The Eternals in comics and the MCU!

The Eternals are going to break out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie directed by Chloe Zhao and they may be a little known superhero group!  The comic book had no involvement by Stan Lee and the other one would be Guardians of the Galaxy.  Jack Kirby would be known as a co-creator for most of the Marvel Universe; Captain America and Red Skull (with Joe Simon), the Hank Pym Ant-Man, Janet Van Dyne Wasp, Black Panther, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and Loki, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, the Avengers, also Groot based on an alien invasion story.  Outside of the MCU characters, there is the Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer, Doctor Doom, Galactus, Inhumans, the X-Men and Magneto.  Still, he moved to DC Comics, his arrival was promoted, “Kirby is Coming!” Kirby had destroyed the Nine Worlds in Ragnarok in the back-up story, “Tales of Asgard.”   He created one of the best villains in Darkseid.  This was in Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 (1970).  He was in Zack Snyder’s Justice League.  

The shattered parts of the Nine Worlds reformed into the dual worlds of Apokolips, run by Darkseid, and his rival, Highfather on New Genesis.  It was intended to be a film by Ava Duvernay, but was cancelled.  Still, the story of the New Gods was unfinished, the closest to closure was the last issue of the reprint series, New Gods #6 (1984) and Kirby’s graphic novel, Hunger Dogs (1985).  The story goes is that Jack Kirby took the ideas from the book Chariot of the Gods (1968) by Erich Von Daniken, this with Kirby’s interest in Aztecs and UFOs, turned into a new concept, Eternals!  Now, there are several races with superpowers.  The Celestials are the beings with “phenomenonal cosmic power”, Ego from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 was one.  The remains of one made up Knowhere in Guardians of the Galaxy.  The Celestials appeared on Earth in the First Host.  First, the experiments of the Celestial, Ziran the Tester, produced the Deviants, twisted people with powers that hid underground.  The Celestial, Nezarr the Calculator, manipulated humanity to form the Eternals.  

The interstellar race, the Kree, also experimented on humans resulting in the Inhumans. They went into hiding.  We saw Inhumans in the second season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Inhumans show, but it seems they are forgotten in the MCU history.  Lastly, the Celestial, Oneg the Prober, created a gene that went dormant in humanity until they emerged as mutants.  It is uncertain if these or any Celestials will show up in the Eternals movie.  So let’s begin with Ikaris, the leader of the Eternals, introduced in Eternals #1 (1976).  He is going to be played by Richard Madden who was known for playing Robb Stark in Game of Thrones.   Ikaris is like other Eternals, basically immortal, and super strong.  He could fly and can unleash blasts of cosmic energy from his eyes kinda like Cyclops, but the power is on Silver Surfer level.  Ikaris is featured as the central character in the comic books.  His name has a connection to Greek mythology which is because they are models for the belief in Greek gods, but in hiding.  His name in the human world is Ike Harris. 

Salma Hayek is going to portray Ajak, the “spiritual leader”, in the Eternals film. Hayek will be in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.  A gender change from the comic books where he was introduced in Eternals #2 (1976).  In the comics, he was mistaken for the Aztec god, Quetzacoatl, and Incans thought he was Tecumotzin.  In the movie, Ajak is known as a healer.  One of the most important Eternals is Sersi played by Gemma Chan.  The actress was known for playing Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel (2019).  Serisi first appeared in Eternals #3 (1976).  Sersi uses the cosmic energy to manipulate matter, she transformed Odysseus’ crew into pigs, and was in New York during the Deviant invasion.  She was a part of the Avengers in the comics and joined the team in Avengers #314 (1990).  Thena will be played by Angelina Jolie in the movie and introduced in Eternals #5 (1976).  She is the daughter of Zuras who is the model for Zeus.  The Uni-Mind, a merging of all of the Eternals, was formed by Zuras and appeared in Eternals #12 (1977).  Zuras was the leader of the Eternals, but the tactical leader was Ikaris.  She is a warrior usually in golden armor.  

Also introduced in Eternals #5 is Makkari, another gender change, played by Lauren Ridloff in the Chloe Zhao movie.  Ridloff was Connie in The Walking Dead.  She will be the first deaf super hero.  The comics character was known as Mark Curry and was known for super speed.  Lia McHugh plays Sprite, the trickster of the Eternals set on the Loki level creating illusions, with another gender change.  McHugh was in the sci fi film, Songbird (2019).  Eternals #9 (1977) was Sprite’s first appearance.  The comics character was the basis for Puck in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  The Eternal, Kingo, is played by Kumail Nanjiani.  He was in the action comedy Stuber (2019).  The comic book Kingo Sunen was a samurai in ancient Japan and Eternals #11 (1977) was his introduction. Another noteworthy Eternal is Gilgamesh with Ma Dong-seok playing the character in the film.  The actor appeared in the horror movie Train to Busan (2016).  The comics character is one of the strongest Eternals and known as the Forgotten One.  Eternals #13 (1977) was his debut.  He was also another member of the Avengers, Gilgamesh may replace the Hulk as the power hitter, he joined in Avengers #300 (1989).  

Phastos first appeared in Eternals #1 and he will be played by Brian Tyree Henry.  The actor has recently appeared in Godzilla vs. Kong.  The character is an inventor and trying to secretly help humanity.  There are also the Deviants, unseen at this point, I think they will be like the Skrulls in Captain Marvel.  They are one of the first races created by the First Host.  During the Second Host, the Deviants attacked Atlantis and led to its sinking.  They went underground and waited until the Third Host of the Celestials when a truce was made with the Eternals.  The movie will most likely be the time of the Fourth Host.  The Deviants were led by the warlord Kro, introduced in Eternals #1, and also the spiritual leader, Brother Tode.  In ancient Babylon, Thena fell in love with Kro.  The only actor with unlisted credit for the movie is Haaz Sleiman who appeared in the action series, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.  He may be playing Kro.  Lastly, we have an non-Eternal, the Black Knight.  Dane Whitman is not seen in the film’s promotion at this time.  I suspect the character possessed by the Ebony Blade may be a cameo or supporting character.  He is played by Kit Harington also from Game of Thrones fame.  Whitman may be searching for the Eternals, the comics character first appeared in Avengers #47 (1967).  He has a connection with Sersi and joined the Avengers with her on the team.  It will be interesting to see if the Eternals film follows the comics, goes its own way, but can’t wait to see these superheroes! 

#Eternals, #JackKirby,  #ChloeZhao, #Ikaris, #RichardMadden, #Ajak, #SalmaHayek, #Sersi, #GemmaChan, #Thena, #AngelinaJolie 

Strolling Through the (Theme) Park One Day: Knotts Season Passholder Day!

Knotts Berry Farm has opened for season passholders on May 6th!  Season passholder days continue until May 20th when the park opens to the public.  Reservations are still required, but are not difficult to make online.  I was about to make a reservation for the first day, but had to reschedule.  Instead, I made a reservation for Saturday, this was at 1:30 p.m.  I also made a later reservation for 10 a.m. at park opening.  Hot take, one year of Knott’s is $101, which is LESS than a day at Disneyland!  First, it was a hot day, take precautions!  Second, it was crowded, more so than the Festival of Boysenberry.  I later got a Boysenberry Float and only found a table at the top level of the Grizzly Creek Lodge across the park.  I was surprised that there was no temperature check, it's just a fast process, but now it is simple virus questions.  I went first to Ghost Town and went to the Livery Horse Stable.  I talked to the worker there and he said the horses were used for the Butterfield Stagecoach.  He also noted there is no date when the stagecoach returns. 

I then headed to Knott’s Beary Tales, it was closed for the day, kinda disappointing since it was one of the few attractions that I could ride.  This was a classic ride that I remember had robot bears that sing to you and had delicious boysenberry smells.  It is based on the virtual shooting game from the previous Voyage to the Iron Reef which closed in January 5, 2020.  I didn’t see the characters out at that time, but I do remember the little bear, Boysen.  This is Knott’s 100th anniversary!  While I was not able to go on Beary Tales, there was Cordy's Corner, a must visit.  There is an art gallery and exclusive merch, I saw a Soap Box Rider Original Rider t-shirt, I was tempted, but waiting to ride Beary Tales first.  The art gallery, Harvest of Memories, has all of the classic rides and characters.  I saw Crafty Coyote stealing those boysenberry pies on Beary Tales.  Also, the Calico Mine Train the Parachute Sky Jump, Ghost Town, and best of all, Walter and Cordelia Knott.  Next door, which may be the exit of Beary Tales, is the Factory Store.  This is another MUST go since they pipe in boysenberry smells.  Also, because there is a soap box racer ride vehicle that the sign said was recovered from the desert!  

There is an incredible assortment of stuffies and t-shirts of Beary Tales, Soap Box Racers, and other parts of Knott’s.  I would have zero sales resistance if I actually got on the attraction.   So there was one ride that I thought could ride after watching ride videos, Calico River Rapids!  Past the turn of the entrance, there was a line, it was spaced, but that doesn’t seem to apply to teenagers.  The queue is interesting since there are a few peeks into the attraction with scenes of animal animatronics.  There was a cabin with chickens, a henhouse with a fox popping out of one hole, several gophers popping up with a bear cub almost like a conductor.  Tips for the ride, one was it was difficult to see with the mask so I paid close attention to walking up and down steps.  Two, keep your feet on the middle podium, it is cone-shaped so may be difficult, but the floor gets drenched with the waves splashing in the vehicle.  Another one is don’t lean back, my shirt was soaked from the waves.  Otherwise, it is a fun experience and you can actually see the Bigfoot which was a change when it was a Sasquatch-less Bigfoot Rapids.  All in all, some fun, some disappointments.  Still, the crowds made it difficult to wait in lines and to find tables to drink or eat.  I would say unless you really want to go on Knotts Beary Tales, I do, wait a bit for the park to open up more.  

#KnottsBerryFarm, #SeasonPassholderDays, #KnottsBearyTales, #CalicoRiverRapids  

Brzrkr #2 Review!

Brzrkr #2 features the character that resembles Keanu Reeves now a prehistoric warrior!  The bloody swath of Brzrkr cut through a military operation and operated by the government intent on making more soldiers like him.  His story continues with the second issue featuring a cover of the soldier with many weapons, a white background with a red slash, by Rafael Grampá.  The creative team is Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt, writing, with Ron Garney as artist.  B. is explaining that his people were nomadic until finding a valley.  He says it was 80,000 years ago, this would be roughly the Paleolithic period, the Old Stone Age.  This had humans along with Neanderthals and Denisovans though they are not in this comic.  The other immortal comics hero, the Eternal Warrior, lived in Anatolia, the modern day land would be Turkey, 3268 B.C. in the Bronze Age.  We see his people leaving their cave home with artwork on the walls, and building round huts that are put on fire by rival tribes.  

Early civilizations may have started in Mesopotamia, currently Iraq and Kuwait, and there is the Indus River Valley.  I don’t think there is any caves in those areas.  He is interrupted by a woman scientist who has been analyzing his protocols and noting that his memory is returning.  She calls him “b”, and says he recharges instead of going berserker.  By the way this is an Old Norse term which means “bear-shirt” going into battle without armor.  Then, he recounts the time told by his mother before he was born.  We see raiders riding in with horses, this is a very sophisticated, horses were domesticated around 3500 B.C.  Hundreds of thousands of years after this time!  Actual horse riding is also advanced, horse driven chariots carried warriors who left the chariot to fight, no actual horse riding.  This may be a misunderstanding of history.  Brzrkr’s father is red haired with braids and a beard.  His mother has dark hair with curls.  They are unnamed.  

Both of them have fair complexions, maybe from cave dwelling, but they have lived in the valley. Early civilizations would not be fair skinned.  His mother believes in the gods.  In their hut, B.’s mother says they are looking for a weapon, and gathers herbs.  She collects mushrooms, but in the current day, he tries to explain he doesn’t know what plants his mother used.  In a cave with a fire going, the father leaves to watch over her, as the mother chants.  Then, we have an interesting two pages as a lightning strikes the cave, the panels dissolve as we see the mother transformed.  The father sees his wife struck by the lightning bolt, we get some interesting artwork as energy patterns form on her bald purple face.  Then, a glowing form holds her, a god?  The mother stumbles out of the cave held by her husband and they later go to sleep.  She wakes up pregnant!  

She gives birth to her son, his eyes glow blue, and later the villagers find the young boy reach into the fire to pull out a burning branch.  He sees a wolf outside of the family’s hut and bites into its neck with the blue eyes.  Brzrkr grows up into a youth watching other young men at play, but his rage has him killing them!  His parents have him train with a teacher to kill an antelope with a spear.  His rage can’t be denied and he tears apart a bear, literally the bear part of the original name.  B. heals from his wounds and the villagers lose another harvest, but the young warrior eyes glow blue.  He kinda looks like a young Conan the Barbarian.  Brzrkr slaughters his teacher, and his rage is directed by his father.  He becomes stronger shattering stone with his fist and tearing apart a leopard!  It returns to the room with the scientist.  He goes over his history being examine over the centuries.  Then, we have B. confronting the raiders, it isn’t pretty.  There is also a preview of the Basilisk comic book by Cullen Bunn and Jonas Scharf.  We don’t get names and the mystery of the god-like form that may have created Brzrkr, Zeus or Thor?  Brzrkr #2 continues the blood bath with a peek into his pre-history!  

#Brzrkr, #KeanuReeves, #MattKindt, #RonGarney 

Bad Batch, “Cut and Run”, Review!

 We have former Clone Force-99 finding their own way in the galaxy, leaving behind their home on Kamino and the scrutiny of Admiral Tarkin, and taking the clone girl, Omega, on their shuttle, the Havoc Marauder.  Close behind is former teammate now working for the Empire, Crosshair!  In hyperspace, Hunter and Echo check on the sleeping Omega.  The system entry warning beeps and pilot Tech gets their attention as they reach Saleucami, this is the adopted world of a contact.  He left the clone army in “The Deserter” (2010) and started a family!  Pod-like nunas scatter at the shuttle’s landing and a cat-like Nexu, the same beastie that was in the arena in Attack of the Clones (2002), scampers off as it descends.  The Bad Batch exit the shuttle and we see the awed expression of Omega, our pov character, she sees the foliage of the cake trees and wonders at the dirt on the ground.  

They pass through a field of pod-like Towering Bith, almost like stems of flowers, Hunter asks about Tech’s friend, the deserter.  He calls for the squad to stop, a trip wire, Wrecker just plows around it and activates a second trap, battle droids.  They are met with the blaster rifles of a Twi’lek woman, Suu (Cara Pifko), and her husband, ex-trooper, Cut Lawquane.  The episode's title is a clever pun with his name and the classic expression.  Later at the Lawquane house, Hunter introduces Echo and Omega, Cut notes that Rex had “passed through” the other day.  Rex was the first clone trooper who encountered Cut on his farm.  He discovered that Cut had an independence like the Bad Batch which may have been a chip that was faulty after a battle.  We saw Rex deal with his own chip in the Clone Wars episode "Shattered."  Omega brings up the inhibitor chips.  Her knowledge is going to be needed if they free other clones.  Then, the Lawquane children enter, Jek (Kath Soucie) and Shaeeah (Nika Futterman).  The actress, Futterman, is a Clone Wars vet who voiced Asajj Ventress.  The voice cast returns from "The Deserter" episode.  They are the the step children of Cut.  This feels like another welcome episode of Clone Wars.  They like Uncle Wrecker and take Omega outside. As Omega learns to play ball, Cut confides with Hunter that raising a child is not easy.  

He wants transport off world since the troopers could arrive soon.  Cut and Hunter head into town, we see some R2 units, it feels like a different Mos Eisley.  They pass troopers and see a captured ship taken to an impound lot.  Cut says that he is looking for a distant world, Saleucami is in the Outer Rim, maybe Wild Space?  Cut tries to book passage with an Aleena merchant, the same short species with a fin-like head, seen as the Podracer, Ratts Tyerell. One of my favorite aliens, they were featured in the Clone Wars season four's episode, "Mercy Mission" (2011).  He brings up that they need a chain code, used by the Empire now, which they see with an Imperial hologram of Vice Admiral Rampart (Noshir Dalal).  He may be the master villain of the series maybe working under Tarkin?  A Snivvian, Snaggletooth, traveler is sent away by troopers for not having a chain code.  The ball game continues, Omega throws the ball and it bounces outside of the fence, Jek tells her to leave it.  Omega slips past the fence as the Lawquane kids ready to pack. They see Omega in danger from a Nexu and run to warn their mother.  She rushes to the roof with her blaster rifle and Hunter takes out his vibro knife. They drive off the Nexu, Hunter is angry at Omega, but Cut reassures her as a father.  

Hunter wants Tech to forge the chain codes.  Omega is by herself in the ship crying, she takes off her headpiece, and looks at it.  Suu has her blaster rifle ready for lookout duty with Hunter.  She says kids always get into trouble, but the job of parents is to protect them.  This is a great personal moment and I hope the whole series is just the adventures of Cut’s family with the Bad Batch.  Cut joins them and Hunter says he wants her to go with them. This makes me think of Mando trying to give Baby Yoda to Ahsoka Tano.  Hunter and the Bad Batch are of course Omega’s family. Echo notes that the Imperials are trying to identify and control all citizens.  Tech’s plan is to find the chain codes kept by the clone troopers from the impound lot by having the Havoc taken!  Hunter is not happy as the ship is taken away.  On the comlink, Tech says it’s a simple plan, and Hunter notes that Omega is on the ship!  Troopers inspect the Havoc, out of a hatch, Echo and Tech drop down with their helmets on.  Tech has Echo sneak in to the security kiosk to take the chain code data.  

Echo uses a scomp link to get security codes and finds blank discs.  I really like that Echo is featured with Tech as a team.  Cut, his family, and the Bad Batch members all dressed as villagers enter the space port.  Echo and Tech check on the troopers and find that Omega has slipped away to take the chain codes to the travelers.  Echo is met by a trooper, but Tech stuns him.  Omega bumps into an R2 unit that frantically screams a warning, but is smashed by Wrecker!  Echo calls him for help.  He is met by three troopers and uses what I call the Coconut Smash, clunking their heads together, love it!  Cut worries, but Omega runs up with the chain codes!  She doesn’t realize that Hunter is going to send her off with the Lawquane family.  Hunter tries to explain and sees her off.  Omega joins the family and Cut puts down the chain code discs.  There is a shoot out at the impound lot.  Hunter is called back by Tech.  The Bad Batch has to free their ship from the landing clamps and fight off the troopers to escape.  It seems like we will see more of Cut Lawquane similar to how the characters show up in The Mandalorian.  Side note: Wrecker doing lifts with a Gonk power droid is hilarious!  This episode mixes the perfect blend of taking care of a child, a family, and some perfect Bad Batch action!        

   

Five Vibro Blades out of Five! 

#BadBatch, #CutandRun, #CutLawquane, #Cara Pifko), and her husband, ex-trooper, Cut Lawquane, #KathSoucie, #NikaFutterman

Bad Batch, “Aftermath”, Review!

The Bad Batch continues in their own animated series from Dave Filoni and Jennifer Corbett revealing what happens after Order 66!  It premiered today on May the Fourth Be With You on Disney+.  We were introduced to Clone Force-99 in the last season of Clone Wars with “Bad Batch”, http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2020/03/star-wars-clone-wars-bad-batch-review.html.  There is military drums and chatter as we see the episode title.  Then, it shifts to the narrator, the return of Tom Kane!  This was a strong part of Clone Wars and of course reflects back to World War II narration on newsreels.  We are brought up to date with the state of the Clone Wars with Revenge of the Sith (2005).  This is probably the last time we hear it since the war is basically over, but maybe he follows the Bad Batch squad or we find the actual narrator of the HoloNet broadcast!  It settles on Depa Billaba (Archie Panjabi) defending with clone troopers on the snowy world of Kaller.  This was actually shown in the comic book series, Kanan: The Last Padawan, by Rebels executive producer Greg Weisman.  The Jedi and clone troopers are entrenched taking fire from the droids and tanks.  Clone Commander Grey (Dee Bradley Baker, he provides all of the voices of the clone troopers including the Bad Batch!) wonders about the commander and he arrives, Caleb Dume (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), he of course takes the name Kanan Jarrus! 

He has brought some reinforcements, five clones that he says are “different”, there is a rumbling in the forest.  The battle droids (goofily voiced by Matthew Wood from the films and animated series) hear what looks like snowy movement on a hill and turn to blast it.  A boulder plows through a line of battle droids.  Then, in classic Bad Batch fashion they go through the remaining droids; Hunter with his vibroknife, Tech with explosives, and Crosshair sniping them!  The leader, Hunter, orders Crosshair to move the tanks!  He fires cables that connect the tanks and Wrecker starts tackling them forward.  They fall over a cliff and the rest of the squad makes short work of the other battle droids.  Hunter walks forward with the entire squad after the battle and takes off his helmet.  He has the black, facial tatoo and red bandana like Billy (Sonny Landham) in Predator (1987).  Hunter meets with General Billaba and suggests a counter attack and she does so.  Wrecker is excited to find the “little Jedi” and Caleb (with adult voice) introduces the squad.  Hunter explains that their actual reinforcements were rerouted to the capital.  Tech updates them on the state of the war that General Kenobi is taking on Grevious on Utapau.  

General Billaba says that they should focus on Keller and sends Caleb with the Bad Batch.  They leave and Commander Grey recieves a communication, uh-oh.  Billaba turns to see the hologram of Palpatine say, “Execute Order 66” to Grey.  He fires on the Jedi Master, Caleb hears the battle and rushes to help her. She screams for him to run.  As he does so, there are the screams as Depa Billaba dies, emotional, we know what happens with Order 66.  The Bad Batch run up to Caleb, but he holds his lightsaber to them, and runs off betrayed.  The Bad Batch are not affected by Order 66.  This was suspected by everyone since they are clones that don’t follow the Kaminoans programming.  Hunter sends Tech and Echo to check with Commander Red, Crosshair to find Caleb with himself, and Wrecker to stall anyone.  Hunter and Crosshair move through the forest.  They find Caleb in a tree and Crosshair fires on him!  It looks like the Bad Batch programming varies with Crosshair wanting to be a “good soldier”, strange, the Bad Batch don’t fit the mold of a good clone troopers.  It is apparent where Crosshair is going with this series, Fugitive-style.  Wrecker meets with clone troopers who have orders from the Supreme Chancellor and start running into the forest.  He warns Hunter.    

Tech explains the Jedi betrayal that Hunter doesn’t accept and Crosshair finds a good explaination.  They are going to have to stop Crosshair who blasts the tree branch Caleb is on.  He ignites his lightsaber and knocks back Crosshair into a tree.  Hunter tries to calm down Caleb and he runs away.  Caleb reaches a cliff with waterfalls.  Hunter reaches Caleb and takes off his helmet saying that others killed his master.  Caleb hears clone trooper chatter and leaps across the chasm.  Crosshair walks up and Hunter explains that the Jedi died in the fall.  Other clone troopers rush up to the cliff’s edge.  The shuttle of the Bad Batch, the Havoc Marauder, reverts from hyperspace.  Tech reports they are approaching Kamino.  Crosshair is still suspicious about the Jedi’s “death.”  Tech has to resend the clearance code to V-wing starfighters that flank them.  When they land, Hunter notices shock troopers from Coruscant, and a body is taken away with a lightsaber falling.  We saw in The Lost Missions of Clone Wars that Jedi Master Shaak Ti was at clone facility on Kamino.  

They return to their barracks, Echo is new since he just joined the squad, Crosshair confronts Hunter over saving the Jedi.  Echo is confused since he is still loyal to the Jedi commanders.  Tech explains that the specialty programming of the Bad Batch made them immune to Order 66 and other regular clone trooper programming.  He also says that Echo may be different because of his ordeal on Skako Minor, he was freed in “A Distant Echo” http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2020/03/star-wars-clone-wars-distant-echo-review.html.  As the storm continues outside on the Kamino seas, a briefing is called for all clone troopers, we finally discover what happened to the clones after Order 66.  All of the clone troopers are assembled and Palpatine gives his speech which was at the end of RotS.  Above them, Hunter notices that the Kaminoans have a child clone.  Palpatine declares the formation of the Galactic Empire and the clone troopers cheer except the Bad Batch.  Afterwards, the Bad Batch are walking down the hall past clone troopers and Kaminoans discussing the situation.  Hunter notes that they are being followed.  They turn to see the clone girl who introduces herself as Omega (Michelle Ang).  The actress was Alex in Fear the Walking Dead. The animated series usually has a young ally, Ahsoka in Clone Wars and Ezra in Rebels.   

The Kaminoan doctor, Nala Se (Gwendonline Yeo) notes that Omega is her assistant.  Yeo also voiced Nala in the Clone Wars episodes.  Omega leaves with Nala Se.   A medic for the team is pretty cool.  A shuttle lands and arriving is Admiral Tarkin (Stephen Stanton)!  The actor provided many voices in the animated series including Tarkin in Clone Wars.  He meets with Lama Su (Bob Bergen) in the white room with the chairs.  Bergen is an incredible voice actor for Looney Tunes and also provides the voice of Luke Skywalker in video games.  Tarkin is there to end the clone trooper program with conscription replacing the clones.  At the clone mess hall, Hunter explains there is an Imperial evaluator, then Omega joins them.  They are impressed that she would hang around them.  A clone trooper shows contempt for them and gets food thrown at him by Omega.  Echo sighs that this is another fight with the regular troopers.  He later sees in the overhead window, Tarkin watching the fight, he met with Tarkin in “Citadel Rescue” (2011) when he was captured.  We also have the appearance of AZI-3 (Ben Diskin), the medical droid who was in Five's episodes in Clone Wars.  Plus, there is also another SW cameo!  Will the Bad Batch smuggles out Baby Yoda?  The episode deals with the concept of conscientious objectors, refusing to follow an order on moral grounds, with the programmed clone troopers and the rogue Bad Batch.  The squad has to find the truth of the new Empire, somehow bring in Omega, and find their own way in the galaxy!  

Five Vibroknives out of Five! 

#BadBatch, #DeeBradleyBaker, #MichelleAng, #StephenStanton, #FreddiePrinzeJr, #ArchiePanjabi

Happy Birthday Pom Klementieff!

Happy Birthday Pom Klementieff!  She is a French actress and appeared in the drama Loup (2009) as Nastazya, playing a reindeer herder.  In Oldboy (2013) directed by Spike Lee, based on the South Korean film, Klementieff played Haeng-Bok.  She was a bodyguard alongside Avengers co-stars Elizabeth Olsen, Samuel L. Jackson, and Josh Brolin.  Next, Klementieff played a hacker, Loise, in the romance Hacker’s Game (2015).  Klementieff starred in the comedy Ingrid Goes West (2017).  Pom Klementieff became well known as Mantis in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).  

She also appeared as Mantis in the Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout attraction.  Klementieff returned as Mantis in Avengers: Infinity War, (2018).  She was part of Avengers: Endgame (2019).  Klementieff starred in the 2019 episode of Black Mirror, “Striking Vipers”, with Anthony Mackie.   She was in the Adam Sandler crime movie, Uncut Gems (2019).  Cat was played by Klementieff in the sci fi anthology, a.i. tales (2019).  Then, she played Martel in the 2020 episodes of Westworld.  This year, Klementieff was the super powered Laser in the superhero comedy Thunder Force.  She's Pom Wonderful!  Happy Birthday Pom Klementieff!

 

#PomKlementieff, #Loup, #GuardiansoftheGalaxyVol2, #AvengersEndgame, #ThunderForce

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World re-release!

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was meant for re-release on its 10th anniversary in 2020, it first opened on August 2010.  The director, Edgar Wright, and cast are almost always game for any event promoting the movie.  On November 12, 2010, there was a Blu Ray signing, this was at Amoeba Records at its former location.  The attendees featured the director, creator, Bryan Lee O’Malley, and ten members of the cast including Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Jason Schwartzman. In July 10, 2020, there was a cast reunion to read the screenplay by Michael Bacall with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Water Crisis. This was to benefit Water for People.  Some of the cast members played multiple parts, Jason Schwartzman was narrator, while O’Malley was busy with sketches.  The full event is available from Entertainment Weekly; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKqKLnsmoK4.   The re-release returned to AMC theaters on April 30th and ended today on April 2nd.  

So I was able to attend the Sunday screening and found it interesting to see the new procedures with the opening of theaters.  First, buying the ticket online, there were sections blocked and the capacity was limited.  There was a hand sanitizing unit at the ticket taking booth.  It seemed like all of the patrons wore masks and also wore them properly.  There was a queue at the food and drink area that appeared to be properly spaced.  Also there was a line of people patiently waiting to fill their drinks at the machines. I noted online that there were interesting cleaning procedures.  This is listed in the AMC Safe & Clean section of their website.  It notes there is “Maximized Fresh Air Flow & MERV 13 Filters.”  The filters “capture the tiniest of droplets”, which is better than the “industry standard MERV 8 filter.”  This was my concern.  I was worried if the air is re-circulated throughout all of the theaters.  No.  It is fresh air, not too cold, and comfortable.  It also noted that extra time between show times are used to clean and disinfect the auditoriums.

So I found my seat, it was distant enough that I almost couldn’t hear the popcorn crunching.  There were workers with flashlights walking the aisles and checking.  I’m not certain for what specifically, but I imagine it is to see if there was proper distance, no seat hopping before the movie.  This was an additional step that I did not notice when I saw New Mutants in October of last year.  Ok, I have to note that I was impressed by the AMC logo, the immersive sound is something you have to experience.  Then, the trailers played and I loved all of them.  New for me was the drama, Dream Horse, out on May 21st with Toni Collette and Damian Lewis.  It was charming and funny.  Next was Cruella, opening on May 28th, it is too cool to miss in theaters, I probably will bypass paying for it on Disney+.  I’ve seen this trailer before, but loved In The Heights, it has become my most anticipated movie this year.  Set for June 11th.  

I like the trailer for Free Guy, I’ve seen it before, but seeing it on screen makes me put this on my must-see list.  The action sci fi film with Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, and Lil Rel Howery, re-loads in theaters August 13th.  I think one of the last ones was F9, opening on June 25th, it was the only trailer that just ok, I like Han’s appearance and the line by Helen Mirren’s Queenie, but that’s about it.  Back to Scott Pilgrim, I’ve seen it many times on the small screen, it is not the same.  Since it is a familiar movie, I was toe tapping to the songs, know the lyrics and just have fun with the characters and scenes.  I think this was the problem with repeat viewings, when I saw the film this time, I believe I was paying more attention.  The set-up of Envy Adams and Scott’s previous girlfriends.  I was cringing at Scott’s dishonest relationships and loved Ramona just ducking around her x’s.  Back to the sound, you need to go to a theater, watching any movie on the small screen is not ok.  I felt the bass thrumming through my seat.  There are sound effects that are powerful with the theater’s sound system.  Also, the shared experience of audiences laughing and reacting to scenes.  You don’t have that at home systems, this is strangers, you don’t know their identities.  I would go back again and again to see one of my favorite films, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World! 

#ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld, #EdgarWright, #MichaelCena, #MaryElizabethWinstead, #AMC

Godzilla: Dominon Review!

Godzilla vs. Kong is taking the box office, but there are a few gaps filled in by the graphic novel series by Legendary Comics.  Godzilla: Dominon picks up after Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) where spoiler alert, Big G defeats King Ghidorah, and becomes King of the Monsters.  It is written by Greg Keyes who is a fantasy author, writes spin-off novels, and also the Godzilla: King of the Monsters - The Movie Novelization.  The art is by Drew Edward Johnson, who has worked on Wonder Woman with Greg Rucka, and his own series, Midnight Society: The Black Lake for Dark Horse,  It features an Arthur Adams cover, it pairs with his cover for Kingdom Kong, they have Kong facing Godzilla.  This cover has Godzilla over a burning city.  It opens with a prehistoric sea creature swimming past the massive head of Godzilla.  The text is the intepretation of Godzilla’s thoughts about finding new territory.  

Then, there is a two page spread of Godzilla walking underwater disrupting schools of fish, impressive.  He surfaces as the navy is attacking a Kaiju, a six-legge crustacean with a mass of tendrils, identified Titanus Scylla.  The Kaiju is named after the sea monster from Greek mythology, Odysseus encounters her across from the whirlpool, Charybdis.  Godzilla battles Scylla, near a populated beach, and they collide with a tanker ship.  There is an explosion in hellish fire and the Kaiju is driven off.  He doesn’t kill his opponents, just asserts his title.  The text reveals that Godzilla is a part of the world, he understands the tides and every life in the ocean.  Godzilla heads up river and then encounters two Kaiju, a demonic Titanus Amhuluk and a Titanus Behemoth, a large, tusked hairy beast that was seen in G: KotM.  He defeats them, but the sound effects are kinda confusing; “Yeeaaahkggh.”  Another splash page, very cinematic, several humpback whales swimming past Godzilla.  

As he rests on the ocean currents, we get a split page of Godzilla, one half Godzilla’s back and scales, the other has his nervous system and brain, with all manner of prehistoric sea creatures.  Then, a page of all of the ages that Big G witnessed, prehistoric and ancient, including the city that appears to be the one in G: KotM.  He sees the remains of the city and also glimpses of Dr. Serizawa.  His peace is disrupted by swarms of prehistoric fish “with nasty, big, pointy teeth.”  Godzilla takes them on with his atomic breath including a large version of the fish.  He closes his eyes and detects Kaiju?  This leads to him imagining a world that respected him with monks in robes bowing to him.  Except a rival cast him out, Kong?  Godzilla walks out to a cliff and looks out to the sea, imagining the Titan that revived him, Mothra, in yet another splash page.  He senses his rival, shadowy on a jungle island with huts.  Godzilla moves past corpses of whales, very gorey, in a splash page.  

Then, faces a tentacled Titan covered in a net, Titanus Na Kika.  The name is based on an octopus god in Australian mythology.  It poisons Godzilla and traps him in the net.  Titanus Na Kika covers Godzilla with the net and electifies it, but it is torn apart by Big G.  As Godzilla goes after the Kaiju with his atomic breath, the military attacks with a torpedo, “Fam, Gluduung, Thafam”, I wish there was text to explain what is happening.  While the military attacks for no apparent reason, Godzilla tracks the killer of the sea creatures.  A Monach base like an oil rig suspended over the sea.  Godzilla destroys it with his atomic and then roars in victory.  He swims on and then thinks again of Serizawa and there is a panel with his glowing eyes, very cool.  He ends up at polar ice, shatters through it, disturbing a polar bear.  Godzilla continues on past people and a submarine.  He lets out a roar and then confronts underwater a serpent-like Kaiju, Titanus Tiamat. She is named after the Mesopotamian goddess representing chaos.  There are a number of Kaiju battles and some of his world in Godzilla: Dominion.        

Four Titans out of Five!   

#GodzillaDominon, #GregKeyes, #DrewEdwardJohnson, #TitanusScylla, TitanusNaKika,  #TitanusAmhuluk, #Titanus Behemoth, #TitanusTiamat