog kibble in Mack’s office.  He talks to Snickers who tells him about the new arrival.  Bob shouts out the news to Ivan and all of the animals. Mack enters a cargo container and then is knocked down.  George works with Mack to take Stella bring out a baby elephant!  Mack explains that she came from a bankrupt circus and her name is Ruby.  At his cage, Ivan is about to go to sleep, but is wakened by the questions by Ruby (Brooklynn Prince).  She is a curious elephant, but this is a new environment.  Prince voiced Zoe in The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019), but was a sensation playing Moonee in The Florida Project (2017).  Ivan loses the spotlight to Ruby walking in with Stella.   It takes some time for Ivan to show his special artistic talent.  We get some memories of Ivan from his baby years, becoming an artist, getting captured, and then raised by Mack.  He has to hold to his promise and give Ruby her freedom.  This is a question of animal captivity that is unusual since Ivan IRL ends up in Zoo Atlanta.  The One and Only Ivan is a charming film, it brings up some complex questions, but has a heart and some fun.  

Three Crayons out of Five! 

#TheOneandOnlyIvan, #TheaSharrock, #SamRockwell, #BryanCranston, #ArianaGreenblatt      

Happy Birthday Chris Pine!

Happy Birthday Chris Pine!  An early role for Pine was playing Nicholas Devereaux in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004).  Next, Pine was a sensation as Captain Kirk in Star Trek (2009).  Pine voiced Jack Frost in the animated film, Rise of the Guardians (2012) based on the William Joyce book series.  He returned to captain the Enterprise in Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).  Pine played the title role in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014).  Pine was Cinderella’s Prince in the musical adaptation, Into the Woods (2014).  Caleb was played by Pine in Z for Zachariah (2015) based on the Robert C. O’ Brien sci fi novel.  

Pine played Bernie Webber in the real life drama of the Coast Guard rescue, The Finest Hours (2016).  He was back as James T. Kirk in Star Trek Beyond (2016).  Then, he portrayed Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman (2017).  Pine was Mr. Murray in the Ava Duvernay directed A Wrinkle in Time (2018) which adapted the book by Madeleine L’Engle.  Robert Bruce, who becomes king, starred Pine in the historical drama Outlaw King (2013).  He voiced Peter Parker in the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018).  Pine was in the real life dramatic mini-series, I Am the Night (2019), trying to protect Fauna Hodel.  He has upcoming Wonder Woman 1984, the return of Steve Trevor?, could it be a plan from Pedro Pascal’s Max Lord promising dreams?  Happy Birthday Chris Pine! 

#ChrisPine, #StarTrekBeyond, #IAmtheNight, #WonderWoman1984

Happy Birthday Sean Connery!

Happy Birthday Sean Connery!  He is known as the first James Bonds, but one of his early roles was as the singing Michael McBride in the Disney fantasy film, Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959).  Next, he was Private Flanagan in the epic war film, The Longest Day (1962).  Also, that year, he appeared as James Bond in Dr. No (1962).  He continued with From Russia with Love (1963) and Goldfinger (1964) which really the set the style and villains of the Bond films.  Alfred Hitchcock cast Connery as Mark Rutland in his thriller Marnie (1964).  Connery continued with Thunderball (1965), my favorite of all Bond films, You Only Live Twice (1967), and then returned for Diamonds are Forever (1971).  Next, he was Zed in the sci fi film, Zardoz (1974).  Connery was part of the formidable cast of Murder on the Orient Express (1974) directed by Sidney Lumet.  Based on the Agatha Christie classic novel, he played Colonel Abuthnot, who has an affection for Vanessa Redgrave’s Mary Debeham.  He starred in The Man Who Would Be King (1975), one of his favorite parts, based on the Rudyard Kipling novel.  Next, he starred as an older Robin Hood in Robin and Marian (1976) with Audrey Hepburn as Lady Marian.  This is one of my favorite non-Bond roles for Connery. 

Connery played Marshall William T. O’Neil in the sci fi mystery Outland (1981).  He had the cameo role as the king, Agamemnon, caught in the adventures of Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits (1981).  Connery returned one last time as an older Bond in Never Say Never Again (1983).  He had a memorable part as Ramirez, mentor of Highlander (1986).  Then, he played William of Baskerville in The Name of the Rose (1986) based on the Umberto Eco novel.  He won the Supporting Actor Academy Award for his memorable part as cop mentor Jim Malone in The Untouchables (1988). Next, he played Professor Henry Jones adventuring with his son Indy in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).  Then, he played the captain, Marko Ramius, in The Hunt for Red October (1990) starting a string of movies based on Tom Clancy’s books.  In 1995, he played King Arthur caught in the love triangle between Julia Ormond’s Guinevere and Richard Gere’s Lancelot, in First Knight.  In 2000, he was knighted by Elizabeth II.  Connery played pulp hero, Allan Quatermain, in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, (2003), his last film.  Happy Birthday Sean Connery! 

#SeanConnery, #DrNo, #TheUntouchables, #IndianaJonesandtheLastCrusade

Happy Birthday Ray Park!

Happy Birthday Ray Park! He first worked in stunts for Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997).  The part Park is well known for was as Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999).  It was not only the make-up and design of the character, it was the fierceness and martial arts prowess that Ray Park brought to the role.  I saw Ray and Nash Edgerton, the Obi-Wan Kenobi stunt double, recreating the duel at Wizard World in 2004.  It was at full speed which was impressive! We saw Maul cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lightsaber, but you can’t keep a Sith down.  Next, he had a speaking part as the Toad in X-Men (2000). In the action movie, Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002), Park played A.J. Ross, leading the agents going after Lucy Liu’s Sever.  Ray Park had a cameo part as a security guard at Lucasfilm in Fanboys (2009).  He had another iconic role as Snake Eyes in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009).  

        Ray Park dueling as Maul at Wizard World Philadelphia, 2004, photo by the author. 

Ray Park had a lead role in Hellbinders (2009) playing a mercenary, Max, who teams up with an assassin and a Knights Templar to take on demonic forces.  On television, Park played Edgar, who could move at super speeds in Heroes (2009-2010).  Next, Park was the evil Rugal Bernstein, who fights against Maggie Q’s May Shiranui in the adaptation of the video game, The King of Fighters (2010).  He had a cameo role in 2011 on Maggie Qu’s series Nikita.  Park returned to play Snake Eyes in G.I. Joe Retaliation (2013). He starred in Jinn (2014) playing Gabriel caught in the battle with supernatural jinn. The surprise cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story was the return of Maul.  In the Clone Wars episode “Brothers”, Maul was found alive and given cybernetic legs.  The Star Wars: Rebels two part episode “Twilight of the Apprentice” (2016) picked up Maul’s appearance.  Park played Mac in the action movie Accident Man (2018).  He did motion capture for Maul in “The Phantom Apprentice” episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.   Happy Birthday Ray Park!  

#RayPark, #GIJoeRetaliation, #StarWarsTheCloneWars, #AccidentMan    

Black Adam, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman Panels FanDome!

The Black Adam panel featured some production artwork from Jim Lee and Boss Logic.  It takes place in the fictional Khandaq, 5,000 years later, Black Adam is freed.  Dwayne Johnson says, “We are going beyond your wildest expectations.”  A fan question is about Black Adam’s power, Johnson said, “You can take away all of his powers, he does not practice restraint.”  He gets a video from Noah Centino who plays Atom Smasher.  Centino impressed Johnson “training on the tarmac.”  He mentions that his hero grows to the height “of the Eiffel Tower.”  The Justice Society, Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher, looks like they are taking on Black Adam. Johnson gives a message to the Justice League, “the hierarchy is about to change”, then he gives a wink.   

The Aquaman panel has director, James Wan, and Patrick Wilson on the Aquaman film.  Wan asked Wilson when he heard about the project and it was on the set of The Conjuring 2.  Wilson asked Wan about the harnesses, “Nothing in the underwater world was easy.”  Wan said about the sequel that it “would be more serious and relevant today.”  He promised new worlds.  Wilson joked if he will handcuffed like at the end of the film.  Patty Jenkins noted the 80th anniversary of Wonder Woman next year.  She brought on Gal Gadot and Lynda Carter.  Gadot noted how long it took to get a movie made.  Carter replied the reason why was “Find the right one.”  She introduced the Wonder Woman 80th logo, it has the WW with the profile of Wonder Woman’s head. 

 The later panel had the cast of Wonder Woman 1984 playing Werewolf, with Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, and stuntwoman, Jessie Graff, it is a guessing game.  The game has a villain, three civilians, a detective, and a superhero.  Pascal is captured by villains.  Jenkins immediately guessed that the random villain is Chris Pine.  Kristen is suspicious about Jenkins.  The group voted out Pine who was the villain.  The next person captured is Gadot.  Nielsen picks up the static from contestant Ravi. The remaining eight work out the villain and vote for Ravi who says he was a civilian.  Jenkins is the next person captured by the villains.  

Wright noted that an interview had Wiig admitted she’s a “terrible liar.”  There is more suspicion the next round.  Nielsen is voted out and she was a civilian.  Wiig is the next prisoner. Jonathan is the next chosen, though he is a civilian, Robin Wright and Kelvin were the villains.  The villains won!   DC FanDome had a fair amount of special surprises and guests, the hosts were okay, but it was Batman heavy.  Every other segment was on Batman.  Where was Superman?  They have an upcoming Superman and Lois series.  Of course this was to promote DC projects, but they and the fans did skirt around the controversy of all of the recent creatives fired from the company.  I did like the few cosplays and fan artwork, but it did not feel interactive.  

#BlackAdam, #DwayneJohnson, #Aquaman, #JamesWan, #PatrickWilson, #WonderWoman80th, #PattyJenkins, #GalGadot, #LyndaCarter       

The Flash and Suicide Squad FanDome!

The Flash movie, long delayed, brought on the filmmakers; Ezra Miller, the director, Andy Muschietti, Christina Hodson, and producer, Barbara Muschietti.  Muschietti directed It Chapter Two (2019).  Hodson wrote Birds of Prey: and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn.  Miller gave some Flash Facts, very funny.  Barbara Muschietti asked about the movie replied, “it’s Andy’s signature.”  Muschietti added, “It’s a time travel story.”  Hodson said, “He (Andy Muschietti) has done some doodles (of the Speed Force.”  Hodson noted reading Flashpoint.  Muschietti mentions a sneak peek.  Then, there is concept art of the new suit, it has circular patterns on the body.  Miller says he wants Flash to meet Nicholas Cage.  Strangely, the short clips and hosts reminds me of DC Universe.  This is DC Universe Extended with an international flavor, still they need to identify all of the hosts, some of them may not be easily recognizable. 

The Suicide Squad panel has the host mentioning that James Gunn said that filming had wrapped on the film.  Gunn had a fan question on when he started reading the comic he said, “I read John Ostrander’s original run.”  Jake from State Farm?, a commercial figure, asked about the number of explosions in the movie.  Gunn talked to Ostrander and said, “This is a sequel to your comics.”  He admitted his favorite villain was Bat-Mite!  A question was asked about Flura Borg and Nathan Fillion’s characters.  Gunn said it would be revealed in a minute.  Then, he introduced the characters; Viola Davis is back as Amanda Waller, Joel Kinnamen returns as Rick Flag, Michael Rooker plays Savant, there was a vigilante introduced in Birds of Prey #56 (2003), Flura Borg is Javelin, a villain who debuted in Green Lantern #173 (1984), and Margot Robbie returns to play Harley Quinn.  Polka Dot Man played by David Dastmalchian, a strange supervillain who first appeared in Detective Comics #300 (1962), his polka dots on his costume are used as various devices, 

Another returning Squad member is Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, T.D.K. is played by Nathan Fillion, a mystery character?, Daniela Melchio is Ratcatcher 2, this is the second version of the Bat villain who controlled rats, Idris Elba stars as Bloodsport, he is a Superman villain who used Kryptonite bullets in Superman #4 (1987), King Shark, a CG creation with an actor stand-in, he is voiced by Steve Agee, Mayling Ng as Mongal, an alien warlord, she first appeared in Showcase `95 #8 (1995), Peter Capaldi plays The Thinker, he was in the Flash Rogue’s Gallery, Alice Braga plays Solsaria, possibly a new character?, Peter Davidson is Blackguard, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 (1986), Sean Gunn is Weasel, first appearing in Fury of Firestorm #35 (1985), and John Cena is Peacemaker, he was a helmeted hero that was at Charlton Comics, but entered the DC universe in his mini-series, Peacemaker #1-4 (1988).  Many of the characters have appeared on the CW shows; King Shark in The Flash, The Thinker was also in The Flash, Bloodsport was in Supergirl, and Dastmalchian played Abra Kadabra in the 2017 episodes of The Flash.  

There are so many characters that I think that there is an initial squad, but they fail at the mission so the second squad comes in to complete the mission.  Gunn had the actors divided into two groups with team captains, Viola Davis and Joel Kinnamen.  Davis answered the question about the two characters with their own comic, the answer was Harley Quinn and Peacemaker.  Margot Robbie answered that Pete Davidson had more tatoos than Harley Quinn.  She also held up the answer that the government’s name was Task Force X.  Asked about the appearance of a Squad character in Superboy #9, Flura Borg asked Gunn, “Does this mean fully exposed?”  Storm Reid, Tyla, the daughter of Idris Elba, asked who shot Superman?  Both answered Bloodsport.  It appears that Elba plays a replacement for Will Smith's Deadshot.  Gunn said about the movie, “It’s the greatest cast I’ve ever worked with”, sorry Guardians of the Galaxy.  Capaldi noted that he liked the experience and the atmosphere of the set.  Gunn showed a new behind-the-scenes clip that featured most of the characters.  Elba said, “It’s like a massive graphic novel brought to life.”

#TheFlash, #EzraMiller, #AndyMuschietti, #SuicideSquad, #JameGunn

Wonder Woman DC FanDome!

John Williams' Superman theme plays while we get figures walking in the hall.  Welcome to the Hall of Heroes. Aisha Tyler, the host, is in the Hall of Heroes, blue screen, with the Jim Lee designed Fandome.  There is the trinity; Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.  They show clips from movies and tv with animated series and movies.  Next is the comic con at Brazil, the two Brazilian hosts introduce Patty Jenkins and then Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, and finally Gal Gadot.  Jenkins says, “It’s so great on the big screen.”  The first fan question was on changes in costume with the time period.  Pascal noted the “horrible power suits.”  They showed behind the scenes of the actors.  Pine noted about the filming, “All the cool kids were hanging out at the mall and you were staying after school.”  Venus Williams asked about a tennis match between Wonder Woman and Cheetah, Wiig says that Wonder Woman would have a gold tennis racket which would be heavy!  

Wiig says her favorite moment on set was the fight with Wonder Woman.  Gadot said her bracelet got caught in her wig.  Last questions was by Lynda Carter!  Wiig explained she was Wonder Woman for Halloween.  Carter said her daughter said when she saw Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, “I finally get it.  I finally get why .  Jenkins said to Carter that the intention was to “take the torch and move it on.”  Next, they showed fan cosplay and artwork of Wonder Woman.  They were impressed by a cosplayer in the armor at the beach.  Finally, they showed the second, official trailer.  It showed an arena in what looks like The Contest, Wonder Woman uses her lasso to swing on lightning!  There is a glimpse of the Cheetah and Wonder Woman fight!  Wonder Woman faces off against the full Cheetah in her gold armor.  The end of the trailer has Steve Trevor changes outfits until he says, “Parachute pants?  Does everyone parachute now?”  

#WonderWoman1984, #PattyJenkins, #GalGadot, #ChrisPine, #KristenWiig, #PedroPascal, #LyndaCarter