M3GAN Review!

M3GAN has an intriguing premise, lapses into violent implausibilities, and then returns to a A.I. horror movie with a twist! The director, Gerald Johnstone, known for the horror comedy, Housebound (2014). James Wan shares co-story with Akela Cooper. The screenplay is by Cooper and she was also shares story and screenwriter credit for Malignant (2021) which was directed by Wan. I think the scary doll goes all the way back to Talky Tina in the Twilight Zone episode, “The Doll” (1963). There is also the doll, Annabelle, in The Conjuring (2013). This all leads to Chucky from his own franchise starting with Child’s Play (1988). 

I would also add the TZ episode, “I Sing The Body Electric” (1962) that became Ray Bradbury’s 1969 short story. So this film is combination of the two Twilight Zone eps with a dash of Baymax from Big Hero 6 (2014) and the Terminator! We are immediately introduced to PurRpetual Petz as a commercial, this was kinda clever, kinda confusing since theaters like to show commercials before films. The toy looks like a Furby and has the interaction of a Tomodachi. A family is driving on a snowy, mountain road with a young girl, Cady (Violet McGraw) using an ipad to play with her PurPetual Petz. McGraw played Young Nell in the horror mini-series, The Haunting of Hell House. An incredible performance for McGraw who plays a withdrawn child to playful kid. 

Her mother says that she is using too much screen time. One of the movie’s themes is the addiction to technology. The car starts to slide in the road, the mother tells her husband to slow down, with the snow drift covering the windshield. They have stopped in the middle of the road and then we see truck lights closing in! This movie deals with accidents, trauma, and children in danger so it may be touchy for some audience members, but the scares are mild with the PG-13 rating. We move then to the headquarters of the toy company, Funki, with a man carrying a briefcase. I love the name of this business, playing on Funko, with the “funky” word. 

At a lab is Gemma played by Alison Williams. The actress was brilliant as Rose Armitage in Get Out (2017) and here she is also executive producer. Gemma is dedicated to her work as an innovative robotics engineer, but is content to live alone. The briefcase is delivered by one of the robotics team, Cole (Brian Jordan Alvarez), the comedian and actor played Estafan Gloria in the comedy Will & Grace. The other assistant is Tess (Jen Van Epps), the actress starred in an episode of Cowboy Bebop. Tess is the voice of reason. Gemma sees that he has the final piece, the rubbery face of a girl. 

It is attached by Cole so that we see that this is M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android). The voice of M3GAN is Jenna Davis, who also played Meg in the sci fi series, Maggie (2022). Amie Donald gives the on-set performance. Donald was in a 2021 episode of the Sweet Tooth sci fi show. Gemma holds up a pen for M3GAN to track, this is similar to RoboCop (1987). A malfunction happens so M3GAN’s face droops and she looks demented. They are interrupted by the company’s CEO, David Lin, played by Ronny Chieng. The comedian and actor is currently in the bio-comedy, Young Rock. His assistant, Kurt, is played byStephane Garneau-Monten who was also in an episode of Sweet Tooth. 

David is the driven executive who shows a commerical of the latest toy, Furzees, a knock-off, but cheaper. Gemma wants to shows him the prototype and asks her to say hello. M3GAN’s voice distorts and then she explodes! David wants the new PurRpetual Pet design, then Gemma gets a call. At the Oregon Emergency Center, we see Cady in a neck brace. Gemma is given custody of her niece. She drives her over the St. Johns Bridge, I mistook it for the Golden Gate, to her house in the suburbs. Gemma gets out and a dog, Dewey, suddenly leaps at the car window! She gets angry at her neighbor, Celia (Lori Dungey), also for spraying chemicals. Dungey was also in an episode of Cowboy Bebop. 

Gemma enters her house with Cady and is greeted by Elsie, a voice assistant like Alexa or Siri. It has a spherical blue eye like the red one of HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Cady’s interest is with the Planet Robot toy based on Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet (1956) in its original box. Gemma tells her that it is not a toy, it’s a “collectible.” She also reminds Cady to put a drink on a coaster in her new bedroom. Cady wants to hear a story like her mother read to her, but Gemma has to download the app!  She later sees the family’s photo in the next room and then hears crying, but she leaves Cady on her own. 

The next day, there is a knock at the door, it is the therapist, Lydia (Amy Underwood). The actress starred as Joy in the film, Ladies in Black (2018). She is there to check on the interaction between Cady and Gemma. Lydia wonders if there are any toys and Gemma rolls one of her collectibles to Cady. Gemma goes with Lydia who tells her that they need to make arrangements. Gemma has her work project overdue. She gives Cady her iPad to keep herself occupied while she works in the other room. Gemma is working on the new and improved PurPetual Petz when Cady enters. Cady notices something in the corner which Gemma tells her is a robot, Bruce, she built in college. 

It looks like a simple, industrial robot which Gemma controls with haptic gloves giving her niece a high five. This is the most connection they have had together. Cady excitedly says, “If I had a toy like Bruce I don’t think I would ever need another toy again.”  This of course drives Gemma to recreate M3GAN in her own work room. At Funki headquarters, David walks in to see a play room, Observation Room 1. Gemma is there and introduces Cady to M3GAN, she is told to press M3GAN’s wrist which imprints her as the primary user. M3GAN introduces herself to Cady. She takes Cady over to a drawing table and begins sketching something. 

It is a blank page, but M3GAN spills a glass holding brushes over the page, and it reveals a drawing of Cady! David is stunned and wants to start building the androids. Gemma goes over her pitch detailing the specs of M3GAN; a titanium core made of composite ceramics with an “A17 bionic fusion core.” This made me think of Baymax. Tess is worried about a toy replacing parents and that there was no “input protocol.” I have a suspicion that this “input protocol” has to do with Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, the first is the most important, “A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.” Next, we see Cady playing with a toy bow outside as M3GAN watches from her window. 

Cady looses an arrow with a sucker head at her companion. Then, she asks M3GAN to find her lost arrow. It is in the hole at the bottom of the fence. M3GAN goes to pick it up, but the dog viciously attacks her! The robot girl is thrashed, but doesn’t react. This is until Cady tries to help. It is a slow build to more violence, which gets a little silly, but I wouldn't call it campy. This is the Artificial Intelligence gone wrong like in the movie, Westworld (1973). She has the relentlessness of a Terminator and the A.I. learning of Ava in Ex Machina (2014). Gemma, her creator, is at a loss to stop her creation Frankenstein-style. M3GAN has a compelling sci fi premise, strong themes, and a memorable female cast with Violet McGraw, Alison Williams, and M3GAN! Remember, “M3GAN, turn off!” 

Four PurRpetual Petz out of Five! 

#M3GAN, #GeraldJohnstone, #AlisonWilliams, #VioletMcGraw, #JennaDavis, #AmieDonald, #StephaneGarneauMonten, #JenVanEpps, #ArloGreen, #LoriDungey, #BrianJordanAlvarez

Happy Birthday Hayao Miyazaki!

Happy Birthday Hayao Miyazaki! Miyazaki is a master storyteller and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, still crafting traditional cel animation. he was the chief animator and concept artist for Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968) directed by Isao Takahata. He co-directed with Isao Takahata Lupin The Third Part I (1971-1972), the animated series based on Monkey Punch’s gentleman thief. Then, Miyazaki directed the animated series Future Boy Conan (1978). In 1982, he wrote and drew his sci fi ecological manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Next, Miyazaki-san directed The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) which starred Lupin the Third. In 1982, he wrote and drew his sci fi ecological manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Then, Miyazaki  directed the film of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in 1984. He started his longtime collabration with the music of Joe Hisaishi with that film. In 1985, he founded Studio Ghibili with Toshio Suzuki, Isao Takahata, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma. 

He directed Castle in the Sky (1986). The classic My Neighbor Totoro (1988) was next released by Studio Ghibli. It was followed up by another classic, Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989). Miyazaki wrote Starting Point (1979-1996) which is insightful in his creative processes. Highly recommended for anyone interested in animation and his work. In 1997, he wrote and directed Princess Mononoke, its English adaptation was written by Neil Gaiman. It won the Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year. Miyazaki then worked on Spirited Away (2001) which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Also, in 2001, the Studio Ghibli Museum opened which featured many of the Studio Ghibli creations. Next, he wrote and directed Howl’s Moving Castle based on the Diana Wynne Jones fantasy novel. Miyazaki continued his writings on animation with Turning Point: 1997-2008.

In 2009, Miyazaki-san wrote the manga Kaze Tachinu based on the story of Jiro Horikoshi, designer of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter.  This was turned into the animated film The Wind Rises (2016) which was reported to be Miyazaki’s last film. He was aware the Person of Cultural Merit in 2012. He has worked on short films and displays for the Studio Ghibli Museum. There was a documentary on Studio Ghibli in 2013, The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness. A documentary, Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki was released in December 2018. He was given the Academy Honorary Award in 2014 for his work in animation and cinema. A play adaptation was released on October 8, 2022 with music by Joe Hisaishi, collaborating with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and features puppets by Basil Twist. Shuna’s Jouney was written and illustrated by Hayao Miayazaki in 1983. It was released as a graphic novel stateside on November 1, 2022. Ghibli Park opened on the same date as the graphic novel. A new movie, How Do You Live, is set to open in Japan on July 14, 2023. "A wonderful journey will begin!" Happy Birthday Hayao Miyazaki!    

#HayaoMiyazaki, #FutureBoyConan, #TheCastleOfCagliostro, #NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind, #CastleInTheSky, #MyNeighborTotoro, #KikisDeliveryService, #StartingPoint, #PrincessMononoke, #SpiritedAway, #GhibliMuseum, #HowlsMovingCastle, #TheWindRises, #GhibliPark, #HowDoYouLive 

Bad Batch, “Spoils of War”, Review!

Season two of Star Wars: The Bad Batch has begun with “Spoils of War”! The Bad Batch, Clone Force 99, was introduced in the surprise, 2020 seventh season of Clone Wars. They were defective clones who had their own indepedent identities apart from Jango Fett. The Bad Batch survived Order 66, but lost sniper, Crosshair to the newly formed Empire. Omega, a young clone was revealed as the last one, joined the Bad Batch. They make an ally of sorts with Cid, a Trandoshan cantina owner, who sends them on missions. Tipoca City, the Kamino clone facility, is destroyed by the Empire. The Bad Batch was trapped inside, but manage to escape with the assistance of medical droid, AZ-3. They fly off in their ship, the Havoc Marauder, leaving Crosshair behind. The last scene had an Imperial mountain base on Weyland with an unknown medical officer. 

Nala Se, Kaminoan Chief Medical Scientist, and mentor to Omega, is taken to an unknown medical officer. She is told the Empire has plans for her!  Do we have Nala Se’s help in “retiring” the clones? It opens with a tropical island, Hunter, Wrecker carrying a cargo box, and Echo, start to run out of the jungle. Shades of Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013)?  The four squad voices are all by Dee Bradley Baker. They are running from large, shelled crustaceans wtih purple heads and claws! Did they learn nothing from Tamatoa? An unknown planet, creatures, and cargo so this ep is fairly nondescript. I'm calling this Planet Tamatoa. The creatures I name "Crab people! Crab people!" The Havoc Marauder is hanging over a small, sea cliff and Omega (Michelle Ang) is looking at specs for a V-19 Torrent starfighter. Then, she checks on her fishing line while Tech checks on her studies. Omega had short, slicked back blonde hair. Now, it’s a bit longer and wilder. Tech gets the comm chat while leader, Hunter, confirms that Wrecker disturbs the pod of the creatures. 

Hunter calls them for firepower and extraction. Tech charges up the ship as Omega puts on her helmet and picks up her lightbow. She notices that the fishing line attached to the ship as some kind of large catch. Points deducted for not noticing a line attached before departure. The creatures leap onto the cockpit and two more threaten Omega. She falls, but manages to hold the line while Tech pulls away with the ship. Omega decides to slide down the line, leap off a creature’s shell, and blast the crustaceans from the ship. She runs and leaps off another shell to catch the line and loose her lightbow! The squad appears and the Havoc Marauder starts using its cannons on the pod. Omega climbs up and provides covering fire as Wrecker attaches the cargo to the line. They climb onto the cargo blasting at the critters until entering the ship. Later, The Bad Batch enter Cid’s cantina, and we see Bolo, the Ithorian with the action figure blue outfit. AZ-3 (Ben Diskin) says that Cid is angry at their late arrival. I like that AZ-3 continues to be on the show, server and medic? 

They enter the room of Cid (Rhea Perlman) and drop the cargo. Also, there is a new person in the room, a female pirate with dreads. Wanda Skykes unmistakeable voice is heard. Phee has been told by Cid about her “top team.” She is about to leave, but has Wrecker bring along the cargo! Phee wants a cut of the mission. Cid starts her debriefing with a hologram recognized by Tech as Castle Serenno, the home of Count Dooku! Cid tells them that with his death, his palace is being taken apart, including the Imperials. Hunter refuses the mission, too dangerous. He is later testing Omega’s knowledge in shuttles. Cid has convinced the others about the mission. She explains that a part of Dooku’s war chest could buy them freedom. Cid mentions that the Empire may arrive and close her operations. On board the ship in hyperspace, Echo says to Hunter that they can use the money to fight back against the Empire. Echo does have a sense of the bigger picture, but Hunter is worried about Omega. 

The Havoc Marauder lands on Serenno, Tech has landed on the other side of a mountain, Hunter asks if Omega is going with them. Her outfit is like a ground soldier with back pack, but no armor. They reach an overlook, but see the city is leveled, Hunter explains it was by an “Imperial orbital bombardment” like Kamino!  Tech scans with macrobinoculars Castle Serenno and reports that Stormtroopers are moving the war chest. Two V-19 ships escort a large cargo hauler with a cargo of boxes behind it. Hunter wants the squad to find what they can from a container while he watches point and will create a diversion if needed. The Bad Batch reach the landing pad while another transport lifts off. Hunter places a charge on a V-19. The rest of the squad gets to the cargo container.  Wrecker watches and stuns a Stormtrooper, his helmet bonk onto the container is funny! Omega is stunned by the war chest. Tech says they can find items in the last war chest. Hunter plants another charge and manages to slip away from two Stormtroopers. 

Tech opens a container filled with credits. Omega opens another filled with gems and credits! Tech explains that Dooku profited from the worlds that were conquered.  The Stormtroopers try to contact the missing trooper. The squad contacts Hunter about the diversion and he sets off the charges! Wrecker takes the first container. The Stormtrooper captain has the transport locked down and all of the others secure the courtyard. Omega finishes loading her backpack, but the cargo door closes. Echo uses his scomp to try to open the door. Wrecker mets up with Hunter. Omega reports that they are trapped. Wrecker sees the Stormtroopers taking up guard positions. Hunter starts the attack with stun blasts. Yes, this is fo younger viewers, but they used regular blasts in Star Wars: Rebels and Star Wars!  Wrecker and Hunter leap onto the transport under fire by Stormtroopers as it starts to lift off! The transport looks a ship’s bow, triangular, in the Star Destroyer-style. Hunter sees a dome tower and they jump sliding down. He says to Omega that they need to get off ship before it makes its hyperspace jump. 

Tech says they can go to the main hold to reach an escape pod. The Stormtrooper captain has his troopers close on Hunter and Wrecker. In the tower, the duo reach Dooku’s throne room, but encounter Stormtroopers. Wrecker and Hunter take cover behind Dooku’s desk to return fire. Omega leads the others carrying the cargo, but Tech is separated on the other side of a blaster fight. Captain Wilco is contacted about the intruders and he orders all escape pods released!  This may trap the Bad Batch, but also dooms the rest in the cargo ship! Echo says that the escape pods are ejected. Tech throws an electrical charge and stuns the standing Stormtrooper. Omega asks if they are on a Class Four Freighter. Tech confirms it and she knows that cargo containers have re-entry thrusters! They are surprised by more Stormtroopers and Tech has the container’s lid to block blasters. More Stormtroopers pour into the throne room and Hunter has found a lift to escape. Both groups of The Bad Batch could escape, but just have to survive! There is no major villain except Captain Wilco who may be Crosshair? A thrilling start to The Bad Batch season two! 

Five Vibroknives out of Five! 

#StarWarsTheBadBatch, #SpoilsOfWar, #DeeBradleyBaker, #MichelleAng, #BenDiskin, #RheaPerlman, #WandaSykes 

Re:tro Re:view - Lord of the Jungle #1!

There are many comic book adaptations of Tarzan of the Apes, the 1914 novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, and the latest Dynamite Entertainment title, Lord of the Jungle, is vando!  If you only know Tarzan through popular culture, what you heard about him or seen in a comedy skit or movie, then you don’t really know the Tarzan character. Tarzan comics started with Four Color Comics and then his own title #1-131 1948-1962) by Dell Comics and then Gold Key piced up the numbering #132-206 (1962-1972). This shifted to DC Comics that picked up the numbering with #207-258 (1972-1977). The series started with art by Joe Kubert. It moved to Marvel Comics as Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle #1-29 (1977-1979) with art by John Buscema. Dark Horse Comics published a Tarzan series from #1-20 (1996-1998). Dynamite published a first series, Lord of the Jungle #1-15 (2012-2013). Now let’s enter the kambo! 

Lord of the Jungle #1 features a cover by Gary Frank, it has Tarzan hunched with a knife with a menagerie of animals, to his right side, Numa and Mangani, on the other side, Sheeta and Tongani, behind them looms, Tantor! This part of the story, “The Bleak Zone” is written by Dan Jurgens, he was the writer and artist of the first story in The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1. Benito Gallego is the artist who worked on The New Adventures of Tarzan comic strip written by Roy Thomas. The first page is dark, literally, by colorist Francesco Segala. It starts in the 1950’s, where a storm-tossed ship is off the coast of Africa with a dimly-lit town with cliffs. Great detail and storytelling with the panels. We have a narrator starting the story about a friend. We see the crew noting the brooding man in a suit at the bow. This is shifts to the man's childhood as a boy, swinging through the jungle with the great apes, they look more chimpanzee with slight builds, instead of the classic hulking, more gorilla Mangani. 

What instantly strikes me is that the simple lines, but facial expressions and shadowy detail makes me think of Joe Kubert’s artwork. This goes to excerpts of the journal of John Clayton, as he says the voyage is to show his grandfather he is worthy of the title, Lord Greystoke! The setting is now 19th century, the original time period is 1888, where John and his wife, Alice, are stranded on an African beach. The mutinous crew killed their captain and left them with supplies. The faces of the characters struck me like as if it were John Buscema’s artwork. So, Gallego’s art is a combination of my two favorite artists, Joe Kubert and John Buscema, both Tarzan artists. Plus, Gallego gives the art his own originality. The couple struggles to survive, John builds a log cabin, but they find Alice is about to have her baby! She starts to hallucinate that she is in England. He is watched by the Mangani including a great ape with his right eye blinded and scarred. 

The baby is born and John goes to hunt for food. Alice has died weeks after giving birth. A deer, Bara, dodges his arrow which ends up striking the ape leader known as Kerchak! The apes kill John Clayton and tear apart the cabin. The Mangani mother, Kala, spares the infant. A very tragic beginning to Tarzan. We get in a splash page a montage of Tarzan raised by the Mangani though he is weaker than the others. Then, Tarzan leaves the familiar territory to watch African children, the first time that he sees humans. At night, he travels to a village and sees the narrator, Bouanga, as a young boy watching over his sister. Bouanga is startled to see Tarzan illuminated by the moonlight, but he escapes. Tarzan is drawn to his human side, carving an image of a village hut in the sand, this is discouraged by Kerchak. Eventually, Tarzan makes his way to the log cabin of his birth. He sees the wreckage, a skeleton in a bed, and finds a knife. His cleverness and jungle training make Tarzan formidable. This also shifts back to the 1950’s so two parallel storylines. Lord of the Jungle is a brilliant adaptation of Tarzan’s past and a mystery tied to it in the future! “Kreegah bundolo!” 

Five Journals out of Five! 

#LordOfTheJungle, #TheBleakZone, #DanJurgens, #BenitoGallego, #FrancescoSegala, #Tarzan, #JohnClayton, #Kerchak, #Kala, #Bouanga 

Ten Favorite 2022 Movies!

2022 had some great movies, there are others, but maybe not able to make it to a top ten list. Here are some favorite films and why! Share your favorites (probably some movies not here) so we can have a guide to watch films we may have missed or watch again! 

1. Everything, Everywhere, All at Once - it's a film that defies a simple summary except its title. I like that in all of the chaotic, crazy, beautiful images you can piece them all together, not be overwhelmed. it boils down to a family and relatable since it is not just their story, it's your story, a masterpiece by The Daniels; Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. The movie is a defining part for Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang. Also, for Ke Huy Quan, a welcome return to the screen as Waymond Wang. Then, add Jamie Lee Curtis as Deidre and so many of the cast are perfect. The visual effects unparalleled because they all mean something, only five people worked on the effects compared to the legions of effects people and millions of dollars for something like Avatar 2, still the effects create an absurd and beautiful world. 

2. RRR - this movie is almost the same as Everything, the scenes are the "I can't believe I'm seeing what I'm seeing!", but leaning into the buddy action film dynamic. Crafted by director, S.S. Rajamouli, it has a relentless pace, a kinda historical story with a kinda mythological, kinda superhero combo. This movie is a phenomenon crossing the world with larger than life visuals that demand the big screen!  We have two powerful, charismatic actors in N.T. Rama Rao Jr. as the jungle warrior turned stranger in a strange, city run by the British, Bheem, and Ram Charan plays Ram, a British officer who has ferocity to take on hundreds, opposites, friends, involved in a revolution against the brutual Governor Buxton (Ray Stevenson).  It also includes a bit of a romance with Olivia Morris as Jenny, “Naatu Naatu” is the best song, dance, and one of the highlights of the film. I love the last scene which has you ready to dance!  

3. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio - del Toro mentioned it belongs with his two other films; The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth (my other favorite), fascism in common with all of them, but del Toro pushes himself as a storyteller adding some mature themes with a perfect character in Pinocchio (Gregory Mann), the freak who has the true heart, del Toro pointed out that he doesn't change, he changes people. Gregory Mann as the eternally cheerful lead plus some memorable songs. Stop motion is a perfect medium for del Toro, a heightened reality, and there are the strange creatures that fit into del Toro’s menagerie. Plus the voice acting is incredible, David Bradley as the flawed Geppetto, and Ewan McGregor as Sebastian J. Cricket! 

4. The Woman King - I kinda knew about the Agojie from reading up about the Dora Milaje in Black Panther.  This is almost history, so I don't care about strict accuracy, it is not a documentary, if you need facts do the research. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood ramps up the action, a little shakey cam in some of the fighting, but also balances the drama. Viola Davis turns in a noteworthy performance as Nanisca, a leader, but with a dark flaw. I was surprised by Thuso Mbedu who plays new recruit Nawi, gotta catch her next project. Also, second in command, Amenza played by Sheila Atim, and Izogie (Lashana Lynch), actors to follow. 

5. Elvis - this is a return of Baz Luhrmann to the form he had in the Red Curtain Trilogy, it has the original music, but also injected with current singers and styles, it feels like all that I understand about Elvis Presley and a great tribute to him as an entertainer and person, then we have Austin Butler, who just makes a career defining role in the early part of his career, fully singing and performing as Elvis!, we know Tom Hanks as Colonel Parker is not a reliable narrator, so it is easy to break away from any facts, the set design recreating the various time periods and places like Graceland and the concerts to the costumes that capture the iconic styles, gives a snapshot into watching Elvis on stage.   

6. Brahmanstra: Part One - Shiva - I was intrigued by the writer and director, Ayan Mukerji's description of the Astras, I'm ready for the next installments, they are mystical, but basically super powers, the hero Shiva, Ranbir Kapoor, is regular guy, it just makes sense that he falls for Isha, Alia Bhatt (who also was in RRR). I like the mythical tied to the modern day. The rejection and acceptance of Shiva's power. Shiva being thrown into an ancient conflict that he doesn't understand, classic mythology and superhero origin. It features Bollywood legends; Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, mentors, it really felt like this is how superhero movies should be made, a really human quality, plus action, songs, dancing, a really good show! I'm ready to fall again and again into the Astraverse!  

7. Top Gun: Maverick - spectacle is plussed with the great camerawork, the flying scenes are just impressive, and even hitting the flight ceiling is that there is actually a character arc and plot for the sequel. Director Joseph Kosinski sets the afterburners respecting the original, updates the characters, and gives the pilots a reason to train and undergo an impossible mission (nod to the other franchise). Maverick (Tom Cruise) losing his hot shot pilot status, training the new pilots, and putting his life on the line for them, love it! It is the same with this romance with Penny Benjamin (Jennifer Connelly), even more is seeing Phoenix (Monica Barbaro) as a female fighter jet pilot who is more than a match for the others, I also like the diversity of the cast, and then to top them all is the surprise cameo! 

8. The Batman - one of the best superhero movies this year really because of the character’s arc. Matt Reeves is able to create yet another vision of Gotham City and dramatic characters in the Batman universe. Bruce (Robert Pattinson) doesn’t just become Batman and that’s it. He understands that he needs to change who he is and how he is fighting crime to better help the Gotham citizens. Pattinson works not only in his depiction of Batman, but that he stands over the villains, a great performance as Paul Dano as The Riddler, and also Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot. Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle is one of the best realization of the character, very like the comic, Batman: Year One. The cinematography and the driving theme music help to create a noir-ish world, but not trapped at night. I'm looking to the silver screen to see the Bat signal again. 

9 Prey - this sequel has the feel of the first Predator (1987) and really exceeds it because we feel more for the characters and their jeopardy, then we have the stunning performance of Amber Midthunder, finding her own way as Naru, warrior and healer, I love the dynamic. I had the question of how is a girl with a bow and arrow be able to face a technologically advanced alien warrior with skull-like mask and new weaponry kinda cool, her older brother, Taabe (Dakota Beavers) is also a great character, I would like to see more films by these cast members and by director Dan Trachtenberg. 

10 Turning Red - this is a standout Disney animated film, gotta see the next project by writer and director, Domee Shi! It really uses the form to relate the complications of growing up and then tying it to the specialness of a person, all magical, brilliant!  It brings the funny and also a deeply personal story with Meilin (Rosalie Chiang) and her trio of friends are the best pals; Miriam (Ava Morse), Priya (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), and especially the wildness of Abby (Heyin Park), plus the music of 4*Town, a fantastic piece of entertainment!  

Strangely, what #1 and #10 have in common, James Hong! What a year! Hopefully, these filmmakers will walk away with armloads of awards! Next year’s promising films are listed in a revised article here: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2022/12/2023s-most-expected-films.html.  

#EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce, #TheDaniels, #MichelleYeoh, #KeHuyQuan, #JamieLeeCurtis, #RRR, #SSRajamouli, #NTRamaRaoJr, #RamCharan, #RayStevenson, #OliviaMorris, #GuillermoDelTorosPinocchio, #GuillermoDelToro, #GregoryMann, #DavidBradley, #EwanMcGregor, #TheWomanKing, #GinaPrinceBythewood, #ViolaDavis, #ThusoMbedu, #SheilaAtim, #LashanaLynch, #Elvis, #BazLuhrmann, #AustinButler, #TomHanks, #BrahmanstraPartOneShiva, #AyanMukerji, #RanbirKapoor, #AliBhatt, #ShahRukhKhan, #AmitabhBachchan, #TopGunMaverick, #JosephKosinski, #TomCruise, #JenniferConnelly, #MonicaBarbaro, #TheBatman, #MattReeves, #RobertPattinson, #ZoeKravitz, #PaulDano, #ColinFarrell, #PreyMovie, #DanTrachtenberg, #AmberMidthunder, #DakotaBeavers, #TurningRed, #DomeeShi, #RosalieChiang, #AvaMorse, #MaitreyiRamakrishnan, #HeylinPark 

Happy 100th Birthday Stan Lee!

Happy Birthday Stan Lee! This would have been his 100th birthday. Stan the Man is an icon of Marvel Comics. He started as an assistant in 1939 at Timely Comics which later became Marvel Comics.  Lee’s first comic story was in a back-up feature of Captain America #5 (1941). The time of Marvel Comics came in the Silver Age with Fantastic Four #1 (1961) with Stan Lee’s frequent co-creator Jack Kirby. There was a wealth of characters created from that moment. Lee created a Marvel icon who was closely identified with the company working with Steve Ditko with the first appearance of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962). Jack Kirby’s artwork and Stan Lee’s words resulted in The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962), the first appearance of Thor in Journey into Mystery #83 (1962), Iron Man’s debut with Tales of Suspense #39 (1963), all of whom teamed up together in Avengers #1 (1963).  

Stan Lee meeting Joe and Anthony Russo at Amoeba Records signing, 2014, author’s photo.

He also teamed with Kirby to create the mutant team with The X-Men #1 (1963). Then, Lee worked with Steve Ditko to co-create Doctor Strange in Strange Tales #110 (1963). All of these characters appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He later teamed with artist Bill Everett to co-create Daredevil with Daredevil #1 (1964). Stan Lee’s thoughts inspired readers with his feature, “Stan’s Soapbox”, and made Marvel fans with the Merry Marvel Marching Society. The Lee and Kirby run on Fantastic Four introduced many memorable characters including Black Panther in Fantastic Four #52 (1966). Also, the Silver Surfer in the “Galactus Trilogy” which begun with Fantastic Four #48 (1966). Lee narrated for Marvel Productions animated series starting with Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981-1983). 

The Avengers Campus plaque dedicated to Stan Lee, photo by the author. 

Lee wrote a number of book on comic books including Origins of Marvel Comics (1974), How to Draw Comics The Marvel Way (1984) with John Buscema, and Stan Lee’s How to Draw Comics (2010). He also wrote novels for example Dunn’s Conundrum (1985), an espionage story, Stan Lee’s Riftworld: Odyssey (1996) co-written with Bill McCay and he wrote with Stuart Moore the super hero novel, The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence (2015). Stan Lee made his first superhero cameo in the television movie The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989). He hosted the show, Stan Lee’s Superhumans, from 2010 to 2014.  Lee wrote and put his own spin on DC Comics characters with Just Imagine… in 2001. Stan Lee’s cameos in 2018 includes Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War,  Antman and the Wasp, and Venom. Stan Lee died on November 2018. Let’s leave with Stan’s lines from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: “I’m going to miss him”, he of course means Spider-Man, but it also applies to Stan Lee, “We were friends, you know.” Stan Lee was friends with everyone. Excelsior!   

#StanLee, #CaptainAmerica, #FantasticFour, #JackKirby, #SpiderMan, #AmazingFantasy, #SteveDitko, #TheIncredibleHulk, #Thor, #JourneyIntoMystery, #IronMan, #TalesOfSuspense, #Avengers, #TheXMen, #DoctorStrange, #StrangeTales, #BillEverett, #Daredevil, #BlackPanther, #SilverSurfer, #SpiderManAndHisAmazingFriends, #StanLeesSuperhumans, #OriginsOfMarvelComics, #JohnBuscema, #DunnsConundrum, #StanLeesRiftworldOdyssey, #TheTrialOfTheIncredibleHulk, #JustImagine, #SpidermanIntoTheSpiderverse 

2023’s Most Expected Films!

This is a list for me, I want everyone to chime in, to see their perspective. Of course, there will be movies that will pop up and stun like Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, RRR, and The Woman King, so this is just right now. These are all genre movies. So let’s begin. Correction, the number one film for me is Hayao Miyazaki's How Do You Live?, Japan release is July 14th, US release is not set (if it is set for the following year, then there are alternates). Studio Ghibli films are an event, Miyazaki-san had retired, but even more than anything is what story that he wanted to write and direct brought him out of retirement? The other part is that the film will be beautiful so more from Hayao Miyazaki is great! Next is Little Mermaid, May 26th, Disney does not have a great track record for live action, granted, but D23 Expo has a way of getting everyone hyped, plus it looks great. 

I can’t wait to see Halle Bailey as Ariel, I still want to hear her rendition of “Part of Your World", and the scene shown was incredible, again the water visuals are lacking, but has to be excused. Next, Dune: Part 2, November 3rd, loved the first one, I think Denis Villeneuve will top it, put in more character drama, can’t wait for the conclusion of the story, Villeneuve’s continued take on the story, and spectacle. Number four, John Wick: Chapter 4, March 24th, I love this franchise, again in the pure action sense, I think with Parabellum that this is the beginning of the war against The High Table, two more films? Director Chad Stahelski has managed to build a world from the first Wick and keep it interesting. 

Number five, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, June 9th, I had written off Transformers movies since the Beyification, but the trailer bumped up my expectations, plus Bumblebee (2018) cleared the slate for a new direction, Anthony Ramos as the lead, I think Beast Wars is a great new element, Ron Perlman, Michelle Yeoh, and Peter Dinklage voicing the bots?, Arcee in live action?, perfect. 

Six, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, March 31st, long delayed for some reason, I’m getting the vibes that this could be the worst movie, I didn’t get the hype from Comic Con, but I’m always up for a fantasy film. Seven, A Haunting in Venice, September 15th, I love the Kenneth Branagh Hercule Poirot movies, I liked this year’s Death On The Nile, unfortunate casting, there is more than the original Agatha Christie books, plus an all star cast. 

Eight, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, March 17th, I really liked the first Shazam, there’s a good sense of the story (besides Rachel Zegler’s part), and there just has been a long expectation for this movie! Nine, update, Missing, January 20th, so I'll be seeing this thriller first before the others, I like the "Screenlife" format as director, Timur Bakmambetov calls it, where the story is told through cell phones, computer screens, and other media. Storm Reid is becoming a one to watch actor and moving the story from a father concerned about his daughter to a daughter worried about her mother lost in a trip is brilliant! Lastly, number ten, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, June 2nd, the trailer knocked down expectations for me, it should be near the top.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) is the perfect Spider-Man movie so I’m still holding on hope. This is expectation so a new trailer and other material could put this back on top. The return of Lord and Miller with the creative team is promising. Intriguing films outside of my top ten, Insidious: Fear the Dark, July 7th, I like this franchise. I did press for Insidious: The Last Key (2018), I never try to count out Blumhouse films, M3GAN might be interesting, plus Patrick Wilson is directing! Seven, Wish, November 22nd, I don’t know much about this animated movie, I did love the exhibit at D23 Expo, plus seeing Ariana DeBose, could it be a disappointment like Strange World?, I trust in Disney Animation, that’s enough.

I’m intrigued by director Gareth Edward’s sci fi movie, True Love, no information, but a cast of Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, and John David Washington, looks like Edwards back in the director’s chair after seven years, can’t wait. Creed III, the trailer looks great, directed by Michael B. Jordan, very promising continuing the Creed story, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, December 25th, I have no idea where this sequel is going, it looks like the last outing of Jason Mamoa’s Aquaman, the Justice Leaguers only seem to get two solo movies. The same with Shazam? There are a number of interesting genre movie next year, what films are looking forward to seeing in 2023? 

#HowDoYouLive, #HayaoMiyazaki, #TheLittleMermaid, #DunePart2, #JohnWickChapter4, #DungeonsAndDragonsHonorAmongThieves, #TransformersRiseOfTheBeasts, #AHauntingInVenice, #ShazamFuryOfTheGods, #InsidiousFearTheDark, #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse, #TrueLove, #CreedIII, #AquamanAndTheLostKingdom