Can’t Miss 2024 Movies!

There are so many films that are promising this year, action, horror, sci fi, all sorts of genres and filmmakers. So let’s boil them down to the top ten films that are must see movies! #10 Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, to be released on April 12th, seems to follow the absudity with the previous Monsterverse film; Hollow Earth, reverse gravity, and Godzilla’s atomic breath blasting thousands of miles (all without aliens). Now adding a family of Kongs, lil’ Kong, and evil Kong. Still, even with pink Godzilla and grey-haired Kong, the Kaiju are still compelling especially with Godzilla Minus One. I hope the human characters are more developed. 

#9, A Quiet Place: Day One, out in theaters June 28th. This thriller series has been satisfying in drawing in audiences with its silence premise. Very much like the Weeping Angels in Doctor Who, who approach when you turn away or Birdbox (2018) which requires blindness to stop the creatures. There is a new director, Michael Sarnoski, who directed Pig (2021) with a new set of characters though Djimon Honsou returns from the sequel. The first day of the invasion was also in A Quiet Place Part II (2020), but hopefully we get more into the nature of the beasts. 

Deadpool 3 is #8 and it hits theaters on July 26th. The Deadpool films are fun. I trust Shawn Levy in turning in an entertaining movie. He worked with Ryan Reynolds on Free Guy (2021). Plus, it is the long promised team up with Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine. Levy may balance the sensibility of the Deadpool movies, the R rating, and may have a twist on bringing mutants into the MCU.  #7 Megalopolis, this is Francis Ford Coppolla’s passion project that he wrote, directed, and produced. Adam Driver plays Caesar an architect who wants to rebuild New York into an utopia after a disaster. I like visions of the future and apocalypses, see #2, so this is so promising. 

 

I have been interested in the music of Bob Marley for some time. Legend is on my playlist. I saw the documentary, Marley (2012), so it is exciting to see the bio-film, Bob Marley: One Love. It is #6 on the most expected list and will be released on February 14th. The film is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green who also directed King Richard (2021). Kingsley Ben-Adir plays Marley. He has been on my radar with Gravik in Secret Invasion and then one of the Kens in Barbie (2023)! Lashana Lynch plays Rita Marley. She was Binary in The Marvels (2023) and Izogie in The Woman King (2022). I think the point of biographies and historical dramas is to offer a perspective to interest you on finding more out in books and documentaries. 

Matthew Vaughn doesn’t need to direct a Bond film when he has fun riffs on the spy genre with King’s Man and now Argylle! February 2 is the release date for the #5 movie so I plan on making it my first new movie of 2024! Henry Cavill as a secret agent and Dua Lipa as the femme fatale assassin is perfect casting! Not as spies, but also poking fun at the genre. Then, we have the Romancing the Stone angle with Bryce Dallas Howard’s author caught up in the adventure with Sam Rockwell's agent. Spy comedies are funny, but Vaughn also brings incredible action!  I love the cast of Ballerina with Ana de Armas in the lead role as Eve. The film at #4 drops on June 7th. It is directed by Len Wiseman who brought a stylish edge to the Underworld movies. This is an official entry in the John Wick series with Keanu Reeves reprising an earlier appearance of Wick along with Ian McShane as Winston and Lance Reddick as Charon! We also have Anjelica Huston as The Director of the ballet. Plus, Anne Parillaud, from the original Nikita (1990)! 

The #3 Expected Film is Madame Web! I was impressed by the trailer with the movie set to open on February 14th. My second 2024 film and then Bob Marley: One Love! It felt more like a supernatural thriller than superhero film. The recent trailers lean more into the super angle, but still keep the Spider-Man connection loose. The director is S.J. Clarkson who also directed episodes of Jessica Jones. The trailer really called on my knowledge of the comics and then into obscure parts! Dakota Johnson has ventured into horror with Suspiria (2018) so this touches on the precognition of Madame Web. Add in Sydney Sweeney who was funny in Anyone But You (2023) as Spider-Woman and Isabela Merced who will be Hawkgirl in Superman: Legacy and now Dina in The Last of Us! Also, Celeste O’Connor who was in the horror comedy, Freaky (2020) and Ghostbusters: Afterlife! Then, the villain, Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim) who hunts the Spider-Totems in the comics! Can’t wait! 

Now we are moving to the top expected movies going next to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga opening on May 24th! It has been nine years since Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), but I have absolute trust in George Miller as a filmmaker. At the time of the movie, Miller wrote a one-shot comic, Mad Max: Fury Road: Furiosa #1, so the character interests the director. Anya Taylor-Joy telling the story of Furiosa before Fury Road is incredible. Stunning was seeing Chris Hemsworth as the perfectly named and oddly looking Dementus. I know what ever Miller puts on film will be a cinematic experience. The top expected film is of course Dune: Part Two hitting theaters on March 1st. Denis Villeneuve’s movies are visually beautiful, a painter’s approach to world building Frank Herbert’s novel. The first film was embraced by audiences even though complex in themes and world. This one may hit it out of the park with Timothée Chalamet, straight from Wonka (2023), returning to play Paul Artreides. Now he is embracing his destiny with Zendaya’s Chani. Austin Butler looks menacing as Feyd-Rautha, nephew to Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard). “Kull wahad.” The 2024 movies have potential to be some of the best in cinema! 

#GodzillaXKingKongTheNewEmpire, #QuietPlaceDayOne, #MichaelSarnoski, #DjimonHonsou, #Deadpool3, #ShawnLevy, #RyanReynolds, #HughJackman, #Megalopolis, #FrancisFordCoppolla, #AdamDriver, #BobMarleyOneLove, #ReinaldoMarcusGreen, #KingsleyBenAdir, #LashanaLynch,

#ArgylleMovie, #MatthewVaughn, #BryceDallasHoward, #SamRockwell, #HenryCavill, #DuaLipa, #Ballerina, #LenWiseman, #KeanuReeves, #IanMcShane, #LanceRiddick, #AnjelicaHuston, #AnneParillaud, #MadameWeb, #SJClarkson, #DakotaJohnson, #SydneySweeney, #IsabelaMerced, #CelesteOConnor, #TaharRahim,  

Echo, “Chafa”, Review!

The debut of the Echo series on Disney+ expands the character and culture of Maya Lopez! The show is under Marvel Spotlight with the graphic violence warning. It is directed by Sydney Freeland who also directed two episodes of Reservation Dogs. It is written by a group including series creator, Marion Dayre, Josh Feldman, Steven Paul Judd, and Ken Kristensen. Dayre was the executive story editor and writer for Better Call Saul. Kristensen was the story editor and writer of the Netflix The Punisher series. Maya Lopez was introduced in the second episode of Hawkeye, “Hide and Seek” (2021). The character first appeared in Daredevil #9 (1999) by David Mack and Joe Quesada. The beginning features a disc of swirling blue energy, the Sacred Hoop? 

In a misty, gold-rimmed pool, a woman emerges with clay-like skin, this is Chafa (Julia Jones). The actress played Leah Clearwater in the Twilight films. Others emerge in the cave and Chafa drinks from a pool that sends energy around her arms and into her palms. A woodpecker hands on right hand. It flies off when the cave starts to collapse, Chafa tries to hold up the cave ceiling, when we fade to white. She holds up her hand to see the outside world with grass and green trees. The clay falls from all of them, now with clothes, and Chafa says, “Follow me” in the Choctaw language. The narration by a young girl, Bonnie (Wren Zhawenim Gotts) says in whispers that she was the first Choctaw and the others turn to her as she walks from the mound, Nanih Waiya, all part of the Choctaw creation story.  

Bonnie tells the story through shadows on a tent with her cousin, Maya (Darnell Besaw). Maya signs that they are sisters before thunder rumbles overhead. At the front yard before a camp fire, Skully (Graham Greene) tells about Biscuit’s father signing while he talks. He is the step-grandfather of Maya. Greene starred in three episodes of Reservation Dogs as well as the “Kin” (2023) episode of The Last of Us. Next to him is Chula Battiest (Tantoo Cardinal), his wife. Cardinal appeared as Lizzie, the mother of Mollie Burkhart, in Killers of the Flower Moon. On the other side is William Lopez (Zahn McClarnon) and his wife, Taloa (Katarina Ziervogel). McClarnon starred as Big in Reservation Dogs. Ziervogel was one of the writers of the sci fi film, Finality of Dusk (2023).

We get the setting, Tamaha, Oklahoma, the setting and backstory of Maya is more developed in this series than the comic book where she was originally Cheyenne. Skully says that Biscuit’s dad loved peaches, holds his wife’s hand, and William and Taloa also hold hands turning to see the tent. Skully and Chula drive away in their truck noting that Biscuit was sick. Chula sees a woodpecker on a wooden post before it flies away. In the kitchen, William worries about the kids in the storm. Taloa says they will be out in five minutes. There is a knock at the door as Bonnie enters saying the rain got through the tent, I know this from camping! Maya signs that they need hot chocolate and her mother says she will have to go to the store. I like the sign language so much, it feels more personal, loving than simple talking, I wish the whole show was told through it.

Taloa adds that Maya should come with her. Chula wrings her hands and Skully asks her if it is the ancestors. Taloa smiles at Maya and finds that she can’t use the brakes! Another car’s headlights glare and tries to honk when they crash! This is so shocking I hope that th audience should be prepared if anyone has been in a similar accident. The collision, breaking glass, the side of the truck is crushed. A shard of glass is buried in Maya’s right leg, her face is streamed with tears, she turns to see her mother’s bloody face! Day, we see a nurse checking on Maya in a hospital bed with her amputated leg. Chula and Skully walk up as William stares into her room. He says he hasn’t told Maya about her mother’s death. In the comics, her mother just left the family. 

William says he has “taken care” of the person who cut the brakes. Chula says she begged her daughter not to marry him, the Lopez boys are criminals. She tells William that she will never forgive him and wants him to go away. William says his brother, Henry, has found a job for him in New York. A powerful scene; Cardinal’s anger is shown in her face, then the despair in McClarnon’s face. He goes to check on his daughter, she has drawn a smiley face of Bonnie, Maya blames herself for her mother. This one hurts. He signs no. Later, William lifts Maya from her wheelchair to his truck. Chula watches with Bonnie. At the passenger side, Maya signs that she wants Bonnie to go. Strange that the grandmother is ok that her granddaughter goes with her father whom she thinks is a danger. 

Bonnie tries to run after her as Maya signs Bonnie’s name. New York traffic, Maya is in a classroom, we saw in Hawkye that William said he couldn’t afford a deaf school for her. I think there would at least be a teacher’s aide for her. At night, they are playing shadow puppets, and Maya signs if dragons are real. He signs no and that they are in a different world. William signs that Maya has to go between worlds. We find Maya at the Brooklyn Karate Academy signing that she wants to be like her father. In his red tracksuit, William signs that she will have a better life. She sees him give an envelope to another member of the Tracksuit Mafia. Her face is pinched by another man, we know from the third episode of Hawkeye, that this is Wilson Fisk, (Vincent D’Onofrio), The Kingpin! D’Onofrio last played the character in the finale of Hawkeye. 

She bows to her opponent and this shifts to the older Maya taking down her sparring partner in a boxing ring. Maya rides her motorcycle to Fat Man Auto Repair and ducks as a battle takes place. This was also in the “Echoes” (2021) episode of Hawkeye. The assassin, Ronin, brutally slaughters Tracksuit Mafia members. She sees Ronin plunge his katana into her father, he breaks through a window, as she sees William die. He puts his bloody hand on her face, the imprint was painted in white in her comic book identity as Echo. She later stands at her father’s grave and Bonnie texts her that she will be there for her. Maya just leaves. At night, she is about to take a red motorcycle, and thn surrounded by police cars. This part is entirly in silence: Maya uses her hair scrunchie to send the motorcycle crashing into a police car!  

A car pulls up and we see the white suit of the Kingpin of Crime! He takes Maya from police custody. In his car, he tells Maya that his father was killed when he was twelve, sitting next to the Kingpin, a woman signs for him. I think this is his wife, Vanessa Fisk. She walks over to two men in suits, part of the Black Knife Cartel, by a bar. They walk over to a security guard who has them identified by a camera. He checks them and then lingers on checking Maya. She slams him against a wall. Maya is shown a video of the people they are going to kill. The leader knocks on a door and says, “The Kingpin thanks you for your loyalty”, the guard shoots the other with a silencer-fitted gun and opens the door. He is given a gun and bursts into a room shooting. The action becomes muffled into silence as Maya watches the killing. 

ECHO - - “Chafa” - - ALAQUA COX  - - Photo: Chuck Zlotnick. © 2023 MARVEL.

One of the men tackles Maya and she grabs his head, a thumping heart, Maya snaps his neck - her first kill. She is flurry attacking others and then sees the security guard again! Maya thrashes the poor guy and then dodges a club sent by a shadowy figure, Daredevil (Charlie Cox). Daredevil was last seen in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. It is impressive that Maya holds her own against Daredevil. Still, she rushes into a weapons cage, but Daredevil is too quick. He slams down a shelf trapping Maya. At his dinner table, The Kingpin is impressed by Maya’s skills and says they ar family. Quick flashes of Maya in Hawkeye. Ronin reveals himself, it is Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) who says Kingpin ordered her father’s death. This was in the fifth episode, “Ronin” (2021). Then, we have the last episode of Hawkeye, “So This is Christmas?” (2021), Echo shoots The Kingpin without remorse, and we hear his body thumping to the ground. 

It is "5 Months Later”, at a gas station, Echo rides up on her motorcycle, and then checks the bloody wound on her stomach. She wraps a bandage on it gasping in pain. Echo rides on, blood on the engine, an impressive shift from day to night, into Oklahoma Native America. Her eyes become drowsy with the wound and she almost slams into a truck! Maya returns to the house and flashes back to playing with Bonnie at tent. She takes the house key from a brick and enters. At the bathroom, she stitches the wound, again gasping before falling in bed. She sees visions starting with Chafa. In the morning, Maya is on a couch looking at a photo of the family. She hears someone coming and draws her gun. The person is knocked down, she looks at him, the man is Biscuits (Cody Lightning). Bearded and dressed in shorts. Lightning starred, wrote, and directed the comedy, Hey, Viktor! (2023). 

He hugs her and then signs that she has been gone for 20 years. His dog, Billie Jack, barks and he explains that Maya is his cousin. Maya is still suspicious. There is something funny, light, about Biscuits from the previous drama. She signs that she is there for business and wants him to keep her stay quiet. Maya rides into downtown Tamaha. She stops to watch a basketball game at the fire department. It is the older Bonnie (Devery Jacobs) who heads over to her ambulance. I do like Bonnie has a healer, the opposite of Maya. Jacobs played Elora Danan Postoak in Reservation Dogs alongside McClarnon. Named after the character in Willow (1988) love it! Maya heads over to Black Crow’s SkateLife rollerskating rink to the “Angel in a Centerfold” by The J. Geils Band, 80’s staple. It is disco with young kids using walkers to help them skate. 

She walks over to the skates window, the attendant, Vickie (Thomas E. Sullivan) sprays down skates, and Maya is annoyed he doesn’t notice her! Maya rings the bell several times and points out the photo of a man on the wall, Black Crow (Chaske Spencer). She turns to see that he is a dj and leads her to his booth. He has a green light and red light game going for the skaters. Maya signs she wants to meet in private. The attendant texts that he has information on the “King killer.” Black Crow realizes that Maya has run into trouble and he brings in Gretchen (Daktota ay Hebert) to help with the wound. He notes that Gretchen is the mortician(!), Maya shows her the wound that has pus, infected! Afterwards, Black Crow takes her to a station above a water tower and shows Maya a telescope that is pointed at Bonnie. He signs that if Bonnie finds out that Maya was there without telling her that her heart will be broken. Black Crow is conflicted, wanting to prevent The Kingpin bringing a war to Tamaha, but it is inevitable! Echo has a formidable cast taking Maya Lopez on her path of revenge to what must be redemption!  

#Echo, #SydneyFreeland, #MarionDayre, #JoshFeldman, #StevenPaulJudd, #KenKristnsen, #AlaquaCox, #DeveryJacobs, #CodyLightning, #ChaskeSpencer, #GrahamGreene

#TantooCardinal, #VincentDOnofrio, #ZahnMcClarnon, #KatarinaZiervogel, #WrenZhawenimGotts, #DarnellBesaw, #CharlieCox, #JeremyRenner  

2023 Favorite Films!

Last year has ended and it is time to cover some of the favorite, not best or worst, movies of 2023! What has became apparent is that the fresh, creative vision of filmmakers is something that was unexpeted in 2022. There are still some films that I have not caught up on; Susume, Past Lives, and Air. Some movies must have honorable mention and should qualify for the best in cinema; The Color Purple, Barbie, and The Marvels. The movies are not judged based on their box office, award worthiness, and instead are ranked by their personal impact. 

So let’s go over some favorite films of last year! Starting with #10 The Little Mermaid, it was #2 for the Top Five Movies article on August 25th. The impression of the movie is great entertainment, but while fantasy is compelling, I like the more human element. I do like Halle Bailey’s performance, Ariel's lost mother, and the need to understand and bring together two cultures which is also shared by the prince. The story, characters, and the visuals brought something fresh to the original 1989 classic animated movie. 

#9 Wish, this is a Disney animated movie of beauty, an entertaining family film, with great songs. I love the character of Asha (Ariana DeBose), a young woman who believes that everyone should have their dreams, plus Alan Tudyk as the GOAT goat, Valentino! My favorite moment is when a villain like Magnifico (Chris Pine) is about to crush the hopes of a positive character, this is also in #3, but hope can't be stomped out. 

#8 Godzilla Minus One, it stunned me that general audiences have taken to a G-Film, a feat accomplished by the director and visual effects supervisor, Takashi Yamazaki. There were dramatic parts with the human characters of Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) and Noriko Oishi (Minami Hamabe) were more interesting than the Kaiju, in fact if there were more of the humans, it would probably rate higher. Love the effects and the depiction of Godzilla. 

#7 The Boy and The Heron, another Japanese movie and in this case from Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli. There is wonder in this film and sadness. The loss of Mohito’s mother is the driving part of the story, but there is also war, bullying, a new step parent, plus a fantasy world that follows the fairy tale rules. It is a treasure for movie goers. #6 The Creator, brilliant in telling a different story of A.I. with the vision of writer and director, Gareth Edwards. with Alfie (Madeleine Yuna Voyales), protected by soldier, Joshua (John David Washington). 

In turn, he is sarching for his wife, scientist, Maya (Gemma Chan) in the midst of war. The world building is some of the best in sci fi. #5 Missing, I love a good mystery, this one had me engaged with a real human story of a missing parent. There are twists that uncover family secrets. In this movie and the previous one, we get creativity in the filmmaking itself. For Missing, it is the innovative Screenlife format using cell phones, computer, and tv screens to tell the story. Storm Reid as June is perfect, clever, but has to her use last resources to find her mother.

#4 was #3 of my Top Five, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, pure horror, and best of all, the fulfillment of Bram Stoker’s novel in terms of tone which always seemed elusive on film. It struck me as Dracula, but bringing in modern horror that was perfect. Love every moment of the movie. The director, André Øvredal, had a dark vision that brought tension to the inevitable loss of the crew by Dracula. The highlight is Corey Hawkins as a character not in the novel, but completely works in this telling. 

The crew is great including Aisling Franciosi as a stowaway and David Dastmalchian as the first mate. Wonka is #3, what stands out is the director, Paul King, who can make a film that appeals to every audience. A wonderous performace by Timothée Chalamet as the eternally upbeat Wonka taking on a world trying to bring him down. Still, he is flawed being illiterate and not understanding the Chocolate Cartel or the Oompa Loompas. A splendid cast including Calah Lane’s Noodle and the love to hate villain, Mrs. Scubitt played by Olivia Colman. 

The #2 favorite will be on almost no one’s list, The Magic Flute, #1 on the top five movies. It impacted me the most with the introduction of Mozart’s opera, beyond what was in Amadeus, (1984), with charismatic leads, Jack Wolfe as Tim Walker, and Niamh McCormack as Sophie. Plus there is the best music. I would like everyone get an appreciation of Mozart, The Magic Flute, and the contemporary and fantasy characters, with the premise of the creativity of the artist. The top movie, Killers of the Flower Moon, the greatest part is showing the world the Osage Nation. 

It is just a peek into the culture, the tragic event, but also the trust that director Martin Scorsese is placing in the audience to decide for themselves on the motivations of the characters. The movie offers complexity for them, in other words, they are human. Lily Gladstone, has deserved award attention; what Mollie Burkhart goes through, her family, and culture is important. The parts for Leondardo DiCaprio, Ernest Burkhart, and Robert DeNiro, William Hale, are brave roles to take on. I think the subtleties and hints opens the movie for repeat viewings. 2023 had a number of magical, dramatic, tension and terror, movies that are very human and entertaining! Now there is the promise of 2024 films! 

#FavoriteFilms, #TheColorPurple, #BarbieMovie, #WishMovie, #TheLittleMermaid, #HalleBailey, #MelissaMcCarthy, #WishMovie, #ArianaDeBose, #AlanTudyk, #ChrisPine, #GodzillaMinusOne, #TakashiYamazaki, #RyunosukeKamiki

#MinamiHamabe, #TheBoyAndTheHeron, #HayaoMiyazaki, #TheCreator, #Garethdwards, #MadeleineYunaVoyales, #JohnDavidWashington, #GemmaChan, #Missing, #StormReid, #TheLastVoyageOfTheDemeter, #AndreOvredal, #CoreyHawkins

#AislingFranciosi, #DavidDastmalchian, #Wonka, #PaulKing, #TimotheeChalamet, #CalahLane, #OliviaColman, #TheMagicFlute, #Mozart, #JackWolfe, #NiamhMcCormack, #KillersOfTheFlowrMoon, #MartinScorsese, #LilyGladstone, #LeonardoDiCaprio, #RobertDeNiro  

Many Bothan Spies and the Battle of Kothlis!

There is an important event in Star Wars that has a complicated history! "Many Bothans died to bring us this information", what is this event that Mon Mothma refers to in Return Of The Jedi (1983), LC-OT3? The information about the second Death Star and the Emperor was woven in a novel, comic, and video games! Right now it is in Legends, but we find out the story in Shadows Of The Empire (1996) novel by Steve Perry, EC-SoE. It was visualized in Shadows of the Empire #5 (1996) by John Wagner and Killian Plunkett, the artist later worked on the Clone Wars animated show. 

The event was also connected through the Star Wars: X- Wing Alliance (1999) game; EC-XWA. This was in the Battle 4: Mission 4; "Capture the Freighter Suprosa." Blue Squadron with twelve Y-Wings ambushed the freighter as it left hyperspace. The Suprosa sent a missile that took out four of the Y-Wings piloted by Bothans. Two more Y-Wings were destroyed. The freighter's engines were shut down and the crew surrendered. In the novel, the engines were disabled by Luke Skywalker in his X-Wing fighter? In the X-Wing game, it is Ace Azzameen shut down the engines flying his Y-Wing. 

Y-Wings have ion cannons that can disable ships. X-Wings do not have ion cannons, but can use blaster cannons to damage the engines. The Bothan spymaster, Koth Melan, determined that the data core would be needed to be decrypted on Kothlis, the Bothan homeworld. We haven't seen Bothans or Kothlis in canon yet. The date core is moved there and Melan was killed by the Barabel bounty hunter, Skahtul, in a raid. Then, Skahtul captured Luke Skywalker. He was later freed by Lando. The data core was transferred to the corvette Razor which was captured by the Star Destroyer Motivator. This was in the Star Wars: TIE Fighter (1995) game; EC-TF. 

Rogue Squadron led by Wedge Antilles arrived at the Battle of Kothlis. The battle was in Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (2001); EC-RSRL, "Razor Rendezvous" mission. The Star Destroyer crashed and a Rebel transport with General Madine managed to secure the data core while Rogue Squadron provided cover. This is the events in the "Vengeance on Kothlis" mission. I don't know how many total Bothans were lost. The Emperor's visit to the Death Star II has not been made canon at this point, but this story took eighteen years to tell!  

#ReturnOfTheJedi, #ShadowsOfTheEmpire, #StevePerry, #JohnWagner, #KillianPlunktt, #CloneWars, #Suprosa, #BlueSquadron, #StarWarsXWingAlliance, #LukeSkywalker, #AceAzzameen, #KothMelan, #Kothlis, #Skahtul, #StarWarsTIEFighter, #RogueSquadronIIRogueLeader, #WedgeAntilles, #GeneralMadine. 

Happy Birthday Hayao Miyazaki!

It is the birthday of Hayao Miyazaki, a master storyteller and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki is still crafting traditional cel animation! He was chief animator and concept artist for Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968) directed by Isao Takahata. Miyazaki co-directed with Isao Takahata Lupin The Third Part I (1971-1972), the animated series based on Monkey Punch’s gentleman thief. Then, he directed the animated series Future Boy Conan (1978). In 1982, Miyazaki wrote and drew his sci fi ecological manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. He directed The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) which starred Lupin the Third. 

Also in 1982, he wrote and drew his sci fi ecological manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.  Then, directed the film of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in 1984. He started his longtime collaboration with the music of Joe Hisaishi with that film. In 1985, he founded Studio Ghibili with Toshio Suzuki, Isao Takahata, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma. He then directed Castle in the Sky (1986) and then the classic My Neighbor Totoro (1988). The stage play of My Neighbor Totoro opened at the Barbican Theatre, London in 2022. Next, was Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) and then Porco Rosso (1992). 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. In 2022, Spirited Away: Live on Stage debuted at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo. The filmed version appeared in theaters in 2023 and is now on Blu Ray. 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 (2004) based on the Diana Wynne Jones fantasy novel. Miyazaki continued his writings on animation with Turning Point: 1997-2008. Following it, there was Ponyo (2008). 

In 2009, Miyazaki 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 (2014).  Hayao Miyazaki was awarded 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. In 2022, Miyazaki's manga that he drew and wrote in 1983, was published as Shuna's Journey. In November 2022, Ghibli Park opened in Nagakute, Japan. How Do You Live? is the 1937 novel by Genzaburo Yoshino. It is seen in the latest Miyazaki film, The Boy and The Heron (2023). Happy Birthday Hayao Miyazaki!    

#HayaoMiyazaki, #HorusPrinceOfTheSun, #LupinTheThird, #FutureBoyConan, #NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind, #CastleOfCagliostro, #CastleInTheSky, #MyNeighborTotoro, #KikisDeliveryService, #PorcoRosso, #StartingPoint, #PrincessMononoke, #SpiritedAway 

#StudioGhibliMuseum, #HowlsMovingCastle, #TurningPoint, #Ponyo, #TheWindRises, #TheKingdomOfDreamsAndMadness, #NeverEndingManHayaoMiyazaki, #HowDoYouLive, #TheBoyAndTheHeron 

The Color Purple Review!

The Color Purple is a powerful drama and musical that has fantastic visuals and peformances! The film of course is based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. She is the executive producer for the new movie. This was adapted by Steven Spielberg for his 1985 film. Spielberg also produced the current movie with Amblin Entertainment. Oprah Winfrey starred as Sofia in the movie and is the producer of the current film with OW Films. In 2005, The Color Purple made its way to Broadway produced by Scott Sanders who also produced the latest movie. Quincy Jones was also the music producer of the 1985 film and musical also returning for 2023 movie. So this film has deep roots in the book, earlier film, and musical.  

The film is directed by Blitz Bazawule who wrote and directed his dramatic film, The Burial of Kojo (2018). It is written by Marcus Gardley who was the writer of the dramatic series, The Chi. The screenplay is based on the book of the musical by Marsha Norman. It begins with a banjo playing. There is an impressive shot by cinematographer Dan Laustsen as we see the player on his horse underneath tree branches and it switches to two young girls in white dresses on a tree branch. They are playing pattycake as we see that it is the Georgia Coast, 1909. The girls are Young Celie (Phylicia Pearl Mpasi), the actresses first role, she was previously a writer for Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, and also Young Nettie (Halle Bailey), a dramatic part for Bailey who also starred in the title role of The Little Mermaid (2023). Young Nettie plays a role through most of the film. 

It starts immediately as a musical with Nettie singing to her sister, “Huckleberry Pie” from the musical, who soon joins the song. They head to church for a Sunday morning with the men in dark suits and women in brightly colored dresses. Stunning costumes by Rashad Corey and Francine Jamison-Tanchuck. This shifts into the “Mysterious Ways” song that is a swirl of dancing and song. Celie is pregnant with he second child and her father, Alfonso (Deon Cole) wakes up. Cole starred in the comedy, You People (2023). The church members are signing while the banjo player, Mister (Colman Domingo) watches Nettie. Domingo also starred in the bio drama, Rustin (2023), playing activist, Bayard Rusin. Mister is the name he likes to be addressed as way of showing his importance. At their room, there is a flashback, where Mama (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) shows Celie how to sew, holding the needle, and to “feel it.” Taylor was also in the drama, Origin (2023).  

Celie screams about to have her baby. A midwife comes in to help deliver the child whom Celie names Adam. Alfonso takes the baby away. At his general store, Celie sees her first child, Olivia, with another woman. Alfonso charges at Celie and tosses her out. She sees her baby girl through the blinds and sings, “She Be Mine.” There is dry ground as a chain gang brings down sledgehammers and we see Young Celie. This moves to a waterfall with washing women. Incredible visuals. Celie breaks from the dream and goes to her room. Nettie sees at the window, Mister at the house, asking Alfonso to marry her. Nettie tells Celie that he is the “devil” and has three children at home. Nettie tells Celie that she learned about Africa at school. She says that they are royalty. Alfonso doesn’t want Mister to marry Nettie and instead says Celie can marry him. 

Celie has to walk behind Mister on his horse on the journey to his house. He calls his kids to greet their new mama. She makes food for the family, Young Harpo (Jamaal Avery Jr.) loves the food and wants more. Mister slaps Celie. Later, taking a bath, Celie notices a photo of Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson) whom Mister idolizes. Henson was stunning as Katherine G. Johnson in the bio drama, Hidden Figures (2016). This shifts to live action, but then we get Mister in bed with Celie. The next day, Nettie is at the door, and admits that “Pa touched me.” She can’t live there anymore and says to Mister that she will work at night and go to school in the day. Mister agrees for Nettie to stay. Nettie takes away her sister from gathering wood and sings, “Life can never break your soul” in the song, “Keep It Movin’”

Five Letters out of Five! 

#TheColorPurple, #AliceWalker, #StevenSpielberg, #OprahWinfrey, #ScottSanders, #QuincyJones, #BlitzBazawule, #MarcusGardley, #FantasiaBarino, #TarajiPHenson, #DanielleBrooks, #PhyliciaPeralMpasi, #HalleBailey, #ColmanDomingo, #CoreyHawkins, #JonBatiste, #HER, #Ciara, #DavidAlanGrier, #DeonCole, #LouisGossttJr, #AunjanueEllisTaylor, #JamaalAveryJr 

Happy New Year’s, 2024, at Knott’s Berry Farm!

I had to try something new and went to Knott’s Berry Farm to watch the New Year come in instead of watching on it on television! It was about 9 p.m. when I arrived at the park. There were a mix of families, young people, and adults at the park, in other words, a regular Knott’s crowd. As such, it was very comfortable to be in the press of people, nothing too wild. There were hats and horns given out which I discovered was at the very end of the Ghost Rider attraction called the Gold Mine Trail. So of course I took the Ghost Town path, impressed to see the Christmas lights and decorations, and then seeing the Christmas tree. 

Just 10 seconds were left of 2023 on the Sky Cabin tower, photo by the author.

At several places, there was projections of “Knott’s Berry Farm: Happy New Year 2024.” It was also during a walk through Ghost Town, when thee was the Snow & Glow event with a full snow fury projected from the buildings, complete with Christmas music. It was great to finally catch it at night. One of my usual things to do was Pan for Gold, but haven’t gotten around to it, but this time there weren’t many prospectors. I think the best way to start a new year is to find some 22k gold! If you haven’t done so, begin 2024 panning for gold, eureka! This is at the entrance of Ghost Rider, don’t miss it! There was some fun singing and music from Midnight Hiatus at the Calico Mine Stage. 

The beginning of the Midnight Fireworks Spectacular, author’s photo.

At the Boardwalk Ballroom was the Jitterbug Pop Swing Band, which was on a break at the time, looked like fun with dance instructors and Jitterbug Jumpers! “Jump, Jive An’ Wail!” I hope this returns or is a regular feature. There were many other entertainers for the event , I was able only to check out a few of them, Midnight Hiatus was playing just before the countdown! I liked seeing the steam billow from the Ghost Town & Calico Railroad! The countdown at the Sky Cabin tower drew crowds which cheered with the new year as the Midnight Fireworks Spectacular heralded the new year! The park closed at 1 a.m. Knott’s Merry Farm concludes on January 7th so there is still time to catch holiday celebrations!  

#KnottsBerryFarm, #NewYears, #GoldMineTrail, #SnowAndGlow, #PanForGold, #MidnightHiatus, #JitterbugPopSwingBand, #JitterbugJumpers, #GhostTownAndCalicoRailroad, #MidnightFireworksSpectacular, #KnottsMerryFarm