Happy Birthday John Williams!

Happy Birthday John Williams!  He has provided some iconic scores!  Williams first film composition was for Daddy-O (1958) about a hapless driver caught up in crime and music. Williams started in television with the Western, Wagon Train (1958-1964).  Next, Time Tunnel and Lost in Space (1965-1968), then Time Tunnel (1966-1967), and Land of the Giants (1968-1970), created by Irwin Allen.  He received his first Academy Award nomination for the Valley of the Dolls based on the Jacqueline Susann novel.  Williams scored the musical, Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969).  Williams won his first Academy Award for the musical Fiddler on the Roof (1971).  He worked again with Irwin Allen on the films, The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and The Towering Inferno (1974).  

Williams began his collaboration with Steven Spielberg with The Sugarland Express (1974) and then an iconic, relentless score with the blockbuster Jaws (1975) winning him the Academy Award. He of course is known as the composer of Star Wars starting with the first film in 1977 and yet another Academy Award.  Then, Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) with Steven Spielberg.  One of the best superhero scores was with director Richard Donner and Superman The Movie (1978).  Williams worked on the next Star Wars film with The Empire Strikes Back (1980).  Then, he brought the pulp adventure to Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).  John Williams composed the score for E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) which gave him another Academy Award and then the third Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi (1983).  He followed up with the second Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).  Williams scored two episodes of Spielberg’s Amazing Stories.  

                                                                Maestro of the Movies - John Williams concert, Hollywood Bowl, 2021, photo by the author. 

John Williams wrote the dramatic score for Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun (1987).  He wrapped up the Indy trilogy with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).  There was some fun with his score to Home Alone (1990).  Then, there was nostalgia and magic with his Hook (1991) score.  One of his most impressive years was 1993 with the iconic score for Jurassic Park and then the heartbreaking drama of Schindler’s List.  He won the Academy Award for the later film.  Williams brought an epic scope to the WWII battlefields of Saving Private Ryan (1998) before returning with the prequel, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).  Another battlefield was the Revolutionary War of The Patriot (2000).  Then, Williams wrote another iconic score with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).  He scored the second prequel, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), and then returned to Hogwarts with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).  Williams finished the prequels with Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).  He worked on the Star Wars sequel trilogy in 2015, 2017, and 2019. In 2019, Williams composed the "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite" for the park expansion that opened that year.  Happy Birthday John Williams!   

#JohnWilliams, #LostInSpace, #FiddlerOnTheRoof, #SupermanTheMovie, #RaidersOfTheLostArk, #ETTheExtraTerrestrial, #JurassicPark, #SchindlersList, #HarryPotterAndTheSorcerersStone, #GalaxysEdge.  

Re:tro Re:view - Ladyhawke!

Ladyhawke (1985) is a perfect blend of fantasy, a medieval setting, comedy, and romance! The film is directed by Richard Donner, this was the same year that Goonies was released, and five years after he directed Superman The Movie (1978). The story is said (according to the DVD’s production notes) to be inspired by a 13th century French tale and medieval stories. 

It features a story by Edward Khmara who also has screenplay credit. Khmara also wrote the brilliant sci fi movie Enemy Mine (1985) directed by Wolfgang Petersen that year. The other screenwriters include Michael Thomas who co-wrote the horror movie The Hunger (1983) and Tom Mankiewicz who was the creative consultant on Superman The Movie.  

It begins with mists or clouds, its called "cloudscape" in the DVD scenes, as a sun rises, a transition wipe turns it into the moon. Then, we get the letters forming the title in credits scene. Donner has impressive credits scenes with this movie and Superman. This goes into the rocking score produced by Alan Parsons of the Alan Parsons Project group. 

Then, there is a beautiful, red-tailed hawk, back lit by intense light. We hear the mutterings of a young man called the Mouse through a rocky wall. Then, bodies are hung to the dispassionate glare of a bishop, he is played by John Wood who was also Professor Falken in WarGames. Muddy fingers reach through the wall. The captain, Marquet (Ken Hutchinson), in white and gold robes, riding horseback order three more prisoners to be executed. Hutchinson played a police sergeant in Gandhi (1982).  

The muddy fingers move a block of stone from the wall. The guards are looking for Phillipe Gaston, the Mouse, in the cells. The lieutenant goes to the cell and Gaston’s insane cellmate (Charles Borromel) who says the Mouse escaped “down the drain.” He has the prisoner taken away to be executed and then wants a search of all of the sewers.

 Phillipe (Matthew Broderick) pulls himself half-way out of the wall hole. Broderick starred as hacker, David Lightman, in WarGames (1983) and the next year, and he was in the comedy, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986). Marquet bows before the bishop and bells are rung in the city. Phillipe gets out of the hole, but falls into the sewer. He panics as he sees an alligator-like shape so Phillipe asks for the Lord to save him. His fallen faith is such a large part of his nervous, but wily thief. The comedy is all in his talks to himself and remarks to others.   

It turns out to be a piece of wood and then Phillipe hears a choir and starts up a tunnel. The bells have also drawn the black-hooded stranger with a hawk and a black horse. Phillipe has reached a grill plate and Marquet’s boot crunches his fingers. He falls into a deep sewer and manages to swim around a broken grate. The Bishop meets with Marquet who says an escape would be a miracle. 

The red and silver armored guards ride along with Marquet in his black and gold outfit.  Phillipe reaches up to take a guard’s knife and cuts his purse talking about his promise to the Lord. The guards ride outside of the city and Phillipe emerges.  Phillipe, cold from the snowy forest and hearing wolves, talks to reassure himself, funny. At sunset the stranger holds out his arm for his hawk. Morning, Phillipe walks a village and takes some clothes. He runs to a tavern seen by the stranger. Phillipe offers a drink for escaping the dungeons.  

Morning, Phillipe walks a village and takes some clothes. He runs to a tavern seen by the stranger.  Phillipe offers a drink for escaping the dungeons. The cloaked men he talked to are revealed to be Marquet and his men!  Phillipe is clever, slipping away from the guards, until he is cornered by them. Just before Phillipe is about to be killed a crossbow bolt strikes the guard’s arm. 

The crossbow is wielded by Navarre (Rutger Hauer). He had previously played, three years before, the replicant finding humanity, Roy Batty, in Blade Runner (1982). He also starred that year in Paul Verhoeven’s misogynist, brutal medieval pic, Flesh+Blood. Etienne Navarre was a captain of the guard, he is handy turning anything into a weapon, and we find that behind it all, is a man who has spent years waiting for an answer. Navarre is met by an old colleague, Francesco (Omero Capenna), but Marquet throws him on Navarre’s sword! Marquet is vicious, but petty, jealous of Navarre. 

The former captain takes on the guards. He faces Marquet and throws him onto a fire. Navarre takes back his weapons and rides away on his massive horse. Phillipe is trying to pull away a horse, fails, and decides to run for it. Navarre takes Phillipe on his horse and leaps over a gate!  The other guards try to open the gate, but the hawk knocks them away! 

Navarre and Phillipe ride up to farm, the farmer with his axe and his wife are suspicious, but Phillipe shakes his purse with the coins.  They go to the barn, Navarre has a pouch with his giant sword, pulls out his helmet, and then a purple dress which he looks upon with sadness. Phillipe interrupts him and is ordered by Navarre to take care of his horse, Goliath. The sun starts setting and Navarre says, “One day.” It is night as Phillipe is gathering wood. Phillipe is about to run away when he hears a noise, a wolf.  He pretends that there is a group of mercenaries with him heading to the barn, funny!  

The farmer appears with his axe when he is taken down by a large wolf, this is a Siberian wolf according to the production notes. Phillipe runs to the barn to find Navarre, he tries to take the crossbow, when he stopped by a woman in black. Isabeau, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, had starred two years earlier in the Brian De Palma crime classic, Scarface (1983) and later was in the comedy George Miller film, The Witches of Eastwick (1987). 

She walks out to see the wolf, Phillipe wonders if he is dreaming, Isabeau says, “You are dreaming.”  The dialogue has an almost fairy tale quality. He sees the woman with the wolf. In the morning, Phillipe tells Navarre about the wolf and the woman, and Navarre says he has been waiting for such a woman. Marquet rides through the night to Aquila. He meets with the Bishop at his garden with a strange, art display of a woman in white robes.  

Marquet tells him that Navarre has returned. The Bishop tells him not to harm the hawk. He has authority, but it becomes clear that not only is he a ruthless ruler, but that he is deeply obsessed. The Bishop calls for Cezar. We later see the wolf hunter played by Alfred Molina, a short cameo, this was four years after Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Phillipe is using Navarre’s sword to cut wood. 

The knight tells him that he has had the sword for five generations. There are gems including his father’s from the Crusades. He tells Phillipe that he has to kill the Bishop of Aquila. Navarre needs his help to enter the city after two years of waiting. Phillipe says he has no honor and tries to leave, but Navarre throws his massive sword at a tree next to him! Moonlight, we have Isabeau in a white tunic chasing a rabbit, she is startled by Phillipe tied to a tree. She cuts him free and Phillipe runs away.  

Morning, he is captured by the guards, and Navarre rides up into the trap. Phillipe escapes and throws a rock so the crossbowsman looses a bolt that strikes the hawk! This leads to Phillipe trying to help the hawk from an elderly, drunken monk named Imperius (Leo McKern). He knows the story of the Bishop’s curse that makes Isabeau a hawk by day and Navarre, a wolf at night. Imperius had betrayed them to the Bishop, but he may find a way for redemption. A later scene, has the time before sunrise, Phillipe watches as Isabeau wakens and sees the wolf.  

The sunrays part through her fingers and change the wolf into Etienne Navarre.  It is surreal, but heartbreaking. Navarre turns and sees the face of Isabeu, they try to reach out, but her eyes shift into a hawk. One of the most beautiful scenes in a fantasy film courtesy of cinematographer, Vittario Storaro, whose filmography includes Apocalypse Now (1979) and the The Last Emperor (1987). Imperius has seen a day that can free the lovers from the Bishop's curse. Ladyhawke is a beautifully told story of medieval lovers, friendship, and obsession with a clever thief, and an old monk that may have the key to saving them!  

Five Hawk Anklets out of Five! 

#Ladyhawke, #RichardDonner, #MatthewBroderick, #RutgerHauer, #MichellePfeiffer, #LeoMcKern, 

 #JohnWood, #KenHutchinson  

Peacemaker, “The Choad Less Traveled”, Review!

The Ex-static Electrical van is back on the road in the morning.  The group is tired from the mission, Peacemaker says he shot the butterfly last episode, and Vigilante worries about his pinkie toe.  Judomaster then slumps down all tied up.  Peacemaker and Vigilante take out their guns to the shouts of Emilia and Leota.  They are unloading supplies to the headquarters while Vigilante limps to a chair.  Murn walks in and has Emilia go through the evidence taken from the Goff house.  He takes Peacemaker into his office to address how he hesitated on the assassination of the Goff family.  Peacemaker says he needed a dove of peace on his weapons.  He doesn’t want to kill kids on Murn’s order.  

Murn then thinks about Vigilante whom he needs to stay close so he doesn’t reveal anything.  Peacemaker brings up teaming up with Matter-Eater Lad who finishing eating up a restaurant.  Another strange reference, the character, Tenzil Kem, was a part of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future, he made his debut in Adventure Comics #303 (1962).  He leaves with Vigilante.  Leota apologizes for not killing the bodyguard to Emilia.  She goes to the bathroom mirror to collect herself and then sees Economos strap Judomaster onto a couch.  On their drive, Vigilante unmasked as Adrian Chase, thanks Peacemaker for letting him be tortured.  They stop by the house of John’s father, Chris walks in and hears about a stolen gorilla at a zoo.  I think this is somehow connected to the overall story, but it is a brief mention.  

He enters the code for his father’s lab, takes helmets, and then sees the White Dragon uniform.  I think that White Dragon outfit should be destroyed.  Adrian remarks about the costume and Peacemaker says it is a quantum unfolding room.  He takes out the bag of helmets and the elderly neighbor gets into an argument over supervillains.  Also that his father is in jail. Chris calls up Murn to vent his angry at the frame up.  Murn looks at Economos.  Peacemaker apologizes to Vigilante.  Murn tells Leota that Peacemaker trusts her the most and wants her to convince Peacemaker not to see his father.  Judomaster wakes up and tries to free himself from the shackles.  Leota drives up to Peacemaker.  He realizes that Economos changed the license plate number to set him up.   

Leota realizes Adrian is Vigilante which he tries to deny.  Auggie is seen by Peacemaker who admits that he wasn’t responsible for his jail sentence.  He says that he prefers his brother.  Outside the jail, Leota says Vigilante is a good man, she hopes that Peacemaker’s father would just go away.  Vigilante goes to do something.  Leota drives Peacemaker away and says she doesn’t hate him.  Adrian walks over to some officers and lifts up a heavy trash can and throws it into a window.  The officers arrest him.  Economos finds that the couch is empty.  Economos calls up Leota as Judomaster approaches him from a closet.  Auggie says he wants to see Detective Song as he is locked into his cell.  Judomaster kicks Economos who flies into a desk.  

Leota and Peacemaker find Economos gasping for breath until Leota uses his inhaler.  Finally, Economos points out that Judomaster went down the hallway, Peacemaker leaps from the window and walks to the parking lot complete with trash floating away like a tumbleweed in a Western.  He calls for a rematch and Judomaster leaps from the van to begin the fight.  Afterwards, Judomaster is about to say that the butterflies are not what he thinks and then is shot.  Leota has the gun.  A guard takes Adrian from his cell.  Adrian goes the slo-mo walk past inmates.  Peacemaker takes out a jar of the honey and then the butterfly in a jar.  Adrian sees Auggie at a table with his followers.  

Eagly tries to attack the butterfly.  Economos sets an IV into Judomaster at the couch.  Emilia tries to console Leota who admits she manipulates Vigilante to kill Auggie.  Murn is angry at her at the group meeting.  Murn has Economos to free Vigilante.  Leota gives him details and Economos has his profile as Adrian Chase, the busboy at the restaurant.  Adrian insults the inmates and takes down four of them.  Auggie says he knows there are cameras and he is taken away saying he wants to talk to Detective Chang.  At the bar, Chris wants to know what is in his file about his father to Emilia.  This episode was directed by Jody Hill who also directed the comedy, Observe and Report (2009).  The last two episodes, directed by James Gunn, were such a high mark for the wildness that this entry seems tame. 

Three Peacemaker Helmets out of Five! 

#Peacemaker, #TheChoadLessTraveled, #JodyHill, #MatterEaterLad,  

 

Characters in the Rings of Power posters!

So let's try to work out who are the characters in the Rings of Power character posters.  In looking at all 22 posters, it became apparent this is the cast, not just Ring Bearers.  The Rings, a total twenty, went to Elves, Dwarves, and Men.  Of course, with just hands shown (or hidden), it is difficult to determine identities, but here’s some guesses.  Most of my knowledge comes from The Silmarillion especially the section, “Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age.”  There are names revealed for the characters played by actors; Robert Aramayo plays Beldor (Conehead?), probably one of the Men, Morfydd Clark (Galadriel), Markella Kavenagh stars as Tyra (Banks?), Joseph Mawle (Oren), the name seems Dwarvish, and Trevyn, a new character, is portrayed by Simon Merrells. Basically, these are characters we haven't seen before except Galadriel.   

The first one has hands folded over each other, gold-flecked, a copper-red beard, a Dwarf.  He has his hands on a hammer, three rings, with a red beard like Gimli and his father Gloin (seen in The Hobbit films), who was in the Blue Mountains. He may be in the Broadbeam or Firebeard clan.  The next poster, hands folded across each other, gold bracelets, and long, white beard.  His hands are also stained with gold symbolizing the greed of the Dwarf-lords.  I'm thinking this is Durin, the name went to five of his descendants.  The person holding a sword, a Man, without a ring, a knight of Gondor?  The Man with gold robe, I also sense a Man, one of the Nazghul.  He has several gold rings, he has a ring of yellow gemstone, a citrine?   

The one holding the scepter, the robe looks like an Elf, checked the Three Rings, probably not an Elf.  A Man?, the scepter has a city at the tip, Armenelos of Numenor or another city?  If so he becomes Nazghul.  Red robe with scroll, this reads to me Elrond, no ring seen.  The Man holding an arrow, he wears a silver ring on his thumb, it makes me think he is Khamul the Easterling who becomes the Witch King’s lieutenant, played by Alex Tarrant?  A woman holding a hand scythe with a gold belt, blue dress and green robe.  The image makes me think Galadriel, probaby Morfydd Clark?  A royal person with a farmer’s tool?  Still, there is no Ring seen.  I’m fascinated with this character.  The one with the wicked, broken sword, ring not seen, has to be a Man.  This may be the Witch King, that sword is nasty, and he may have killed the former owner to take his Ring.  

The horse-headed staff, has to be Man of Rohan, no ring.  This maybe the king, Eorl the Young, first king of Rohan.  The woman holding acorns, no Ring, interesting, a farmer?  This could be Goldberry, the wife of Tom Bombadil, with the green top.  I’m actually suspecting a woman in a later picture.  Tom Bombadil was a powerful figure in the Fellowship of the Rings novel.  This was left out of the film, but he saved Frodo and the Hobbits from the Barrow-wrights outside of the Shire.  He was depicted in the Lord of the Rings The Card Game as “Tom Bombadil - The Master” played by Sergei Parshin.  “Goldberry - River-Daughter” was also seen in trading card game form portrayed by Regina Lialekite.  We do see commoners mixed with royalty in these posters.    

The hands holding a staff, I'm instantly going to a Man, but it could be one of the Wizards.  It could be he is Radagast the Brown.  No ring on finger, there were five of them, we only saw three.  There are two Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando.  They went to the east, they took on Sauron, but is unknown what happened to them.  A woman's hand holding berries, no Ring seen, the image makes me think Goldberry.  Black hands holding a scroll, this may be a scholar of Minas Tirith, I'm guessing this is the actor Lenny Henry.  A woman holding her pregnant belly, could she be an Easterling, the wife of Khamul?  This could be actress Nazanin Boniadi?  The one Ring Bearer holding a rope, for some reason this makes me think a noble Dwarf, he has an iron ring, if a Man, he could be a Nazghul.  

Beautiful, woman hands holding a white flower, this must be a flower from the White Tree of Gondor that we saw in Return of the King (2003).  I suspect the character, the wife of Isildur?, is played by Cynthia Addai-Robinson, she wears a ring maybe a Ring of Power?  The woman in a red dress holding a book, a fellow scholar in Minas Tirith?  The two rings holding a gold belt and robe, he has a ring with an emerald and another ring with a black stone, black onyx ?  I’m thinking a noble Man and definitely a Nazghul, the closeup of rings and detailed costume is nice.  A woman holding her hands over a light green dress, I'm not certain, but great detail on the photo.  The Man, I’m suspecting with the simplicity of the armor, holding a sword with sun symbol and gold armor, another Ring Bearer with a simple, gold band, maybe Isildur?  

The hands holding an apple, snap!, Tom Bombadil.  Lastly, the spiked gauntlet with the sword, most likely Sauron, remember that Sauron takes a fair form, known as Annatar, the Lord of Gifts when he begins forging the Rings.  I’m also hyped by Benjamin Walker in the cast, he was the one to look out for since Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer (2012).  It is fascinating to see the diversity of royalty, warriors, scholars, and common folk.  These are all guesses, they may be ordinary rings, or different characters.  This will expand on the Lord of the Rings lore since most of the Second Age stories are not told.  I’m excited at the possiblities of this cast from the posters alone!  We will have to see on September 2nd on Amazon Prime!   

#LordOfTheRings, #RingsOfPower, #RobertAramayo, #MorfyddClark, #MarkellaKavenagh , #JosephMawle, #SimonMerrells, #AlexTarrant, #LennyHenry, #NazaninBoniadi, #CynthiaAddaiRobinson, #ThusithaJayasundera, #TheSilmarillion, #KamulTheEasterling, #TomBombadil, #Goldberry, #Sauron, #Annatar 

Naomi, “Enigma”, Review!

 Re:cap - Naomi mentions she had translated the disc at the underground bomb shelter.  She read the Twenty-Nine.  Zumbado opens a book that has 29 names listed.  He crosses out Akira.  Then, we have Naomi returning to her room, she works on her college essay on her laptop.  She write about telling the truth, we see Nathan kicking a soccer ball, Anthony out by some trees, and Lourdes at her comic store.  She starts to write about change.  She sees her parents and tells them she has to be honest.  They take her on a drive out to the woods.  Her parents walk her out to the forest and reach a spot where Naomi sees where they found her.  She touches a stone ring which lights up and a symbol appears a crescent moon interlocking a roof-like symbol and three posts.  

The episode starts off at an art gallery, where Greg talks about how they found her, Jennifer bumps into him at the gallery and they both smile.  Then, he puts a ring on her finger at their wedding.  They walk the forest and then see the fall of comets from the sky.  Jennifer and Greg run and at night, they return to find baby Naomi in the circle.  A Kents and Kal-El story!  Naomi is stunned, but doesn’t make any comparison to Superman?  At school, she has updated Annabelle and says she forgave her adopted parents.  Naomi is not disturbed and Jacob brings them to the snack machine which has healthy options from the class president, Esme (Alie Urquhart).  She was the student who gave a smug response when the group was outside of the principal’s office.  Naomi suggests a recall.  Anthony second it and the crowd gets behind Naomi.  She of course agrees.  

NAOMI - - “Enigma” - - KACI WALFALL - - Photo: Danny Delgado/The CW -- © 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

At the underground gym, Naomi punches a bag and then knocks it into a wall, like Captain America?  Naomi explains about her extraterrestrial origins and her parents have invited Dee to dinner.  Dee says her power is special.  At Zumbado’s lot, Naomi asks for her disc as he polishes a car, and she brings up the 29.  He hands her the disc from his jacket.  In her room, Naomi examines the disc.  She tries to light a fire under it and the power goes out revealing more circles of letters!  Annabelle, Naomi, and Anthony look at the binary numbers in her journal.  She mentions running it on at the code lab to Anthony.  Commander Steel informs Greg that the blackout could be dimensional breach.  Greg sees that it is centered on his house.  Nathan walks into a class and sees Naomi sitting next to her campaign posters.  Nathan says she should trust her feelings to go campaigning.  

Jacob says that the code failed and Naomi brings up a Turing Machine.  They have a mini-lesson, there was a movie on Alan Turing in The Imitation Game (2014).  At dinner, Jennifer brings a chicken dish and Naomi brings up Dee’s wings.  He says it is ok and Jennifer asks about her training.  Naomi says she is learning to box, then Dee says she will learn meditation.  Greg asks how long Dee has been in Port Oswego and his reply is twenty years.  Dee admits went to his homeworld in 2012.  He asks about a light hovering over the rock that is usually at “arrival events.”  The lights start to flash and Dee excuses himself.  Jacob has taken all of them to an escape room.  A great setting.  Naomi says they have to complete the game.  Annabelle figures out that a bottle has lilac a door opens and Naomi enters the code.  She finds out that it has something to do with a blond woman with blue eyes, Esme?  Lourdes solves the escape room and the door opens.  Naomi says to Jacob that the clues lead to Portland.   

NAOMI - - “Enigma” - - CRANSTON JOHNSON - - Photo: Danny Delgado/The CW -- © 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Naomi is looking at her phone, when she sees her parents in the kitchen, Greg wants a Dee-brief, funny.  She is upset at their treament of Dee and brings up running for student council.  A stranger holds a device over a computer, Zumbado’s computer.  A mysterious person (Aaron Farb) in a black coat and says he is looking for something “dangerous.”  Zumbado threatens him.  Out of a Portland bus, Naomi checks her phone, and looks around.  She finds a blond hair woman sitting at a table, it’s Akira from last episode!  She starts to run and Naomi goes after her on her skateboard.  She uses her powers to zap the car window.  Akira says using her powers is reckless.  Also, that Zumbado “ruined” Earth-29.  Akira admits that it was Naomi’s homeworld.  In the comics, Earth-29 is called Htrae, in the Bizarroverse!  The woman says that activating the disc is dangerous.  A car races and suddenly the woman is gone.

Naomi waits as Dee pulls up in a jeep.  He says her power made the lightbulb flash.  Her powers are connected to her emotions.  She has multi-dimensional powers?  At the school debate, we have the students with Esme talking about the dangers of sugar, the amount is dangerous for teens, but they should already know it.  Annabelle and Jacob worry that they can’t contact Naomi.  At the military command center, Greg has found an electromagnetic signal that is repeating.  Someone is tracking something.  Naomi arrives on time for the debate.  She says Esme’s policies shouldn’t be blamed on her.  Naomi says that Esme cares about the school.  As the signal is triangulated, Naomi says getting active can has possibilities so they should vote for her.  Greg is in the forest and sees the stone again and finds the device used by the man at Zumbado’s used car lot.  He knows his daughter is being tracked!  Naomi has a large cast which is difficult to give enough screen time to all of the characters and a slowly resolved mystery, but there is action and good moments!     

Three Discs out of Five!    

#Naomi, #Enigma, #AlieUrquhart, #AaronFarb, #EarthTwentyNine  

The Book of Boba Fett, “From the Desert Comes a Stranger”, Review!

Re:cap - We had last episode a shift to The Mandalorian Season 2.5.  This episode is directed by Dave Filoni.  The wind device on vaporators grind to the Tatooine winds.  Pykes are getting ready to bring spice and credits on a speeder.  Walking up to them dressed in red is Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant) whom we last saw in “The Marshall” (2020) episode of The Mandalorian.  He has his hand on his blaster and the Pyke takes his hand away from his blaster.  Cobb explains to them that they are in Mos Pelgo territories and then shows him his red striped badge on his belt making him marshall.  The Pykes reach for their blasters and Cobb takes down three of them!  The remaining Pyke he wants to leave and take whatever he is hauling.  

The Pyke has to drop the chest and leaves with the credits.  Cobb spins his blaster into his holster.  Perfect Western style for Olyphant!  He kicks open the chest of spice and lets it blow away with the wind!  The hot rod N-1 Starfighter bursts from hyperspace to an unidentified world of green mound-like hills.  Mando gets a signal transmitted by R2-D2!  This is Star Wars!  Thanks Dave Filoni!  Mando gets out and tells R2 he is looking for Skywalker to see Grogu.  R2 leads him away, the wheels are superior going over a leafy path, a feat of robotics that the earlier films couldn’t accomplish.  Mando sees a heavy rock lifted by a six-legged droid in the forest of bamboo and trees, a setting right out of martial arts movies.  R2 continues and we see a hill of the ant droids, a new droid, coming from a stone structure they are building.  R2 meets with the ant droid and suddenly deactivates!  The ant droids assemble a bench made out of stone and bamboo.  Most likely ordered by R2!  Mando has to sit and wait.   

Out in the forest, we see meditating Grogu!, next to him is Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.  They are at a pastoral scene with mountains in the distance.  The de-aging of Mark Hamill is perfect.  Grogu watches a one-eyed frog, a frogclops?, leap and then uses the Force to pluck out another.  He has it suspended over his mouth before Master Luke warns him.  Skywalker raises his gloved hand and Grogu sees that a pond full of frogclops lifted by Force levitation.  Master Luke drops the frogclops back in the pond and takes Grogu for a walk.  They walk a path with bamboo stalks and Luke tells him about Yoda while giving him a Force assisted jump to keep up with him.  This is so perfect I would not mind the episode ending at that point.  Repeating Yoda’s lesson reminds me so much of Cobra Kai.  He asks about Grogu remembering his home.  Luke places his hand on Grogu’s head to bring up his memories. 

Grogu remembers seeing three Jedi holding back clone troopers at the Jedi Temple, this must be the 501st Legion, back in Revenge of the Sith (2005).  The Jedi are cut down and the troopers advance on The Child!  I'm hoping that the Bad Batch rescue him!  He awakens to find they are back at the meditation place.  Luke vows to teach Grogu to protect himself.  Mando is resting on the bench, R2 is active, he is awakened and draws his blaster.  It is Ahsoka Tano! (Rosario Dawson) with her back against a tree.  The introduction of two fan favorites is impressive.  She is not training The Child and says that R2 brought Mando to her.  Ahsoka points out that a school is being built and that Grogu will be the first student.  She has them go out for a walk and explains that she is an "old friend of the family"!, Anakin, Padme, and also Luke Skywalker?  Mando says Grogu is a Mandalorian foundling and wonders why he is training with Luke.  She has taken Mando to a clearing where they can see Luke and Grogu.             

He explains to Ahsoka that he has brought the foundling his Beskar armor.  Ahsoka suggests he may be a padawan and offers to take it to him.  She explains that Grogu misses him and seeing Mando again will be difficult.  Mando gives Ahsoka the armor and walks away!  This is of course the choice of the attachment of Mando or the training with Luke.  Grogu reaches out as he sees the N-1 starfighter leave.  Luke has him in a backpack, Baby Yoda backpacks are going to sell!, and then has him try a Force leap.  Grogu can only hop.  Hopping Baby Yoda coming to a store near you.  Luke takes him via backpack through the bamboo forest a la Empire Strikes Back (1980) to the top of a bamboo stalk to see the world in “balance.”  Grogu stands on one leg and then levitates with the Force as Luke practices with his lightsaber.  Then, he has the training remote that Grogu rolls back to Luke, next Luke activates it.  

The remote blasts Grogu back.  Luke tells him, “Always get back up.”  The remote blasts again, but Grogu leaps up in a somersault.  Baby Yoda Force leaps across rocks in a stream with the remote blasting at him.  Luke watches as Ahsoka approaches.  Grogu reaches out and short circuits the remote.  Luke remarks to Ahsoka that Grogu is remembering training more than he is teaching The Child. Grogu's training that he is blocking from the trauma of the Jedi Temple?  Ahsoka gives him the gift and Luke knows Mando was there.  He says that he wonders if Grogu’s heart is in the training.  Ahsoka replies, “So much like your father.”  Anakin Skywalker?  Obi-Wan wasn't a fountain of information on Anakin, but Ahsoka is no Jedi.  It would great to see the connections in Ahsoka series, Dave Filoni's favorite character, he is very protective of her.  Then, she leaves.  Mando returns to Tatooine and heads for Boba Fett’s palace. He lands at the hangar that is almost empty with some skiffs.  He tells the single Gamorrean guard, I think it’s Gabby, that he was sent by Fennec Shand.  

She is debriefing the group, the annoying mayor major domo is there for some reason (he’s the Jar Jar Binks of this series), with a Mos Espa holo projection.  Black Krrsantan is there, along with the biker gang, the Mods, and of course Boba Fett.  Fennec notes that the Wookie and The Mandalorian, Din Djarin, why does she use his real name casually?, are the muscle.  She needs foot soldiers which Mando can find.  The Jawa Sandcrawler with mounted Krayt Dragon head is circled by Mando’s starfighter.  He starts to land at Mos Pelgo watched by Deputy Scott (JJ Dashnaw).  Marshall Vanth sends him away and has a drink with Mando.  He wants the town people to fight and the Weequay bartender (W. Earl Brown) corrects him that it is now called Freetown.  Mando tries to call in a favor and Cobb says he will try.  He leaves in the N-1 starfighter and Cobb tells the bartender to call a town meeting.  Then, he sees a stranger (voiced by Corey Burton) walk in from the desert.  This Book of Boba Fett ep has a cameo by Boba Fett, but brings up the Pyke conflict with a scene out of The Untouchables (1987).  Near perfect if stopped at the training with a decision to be made with Baby Yoda, we of course needed this before season three!  

Five Thrones of Boba Fett out of Five! 

#BookOfBobaFett, #FromTheDesertComesAStranger, #DaveFiloni, #TimothyOlyphant, #MarkHamill, #RosarioDawson, #WEarlBrown, #CoreyBurton

Superman and Lois, “The Inverse Method”, Review!

Re:cap - the thing in the black containment suit shrugs off bullets from the soldiers.  Superman faces it.  John Henry revives and asks for his suit.  He starts running and the suit merges with John Henry, more impressive than Iron Man, and he blasts the creature.  The blasts tears open part of the helmet it is a pale, scarred (like a zombie) Superman(!) that flies off. This is Bizarro Superman!  The reverse Superman first appeared in Superboy #68 (1958).  He appeared in Smallville and in the Superboy series played by Barry Meyers.  Sam Lane says that it could be Superman of John Henry's Earth, but that idea is dismissed by John Henry.  He calls it the "bizarre version of Superman."  Sarah has her mother on a podcast answering questions.  We also have Jonathan asking Candace to sell him crystals!  We flashback five years ago with Lucy Lane (Jenna Dewan), packing up and Lois checks on.  Dewan was in the Supergirl show with her last episode was "Better Angels" (2016).  

SUPERMAN AND LOIS - - “The Inverse Method” - - ELIZABETH TULLOCH, JENNA DEWAN - -  Photo: Bettina Strauss/The CW - © 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Lucy is frustrated staying with her sister’s family.  She is going to stay with Ally.Lucy says she lost her job, fiancee, and mother.  Now, we have the diner with Lois wanting see her sister from Ally.  She calls her followers, congregates, and Lois says she preys on the “weak-minded.”  Lois says she pulled Lucy out of a bathtub to save her.  Ally says Lois should listen to the podcast.  She stands up along with four other men.  Lois calls up Chrissie and wants to find Lucy.  The Bizarro Superman uses his flame breath (his powers are reversed) on Arctic ice.  He finds a purple crystal necklace and has visions of breakfast which causes Clark pain.  Jordan uses his super hearing to find out that Lois is listening to the podcast.  Clark to check on Lois who says Lucy is covering for Ally.  At the barn with the Steel suit, Natalie is working with her father.  Clark walks in and Natalie admits she knows more than her father about the suit.  

At the diner, Emily Phan (Leeah Wong) talks with Lana, she confides that men are asking about her and Sarah.  Emily has been in season one and also “What Lies Beneath."  John Henry is enjoying the quiet of the farm.  Clark is struck with another vision.  A fast moving Bizarro who arrives next to the barn!  The frayed cape of Bizarro is seen, they collide in a bubble of power, the necklace begins leeching power from Clark.  John Henry asks for his kinetic hammer to separate the two Supers.  Bizarro flies off.  I can't shake the feeling that Bizarro was somehow formed by Tal-Rho.  Chrissie is working all night and has checked the dark web.  She found an invite at an event at New Carthage.  Kyle walks into his house angry about Mayor Dean.  Lana is worried about Sarah.  Smallville High, Jordan walks with Sarah down the hall, he wants to go with her to the grocery store, Britt & Dunn.  

SUPERMAN AND LOIS - - “The Inverse Method” - - TYLER HOECHLIN, WOLE PARKS - -  Photo: Bettina Strauss/The CW - © 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Jonathan is met by Candace who says the crystal makes you feel like Superman.  John Henry explains that they can track the Superman twin.  He says Clark will need help from Anderson’s team.  At the grocery store, Sarah sees a school friend, Denise Olowe (Kelcey Mawema).  Jordan hears something and uses his super breath to freeze the floor to make teen thieves fall along with the liquor bottle they were trying to steal.  Denise explains that her father has a security camera, his identity might be compromised!  Jordan is worried as the police interview Denise with Sarah.  He calls up his grandfather, Sam Lane, who is on a golf course and has scrambled the video!   Sam tells him to be aware of his surroundings.  Chrissie in a blond wig goes to find Lucy Lane.  Ally is giving a lecture on “Finding Your Self.”  

At the DoD, Superman super speeds to Lt. Anderson’s office.  He gives the tracking drive and will need the DoD satellites.  On the field, Jonathan takes a whiff of the yellow crystal, his eyes go into super vision at the football, and an extreme closeup of a girl’s face.  He convinces the coach to send him in.  Natalie watches in the stands.  Jonathan throws perfect passes with his super vision.  Scary.  Lois in her car is seen by Lucy with a box in her arms.  She says that Lucy sent Ally after her and goes to see her sister at her apartment.  Ally talks about betrayal and then turns to Chrissie, caught!  Chrissie is sitting and says it is a “brainwashing session.”  Lucy blames Lois for their mother leaving and that Lois keeps changing the story.  She shows Chrissie the apartment room of Lois and Lucy’s argument!  She wanted to “cross over” taking pills.  

Ally wants her to reconsider her beliefs.  The beep of the recording has Lucy take up the camera.  Lois sees Chrissie who knows about the argument.  Chrissie feels betrayed.  Lana and Kyle are at the dinner table when Sarah enters the house.  She says that Mayor Dean is checking up on Sarah and may bring up her suicide attempt.  Sarah wants to move on and says she would like to go on the debate stage to talk about Mayor Dean.  Sarah may need Jordan to help her get through this situation.  Lois is on the porch joined by Clark, her belief is shaken.  At the DoD, the control room has detected Bizarro and wants Tag and the two others (Evelyn Garcia and Dominique Termansen), calling themselves the Supermen of America!, to face him!  The name of the team came from a similar titled comic book special in 1999.  It is Natalie's destiny to wear the Steel armor!  Superman and Lois is full of twists, this episode is in serious need of heartwarming moments, it is the fall before the rise! 

Four Crystals out of Five!  

#SupermanAndLois, #TheInverseMethod, #Bizarro, #LeeahWong, #EvelynGarcia, #DominiqueTermansen, #KelceyMawema, #SupermenOfAmerica