The Rings of Power, “Adrift”, Review!

Rings of Power continues with "Adrift" where we meet a survivor on a raft, the Stranger, and a Dwarf couple that are best parts of Middle-Earth!  At the tower, Médhor, Arondir’s fellow guard, says that there has only been two Elf Human relationships; Beren and Lúthien, which was in the novel, Beren and Lúthien (2017).  Aragorn sings “The Lay of Lúthien” in the expanded edition of The Fellowship of the Ring (2002).  There is also Tuor and Idril, a Elf princess, that was also told in The Fall of Gondolin (2018).  Their stories are both in the First Age covered in The Silmarillion.  The two fellow guards are told that the high king has disbanded the outposts.  Later, the Watchwarden, Revion (Simon Merrels) joins Arondir and he says these Men had allied with Morgoth.  Bronwyn has a table at her home and her son, Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) is helping her with some herbs.  They see Arondir walk up and Bronwyn goes to talk with him.  Theo tells her that some man has come for her help, a farmer (Peter Tait) who has a sick cow.  

Arondir checks the cow which squirts some kind of black liquid from its udder!  He asks the farmer where it grazed and he says east at Hordern.  Arondir leaves with Bronwyn on the journey.  Theo goes into the barn with another boy, Rowan (Ian Blackburn), who asks about his missing father.  He finds the hilt of a broken, black sword.  Theo stares at it, sees a vision of the burning sword, and hears Black Speech!  The Watchwarden is right, these people have evil connections, which may be Theo!  We see a ship on the Sundering Sea, Galadriel is there with her company in silver armor.  It seems to be a magic ship since no one seems to be steering it.  Elrond says he can no longer sense her which he tells Gil-galad.  The high king says that Elrond will work with Lord Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) on his “new project.”  Saddoc Burrows wonders about something in the skies and he is surprised by Nori.  Arondir asks Bronwyn what she knows about Hordern and she says she was born there. They find that the village has burned down.  A map shows the Sundering Seas.  On the ship, female attendants remove the armor of the company.  

One tries to take Galadriel’s sword which she eventually gives it up.  The skies open to a light and white birds appear to fly around the ship.  The skies part to a heavenly light and Galadriel hears the words of her brother.  A burning comet streaks across the sky, seen by Gil-galad at night with Elrond and others.  Galadriel steps back from the light.  The comet passes Bronwyn and Arondir in the night.  It also flies over a night forest of Ents.  Galadriel hears the whispered words of Finrod who answers her that they cannot know which light to follow until they have “touched the darkness”!  Nori sees the comet crash past her and Galadriel dives into the sea!  The way to Valinor closes.  Gil-galad picks up a golden leaf and its back is veined with black!  Nori walks up to the burning crater and finds the form of a bearded man, this Stranger (Daniel Weyman), who has fallen from the skies.  How will Theo find his destiny?  What is Celebrimbor forging?  Who is this mysterious Stranger with all of the evil omens?   

The series title has circles of golden sand, rings really, tht form a pattern like interlocking trees.  More shapes, a black sand slithers through until we get the title.  The night skies, Galadriel looks up at it from the Sundering Sea, and begins swimming!  Nori stands at the burning crater staring at the Stranger.  She is disturbed by Poppy and falls down into the crater!  Nori finds that there is no heat from the crater.  Kind of like the torches at the Forodwraith fortress?  She pokes at his face and he grabs her hand, they scream, the rocks begin floating upwards!  Is this warning enough for Nori?  The flames dissipate, the Stranger collapses, and the flames reignite!  Nori convinces Poppy to carry him away.  This reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode, “The Howling Man” (1960), well intentioned, but this action is dangerous.  Saddoc with a lantern, Malva (Thusitha Jayasundera) wants them to break camp and leave.  The young Harfoots have taken away lanterns that they use to cart away the Stranger.   

They argue and the cart with the Stranger rolls away!  The Harfoots have made a makeshift camp out in the forest.  Nori tells Poppy that she feels she was meant to help the Stranger.  Arondir and Bronwyn are searching the remains of Hordern, there is no bodies, in a house, they find a passage made beneath a house!  He says Bronwyn should warn the others while he follows the passage.  A moment between them and then Arondir leaps down with his torch.  We then move to Eregion, an Elven city made at the edge of a cliff, close to the Misty Mountains, with white spires out of the river Greyflood.  Elrond is regarding the hammer that Fëanor used to built the Silmarils, three jewels that contained the light of the Two Trees.  Celebrimbor explains that Morgoth stole them, but was just fascinated by them.  He want something just as beautiful.  Celebrimbor needs a tower built to contain a forge and wants it by spring.  Elrond suggests getting help and we see the map move to Khazad-Dûm, “Realm of the Dwarves.”  

We pan down the mountains with their endless waterfalls , this is the shot that is extended too long. Elrond explains that Prince Durin is his friend.  Celebrimbor is interested in seeing their kingdom. A gem-like opening to an iron door and Elrond identifies themselves and their request to see Durin. They are sent away, but Elrond return to ask for the Rite of Sigin-tarâg. The door opens and Dwarf warriors file out as Elrond tells Celembrimbor that he will return to Eregion.  Elrond is stunned at the beauty of the Dwarf kingdom, it has waterfalls, green plants, and a long, thin bridge.  This is also where the top half of the shot is warped to fill in the bottom of the shot, again the visual effects would be impressive if it is cut back a little.  There is chanting as Elrond enters a room as we also get the arrival of Prince Durin IV played by Owain Arthur. The red beared Dwarf is so fun, he overshadows other Dwarf actors. The test of endurance, he says, was from Aulë, the Valar smith that created the Dwarves.  

They break great stones with hammers until one cannot break anymore. If Elrond loses, he will be banished! He accepts and Durin shatters the rock! Nori runs back to the camp and sees the Stranger carving symbols on rock.  He turns and screams, winds blowing, another warning Harfoot girl. Then, he kneels, Nori makes a deal to be safe with the Stranger.  She touches her chest, tugs her ear, and holds out her hand. I love these Harfoot gestures!  She thinks that he doesn’t remember anything.  She pulls out a snail and eats it. The Stranger eats the snail and the shell. Largo helps put up a post without his daughter’s help. The Stranger carves in the dirt and says, “Mana úrë!”, but Nori doesn’t understand. Poppy arrives and Nori tries to explain that she is a friend. She takes her friend back to see her injured father. Galadriel is still swimming and then manages to see a makeshift raft.  A human woman, Abigail (Virginie Laverdure) helps her up.  They are survivors from an attack by a Worm. 

Another Eamon (Berynn Schwerdt) pulls back her hair and surprised that she is an Elf.  They find a sail in the mists, the survivors recognize that it is their ship, it turns and we see the spines of the Worm!  It’s massive form swims underneath them, I had just seen Jaws (1975) in theaters!, Abigail pushes Galadriel into the sea thinking she led it to them!  Galadriel swims away as the Worm tears apart the raft!  She finds that one of the survivors has separted himself from the others and helps her onboard.  He introduces himself as Halbrand (Charlie Vickers).  The rock shattering continues, but Elrond tires out, he swing again time, but his hammer breaks!  His hammer is replaced, but Elrond sets the hammer down in defeat.  Durin raises his hammer in victory.  Elrond asks him to escort him away.  A lift with chains takes them up and Durin remarks that Elrond has been gone for 20 years. He is angry that Elrond missed his wedding and the birth of his two children!  Elrond congradulates Durin and wants to apologize to his family.  

Durin takes Elrond to his home and absolutely doesn’t want him over for dinner.  They are heard by Durin’s wife, Disa (Sophia Nomvete).  She is so delightful, you will say that what the Lord of the Rings films are missing is Disa!  She hugs Elrond and Disa insists that he stay for dinner.  The kids, Gerda and Gamli, play around in Durin’s giant stone heads!  Elrond looks at their beautiful, yellow-leafed tree.  Over dinner, Elrond asks how they met, Disa tells him the story that she was resonating a chamber, singing to it, to find silver.  Then, Prince Durin checks on her, again and again!  He was shy, now they passionately kiss, adorable!  Durin is suspicious of Elrond and his Elves.  Elrond asks about the tree, he had brought Durin a sapling, and Disa says Durin carefully grew it.  He says that it is from the Great Tree in Lindon.  I love this friendship, it is the best in Middle-Earth!  Elrond is about to leave, Dissa looks at Durin, and he asks the Elf to stay. Durin will listen to the proposal.                      

Five Rings of Power out of Five!  

#RingsOfPower, #Adrift, #MorfyddClark, #MarkellaKavenagh, #MeganRichards, #IsmaelCruzCordova, #NazaninBoniadi, #RobertAramayo, #OwainArthur, #SophiaNomvete, #CharlieVickers, #LennyHenry, #CharlesEdwards, #TyroeMuhafidin, #DanielWeyman

Getty Center, “Fantasy of the Middle Ages”, and more!

The Getty Center on the hillside overlooking the 405 freeway is a collection of fine art free to the public with reservations!  After parking and security check, there is a tram that takes you up the museum. Steps next to a flowing fountain leads to the main building.  It is some beautiful grounds worth the trip alone.  What drew me there was the “Fantasy of the Middle Ages” exhibit.  The exhibit opened on June 21st and closes on September 11th, there's a few days left!  This is at the North Building to the left outside of the main building.  I was impressed by the Heroes display with a book and colorful illustration of Saint George and the Dragon dated to about 1450-55.  Another book had The Order of Chivalry, black and white frontispiece by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris (1892). 

Fantasy of the Middle Ages at the Getty Center, photo by the author. 

Another incredible book and illustration was by Arthur Rackham, “The Waiting Maid Sprang Down First and Maid Maleen Followed” (1917) for the Brothers Grimm book.  A colorful dragon with a lion head, multi-colored bird wing and reptile tail was in a book worn by water in a French book dated to about 1270.  A King Arthur display had The Lady of the Lake Telleth Arthur of the Sword Excalibur” (1893-94) by Aubrey Vincent Beardsley for Le morte d’Arthur.   For the Camelot in the Victorian Age, there was “The Beguiling of Merlin” (1890) by Adolph Lalauze after Edward Burne-Jones.  Also, “The Parting of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere” (1875), a black and white photograph by Julia Margaret Cameron for her friend’s book of Arthurian poems, Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s Idylls of the King.  

“The Parting of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere” by Julia Margaret Cameron, author’s photo. 

Outside of the room in a hallway was a display of collections by the museum staff.  I saw Dungeons & Dragons books, Magic: The Gathering cards, a hardback copy of Chivalry by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran, the Cursed book, some Camelot 3000 comic books, a DVDs of First Knight (1995) and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), plus a banner from Medieval Times.  The other room had pages of Combat with Sword and Combat with Sword, Staff, and Lance by Fiore Furlan dei Liberi de Premariacco dated about 1410.  “Costumes for Stage and Screen”, costume sketches like “Virginia May as Lady Edith” for King Richard and the Crusaders.  Also Kay Nielsen’s sudies for Sleeping Beauty (1959).  I also saw the Sword in the Stone prop book used at the beginning of the1963 Disney animated movie based on the T.H. White story.  The rest of the museum had paintings of some of my favorite artists; Pierre-Auguste Renoir, “La Promenade” (1870), Claude Monet, “Sunrise” (1873), and Vincent van Gogh’s “Irises” (1889).  The Getty Center has beautiful collections, I’m thinking of being away from works of art the words of Frank Herbert in Dune (1965), “Without change something sleeps inside of us, and seldom awakens.”  

#GettyCenter, #FantasyOfTheMiddleAges, #EdwardBurneJones, #ArthurRackham, #AubreyVincentBeardsley, #AdolphLalauze, #JuliaMargaretCameron, #KayNielsen, #SleepingBeauty, #SwordInTheStone, #PierreAugusteRenoir, #ClaudeMonet, #VincentVanGogh 

Long Beach Comic Con - 2022!

The weekend had hot weather and also the Long Beach Comic Con!  If you missed it, the con will return on February 11 and 12th next year!  At the con entrance were posters for the horror movie, Smile, out September 30th.  Plus a QR code for tickets.   It was interesting to see the Space Expo at the front of the convention.  I was a bit surprised that there wasn’t anything on the James Webb space telescope pictures, the Artemis rocket, and other space based missions. The Droid Builders were next to them and I noticed the RX-24 droid!  There were comic sellers, I didn’t notice new comics out, I usually take a look at the company tables at the front, Top Cow, Aspen, and now Heavy Metal. A new comic is White Ash, I’ve seen the Free Comic Book Day issue a few years back, but it was great to get the writer, Charles Stickney, give the spiel on the comic.  It was great seeing the comic creators.  I picked up Dejah Thoris: Fairy Tales from writer Mark Waid. 

Long Beach Comic Con, photo by the author. 

I caught up with Christian Gossett.  He is the creator of Red Star that was published by Image.  The visuals, incredible designs, and tech and environments that are computer generated!  The Red Star world is a “Mythic Russia” with sorcery and tech!  There were several Red Star graphic novels that collect the run.  Gossett is currently working at Marvel Animation.  I also saw again Denys Cowan who mentioned the Milestone Generations documentary that currently streams on HBO Max!  I saw the booth for Tolkien illustrator, Kip Rasmussen, he has two images in next year’s Tolkien Calendar.  His two artbooks, Glimpses of Tolkien’s Worlds, has beautiful Silmarillion illustrations.  Lastly, there was Michael Swanigan, he has working on a number of classic animated shows; storyboards for Static Shock, Gargoyles, and X-Men: The Animated Series.  He has upcoming the Toon Con on October 9th at the Pasadena Convention Center with many other voice artists and animation artists: https://toon-con.com.  Long Beach Comic Convention is a very easy to access comic con so if you wonder about the larger cons, I would recommend starting here!   

#LongBeachComicCon, #SpaceExpo, #CharlesStickney, #MarkWaid, #ChristianGossett, #DenysCowan, #KipRasmussen, #MichaelSwanigan 

House of the Dragon, “Second of His Name”, Review!

The second episode of House of the Dragon starts with a battle and ends with it, in between is the tension of Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Viserys!  Re:cap, Myseria is quietly thinking as Daemon returns.  She asks him about the marriage and also that she was having a child.  Myseria says she made it so she couldn't have children!  She admits that she has been sold and doesn't remember her homeland.  Myseria has a relationship with Daemon to be "liberated" from fear.  Viserys enters the Small Council chamber to talk with Lord Lyonel Strong.  He wants his opinion on marrying the young Laena Velaryon that would have the Sea Snake, Corlys Velaryon on his side.  Viserys is informed that his daughter has returned from Dragonstone!  She was able to negotiate with Daemon for the return of the dragon egg without any fighting.  He tells her that he will remarry.  Viserys looks out from the Red Keep as the Small Council assembles.  He announces that he will marry... Alicent Hightower!  Lord Velaryon objects, but then leaves.  Rhaenyra is also upset and leaves.  

At the Driftmark, The Sea Snake mentions the age of House Velaryon and makes an ally with  Daemon Targaryen to help him with the Stepstones.  A ship is on fire as the Crabfeeder, Craghas Drahar (Daniel Scott-Smith) is told by a prisoner that House Velaryon is coming for him.  His face and upper body is covered by the greyscale disease.  He hammers a spike and places crabs on him.   Caraxes ignites the Triarchy army as the prisoner cheers on Prince Daemon.  The Crabfeeders are flame broiled.  The dragon crushes him and begins crab cooking.  The survivors run into caves.  Prince Daemon calls for the Crabfeeder as he hides in a cave.  Caraxes is pelted by arrows and flies away.  We don't get the beginning of the battle, it feels a bit like the Clone Wars in the Star Wars prequel movies.  At a feast, there is a celebration of the king’s child, Aegon’s second name day.  Also there is Queen Alicent pregnant with another child.  Viserys gets the report of the Battle of the Stepstones, but he wants nothing after the three years of fighting.  The king just wants to know where is Rhaenyra.    

Under the Godswood weir tree, Rhaenyra is listening to a bard, Samwell (Jonny Welson), as Alicent approaches.  Queen Alicent sends away the bard.  Rhaenyra gives up to join the hunt.  In a wagon, is the Targaryen family, Rhaenyra is going along, but she knows this all of the king.  They reach the row of Kingswood tents and receive claps at the arrival of the king including Otto Hightower.  Rhaenyra sits in the wagon alone.  She later enters the royal gathering.  Laerys Strong who is limping with a replaced foot joins the women with Queen Alicent.  Rhaenyra walks through the camp and sees Lord Jason Lannister (Jefferson Hall) who introduces himself.  He explains Casterly Rock and tells her that he needs a dragon.  Rhaenrys confronts her father angered at being paired off.  There is just a rim of tears in her eyes, incredible acting by Alcock!  Viserys argues with her and the Hand interrupts them since all of the royal court watches the argument.  

Lord Hightower notes that a white hart has been spotted.  The black stag is the symbol of House Baratheon.  Rhaenrya mounts her horse and Ser Criston chases after her through the forest.  He is just able to take hold of her horse at the edge of the river.  He asks her if he should kill Lord Lannister.  They walk their horses and Rhaenyra says she feels useless.  At the hunt, King Viserys dismounts his horse and checks the droppings of the white hart.  Did anyone notice that Viserys wipes his hand on Lord Hightower's cloak after touching the droppings?  Later, he takes a drink at the banquet.  He is presented a spear to kill the white hart by Jason Lannister.  Viserys is asked about marriage to Rhaenyra.  Lord Hightower reminds Viserys that Rhaenyra will follow whatever he orders, but is told he wants his daughter to be happy.  The Hand suggests that Aegon II, now an infant!, could be a husband for Rhaenyra.  Lord Lyonel Strong suggests that the son of Lord Corlys, Laenor.  Viserys wearily gets up and leaves.  

At night, Rhaenrya is a camp fire with Ser Criston, she asks if the Seven Kingdoms will accept her queen.  The horse snorts and paws nervously so Ser Criston draws his sword.  He walks further into the dark forest.  A boar charges him, knocking Ser Criston down, and then begins attacking Rhaenrya.  It is stabbed by Ser Criston and snorts so Rhaenrya stabs it repeatedly with her dagger!  It is a more savage version of the R.O.U.S in the Fire Swamp of Princess Bride (1987).  We are getting a some echoes of what happened to Robert Baratheon!  Alicent checks on her husband by a bonfire.  He says he named Rhaenyra as protection from Daemon.  Viserys saw a son in a vision, but it was only one time.  This obsession, he says, led to Aemma’s death.  Morning, another hunt, Viserys watches a stag caught by hunters.  Jason Lannister gives him the spear.  Viserys drives the spear below the stag’s neck!  The stag still struggles until the king drives the spear into it again.  The rest of the hunters clap.  Rhaenrya looks out to the forests, her hair streaked with blood to the white hart!  Ser Criston starts to draw his sword, but Rhaenyra allows it to go free!  At the bonfire, the boar is dragged back.  

Rhaenyra walks into the camp with blood along her neck!  The wagons return to King’s Landing.  Otto Hightower enters to talk with his daughter about her child.  He hopes Aegon will be named heir and keep the realm.  This is rift between Rhaenyra and herself.  She walks into the king’s chamber as he sits by the fire.  She sees a letter from Daemon who is fighting in the Stepstones.  He is asking for aid, but Viserys refuses.  Alicient poses the question is it better for the Crabfeeder to be alive.  The next day, at the Small Council, Viserys has sent a message to send ships to Daemon Targaryen.  Rhaenyra feels useless with the son of Alicent to be named heir.  He says that he had no choice to be married to Aemma who he says “made him a man.”  Viserys wants her to find her husband and reassures her that she will be his heir.  Later at the Battle of the Stepstones, Ser Leonor  Velayron (Theo Nate) argues with his uncle, the Sea Snake, over the course of the battle.  A vicious battle that caps an episode of intrigue, we do skip over some good parts, but the third episode sets the course for the older Alicent and Rhaenyra!  

Four Dragon Saddles out of Five! 

#HouseOfTheDragon, #SecondOfHisName, #PaddyConsidine, #MillyAlcock, #EmilyCarey, #RhysIfans, #JeffersonHall, #MattSmith, #DanielScottSmith

ElfQuest the Audio Movie, “Fire and Flight”, Review!

ElfQuest is a long running fantasy series by Wendy and Richard Pini has been adapted to audio form!  Fantasy Quarterly printed the first Elfquest in 1978.  The company formed by the Pinis, WaRP Graphics continued ElfQuest for twenty-one issues, the first arc called the Original Quest, finished in 1985.  There were graphic novel collections, novels, and a role-playing game.  Many talented writers and artists worked on the series, anthologies, and other stories.  Marvel reprinted the series in 1985 for thirty-two issues under its Epic Comics brand.  There was a thirty-three issue series by WaRP Graphics and then DC reprinted the first issue, graphic novels, and Elfquest the Discovery limited series in 2006.  

The website, Boing Boing, released Elfquest: The Final Quest in 2012.  Dark Horse published the series with twenty four issues concluded in 2018.  40 years of Elfquest!  There was also a four issue series, Elfquest: Stargazer’s Hunt, that finished in 2020.  The audio movie is produced by Wolfrider Productions and the Realm. It is directed by Fred Greenhalgh and available on Apple Podcasts.  Where crickets in the night as we hear a human voice, Spirit-Man (Red Porter) chanting with others in a dance to Gotara.  He says they captured an “evil one.”  The storyteller (Cree Summer) says that they have wolf-like ears and , an elf.  We are introduced to the World of the Two Moons.  In a time when the humans saw a “mountain thing” come from a stormy sky.  It landed, castle-like structure, and a man appeared to watch it.  

He didn’t understand the material of the “mountain thing” and Strong Man worried that this people would take over.  The tiny trolls are missing from this scene.  Their ambassador gives a friendly greeting, but Strong Man attacked with the other humans.  They couldn’t use their magic in this world, but the elves escaped into the forests from their palace.  This went on for generations until we get the current time where the humans chant, “Kill the demon”!  We are introduced to the chief of the Elf tribe, the Wolfriders, Cutter (Alejandro Saab), and Skywise (Osric Chau), who are watching the humans.  Skywise points out the Elf skulls and Cutter promises Redlance won’t be one of them!  Cutter uses Sending, a echoing telepathy, their last powers from the High Ones.  Very cool effect! 

Spirit-Man, speaks about the ages when the Evil Ones landed and used their magic.  Redlance (Hugo Pierre Martin) wearily speaks to the humans.  The leader asks the hunter, Tabak, to kill the prisoner.  Cutter coordinates with the other Wolfriders through Sending; Moonshae (Zehra Fazal), One-Eye (Jonathan Woodard) with Pike (Brennan Mulligan) and Clearbrook (Claire Kramer).  Scouter (Thomas Trinh), and Dewshine (Nicole Maines).  Each member of the tribe are distinctive.  There is no question that the female Wolfriders are capable warriors here.  They are ready and Cutter gives the order to attack.  Their war cry, “Aayoah!” is perfect, just as I imagined it!  The elves and their bonded great wolves fall upon the humans.  Havac is struck down by Cutter!  The music is tense. 

Spirit-Man is knocked out by Skywise.  The Wolfrider chief warns the human, he has taken Redlance, and orders a retreat to the Holt.  The narrator says his soul name is Tam, that’s private!, and he has the Blood of the Ten Chiefs!  This was from the comic book captions.  He is thoughtful taking Redlance to the Holt and then sends Skywise ahead to Redlance’s life-mate, Nightfall.  The relationships between the couples is great, there is trust to the extent that they trust the other even in danger.  We hear through the Sending of the tribe, Scouter who worries about Cutter’s action, his parents Moonshade reassure him.  The narrator describes the fireflies around the Grandfather tree that is part of the Holt.  Skywise arrives and calls for Nightfall (Amber Benson).  She feels guilty that Redlance took her place in the hunt.  Cutter arrives with Redlance.  

We move back to the humans mourning their dead.  The leader calls the others for vengeance.  The narrator explains that the Father Tree was shaped by the elves.  Redlance is groaning in pain and sees Cutter. He mentions the buck he chased on the hunt and Cutter reprimands him about hunting close to the humans.  Cutter adds that Redlance is his best tracker and the wounded elf has fallen asleep.  Cutter is fascinating as a leader, the Wolfriders' loyalty is unquestionable, even though Cutter is young, they trust in his judgment.  Nightfall Sending speaks to Cutter about worrying about all of the tribe members.  Cutter goes to a glen looking at his sword, New Moon, given to him by his father, Bearclaw.  He talks to his father about the human’s hate.  Skywise joins him and points out in the sky, the Great Wolf chases the Hunter whom he says will trip.  Cutter confides that he never killed a human.  They hear the wolves howl. 

Cutter sees his wolf, Nightrunner, and he Sends a warning to the tribe.  Redlance wakens to do something about the humans, but Nightfall calms him.  Treestump has his throwing axe ready for the humans.  Cutter has all of the tribe riding towards the humans with Scouter in the lead!  Cutter says Strongbow (Will Friedle) should wait seeing the humans’ torches.  Spirit-Man sets his torch to the woods.  Strongbow looses his arrow, but it is too late!  Cutter calls for the tribe to return to the Holt.  They have lost their home!   The first issue ends with the meeting of Greymung, the king of the trolls.  One part that seems to be missing is that the wolves are like characters in Elfquest and only Nightrunner is really identified.  There are character actors that gave wolf voices.  Elfquest the Audio Movie is a thrilling dip into the World of Two Moons built by Wendy and Richard Pini with a terrific audio cast and narration!   

Four Sendings out of Five!  

#ElfquestAudioMovie, #Fire&Flight, #AlejandroSaab, #OsricChau #CreeSummer, #Hugo Pierre Martin, #ZehraFaza, #JonathanWoodward, #BrennanMulligan, #ClaireKramer, #ThomasTrinh, #NicoleMaines, #RayPorter 

Rings of Power, “A Shadow of the Past”, Review!

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power offers the wonder of Middle-Earth featuring Galadriel watching for Sauron's return and characters that are tied into his forging of the Rings. It is created by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay based on the appendices found in the Return of the King (1955) novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. The series debuted on September 1st and currently streams on Amazon Prime. Darkness as we hear a chorus and then narration by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) similar to the beginning of The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001).  

The epic sweep of the music is by Bear McCreery.  We see children playing in blindfolds. She mentions the earliest of ages when there was no sun called the Years of the Lamps in the Silmarillion. They take notice of young Galadriel (Amelie Child Villiers) sitting by herself on a rock.  Young Galadriel whispers as she folds a paper, origami-style. An elf boy (Jagger Serafin) watches Galadriel from across a stream, part of the river Híri. He mocks her for her paper ship. They race along the banks and it unfolds into a swan ship.  The bully kids begin to throw rocks at it  

Galadriel rushes over to stop them when the ship is struck and sinks. She tackles the lead bully and is about to give a punch, but she is stopped by the appearance of her brother, Finrod (Will Fletcher). Later, they take next to a tree in a field. Galadriel had learn to form the ship from her brother. Finrod explains that a stone only looks down into the darkness. The ship, he says, is surrounded by darkness, but looks up into the light. Galadriel adds that light is reflected in the darkness. Finrod answers her questions whispering to her.  

He notes that he won’t always be around and then walks to see their parents. Finrod walks up a hill to see the city of Valmar, then next to it are the Two Trees of Valinor, the bright one is Laurelin, the Gold Tree, and then Telperiod, the Silver Tree. An incredibly beautiful visual. The visual effects are by WETA and ILM plus many other effects houses! It would be interesting to see the early scenes show the quality of light on the skies of the Sun and Moon on Valinor. Then, we see Laurelin burn, turn to an ashen trunk, it’s leaves drift away, and we see behind it a dark shadow in the cloudy sky of Morgoth.  

He is a fallen Valar, though the destruction of the trees was by the Ungoliant, an ancestor of Shelob. The Sun and the Moon (not explained) were fruits from the Two Trees. Galadriel mentions the resistance, Elves (including Finrod) drawing their swords in silver and gold armor. A fleet of ships set sail with the Elven legions. We ship from the map of Valinor, across the Sundering Seas, finally to the unknown and dangerous realm, Middle-Earth! 

In a battle, a Fell Beast tosses aside a Giant Eagle through flames, a chaotic battle in the rain, Finrod uses his sword against countless Orcs!  We see bodies adrift in a sea of red. In the ruins of battlefield, the older Galadriel, in a white dress, takes the helmet of her brother, and places it on a giant mound of helmets. Narrator Galadriel says Morgoth was defeated (by the other Valar), but his orcs wen to every part of Middle-Earth. Then, we pass legions of Orcs, Sauron is revealed in his black armor, a lieutenant of Morgoths and a corrupted Maia, Gandalf was one of the Maiar. 

Finrod, explained by Galadriel, vowed to destroy him and then we see Finrod’s body with a white sheet on him with his sword. His body has Sauron’s mark, which is a trident-like symbol. He was killed by a werewolf sent by Sauron in the books. A tearful Galadriel takes up his vow and sword.  His death was in the First Age. Four white-sailed ships head out on the hunt for Sauron. They race across a river and to a snowy mountain top.  

This leads them to “Forodwaith, the Northernmost Waste”, with Galadriel narrates that the Elves have started to forget Sauron. We close in as the hunters scale an icy mountain next to a waterfall!  One of the company, Thondir (Fabian McCallum), asks Commander Galadriel if they should continue their hunt without a trace of Orcs or Sauron. He wants to set up camp and then return home. At night, the winds howl as the company trudges on with torches, Galadriel shows them that they are beneath a dark fortress!  

Inside the cold fortress, one Elf says he can’t feel the warmth of the torch, Galadriel tells him that the evil has taken away the heat! She sees a mirror-like patch of ice and shatters it with her gauntlet. Galadriel orders the men to take down the ice. Her chainmail and plate armor is impressive. Kudos to the costume designer, Kate Howley, great material for cosplayers! Thondir has discovered twisted Orcs embedded into a wall.  

Galadriel pours water on a stone that reveals Sauron’s mark! She says Sauron left it there for Orcs to follow. The less courageous Thondir says the mark was made long ago and wants to get back to report to the High King. Galadriel says she can never stop until Sauron is defeated. Another soldier, Rian (Kip Chapman), is searching and finds a Snow Troll! It bashes three of the company, Galadriel leaps off a sword to slash at the troll, and brings it down! She orders a march north, but Thondir and the others put down their swords. Mutiny!

On the map, we move to “Rhovanion, The Wilderlands East of the Anduin”, this is land below Mirkwood Forest, east of Rohan. We see two men carrying giant antlers like wings on their backs.  The older hunter (Tom McCathie) warns the other about Harfoots, the early form of Hobbits. They start to leave and a patch of grass rises worn by a Harfoot!  

A whistle is blown and the other Harfoots appear from their hiding places. This is what Hobbits were like in the books, secretive, and hidden from people. An elder Harfoot, Sadoc Burrows (Lenny Henry) appears and sniffs around, then declares that the hunters are gone. An entire village of Harfoots appear including Marigold Brandyfoot (Sara Zwangobani) who calls out for her daughter Nori. I love the leaves entangled in the Harfoot hair. Also, the muted, but different colors of the earthy dress of the Harfoots.   

Sadoc goes through his book and sees an image of the hunters with two Warg-like creatures behind them!  Largo Brandyfoot (Dylan Smith) tries to reassure his wife that Nori will protect the children.  Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) has taken the group past the village. Much to the worry of her friend, Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards). They slip through a fence and Nori has to pull Poppy through and she ends up in the mud.  

This is a touch of comedy with all of the heaviness of the Elven company. They have found bushes of blackberries that they collect and munch on. A child has found something in the mud. Nori sees that it is a track of a wolf and has everyone head back to the village. A Warg sniffs and looks toward the Harfoots. Elrond (Robert Aramayo) is writing on a parchment when he is called by an attendant. The attendant has a veil and white dress that is stunning, so different from the standard Elf.   

She tells him that he can’t attend a meeting since it is only for Elf lords. Then, the attendant says that his friend is there. Elrond rushes off with his sword and we are shown “Lindon, Capital of the High Elves.” It has the architecture of Rivendell with white buildings set amongst yellow-leafed trees with waterfalls around it. The land is at the western edge of Middle-Earth that later had the Grey Havens where Frodo and Gandalf took the ship to Valinor.  

Galadriel, in a gold and blue dress and garland, contemplates a painting of the Valinor when Elrond greets her. She shows him the mark of Sauron and wants an audience with the high king to get another company. Elrond tells her she defined the company’s order from the king to continue without limits. Still, the high king is going to honor her. Back at the Harfoot village, Largo tells his daughter about the hunters, and then she is chastised by her mother, Marigold. Nori wonders about the outside world and gifts her parents with blackberries.  

Gold-leafed laurels are placed on the company in their armor by the high king Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) reciting the speech written by Elrond. He says that they will all be honored going to Valinor. Galadriel looks at Elrond at this honor which he had known. Multi-colored fireworks fill the night sky like flowers. Galadriel regards the carved relief of Finrod carved from a tree. Elrond joins her and she says that she will refuse the gift.  

Galadriel tells him that she has known evil and that it will wait until they have forgotten. Elrond says that if she turns away from Valinor, she won’t be able to go back, and be shunned by the Elves. When know what happens in Return of the King (2003). He says that she will be healed of her pain in the Blessed Realm.  Elrond promises to take up her mission if Sauron has returned. This moves across the map to “The Southlands, The Lands of Men”, this is above what would become Mordor. These are fields of Men who have buildings with peaked roofs like Rohan below the mountains. Two grey-cloaked men appear carrying bows.  

Inside a tavern, there is discussion of poisoned grass as one of the archers enters. He takes off his hood and reveals his Elf ears, it is new character, Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova). His breastplate armor has the look of the Green Man, a medieval icon, probably an Ent. A woman, later we know as Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) leaves.  Arondir brings up the poisoned grass. This upsets a drunken young man, Rowan (Ian Blackburn), he is upset at the watching of his people. This was from a thousand years ago. Rowan expects the return of the true king.  He leaves the tavern and sees Bronwyn at a well.  

She gives him a bottle of Alfirin seeds, these are the white flowers that we saw at the Rohan tomb in The Two Towers (2002). I love that a main character is a healer, not just a warrior. His fellow soldier, Médhor (Augustus Prew) is suspicious of his relationship. They return to their post at the guard tower in Ostirith, at Mordor. This is of course a forbidden love. The threat of Sauron is the shadow over Middle-Earth and these characters are all connected to it! It feels like a wider world than what was in the Lord of the Rings films with its diverse cast, earlier cultures, and costumes! Rings of Power is for viewers with patience, it has beautiful landscapes, acting especially Clark, that introduces a few of the great cast!           

Five Rings of Power out of Five!  

#LordOfTheRings, #RingsOfPower, #MofyddClark,#MarkellaKavenagh, #Megan Richards, #RobertAramayo, #IsmaelCruzCordova, #NanzaninBoniadi, #LennyHenry, #SaraZwangobani, #BenjaminWalker, #FabianMcCallum  

She-Hulk, “The People vs. Emil Blonsky”, Review!

 “Superhuman Law” Re:cap - Jennifer Walters has taken a job at GLK & H and her first client is Emily Blonsky otherwise known as the Abomination!  She calls up her cousin, Bruce Banner, about Blonsky. He says he’s a “completely different person now”, great delivery by Ruffalo since they are talking about events in the movie, Incredible Hulk (2008) with Edward Norton as Banner. We pan out to see that he is on a Sakaaran Class-Eight Courier Craft that caused their accident in the pilot!  Jen calls Mr. Holliway about taking the case and he tells her to watch the news.  The reporter updates the news that Blonsky escaped and was in the fight club that we saw in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)!  She turns to the viewer and says, “That sucks.”  

At the DoD’s Supermax Prison, Jen says that his actions would not get him parole, and Blonsky explains that he was forced to be leave the prison.  This shifts to Nikki who tells Jen on cell phone she isn’t certain where to contact Wong.  He is in New York or Nepal.  She tells Jen that she sent a thirst trap of herself reading books!  Jen breaks the Fourth Wall to explain that the viewers have to patient to see Wong again.  She adds this is not the show with a guest star cameo every week!  News anchor, IRL John Gregory, gives updates on Emil Blonsky and his lawyer, Jennifer Walters!  A tagline says that Titania’s lawyers expect to the case to be dropped.  This turns to Fox entertainment reporter, Amanda Salas, on the Tattle News (!), notes the backlash since Jen is She-Hulk.  Then, we get Univision reporter, Jessica Rodriguez, who talks about the news trending.  I like the real life reporters instead of the actors playing newscasters plus they are all in the MCU.  

The social media controversy goes into #MeToo.  Nikki mentions all of this when Jen enters her office as She-Hulk.  Jen gets a call from Mr. Holliway, Nikki tells her that they are flooded with interview requests, they enter the office and see that Dennis, her sexist former colleague is there.  Then, Mallory Book (Renée Elise Goldsberry) enters.  She first appeared in She-Hulk #1 (2004).  The actress is Angelica Schuyler herself from Hamilton (2020)!  Dennis of course too much of an idiot and Mallory walks out.  Instead, Dennis wants Pug on his team.  Mr. Holliway says that Dennis needs help with a case since his ex-girlfriend took his money, makes sense, he’s a jerk.  He further explains that the girlfriend was a Light Elf from New Asgard!  Dennis says he thought the shapeshifter was Megan Thee Stallion.  Jen notes the singer’s accomplishments and laughs at Dennis.  They are interrupted by a portal formed by Wong (Benedict Wong)!  He was of course last in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.  

They head to her office and Wong says Blonsky is correct, he wanted someone to test him as Sorcerer Supreme, but she says the video is not enough.  Wong offers to send him to various dimensions, funny, Benedict Wong has a talent for comedy such as his role as Prime in The IT Crowd!  Jen says he needs to show up at the hearing.  Pug is talking to Dennis about the amount of money the Megan Thee Stallion impersonator took from him.  Pug watches a video of Megan Thee Stallion transforming back into the Light Elf (Peg O’Keef).  Dennis re-enters and says he is dropping the case.  He gets a call from Dennis and knows that the person in the office is a shapeshifting and calls for security.  News crews surround the Supermax prison.  Blonsky’s cell is lowered into a courtroom.  In the next room, it looks like groupies with white robes and garlands in their hair, his soulmates.  The trial begins and Wong is missing.  So Jen has Blonsky speak about his redemption.  

A judge brings up where Blonsky will go when he leaves prison.  Jen explains that he has a plot of land which he will use to open a commune.  It is to be funded by his prison pen pals. Then, she interviews all of the prison staff whom Blonsky helped.  Jen keeps delaying for the missing Wong.  A portal suddenly appears and Wong leaps out.  The trial with Dennis continues with the Light Elf, Runa, whose defense is that she has diplomatic immunity as the daughter of a diplomat.  Pug brings up that Dennis was fooled by a con artist.  The judge rules the case to continue.  Wong testifies that he forced Blonsky to leave and he wanted to return to complete his prison time.  The judge says that Blonsky is still out of control as the Abomination.  Emil takes off his shoes while Jen repeatedly urges him not to transform.  The judges scream, there is panic, DoD security enters, but his groupies adore his supervillain form.  The mid credit scene is just too funny!  Another fun episode of She-Hulk, not only breaking the Fourth Wall, but playing off the television format, and throwing in cameos to free the Abomination!  

Five Cheetos Chopsticks out of Five! 

#SheHulkAttorneyAtLaw, #ThePeoplevsEmilBlonsky, #TatianaMaslany, #GingerGonzaga, #TimRoth, #BenedictWong, #JoshSegarra,  #ReneeEliseGoldsberry, #SteveCoulter, #MeganTheeStallion, #DrewMatthews, #PegOKeef