Happy Birthday John Cho!

Happy Birthday John Cho!  He started a genre career playing Mark Chao in a 1998 episode of Charmed.  Next, Cho had a cameo in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000).  Cho voiced two 2001 episodes of the Static Shock animated series.  He played as as student in Ivan Reitman’s sci fi comedy Evolution (2001).  Cho had a cameo in Stephen Soderburgh’s sci fi film Solaris (2002).  Then, Cho had an iconic role as Harold Lee in the comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004).  He played Teddy Wong along with Bradley Cooper in the sitcom Kitchen Confidential (2005-2006) and then The Singles Table (2007).  Cho voiced Vince Chung in the animated series American Dad! (2006-2016).  He then returned in Harold & Kumar Escape form Guantanamo Bay (2008).  Then, he had another career defining role as Sulu in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek (2009). 

Next, he played Demetri Noh in the sci fi series Flashforward (2009-2010).  Then, he finished out the comedy series with A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011).  Cho next was in the Total Recall (2012) reboot.  He returned as Sulu in Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013). Cho was in the supernatural series, Sleepy Hollow (2013-2014) as Andy Brooks.  One of my favorite roles for John was as Henry Higgs in the sitcom Selfie (2014) alongside Karen Gillan.  John Cho played Sulu in 2016’s Star Trek: Beyond.  He played Andrew Kim in the supernatural series, The Exorcist (2017).  He was in the drama, Searching, about a father trying to find his missing daughter and may find clues to her disappearance with her laptop.  In 2019, Cho was in “The Wunderkind“ episode of The Twilight Zone on CBS All Access.  He was in the 2020 reboot of the horror movie, The Grudge.  Happy Birthday John Cho!   

#JohnCho, #Harold&KumarGotoWhiteCastle, #StarTrekBeyond, #Searching

Happy Birthday Chris Evans!

Happy Birthday Chris Evans!  One of Chris Evans’ early film roles was the lead in the comedy, Not Another Teen Movie (2001).  His first genre part was as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, in Fantastic Four (2005).  Evans provided the voice of Casey in the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2007).  He returned as the Human Torch in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).  Evans voiced Stewart Stanton in the sci fi animated film, Battle for Terra (2007).  In 2009, Evans had superpowers as a Mover, Nick Grant, in Push.  He was in another comic book adaptation, The Losers (2010), based on the Andy Diggle and Jock Vertigo comic.  One of his greatest comic book characters was as stuntman superstar Lucas Lee in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010).  

His iconic role was as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) directed by Joe Johnston and then The Avengers (2012).  Evans’ next genre project was Snowpiercer (2013) directed by Bong Joon-ho and based on the French graphic novel.  He reprised the role of Captain America in one of the MCU’s best films, Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and then later in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Captain America: Civil War (2016).  A brilliant dramatic part for Chris Evans was as Frank Adler, the uncle of his genius niece, Mary, in Gifted (2017).  He also cameo’d in Spider-Man: Homecoming that year as Captain America.  Of course, we have Cap returning in Avengers: Infinity War and finally(?) in Avengers: Endgame.  He was in the Broadway play, Lobby Hero, with Michael Cera (who played Scott Pilgrim).  Chris Evans is currently in the Apple+ drama Defending Jacob based on the William Linday novel.  Happy Birthday Chris Evans!

#ChrisEvans, #ScottPilgrmvstheWorld, #CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier, #DefendingJacob 

Artemis Fowl Review!

Artemis Fowl is a world filled with fantastic characters and a super-charged blend of James Bond, fantasy, sci-fi, a little steampunk!  It is based on a fantasy series by Eion (pronounced similar to "Owen") Colfer with eight books starting with the first novel in 2001.  I met Mr. Colfer at Comic Con, but did not read the books.  It was set for release on August 9th last year and then moved to May 29th of this year.  The film is now released on Disney+ and currently streaming.  The film is directed by Kenneth Branagh who previously directed Cinderella (2015).  The screenwriting team include Conor McPherson who wrote and directed the supernatural film The Eclipse (2009) and Hamish McColl who co-wrote the story for Paddington (2014).  

It opens with a beach in Ireland that leads to the Fowl Manor, this is so fanciful with a lighthouse, and a mishmash of architectural designs.  This shifts to news reports about another theft from Artemis Fowl, this is the father of the main character, and we get his possible accomplice taken away by the police.  This is Mulch Diggums played by Josh Gad who was also in Branagh’s adaptation, Murder on the Orient Express (2017).  He is interrogated by the police and has a gravely voice, critics noted that it is an imitation of Christian Bale’s Batman, but I think it is sounds like someone who has screamed for hours.  Mulch does resemble Hagrid from the Harry Potter films.  

On the interrogation video, Mulch begins to explain about Fowl’s son, young Artemis Fowl (Ferdia Shaw) is in a surf suit heading out to the beach with his board.  His Artemis Fowl is a twelve year old boy who struggles to understand a complex world and then becomes confident, in control, against impossible odds.  Mulch continues his narration shifting to Artemis’ school.  Artemis is a true genius prodigy, far more advanced than any school, and he is later interviewed by Dr. Po (Gerard Horan).  The actor was also in Murder on the Orient Express.  He brings up Artemis’ mother and father, Artemis counters by his analysis of Dr. Po’s chair.  Artemis walks out.  He rides a Onewheel board back home and passes some standing stones, ancient stones in a circle.  

Then, we see his father, Artemis Fowl, Sr. played by Colin Farell.  He has acted in films like The Gentlemen (2019), also Disney movies such as Saving Mr. Banks (2013), and has experience with fantasy films like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016).  Fowl, Sr., is an antiques dealer, and he shared his knowledge of fairy tales to his son.  They discuss the fairy tales together, he tries to tell Artie about a meeting between a fairy and a human outside of the manor, but Artemis is worried over his father’s next trip.  This seems to hint at a character (seen later in the film?), that begins the connection with the Fowl family.  Artemis, Sr. mentions the ending of a story. 

He hugs his son and says he wants to keep him safe.  Artemis, Sr. boards the helicopter at the manor and leaves his parting words to his son.  We see the manor at night with the sweeping of the lighthouse light which seems magical.  The next morning, toy robots start whirring, but Artemis is wakened by some noise downstairs.  Below, is Domovoi, “Dom”, Butler (Nonso Anozie) who is talking on the phone.  Anozie played the captain in Branagh’s Cinderella (2015).  He seems to be part of the Branagh company and really has fun with his part as the adult mercenary, but defers to Artemis' intelligence.  Dom has blond hair and strange, blue eyes.  Mulch explains his background including “six years of strength training at Gold’s Gym, Venice, California”, very funny.  

Artemis is getting a glass of milk when he hears that his father is missing in the South China Seas on the news report.  It is also details that he is connected to thefts of the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum and the Book of Kells.  Artemis drops the glass and is taken away by Dom.  In the books, Artemis was a criminal mastermind, but the film has him as a boy genius caught up in the mystery of his father.  He races to answer the phone, it is a mysterious voice, kinda reminds me of Parseltongue, a hooded figure who knows it is the son and says that his father is now a prisoner.  Part of the adventure is for Artemis to understand the truth more than traveling across the world to find his father. 

The figure holds a glowing green device and Artemis, Sr. shouts that all of it is true.  The captor says that Artemis’ father stole something, the Aculos.  He has three days to find the Aculos.  Dom takes Artemis to a hallway and activates a secret door with a twist of a cane.  This leads to a room that Dom says was meant to be a secret, it contains vials, teeth, and artifacts that look like they were from Prince Nuada’s room from Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008).  Butler mentions a journal and Artemis starts to examine things to find it.  Artemis recalls his father’s parting words that may provide clues.  Mulch reveals that fairies have lived hidden away for a thousand years.  I recall the Irish fairies are hidden away in the hills.  

We get an underground world with lava and then a strange city of flying craft and fungi-like buildings, nice designs.  It is fascinating that there is a fairy world that seems upgraded to The Matrix levels.  Mulch explains that it is Haven City, home of the fairies, and we see an almost steampunk-like passenger train.  Exiting it is Officer Shore (Lara McDonnell), she has an iridescent, green uniform that is almost like a sci-fi guard, with a bicyclist-like helmet, and pointed ears.  The costume designs are by Sammy Sheldon who also worked on Ex Machina (2014).  McDonnell was in the romance, The Delinquent Season (2018).  She is the hard working LEP officer with a family connection to Artemis.  The fairy news reports the loss of the Aculos, kinda clever since we’ve seen the Earth news, this leads to Mulch’s entry into the story.  

He tries to convince other Dwarfs that he is a Dwarf even though he towers over them.  There is a giant Dwarf, Hendel, in the novel Sword of Shannara (1977).  Mulch is sentenced for his crime, Tunneling and Entering (funny!) to 400 years in prison.   He meets up with Holly Short and steals a music box from her.  The mysterious captor meets with a prisoner and wants him to enter Fairy Command.  Officer Short falls in with the other officers of the LEP (Lower Elements Police) recon, a nice pun there.  They see the arrival of Commander Julius Root (Judi Dench).  This is another collaboration with Branagh after Murder on the Orient Express.  She is the M of the fairy division and of course was M in Skyfall (2012).  I’m getting a Gollum-like vibe to Root’s voice.  She announces that the loss of the Aculos threatens the peace of fairy kind.

Holly rushes over to speak to her commander that her father is missing and was last seen at the Hill of Tara.  The commander forbids Holly from going there.  Above a seaside cliff, amoung ruins, Dom spares with a shorter opponent in kendo gear.  His opponent “who understands the complicated mind of a 12 year old”, funny, takes off her helmet and revealed to be Juliet Butler (Juliet Smart), niece to Dom.  Smart is in the ITV fantasy series The Worst Witch.  She brings a sandwhich to Artemis who has been working for twelve hours on his computer to work out the location of the Aculos.  He hopes to find a fairy ally at the Hill of Tara.  I’ve been to the Hill of Tara, outside of Dublin, it is a very ancient Irish site.  

This leads to Foaly (Nikesh Patel), centaur and “fairy tech genius”, Mulch notes “do not ask him for a ride”, I love the short bits of humor.  Basically, he is the Q, the tech guy, of the fairy set.  Patel was in the action film, London Has Fallen (2016).  At the command center, he is greeted by Holly and Commander Root.  Foaly tells them that there is a missing fairy and that all other officers are out trying to find the Aculos.  Commander Root sends Holly.  Foaly accompanies Holly to a capsule that uses lava to accelerate.  Briar Cudgeon (Joshua McGuire) is a LEP lieutenant suspicious of Holly because she is the daughter of Beachwood Short.  McGuire was in the comedy Old Boys (2018).  Cudgeon is sure Beachwood was the thief of the Aculos.  

The capsule is launched from a volcano, the capsule and volcano reminds me of Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth.  Foley sends Holly outside of the capsule and this is when she starts to fly with her fairy wings.  Dom reports in to Artemis on the Hill of Tara noting that he is freezing.  We see that he is in jungle camoflague.  Holly flies towards Martina Franca, in the southern tip of Italy, where there is a wedding celebration.  A young girl takes away an ice cream cone, but faces a massive troll.  Holly comes in to save the girl.  The troll starts to rampage through the celebration, but LEP has some MIB tech.  Artemis and Holly have to uncover the villain behind the plot to threaten the human and fairy worlds!  I would really like to see the next Artemis Fowl movie and more than that read the book!   Artemis Fowl is a fantasy movie with an incredible fairy world, part sci fi, with the international globe trotting of James Bond, and all fun.   

Four Aculos out of Five! 

#ArtemisFowl, #KennethBranagh, #FerdiaShaw, #LaraMcDonnell, #JudiDench 

Strolling through the (Theme) Park One Day: E.T. Adventure!

There are certain icons for Universal Studios and one of them is E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.  The movie was a phenomenon in 1982.  In 1985, there was a follow-up to the film with the novel, E.T.: The Book of the Green Planet, by William Kotzwinkle (he wrote the novelization of the film) “based on a story by Steven Spielberg.”  The E.T. Adventure attraction opened in Universal Studios Florida on June 7, 1990.  This was at the Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone.  It opened in Universal Studios Hollywood on June 12, 1991 in the lower lot.  It closed on March 14, 2003, the lower lot was devoted to thrill rides, and Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride replaced it.  Steven Spielberg insisted that the Florida attraction never close and it is still open today in Orlando.  

Outside of the E.T. Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, 2010, photo by the author. 

At Universal Studios Hollywood, the outside queue has the Speak and Spell with the umbrella, this is inside at Orlando.  You enter the doors and queue up in rows.  On large screens on the wall above your row you get a pre-show introduction by Steven Spielberg and later E.T., Spielberg says, “E.T. needs your help.”  He explains that E.T.’s teacher, Botanicus, has called E.T. back.  A trip of 3 million light years!  You have bring him home to heal the dying planet.  Next, you go into a room to give your first name to an assistant that sits with a computer, hopefully your name is not too difficult to type, then you are given an Interplaneteary Passport, on the back is a scan code.  The next queue area is through a cave tunnel to a forest, this is stunning with pine tree scents before the wonderful scents in Soaring.  John Williams’ music is throughout the ride.  

This is the photo op, not the actual E.T. Adventure ride!, 2010, photo by the author.

There are astronauts in the forest, you see E.T.'s Speak and Spell phone home device, there is a tiny waterfall, finally on a rocky ledge there is lasers and smoke that herald the appearance of Botanicus!  He is an older E.T. with a staff that has a crystal globe.  I dunno I'm always fascinated by mentor figures and this is the Yoda of E.T.'s world.  You finally reach the load area.  Your passport is scanned before you enter the ride vehicle.  The ride vehicle has rows of four seats, there are bicycle handles, and a basket, E.T.’s head pops up at certain times in the ride.  You see animatronic scientists, equipment, flashlights in the dark forest.  Suddenly, a truck’s bright head lights show and it lurches toward you!  A police officer tries to stop you as your bikes and your hear the thump as your tires roll over a police car underneath.  Two police cars try to wedge you in, E.T. says “Fly” and you are lifted over them.  

You are basically taken through the events of the movie just in case you somehow missed it.   Then, you taken over a panorama of the city similar to London in Peter Pan’s Flight.  The standout is the stars and full moon where you see shadows of bikes flying across it!  E.T. says, “Home, home” and you are taken to the side and hear the crash of a warp, very cool, some flashing lights.  It is one thing to experience a film in an attraction, but this ride takes you beyond the movie!  Then, you emerge on the Green Planet, that warp takes you planet side, 25 years before Han Solo swiped the maneuver in Force Awakens.  Fountains stream, there is lava flows, and steam blasts as you pass Botanicus next to the orb ship.  The heartlight sparkles kinda like Tinker Bell, we see E.T.’s heartlight, and then this opens to some of the craziest and wonderful alien creatures ever seen.  

E.T. dressed up by Gertie closet photo op, photo by the author.

Strange, root-like creatures, mushroom aliens, an Ordon?, who sings, “Welcome home”, I think E.T. identifies them, but it is not too clear.   There is Madon, a tiny alien with almost Rastafarian hair that looks like plant vines.  Then, there is a celebration, tiny E.T.s are everywhere, playing music and singing the E.T. theme, they hanging from every gourd and vine.   In a way, it kinda reminds me of Felucia, the fungus planet from Star Wars. A small pond has a lil’ E.T. there water streams around him.  We finally get the gourd home of E.T., who says “Goodbye” and also your name.  There are no other rides in the world that says your name and to have a farewell from E.T., priceless.  Next to the exit and enterance is E.T.’s Toy Closet & Photo Spot.  There is all sorts of E.T. merch and two photo ops with a bike next to the moon and E.T. in the closet.  

You can probably watch a ride video, but this is not the same as experiencing it.  There have been criticisms that the attraction has not aged well.  Peter Pan’s Flight had upgrades in 2015.  How to plus the attraction.  Number one, sell stuffies and figurines of all of the aliens, I will buy all of them.  Two, have a ride photo somewhere in the ride, I would say at the Green Planet.  Three, the heartlight sparkles are lights, they can be projections, in fact I would use projections and digital screens to enhance the ride especially the hyperspace tunnel.  The passport is kinda cool, you have to drop it at the end of the ride, but you can also use your phone to have a bar code.  Also, there can be a game to find E.T. or other aliens hiding in the forest using your phone.  I also wouldn’t mind profiles of all of the aliens that you can access on your phone.  I would say this attraction still ranks as one of my favorite movie-themed dark rides and worth a trip to Universal Studios Florida.    

#ETAdventure, #UniversalStudiosFlorida, #ETTheBookoftheGreenPlanet, #StevenSpielberg 

Happy Birthday Michael J. Fox!

Happy Birthday Michael J. Fox!  He had many tv roles, but it was really Alex P. Keaton that made Fox well known when the sitcom Family Ties ran from 1982-1989.  His most timeless part was as Marty McFly in Back to the Future (1985).  Fox won Emmy awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986-1988.  He was also the lead in Teen Wolf (1985).  Then, he was in the comedy movie, The Secret of My Success (1987).  One of Michael’s dramatic roles that stays with me is Brian De Palma’s Vietnam War drama, Casualties of War (1989).  He returned as Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II (1989) and then Back to the Future Part III (1990).  Fox had a 1991 episode of Tales from the Crypt.  He was a paranormal investigator, Frank Bannister, in Peter Jackson’s The Frighteners (1996). 

Then, Michael J. Fox was in Tim Burton’s wacky invasion Mars Attacks! (1996).  Next, he was in another sitcom, Spin City (1996-2000) playing Mike Flaherty, Deputy Mayor of New York City.  Fox repeated his Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his last season.  In 2000, Fox founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.  He voiced Milo James Thatch in Disney’s animated film, Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001). In 2002, Fox recieved his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Next, he had his own sitcom, The Michael J. Fox Show (2013-2014) which ran one season.  Fox was in the Designated Survivor (2018) television series.  Recently, he was in the sci fi movie about time travel, See You Yesterday (2019) released on Netflix.  Happy Birthday Michael J. Fox!

#MichaelJFox, #FamilyTies, #BacktotheFuture, #SeeYouYesterday 

Happy Birthday Natalie Portman!

Happy Birthday Natalie Portman!  Her first role was as Mathilda in Luc Besson’s  Leon: The Professional (1994).  One of her first genre roles was in Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks! (1996).  She played Anne Frank on Broadway in The Dairy of Anne Frank (1997).  Portman’s next film was as Queen Padme Amidala Naberrie in The Phantom Menace (1999).  She returned as Padme as senator in Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005).  Natalie Portman’s interesting role was as Ever in V for Vendetta (2005) based on the Alan Moore and David Lloyd comic books.  Next, she was in the fantasy, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (2007). 

Her most recognized part was as Nina Sayers in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan winning her the Academy Award for best actress.  Strangely, she was in the fantasy comedy, Your Highness (2011) as Isabel, an archer and huntress.  Then, Portman entered the MCU as Jane Foster in Kenneth Branagh’s Thor (2011).  She returned as Jane Foster in Thor: The Dark World (2013).  Portman directed her first film in A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015).  She took the lead role in Jackie (2016) with more award recognition.  This year, Portman had the Alex Garland sci fi film, Annihilation (2018).  Jane Foster played by Portman was of course in Avengers: Endgame (2019).  She starred in Lucy in the Sky (2019) as an astronaut disturbed from her trip to space.  Happy Birthday Natalie Portman!   

#NataliePortman, #LeonTheProfessional, #StarWarsRevengeoftheSith, #BlackSwan 

Bothans Missing from Live Action Star Wars!

In Return of the Jedi (1983), Mon Mothma says, “Many Bothans died to bring us this information.”  This is a mention in the Star Wars films, like the Clone Wars as an event, was not properly developed in the Sequel Trilogy. Details of what happened with the two dozen spies was explained in The Essential Guide to Alien Species (2001) by Ann Margaret Lewis. In Legends of course, the Bothans were developed and first appear in Heir to the Empire (1991) by Timothy Zahn. A Bothan, their home planet was Bothawui, was seen as a figure in the New Republic in the form of Borsk Fey’lya. 

Bothans have long snouts like horses with long hair and pointed ears. The Heir to the Empire Sourcebook (1992) by Bill Slavicsek for Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game depicted the Bothans. The Dark Horse adaptation of Heir to the Empire ran from 1995 to 1996. It featured art by Olivier Vatine and Fred Blanchard. The Shadow of the Empire (1996) novel by Steve Perry had a Bothan. In 1998, the Special Edition Limited expansion of the Decipher game, Star Wars Customizable Card Game, had a Bothan Spy card. All of these have fallen into Legends. There are no appearances of Bothans in Clone Wars or Star Wars: Rebels.   

In canon, they appear in the Bloodline (2016) novel by Claudia Gray. We have not seen them in comic books or film. Still, there are spies in the Sequel Trilogy with Bazine Netal in Force Awakens (2015). On the spy borderline, DJ, a codebreaker was played by Benicio del Toro in Last Jedi (2017). His character would have some dimension as a Bothan. In Rise of Skywalker (2019), an informant, Boolio gives the heroes some intelligence, the work of a spy. 

There is also Vi Moradi in Galaxy’s Edge and Kaz Xiono is a spy in the Star Wars: Resistance animated series. There was a spy in Rogue One (2016) with Cassian Andor. It is  possible that a Bothan could appear in The Mandalorian or possibly the Andor series that could show the Bothans first helping the Rebels. If so, I still see a lack of respect of the Bothans as a part of Star Wars, with no appearances in current comic books, video games, television, or movies, across the Star Wars media. 

Instead of developing the Star Wars universe, in the Sequel Trilogy, we are suddenly introduced to a new alien species. This is the Abednedo with long snouts seen with Ello Asty in Force Awakens.  We see other Abednedo so they are a part of the Resistance. Still, we have never seen them before and it is never explained why they joined the Resistance. It would make more sense to have Bothan pilots and characters. They were instrumental to the Rebel Alliance and Heir to the Empire had Bothans becoming an important part of the New Republic.  

There was a Chancellor, Lanever Villecham, in Force Awakens, a fatality of the Starkiller. He was of an unknown species, Tarsunt, partially furry so he could have easily been a Bothan. We have seen that the Expanded Universe of Legends material brought into canon. Bothans could have been developed by ILM. We could have Bothan pilots and technicians take an active role in fighting for the Resistance. Would I add Bothan pilots in the Force Awakens? Yes!, and instead of ignoring Star Wars lore, it would respect Star Warriors.    

#Bothans, #SequelTrilogy, #ReturnOfTheJedi, #MonMothma, #EssentialGuideToAlienSpecies, #AnnMargaretLewis, #HeirToTheEmpire, #TimothyZahn, #HeirToTheEmpireSourcebook

#BillSlavicsek, #OlivierVatine, #FredBlanchard, #ShadowOfTheEmpire, #StevePerry, #StarWarsCustomizableCardGame, #BothanSpy, #Bloodline, #ClaudiaGray, #ForceAwakens 

Happy Birthday Liam Neeson!

Happy Birthday Liam Neeson!  He has a long genre career starting with Gawain in Excalibur (1981).  Neeson was also in the fantasy film 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 iconic.  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).  Liam 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 played Bryan Mills in Taken (2008) which led to a series of films; Taken 2 (2012) and Taken 3 (2014).  There was a Taken television series from 2017 to 2018.  

He returned to voice Aslan in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010).  Hannibal, in The A-Team (2010) was played by Neeson in the tv adaptation of the action show.  Neeson played Zeus in the Clash of the Titans (2010) remake and the sequel Wrath of the Titans (2012).  In 2011, Neeson was The Grey (2011) a favorite of Jeff Winger from Community.  Neeson was Admiral Shane in Battleship (2012).  He returned in The Dark Knight Rises (2012).  He also returned as Qui-Gon Jinn in episodes of Clone Wars.  Neeson was the voice of Bad Cop in The Lego Movie (2014).  In 2014, Neeson was Mustafa in the animated adaptation of The Prophet (2014) based on the Kahlil Gibran novel.  The voice of The Monster was Liam Neeson in A Monster Calls (2016).  In 2016, Liam Neeson played Ferreira in Martin Scorsese’s powerful Silence (2016).  Neeson was in the action film, Cold Pursuit (2019) as Nels Coxman.  He was Harry Rawlings in the crime film Widows (2018).  He played Agent High T in Men in Black International (2019).  Liam Neeson has an incredible list of movies, award winning dramas, sci fi, horror, and fantasy.  Happy Birthday Liam Neeson!

#LiamNeeson, #QuiGonJinn, #BatmanBegins, #Aslan, #Taken

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, Karl played the villainous Gavin in Pete’s Dragon (2016).  He was the Asgardian Skurge in Thor: Ragnarok (2017).  He was in the crime movie Bent (2018).  Currently, 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 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).  Review here: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2020/05/retro-review-patriot.html. 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.  He voices The Judge in the Netflix animated series Castlevania based on the video game.  In the animated film, Scoob, Isaacs plays Dick Dastardly. Happy Birthday Jason Isaacs!    

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

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.  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).  

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).  Jolie has Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) with one of the directors of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.  She stars in the fantasy Come Away directed by Brenda Chapman.  Jolie also stars as Thena in The Eternals.  Happy Birthday Angelina Jolie!   

#AngelinaJolie, #GirlInterrupted, #LaraCroftTombRaider, #MaleficentMistressofEvil

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.  In 1993, Stevenson played Steve McMillan in Melrose Place.  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

DC’s Stargirl, “Icicle”, Review!

We get a flashback of eight years, the setting of the series is Blue Valley so noting it again is not really needed.  Jordan Mahkent, the Icicle, his breath comes out icy, brings his son to say his farewell to his mother, Christine (Amanda Lavassani).  She likes his drawing of a flower.  Jordan wants revenge for what happened to his wife.  Christine has Jordan continue with his plan and promise to make the world safe for their son.  She dies and Jordan goes outside in the night to unleash his powers which forms a cross in the garden in anguish.  This is a very dark beginning for the show, but it does make the villains interesting to a point.  Courtney checks on her uniform which she puts in her backpack.  Pat is playing his favorite songs and wants a family dinner.  Courtney wants to go find the rest of the Injustice Society.  She finally heads to school.  

Henry Jr. is sleeping in a chair by his father in a coma and he is startled by a coffee cup that was sliding by itself.  A hint of Brainwave power?  This is something the peppy superheroine hasn’t thought about that her actions sent a father to the hospital.  He checks on his father and then sees Jordan.  Then, Jordan makes a call.  It is not picked up by William Zarick (Joe Knezevich).  His teenage son with glasses, Joey Zarck (Wil Deusner), rushes over to show him a card trick.  William shows him about distraction while his wife, Denise (Cynthia Evans) gives him his magician’s hat.  This family is instantly interesting.  Enough time is finally given to get a sense of character.  Courtney goes to school and Joey introduces himself.  He has Courtney help out with a card trick for the regional talent show.  He says Cindy (Meg DeLacy) and her friend always win though they seem to win in tacky, disco outfits.  Joey fails in the trick, but with the students watching, Courtney lies to make Joey triumphant.  She sees a girl’s locker is marked up.

   

                                                      DC’s Stargirl -- “Icicle” -- BREC BASSINGER -- Jace Downs/The CW.

At the medical center, Pat walks in and sees Henry Sr. in his hospital bed, he asks a doctor about him.  William returns home to see Icicle who says Brainwave is in a coma.  It is strange that we see a defeated supervillain and feel sympathy towards him.   William Zarick is asked to sit by Jordan.  William is also known as the supervillain The Wizard.  He says a girl now has the power of Starman.  William has arranged for covering Henry’s costume.  Jordan has hunted down everyone he thinks responsible for his wife’s death.  It is strange that villains are the ones who are interesting for this show.  Pat is working on S.T.R.I.P.E. and gets a call about Mike.  He was playing games in class.  Pat admits to playing arcade games including Paper Boy.  Like when he was a boy, Pat is going to make Mike take a paper route.  It seems like Mike is getting more disipline than Courtney who goes running around without a care.  

At a diorama of the town, Jordan introduces himself to the city personnel, and he has a plan to rebuild the country.  This is more of a constructive dream than the superheroes.  Barbara mentions their plans involve taking down a theater.  Jordan overrules Steven (Eric Goins) and goes with keeping the theater.  Courtney Yolanda (Yvette Monreal) bullied by Cindy and her tacky friend.  Her locker is now covered with flowers.  In class, Cameron  (Hunter Sansone) is drawing a flower and Courtney realizes from the flower that Cameron drew the grafitti on the locker.  We also know that this is the son we saw earlier with his dying mother.  Courtney walks over to a park and then is suddenly chilled by winds.  There is a giant icy star in the park and Courtney runs off.  She returns home to find Pat to tell him about the star pattern.  Mike interrupts them so Pat gives him some money to get something at a store.  They see the staff ready for Courtney.  She rides S.T.R.I.P.E. to the park.  An icy blast hits the robot freezing it.

DC’s Stargirl -- “Icicle” -- LUKE WILSON, BREC BASSINGER -- Jace Downs/The CW.

Barbara returns home to find Mike playing his portable game.  Stargirl walks through the forest, a blast has frozen the Cosmic Staff, S.T.R.I.P.E.’s rocket fist knocks Icicle to a bridge.  He is in his Iceman-like supervillain form, using his powers to its fullest, but what doesn’t make sense is if he has another identity as a city leader, then why jeopardize it?  Why not a hood to hide his identity?  Also, if he is the leader of the Injustice Society, why not send another villain to take care of the hero?  He freezes the bridge to send a school bus sliding to the edge.  He is worried about if his son is safe so endangers a school bus?  Doesn’t make sense.  The robot flies in to save the bus.  Stargirl raises the staff to blind the students.  Icicle sends a wind to knock a card out of Joey’s hands he goes to get it as a truck swerves on the ice.  He is so worried about a card that he would risk a dangerous situation?  Kinda forced.  

Night, Denise hears the news reports and then sees her husband, William, he is silent.   Their son is dead.  William goes to a safe and heads out with a wand.   Yes, he feels angry at what happened with his son, but it doesn’t seem his handling of the super powered and the other people is even considered.  Also, it seems a waste of characters they could have built over several episodes.  At the garage, Courtney is tearful, it seems like the first time she is emotional.  Pat takes her flying on the robot.  He brings her to the darkened headquarters of the Justice Society.  She looks at the poster of Wildcat.  There is also Flash, Green Lantern, Starman, Doctor Fate.  The posters look like Alex Ross paintings.  She sees Dr. Midnite’s owl.  Pat warns her about the “pink pen”, the Thunderbolt.  Again, there are no defenses for the superheroes weapons or headquarters.  He tried to convince her that the JSA were not enough to take on the Injustice Society.  There is a dark ending to the show, but it is confusing since this contradicts the main goal of Icicle to protect his son.  

Three Cosmic Staves out of Five!  

#DCsStargirl, #Icicle, #JoeKnezevich, #WilDeusner