A Treatment for A Robotech Live Action Film!

All talk, so let’s apply respectful casting and adaptation to an anime property, in this case Robotech which is the American animated series from Harmony Gold that ran in 1985.  It adapted several Japanese anime series, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982), Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross (1984), and Genesis Climber Mospeada (1983) from Tatsunoko Production.  American cartoons required 65 episodes, so the different series were combined together with a story by Carl Macek, with the thread of Protoculture, and the Zentradi aliens from the first series working for the Robotech Masters in the second against the Invid invaders from the third series.  It is currently being developed by Andy Muschetti, it was James Wan, but this is in development hell.  

We are going to focus on the first series since it is the most grounded in a future that is more familiar to us.  The original Macross series had a battleship spacecraft crash onto an island in 1999.  It was rebuilt and ready to launch in 2009 when the series began.  It has the introduction of young pilot, Rick Hunter, who was Hikaru Ichijyo in the original.  He has the floppy, black hair of other anime heroes.  How a writing proposal usually works is not in casting, but I’m working two ends in how to cast respectfully and also how to adapt properly.  Let's apply the same kind of dating to find the time, 14 years so this is set in the year 2022 and the SDF-1 launches in the year 2032.  I would cast Ryan Potter, he is currently Beast Boy in the Titans streaming show, as Rick Hunter.  Ryan has a Japanese father and the boyish look that is perfect.

In the Robotech cartoon, Mitchell “Pop” Hunter served in the Navy and when his friend Dan Fokker died, he adopted his son Roy who later went to fight in the Global War. This is all back story that was filled in over the years and of course a perfect place to start a Robotech movie. The Robotech Graphic Novel (1986) with a story by Carl Macek detailed how Roy Fokker lead the team to investigate the fortress when it crashed on Earth.  Roy, I can see being played by Chris Pine, Stephen Amell, or Simon Baker, someone who is slightly older, but can play a hotshot pilot. So the opening is an airfield, high tech planes race past, and we get the young Rick Hunter saying goodbye to his “brother” Roy leaving for the military. Roy tells Hikaru, only his close family members use that name (so we can also nod to the original), that he is too young to join the military. Sunset, Roy gets into the cockpit of his jet and takes off with Rick looking on as the last of the jet’s contrails fade.  

He returns to the hangar where Pops is working on a plane for their aerial circus and his mother comforts the young pilot. Pops could be played by John Goodman, obvious choice, if he is not too busy, or Jeff Garlin from The Goldbergs. Michelle Yeoh could play the mother, but it is a cameo role, also Joan Chen from Twin Peaks, Ming-Na Wen, or I would like to see Yuko Moriyama from the Japanese sci fi Zeiram. Heck, the name of the mother should be Yuko regardless. We get Roy flying his fighter jet over the North Pacific with his wingman, Steve Arnold.  He gets into a dogfight with rival, T.R. Edwards, same age as Roy also with blonde hair, but a jagged scar on the right side of his face. I would open cast Edwards with any ethnicity. Edwards flies for the Greater Northeast Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.  He clips Arnold’s jet and Roy’s wingman crashes into the sea.  

Roy inverts his jet to fire on Edwards, but he pulls away getting recalled.  Roy is able to land his fighter on the aircraft carrier, the Kenosha, and meets with communications officer, Claudia Grant.  Claudia could be played by Sonequa Martin-Green, Naomie Harris, or Tessa Thompson.  Outside of San Francisco, the Pops airfield, Rick lands his flyer and goes to check on Pops, he says the flying circus has to be put on hold.  He is shifting to transporting fuel supplies for the military.  We pick up with the war filling up the skies with explosions, missiles, and two fighter jets.  Roy is dogfighting with T.R.  Everyone gets a warning that something is breaking atmosphere.  Roy has Edward’s jet in his sights when he is told to scatter.  He gets a collision warning and breaks off.  Edwards jet also pulls away.  Air raid warning sirens blare in San Francisco.  The citizens take cover in shelters and then look up.  There is a rumbling.  The dark clouds begin to part and we see the burning mass of the alien fortress plunge to the Earth.  The fiery comet has Rick and Pops taking cover.  It is starting it’s descent and rips apart San Francisco buildings, it hurtles over the Pacific, parting the waters.  

The fortress impacts with Macross Island in a blinding explosion.  We see the ruined fortress creating a massive crater around the island lush with vegetation.  There are pock marks of debris from the ship.  Pops airfield, he is scrambling to check on the fuel supplies, one tank is burning.  We get the reaction around the world to the crash, including a young cadet Lisa Hayes and Lyn Minmei with her family.  Edwards takes advantage of the confusion to head toward enemy territory.  We get him targeting Pop’s airfield.  Roy lands his fighter on the Kenosha and is said to report to Captain Gloval.  Then, we get the airfield which is burning.  Teen Rick has lost his parents in the attack.  This is all new to the story to offset expectations of Robotech fans, establish the family dynamics, and the Global War.  This is to show the divisiveness of humans before the arrival of the fortress and contrast to the greater conflict of the rest of the universe.  It is never explained what happened to Rick’s parents in the animated series so this is a short episode to lead into the Robotech War.  

The debriefing of Roy at the war room of the Kenosha, Captain Henry Gloval, is to be played by Iain Glen from Game of Thrones.  He is there with other officials.  Gloval meets privately with Roy to tell him of the death of Pops Hunter, Roy at first wants to leave, but Gloval convinces him to listen to the conference before leaving.  He explains that there has been an immediate ceasefire to all hostilities around the world with the appearance of the fortress.  Negotiations are under way with a tentative agreement that the NEACPS is sending a representative to the research team.  The representative is T.R. Edwards.  Roy is angry and says he wants on the team.  Gloval announces that the teams will be led by Doctor Emil Lang.  I think an actor like Brent Spiner or Peter Capaldi would be interesting to play Dr. Lang.  Roy is about to put on his radiation suit and remarks how can Edwards work for NEACPS.  He replies that it is not personal.  

They board two teams in radiation suits into two helicopters.  The helicopters approach the island and find the strange craft leaving a massive trail from the beach.  The teams deploy from the helicopters and set up equipment; lights, boxes of supplies, and weapons.  Dr. Lang sends out a robot probe, a two-legged scout robot with a lamp-like head, it staggers towards the ship, a portal opens, and Lang loses control of the probe.  It slips into the portal, Lang sets guards to watch the portal, and enters with Fokker and Edwards.  The interior of the fortress is dark, the broken shards in hull streams in light, all is silent.  Something skitters above the teams.  Lang checks the interior with his multi-optics visor, but it is distorted, surreal with green and red bands.  Roy and Edwards draw their rifles.  The scout comes out of the dark and faces them.  Lang with Roy and Edwards covering him checks it out with lights from their radiation suits. 

He pulls apart the circuit board on the probe and finds the wires writhing, they reach out to enwrap Lang’s arm, but Edwards uses a knife to cut through them.  The probe turns and continues into the ship.  Strange lights approach.  There is a distorted message from some language.  Roy and Edwards look to Dr. Lang, but he doesn’t know how to respond.  The last part is based on Robotech the Graphic Novel, but is to establish the space fortress and it’s technology on almost Mythos level like H.P. Lovecrafts’s “At The Mountains of Madness.”  This is the set-up that will lead into the first episode, “Booby Trap.”  So we have not cast everyone yet!  For Lyn Minmei, I’m thinking of Liu Yifei who is going to play the live action Mulan, otherwise Jing Tian from The Great Wall.  Lisa Hayes?  Anna Kendrick or Nina Dobrev.  Let’s get to the Zentradi, for Khyron, Peter Dinklage or Warwick Davis, a smart, advisor to the military types, Breetai, Doug Jones or Rory McCann from Game of Thrones, tall, powerful, but thoughtful.  This would be an interesting, diverse cast tackling a massive story, unfolding over several films.  

#Robotech, #CarlMacek, #RickHunter, #SDF1. 

Happy Birthday Charlize Theron!

Happy Birthday Charlize Theron!  One of Charlize’s early film roles was as Helga Svelgen in the crime film, 2 Days in the Valley (1996).  She had a cameo role in Tom Hanks’ film That Thing You Do! (1996).  Charlize played Mary Ann Lomax, the wife of Keanu Reeves’ character, in The Devil’s Advocate (1997).  I think I took notice of her as Jill Young in the remake of Mighty Joe Young (1998).  She plays Jillian Armacost in The Astronaut’s Wife (1999).  Charlize was in the drama The Cider House Rules (1999) playing Candy Kendall.  She was in the action film, The Italian Job (2008) playing Stella Bridger.  Her most distinguished role was as serial killer, Aileen Wuoronos, in Monster (2003), directed by Patty Jenkins.  Charlize had the lead role in the live action adaptation of the sci fi animated series, Aeon Flux (2005).  

She played the ex-wife of Will Smith’s character with powers of her own in Hancock (2008). Charlize had a part as The Woman in the adaptation of the apocalyptic novel The Road (2009).  She played the washed up fiction writer, Mavis Gary, in Young Adult (2011) from writer Diablo Cody and director Jason Reitman.  She was the mission director, Meredith Vickers, in the sci fi film Prometheus (2012).  Next, she played the evil queen, Ravenna, in Snow White and the Huntsman (2012).  One of her sensational roles was as Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).  She returned as Ravenna in 2016’s The Huntsman: Winter’s War.  A brilliant part was voicing Monkey in the Laika animated film, Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), directed by Travis Knight.  She played spy, Lorraine Broughton, in Atomic Blonde (2017).  Then, Charlize played the manipulative villain, Cipher, in The Fate of the Furious (2017). She worked again with Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody in Tully (2018).  Charlize starred in this year’s comedy, Gringo playing the co-head of Promethium Pharmaceuticals.  Happy Birthday Charlize Theron!   

#CharlizeTheron, #TheRoad, #KuboandtheTwoStrings, #AtomicBlonde

Happy Birthday Michelle Yeoh!

Happy Birthday Michelle Yeoh!  Michelle won the Miss Malaysia pageant in 1983 and then went into martial arts films starting with Yes, Madam as Michelle Khan.  She starred alongside Jackie Chan in Police Story 3: Super Cop (1992).  She was one of the super heroines in The Heroic Trio (1993) playing Ching also known as Invisible Girl since she has an invisible robe.  Michelle returned to the role in Heroic Trio 2: Executioners (1993).  She co-starred with Jet Li in Tai-Chi Master (1993) and Donnie Yen in Yuen Woo-Ping’s Wing Chun (1994).  Michelle was a sensation as a Bond girl, Wai Lin, in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997).  Then, she took everyone’s notice as Yu Shu Lien in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).  

She starred in and produced The Touch (2002) directed by Peter Pau. Michelle played another super heroine in Silver Hawk (2004).  She was next in the adaptation of the Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha (2005).  Michelle played Corazon, an astronaut trying to re-start the sun in Danny Boyle’s sci fi film, Sunshine (2007).  She played Zi Yuan, a sorceress in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) with co-star Jet Li.  Michelle played Sister Rebeka in the sci fi action film Babylon A.D. (2008).  She voiced the Soothsayer in Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011).  Michelle took the role of real life political figure Aung San Suu Kyi in The Lady (2011) directed by Luc Besson.  She returned to the role of You She Lien in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016) directed by Yuen Woo-Ping.  Michelle had a cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) as Aleta Ogord.  She had another strong role as Captain Philippa Georgia in Star Trek: Discovery (2017-2018).  Michelle has upcoming Crazy Rich Asians (2018) out on August 15th.  Happy Birthday Michelle Yeah! 

#Michelle Yeoh, #TomorrowNeverDies, #StarTrekDiscovery, #CrazyRichAsians

Runways, “Reunion”, Review!

This series originally aired on November 21, 2017 on Hulu, but it was run on last Thursday on Freeform.  It is based on the Marvel Comic by Brian K. Vaughn, he is the executive consultant for the show, and Adrian Alphona with the first issue out in 2003.  We get Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth, a young boy is reading it on a bus ride, everyone then exits including a girl Destiny Gonzalez (Nicole Wolf).  She tries to contact someone who asks if it is Destiny.  She hangs up and runs into two gangster-types who pull her away.  They are tazed by two women who take her to a van offering her place to stay.  

She enters the van which has the organization’s name, Church of Gibborim. The Gibborim hints at the comic which had the giants seeking to destroy the world.  We get that it is “Six Months Later”, at a nice house, Alex Wilder (Rhenzy Feliz) is busy playing video games, his father, Geoffrey (Ryan Sands) talks to him.  He offers to play Battlefront with Alex, but he walks away only wanting to play with his sister, Superamy164, now 2 years gone.  I don’t recall any Amy being apart of the series, the comic had them as all children whose parents force them together.  

His mother, Catherine (Angel Parker) made him pancakes, but he only wants orange juice.  His parents want to him to open up.  Catherine wants to get ready for the Pride meeting.  Preparing her make-up is Goth girl, Nico Minoru (Lyrica Okano), her mother, Tina (Brittany Ishibashi) walks over to see her.  She has taken Amy’s tights and knocks over a trophy.  Working out with weights is Chase Stein (Gregg Sulkin) and meets his father, Victor (James Marsters) for breakfast.  He is not happy at Chase’s C in Spanish.  At a meeting is a woman, Leslie Dean (Anne Wersching) giving a lecture to people with wristbands.  

Runaways -- Episode: “Reunion” --  Photo Credit: Paul Sarkis/Hulu. 

Leslie’s daughter, Karolina Dean (Virginia Gardener) tries to get permission for school, but is needed for a church event. At the Atlas Academy, students arrive for school including purple haired Gert Yorkes (Ariela Barer) and young Molly Hernandez (Allegra Acosta) whose parents are worried about medications.  Molly doesn't get her distinctive pink cat-eared hat until the end which makes her girlish, independent, and possessed of her own style.  We get the different kids, but the comic has Chase the oldest at 17, Alex, Nico, and Karolina are 16, and Molly is 11.  In this series, it looks like they all go to the same school and in the same grade except Molly.  

Gert tries to pass out a flyer to Chase, but he tosses it away.  He passes Karolina who smiles and takes a selfie.  She passes Nico who is reading a book.  Alex is on the school building’s second floor, he looks at a cell phone pic of all of them together. He calls his mother that he is having a meeting at the house with friends while they have their Pride meeting.  Geoffrey worries about the kids when they are having a meeting, but Catherine thinks the kids won’t care what the parents are doing at the meeting.  Leslie enters a room, the Wilder parents go to room of red robes, Leslie sees a horribly scarred person in a breathing mask and tells the person that another is going to become “eternal.” Strange hints at this Pride being like a cult.  

Gert gives a speech about women empowerment, most of the students are bored.  Alex stares at Nico.  No one is interested in her club.  Alex checks on Chase drawing on his iPad “hand blasters” until he realizes it is Alex.  This hints at his tech background, but the jock Chase is not as fun as swaggering Chase from the comic.  Alex wants to get the group together, Gert thinks Chase is just a jock, Karolina has a church function.  Gert blows off Karolina.  Chase goes with his fellow jocks.  They are so far apart that I don't see them as former friends.  This is new to the story, the comic just throws them together at the party, no school.   

Runaways -- Episode: “Reunion” --  Photo Credit: Paul Sarkis/Hulu.

Dance auditions, Molly is about to dance, but gets pains.  Chase tries to talk to his teacher about his grades and Gert is there listening to them.  Gert offers to tutor Chase in Spanish.  She is so contemptuous of others that you can see why she's excluded.  Alex goes to talk to Nico.  He says he misses Nico and she walks away.  Karolina is crying over seeing her pic with the Brainwashed meme.  She checks on Nico.  Molly goes to the nurse’s office and takes some pills. She says her parents died in a fire.  She had parents in the comic. Molly’s eyes flare yellow and she has crushed the chair.  Her superpower and the group manifests later in the comic.  

Karolina films a church commercial about her bracelet.  Destiny Gonzalez thanks Karolina and her mother.  Molly returns home and finds no one is home.  She tries to lift the VW wagon and it rolls towards her, Molly’s eyes flare yellow, and she pushes back the car.  Molly celebrates her super strength.  The Pride party, everyone is high minded, but don’t like the Yorkes.  Alex sees the families gather for the meeting.  Alex is alone in his room.  Nico makes a pentagram on the beach.  Gert waits for Chase and he is at the party.  Karolina heads to the party where Chase is alone.  A man gives Karolina a pill.  Molly wakes up to get a text from Gert to feed the pets. 

Karolina snaps off her bracelet and finds her arms glowing rainbow colors and then faints.  Two boys pull Karolina upstairs.  Molly sees the various animals in cages.  Her eyes flare yellow as she hears a roar behind a door.  It is a velociraptor!  This is also introduced later as the dinosaur named Old Lace.  She pulls off a door and runs.  Molly calls Gert to take her away.  Chase finds the two boys undressing Karolina.  He beats them up and puts on Karolina’s bracelet.  It glows as it is attached and Karolina revives.  She remember lights and Chase says it was drugs.  They both get into a car.  Nico attempts to summon the Triple Goddess, but nothing happens.  Alex paces restlessly.  Gert, Molly, Karolina, and Chase are there at Alex’s house, having received Alex’s text, and then Nico shows up.  

The group is not happy that Alex didn’t go to Amy’s funeral.  Dean goes to get a drink.  They enter the empty house, Dean offers Gert a drink, and tries to apologize.  Alex tries to get a coaster, but activates a secret door.  Alex leads the way down the stairs, they see below them their parents in red robes.  Some barrier blocks their talking.  Destiny Gonzalez is brought in dressed in a white robe, a staff is raised, and a white light seals the girl.  Molly takes a picture with her cell phone and it gets the attention of the Pride!  The fun of the comic is how likable the characters are, but here they start off not liking each other, with a pain that divided them up in the past. The first superheroes the team meets is Cloak and Dagger, so I hope they meet next season. 

Four Pink Hats out of Five! 

#TheRunaways, #Reunion, #BrianKVaughn, #Hulu

Cloak and Dagger, “Colony Collapse”, Review!

The finale aired on Thursday. We have come to the end of season one with Tyrone and Tandy in a strange New Orleans finding out about the past and the Roxxon Corporation.  Tyrone is on the run from the police and Tandy is facing an assassin holding her mother hostage.  We have an opening that flashes back to the Native tribe nearly wiped out except two children, this is narrated by Chantelle, Evita’s aunt. They are marked on their shoulders, the girl takes a basket of stones, and walks into the river.  New Orleans is saved by her act. Evita looks at the figures of the Divine Pairs and places black and white figures of Cloak and Dagger on a shelf.  This brings the Divine Pairs that was mentioned by Chantelle into focus.  

The assassin counts down to the time when she will kill Melissa Bowen, Tandy’s mother, when Tandy steps out into the kitchen.  The assassin wants to see the Roxxon file and Tandy reveals the cover up by Peter Scarborough.  Tandy walks forward with her hands out.  The assassin stumbles with her gun, Tandy falls and in the confusion slashes her leg with her Light Dagger, the assassin runs while Melissa draws her gun.  Tandy runs off.  We pick up from last episode cliffhanger and get drawn into the threat of the Roxxon Corporation.   Tyrone is in a parade warehouse.  His father, Otis Johnson, has his brother’s cloak.  He has heard the police is after him and wants him to run away without contacting them.  

Tandy is looking for Mina and is attacked by a crazed man.  She uses the Light Dagger to kill him.  Another man zombified by the Roxxon gas attacks a door with an axe which Mina Hess is hiding behind.  Tandy takes care of him and explains to Mina that he is a Terror identified by her father in the fever dream.  Mina shows Tandy her laptop which shows nine valves around New Orleans which will release the chemical that turns people into Terrors.  Beads are thrown for Mardi Gras.  This really not the time for Laissez les bons temps rouler. Tyrone in his cloak walks amongst the revelers.  A police officer spots him and he shifts away in the crowd until running into Detective O’Reilly who pulls up with her car.  He is surrounded by police officers, but can’t use his powers in front of the crowd and both are arrested.  Cloak and Dagger have worked separately, but need to team up.  

Cloak & Dagger -- Episode: “Colony Collapse” -- Photo Credit: Freeform/Alfonso Bresciani.

Historical flashback, two bands are on the Wilson Brothers as they walk with dueling pistols.  One brother is shot.  The feud is over and the storm breaks.  Chantelle’s words come to Evita as she looks at the figures of the brothers.  Chantelle says Tyrone and Tandy are important as remembering the Divine Pairs from the past. The mix of past and the threat in the present is nice.  Detective O’Reilly and Tyrone are brought to the police station.  The cloak is put in a desk drawer.  Mina drives Tandy in her truck, she is despairing since Tandy took away her hope in a dream.  Tyrone and O’Reilly are in a room, not officially booked, O’Reilly talks to Officer Lafayette (Josh Ventura) watching over them.  Tyrone says he grew up in the Lower Ninth and that he didn’t kill Fuchs.  Officer Lafayette is about to free them, but is told Connors is arriving.  

Scarborough goes to an elevator and sees Tandy and Mina.  He says he is looking for power to compete with the Starks and the Rands, Iron Man and Iron Fist.  Scarborough admits that the core is out of control.  Mina punches him.  He admits the core is in the Annex Building 616, the Earth number of the Marvel Universe.  Tandy touches Scarborough’s face and shows him his hope in a forest of light, she shows him the door, inside is the alarms of the oil platform.  Tyrone tells O’Reilly that she is a good cop.  Connors walks in and tells them they are going for a drive, Tyrone will get loose and kill her, and he will kill Tyrone.  O’Reilly slips out a lock pick for her handcuffs.  Connors says it’s Mardi Gras.  A Terror comes in with an axe and is tazed.  An officer checks on the man and is turned into Terror and more come into the station.  The Terrors are loose now, it's Walking Dead in New Orleans!  

Another historical flashback, the aftermath of the War of 1812, a soldier dies trying to get a message of the cease fire, a woman who strangely looks like O’Reilly finds the message and runs to deliver the message.  Chantelle tells Evita that they have to know their fate, one lives, one dies!  Tandy and Mina walk, but are stopped by gunfire tearing up a car, the assassin reloads.  Terrors are running towards them and attack the assassin.  Tandy uses her Light Dagger to open a parade warehouse, Mina tries to close a window, but a Terror breaks through and grabs her hand.  Tandy is alone.  In the chaos at the police station, Tyrone warns O’Reilly not to touch the Terrors.  He asks Officer Lafayette about his cloak and he is told that it was moved to the weapons locker.  He is attacked by a Terror corrupted officer and Lafayette shoots him.  He stands watch as O’Reilly and Tyrone rush to find the cloak.  

Cloak & Dagger -- Episode: “Colony Collapse” -- Photo Credit: Freeform/Alfonso Bresciani.

Tandy has her Light Dagger as Terror Mina looks for her.  Tyrone is un-cuffed by O’Reilly and takes the cloak.  He teleports to the Terror filled room and gives the Mercy Bullet gun to Officer Lafayette.  Tyrone yells for the Terror to attack him.  The Terrors push Tyrone into a room and they grab for him on a desk and he tells the officer to lock the door.  The Terrors rip at Tyrone’s cloak as Terror Mina runs at Tandy with her two Light Daggers.  Tyrone is suddenly there and fires the taser gun at Mina and she falls.  Mina is saved, sort of, but the Terrors are still out there.  Evita regards the black and white figures as Tyrone and Tandy run.  Connor points his shotgun at Tandy and Tandy slices through his shotgun with her Light Dagger.  Tyrone takes hold of Connors and shifts him to a rooftop.  He throws him down, Connors draws his gun, and Tyrone sends out black threads that pull Connors in, Cloak finally uses his power!  Cloak has his power, but Dagger’s purging dagger is not there. 

The ground shudders and Tyrone says that Evita is right, he has to die.  He appears at the core with the alarms going off, he knows he has to turn the valves.  Tandy cuts threw a door and she’s cut on the arm.  The dark gas begins to flood the room as Tandy holds out her hand with the glow.  Darkness meets light and the gas mixes.  They are on a rooftop, she holds up her dagger and projects the light upwards with Tyrone expelling the darkness.  The duo is on a roof of the Louisiana Superdome holding hands.  We hear Olivia Holt’s rendition of Styx’s “Come Sail Away.”  Evita holds the figures as news reports come in about the acts of aggression that went away with a strange burst of light.  A maintenance worker enters an elevator with a Peter Scarborough who is comatose without hope.  

Otis Johnson looks out his window as the police officers are in his house along with Father Delgado and his wife, Adina.  She hears a noise and walks up stairs.  She enters Tyrone’s room to see only his jacket.  Melissa sees her daughter holding up the headline, “Roxxon Responsible.”  Tyrone drops his bag into the church and places a photo of his family on a table.  He unrolls his bedroll and Tandy arrives with a box, a care package, she is learning to care.  The church is where the comics characters take as a base.   Out of a swamp, a changed O’Reilly crawls out, Mayhem! In the comics, she is poisoned by a gas, it looks like the Terror here, and the duo try to revive her, but she turns into a killer who can send out a poisonous gas that paralyzes people or use her fingernails to claw the poison into victims!  

Five Light Daggers out of Five!  

#CloakandDagger, #ColonyCollapse, #DivinePair, #Mayhem

Christopher Robin at Disney Studios and El Capitan!

Screening theatre at Disney Studios, photo by the author. 

I suddenly found out that D23 was having a free advance screening of Christopher Robin at Disney Studios.  This was when I already bought a ticket for the Opening Night Fan Event at the El Capitan Theatre the next day!  I had not at the studio in two years so it was welcome return.  I messed up though, there was a line of cars going in and I thought it was the employee entrance, so the Uber car went around to the other side.  This ended up with a walk around the studio to the correct entrance.  I checked in at the Zorro parking structure and walked over to the theater which screens movies.  I passed the water tower and the animation building, though Disney Animation has it’s own complex across the street. At screening there is usually a popcorn tub, but there was only bottles of water.  There was an announcement about the embargo for reactions or reviews of the movie on social media and any other form.  It would last until 7 p.m. Thursday when I would be seeing the movie again at the El Capitan.  

Pooh stuffie reference at the El Capitan Theatre, photo by the author.

The El Capitan Theatre.  This is old Hollywood at it’s finest.  It is restored by Disney with fine decorations, it makes me feel I should dress up, but there is no dress code for the theater.  I hurried in and immediately went downstairs to see the display.  It had one part of the side wall on the right with the stuffies used in the film for reference.  There was Piglet, Pooh, Eeyore, and Tigger all sitting in beach chairs with sunglasses.  Then, I got my drink and popcorn (which comes with the VIP ticket), and then got to my seat.  On stage was the Side Street Strutters playing Disney tunes by the Sherman Brothers with their jazzy style.  They finished with “The Winnie the Pooh Song” from the animated films.  They had some giveaway baskets that went to the people in the balcony.  Then, Jim Cummings, the voice of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, came out on stage.  He took the mic and made an announcement that “no bears, no tigers, no donkeys, no rabbits, no owls, no piglets, and no marsupials harmed in the making of this movie.”  He is funny.  

Jim Cummings, photo by the author. 

Then, Jim Cummings thanked everyone on behalf of the filmmakers, before shifting into Pooh voice, “My hunny sense is tingling.” He finished in Tigger voice saying it was time to see Christopher Robin.  They brought a beach chair for a picture of Jim and the audience.  I was in the second row behind Jim so I might show up in that pic.  Then, the film played, at the end of it I was trying to get a pic at the backdrop with the film’s title and Pooh with his red balloon.  Next to it, was the lady who was interviewing audience members along with a cameraman.  She asked me if I would like to be filmed for the El Capitan commercial. I was so excited about the film that I said yes. I was asked what was my favorite part of the film and I had to say Winnie the Pooh.  Then, she handed me the mic and gave me the line saying to come to El Capitan Theatre to see the movie which I do believe.  Next, it was a little tricky, she said that I liked the Side Street Strutters.  On camera with the mic, it really came out as the “Slide Sleeth Struthers.”  Two takes, same result.  I took my pic with the backdrop and then left with the exclusive poster for that event.     

#ChristopherRobin, #DisneyStudios, #ElCapitan, #JimCummings  

Christopher Robin Review!

I remember last year that there was a Christopher Robin movie, Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017) which had the boy that inspired author A.A. Milne from age 8 to age 18 from Fox Searchlight Pictures.  Then, there was the trailer from this film that had the revelation of the voice of Winnie-the-Pooh by Jim Cummings, it charmed me and I think everyone.  This is not a dry, straight biography of the person.  It has the magic of the character’s past slip into his present, now grown up and having adult responsibilities, similar to Hook (1991).  This film by Marc Forester, who also directed another film on an author in Finding Neverland (2004), but this one is superior and digs deeper into the work life, family, and entering the magical world than Hook.  I need to put the Way Back Machine to Small Kid Time, I was clinging to my Winnie-the-Pooh from Sears, he has always been a draw to me including reading the A.A. Milne books with illustrations by E.H. Shepherd, then again being enchanted again by The Tao of Pooh (1982) by Benjamin Hoff. 

The movie had a story by Greg Brooker and Mark Steven Johnson with the writing team of Tom McCarthy, Alex Ross Perry, and Allison Schroeder with the screenplay.  The film opens with the Disney logo rendered like an E.H. Shepherd illustration.  We get the pages of the Winnie-the-Pooh books turned into chapter titles showing Christopher Robin growing up as a kid (Orton O’Brien) and having a farewell party given by his friends, led by Rabbit (Peter Capaldi),  and Roo (Sara Sheen) is confused by his words, but his mother Kanga (Sophie Okonedo) explains his words.  Eeyore reads a poem, the audience loved every line from Eeyore (voiced here by Brad Garrett).  We get an argument with Rabbit and Owl (Toby Jones) before Christopher Robin appears.  Piglet (Nick Mohammed) timidly gives him a bag of acorns, and they hungrily dig into Christopher Robin’s cherry cake including Tigger (also voiced by Cummings). Christopher Robin has a talk with Pooh first at the bridge where they play Pooh Sticks and then  looking out at the Hundred Acre Woods.  The animation of the dolls made talking and walking is charming with the voice work.  This is where it differs vastly from Hook filling in what was Christopher Robin’s world when he was young.  

Then, he has to put all of drawings of Pooh away, to be taken to boarding school by his father, A.A. Milne (Tristan Sturrock).  He gets punished for drawing pictures of Pooh and soon forgets him.  It shifts to his mother, Dorothy (Katy Carmichael) consoling him after the death of his father.  The adult Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) meets Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) awkwardly on a double decker bus.  Obi-Wan Kenobi and Agent Carter!  Then, dancing with her, we get their goodbyes at a train station.  Pages turn as he fights on the battlefields of World War II while Evelyn raises their child, Madeline.  We have the end of the war and Madeline (Bronte Carmichael) finally meets her father at the train station.  While all of this happens Winnie-the-Pooh is forgotten and winter comes to the Hundred Acre Wood.  Christopher gets a job at Winslow Luggage Co. and then we get into our story proper.  He is busy trying to cut costs as part of the Efficiency Department.  His staff look like counterparts to his friends in the Hundred Acre Woods.  I noticed this with sleepy eyed staff member who looks like Eeyore.  

Christopher is met by his boss, Giles Winslow, played by Mark Gatiss whom I recognize Lazarus from Doctor Who and Mycroft Holmes in Sherlock.  He is clumsy around the luggage samples and declares that they have to cut 20% to keep the company.  Christopher is shocked and has to agree to work the weekend to save the jobs of the people in the Efficiency Department.  He returns home to see Evelyn with her dinner turned cold and she already knows he has to work and will miss the trip to his family’s cabin in Sussex.  She says that Madeline has kept up with her school reading to please him.  He says he intends to send her away to boarding school.  Christopher goes to see his daughter who has discovered his box of mementos from the Hundred Acre Woods.  He tries to read Madeline a bed time story, instead of Treasure Island, he tries the read the history of the Victorian era.  The next morning, Evelyn tells Christopher he is missing spending time with the family, and he doesn’t smile any more.  He has to say goodbye to them.  

The stuffies used in the Christopher Robin movie, El Capitan Theatre, photo by the author. 

Christopher Robin works tirelessly at work alone even though Giles promised to also work the weekend.  This shifts to the Hundred Acre Woods, Pooh wakes up, his morning routine and clumsiness made the audience laugh.  He looks around in the fog and hears Christopher Robin’s young voice call to him and the door in his tree opens.  Pooh enters and finds himself in a London park.  Christopher Robin is not there so he takes a nap on a bench.  At work, Christopher finishes up, and instead of dealing with his nosy neighbor who wants to play gin rummy, he takes a detour into the park.  He sits on the bench on the opposite of Pooh and is shocked when Pooh starts talking.  He has to bring him home and Pooh makes a mess, right out of the books, and decides he has to take Pooh back to the tree in Sussex.  Pooh sees his family and has brought a red balloon which also features in the stories of Pooh.  

He decides to go with Pooh back to the Hundred Acre Woods to find their missing friends.  They replace his papers with mementos and the friends have to team up with Madeline to travel to London and save his job! What I find beautiful is the cinematography by Matthias Koenigswieser  makes the beauty of the real life Ashdown Forest into the Hundred Acre Woods.  The family of Christopher Robin is so endearing that I wanted to spend time with them, then it shifts to the Hundred Acre Woods characters, then mixes them, it is the right balance. The music by Jon Brion and Geoff Zanelli captures the quiet drama, fun, and threads hints of the Disney cartoons.  Don't miss the mid-credits scene!  The movie has such heart, a fun return with A.A. Milne’s characters, it doesn’t matter how closely it follows the real life story, it is not a dry, biographical film.     

Five Red Balloons out of Five!  

#ChristopherRobin, #WinniethePooh, #EwanMacgregor, #HayleyAtwell

Fantasy, Superhero, and Sci Fi Films (1950-1960s)!

We are going through the years looking at fantasy and sci fi movies and the last part covered early cinema up to the 40’s.  Now the 50’s, heavy sci fi, starting with Destination Moon (1950) produced by George Pal, hard sci fi. It won the Academy Award for special effects.  Then, we had The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) directed by Robert Wise that started off the alien invasions, in this case led by Klaatu.  We also had a lone superhero film, Superman and the Mole Men (1951), which featured George Reeves as Superman. He was of course featured in the Adventures of Superman (1952-1958) tv show.  Clark Kent and Phyllis Coates’ Lois Lane investigate a town terrified by the short, underground Mole Men.  1953 had The War of the Worlds which had George Pal’s Academy Award winning visual effects.  It was incredibly influential leading to a tv series (1988-1990) and a Steven Spielberg remake 52 years later.   

1954 had Ulysses with Kirk Douglas which led to the Italian myth hero movies like Hercules (1957) with Steve Reeves. Kirk Douglas was also on the Nautilus in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), a spectacular use of effects that won the Academy Award, also for art direction.  It is a fine adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic novel.  One of the most impressive sci fi films is Forbidden Planet (1956) which had a sci fi twist on The Shakespeare’s The Tempest with Robbie the Robot as Caliban.  The stunning Anne Francis takes the Miranda role as Altaira.  Highly recommended for all viewers. 1958 brought one of the most interesting fantasy trends, the Ray Harryhausen stop animated film, with The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad.  It featured Kerwin Matthews as the captain in Arabian adventures.  1959, had one of the most stunning fantasy films, Darby O’Gill and the Little People which had the king of the leprechauns and Sean Connery singing!  There was also Pat Boone exploring the underground world in Journey to the Center of the Earth. 

The 60’s again belong to sci fi with 1960’s The Time Machine directed by George Pal, it is the best time travel movie, and a must for any interested in time travel movies based on H.G. Wells’ novel.  It won the Academy Award for visual effects.  There was also a remake, The Thief of Baghdad with Steve Reeves, I think this is the version I remember as a horse with wings glued on, pass.  Ray Harryhausen provided the giant little people perspective with The Three Worlds of Gulliver again with Kerwin Matthews.  George Pal was known for directing cinematic visions of sci fi and fantasy.  In this case Atlantis, the Lost Continent, it has incredible visuals for the time, and is my favorite of Atlantis on film.  There is a guy painted as a sea god and paper mache minotaurs, but the miniatures are great.  1961 had the top film of my youth, Mysterious Island, another Harryhausen classic based on the Jules Verne sci fi novel with a giant crab and giant bees.  It was the film they played on rainy days.  There was also had Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) by Irwin Allen which covered the travels of the Seaview that later became a tv series.  

The same director, star, and villain of Seventh Voyage of Sinbad were reunited in Jack the Giant Killer (1962), but was lost without Harryhausen effects.  George Pal entered fairy tale lands with The Wonderful World of Brothers Grimm (1962).  We have Harryhausen returning to myths with one of his well regarded films, Jason and the Argonauts (1963).  The skeleton fight at the end is a masterpiece of visual effects.  Guy Williams appeared as Captain Sinbad (1963). Ray Harryhausen brought us a sci fi vision with First Men in the Moon (1964) which had stop motion Selenites and Moon Cows.  George Pal’s last film, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) with Tony Randall as the mysterious doctor bringing a sideshow of the some of the most incredible creatures.  Still the highlight of the year was Disney’s Mary Poppins filled with cinematic fantasy lands and characters.  It won five Academy Awards including visual effects. 1966 had another version of One Million B.C. this time with Harryhausen effects bringing to life the dinosaurs.  Raquel Welch was also a vision in her fur bikini.  

Fahrenheit 451 (1966) was based on Ray Bradbury’s novel lost some of it’s edge.  There was also Fantastic Voyage (1966) which had scientists on a submarine Proteus to be shrunken to save a patient. This film won the Academy Awards for best art direction and visual effects.  1968, the James Bond team produced Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dick Van Dyke lead the film, but I just remember it as disturbing with the child catcher. We also had one of the most ongoing sci fi films starting with Planet of the Apes (1968) which had incredible make-up effects by John Chambers.  This led to four sequels, two television shows, a remake by Tim Burton in 2001 and another trilogy from 2011 to 2017.  It was also the year that Stanley Kubrick directed 2001: a space odyssey (1968) one of the best films, period.  It is a powerful film, hard sci fi with a story by Arthur C. Clarke. The number of sci fi and fantasy films are diverse and show the audience’s appetite for the fantastic.  The few superhero movies are closely tied to television shows with Superman in the 50’s and Batman in the 60’s.  

#TheTimeMachine, #7thVoyageofSinbad, #PlanetoftheApes, #2001aspaceodyssey

The Von Eaton Galleries Pop-up Exhibit - That’s From Disneyland!

That's From Disneyland! Pop-up Exhibit, photo by the author.

Today, open to the public, was the pop-up exhibit That’s from Disneyland! in Sherman Oaks.  It’s located at 13730 Riverside Drive at the former location of Sports Authority next to the Ross Dress for Less and the Westfield Fashion Square. There are bright graphics on the outside of the store.  They are divided up into sections like Disneyland, the right leads to Main Street, a diorama, Disneyland maps and concept art.  This leads to the Global Van Lines truck which was retired when the sponsorship ended.  Also, the remote control pedestal that controlled Jungle Cruise boats at a special pool found at Disneyland Hotel.  There is also the sixteen foot tall red “D” part of the Disneyland Hotel sign.  A right turn that leads to Adventureland.  This  also brought back memories since I saw The Tahitian Terrace is now Closed sign which I’m very familiar since I worked there.  Also, there is the Swiss Family Treehouse organ that plays the jaunty song.  

Peoplemover ride vehicle, photo by the author.

There was also an Aladdin’s Lamp prop I think it may have been at the Aladdin’s Oasis tables and I think it did shoot out smoke during the show.  Around the corner, is the fully animatronic Jose from the Enchanted Tiki Room.  Across the room is Frontierland with the long Davy Crockett Explorer Canoe and behind it is the animatronic dog from the “Indian Settlement.”  There is the entrance sign for the Country Bear Playhouse.  I love that show, it’s still at Magic Kingdom, I saw Big Al at Disney’s California Adventure, and sang him part of the show, he loved it!  There were a number of ride vehicles; Rocket Jet, the Rocket Rods vehicle, and a yellow People Mover vehicle.  At the end is New Orleans Square with the door and four paintings from the stretching portraits from the Haunted Mansion.  There was also a Doom Buggy.  There are concept drawings for Pirates of the Caribbean and a maquette of the pirate captain.  You can go in and take pics in a blue Skyway bucket.  The left side is all Fantasyland with a Mr. Toad ride vehicle you can get in and take pics next to a red, smiling devil prop from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.  Next to it against the wall is a clock figure and the dolls from It’s a Small World.  

I saw the Peter Pan’s Flight ride vehicle, the Bashful vehicle from Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and a Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride vehicle.  Tomorrowland continues with a prop of the atomobile and rider from Adventures Thru Innerspace.  All along the wall to the opposite side is the full sized, forty-eight feet long sea serpent from Submarine Voyage and the entrance sign.  Also, there was the mermaid animatronic where she sits next to a treasure chest.  To see her up close and on dry land is awesome!   All throughout the exhibit there is memorabilia from the park and toys.  I really loved the trash cans that were themed to the different regions.  The other part that is great is the workers from the Von Eaton Galleries.  They were very helpful, answered questions, and took pictures of the many visitors.  Thanks to everyone at the Von Eaton Galleries!  There was some animation cels from the Disney movies, paintings, and of course the auction catalog which I used to fill in details for this article. This exhibit brought so many memories for me and I hope everyone can go.  It opened today on August 1st and runs until August 24th! 

#VonEatonGalleries, #ThatsFromDisneyland!, #RichardKraft, #Kraftland

Mermaid animatronic from The Submarine Voyage, photo by the author.

Happy Birthday Jason Momoa!

Happy Birthday Jason Momoa!   Jason began working in tv playing Jason Ioane in Baywatch Hawaii (1999-2001).  His first genre work was as Ronon Dex in Stargate: Atlantis (2005-2009) fighting against the alien Wraith.  Jason took everyone’s notice as Khal Drago in Game of Thrones (2011-2012), the Dothraki chieftain and husband to his khalessi, Daenerys Taergaryn.  He also filmed Conan the Barbarian (2011) playing the lead role.  Jason co-wrote, directed, and starred in Road to Paloma (2014) as the Native American Wolf traveling on a motorcycle trying to escape the law. 

In Wolves (2014), Jason played the leader of werewolves.  Jason had another iconic role in his cameo as Aquaman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).  He also played Declan Harp in Frontier (2016-2018), an outlaw trying to stop a company trying to take over the fur trade. Jason then returned as Aquaman taking on the otherworldly Steppenwolf in Justice League (2017).  On December 21st, Jason has the lead role in Aquaman directed by James Wan.  Happy Birthday Jason Momoa!  


#JasonMamoa, #StargateAtlantis, #GameofThrones, #Aquaman

The Outpost, “Strange Bedfellows”, Review!

Night at the Outpost, a farmer is tending to his chickens when he hears the guttural sounds of the demon, it’s claw takes his head and lifts him up!  Garret and Talon are sparring with swords, she has cut his shirt to pieces, he says he was trained by the Prime Order.  It ends up with Talon’s sword to his throat.  She smiles.  They spar again and Talon ends up on top of Garret. He strikes her to the side and then is on top of her.  She admits that she trained herself.  Talon says that she was born faster, but trained.  It is a moment of sexiness with the swordplay like the scene in Mask of Zorro (1998).  Their moment is interrupted by Gwynn who takes Talon away.  We next see the bedroom of the Mistress with Marshall Wythers.  He wonders why Gwynn’s father let her go and about him.  Mistress says that her mother hanged herself and Calkussar took Gwyn in.  She points him to a woman who runs the tannery.  They dress and the Mistress wants him to arrest the Worm.  She tells him about the beheading of Bill and he agrees to arrest the Worm.  Now we get some consequences for the Worm. 

In the Worm’s bed, the guard break in and drag him off.  Gwynn wonders if Talon is trying to steal away Garret.  They go to the tavern to gamble.  She pays for her night’s wages to the Mistress.  Janzo is left on his own.  Talon shakes a gambler’s arm to check his arm for tattoos.  Gwynn explains the game. Whythers questions the tanning woman about Calkussar’s daughter.  She explains that she was ordered not to clean Gwynn’s bedroom.  At the gambling table, Talon bids, she asks Gwynn about a full suite, but they all fold to her bluff.  The women laugh as they play.  They order drinks and begin dancing with the gamblers.  The Worm is chained with a sack over his head when he is visited by The Mistress.  She wants to know his supplier of the drug, colipsum.  He didn’t realize Bill was her son and faces a night of torture.  The gambling table, a man drops his cards and draws a knife, Talon leaps up and kicks him.  She has him pinned to the floor.  Gwynn has the guards to see them off.  The team of Gwynn and Talon is too much for drunk gamblers.  

The Outpost -- "Strange Bedfellows" -- Image Number: OUT104_0018.jpg -- Pictured: Jessica Green as Talon -- Photo: NBCU International -- © Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

Morning, Talon wakes up with Gwynn’s leg on her as she snores.  She sees that Marshall Wythers is there with a crossbow.  Garet walks up wanting to know where they went losing their guards.  He yells at Gwynn to go to her father before the guards are punished.  Wythers has his crossbow on Talon.  He says to look outside and she sees the dead farmer.  Wythers explains that the body was dragged across town.  He orders Talon to leave the Outpost at sundown.  The Smith is working on hammering a blade, Talon tells him that she is going to hunt the demon.  He explains that her people banished the Locuri.  She needs the Voice of Command to control the demon.  Talon carries barrels for Janzo who tells her about competing with Garet.  He gets a gift from above that makes him look foolish.  He stares at the sky.  Talon bumps into Garet who tells her about his oath to protect Gwynn.  The camp where Gwynn trains with another soldier.  He asks about the recruiting.  They see the people who gave themselves up as prisoners.  He asks a man to open his mouth and sees the Plagueling parasite so he kills the man with a dagger. We are getting closer to discovering the mystery of the Plaguelings.  

At his downstairs lab, Janzo walks over to see the bird dropping on his jacket.  Garet drops down another body.  He has a found a replacement for Kell since his body is needed for a funeral.   Janzo explains that a venom was injected that contains the Plagueling larvae.  This must be used by the First Order to make the drug.  Garet tells Janzo to spy on Talon.  He takes away Kell’s body as we get Marshall Wythers seeing the sun coming down so he sends his soldiers to get Talon.  She tracks the demon while Janzo has his own investigation.  Talon takes a torch to search for the demon with it’s clawed hand on the passage behind her.  Wythers and his men search the village.  The Mistress goes to see the tortured Worm and holds a knife to his throat.  Janzo has found a room full of pigeons and sees messages.  The Mistress calls in Marshall Wythers and Janzo brings in the messenger birds used to bring in the drug.  Wythers goes to execute the Worm and drops the guillotine on him.  The Mistress laughs and brings in the horrified Janzo.  Talon calls out the demon.  It drops down and slashes at her with his claws.  Then, strike her down at her attempt to command it.  It strikes her in the gut, Talon bleeds, and then collapses.  We have an ending like the first episode, Talon seriously wounded, and the evil is still out there!     

Three Daggers out of Five! 

#TheOutpost, #StrangeBedfellows, #Talon, #Garet