Happy Birthday Johnny Depp!

Happy Birthday Johnny Depp!  Johnny Depp started off his career in genre films starring as Glen Lantz in Wes Craven’s original A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).  He also had a role in Oliver Stone’s Platoon (1986) as a young soldier and interpreter.  In 1987, he took everyone’s attention as Officer Tom Hanson in 21 Jump Street as an undercover officer posing as a high school student.  In 1990, he starred as Edward Scissorhands in Tim Burton’s film.  Johnny starred in another Tim Burton film as Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow (1999).  It was in 2003, though, that Johnny took an almost iconic part as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).  He starred once again in a Tim Burton film, in one of his many remakes, as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). Johnny Depp voiced Victor Van Dort in Tim Burton’s animated Corpse Bride (2005).  

He returned as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007). He also sung in Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). Johnny had another strange part as the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland (2010).  He reprised his role as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) that sputtered the franchise.  Another interesting part for Johnny was the Wolf in the Into the Woods (2014) musical.  Johnny returned as the Mad Hatter in Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016).  He had a surprise cameo in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016).  My favorite Pirates film is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).  He was also the mysterious Edward Ratchett in Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express (2017).  Johnny Depp returned as a villain in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018).  Recently, he was also in the true crime film, City of Lies (2018). Happy Birthday Johnny Depp!

#JohnnyDepp, #PiratesoftheCaribbeanDeadMenTellNoTales, #FantasticBeastsTheCrimesofGrindelwald, #CityofLies

Strolling Through the (Theme) Park One Day: Star Warrior’s Guide to Galaxy’s Edge!

Galaxy’s Edge had a dedication ceremony on May 30th, opened on May 31st to reservations, and will open to the public on June 24th at Disneyland.  It will open at Hollywood Studios on August 29th.  So for Star Warriors, the fans of Star Wars, Disney fans, and everyone else here are some considerations ro know before you go.  First, know that June to August 11th, is some of the busiest times for Disneyland.  

Hollywood Studios has more lighter guests at that time, but it might get more with the opening of Galaxy’s Edge.  The park expansion was announced by Bob Iger at the D23 Expo on August 15, 2015 during the Star Wars portion of the live action movies presentation.  Side note: D23 Expo returns to the Anaheim Convention Center on August 23 to 25th.  The theme park presentation might reveal what we will have in store for Galaxy’s Edge in the future.  I’ve tried to keep surprises for you to discover at Galaxy’s Edge.   

A-Wing fighter at the Resistance Base, Galaxy's Edge, photo by the author.

I was able to get a reservation for June 6th, initially it was for a group of five, but was changed to only one additional guest.  I submitted the other group members, but only one guest was added to my reservation.  I heard at Galaxy’s Edge that one group had four.  I’m not certain what is the current policy.  There are several groups that enter Galaxy’s Edge.  The reservation establishes when you start two hours before your reservation time.  This is at Star Wars: Launch Bay in Tomorrowland.  There is a queue to the side of the Launch Bay displays, winds past the cantina-like booths, to several cast members that enter your reservation into computers to get your group wrist bands.  

They are color coded which identifies your group.  Then, about one hour before your reservation, you gather at the Hungry Bear Restaurant.  It extended to the side of the Splash Mountain queue.  Next, it goes to the side of Hungry Bear by the river, and your wristband QR code is scanned.  The last queue area is right before the Resistance base, it has an aisle for guests who may be from the previous group.  There are cast members, residents of Black Spire Outpost?, who are there to answer guest questions.  Shout out to members of the Resistance; Thomas, Tina, and Brian!  The usual greeting is "Bright suns!"  

You see the Resistance X-Wing, some people were amazed at the engine sounds, and there are several merchandise kiosks.  I was unable to see what they offered in terms of merch.  Wandering around is Rey and Chewbacca, they were celebrities like rock stars, followed around by guests.  Once the group is given entry, there is a crowd that heads to Black Spire Outpost.  Cast members block off entry at what is the entrance of the Market.  Then, you can enter towards the First Order base entrance.  

Here Kylo Ren wanders around, but there are mostly stormtroopers.  This is the Galaxy’s Edge entrance by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  Now here is the other consideration, there are highly popular areas in Galaxy’s Edge that also need reservations.  The reservations run out fast for the four hour time so that may be your first place to go if you are interested.  There is Savi’s Workshop and Oga’s Cantina.  Only one person is needed to make a reservation so you can divide up your group.  You may want to see both places, but note that you must purchase the $199 lightsaber to enter Savi’s Workshop.  There was also a queue for Droid Depot, but unfortunately, I never entered it.  

Lighsabers at Savi's Workshop, photo by the author.

Savi’s Workshop, the queue ends at a counter where you select your lightsaber style, there are four, and purchase it.  You are given a pin to wear and a color-coded card.  The time for your group is given to you and there is a separate queue area with seats.  Once your group time is up, you enter the darkened room of the workshop.  There is a long, rounded table which you find your section; I think there is space for about sixteen Force-sensitives.  It is a show similar to Ollivander’s at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, except it is for everyone not one volunteer.  

The other important part is that you get to build your lightsaber.  The three assistants, called Gatherers, are incredibly helpful in helping you construct your saber.  Shout outs to Gatherer Adam and Sam!  Oga’s Cantina has a return time that is notified by cell phone messages.  There is also a queue to the side of the building before you enter the cantina.  It is a large, darkened room with booths right out of A New Hope.  There are tables around the curved bar where you can order alchololic drinks and drinks like lemonade or snacks.  Also, there to provide music is DJ Rex, he of course is the former droid pilot in the original Star Tours.  

Let’s get to food, drinks, and snacks.  First, of course is Blue Milk at the Milk Stand, it needs a more distinctive name.  This is across from the First Order Cargo shop.  Blue Milk is delicious!  It is made with coconut milk with fruit flavors which is refreshing on a hot day.  The cost is about $8 and worth it.  A drawback is that it is iconic, yet served in a cup, I think it should be in a collectible bottle similar to Harry Potter’s butterbeer.  There were Coco Cola thermo detonators at the Resistance Base and at the Market by Savi’s Workshop, but I don’t like its Star Wars theming. 

 Kat Settle’s Kettle offers popcorn and you can buy a collectble mouse droid container, about $20.  It is around the corner from Ronto’s Roasters.  It is a showcase having a podracer engine cooking a ronto.  I bought a Ronto Wrap and a non-alcholholic Tatooine Sunset.  The wrap was in a pita with pork like a hot dog, yummy, and the Tatooine Sunset was a tea, lemonade, with melon and blue berry flavors.  Shout out to Anthony!  I did see Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, but passed up it’s menu, maybe next time.  I like the Galaxy’s Edge food and drink offerings, they are different, it seems less exotic than the offerings at Pandora: The World of Avatar at Walt Disney’s World’s Animal Kingdom.  I didn't get to Kat Saka's Kettle, long line, but had my Ronto Wrap on the table next to it.    

    

Dok-Ondar at Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities, photo by the author.

There are also some shops to cover including Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities.  There is a large statue of a female Jedi where you queue to enter Dok-Ondar’s den.  You enter the den which is filled with so many creatures, weapons, and artifacts that you can really just look around the shop.  I bought a holocron, $49.99 and kyber crystals, $12.99 in small capsules.  You can place the kyber crystals into the holocron for a message!  There is a button on top that activates the voices.  Of course, there is Dok-Ondar himself, who is in a cage, busy at work.  He is featured in the Galaxy’s Edge comic book.  It is the most fun place I went to at Galaxy’s Edge.  Shout out to Natalie!  

Then, there is the Creature Stall in the Market, I really wanted a Puffer Pig.  There isn't animation or creature sounds from parts of the store like what is in Harry Potter at Universal parks so it is just rows of stuffies.  I ended up a Krykna Spider, $19.99, it is of course based on a Ralph McQuarrie design for Dagobah.  It showed up in Star Wars: Rebels.  The best part is that it skitters, once I saw that, I bought it.  All of your creature purchases come in large boxes like carrying cases.  This is something that is not at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  The Kowakian Monkey Lizards are on the side of the shop. I would like to have seen a Womp Rat or a Dianoga.  I did not get to Toydarian Toymaker which was across from the Creature Stall.  

I hope this gives you good ideas about what to expect at Galaxy’s Edge.  There was some signage, but I was mostly confused about locations there.  The cast members are there to help you.  There are some wrinkles to be worked out, “patience you must have”, cast members are working out their characters, and service is being smoothed out.  I didn't get too much interactivity with the cast members, there weren't too many hints of an ongoing story such as that of Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Town Alive! or a Renaissance Faire.  Also, there didn't seem to be any missions to search for things like the map quests at Walt Disney World.  

There are hints of the Resistance and First Order, but there really isn’t a store for supplies for the smugglers who seem to be a big part of the Falcon ride.  The entertainment offerings are minimal, there is a First Order searches for the Resistance offering, but I didn’t see it and there doesn’t seem to be times for it.  The theming is excellent, not to the extent of being on another planet, still very hot, there needs to be more tarps or places with shade.  We will cover the Millennium Falcon attraction soon!  There were a few shops that I did not visit so I do expect a return trip to Batuu.    

DJ Rex at Oga's Cantina, photo by the author.

#GalaxysEdge, #Disneyland, #StarWarsLaunchBay, #SavisWorkshop.     

Happy Birthday Karl Urban!

Happy Birthday Karl Urban!  He is a Kiwi actor who started in the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys show as both Cupid and Julius Caesar.  He was also the enemy of Xena: Warrior Princess as Caesar.  Urban explored the Ghost Ship (2002) and then had the part of Eomer in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).  Then, he played Vaako in the sci fi movie, The Chronicles of Riddick (2004).  Then, Urban was John Grimm in the video game adaptation Doom (2005). Urban entered another big franchise playing Doctor “Bones” McCoy in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek (2009).  He was in another horror movie with vampires in Priest (2011).  

Then, he had the lead role of Judge Dredd in Dredd (2012). Then, he returned as McCoy in Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013). He was once again Vaako in Riddick (2013).  Karl was in the tv turned film, Walking with Dinosaurs 3D (2013) as Uncle Zack.  One of my favorite roles for Karl Urban was his lead playing Detective John Kennex in the sci fi tv show Almost Human (2013-2014). He was once again Dr. McCoy in Star Trek: Beyond (2016).  Next, Urban played the villainous Gavin in Pete’s Dragon (2016).  He was the Asgardian Skurge in Thor: Ragnarok (2017).  Last year, he was in the crime movie Bent (2018).  Recently, Karl Urban is in the tv series, The Boys, as Billy Butcher, based on the comic book by Garth Ennis. Happy Birthday Karl Urban! 

#KarlUrban, #TheLordoftheRingsTheTwoTowers, #StarTrek, #Dredd, #TheBoys

Happy Birthday Liam Neeson!

Happy Birthday Liam Neeson! He has a long genre career starting with Gawain in Excalibur (1981).  He was also in Krull (1983).  Still, I actually took notice of Neeson in the High Spirits (1988) comedy as an Irish ghost who falls for Beverly D’Angelo’s character.  His lead role as Peyton Westlake in Sam Raimi’s Darkman (1990) was almost iconic.  Liam Neeson’s incredible career defining part was as Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s award winning Schindler’s List (1993).  Two years later he was in Rob Roy (1995) and then Michael Collins (1996).  He starred as Valjean in the drama Les Miserables (1998).  Neeson returned to genre films as Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999).  He also investigated ghosts in The Haunting (1999).  Neeson also had a great role as Ducard in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins (2005).  

Next, Liam Neeson voiced Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and the sequel Prince Caspian (2008). Also in 2008, he brought a “certain set of skills” to Taken (2008) which led to a series of films; Taken 2 (2012) and Taken 3 (2014).  Neeson played Zeus in the Clash of the Titans (2010) remake and the sequel Wrath of the Titans (2012).  He returned to voice Aslan in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). Neeson was Admiral Shane in Battleship (2012).  He returned in The Dark Knight Rises (2012).  Liam Neeson also returned as Qui-Gon Jinn in episodes of Clone Wars.  The voice of The Monster was Liam Neeson in A Monster Calls (2016).  In 2016, Neeson played Ferreira in Martin Scorsese’s powerful Silence (2016).  Neeson was in the crime drama Widows (2018).  Recently, he is in the action film, Cold Pursuit (2019).  Neeson is also in Men in Black: International out on June 14th. Happy Birthday Liam Neeson!    

#LiamNeeson, #StarWarsThePhantomMenace, #Taken, #MeninBlackInternational

Happy Birthday Dave Filoni!

Happy Birthday Dave Filoni! He began as a storyboard artist and character layout artist with such shows as King of the Hill (1997-1999) and storyboard artist on Kim Possible. Then, he moved into directing with the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender in 2005. Filoni went on to Lucasfilm Animation and was the supervising director for Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) and then the Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2013) animated series.

Dave Filoni talking to Simon Kinberg with Freddie Prinze Jr., Star Wars: Rebels panel at Celebration, 2015, photo by the author. 

He voiced the bounty hunter Embo in various episodes from 2010-2014. Then, he went on to working on Star Wars: Rebels (2014-2018) as executive producer. Dave Filoni provides the voice of the droid Chopper in Star Wars: Rebels and Star Wars: Forces of Destiny. Filoni was given a promotion in 2016 to oversee all Lucasfilm Animation series.  Next, he developed the Star Wars: Resistance animated series. Filoni has directed two episodes of the upcoming The Mandalorian to be streaming on Disney Plus!  He is also working on Season 7 on Clone Wars, filling an unresolved part of that show, also for Disney Plus!  Happy Birthday Dave Filoni!

#DaveFiloni, #CloneWars, #StarWarsRebels, #TheMandolorian 

Happy Birthday Jason Isaacs!

Happy Birthday Jason Isaacs! He was in the “Lady and the Tiger” (1993) episode of the Highlander tv series.  Next, he played Lord Felton in DragonHeart (1996).  Isaacs was then exploring a black hole in Event Horizon (1997) from director Paul W.S. Anderson.  The film that I took notice of Jason Isaacs was as the brutal Colonel Tavington in The Patriot (2000).  He later was Captain Mike Steele in the film, Black Hawk Down (2001), based on the 1999 non-fiction book by Mark Bowden.  Isaacs was in another of Paul W.S. Anderson’s films, the video game horror film, Resident Evil (2002).  It was in 2002 that he started a long series of films as Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).  Isaacs starred as Captain Hook in 2003’s Peter Pan.  

He voiced Commander Zhao in the popular Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005) animated series.  Jason Isaacs returned as Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) and then Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007). Isaacs next starred in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010).  In 2011, Isaacs finished his role as Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011). Isaacs played Detective Michael Britten who finds himself in two realities in Awake (2011-2012). He returned to voice Commander Zhao in the 2013 episode of The Legend of Korra. Another noticeable role was as Captain Waggoner in the World War II tank film, Fury (2014), from writer/director David Ayer.  Isaacs entered the Star Wars universe playing the Grand Inquisitor in the Star Wars: Rebels (2014-2015) animated series. Also in 2017, he took the brilliant role of Captain Gabriel Lorca in Star Trek: Discovery.  Isaacs has a number of parts as villain, hero, and everything in between across genres.  Happy Birthday Jason Isaacs!    

#JasonIsaacs, #ThePatriot, #HarryPotterandtheChamberofSecrets, #Awake, #StarWarsRebels, #StarTrekDiscovery

Cloak and Dagger, “Level Up”, Review!

It is the season two finale of Cloak and Dagger!  Tandy and Tyrone have entered Club Delight to finally confront D’Spayre!  Music plays, a jazzy rendition of “Take on Me” as a watch counts down, when it does a woman pulls down a yellow mask.  An officer is thrown out of a store window.  He is shot and other gunmen come out of the store.  A poliCe car crashes into trash cans and then no one is there.  The woman takes off her mask in the club with trumpet going, it must be Andre working on that “Blue Note.”  Melissa Bowen is also there silently watching.  Are the producers trying to tell us that jazz is dangerous? Sorry, it is relaxing to me, even if Andre is on the trumpet.  Tandy walks up as the trumpet plays.  She sees a body of a trumpeter that Tyrone is checking on.  She knows it is Andre playing.  Mina is medically scanning Brigid O’Reilly with her Mayhem identity in her.  She confesses that the Terror may have affected her.  Mina has detected rage and compassion in the O’Reilly fusion.  She hears something and Mina is gone! 

CLOAK AND DAGGER -- “Level Up” -- AUBREY JOSEPH, OLIVIA HOLT -- Alfonso Bresciani/Freeform.  

Tandy has taken them to see Evita who is listening to them.  She uses cards to see that a force is given all the power with “none of the responsiblity”, he didn’t know Spider-Man’s lesson.  Evita staple guns Tyrone’s jacket to the floor.  He steps up and the darkness emerges from his jacket.  Evita will watch out for them as they enter.  Darkness.  Tandy has her Light Dagger and they start walking to the Roxxon gas station.  She calls out for Papa Legba.  There is no way to get to Andre with the destroyed station.  Tandy despairs and Tyrone tries to keep up her spirits, he calls her “harbinger of hope.”  He has Tandy make Loa symbols.  She makes daggers.  Tyrone says, “I believe in Tandy Bowen.”  The mall is shown and they walk towards it, the record store is also shattered.  Evita speaks French over a candle.  Tandy says Andre is disrupting the supernatural.  Brigid/Mayhem attacks something from Evita and is there to protect her.  Tandy and Tyrone reach out their hand using their powers.  

Cloak appears and Tandy in her ballet uniform.  Brigid attacks shadowy forms.  They enter the record store with empty shelves.  Tandy hears the trumpet calling and follows it to the club.  The club is filled with the people of New Orleans.  Tandy sees her mother and the spotlight is on Cloak and Dagger.  She throws her dagger, the light explodes, and Tyrone raises his cloak.  He finds that Andre sent her elsewhere.  Tyrone cloaks towards him and Andre uses his trumpet to blast him.  Tandy is in a dark place and she sees her father, Nathan.  Tyrone takes off his hood and finds himself at his house.  The student Tyrone enters and faces him.   D’Spayre’s manipulation has been done with Tandy, she should be able to take it, but this is new for Tyrone.  Either way, Cloak and Dagger should on the power of each other as the Divine Pairing even when they are separated.  They are challenged by the Loa shadow selves.  Student Tyrone mocks Cloak and then they fight.  Tandy has her Light Dagger. They appear together and finally Tandy calls out for Tyrone, they are in the same place, but still struggling with the counterparts.  

CLOAK AND DAGGER -- “Level Up” -- NOELLE RENEE BERCY-- Alfonso Bresciani/Freeform. 

The shadow Tyrone now is police officer Tyrone so Cloak has to fight officers calling out for each other.  In a black room, Cloak and Dagger are reunited, they turn to face the shadow selves.  Brigid knocks down another shadow form that reveals itself to be Officer Fuchs.  Cloak and Dagger both realize they have to switch fighting partners.  Very smart!  Brigid faces Fuchs, she kisses him, as Evita watches.  She apologizes and then shows him his grenade pins!  Brigid puts on his tactical helmet as the Shadow Fuchs explodes!  At the drug lab, Tyrone takes on Nathan, Tandy battles police Tyrone.  She follows officer Tyrone to his home and counters his moves with his Light Dagger.  Tyrone bashes Nathan knowing that his daughter is stronger than him.  Andre at a loss, plays his trumpet, Tandy is in the motel room, Tyrone is out in the Loa woods and they face their shadow selves.  Nathan is not afraid of her Light Dagger so she makes it into a Light Sword!  “Perfect Tyrone” is struck by a storm from Cloak.  Tandy goes all Zorro on her “father.”  Both Cloak and Dagger accept their faults and are able to fight on.   

'They are back in the club, Andre is readying for the last act!  Andre plays his trumpet, it is knocked out by Tandy’s Light Dagger, Tyrone appears and is choked by Andre.  Tandy throws her blinding Light Globe and notes that it is great for his migraines!  She throws her Light Daggers which strikes her mother.  Then, Tandy unleashes her Light Globe, which again causes pain for Andre.  Tyrone has Andre’s trumpet.  Evita is trying to protect the candle flame while Brigid fights.  Andre thinks they “are out of tricks”, Tyrone’s answer?, he projects darkness and Tandy comes out if it with her Light Sword!  He is held by Melissa and the others he held captive. This is the Superhero Moment we’ve been waiting for and it is like the comic books, but unique.  Tyrone touches him to find out Andre’s despair.   He is sitting on a desk, Tandy looks through Andre’s albums, to find the one that he doesn’t play for everyone else.   She plays a record of trumpet notes and runs her Light Dagger on the record!  This why we moved to digital music.  The note plays over and over, Cloak and Dagger find themselves in the record store, shifting, and run out.  Evita and Brigid find the shadows are gone.  

CLOAK AND DAGGER -- “Level Up” -- LANE MILLER, EMMA LAHANA -- Alfonso Bresciani/Freeform.  

Tandy and Tyrone stumble out and are welcomed by Brigid.  She has a favor to ask of Brigid.  Evita blows out the candle and starts to walk away from Tyrone.  Adina and Otis watch on television a news report that a state senator is arrested over the police crimes.  Melissa folds clothes along her daughter.  A missing girl poster is picked up by Lia in prison orange fatigues.  Mina checks a white mouse.  Evita is drawing symbols on a tomb stone in a ceremony.  Tyrone disappears after watching her.  Father Delgado throws away an Andre Deschaine album.  Brigid pulls on a rope, at the shooting range, officers see the hanging body of Connors with a “Guilty” sign.  Tandy hugs her mother before leaving with a backpack.  Tyrone watches Solomon go to a car for a drug deal and sees drugged youths in the back and refuses the deal, Tyrone smiles.  Tandy is on a bus, Tyrone joins her, and they are looking for girls found on beach outside New Orleans.  He takes her hand as we end with the jazzy “Take on Me” as the bus drives the night streets.  

The episode ends with comic book panels of Cloak and Dagger and “In Loving Memory of Stan Lee.”  This season; very tight episodes giving us the exploration of the Loa world, a new villain more dangerous than anything in season one, more development of our characters, while looking back at characters from season one, and a very real world problem!  I would like to see Dagger throw daggers that hone towards targets with streaks purging them and Cloak swallowing opponents in his cloak to have them shiver with their evil like the comic books.  I like the ballet outfit, kinda close to the comic book, I hope Tandy will modify it to more superhero-styled, not the dagger cut-out on her chest, too revealing, but something functional and fashionable.  I will add that this season of Cloak and Dagger is one of the best superhero stories about confronting your personal demons and past and breaking through to move on.  

Five Light Daggers out of Five!    

#CloakandDagger, #LevelUp, #AubreyJoseph, #OliviaHolt, #EmmaLahana, #Noelle ReneeBercy   

Happy Birthday Parker Stevenson!

Happy Birthday Parker Stevenson!  One of his first roles was as Gene Forrester in A Separate Peace (1972) based on the novel by John Knowles who also co-wrote the film.  Stevenson next par was playing Chris, a fellow lifeguard to Sam Elliott’s Rick Carlson in Lifeguard (1976).  One of his iconic roles was as young detective, Frank Hardy, in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977-1979).  He co-starred with Shaun Cassidy who played his brother Joe. The Hardy Boys was a long running book series by Franklin W. Dixon.  

Stevenson continued the character Billy Hazard in the mini-series, North and South: Book II (1986), based on the John Jakes novel trilogy.  In 1988, Stevenson played genius inventor, Austin James, caught up in paranormal and scientific mysteries in the brilliant series Probe.  It was co-created by Isaac Asimov. The following year, he returned to make beaches safe as Craig Pomery in Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier (1989). This led to a role on the Baywatch television series.  He played Louis Osmond, head of the school for exceptional teens in the Netflix series, The Greenhouse Academy (2017-2018).  What to find out more about Parker Stevenson?  Check out the exclusive interview: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2019/04/parker-stevenson-austin-james-in-probe.html.  Happy Birthday Parker Stevenson!  

#ParkerStevenson, #HardyBoys, #Probe, #Baywatch, #GreenhouseAcademy 

Happy Birthday Angelina Jolie!

Happy Birthday Angelina Jolie!  Her first foray into genre movies was Cyborg 2: Glass Shadow (1993).  One of her early roles that I took notice was in Hackers (1995).  She played the model Gia Carangi in the biographical film, Gia (1998).  In 1999, Jolie recieved an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Girl, Interrupted.  Her lead in the video game adaptation Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) really got recognition for Angelina Jolie.  and there was the sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003). Next, she was the pirate captain Franky in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004). She played an assassin wife in Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005).  Jolie was in the animated film, Beowulf (2007) as Grendel’s Mother.  Then, she voiced Tigress in Kung Fu Panda (2008).  

Angelina Jolie at San Diego Comic Con, 2003, photo by the author.

Jolie starred as Fox training James McAvoy’s Wesley as an assassin in Wanted (2008) based on the comic book.  Evelyn Salt, a double agent, was played by Jolie in Salt (2010).  She returned as Tigress in Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) and Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016).  Angelina Jolie played Fox in Wanted (2008) which was adapted from a comic book by Mark Millar for Top Cow Productions.  She started as a director and writer with In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011) and Unbroken (2014).  Also in 2014, she had the lead in Maleficent which attempted to put a twist on the villainess.  Jolie then directed By the Sea (2015) and First They Killed My Father (2017). Upcoming, Jolie has Maleficent: Mistress of Evil with one of the directors of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. It opens on October 18th!  Happy Birthday Angelina Jolie!   

#AngelinaJolie, #GirlInterrupted, #LaraCroftTombRaider, #MaleficentMistressofEvil

Heroes in Crisis #9 Review!

The final issue of Heroes in Crisis is here and features a variant cover by Ryan Sook.  The cover has a close-up of Booster Gold out in the wheat fields outside of Sanctuary.  The photo is held by the bloody fingers of Harley Quinn.  There are bodies in the field and we also see that the photo is being held right in front of the out of focus scene showing the same image.  This is a great tie-in to the other covers showing Sanctuary Files.  The issue, entitled “All of Us”, is by Tom King and Clay Mann.  We get a page of Sanctuary confession videos, the line-up is stunning; The Demon, Firestorm, Green Lantern, the Guy Gardner version, Black Lightning, and Red Robin.  I felt the impact of the deaths of Lagoon Boy, Hot Spot, and Commander Steel.  This takes it to another level.  In other words, everyone was at Sanctuary and everyone died.  This group of heroes pushes it to absurdity; The Demon is supernatural, Firestorm, we saw his life in danger and almost the destruction of the universe because of it.  The seismic conseuqences of Black Lightning, who was really just re-introduced, and Red Robin, not the restaurant, but Tim Drake, partner to Batman, is just too much.  I don’t if their deaths are canon, but if so, it seems like there needs to be a re-set with other heroes taking up their hero mantles.  

The following splash pages show a beautiful sunset with “Heroes in Crisis” in clouds and Blue Beetle’s The Bug streaking across it.  We get a closeup of the Wally West Flash speaking to his earlier time self about to snap his neck.  They are covered by shadow with another splash page as the Beetle comes crashing down.  There are more closeups of the heroes tangled up with each other; Blue Beetle and Booster Gold and also Batgirl and Harley Quinn hanging upside down.  Then, we get another confession video page of the casualties.  There were nine issues and the major character deaths are dropped in this one.  If they have all died, there is Vixen, that’s just wrong, Nightwing?, Orphan, Supergirl, and the Hal Jordan Green Lantern.  It may be that they spent some time at Sanctuary, but we didn’t see their actual bodies there.  Again, I can see The Flash taking down heroes that are off guard, but Supergirl seems impossible to kill by just punching her.  I expect all of these heroes in the confession videos being one time patients of Sanctuary.  There is a precendent, Blue Beetle, Ted Kord, gave a confession video and he is still around.  Also, I see if this line-up were taken out of the hero business, it would seriously impact the stability of citizens.  

Next, we get a large panel of the heroes emerging from The Bug, Clay Mann fashions them in superhero poses except Harley Quinn is waking up from her nap.  They try to get focused on their mission and we get a small panel of Harley Quinn’s stunned face as she is saying, “Pretty girl?”  This is of course Poison Ivy, she was a casualty, but in issue seven, The Flash planted a flower that regrew into Poison Ivy which is the same power as Swamp Thing.  This new version of Poison Ivy has greenish skin with it looks like musculature, but may be veins like a plant.  Harley Quinn runs over to hug her friend in a nice splash page.  Then, we get another confession video page with Martian Manhunter, Mera, and Zatanna.  The impact may be to show that our heroes suffer after their heroism. There is the distraught Flash, worried over his task, to kill his past self.  It seems to all resolve to The Flash consoling the other Flash in yet another cinematic splash page with the other heroes around them.  There are moments when they all discuss talking about their problems.  

Then, there are more confessions; Robin, Damian Wayne, Aquaman, and Cyborg.  Then, we get a wooden post with “I Was Here” carved into it as we get Wally West explaining about Barry Allen causing the Flashpoint and keeping him away from his family.  The two Wally Wests talking, it is two superheroes being honest.  One Wally says that Superman let the truth come out.  Also, that Flash tripped Batman’s alarms so the Justice League will be there.  This of course leads to Booster Gold, the time traveling superhero, who brings up the head spinning time conundrum.  A solution to bring back a Flash body to complete the cycle.  So before all things get resolved, Harley Quinn has a message for the killer Flash.  Typical Harley Quinn.  There is another confession page with Beast Boy, Catwoman, and Raven.  A very powerful series with the only cross-over, “The Price” issues of Batman and The Flash.  King takes risks to bring humanity to ficitional characters.  Kudos to Tom King and Clay Mann for the attempt, it is up to the readers if they have succeeded. Alan Moore was bold with Dave Gibbons to expand comic book superheroes with Watchmen.  I think attempts to follow them, including the recent Doomsday Clock, fall short of understanding what Moore was going with the medium.  Heroes in Crisis is an interesting thought experiment and comic book.      

Four Pieces of Peach Pie out of Five!

#HeroesinCrisis, #TomKing, #ClayMann, #Sanctuary

Happy Birthday Morena Baccarin!

Happy Birthday Morena Baccarin!  One of her first role was in Perfume (2001), a fashion industry drama, not to be confused with the 2006 film.  She came to the attention of every Browncoat as our favorite Companion, Inara Serra, in Firefly (2002-2003).  Then, she played Maggie Jones in the drama, Still Life (2003-2004).  Then, returned as Inara in the film, Serenity (2005).  Baccarin voiced Black Canary in the Justice League Unlimited (2005-2006) animated series.  She entered another sci fi universe as Adria, the villain of Stargate SG-1 (2006-2007).  

Next, Nurse Jessica Kivala was played by Baccarin in the medical drama Heartland (2007).  She reprised her role as Adria in Stargate: The Ark of Truth (2008).  Anna, the leader of the Visitors, was played by Baccarin in the rebooted series V (2009-2011). Baccarin played Jessica Brody, the wife of Nick Brody, in the series  Homeland (2011-2013).  She was next Karen Walker, an agent in the action comedy Spy (2015).  Then, she played Vanessa, the love interest of Deadpool (2016).  Baccarin returned as Vanessa in Deadpool 2 (2018).  Currently, she played the character of Dr. Leslie Thompkins in Gotham (2015-2019).  Happy Birthday Morena Baccarin! 

#MorenaBaccarin, #Firefly, #StargateSG1, #Deadpool2, #Gotham

Happy Birthday Jewel Staite!

Happy Birthday Jewel Staite!  One her early genre role was in the “Oubliette” (1995) episode of The X-Files. She was in the Canadian sci fi series, Space Cases (1996) playing Catalina.  Then, she was on the Disney Channel series Flash Forward (1995-1997) playing Becca Fisher.  Next, Staite was on the cast of Higher Ground (2000).  Her iconic role was playing Kaylee Frye in Firefly (2002-2003).  Next, she played Heidi Gotts in Wonderfalls (2004). Then, Staite returned as Kaylee in the film Serenity (2005).  Dr. Jennifer Keller in Stargate: Atlantis (2005-2009) was played by Staite.  Staite was in the tv horror movie Mothman (2010).  

Jewel Staite, at Wizard World Anaheim, 2010, photo by the author.

Then, was in a 2010 episode, “Mild Mannered” of the sci fi series Warehouse 13.  She was in another tv moive, Doomsday Prophecy (2011), where Staite played Brook Calvin.  Statie was featured in “The Girl Next Door” (2011) episode of Supernatural with her character named Amy Pond, a nice shout-out to Doctor Who.  Jewel Staite had a lead role, as Raquel Westbrook, in the drama The L.A. complex (2012).  Next, Dr. Bryce was played by Staite in “Progeny”, a 2016 episode of Legends of Tomorrow.  She played Erin Cherloff in the “Much Ado About Murder” (2016) epsidoes of Castle with her former Firefly co-star Nathan Fillion.  Currently, she plays Phyllis in The Magicians.  Happy Birthday Jewel Staite!  

#JewelStaite, #Firefly, #Serenity, #TheMagicians 

Happy Birthday Tom Holland!

Happy Birthday Tom Holland! In 2008, Holland played Billy Elliot in the musical.  He started acting on screen in J.A. Bayona’s The Impossible where he played Lucas.  Lucas is the young son, played by Holland, who has to make his way with his mother, Maria (Naomi Watts) through the tsunami devastated Thailand.  Holland was in Ron Howard’s In the Heart of the Sea as Thomas Nickerson, the young cabin boy survivor of the whaling ship the Essex that inspired Moby Dick.  

He played Jack Fawcett in the biographical drama The Lost City of Z (2016).  Holland entered genre films playing Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War (2016) to fan acclaim.  He returned to headline in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).  Then, he took part in Avengers: Infinity War (2018). This year, he returned in Avengers: Endgame.  Holland continues the MCU with Spider-Man: Far From Home set for release on July 2nd. Happy Birthday Tom Holland!   

#TomHolland, #TheImpossible, #AvengersEndGame, #SpiderManFarFromHome