Star Wars: The Clone Wars, “The Bad Batch”, Review!

The return of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is welcome with one of the strongest non-trilogy storylines.  Technically, we only had the beginning of the Clone Wars, Attack of the Clones (2002), and the end of it, Revenge of the Sith (2005).  The full Clone Wars was told in Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-2005), the animated shorts by Genndy Tartakovsky (canon to me until contradicted by the current series), Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008), it was theatrically released so also a Star Wars film, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2014).  

These last two entries were created by Lucasfilm Animation under the watchful eye of George Lucas so they reach the highest level of canon.  Side note: it took me some time to get over Prequel Bias and watch the film which I love.  The series goes a long way to providing a full story about the cost of war, how it affects both sides, and of course the toll on the soldiers.  So now with Disney+ we have the fulfillment of the season that was dropped with Disney moving on with Star Wars: Rebels (2014-2018).  If you still have the spark of the Star Warrior, I would urge watching all of the Clone Wars.  

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS -- “The Bad Batch” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

The episode opens with the title logo and the all to familiar music of Kevin Kiner, it is reassuring to see the return of Star Wars!  The theme of the episode is shown and then the wartime narration of Tom Kane describing the Battle of Anaxes, a Core World, and we are informed that it is a Republic shipyard.  We see glimpses of Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker.  Also, the spider-like face of Admiral Trench (Baker) introduced in the season two episode ”Cat and Mouse.” (2010).  He is part of the Harch species with a pale, giant tarantula head with large mandibles by his cheeks.  

Two Republic gunships head for a hangar in a sweeping shot with clone troopers and war machines, this was the level of animation that was in the earlier episodes.  This moves to the control room with Mace Windu (TC Carson) and Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) discussing strategy.  Then, Commander Cody and Captain Rex walk up.  We get the voice of Dee Bradley Baker voicing all of the clone troopers in the style of Temuera Morrison.  Rex is a fan favorite who debuted in the Clone Wars film.  Cody was introduced in Revenge of the Sith.  Rex suspects that the battle droids are predicting the clone trooper tactics and are ready for them.  Of course the Jedi are commanders because their tactics are not predictable.  

Cody volunteers a mission taking a squad behind the droid front line to reach a Cyber Center.  We get Rex looking at a picture of his squad; a very stirring moment for the clone soldier.  Rex hesitated to tell the generals that he believes Echo is alive, but Cody reminds him that he fell in “The Citadel” battle (2011).  He says that the battle plans used by the droids were made by Echo and himself.   Long time fans like myself are holding out hope that this clone trooper is alive.  Cody notes that they will be working with Clone Force-99.  We have seen several squads of clone troopers, this squad is new, their renegade status explains why we haven't seen them. 

The troopers are joined by ARC troopers Jesse and medic Kix.  A shuttle recklessly flies in scattering troopers.  Cody explains that they are “defective clones” and dub themselves the Bad Batch.   Out of the shuttle walks the squad including Wrecker is a giant of a clone, bald, and he has one blind eye.  The leader is Hunter with a half-skull tatoo on his face, red bandana, and Rambo-like hair.  Tech has googles that give him a steampunk look with a thin face and slightly balding hair.  Cross Hair is the silent type, he has a targeting scope outlined around his eye and white hair.

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS -- “The Bad Batch” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

The clone trooper missions are a large part of the animated series.  They are usually tied to one of the Jedi, Obi-Wan or Anakin, but this adds a new element to them.  The only downside is that a group of strange clones is really needed in more episodes.  A group of different clones is exactly what new viewers need to distinguish between them.  They board a Republic gunship and Cross Hair shows some attitude towards Regs, their term for regular clones.  A battle droid has spotted the gunship and calls down fire from dwarf spider droids equipped with cannons that extend insect-like from their faces.  The gunship crash lands.  Cody is trapped under the gunship.  Wrecker goes all The Rock and lifts the gunship over.  He likes that the lander explodes.  

The Bad Batch has their own tactics.  Wrecker hauls a piece of wreckage to deflect droid blasts while Tech scans their perfect strike point, Cross Hair inputs the coordinates and throws a grenade that electrifies an area.  This is what was needed at the beginning of the clone war, a wide-area weapon that disables droids.  The tactic also reminds me of Spaceballs (1987) with Barf the Mawg tearing off some pipes to take out a group of soldiers.  Hunter’s weapon of choice is a knife that short circuits droids.  His tracking of the electro-magnetic movements of the droids me of Billy, the Native American hunter in Predator (1987).  What doesn’t make sense is that this is Anakin’s style of fighting.  He should be involved in working with this group.  A very strong episode that might be an introduction to the series for some viewers.  

Five Lightsabers out of Five! 

#CloneWars, #TheBadBatch, #DeeBradleyBaker, #TCCarson, #MattLanter

Re:tro Re:view - Star Trek: First Contact!

Star Trek: First Contact (1996) brings the TNG crew its finest film entry with the threat of the Borg and time travel back to the beginnings of the Trek verse! It struck me after some time watching the movie that it is one of the few Trek films that do not require prior knowledge of the show or how Star Trek works. You can come in cold, not knowing about the Enterprise, Picard, warp drive or the Borg and feel comfortable.  

Every element is introduced to you without bombarding you with Trek data while still giving nods to the long time Trekkies of the show. This was the first outing for Jonathan Frakes as a film director, he previously directed episodes of the various Trek shows, and the second film for The Next Generation crew. The story was by producer Rickman and screenwriters Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore. The team worked on the previous film, Generations (1994), but really caught the cinematic scope here. Braga also worked on The Orville, Moore reimagined Battlestar Galactica and Outlander, and the duo wrote the screenplay for Mission: Impossible 2 (2000).  

The film opens with the Alexander Courage Star Trek theme, the music is by Jerry Goldsmith, who was perfect in capturing the classic music, but also giving power into new scores. Goldsmith provides a gentle and soaring score for the credits and then we get the stunning pull back from the extreme close-up of the eye of Jean Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) to the inside hull of a Borg cube.  We get the assimilation of Picard into a Borg and then he wakes from the nightmare before finding he is in another horror movie like scene. Admiral Hayes reports about an attack and Picard knows that the Borg has returned.  

Then, we get a beautiful medium shot to show the movement of the Enterprise-E, one of the most elegant designs for a Starfleet ship. The Enterprise from the show, the Galaxy class-D, was destroyed in Star Trek: Generations (1994). He calls a meeting of the senior staff to note that they are ordered to patrol the Neutral Zone. Picard gets the objections of Number One, Commander Riker (Frakes), ship’s counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), Data (Brent Spiner), Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden), and engineer Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton). Spiner, Sirtis, and Frakes have also appeared in the latest Star Trek: Picard series. There is a balance of giving character moments to the crew while maintaining the story.    

We get the blaring music of Berlioz that Picard is listening to possibly blocking out distractions and thoughts as Number One enters to give a standard report. Picard confides that Starfleet does not have confidence in him after he was assimiliated by the Borg. They head to the to hear the engagement of Starfleet with the Borg cube.  The Borg block out transmissions and the fight begins.  Picard gives the order to return to Earth to Lt. Hawk (Neal McDonough). A new crewmember, McDonough is known for Minority Report (2002) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).

The Enterprise heads into warp. Then, we get a close-up of the technological wiring and mass of the Borg Cube as it heads for Earth! The Borg have near invinciblity adapting to weapons for its ships and in person. Starfleet ships fire on it including the Defiant manned by another familiar crewmember, Commander Worf (Michael Dorn), he moved from TNG to Deep Space Nine. This film adds him back to the crew and while he orders the ship to ram into the Borg, he is told that the Enterprise has entered the battle. It looms past the Defiant and Picard orders survivors to be beamed aboard.   

Riker notes that admiral’s ship is destroyed and Picard gets a visual of the battle. He hears the distorted voice of the Borg. Picard takes command and has the entire fleet open fire on his coordinates. This destroys the Borg Cube, but we see a sphere ejected from it. Picard sends the Enterprise after it. Dr. Crusher arrives with Worf. Picard puts him back in charge of the Enterprise’s weapons. Riker jokes with Worf, Frakes was having the most fun with this film. The Borg Sphere opens a vortex to travel back in time and the Enterprise follows them. The crew sees an Earth corrupted by the Borg!  

Data explains that following the sphere has protected them from being changed by the Borg, nice time travel story point. Then, we get quiet, nighttime look at a forest camp. Leaving the bar is a drunk man, Zephram Cochrane (James Cromwell) and Lily (Alfre Woodard). She sees the sphere before it fires torpedoes on the camp! Cromwell has worked on many films from episodes of the Star Trek series and Professor Callaghan on Big Hero 6: The Series. Cochrane is important in Star Trek lore since he was the inventor of warp drive. He was introduced in the TOS episode, “Metamorphosis” (1967). Woodard is impressive in any project she is in which includes 12 Years a Slave (2013) and Luke Cage (2016-2018).  

The Enterprise leaves the vortex, nice that the time travel is not by the heroes, but a strange plan to tie up Star Trek history. They see the sphere firing torpedoes and Picard orders quantum torpedoes to be fired on the sphere. It explodes and Riker notes that the Borg were firing on a missile complex in central Montana. Data checks and notes that it is April 4th, 2063, the day before First Contact, the crew realizes that the complex is where Cochrane launches the first warp capable ship. Picard heads down with Crusher, Data, and a group to check on survivors. He checks on the ship with Data and they are fired on by Lily who wields a machine gun.  

Data drops down and is shot by Lily, it is of course obvious that he is an android, and not weakened by the bullets. Lily faints and Crusher notes that she has radiation poisoning and needs to be taken to the ship. Picard calls LaForge to help work on the damaged ship. The Enterprise finds that the environmental temperature has risen and the mystery has to with the Borg. It is a very horror element which rises the threat of the cyborg villains. Not as invincible robots, but zombie-like corrupters. Picard hears the Borg voices and heads back to the ship with Data. This sets up the parallel problem taking on the Borg and trying to right history with Cochrane.  

Picard arrives and has Data encrypt the bridge’s controls so the Borg can’t take over the ship. A team is assembled with Picard, Data, and Worf to take back engineering. Riker has his own problems with the reluctant Cochrane. The adoration of the Enterprise crew makes Zephram Cochrane uncomfortable with his legend, a great twist to the usual famous figure in time travel, but the hope of the future rests on him. There is a funny moment with Deanna Troi trying to deal with Cochrane. It is interesting to see this flawed Cochrane, brilliant work by Cromwell, the earlier appearance of Cochrane had him younger in the form of actor Glen Corbett.  

His ship, the Phoenix, but for less than scientific reasons. It is housed in a nuclear missile which is out of necessity rather than irony.  he Enterprise team fails to recapture engineering and Data is taken by the Borg. Data has always been the Pinocchio figure, longing to be human, and this film allows Spiner to confront the difficult choice in the form of the Borg Queen (Alice Krige). The actress has been in Thor: The Dark World (2013) and a reprise of the character in Star Trek: Voyager. The Borg Queen’s design has a H.R. Giger bio-mechanical sensuality one year after his own design in Species. Krige doesn’t shift out of that form and is able to be a threat to Picard and temptation to Data. Lastly, there is Woodard who is able to bring out the conflict of Picard driven by his post- tramautic disorder from Borg assimliation.  A perfect counter part from someone from a conflicted time in contrast with Star Trek’s more advanced civilization, but still human. Star Trek: First Contact takes the very sci fi constructs to cover the very human theme of hope.    

#StarTrekFirstContact, #JonathanFrakes, #BrannonBraga, #RonaldDMoore, #PatrickStewart, #BrentSpiner, #JamesCromwell, #AlfreWoodward, #AliceKrige, #MicxhaelDorn, #MarinaSirtis, #GatesMcFadden, #LeVarBurton, #NealMcDonough  

Happy Birthday William Shatner!

Happy Birthday William Shatner!  He was working in theaterical productions until his genre appearances in “Nick of Time” (1960) and the classic “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” (1963) episodes of Twilight Zone.  Shatner also starred in “Cold Hands, Warm Heart” (1964) episode of The Outer Limits.  He appeared alongside Leonard Nimoy in “The Project Strigas Affair” (1964) episode of the spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Shatner’s iconic role was as Captain Kirk in Star Trek starting with “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (1966), the second pilot of the series had a strong cast and went on until 1969.  He returned to voice Captain Kirk in Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974).  Star Trek was revived as a television movie, but then given a theatrical release as Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979).  He had a long running role as the lead in T.J. Hooker (1982-1986).  Shatner returned as Kirk in one of the finest Star Trek films was Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982).  

He followed it up with Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984).  A fan favorite movie had Shatner saving the whales in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986).  He took the directing reins in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989). The last full cast of the original series was in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991).  He published his sci fi novel TekWar in 1989.  This became a series of tv movies starting with TekWar (1994).  He also made a final appearance as James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Generations (1994).  TekWar (1994-1996) was made into a series with Shatner as Walter H. Bascom. Shatner also co-wrote many Star Trek novels starting with Star Trek: The Ashes of Eden (1995). He appeared in the sci fi comedy series 3rd Rock from the Sun (1999-2000) as The Big Giant Head.  Shatner was also the host of the beauty pageant in the comedy Miss Congeniality (2000).  He voiced himself in a 2002 episode of Futurama.  Shatner had a strong role as Denny Crane in the drama series, The Practice (2004).  He returned as the character in Boston Legal (2004-2008).  Shatner wrote and directed the documentary The Captains (2011) about the Star Trek captains.  Happy Birthday William Shatner!   

#WilliamShatner, #StarTrek, #TekWar, #ThePractice, #TheCaptains 

Happy Birthday Gary Oldman!

Happy Birthday Gary Oldman!  An incredible actor with multiple awards, many genre films, and a screen presence.  Oldman made his debut in the drama, Remembrance (1982).    He starting getting attention playing Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols in the bio pic, Sid and Nancy (1986).  He was part of the Royal Shakespeare Company and played Rosencrantz from Hamlet in the adapation of the play, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990).  Then, Oldman was Lee Harvey Oswald in the drama JFK (1991).  One of his strong genre parts was playing Count Dracula in Francis Ford Coppolla’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). In 1994, Oldman played unstable DEA agent in Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional (1994).  Oldman continued with other genre roles including Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg in the sci fi film, The Fifth Element (1997) directed by Besson.  Gary Oldman first appeared as Sirius Black, family friend and close advisor to Harry Potter, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).  He then played Jim Gordon, a definitive actor for the character, in Batman Begins (2005).  

Oldman continued as Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007).  He returned as Jim Gordon in The Dark Knight (2008).  Oldman voiced General Grawl in the animated Planet 51 (2009).  Carnegie was a post-apocalyptic survivor played by Oldman in The Book of Eli (2010).  He played Solomon in the dark fairy tale Red Riding Hood (2011).  Then, voiced Shen in Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011).  Oldman wrapped up Sirius Black’s part in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011).  The lead role of George Smiley was played by Oldman in the adaptation of John le Carré’s novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011).  He completed the trilogy as Commissioner Gordon in The Dark Knight Rises (2012).  Then, he appeared in sci fi films; Robocop (2014) and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014). Oldman was in the sci fi teen romance, The Space Between Us (2017), as Nathaniel Shepherd.  One of his finest roles was playing Winston Churchill in the drama Darkest Hour (2017).  A part that won him the Academy Award.  He has upcoming the film, Dreamland.  Happy Birthday Gary Oldman!   

#GaryOldman, #HarryPotterandThePrisonerofAzkaban, #BatmanBegins, #DarkestHour 

Geek Truth’s Top Rainy Day Movies!

It may be a rainy day or possibly you are social distancing yourself.  So the parameters are possibly this will be the entire family (trying to keep in mind different tastes and interests) so films will have to be careful of subject matter (there are adult rated films for older viewers), and re-watchability.  You may need some movies that are not too heavy on their subject matter and too light, fluffy entertainment, they have to be just right.  Also, fairly recent films with some classics to get the attention of all viewers.  We have to keep away from depressing or apocalyptic subject matter.  If you have a favorite movie, by all means, play it, preference is more important than any list.  Still, if you may need a reminder or point out one movie you may have forgotten, here’s another list.  So what is left?  Glad you asked!, this is the Geek Truth’s Top Rainy Day Movies!    

Let’s get started with a genre not high on the list with dudes, Romance, and take a look at Crazy Rich Asians, http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/08/crazy-rich-asians-review.html.  The Lake House (2006), based on the South Korean film Il Mare (2000), it has a couple connecting their lives through the lake house of the title separated by time.  Before Sunrise (1995), a Richard Linklater film, brilliant in bringing in dialogue between two young people, slightly adult in content.  

Next, let’s hear it for the Musicals genre starting with The Sound of Music (1965), the Rogers & Hammerstein musical is made fresh with the true story of Maria, the governess who becomes a part of the von Trapp family, review is at: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-sound-of-music-review.html.  The Greatest Showman (2017), not historically accurate of course, but the story of P.T. Barnum and the inspiration of his performers, our review comes alive at: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/11/retro-review-greatest-showman.html.  Lastly, Moulin Rouge (2001), a teen+ musical with a young songwriter and his romance with a courtesan in Paris.   

Drama Movies of course have heavy subject matter, but also can be inspirational.  Let’s start off with Rudy (1993), true story about Rudy Ruettiger who is too small for football, too poor and struggling with school to play for Notre Dame, but this is his dream.  Next, Hidden Figures (2016), another true story about brilliant NASA mathematician Katheryn Johnson and her friends and colleagues whom made the space program possible, and lastly under the adult themed movies, Shawshank Redemption (1994), based on the Stephen King novella, finds Andy Dufresne in prison for a life sentence, but walls can’t hold down his spirit and inspire others.  

Another genre is Action Movies!  We start off with a family friendly The Karate Kid (1984), teen Daniel Larusso learning karate from gardener Mr. Miyagi, and it has sequels and YouTube series, but the orignal is the best.  Now, the action masterpiece which would probably be for teens and older, is Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).  Archeologist and adventurer, Indiana Jones, quests to find the Lost Ark held by Nazi forces.  Sequels followed, put the original on repeat, there is a very good recommended television series.  Lastly, at the teen and older category is Thunderball (1965), Agent 007 James Bond travels to the Bahamas to face Emil Largo, really almost any James Bond film; over the top perfection with You Only Live Twice (1967), the Roger Moore style in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), and Skyfall (2012), Bond’s history and nods to past missions are wrapped up in this film.    

Let’s move to the fantastic genres starting with Fantasy Films.  One of the best is The Princess Bride (1987), a clever look at life and fairy tales with farmer turned pirate, Westley, trying to save his True Love, Buttercup, turn to the review here: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/10/retro-review-princess-bride.html.  Another young fantasy is The Neverending Story (1984), young Bastian escapes bullies reading about the adventures of Artreyu, sequels and a television series, but the original has its own charm.  Now, we get to one of masterpieces of fantasy, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (2001), young Hobbit Frodo with his friends and allies including the wizard Gandalf quest to destroy the One Ring. 

The nature of the story will probably need teens and older to understand, but not enjoy, so there is the rest of The Lord of the Rings trilogy; The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003).  There are other films of note, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), Ray Harryhausen effects highlight this Hollywood fantasy with Sinbad taking on a sorcerer along with a cyclops and other creatures.  An incredible fantasy movie, The Thief of Bagdad (1940), is pure fun and fantasy with Ahmad, sultan turned beggar, struggling against the evil Jaffar to save the Princess with his young friend Abu, played by the charming Sabu, very influential for other films.    

The Horror genre might be difficult to find non-violent entertainment, but let’s start with Jurassic Park (1993), it really inspired kids, best for older kids, with Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the Michael Crichton book, paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant and a small group are sent to an island park with dinosaurs that are unleashed, the Jurassic World franchise is interesting, but put the original on repeat.  Next, we have A Quiet Place (2018), a resourceful family tries to survive creatures hunting by sound, read quietly the review: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/07/retro-review-quiet-place.html.  For adult audiences is the R rated horror comedy, Shaun of the Dead (2004), Shaun, Ed, and their friends try to survive teh zombie apocalypse sweeping London.   

We will look at Comedy Movies with touches of other genres.  It starts with Ghostbusters (1984) so we can connect with horror.  The former professors are turned professional paranormal investigators and discover that New York has supernatural powers that can take the city.  A classic with sequels and reboot, but replay the original.  Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Python perfection satirizing Arthurian legend, but respectfully, “`Tis but a scratch.” Finally, The Breakfast Club (1985), an honest look at high school teens forced to spend a Saturday and coming up with some hard truths, this is for older teens on up.     
   

Science Fiction Films, let’s start with E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), a Spielberg classic prfect for young ones with young Elliott finding E.T. in his suburban world.  Next, the adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs sci fi classic, John Carter (2012), Carter is an ex-Civil War soldier who gets transported to Mars, “Och Ohem, Och Tay, Wyess Barsoom” at: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/08/retro-review-john-carter.html.  Possibly for older kids for its sophistication, but it is another Disney film, Tomorrowland (2015), Casey Newton gets a vision of Tomorrowland so resolves to get there with the help of Frank Walker and a young girl, Athena, don’t wait until tomorrow to read the review: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/08/retro-review-tomorrowland.html.  

There are other movies including Star Wars (1977), subtitled A New Hope, Luke Skywalker, farm boy, is caught up in an adventure with Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia, to save the galaxy from the Empire!  Of course the rest of the trilogy, Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) are worthy too.  Maclunkey!  Lastly, is the groundbreaking Westworld (1973) that has some adult content though rated PG, directed and written by Michael Crichton, it features two friends who are guests at the futuristic theme park for adults populated by robots that slowly malfunction.  The recent series and sequel are not a match to the original.  Review at: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/08/retro-review-westworld.html. 

Comic Book Movies, you may immediately think MCU, there is a few, but let’s open that door a little wider with Wonder Woman (2017), the Amazon princess who travels from her island Themyscira to WWI battlefields to save the world from war.  Find the review at: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/09/retro-review-wonder-woman.html.  One of the stand out MCU movies, Black Panther (2018), of course it features T’Challa struggling with becoming king and facing Killmonger, read the review here: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/12/retro-review-black-panther.html.  Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), probably for older audiences, teen and above, but it is a wild combination of anime, video games, and comic books, with Scott taking on the The League of Exil-Exes to fight for Ramona Flowers.  

Alternates: it has to be Superman (1978), the first serious superhero film, with the destruction of Krypton, young Clark Kent growing up in rural Smallville, and then becoming the hero in Metropolis.  Lastly, there is Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), seeing scrawny Steve Rogers transformed into Captain America and stand against the forces of Red Skull is reason enough to see this film.  There is a very solid sequel with Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) that has Cap face the espionage of the modern world, but rooted in the evil of the past. High on the list is Iron Man (2008) that set up the MCU and set the blockbuster tradition for superhero movies and of course, one of the best team movies, Avengers (2012).        

   

Animation, of course there are many fine Disney animated films, but you may already have them, so let’s look a little past them.  First is the Hayao Miyazaki-san films, starting with My Neighbor Totoro (1989), a charming, gentle story about two young girls finding a magical friend during their mother’s illness. The review is here: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/11/retro-review-my-neighbor-totoro.html.  Other films include Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), a young witch has to learn confidence in a new town, and Spirited Away (2001), a dark and wondrous fairy tale with Chihiro caught in a world run by the witch, Yubaba.  There is some content like parents turning into pigs might be disturbing to young ones.  

Next, Laika films, all of them really, but let’s feature Missing Link, about a lone Bigfoot who has to find a place to belong with his friend and explorer and lady adventurer.  The review is at: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2019/04/missing-link-review.html.  Don’t forget Kubo and the Two-Strings (2016), http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/08/retro-re-view-kubo-and-two-strings.html, Kubo is a young boy who is a storyteller and musician teaming up with Monkey to face the Moon King.  Then, there is The Boxtrolls (2014), a fun adventure with Eggs, a human boy raised by trolls, he befriends Winnie and they have to take on the evil Snatcher. 

So the last film is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), Miles Morales discovers Spider-Men from other dimensions and has to become Spider-Man!, review at: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/12/spider-man-into-spider-verse-review.html.  There is so many more films to add to this list.  What movies would make your list?  Some of the films will most likely be reviewed in the future.  Thanks to all of suggestions given by my pals, you know who you are, this article couldn't be written without you!   

#GeekTruth, #RainyDayMovies, #CrazyRichAsians, #RudyMovie, #PrincessBride, #JohnCarterFilm, #WonderWomanMovie, #MyNeighborTotoro  

Bloodshot Review!

Bloodshot is a Vin Diesel movie with Vin Diesel playing a superhero!  The character is a part of the Valiant Universe and first appeared in Eternal Warrior #4 (1992).  Angelo Mortelli, this is a very Vin Diesel character name, was working for the Cianelli crime family, but was killed until revived by science.  It is in part a Frankenstein story (revived from the dead), in a sense like Robocop (1987), but with almost Wolverine-like abilities.  The character was first played in live action by Jason Frank in the web series, Ninjak vs. the Valiant Universe (2018). 

Valiant characters do go beyond similar characters with twists and a great world building, Bloodshot enables Diesel to fully develop a character beyond his other action movies.  This is the first film for director Dave Wilson who has worked in visual effects and directing an episode of Love, Death & Robots.  The story and co-written screenplay is by Jeff Wadlow who wrote the screenplay for this year’s Fantasy Island and Kick-Ass 2 (2013).  The other screenwriter is Eric Heisserer who also wrote last year’s hit, Bird Box (2018) and Arrival (2016).  The movie doesn’t have specific ties to the rest of the Valiant Universe or characters, but has potential.  

The movie begins with a military operation in Mombasa, Kenya.  A soldier, Ray Garrison (Diesel), is scouting the area on his own.  Ray Garrison is the name of the hero that came with the second series released by Acclaim Comics written by Len Kaminski.  I prefer Angelo Mortalli, but the character's first name that may hint at the hero from the year 4001, Rai, a legacy hero that follows in the footsteps of Bloodshot.  Garrison single handedly takes on gunmen which is not how soldiers work especially in other countries.  Still, it is very Vin Diesel with Garrison slamming two gunmen into walls at the same time.  This sort of act could make sense when he becomes Bloodshot, but as a regular soldier it felt like he was already a super hero.

He finds a hostage with a shotgun held to his head.  Garrison is of course too clever and manages to save the hostage which was the point of the mission.  He reaches the base in Aviano, Italy and finds his wife, Gina (Talulah Riley).  She has appeared in a cameo role in Thor: The Dark World (2013) and was in the thriller, Submerged (2016).  The character showed up in the Acclaim Comics Bloodshot #2 (1997) in flashback.  They spend some time at a seaside town in Italy, she sees the scars on his back, and Garrison says, “I always come back home.”  She leaves to get groceries and Garrison is ambushed, but of course Vin Diesel can take any attack.  

Still, he gets a secret injection by a mysterious man played by Toby Kebbell and collapses.  Kebbel was Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four (2015) and Koba in War for the Planet of the Apes (2017).  He wakens in a room bound to a chair with the man, introducing himself as Martin Axe, and dancing to Talking Heads’ “Psychokiller.”  He is a new character, but other sites claim he is connected to a comics character, it would only be incidentally through the Axe name.  It is a bit confusing how Axe tracked down Garrison and for what reason.  

Martin Axe interrogates Garrison and then brings out Gina cutting her part to a cameo.  He then puts a gun to Garrison’s head and pulls the trigger.  His story of course hasn’t come to an end with a dark sequence with voices.  He revives and meets Dr. Emil Harting played by Guy Pearce.  He was Alrich Killian in Iron Man 3 (2013) and also Leonard in Memento (2000) which bears some plot points of this film.  There is also KT, her initials, played by Eiza Gonzalez who was in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) and Baby Driver (2017).  Her character is an ex-Navy diver, but now needs a device to breathe.  

Harting is the head of Rising Spirit Technologies (RST).  The original head of Project Rising Spirit was Hideyoshi Iwatsu though this has changed with the reboots of the character.  The location of the RST building is not identified, but apparently it is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  He shows Garrison, who has no memory, about the nannies in his blood that can heal almost any wound.  The nanites would need to be charged up at RST.  In a sense, Bloodshot is the ultimate soldier in the mold of Captain America, and sort of like the sci fi movie Universal Soldier (1992) mixed with Frankenstein.  

Harting shows Garrison around the facility, including two mercenaries.  There is Jimmy Dalton (Sam Heughan) and Tibbs (Alex Hernandez).  Heughan is known for playing Jamie Fraser in Outlander and Hernandez has been in the supernatural series, Hemlock Grove.  Garrison is shaken by nightmares and goes to work out finding that he has the strength to shatter a concrete pillar.  He also finds that KT is swimming and practices martial arts underwater, a very fascinating scene.  She later gives him a drink at a bar and this sets off memories of his last moment alive.  This immediately sets him off to hunt down Martin Axe.  

Bloodshot uses his nanites to access RST computers to track down Martin Axe.  Harting tries to recall Bloodshot and tries to have his IT guy, Eric (Siddharth Dhananjay) track him.  Eric brings a little comedy into the story.  There is a convoy in Budapest that is trapped by Bloodshot using a truck.  Martin panics and tries to contact the bearded Nick Baris (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson).  The actor was in The Good Liar (2019) and Atomic Blonde (2017).  Bloodshot basically walks into bullets, which lowers his nanite levels, he seems to remove all of his soldier training.

Yes, he is single minded in fighting for revenge, but it seems more sensible to be more strategic.  Also, the comic character is pale, the nanites don’t work to get the Vin Diesel complexion, I like the deathly pallor that reminds everyone that he was basically dead.  We find out that RST has been manipulating Bloodshot’s memory to use him as an assassin.  I would imagine that all of Harting’s associates killed in the same way would make some organization suspicious.  Bloodshot later allies with Wilfred Wigans (Lamorne Morris) who is much needed earlier in the film, as a master coder and funny guy.  Morris was in the comedy show, New Girl.  Bloodshot can set up the Valiant Universe for films and is good as a comic book film.  

Three and a half Nanites out of Five! 

#Bloodshot, #DaveWilson, #VinDiesel, #EizaGonzalez, #GuyPearce

Invisible Man Review!

The Invisible Man brings the thrills to the edge, fulfilled my expectations, and is great re-launch for Universal’s Monsterverse with Blumhouse.  It  stands as a genre staple that has been through the freaky terror in the 1933 original, the strangeness and beauty of invisibilty seen in John Carpenter’s Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), and the violence of The Hollow Man (2000).  The classic movie was based on the 1897 H.G. Wells novel.  

This film is written and directed by Leigh Whannell who was the writer of the Saw franchise and the Insidious films including directing Insidious Chapter 3 and the sci fi film, Upgrade (2018).  The latter I felt had a disappointing end, but not so with this movie.  The Blumhouse connection has of course kept costs down, a $7 million producton budget, yet the story and characters are strong.  Of course, this film is a showcase for Elizabeth Moss, who was in Jordan Peele’s Us, produced by Jason Blum, and her starring role in The Handmaiden’s Tale.  Caution: This movie is not for anyone who was the victim of domestic violence or stalked.  

The film begins with the crashing of waves at night to reveal the titles.  The sound of the waves is jarring.  Kudos to the sound designer, Chris Terhune, and music, Benjamin Wallfisch, for heightening the tension.  Then, we get a seaside house, inside is Cecilia (Moss) who is in bed with an arm around her.  She takes a Diazepam bottle from the nightstand, which she used to put the man asleep, and tries to quietly adjust a hallway camera on a ladder.  Next, Cecilia reaches a downstairs room that looks like a lab.  It is not shown what is in the lab since we are focused on Cecilia.  

She goes to a computer to disable the cameras around the house and check on the sleeping form of the man in bed.  It is a slight commentary on the surveillance on society, the lack of privacy.  He is there, but not clearly seen so we can’t identify him.  We later find out that he is Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), Griffin is the last name of Claude Rains character in The Invisible Man (1933), a nice nod to the classic movie. Jackson-Cohen is in The Haunting of Hill House Netflix series and he was Jonathan Harker in the Dracula (2013-2014) show.  Cecilia makes her way to the garage and sees the dog, Zeus, and accidentally sets off a car alarm.  

Now, she has to escape and we know that Adrian is the threat.  Cecilia makes her way through a dark forest to a road.  She waits until a car pulls up, her sister, Emily (Harriet Dyer) drives up.  Cecilia drops the Diazepam bottle.  Dyer is in the comedy show The Other Guy and also the lead in the supernatural series The InBetween.  Emily is an attorney, but we don’t get too much of her presence.  We get the end of the relationship between Cecilia and Adrian and apparently she disconnected from her family.  Adrian runs out and slams into the car screaming at Cecilia to open the door.  Emily wonders what is going on when Adrian smashes through the car window.  

Finally, she takes off and escapes into the night.  It appears that this is set in San Francisco with the bridge, but it was shot in Australia.  It is two weeks later, we get a suburban home with Cecilia looking fearfully out of the window.  It is the home of James Lanier (Aldis Hodge) who is the ex-husband of Emily.  Hodge was in Hidden Figures (2016) and What Men Want (2019).  He is a reassuring presence though I think Cecilia would be disturbed by a male figure, James may already be known to her, and he is also a police officer.  At that point, I was ready for the story to finish, she escaped Adrian and survived, but this movie of course has a Twilight Zone-like twist.  

Cecilia is having difficulty stepping out of the house and reaching the street.  The fear of Adrian puts everyone on the side of Cecila trying to rebuild her life.  We also have the introduction of Sydney, James’ daughter, played by Storm Reid.  She of course was a sensation in A Wrinkle in Time (2018) and was also in the horror film, Don’t Let Go (2019).   She is a clever teenage girl who has ambitions to be a fashion designer.  Emily stops by to tell her sister that Adrian has committed suicide.  They go the next day to the office of Tom Griffin (Michael Dorman), Adrian’s brother and attorney.  Dorman was in the vampire film, Daybreakers (2009) and is currently in the sci fi show, For All Mankind.  

He says he has hatred for his brother for manipulating him.  Tom explains that Adrian has given Cecilia five million dollars on the condition that she commits no crimes and is not diagnosed insane.  Strange things of course start to happen.  Cecilia's life is torn away, her interview at an architecture firm, and everyone she knows.  There is hints of where Adrian might be, brilliant camera work by Stefan Duscio, who worked with Whannell on Upgrade.  We are on edge as we get the presence of what we think is Adrian, the Invisible Man of the title?, or the mental collapse of Cecilia?  Adrian was a controlling man whom we find was a genius in optics.  He may have found the secret of invisibility, but it is really Cecilia surviving the terror and what happens to vicitms of trauma. I can't wait to see what is next in the Blumhouse Universal Monsterverse! Invisible Man is strong in tension completes everything that was set up and what I expect in the genre! 

Five Diazepam bottles out of Five!     

#InvisibleMan, #LeighWhannell, #ElizabethMoss, #AldisHodge, #StormReid 

Inside The Walt Disney Archives at the Bowers Museum!

This is the 50th anniversary of the Disney Archives so there are many special events during the exhibition, check out: https://www.bowers.org/index.php/current-exhibition/inside-the-disney-archives-50-years-of-preserving-the-magic.  I was there for Story by Disney: Inside the Craft and History of Storytelling at The Walt Disney Studios with Don Hahn which was on Sunday, March 8th.  The exhibition has opened and will close on August 30th so you will have some time to go.   The Bowers Museum is located at 2002 N Main St., Santa Ana, down the road from Disneyland.  It was the first time I’ve been to the museum and was fascinated by the water fountains and statues at the entry of the museum.  Also, there were incredible historical artworks from Asia, Africa, and South America around the museum.  I loved the Gemstone Carvings: The Masterworks of Harold Van Pelt.  Still, let’s get to the Disney exhibition. 

Inside The Walt Disney Archives, photo by the author.

I have been to a previous Walt Disney Archives exhibition at the Ronald Reagan Library and seen many items from the archives over the years.  It is very special to see the items from the archives so it is definitely worth the trip!  The exhibition is down a hall and you can see Dumbo flying overhead which is too much fun.  There is a standee of Walt before you enter the exhibition rooms.  On the left is the recreated desk of Walt Disney which I saw before and actually went to Walt’s office above the firehouse in Disneyland.   There is a display of Disneyland artifacts on the right including the map of Disneyland.  Then, there is an animator’s desk.  This leads to a hall that has faux books for the archives and a few displays.  Then, a display of props from Mary Poppins, the Davy Crockett cap, and Zorro’s sword.  On the left is a display of Mickey Mouse stuffies.   

Early Disneyland map, photo by the author.

There is a row of the prop books that opened the animated films like Sleeping Beauty.  Production artwork from various films, I noted Harrison Ellenshaw’s work, and promotional posters including Batman.  You face the queen from Snow White in the window displays that were on Main Street.  This opens up to the rest of the exhibition; on the left displays of costumes, in front is The Haunted Mansion display, and on the right what seems like Audio-Animatronics that were retired.  On the right, what interested me, was the Alien Audio-Animatronic which was in the dark hallway of the Nostromo.  Now, to see it up close and in the bright light, is cool.  There was also a RX-24 pilot figure from Star Tours which I’ve seen before.  Then, there was the Haunted Mansion tombstones, hitchhiking ghosts, and “stretching” paintings all of which were in the previous archives exhibit, but great to see again.  

Alien from the Great Movie Ride, photo by the author.

What was new was the line-up of costumes; Frozen costumes from the parks, the Flynn costume from Tron: Legacy, Dick Tracy’s yellow coat, Julia Roberts’ dress from Pretty Woman, costumes from Mary Poppins Returns, and the highlight for me, The Rocketeer and his rocket pack!  There was a display of hands and mask from Shape of Water.  In the next room is a case with Winnie the Pooh from Christopher Robin (2018), the family puppets from What About Bob? (1991), Jack Sparrow’s compass, and the Dead Man’s Chest (with heart). Behind them was props including a life size Roger Rabbit reference, Wilson from Cast Away, props from Beauty and the Beast, and The Guide from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.  At the end of the room is the Szalinkski’s Shrinking Machine from Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989) and the Baloo live action reference head from Jungle Book.  Next door is a room of vehicles; the Model T from Absent Minded Professor (1961), the Gee Bee model from The Rocketeer (1991), and Herbie from Herbie Fully Loaded (2005).  

GeeBee from The Rocketeer, photo by the author.

In another room was a large case with a reference model of Pride Rock.  Behind it are costumes including the wiring pyjama from Tron, the dark coat of Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, costumes from Maleficient, and the sword of Mulan from the new movie.  Next to it is the costume and car from Ford v Ferrari.  A Disney Legend statue is shown as well as the photographs of the Legend imprints that are at Disney Studios. The lecture by Don Hahn was in a theater.  He showed slides including the famous hand print on a cave and also many of the artworks that are the basis of storytellers and creativity.  Hahn showed live action reference, the famous ones from Snow White, Peter Pan, and also Frozen.  Also, the animals brought in to be studied by the artists, and Hahn noted the police tape that he jokingly said was to protect the artists.  He was showing various corporate logos and added, “Now part of the Walt Disney Company” which was funny. The exhibit itself is impressive, you can see pics and read descriptions, but you should actually experience it yourself.   

Producer/director/author Don Hahn, photo by the author.

#BowersMuseum, #InsideTheWaltDisneyArchives, #TheRocketeer, #DonHahn