A DC Studios Films Wishlist!

What are some of the DC Films that would great to see? This has no studio information except parameters that were set by James Gunn, a basic understanding of the comic books, and comic book films. So here we go!  I would start with a five minute recap of the previous films with a minute or two of The Flash revealing the new DC Universe. Gunn mentioned, "Superman is a huge priority, if not the biggest priority." Gunn knows the comic books and the history so I'm thinking the first DC movie of this era will pay homage to Action Comics #1, why Superman was the first popular superhero. I also hope it gives a good nod to the creators, with Joe and Jerry characters, a stop at Cleveland, and especially the appearance of Action Comics #1 in some form. Gunn tweeted, "In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life..." I believe it will be young adult Clark working in Metropolis. He will have met Lois and she is his contact to report in his stories. I would have him be put on assignment to be the Daily Planet international correspondent. Traveling the world and learning about people that he will eventually protect. This is similar to Superman: Birthright #2 (2003). 

Villain? Probably Brainiac. He is a world threat, Superman caliber, and tied to his Kryptonian past (in some versions). Vril Dox did appear in the Krypton show played by Blake Riston. It is important to get away from Lex Luthor, he wasn’t introduced until Action Comics #23 (1940), two years after the Man of Steel’s debut! Instead, I would have Lex Luthor as omni-present in Metropolis, on billboards and news stories, but Superman would be "beneath his attention." We do find that Luthor has been studying and researching Superman in private. John Henry Irons, he is played by Wole Parks in Superman & Lois, should be part of the cast from almost the beginning. Dr. Emil Hamilton could also be a scientific advisor. I like Steve Lombard debuting in Superman #264 (1973) as a bully in the newsroom. It’s important to have a strong supporting cast beyond the usual Jimmy Olsen and Perry White. A cameo?, I would really like it if the Supergirl in The Flash movie, played by Sasha Calle, is recovered somewhere in the movie. Maybe a sequel. Before she appears, I’m really hoping to see Krypto in the movies, he actually appeared, Adventure Comics #210 (1955) before Supergirl, Action Comics #252 (1959). He is in the series, Titans, since 2018, but I hope he shows up besides DC League of Super Pets (2022), in the movies. 

Next, a Batman film, I think The Batman movie is great in not treading over the origin again, the two heroes have their origin told too many times. Also, bringing in Catwoman. Gunn tweeted about Batman, "He's a big part of the DCU." I think a good schedule for DC films would be two a year so Superman and then Batman. The Joker? He is too ingrained into the Batman films, has his own franchise, and would be confusing to also add to this story. I think Arkham Asylum could be added, I would really like to see new psychiatrist, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, before she becomes Harley Quinn! As a psychologist, we briefly saw Margot Robbie in Suicide Squad (2016), and Mia Sara played the character in the Birds of Prey tv series. All of the villains have been done, but the filmmakers just shoot for the sky and adapt The Court of Owls! The group also appeared on Gotham. It is a secret organization that is tied to the history of Gotham City and they were introduced in Batman #2 (2011). The Court of Owls has assassins called Talons, one of them is Calvin Rose who can regenerate through electrum.  

So the story may be the defeat of the Court of Owls, but only one part of it, kinda like HYDRA. I think their ultimate defeat would be with the Bat family team. Supporting cast, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Gotham’s version was played by Morena Baccarin, but she is an older figure from the comics. She first appeared in Detective Comics #457 (1976) helping Bruce get over the death of his parents and she helps orphans in Crime Alley. A love interest? I would tend towards Silver St. Cloud, a woman in the wealthy circles who is clever and takes an interest in Bruce Wayne. Natalie Alyn Lind played her in Gotham. This could also tangle her with Selina Kyle’s Catwoman. The end of the movie should be Batman realizing that he is overwhelmed by threats and needs to bring in allies. The first recruit should be Robin, training to see if he can work with Batman, but there are others. Batgirl and basically the team from Detective Comics #934 (2016), “Rise of the Batmen”; Orphan, Spoiler, and former villain Clayface. This would be more interesting than just partnering with Robin. The third DC film should be entitled Batman and Superman: World’s Finest. There was a compilation of “World’s Finest” (1997) episodes from Superman: The Animated Series with a similar title. Still, the name identification with the heroes is important. 

The comic was an anthology until the characters were in the same story in World’s Finest Comics #71 (1954). It would be great to formally establish Lex Luthor and The Joker in this movie and then  team up. In the comics the team up was in issue #88 (1957). So the beginning would introduce The Joker and Luthor as threats to their heroes. I think one of the best Joker stories is Detective Comics #475 (1978). He uses his Joker Venom from his first appearance in Batman #1 (1940), it kills victims whose faces go into a smiling rictus, to create Joker Fish. Then, he tries to trademark the fish! This was adapted in the Batman: The Animated Series episode, “The Laughing Fish” (1993). Luthor formed LexCorp from his many inventions. Luthor discovers some Kryptonite to power up a machine, use unclear right now; as a transmitter to alien civilizations like in Superman: Birthright, or as a weapon against Superman. He is investigated by Lois Lane and Clark discovers his Kryptonite weakness. The machine explodes weakening Superman and causing Luthor to lose his red hair. If this is too much story, it can be divided into a Superman and a Batman sequel. 

Composite Superman first appeared in World’s Finest Comics #142 (1964) sounds like a perfectly insane Joker idea. The Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009) animated movie adapted the “Public Enemies” storyline from the Superman/Batman comic book. In particular is the Composite Superman mecha created by Hiro Okamura, known as Toyman, so this would be a great combination of two evil minds! The most important part is that Batman realizes here, that he will need help (which he also learned from his own film) to not only protect Gotham City, but the rest of the world. The seeds of the Justice League. A realization that Bruce Wayne has in the Justice League movie. Remember it took five movies before Avengers (2012) for the MCU phase 1. This would all lead to the next DC movie, Wonder Woman. I still see Patty Jenkins directing and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. The movie would be a reboot. It is important if the sequence is Superman or Batman sequels, that Wonder Woman is the third movie before leading up to World's Finest. The Amazons would be explained through a narrative by Hippolyta. How after Themyiscra was made for the Amazons, two tribes went on their own to Brazil and Bana-Mighdall. The latter is a hidden Middle-Eastern country. Its warriors include Artemis who almost takes Wonder Woman’s place, and Nubia, who becomes queen of the Amazons. 

In Brazil is the Esquecidas Amazon tribe who found the city of Akahim. They debuted in Wonder Girl #5 (2022) and Yara Flor, who later became Wonder Girl. I see the original origin with Hippolyta forming Diana from Themyiscran clay inspired by Athena. She is brought to life instead of the classic only Aphrodite origin, by three goddesses, Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera. If she is too powerful as an actual goddess, then there is no direction for the character to go. I would keep Aphrodite’s Law that has Amazons immortal as long as a man doesn’t step on Themyiscra, the island. This keeps the Amazons existence to be conditional and at an edge. Steve Trevor’s crash would be on a fragment of his plane not walking the island. Also, a chain of small islands around Themyiscra to form a defensive perimeter. Diana traveling to the Patriarch’s World would mean she ages normally. I would add the women survivors would find sanctuary on Themysicra and if they can prove themselves, become Amazons. A touch of George Perez and current comics. I’m going to imagine that the five goddesses; Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite, Demeter, and Hestia used their powers to hide the island before they were gone. The Contest should also be maintained in a movie version. Supporting characters; not only Etta Candy, but I would add Diana’s Amazon friend, Mala. 

The villain of the first movie I see as Circe, the sorceress, who has been fighting against her since Wonder Woman #37 (1949). Cheetah is a classic enemy, maybe Circe has a part in her transformation, and I would also add Giganta who was a villain all the way back to Wonder Woman #9 (1944). I’m also thinking of Cheetah and Giganta as part of the Legion of Doom in the Super Friends cartoon. This all leads to the Justice League movie. Justice League could have a line-up of the trio, plus Aquaman (if he makes it into the new films), The Flash, and Martian Manhunter from the original comics appearance of the Justice League of America in Brave and Bold #28 (1960). A total of seven members so it could all be mixed up with others. I would switch Hal Jordan with John Stewart, Green Lantern, and maybe Hawkgirl from the Justice League animated series. I would add Black Canary, a long standing member along with someone who can handle magic, Zatanna.  It could be followed by Shazam, Teen Titans (or Young Justice if that title doesn’t work), and possibly the Global Guardians, but foremost would be the New Gods. Animated movie? Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew, Angel and the Ape, plus `Mazing Man as a live action streaming series with the Inferior Five. There is many possiblities for new DC Universe films. 

#DCStudios, #JamesGunn, #Superman, #LexLuthor, #JohnHenryIrons, #EmilHamilton, #SteveLombard, #Supergirl, #Krypto, #Batman, #TheJoker, #HarleenQuinzel, #HugoStrange, #TheCourtOfOwls, #LeslieThompkins, #SilverStCloud, #Robin, #Batgirl, #Spoiler, #Orphan, #BatmanAndSupermanWorldsFinest, #WonderWoman, #EttaCandy, #Mala, #Circe, #Cheetah, #Giganta, #SuperFriends, #JusticeLeague, #Aquaman, #TheFlash, #MartianManhunter, #Hawkgirl, #BlackCanary, #Zatana, #Shazam, #Teentitans, #GlobalGuardians, #NewGods, #CaptainCarrotAndHisAmazingZooCrew, #AngelAndTheApe, #MazingMan, #InferiorFive   

Willow, “Wildwood”, Review!

Willow has the group entering a mysterious forest, “Wildwood”, that tears the truth of many characters! “Whispers of Nockmar” had Elora add the essence of nightshade, the last ingredient to the salve that would save Graydon! She walks to the corridor where Kit is resting. Elora tells Kit about the woodcutters who died for her. She has given up and is drawn by a woman crying. It is raining and Jade hears her mother telling her to run, sees her mother’s body, and then goes to attack General Kael in the half-skull mask. Did Kael form or inspire the Bone Reavers? Kael drives her back, his sword point dragged against the ground and walls, into a room where Jade bars the door. Elora sees visions of the beginning of Willow. This is her mother and the vision of Bavmorda passes, before the sword strike, her mother sees Elora as she is now. Then, the vision fades when the sword comes down. Jade draws her sword only to face Kit. The princess says she was about to eaten by the staircase! There is a knock at the door, but it is Boorman. He tells them a secret, “You two totally have the hots for each other.” Contemporary expression, but not intrusive. He bursts in looking for the Lux Arcana, but Jade has his sword to him. 

Elora sees Graydon freed and he takes her of course to the high tower. Kit wonders why Boorman would go against them for the Lux Arcana. He directs their attention to the high tower. Graydon casually walks into the chamber with the bowl used for the ceremony. The candles start to burn and Graydon turns Lich-ified. He lifts up a heavy rock saying he has strength and confidence like Airk, but Elora is not interested in those qualities. Willow enters! Graydon tosses the rock which batters Willow down. Then, he uses his power to draw Elora across the floor. Graydon starts the Ritual of the Thirteenth Night taking strands of Elora’s hair. Then, they see the vision of the young Willow defeating Bavmorda. Graydon raises his arms and Elora’s eyes roll to the whites while she is lifted upwards! The door opens and visions of Sorsha and Finrazel appear, Willow says he will again fight evil “with his friends.” Kit, Jade, and Boorman appear and Kit throws him the staff.  He uses it to knock down Graydon. I love the flashes of the movie filling in the stories of the show’s characters.

                                                                                        Detail of Willow’s backpack, D23 Expo, author’s photo.

Boorman begins trying to pummel the Lich out of Graydon, kinda funny. A stone shape grabs Willow. Elora sees herself as a baby. Boorman says they have to kill Graydon, but Kit tells him to wait. Kit admits to Elora that she saw the eckleberry bush. Elora goes to Graydon and then draws out the evil from him.  Then, she sees the young Graydon with his older brother, Dermot, on a tree. Suddenly, Graydon with possessed eyes, throws down his brother! Elora has seen the truth, but not how Graydon was taken over. His body floats with the evil drawn into the sky like Bavmorda. Now, they see sun inside the chamber., and they walk in the morning. Boorman sees the Lux Arcana in his pouch. Willow explains about the Blood of the Six to Kit; six Fays who had betrayed the Mothers to turn to evil. Kit realizes that Bavmorda had the Blood of Six and now she carries it. Elora looks distrustfully at Graydon. Then, we see the face of The Dag and the bulky Scourge, and The Crone’s voice tells them to find Elora. Airk suddenly wakes up in his cell, the door is open, and he walks out with ashes falling to see the deserted Immemorial City! The first time we have seen him since the first episode, but it may be because Elora has faced The Crone’s power. 

We return to the book of Willow which resolves to Boorman’s face in panic. He is running from a misty castle with The Dag behind him. Kit and Jade are chased by The Scourge through some ruins. This is all to an 80’s-style rock song, back to ep. 3? The Dag swoops after Elora in her giant hawk form, but misses. Kit tries to loose an arrow at The Scourge, but he knocks it away. Willow waits as Boorman runs past and unleashes flames from his wand at The Dag. From the immortal words of Admiral Ackbar, “It’s a trap!” Jade and Kit escape The Scourge and everyone gathers at a wall. Their only refuge from The Gales is pointed out by Willow, the Wildwood. Graydon mentions that everything in the forest makes you lose the will to leave. The Scourge leaps down and they start to run into the woods. They wonder at the bright motes that float in the forest air. Jade notes that the Bone Reavers are in the Wildwood. Willow tells Elora that Cherlindrea’s wand came from the Great Tree. She says she has accomplished many magical tasks and asks about divination.  

Boorman walks and talks with Graydon about his interest in Elora whom he says only sees him in the Friend Zone. He is telling him about how Graydon can charm Elora, but then sees bone fragments on the forest floor. Boorman announces to everyone he has a plan while the Bone Reavers leap out of hiding around them. They are taken as prisoners to the Bone Reavers camp. Boorman is seen by a Bone Reaver who knows him, he is Lori Toth (Charlie Rawes). One Bone Reaver has the bone mask with dread locks like The Predator. They are greeted by a woman, the leader, Scorpia (Adwoa Aboah), who is unmasked. She had heard Boorman left Tir Asleen with the others. She notes that the Mines of Skellin are impossible to escape. Kit introduces herself. Scorpia orders Boorman to be tied up in her tent, she is defied by Jade, and then sends Willow and Graydon to the Borough. Kit and Elora are moved to the Rattler, but has Jade remain. Scorpia talks to the bound Boorman whom she says was a “lean, hungry kid.” Willow checks the wooden door blocking their rocky walled cell. Graydon asks about Elora. Willow says Elora has to be left for her destiny not in any romantic relationship. He’s forgetting about Airk.

Pre-production artwork of Kit, Dove, and Willow at the Lucasfilm Pavilion, author’s photo. 

Then, Willow notices tiny houses which tells Graydon belong to Brownies! In their cell, Kit is worried about Jade, but Elora tries to reassure her. This is the first time Kit has found interest in anyone besides Airk. Elora says that “love is the most powerful force in the universe.” Kit says they’re just friends, but Elora says she feels sorry for Jade because Kit can’t love her back. Elora suddenly pulls out Cherlindrea’s wand. Boorman tells Scorpia he escaped by fighting, but we see him emerge from a sewer opening! Shades of Trainspotting (1996)! Trolls in gasmasks, more anarchronisms, then we get a goofy scene of Boorman washing himself in a waterfall. In a tavern, Boorman says he helped “stranded travelers”, but we see him drinking with women whom he calls Carcosian Death Dealers. The name is identical to vampire warriors in Underworld (2003) and first appeared as the title of a painting by Frank Frazetta. He falls down drunk and then taken away by knights. Scorpia asks about the relic, the Lux Arcana, which he says he didn’t find. She asks about Allagash, Boorman says he was taken by trolls. Then, Scorpia asks about Madmartigan. Willow knocks on the door of one of the Brownie houses. 

A woman Brownie, Ganush (Amalia Vitale), comes out annoyed. Then, it is a reunion as we see Rool (Kevin Pollak) who introduces Willow to his daughter. She walks over to a stone bench and falls asleep on it. Willow asks about Franjean and then told he went south because his wife left him for Rool!  Ganush says the wife died, but Rool says she is “further south”, funny. Willow needs the Brownie help to escape and he checks his backpack for the wand, but it is now in the hands of Elora Danan. She tries to use the wand, correctly uses the right words and sets off an explosion with the door! This startles Scorpia from kissing Boorman and Willow with Graydon. Elora has her wand, Kit her sword, and they see Jade is bound to a tree. Lori, unmasked, snatches away the wand, and Kit is taken prisoner. Jade has been freeing herself from the rope, takes a dagger, and holds Scorpia prisoner. Scorpia easily takes her down and they get into a fight with the Bone Reavers cheering them on. Scorpia gets the dagger, but then sees a circular, red mark on Jade’s neck. There is a twist on what we think of the Bone Reavers, Jade, and Tir Asleen along with Galladoorn. Relationships change with the help of the Wildwood truth plums. 

Four Bracelets out of Five! 

#WarwickDavis, #ErinKellyman, #RubyCruz, #AmarChadhaPatel, #EllieBamber, #TonyRevolori, #AdwoaAboah, #KevinPollak, #AmaliaVitale, #ClaudiaHughes, #JoonasSuotamo 

Strolling Through the (Theme Park) One Day: Avengers Campus!

 `Tis The Season To Go to Disney’s California Adventure! I had only gone on Webslingers and not really looked around Avengers Campus the last time. So this was a time to see all of the shows and also go to the Festival of Holidays! So a few tips on Avengers Campus; First you should go early (first depending on your priorities), Second, there are no set times for character meet and greets so if you are looking for a particular character you might spend most of your time there!, Lastly,if you are interested in WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure go almost first thing, it builds up to an hour and a half by mid-day. First for me was to stop over by the Spider-Man photo op. He is just there right to the side of Avengers Campus. 

By the way, this is the same Spider-Man who performs in The Amazing Spider-Man show, more on this later. I asked him about the Spider-Verse and he mentioned Miles. The cast members and characters all have good knowledge about the comics. I think it would be cool to get Spider-Man to sign a Spidey comic maybe the W.E.B. of Spider-Man #1 (2021). The characters I saw, Wasp was meeting some guests, but left. I saw Iron Man at a meet and greet, but I was waiting for Warriors of Wakanda: The Disciplines of the Dora Milaje. On the top level of the Avengers building, there was Captain Marvel by the Quinjet. I’ll save up the others, but if you want a meet and greet you might want to stay for some time at Avengers Campus. I did have the equivalent of a Lightning Lane so I rode again W.E.B. of Spider-Man. 

Captain Marvel, Avengers Campus, photo by the author. 

You can walk around the Ancient Sanctum of Doctor Strange. There is an Avengers ATV, it was part of the show, bringing in Black Widow to Summer of Heroes. So getting to the show with the Dora Milaje. There is a curved set of steps next to the Ancient Sanctum and across from WEB Slingers. This is the stage area, but many people use it to rest.  They are cleared out before the shows. The performers, in this case Okoye and the two Dora Milaje, appear from the left side of the Avengers building. They march over to the stage, the Dora Milaje carry vibranium spears, and guests then are moved towards the stage. Okoye explains that they are there to train all of the recruits. She also asks for a moment of silence for all of the kings and queens of Wakanda, gasp! Then, Okoye asks for a volunteer, of course a kid which is perfect.  

Next, there was The Amazing Spider-Man, there are lines of two against the wall to the right of the Avengers Campus entrance. Spider-Man is at the edge of the rooftop of the building to the far left. He says he is doing “field testing.” Spidey moves to the next building, there is some delay in between areas. He is able to maneuver and back flip so as much Spider-Man as he could be plus there hasn’t been many stunt shows at theme parks lately. Then, there is the leap across a building to the last one. Spider-Man reaches a crane where he lowers on a web upside down. Next, he wall climbs upside a building, and then runs out to the audience and greets almost everyone. It is a great show. I left to see the Holiday Toy Drummers. The show is at Paradise Gardens Park right by toy drummer figures! They are an extremely talented group having fun dancing and using drum tricks. 

                                                                              Mariachi Divas, Pacific Wharf stage, author’s photo. 

Right after that fun show was the Mariachi Divas at Pacific Wharf. Plenty of table space to catch the performance. They start off with “Jingle Bells”, traditional songs, I like these shows! Then, I went back to Avengers Campus to see the Avengers Assemble show. It had Hawkeye greeting guests until he is ambushed by the Tracksuit Mafia. He is joined by Captain America (Steve Rogers) and they easily take on the villains. Big time warning, if you want to see the show, find shade, I was blinded by the sunlight. I went to the Paradise Gardens Park right to the side of Little Mermaid - Ariel’s Undersea Adventure to see the Blue13 Dance Company. The dance group is lively with some Bollywood-style dances and a performance of the story of Dwali. Then, I realized that there was a mini-parade, Mickey’s Happy Holidays, he goes down the street with the Disney characters and the Holiday Toy Drummers! I also caught the Mostly Kosher show at Sonoma Terrace. They mix klezmer music with different sounds and a contemporary sound. Also not to be missed. 

Returning to Avengers Campus, I saw the Sam Wilson Captain America on the Avengers building second floor. Then, I saw the new Black Panther, standing there and waving to fans. Also, the Steve Rogers Cap!, two Caps in the same area!  Next, the M’Baku: The Way of the Jabari show. He gives an example of the Jabari war chant. Two kid volunteers are brought up and one adult who plays the drum. M’Baku wants the audience to join in with shouting! Lastly, there is Dr. Strange: Mysteries of the Mystic Arts. The door has mist crawling up it. Doctor Strange needs help to seal off a mystic shield around Avengers Campus. He opens a cabinet that has magical objects. Strange is searching for the one magical staff that is hidden on some world.  He needs your help to find the staff.  It is ok as a show and probably needs more effects. There is many things to try food wise at Festival of Holidays and great music and dance. Also, Avengers Campus has many opportunities to step into the Marvel superhero world. 

#DisneysCaliforniaAdventure, #AvengersCampus, #FestivalOfHolidays, #TheAmazingSpiderMan, #WarriorsOfWakanda, #TheDisciplinesOfTheDoraMilaje, #MariachiDivas, #AvengersAssemble, #Blue13DanceCompany, #MickeysHappyHolidays, #MostlyKosher, MBakuTheWayOfTheJabari, DrStrangeMysteriesOfTheMysticArts 

Willow, “The Whispers of Nockmaar”, Review!

This ep. of Willow, “The Whispers of Nockmaar”, has taken a dark tone for the series. The title gives echoes of the H.P. Lovecraft novella, The Whisperer in Darkness (1931). Last ep. we had Boorman travel with Kit to the former site of the Slaughtered Lamb, now ruins, and finds down in a well, the Lux Arcana. It is the key to activating the Kymerian Cuirass. Kit has to fight off the were-rats. Willow, Silas, Jade, Elora, and Graydon arrive, but also joining them is Ballantine and his knights. We found out previously that Ballantine can’t be killed, the evil sorcery is sustaining him, but he is fought by Jade. Silas leaps onto a knight attacking Graydon, but is thrown against the rocky wall! Willow slams his staff down casting a powerful spell that tears apart the corrupted knights! He makes his way to Silas, his best friend is mortally wounded, and doesn’t want him to use his magic to heal him. Best friend?, I wonder what happened to Meegosh?

I sense there is a great loss of Nelwyn; Kiaya, Ranon, Meegosh, the High Aldwyn Junn, and Vohnkar in a battle. Ballantine survives, now restored, and wants Jade to protect Elora Danan. Also to kill him, and says raising her was the best thing he did, but he wants to be released. Jade tearfully strikes him down. Boorman has finished placing rocks for the graves of the two lost men. He says the horses ran off, but Elora points out steps, Boorman walks up them followed by the others. Graydon falls and they see he was wounded like Ballantine. They have reached the outlook of Nockmaar Castle! We see the opening, but there is a new book, made of skin like the Necronomicon from H.P. Lovecraft introduced in “The Call of Cthulhu” (1928) and popularly in the Evil Dead movies and series. The book opens and we see bloody streams like rain around the illustration of the group headed towards the castle. 

Kit sees Nockmaar Castle and hears the words of her mother, Queen Sorsha. Inside the castle, Graydon is bound in chains, Boorman seals them with a fireplace poker. Elora tells him that he looks like a “vermithrax in a vestal faire.” A nod of the dragon of Dragonslayer (1981), Vermithrax Pejorative. Willow mentions the ritual Bavmorda was performing, Graydon knows of it, the Ritual of the Thirteenth Night, to banish Elora Danan! He also brings up the “Fibonacci Hex” to stop the ritual. This is named after the famous mathmatician who came up with the Fibonacci sequence, a number is the sum of two others; 1, 1, and then 2, 3, and 5. Kit blames Boorman, but Graydon is getting weaker. She says Graydon must be killed. Elora pleads for Willow to save him. Willow tells them that the young Bavmorda was promising, but taken by the Order of the Wyrm. The Crone gave her powers. 

Elora asks what she did with her powers and Willow mentions the transformation of the Galladorans into pigs. Boorman asks if all of the pigs were transformed back, Willow says he thinks so, and Boorman lets the food fall out of his mouth! He says they might find an answer, Willow sets down the book we saw at the beginning, he calls The Malatrium. Willow describes it as made from “the skin of a satyr” and finds in the book, The Purgation of Namshub. He needs Elora to cast the spell and then begins gathering alchemy ingredients for a salve. Willow tells Boorman to get a dagger with “an ivory handle and selenium blade.” Elora grounds the mixture in a bowl as Graydon is fading. Willow says the Crone will send The Gales and needs to set a watch. He warns about Graydon’s infection spreading through others by a goo. Willow also tells them not too go to the High Tower so you know what will happen! 

Kit catches up to Jade and tells her she did what she had to killing Ballantine. Jade brings up Boorman’s advice that Kit should never have to kill in that way. She wants to be alone on the battlements watching for The Gales. Boorman comes across a round portal, a door etched in a gold symbol, behind it he hears a party. He takes out his lockpicks and hears women call for him. Kit has not found “essence of nightshade”, Elora brings up that Red-throated possums eat nightshade, and they can be boiled down to the ingredient. Willow cuts open Graydon’s shirt and reveals strange scars on his chest. Elora warns him of the pain. Willow throws a bucket of scalding water on Graydon’s chest! Kit is searching through alchemy ingredients when Boorman appears. Since, Kit doesn’t react, not really a jump scare. He is looking for eel jelly to help open the vault. She suddenly appears with it, again no reaction, and Kit says the purgation will fail and she will have to kill Graydon. 

Side profile of the costume of Willow, D23 Expo, author’s photo. 

Boorman leaves saying Bavmorda would be proud. Kit finds the jug of brined possum and seems to think of Elora as a “spoiled princess” when it is really the pot not the kettle. Willow starts saying the words, Elora joins him, and Graydon corrects her pronunciation. Graydon, in a delusional state?, then sees King Hastur calling him a failure. His father wanted him to be heir to Tir Asleen and replace his brother, whose death, Hastur blames on his son. Then, he sees his brother, Dermot (Mario Revolori, Tony's real life brother). Graydon screams as Willow wonders about Kit. The princess is walking the halls and sees a tapestry where she hears The Crone and her grandmother, Bavmorda! She is asked to swear herself to the Eternal One and The Crone says she has the Blood of the Six. The tapestry sets on fire and Kit drops the jug with the essence as The Crone makes her Queen Bavmorda! Kit picks up the possum by the tail and walks down the corridor that was covered by the tapestry. Jade is standing watch, Boorman passes by still trying to work out how to open the door, he gives words of advice to her. 

He says Ballantine would have said that to her and Jade hugs him in tears. Boorman says that everyone “deserves one good cry per quest”, very funny! Elora cuts into the possum, Kit is sickened, and then fries it. Willow applies the salve to his wound and then Graydon gets up and repeats Madmartigan’s words about wanting water! Elora gets him some water and then they hear Airk’s voice! Graydon as “Airk” says he is in a cell, but Willow says it is The Lich. Kit runs away. The magic words are strange like the Lovecraft entity, “Yog-Sothoth.” Then, Graydon speaks as Mims, Willow gags Graydon. Elora wonders about Willow’s village and Willow sends her away. He takes out a wicked polearm and then Boorman is working on opening the door. A woman’s voice tells him that the Lux Arcana was taken. A diversion for Boorman, but he is upbeat enough for the others. It is a horror movie trope to have individuals face past fears to separate and break them in a house of horror! This time it is evil visions from the first movie! Kit needs to finally have faith in Elora Danan to save Graydon. Still, The Gales are close! “The Whispers of Nockmaar” is a Willow ep filled horror, revealing some of the past mysteries, and Elora’s destiny!       

Four Bracelets out of Five! 

#Willow, #TheWhispersOfNockmaar, #WarwickDavis, #EllieBamber, #TonyRevolori, #ErinKellyman, #RubyCruz, #AmarChadhaPatel, #DerekHorsham, #MarioRevolori, #TheMalatrium, #ClaudiaHughes, #JoonasSuotamo 

Avatar: The Way of Water Review!

 James Cameron returns back to the camera with this film, he last wrote and directed Avatar (2009), so the 13 years before the sequel picks up. He was on the story group for Terminator: Dark Fate (2019). There is a writer’s room for the story including James Cameron, screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who last worked on, um, Mulan (2020), ack!, and are known for Jurassic World (2015). Also, on the story team is Josh Friedman who was also on the story group for Terminator: Dark Fate, and created the series of Snowpiercer. Plus, Shane Salerno who also  wrote Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)?  We get a watery vision and then see mountains.  Then, a pan through the forests of Pandora. The narration is by Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) to bring us up to date. He was also in the tv mini-series, Under the Banner of Heaven (2022). Worthington fits right back into his character, soldier turned to revolutionary, and now father. It is set about 14 years after the events of the first film. 

We see his love interest, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), very pregnant, draw her bow. Saldana also stars in Amsterdam and also The Adam Project this year. She is of course a Na’vi, 9’ blue humanoids, with prehensile tails that end in feathery tendrils that connect with others and riding animals, and four fingers. He tells of his family; his oldest son, Neteyam, and his other son, Lo’ak, Tuk, his daughter, and Kiri who was “born of Grace’s avatar”, and lastly his human adopted son, called Spider. What doesn’t make sense to me is that Jake has two sons, but none of them are named after his identical twin brother, Tom, which is how he got to Pandora. Spider escapes from the remaining human lab and ends up with Jake’s family. We have to stop here with the avatar. There is too much to explain, the Avatar process and adjustment to new body, supporting characters, and situations for new viewers so they will be lost, Avatar is required viewing, not ideal for a sequel. Neteyam is held up, Lion King-style, by the Na’vi, by the Tsahìk, spiritual leader of the Omatikaya clan, Mo’at (CCH Pounder). Jake and Neytiri see above them “a new star in the night”, the Sky People, from Earth are landing their ships. 

The ships have a fiery exhaust that sets fire to the jungles, a massive forest fire that covers the land. The operation is led by RDA from the first movie and we see a landing with the AMP suits which are military versions of the power loader in Aliens (1986). This is the last we see of them. There is a utility suit that is in the theme park expansion, Pandora - The World of Avatar. It is “One Year Later”, we see Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) waken as a Na’vi avatar. He is strikes at the team reviving him and sees a screen with his original form debriefing before the Assault on the Tree of Souls.  He says if he was killed it was by Jake Sully. They are known as recombinants, back-ups to their human forms made in Earth labs, with memories from before the battle. Also, there is Lyle Wainfleet (Matt Gerald), reprising his role, and female Recom Zdinarsik (Alicia Vela-Bailey). Then, we have a raid on a Mag-Lev train bringing supplies by Jake, Na’vi warriors, and his sons. Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) is flying ikran, pteradactyl-like with dragon heads, with Neteyam (Jamie Flatters). Dalton had a cameo in Ready Player One (2018). Flatters was Tedros in this year’s The School for Good and Evil. 

Lo’ak is too interested in the ground action and lands with his brother. They are surprised by a Scorpion gunship which has dropped off Quaritch’s team. Jake leads the retreat to the Na’vi Insurgency High Camp. Jake is angry at Lo’ak for abandoning his recon duty. At a lab in the Omatikaya Stronghold, we see the two human allies for Jake, scientists; Norm (Joel David Moore) and Max Patel (Dileep Rao). Lo’ak thanks his older brother. Kiri climbs on top of the tank of Dr. Grace Augustine’s avatar body. Grace was injured in the escape from the Hell’s Gate base and the Na’vi tried to transfer Grace to her avatar body. I suspect that Eywa, the living consciousness of Pandora, formed Kiri instead of reviving Grace. Spider (Jack Champion) in the discussion on Jake by his family notes his father! He looks with dreadlocks and loincloth like Disney's Tarzan (1999). Spider wears a exopack to breathe in the toxic atmosphere of Pandora. Quaritch returns to the human base, Bridgehead City, where he sees training General Ardmore (Edie Falco) in a Skel Suit, the new robot suit with thin, robotic arms and legs. Falco starred in 2021 episodes of American Crime Story. 

She says that the Earth is dying and their mission is to take care of the indigenous people. No negotiators? I think the Earth would have the technology at this point to terraform planets.  A better option than try to occupy a hostile planet. Quaritch’s Blue Team heads to the jungles to find Jake. The jungle is also the play area of Jake’s kids in the middle of a hostile takeover? Kiri falls asleep and the woodsprites, the floating Tree of Souls seeds like dandelion puffs, gather around her.  Quaritch approaches the abandoned link unit. Lo’ak has the family observe Quaritch’s team and reports the situation to Jake. He and Neytiri head over to rescue their kids. Quaritch holds up the skull of his original human form in an AMP suit like the Hamlet pose before crushing it. The Na’vi kids are discovered and Quaritch’s team has guns held to them! General Ardmore is called in on a Dragon Assault Ship. Neytiri and Jake manage to free their kids, but Spider whom Quaritch realizes was his former son is taken! Spider is tortured by General Ardmore about the location of Jake. A machine takes images from a scan of Spider’s brain. 

Quaritch takes him aside and then has Spider along on his missions. This is a situation like Hook (1991) where Captain Hook tries to convince Peter’s son to join his side. Later, Jake argues that Spider has sensitive information and they have to leave. They head to the Hometree where Jake turns over leadership to a Na’vi warrior, Tarsem (Keston John). The Sully family head off on Ikran across to the sea clans who live on “thousands of islands.” They reach the village of Awa’atlu.  There is a glimpse of this world in the Flight of Passage attraction that opened in 2017. Jake asks for sanctuary with the Metkayina Clan, greenish skin color, with webbed forearms and faces like Maori tatoos. Some of the young Metayina members ride in on tsuraks, large aquatic creatures with wings like flying fish and toothed, barracuda-like snouts. They are Tsireya (Bailey Bass), the girl eyes Lo’ak, and also her brother who is suspicious of the hybrid Na’vi, Aonung (Filip Geljo). Bass plays Claudia in the horror series, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. Geljo starred in the PBS Kids action show, Odd Squad: The Movie (2016). It looks like the romance is shifted to the young couple. Then, their parents appear, Ronal (Kate Winslet) who is also pregnant. Winslet was in Mare of Easttown and returns to work with Cameron after Titanic (1997).  They are accepted into the tribe by Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) who respects Jake as Toruk Makto that gathered all of the Na’vi. The actor starred in the real life drama, Muru (2022). The Metayina respect the Tulkun, whale-like animals with six fins and a gaping mouth. The Save the Whales theme was also in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). There are a few plot gaps considering the story tream and scenes like Cameron’s The Abyss (1989) and a little bit of Titanic. Avatar: The Way of Water is entertaining, continues Jake Sully and Neytiri’s story with their family, and explores Pandora’s fantastic underwater world!   

Four Skel Suits out of Five! 

#AvatarTheWayOfWater, #JamesCameron, #SamWorthington, #BritainDalton, #BaileyBass, #SigourneyWeaver,#JamieFlatters, #TrinityJoLiBliss, #FilipGeljo, #JackChampion, #ZoeSaldana, #CliffCurtis, #KateWinslet, #CCHPounder, #JoelDavidMoore, #DileepRao, #JermaineClement, #GiovanniRibisi, #StephenLang, #EdieFalco

Gargoyles #1 Review!

Gargoyles wakens with Dynamite Entertainment’s Gargoyles #1 by producer, Greg Weisman, and George Kambadais! The popular animated series ran from 1994 to 1997 from Walt Disney Television Animation. There was a Marvel Comics series that was initially written by animation and comics writer, Martin Pasko, with art by Amanda Conner. There was a second comic book series by Greg Weisman and David Hedgecock by Amaze Ink starting in 2006.

David Nakayam provides the artwork for the regular cover with Goliath and the other Gargoyles leaping into battle to a foe to the right with a reddish background. There are about 76 variant covers including one by Amanda Conner! The first issue with the `Here in Manhattan' storyline with “Chapter One: A Little Crazy.” Artist, Kambadais, was the artist for John Carter of Mars for Dynamite Comics. The setting is Manhattan, there is the Statue of Liberty, and orangish buildings that are not particular NY structures. 

The narrator is Detective Elisa Maza (who was voiced by Salli Richardson), she is in a car chase with her partner, Matt Bluestone (Tom Wilson). The duo works at the 23rd Precinct, East Harlem. They are chasing after ATM bandits. We see the chase with a cheering member of the thieves, the tail lights of their car flaring, and a closeup of Elisa in the side mirror; brilliant artwork! She tells Matt that she has already called for her back-up an we see a two page of the Gargoyles with their wings spread above the two cars! 

The bandits are all snatched up by the Gargoyles and one mistakedly calls Demona (Marina Sirtis) a man! She was the former mate of the leader, Goliath. The show featured an impressive voice cast of Star Trek vets, genre actors, and voice talents. The lil’ green Gargoyle, Lexington (Thom Adcox-Hernandez), takes over control of the thieves’ car and brings it to a screeching stop. Matt covers for them when an officer later asks about the situation. This leads to the Eyrie Building that has a castle on top. 

Elisa notes that in the Dark Ages, the Gargoyles were trapped in stone by a spell, and we see Goliath (Keith David) covered in his wings like a cloak. He was leader of the Wyvern Clan which became the Manhattan Clan. Goliath sees his girlfriend, Elisa, appear and they kiss. Then, we have a splash page of the other Gargoyles descending towards them. The reddish, beaked Gargoyle with an eye patch is Brooklyn (Jeff Bennett), second-in-command of the Manhattan Clan. He became older through the Phoenix Gate. His mate is Katana whom he met in feudal Japan when he traveled there in Gargoyles #12 (2009). 

We also discover in that issue that their son, Nashville, he calls himself Gnash, appears as the youngest member of the Gargoyles. We Goliath’s mentor with a beard and scarred eye, Hudson (Ed Asner), The other member is Broadway (Bill Fagerbakke), who is a grey Gargoyle, who is dating Angela (Brigitte Bako), the daughter of Goliath. The comic book is a brief overview of many events and characters in the series and comics while also showing the imbalance of the gang war of Tony Dracon and Tomas Brod who were imprisoned together. Then, there is a mysterious villain who threatens all of them! Gargoyles #1 is a return to the animated series with a massive cast bringing in a new threat!  

Four Wyvern Clan Eggs out of Five! 

#Gargoyles, #GregWeisman, #GeorgeKambadais, #ElisaMaza, #Goliath, #Brooklyn, #Katana,  #Lexington, #Hudson, #Demona, #Broadway, #Angela  

Willow, “Battle of the Slaughtered Lamb“, Review!

Last episode, Wicket has begun teaching Elora Danan magic words for a Seed Charm, very quickly which may be because he may think she will be a natural at magic. Graydon writes down the words at the campfire. This could be his interest in recording the journey, then again, The Lich said he had a disciple and we saw Commander Ballantine, but it could be Graydon. Boorman remarks to Graydon that Elora is getting the words more complicated. Willow wants her to repeat the words in sets of three until a sprout of an Eckleberry bush grows. Kit is cynical about the training and Willow says Elora needs to master sorcery’s four pillars; charms, potions, concentration, and divination. This will start her on battle magic. I’m not certain why Willow doesn’t train her away from the others. The others sleep and Willow lying down thinks back to talking to Elora (Alayna Jacobs) when she was a little girl. 

He says he remembers her when her hair was red, but Elora says she dyed her hair blonde with lemon juice and beetle blood by the head servant, Prunella. This is at a well where Willow talks about the Nelwyns. He brings up his children and Elora runs to Prunella. Sorsha is surprised that Willow expected to take Elora for training. Willow escorted from Tir Asleen by guards, her husband became king, made an oath to Willow, I guess she broke it. Willow leaves and says he will only protect the Nelwyns. Commander Ballantine, corrupted by The Lich’s staff, reaches the village outskirts. Armed Nelwyns wait, and Mims says they were headed to Tir Asleen. Merrick picks up their trail. Elora says her name is Brünhilde. Brunhilda was a valkyrie, like in the MCU, connected to the Norse hero Siegfried. Graydon finds Elora alone practicing the charm. He says Kit is jealous of her and the others see her as extraordinary everyone except herself. 

Willow’s traveling costume with staff, book, and wand, D23 Expo, author’s photo. 

Night falls, no one checks on Elora at that point, and Willow tells Silas about his vision. A white-beareded Willow wakes up in the aftermath of a battlefield. He manages to walk to Elora who has fallen and tells Silas for the world to survive, Elora Danan has to die. Kit goes to Boorman to ask about her father and the Kymerian Cuirass. Elora wakes up to find nothing there and shouts the words. Then, she is knocked out and taken by Commander Ballantine! The ground they leave is suddenly broken by a sprout of berries! “Battle of the Slaughtered Lamb” continues with a look into the Kymerian Empire. A great city like Rome, but reminds me of House of the Dragon’s Valyria. Boorman narrates the setting, ten thousand years ago. The heir, Thuul, was sickly, and with the death of the father, Tiberius, the younger brother attemped a coup. He besieged the capitol for forty days which led their mother, Annabel, forged the armor made of Khromium. Boorman adds that she is a Fey of the Grove, like Cherlindrea? No credited actors for these roles. 

She wears a welder’s helmet, this was invented in the 1930s, look at the blacksmith in Dragonslayer (1981) with an apron on. Then, she attaches the Lux Arcana, this is like the codex in Aquaman (2018), a magical tube object to her son’s cuirass. Only he can control it with the key. Kit is not interested and Boorman says her generation has no patience. Jade interrupts them because after all this time, they find Elora missing. Search parties are sent out, Kit sees the bent branch of Eckleberries, beautiful. Ballantine ties Kit to his horse and then encounters Jade. He says he has orders from the queen, but his throat becomes distorted, Jade senses his corruption. They draw swords, but Willow tells them to stop. He says the decision whether she goes is up to her. Kit walks up, she can command him, Silas with knives, and then Boorman with his cleaver. Grayson is also there. They suddenly find themselves dueling Ballantine and his knights. Kit falls and Jade blocks the knight’s sword. Willow tells Grayson to untie Elora and prepares a spell. 

Elora wakes up surprised to see Grayson try to rescue her. Willow throws an acorn that creates mist and Ballantine escapes with Elora. They load up the wagon and Willow sends Jade with Boorman to track the knights. Willow explains that they were infected, Graydon says they are possessed, and that they will slowly lose themselves to the evil. He seems to know much about evil spells. Silas urges on the black horse, Bessie, and then finds everyone stopped. In a group shot on a hill, we see the warriors stare out to a sky with an unnatural storm. The three knights ride and Elora uses Ballantine’s dagger to cut her bonds free. She rolls from the horse and runs to the forest. The others look on as Boorman holds the broken wagon wheel. Kit heads over to a stream to refill a flask and Jade joins her. Jade is worried about Kit who eventually realizes that Jade let her win all of their duels. Elora walks through the mist and suddenly finds herself at a sunlit cabin and she sees two women in cowboy denim. 

                                                                                The costume worn by Jade with sword, D23 Expo, author’s photo. 

 

The one with the axe is Hubert (Hannah Waddingham) with cowboy hat and the other is her sister, Anne (Caoimhe Farren) with an Aussie Slouch Hat. The anachronisms keep building. Waddingham is Rebecca Welton in the comedy Ted Lasso. Farren is known for playing Janet Taylor in the comedy, Derry Girls. Their cameos are thrown in, not funny, so I guess it is just a reason to put the actresses in the show. So Elora tells them her story while the others are on the desperate search for her. Boorman wants them to take the Pitiless Pass that will reach the inn, The Slaughtered Lamb. The name of the inn, The Slaughtered Lamb, is a nod to the pub in An American Werewolf in London (1981). Silas says they should head to the Volptuous Vale. Willow explains that a portal between dimensions, how The Gales entered Tir Asleen?, is forming to take away Elora. He suddenly feels pain and sees Elora possessed. Boorman separates from them with Kit which he was hinting to her. They ride towards the storm. Elora has told her story, Hubert and Anne see the mark, and they are about to leave the forest.  The two women join Elora’s cause, but are then Commander Ballantine is there. He now has a grey, decaying face. Hubert batters aside his sword and then cuts into Ballantine’s back with her great axe.

He fatally stabs her with his sword, she should have taken his head, like Thor and Thanos. Elora takes away Anne and we focus on Hubert’s body, somehow alive?, a forest creature? If not this is just filling up screen time. Merrick and Ballantine face them and Anne runs, cut down by another knight. Boorman and Kit walk their horses and she only wants to her about Madmartigan.He says cryptically that he returned without her father because he was lucky. The wagon is trapped in mud, Graydon suggests to Jade that Willow moved the Nelwyn to the caves because he no long has magic. Jade asks if a sorcerer can lose his mojo, another anachronism (I keep thinking Austin Powers would show up and say, “Groovy baby!”), is this show a fantasy comedy like Your Highness (2011)? They reach the ruins of The Slaughtered Lamb and Boorman heads down a well to find the Cuirass while Kit faces were-rats. These creatires named for Dungeons & Dragons creatures (that transform from people, not here) are like diseased versions of the R.O.U.S. in Princess Bride. Then, there is the fateful battle with the knights. Willow changed its tone with this ep, leaning too far into comedy, it does have some drama with the end which then lapses into a rock song, Metallica's "Enter Sandman", groovy, baby.  

Three Bracelets out of Five! 

#Willow, #BattleOfTheSlaughteredLamb, #WarwickDavis, #EllieBamber, #GrahamHughes,  #AmarChadhaPatel, #ErinKellyman, #TonyRevolori, #RubyCruz, #HannahWaddingham, #CaoimheFarren, #RalphIneson, #SifisoMazibuko