Re:tro Re:view - American Born Chinese GN!

American Born Chinese is a powerful graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang that is about identity specifically the Asian identity! The graphic novel was published in 2006 by First Second Books. It was a finalist, the first graphic novel to do so, for the National Book Awards for Young People’s Literature. Also the Best Graphic Album 2007 Eisner Award which is the comic book industry award. The awards are well earned by Yang who also wrote the limited series, Superman Smashes the Klan (2019), and the series, Monkey Prince. The graphic novel may get more attention since the Disney Plus series is based on it and is set for release tomorrow, May 24th. It features three parallel storylines that reflect and interweave with each other. The first deals with the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, who was featured in Journey to the West. His journey is to find Buddhist writings from India, the West, with a monk, Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie (Pigsy in Monkey Prince), and Sha Wujing sometimes called Sandy. A recent film adaptation featured Donnie Yen in The Monkey King: The Legend Begins (2022).

The story begins with a dinner party in Heaven with “the gods, the goddesses, and the demons.” They include Lao-Tzu, the philospher who had written the Tao Te Ching, and became a god of the celestial bureaucracy. Also, the God of Thunder, Leigong. Yang’s artwork is simple and can easily fit in with manga. The music and food scents descend to Flower-Fruit Mountain. This is where the monkeys gather around the Monkey King. His origin story is told where a magic stone atop the mountain turns into a stone monkey who becomes Monkey King. The character is played by Daniel Wu in the series. He studies Kung-Fu learning the “Four Major Heavenly Disciplines”, Monkey King practicing with effects is great, the “Heavenly Senses”, makes him interested in the dinner party. Then, Monkey King brings the last Discipline, “Cloud-As-Steed.” The Flying Nimbus is familiar to Dragon Ball anime fans. He finds a long line to get into the dinner party, but is patient. The guard points out he doesn’t wear shoes and is a monkey. Monkey King is laughed at and gives a thrashing to a pile of gods using his Disciplines. His anger and embrassment at his own nature is a theme of the graphic novel.   

Next, we get the story of the boy, Jin Wang. He is played by Ben Wang in the Disney+ show. Jin has the bowl cut and sadly plays with a robot in the back seat of his family’s car. His mother, Christine Wang is played by Yeo Yann Yann, tells a story about a mother and son constantly on the move. At the new home, Jin thinks over the story of how his parents met at the San Francisco State University library. There isn’t too much development of his parents from that point, but I think the series will do so. Jin has other Chinese kids around to play with their robots watching cartoons. These kids don’t factor in the rest of the story. Jin goes to herbalist with an older woman who tells him he can be anything if he is willing to forfeit his soul! A minor incident that we find is important for Jin’s story. Later, Jin is introduced to his third grade class by Mrs. Greeder. I think the show will have him older, Mrs. Guardia is played by Gloria Laino. She mispronounces his name, says he came from China, and Jin corrects her that he arrived from San Francisco. One of the stunned classmates is Amelia who is played by Sydney Taylor in the Disney+ series. 

He notes that the other Asian in the class is Suzy Nakamura, but all of the rumors has him avoiding Suzy. She is played by Rosalie Chiang who voiced Meilin in Turning Red (2022)! 

While the other kids are on the playground, Jin eats alone, until bullied by some kids for eating dumplings. This may be unusual back in the 80-90s time period, but there are probably kids joining Jin now. He is almost defended by another boy, Greg, he is played by Ethan Rich in the show. Two months pass and a new kid is introduced to Mayflower Elementary School. Wei-Chun Sun has to also correct the teacher that he came from Taiwan. Jimmy Liu plays the character in the new show. Wei-Chun later introduces himself to Jin while he is eating his lunch. Jin tells him to speak English. Jin is uncomfortable speaking Chinese in public. It is an embarrassment that Jin has to understand. Still, the new kid shows Jin his toy robot that transforms into a monkey, and they become best friends in the “next few months.” A time jump so I think the show can develop the friendship. 

This shifts to the third story, “Everyone Ruvs Chin-Kee”, a absurdity that slaps stereotypes in readers’ faces. There is clapping and laughs like a tv sitcom. The interview in the graphic novel with the series cover has an interview with Gene Luen Yang. He pointed out, “There’s a character in American Born Chinese who is essentially a walking, talking Asian stereotype. He’s satire, but my greatest fear was that clips of this character would show up on social media, completely ripped of their context.” Yang notes that show runner, Kelvin Yu, and the writers “addressed this fear brilliantly.” At night, we have a girl, Melanie, studying with the boy, Danny right out of classic television. He tries to ask out Melanie, but Danny is interrupted by his mother (from the next room) who tells him about his cousin, Chin-Kee. Eyes, teeth, and traditional clothes that are just absurd. All of his exaggerated accented English is accompanied with laughs. He drools over Melanie that creeps her out. Then, Danny’s mother says that he will take his cousin to school the next day. Jin finds himself suddenly interested in Amelia, but is too shy to talk to her. His confidence and Wei-Chun’s part of the story is the heart of the narrative. Yang encapsulates some of the Asian American experience in this graphic novel. American Born Chinese tackles with awkwardness, the struggle of a culture within another one, next to the Monkey King’s discovery, and a stereotypical tv sitcom character!      

Five Monkey Robots out of Five! 

#AmericanBornChinese, #GeneLuenYang, #JinWang, #WeiChunSun, #JimmyLiu, #Amelia, #SydneyTaylor, #SuzyNakamura, #RosalieChiang, #WeiChunSun, #MonkeyKing, #DanielWu 

A Day at Comic Con Revolution - 2023!

Today was the first day of the Comic Con Revolution Ontario. It has become very busy with crowds at the Ontario Convention Center.  The back area had the guests including the Avatar: The Last Airbender voice cast; Greg Baldwin (Uncle Iroh), Dante Basco (Prince Zuko), Jack De Sena (Sokka), Grey Delisle (Princess Azula), Zach Tyler Eisen (Aang), Jessie Flower (Toph), Olivia Hack (Ty Lee), Jennie Kwan (Suki), Cricket Leigh (Mai), and Mae Whitman (Katara). There was also a celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers with Carla Perez (Rita Repulsa) with Walter Jones (Zach Taylor/Black Ranger) and Catherine Sutherland (Kat Hillard/Pink Ranger), and Karan Ashely (Aisha Campbell/Yellow Ranger) who starred in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. Catherine Sutherland. Other guests include Deborah Ann Woll and Mercedes Varnado. The front of the hall featured Aspen Comics as well as other retailers. It was great to catch up with actress Jackie Dallas at the GeekFest Film Fest table. 

                                                                                  The convention floor of Comic Con Revolution, author’s photo. 

Across the hall was a room for Artists Allley and against the wall was the cosplayers like Raychul Moore, The Girl With A Great Smile, and Angi Viper among others including some cosplay groups like the Los Angeles Ghostbusters. It was great to see cosplays walk the floor like Krampus, Boba Fett, and The Mandalorian. Comics writer, Chris Claremont, had a long line at Artists Alley. Also, next to him was Timothy Zahn who wrote Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil (2021). Comic writer, Eric Palicki, wrote Ninja Kaidan from Blackbox Comics about Yuki Snow who uses new technology in a suit of armor to contact ghosts! He co-wrote the No Angel series with actress Adrianne Palicki, his sister. It follows ex-soldier Hannah Gregory who may be descended from angels! Artist, Cat Staggs, had a table with her work from her variant coer for World of Krypton #6 to original artwork. It was also nice to see Tone Rodriguez, artist of Stray Dogs, who was working on custom Remarque Funko Pops as well as sketches. I brought up again the Hero Initiative books which he worked on and one fan brought the Batman 100 Project. Comic Con Revolution continues tomorrow so there is still a chance to take part in another fun comic convention! 

#ComicConRevolutionOntario, #AvatarTheLastAirbender, #GregBaldwin, #DanteBasco, #JackDeSena, #GreyDelisle, #ZachTylerEisen, #JessieFlower, #OliviaHack, #JennieKwan, #CricketLeigh, #MaeWhitman, #CarlaPerez, #WalterJones, #CatherineSutherland, #KaranAshley, #DeborahAnnWoll, #MercedesVarnado, #AspenComics, #JackieDallas, #GeekFestFilmFest, #RaychulMoore, #TheGirlWithAGreatSmile, #AngiViper, #ArtistsAlley, #ChrisClaremont, #TimothyZahn, #EricPalicki, #CatStaggs, #ToneRodriguez, #StrayDogs, #HeroInititative  

Re:tro Re:view - Fire and Ice!

The animated movie, Fire and Ice (1983), was a fusion of director Ralph Bakshi’s rotoscoping animation and the work of fantasy artist, Frank Frazetta. Rotoscoping is painting over live action frames. Bakshi and Frazetta created the character and also produced the film. Bakshi is also the director of the animated The Lord of the Rings (1978) film. The screenplay was written by comic book writers, Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas, the duo wrote the screenplay for Conan the Destroyer (1984). The film is swords & sorcery in the violent, sexy fashion, but still comes in at rated PG. Fire and Ice is currently streaming on Amazon Prime and available on Blu Ray and DVD. The prequel comic book has just been announced by Dynamite Comics. 

We hear the heroic trumpets of William Kraft’s score, he conducted the drama, Dead Again (1991). A prologue notes that at the end of the last Ice Age, in the North, was Queen Juliana whose ambition was to take over the world. We see the black and white sketches by Frazetta of the queen and her Sub Human hordes. The narrator explains that the queen had a son named Nekron. He became powerful in sorcery and they sent a glacier to the south from their castle, Ice Peak. The villagers headed south to the volcanic region of the good king, Jarol, we see him at his throne with his daughter sitting before him. Nekron (Sean Hannon), whom we now see animated, continues the glacier to clash against the Southern volcanos! 

The actors are credited by their performance models. Stephen Mendel, who was on the show Mad Men, provides Nekron’s voice. Nekron has long, white hair. He struggles on his throne as the jagged ice of the glacier plows up to the wooden fort of barbarian men. Larn (Randy Norton), blond-haired barbarian, joins the warriors at the battlement. William Ostrander is the voice actor and he was also Buddy in the horror movie, Christine (1983). A glacier against a wooden fort? Not strong defenses. He looks up to see a dark rider with an axe. Nekron screams and the ice shatters crushing many of the warriors and breaking the fort walls of North Village! We hear guttural sounds as the Sub Humans run from the mist to the teepee huts. 

The barbarians retreat and one of the fallen is Larn. After the battle, the witness is Dark Wolf (Steve Sandor who also voices the role) almost stepping out of Frazetta’s “Death Dealer” painting, but with a black panther hood. He looks to the Ice Peak castle, it is atop a gaping mouth with icy fangs. Nekron is recovering inside. At the battlefield are the shattered wood and barbarian warriors. Nekron drops his hand and a glacier peak falls on some warriors! The slinky, pale figure of Queen Juliana (Eileen O’Neill) enters and congradulates her son. Susan Tyrell voices the queen and was the narrator in Bakshi’s Wizards (1977). They still have to cross the Great Plain before reaching Fire Keep. 

The queen sends a robed Sub Human as messager with demands and she adds King Jarol’s “lovely daughter.” Sub Humans are scavenging through the barbarians, one is looking at a shield, and this wakens Larn. He reaches for a flail, spiked ball and chain, which he uses to strike down the Sub Human! Another runs at him with a club, but Larn throws a spear! This gets the attention of the others. Larn escapes into a jungle. The animation including the rotoscoping looks great! He fends off the Sub Humans as Larn tries to escape into the jungle. He is cornered at the edge of a branch and then leaps into the mists! Larn falls, vines are snapped by him until he reaches the ground, this is the scene duplicated in Avatar (2009). 

At the mountainous, bearded and bald King Jarol (Leo Gordon) with his fur vest greets his daughter, Princess Teegra (Cynthia Leake). Maggie Roswell, who voices Helen Lovejoy in The Simpsons, provides Teegra’s voice. She is dark haired with an almost see-through purple dress. Teegra sees entering the castle, the three hooded messengers, but her tutor (Tamarah Park) continues her lessons about the four elements. Teegra is bored and falls on her bed, wow. The messengers deliver Nekron’s message of total surrender. This is rejected by King Jarol and his son, Prince Taro (Ostrander, Narn’s voice, is Taro’s live action model and voice). While they speak, three Sub Humans scale the tower to reach Teegra! 

Her black panther, Shaitan, growls at their appearance, but a spike is thrown at him! She screams, a Sub Human knocks out the tutor, and takes away the struggling Teegra! Her screams are heard at the throne room and the messengers are killed by Taro and Jarol. Taro calls for soldiers to ride the dragonhawks. The pteradactyl-like dragonhawks are ridden like Avatar’s ikran. King Jarol says the jungle is too dark for the Sub Humans to be found. The Sub Humans push Teegra along and then drink from a river. One tears off Teegra’s dress and pushes her into the river. She still has her bikini-like clothes. Teegra dips into the water and then swims away! On the other side of the river, she runs and takes cover in a fallen tree trunk. The Sub Humans search for her. 

The closeup of Teegra’s face with the moonlight through the cracks of the tree is a great shot! A Sub Human reaches into a tree trunk and pulls out a large insectoid that bites his arm! Another kills it and they pull back into the jungle. Larn is resting in a giant tree and then takes down a Sub Human and takes its spear. Teegra is on a log floating on a lake and reaches an island. The Sub Human hunters are suddenly attacked by a dinosaur-like beast! A Sub Human survivor uses a log like Teegra and reaches the island. He is wounded, but still swing his axe! Teegra has a knife and kills him. At the Sub Human camp, a blue fire has Queen Juliana demand to see Teegra. A Sub Human reports that she escaped and he is hung by Juliana’s fire! In the morning, Teegra reaches a temple ruins. 

Larn is walking in a graveyard of dinosaur creature bones. He takes cover as some wolf beasts sense him. Larn uses a spear to pole vault over them and run! He is about to reach a jungle when an arrow kills one of the beasts! The arrow was loosed by the mysterious Dark Wolf. Larn continues into the jungle and sees some ruins. At night, he eats from one of his kills, a boar crature. Someone approaches and Larn pretends to sleep. The figure, kinda shapely, approaches him. Larn catches Teegra trying to take part of the boar. She starts to run and of course Larn follows. Teegra reaches a bush of red berries that Larn eats. A few days and nights together (?), Teegra suddenly starts to head home. Caught in the conflict, Larn must save Teegra and ultimately face the sorcery of Necron! There is great adventure that is more action, not bloody swords and sorcery violence, but with a kind tame fantasy story. Fire and Ice is a stunning animated film with heroic characters in a Frank Frazetta fantasy world! 

Five Spears out of Five! 

#FireAndIce, #RalphBakshi, #FrankFrazetta, #RandyNorton, #Cynthialeake, #SteveSandor, #LeoGordon, #WilliamOstrander, #TamarahPark, #SeanHannon, #EileenONeill 

Re:tro Re:view - The Magic Flute!

The Magic Flute has adventure, romance, singing, secrets, music that fills a soundscape of your mind, all woven into Mozart’s magical opera! The director and co-writer is Florian Sigl, his first film. Andrew Lowery co-wrote the comedy, Nothing (2003), as part of the writing duo, The Drews. Jason Young, director and writer of the short, With All My Love (2013). The film is based on the Mozart opera that had premiered in 1791. Ingmar Bergman directed a 1975 adaptation. There was a 2006 version directed by Kenneth Branagh. The Magic Flute is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime and also Blu Ray and DVD. It begins with an orchestra warm-up, probably one of the best parts of a live performance, gets the tension going. 

The score kicks in briefly as we see a quiet, London hospital with a window overlooking the city. A nurse calls over a young man, Tim Walker (Jack Wolfe), to see his father, James (Greg Wise). Wolfe stars as Wylan Hendricks in the fantasy series, Shadow and Bone. The prince in the opera is named Tamino. Wise is in the drama, After Louise (2019). His father, resting in a hospital bed, has written a letter to a school’s headmaster, Dr. Longbow. Tim wants to stay to look after his mother. James says he had talked with his wife and makes his son promise to go to his dream school when he passes away! Next, his father wants him to take out a gift, a book, Die Zauberflöte. The Magic Flute in German. The book also reminds me of the Neverending Story (1984), the original novel was also in German. 

James says it was his time at the school, Mozart’s, and Tim realizes that he stole it. He says Tim has to return it “back where it belongs.” The nurse interrupts them to give James his time to rest. He grasps his son’s hand and says his life will be changed. Six weeks later, a night train ride, this is no Harry Potter, the beginning is very somber. Tim pages through the book, seeing drawings and some of the score. He looks up, sees a pretty girl (Niamh McCormack) with headphones, and they smile. McCormack has a cameo in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Later, she has a number where she can sweetly sing. 

They find a private car and she introduces herself as Sophie. She recognizes that he is going to Mozart’s and Sophie is in the girl’s building there. Tim says he plays the piano and sings. He sits next to her and Sophie says she is listening to Jackson Five’s “I’ll Be There” which they listen to on their headphones. The train heads towards the Austrian Alps. Tim wakes up from the train alarm, alone in the car, and heads out to get his luggage. He walks through the city, the score returns, and we get the reveal of Mozart International School: Academy of Music. At the library, students are studying, a teacher takes Tim over to the office of Dr. Longbow. He is played by F. Murray Abraham who of course starred as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus (1984). 

Longbow explains that an exception was made allowing Tim into the school with the death of his father. Dr. Longbow notes that they are having a winter recital and Tim sees that it is of The Magic Flute. He says that it is his father’s favorite opera because he felt a connection to Tamino. A knock at the door announces the arrival of Mr. Baumgartner (Tedros Teclebrhan), Tim’s new teacher. He takes Tim to his quarters and notes that he is in time for auditions. Tim finds his new roommate, Paolo (Ellie Courtiour) who seems more comfortable having a room alone. The ice is broken when Tim points out Paolo’s xylophone. Paolo shows him around the school. He is bullied by Anton (Amir Wilson) who happens to be the son of Enrico Milanesi. 

His legacy is something that brings a dimension to the character. Perception is important in the story, who is in the wrong, is often flipped with understanding. Later, Dr. Longbow has the students assembled, and has Tim give his presentation. Tim is nervous and then starts to sing, “Con Te Partirò” by Andrea Bocelli. Wolfe has an impressive singing voice, but he is interrupted by Dr. Longbow. He wants Tim to “embody” the song; be original in how he  feels the song. The pressures and expectations of artists, especially the young characters here, is one of the themes. Night, Paolo is asleep, but Tim goes through the book again. The clock turns 2:30 and from the book a blue smoke emerges and forms into a globe! There is a voice leading Tim away. The spirit leads Tim across a hall, his Call to Adventure! 

At his room, Anton bursts in with masks and music, but Paolo says he was asleep. The spirit takes Tim to the library, he sees the clock, and below it an empty space between books on a shelf. He returns the book, the clock chimes 3, and Tim is suddenly swung into the cabinet! Tim finds himself in darkness with spirits floating around him. Child-like voices come as the blue globes pulse orange with speaking. The spirits tell Tim that he will find what he wants, but he has to follow three rules. The first is to keep the journey a secret, second, Tim has to be part of the story as Prince Tamino, and third, he has to remember and follow the story. 

If Tim fails, the world will fall into “Eternal Night”, and he will share its fate! Tim nods in agreement accepting the quest and then finds himself in a desert. He starts walking on the sand and rocky land. Suddenly, a massive snake, a sand viper with dark scales and black eyes, rears up! The dramatic Mozart music against the Kaiju snake crashing through rocks as it weaves towards Tim is the best! Tim is able to find a crack between rocks and sings, “Have mercy, have mercy.” Operatic and very musical theater, the fantasy setting fits perfectly with singing and the music. He runs, but slips and hits his head against a rock! The snake weaves towards him and then a form in purple robes appears! 

Lady Scarlet (Jasmin Shakeri) raises her hand as the snake opens its jaws, then it pulls back and slumps down in a magical sleep. Shakeri was in the German comedy, Buba (2022). He is dragged away by Lady Hazel (Larissa Sirah Herden) and also Lady Azure (Jeanne Goursaud) in blue robes. Herden co-starred with Goursaud in the German drama series, Para - We Are King. Goursaud was in the historical drama series, Barbarians. Lady Scarlet joins them and they all admire Tim’s looks in song. Lady Azure says she will stay with him and the others argue until they hear a storm. The trio remark that it is the Queen of the Night whom commands them. 

They leave and Tim revives to hear a playful flute. This is the entrance of the playful Papageno (Iwan Rheon) known for his role as Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones. Tim watches him from behind a rock as Papageno sings about his job as birdcatcher. His jacket has a collar of bird feathers. Papageno is a comic figure, but still wonders if there is a woman who will love him. He notices Tim stumble and then try to ask for help. Papageno mistakes him for a prince from the “royal crest” on his school jacket. Tim is about ot correct him, sees the spirits briefly appears, and then says he is Prince Tamino. Papageno introduces himself as the bird-catcher of the Queen of the Night. 

Tim thanks him for saving him. Papageno accepts, startled at the snake, and asks for a reward. The three ladies appear and catches him in the lie. They cover their mouths and Papageno’s lips are sealed Matrix-style. A bit startling, but also funny having the talker have his mouth magically sealed. Lady Hazel takes Tim over to a rock formation. Lady Scarlet forms an image of a woman, Princess Permina (Asha Banks). The actress starred as Brooke in the BBC drama series, Rebel Cheer Squad - A Get Even Series. Tim is entranced by her loveliness and sings about his love. This brings a tear to Papageno’s eye, very funny. Her image shifts into Sophie’s face before fading. 

Afterwards, the trio takes him to the see the queen, her blue castle lies underneath the storm. The Queen of the Night (Sabine Devieilhe) wearing a crown on a high pedestal. Devielhie played Ophélie in a 2019 production of the opera, A. Thomas: Hamlet. She looks at the moon next to her throne with a crescent moon. The Queen of the Night asks that Prince Tamino rescue her daughter from the man, Sarastro. Tim accepts, then the Queen of the Night sings, the edges of her robe expands like dark wings, and her song adds that once Princess Permina returns, he will marry her. The queen’s singing is beautiful, but the darkness is frightening. Once the song is over, the darkness folds away. 

Papageno mummers to Tim, but Tamino sings that the spell is powerful. The ladies remove their hands, restoring Papageno’s mouth, then Lady Scarlet brings Tamino a gift from the queen. It is not magic beans, but the Magic Flute that can defend him. Papageno tries to leave, but the ladies have him join Tamino’s quest. He is terrified of the “pagan priest”, funny, Tim says he can go on his own. The ladies laugh, then Lady Scarlet gives Papageno magic bells to protect him. I love all of their voices together in song. The trio sing that three sprites will lead them. Papageno admitting he didn’t kill the snake is too funny! 

Tamino walks with Papageno and then hears a ticking sound. Timano turns and swallowed into white, throwing him back to the library minutes before 6 a.m.! The Magic Flute is there with him and he takes back the book. Tim is mocked by a student in the hall and meets up with Paolo who tells him about Anton. He tells Tim to meet with him after class, at dark they walk to a quarry between the girl’s school. At some campfires, a friend, Olive (Cosima Henman) is talking to Sophie. Henman was in the German drama film, Bulldog (2022). Sophie waves to Tim and Olive pulls her over to have a chat. I do like the development of the real world romance, but not that the real world does not have singing dialogue. 

Sophie says she was in a hurry and left Tim on the train while he was snoring. The last part is embarrassing for him. Olive takes away Paolo and alone, Tim says he sung Bocelli which he says is his usual song, Sophie tells him to take a chance. At the library, it is almost past 11 p.m., and Tim tries to replace the book. At Mr. Baumgartner’s class, he gives a lesson about Masonic symbols in the opera, and later Tim asks about them. Baumgartner tells about the pattern of threes. At night, Tim’s alarm goes off before 3 a.m., he sees Paolo awake writing a letter to his old roommate. At that late time, Paolo explains that the mind is clearest, he is much more likeable than Neville Longbottom, a true artist. 

Tim places the book at 3 a.m. and is transported to a forest on a rocky spire. The three spirits say Papageno walked on ahead. At Sarastro’s desert palace, Princess Permina is forcibly taken into a room by guards. She is tied to her bed and a guard explains that she was trying to escape at the wine cellar. At the other side of the room, is the villain Monostatos (Stefan Konarske) in armor with a scar down his left, blind eye! They both sing wonderfully! He is the servant of Sarastro! Tim as Prince Tamino has to save the princess, take three trials from Sarastro (Morris Robinson), to fulfill his destiny! The Magic Flute is a gift, something almost lost, but can be revealed to show its magic; Mozart’s music, a talented cast, romance across worlds, comedy, powerful themes, and a glimpse of an epic, the Lord of the Rings of Mozart's time!   

Five+ Magic Flutes out of Five! 

#TheMagicFlute, #FlorianSigl, #JackWolfe, #IwanRheon, #NiamhMcCormack, #FMurrayAbraham, #AshaBanks, #SabineDevilhe, #JasminShakeri, #JeanneGoursaud, #LarissaSirahHerden, #ElliotCourtiour, #CosimaHenman, #GregWise, #StefanKonarske, #MorrisRobinson  

Happy Birthday George Lucas!

Happy Birthday George Lucas! His landmark student film, Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB (1967) and turned into a full film, THX 1138 (1971). Lucas also defined teen films with American Graffiti (1973) insisting on a soundtrack of songs by the original artists that is the standard today.  He created his own world using his Akira Kurosawa, John Ford, sci fi movie serials, and Alex Raymond influences to form something new with Star Wars (1977). He founded Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) in 1975. Then, there was Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Lucas contributed the story for Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), collaborating with his friend, Steven Spielberg, to craft a modern cliffhanger serial classic. Lucasfilm Games was founded by George Lucas in 1982 and became LucasArts in 1990. It produced such games as Maniac Mansion (1987), the brilliant The Secret of Monkey Island (1990), and Star Wars: Dark Forces (1995). Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) concluded the Original Trilogy. The Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) served as a prequel to Indy's adventures. George Lucas provided the story of Wicket in The Ewok Adventure (1984), also called the Caravan of Courage. 

Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985) featured Lucas' story and introduced Teek! His first collaboration with Disney was Star Tours which first opened in 1987.  Lucas was the writer for the fantasy film Willow (1988).The bullwhip was seemingly hung up with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Lucas created the television show The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1993). The story of the murder mystery comedy, Radioland Murders (1994), was by Lucas. Later, he worked again with Disney for Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye which opened at Disneyland in 1995. He returned to Star Wars with the prequels starting with Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). He continued the prequels with Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002) and the conclusion was in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005). Lucas also was executive producer on Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2014) animated series. He returned to write the story for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). Lucas accomplished the film he wanted to make for some time executive producing Red Tails (2012). On October 2012, Lucasfilm was sold to Disney. He provided the story for the animated movie, Strange Magic (2015). Lucas is focusing his energies on the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Happy Birthday George Lucas!

#GeorgeLucas, #THX1138, #AmericanGraffiti, #StarWars, #RaidersoftheLostArk, #TheYoungIndianaJonesChronicles, #StarWarsTheCloneWars, #RedTails #LucaMuseumofNarrativeArt

Re:tro Re:view - Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1!

Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 falls out of the Portal of Cancellation to comic book form! The fantasy role-playing game started in 1974, three booklets in a box, created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. On television, it appeared in the form of a cartoon series developed by Mark Evanier. It was produced by Marvel Productions, the series had the same look as Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, and animated by Toei Animation. There were three seasons from 1983 to 1985. The show was targeted to kids, there were Dungeons & Dragons action figures at the time, but just from the game. The figures from toymaker LJN included Warduke and Strongheart, but had no connection to the game or cartoon. It was only until recently that Hasbro released figures in its Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon Classics line. Also strange, there was no D&D information about the characters until the Dungeons & Dragons - The Complete Animated Series box set was released in 2006. So it was unusual to see a popular cartoon, no tie-ins to the game or animated series, the two medias were completely separate. 

This is until the IDW comic book and also the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves movie bringing interest in the show. The first issue of the D&D Saturday Morning Adventures comic book has a cover by interior artist, George Kambadais, with simple, cartoony lines, but not in the style of the cartoon. Kambadais was th artist for the limited series, I Can Sell You A Body, for IDW. It has the adventurers jumping and falling through a portal to a forest. The first part of “Prisoner of the Deep” is written by David M. Booher and Sam Maggs. Booher wrote the IDW fantasy series, Canto III: Lionhearted. Maggs wrote issues of IDW’s Star Wars Adventures. We start with Hank the Ranger (he was voiced by Willie Aames) pointing where to attack as hordes of Araneas, half-humanoid, half-spiders!, rush towards them! Then, we get a double splash page spread of the characters; Bobby (Ted Field IIII), Barbarian, with his Thunder Club, Sheila (Tonia Gayle Smith), Acrobat, wielding her Javelin Staff (her Dextrity seems right), and at the bottom, Cavalier, Eric (Don Most), carrying a Griffin Shield (Charisma? Eric?).

Then, we have Presto the Magician voiced by Adam Rich (Wisdom is his strength?, he has a confidence problem like Simon), he has the Hat of Many Spells, by his side is Uni, baby unicorn, usually next to Bobby, Sheila (Katie Leigh), Thief who has a Cloak of Invisiblity, and then Hank with his Energy Bow. The voice actors were known for their television work, Aames with Eight is Enough with co-star Rich. Plus, Most from Happy Days and Smith had a cameo role an episode of The Facts of Life. Field III was a voice actor known for Saturday Supercade. Leigh is known for a number of voice roles including Sunni Gummi in Adventures of the Gummi Bears. We flashback to “A few minutes earlier…” where the adventuring party is resting in the dark woods by a fire. Then, Dungeon Master suddenly appears, voiced by Sidney Miller. He voiced Oompe in Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989). Dungeon Master is short and wise, always thought Dungeon Master was a Gnome. He likes that they are resting and then goes for snacks (?). Dungeon Master gave the heroes their magical weapons and usually their adventures. 

Hank can’t believe Dungeon Master left, usually this is Eric, and Diana remarks that they had saved the Forgotten Realms. It was never identified what world the heroes were on, the world was first published with the module, Bloodstone Pass in 1985. Hank wants to tell everyone his plan, they are uninterested, and then Sheila brings up that they want to stay in  the Forgotten Realms in a splash page of the duo in the forest. He can’t believe that the others have given up returning back home. They were transported by a theme park ride into the Dungeons & Dragons world. Eric was the one who would almost leave the others to get back to the real world, but here he gave up. The heroes usually mentioned what they missed from home; strangely nothing about their family and if they will be missed. Bobby likes that Uni is there. Sheila brings up what they have encountered, Presto meeting his “soul mate”, this is Qilué Veladorn, the goddess of magic?, this was in the Forgotten Realms: The Grand Tour (1996) comic book. Diana has magic with animals. We see Venger (Peter Cullen), the villain with one horn like Evil from Time Bandits (1981) with demon wings! Sheila admits she doesn’t want to go back to the ninth grade. It returns to the battle and the way out is a portal that may finally take them home - or continue exploring the Forgotten Realms! Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 returns favorite heroes who have changed with their time in the fantasy world, but still have fun adventures!   

Four Hats of Many Spells out of Five! 

#DungeonsAndDragons, #SaturdayMorningAdventures, #DavidMBooher, #SamMaggs, #GeorgeKambadais, #Hank, #Sheila, #Presto, #Bobby, #Diana, #Eric, #DungeonMaster, #Venger 

Re:tro Re:view - John Wick: Chapter 4!

John Wick: Chapter 4 is an endurance test as Keanu Reeves’ assassin faces off with the High Table! The film clocks in at two hours and 49 minutes which is the longest in the series. The length is kept a steady momentum with the stunning action scenes with series director, Chad Stahelski. It is written by Derek Kolstad who also worked on the series and Shay Hatten who co-wrote John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellem (2019). The other writer is Michael Finch who also wrote the action movie, Blood Brother (2018). The beginning has a closeup of bloody wrappings around a post and a fist. This is New York where we left John Wick recovering from the last movie where he was shot and took a painful fall. Then, there is the figure of the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) walking in a subway tunnel. Fishburne was finishing the role of Pops in the comedy series, Black-ish. He enters through large doors and brings the suit for John Wick (Reeves). One of the recent films for Reeves was reprising the role of Neo in The Matrix: Resurrections (2021). 

We get a sunrise and out of it emerge four horsemen riding in a desert. Three of the riders have white horses while they are pursed by a black horse and its rider, John Wick! One by one, the others riders are shot by him, a man in black robes watches the chase from above on a cliff. The last horseman is killed and next to his body is the man in the robes, The Elder (George Georgiou). John is there only for one thing, his wedding ring which he gave along with his finger to the previous Elder to prove his fealty. The Elder says the ring is gone and is shot by John. At the New York Contiental Hotel, a bearded man in a black trench coat and a missing finger (!), Harbinger (Clancy Brown) asks the concierge, Charon (Lance Reddick), for the manager. Brown was in the thriller movie, Last Looks (2021). Harbinger is the mysterious representative of the High Table. This is Reddick’s last film having also appeared in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellem. Reddick’s Charon has always been reliable and loyal to The Contiental and the manager. 

They enter the office and see Winston (Ian McShane). Harbinger tells Winston that the hotel is condemned by the High Table and they have one hour. He puts down a giant hourglass with the sands running down. Winston and Charon enter the office of the Marquis de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård). The actor was in the horror film, Barbarian (2022). He is a ruthless executive, but not as deadly as the others. The Marquis states that there are rules and Winston adds that there are also second chances. He notes about John Wick, “he is the face of your failure.” The Marquis looks out of his room sized window and sees The Continental below explode! Then, he shoots Charon! Winston is there for Charon’s last words, “It has been an honor, my friend.” Very moving. The Marquis has left Winston alive as a lesson. He then says, “Bring me Caine.”  At a park, Caine (Donnie Yen) looks at a gold pocket watch that has a photo of a young woman. Yen starred in the lead role for The Monkey King: The Legend Begins (2022). 

The same woman in the photo, Mia (Aimée Kwan) is playing her violin. In a hallway, Caine moving with this cane, very much blind, meets with The Marquis. He states that he is retired, but warned, “You put her in danger.” In exchange for his daughter’s protection, Caine is sent after a “former associate”, John Wick! It is night at the Osaka Continental. The owner, Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada) enters to check on the operation. Sanada was previously Oishi in 47 Ronin (2013) which also starred Reeves. A guest (Shamier Anderson) known as Tracker, wearing a heavy jacket and backpack, checks in. Anderson was previously in the action movie, Awake (2021). Tracker introduces himself as Mr. Nobody. He brings with him a Belgian Malinois, similar to Sofia (Halle Berry) in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. I don’t know if there is a connection, his background is kept a mystery. 

The concierge, Akira (Rina Sawayama) says that there is no animals. Sawayama is known as a pop singer in Japan. Tracker takes a seat with his dog in the lobby. Koji meets with Akira, his daughter, and she mentions the guest with the dog. He goes to the hotel rooftop and meets with John Wick. The rooftop has cherry blossoms, but bathed in red from a circular structure’s lights. The lighting and cinematography by Dan Lautsen is impressive. Koji pours tea for his friend at a table and says that they will never stop. Several of The Marquis’ men enter the hotel and the leader, Chidi (Marko Zaror), asks for the manager. Zaror also stars in this year’s martial arts film, Fist of the Condor. Akira meets with her father who tells her to discreetly evacuate everyone. He tells his guards to show hospitality to the new guests. They go to refrigerators that are full of weapons! John Wick meets with Caine and says, “I remember a time when you knew the meaning of brotherhood.” Koji sees Chidi who wants another Continental to shut down. Koji holds up his arm and archers loose arrows at the gunmen! 

Koji retreats and then tells his two Sumo guards, "Stop them”, very cool. Akira goes to warn John and she whips off her robe to reveal her black leather armor! She also unfolds a bow that Akira uses with lethal Wick effect! They move into another room and while John takes on more Marquis men, Akira is shot in her side. She is saved by the arrival of Koji. A gunfight in the kitchen is intense, but Caine is calmly eating noodles in a side hallway. Chidi has him get into the fight. Caine slides around the kitchen and places devices that give out doorbell rings when the hotel guards pass. So Caine swiftly kills them all. John Wick has reached a room with display cases of Japanese armor and weapons. He takes on endless Marquis gunmen, uses nunchucks to bash them, and switch to his gun! Then, John Wick faces Caine, he faces his sword cane with a katana, and epic battle with swords and guns! It is broken up though by the lever action rifle of the Tracker!

John picks up a Marquis pin from one of the gunmen. Koji brings his daughter to the hotel’s garden, but has to face Caine, Hiroyuki Sanada vs. Donnie Yen! John Wick has to find a way to face The Marquis, somehow find freedom from the High Table, and the answer leads to Berlin. He has to find readmission to the Ruska Roma family led by Katia (Natalia Tena). He was exiled from the family at the cost of trying to escape New York in the last movie. John has to face the brutal Kingpin-like Killa Harkan (Scott Adkins) to rejoin the family! This is a fight that takes place in a nightclub with waterfalls. There is also an incredible battle on traffic of the Paris streets around the Arc de Triomphe! John Wick has to survive endless bounty hunters and the danger of Caine and Tracker! His is reported by a radio dj with close-up on her lips by the microphone just like The Warriors (1979)! John Wick must reach the Sacré-Cœur Basilica for a final duel! here is an end credit scene. John Wick: Chapter Four has stunning action, uneven introducing more characters and plot threads, but a welcome return to the Wick world! 

Four Markers out of Five! 

#JohnWickChapter4, #ChadStahelski, #KeanuReeves, #DonnieYen, #ShamierAnderson, #IanMcShane, #LanceReddick, #LawrenceFishburne, #HiroyukiSanada, #RinaSawayama, #BillSkarsgard, #MarkoZaror, #ClancyBrown, #ScottAdkins, #NataliaTena, #AimeeKwan