Re:tro Re:view - The Current War!

The Current War (2019) is a powerful drama of incredible historical figures! The film is directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon who also directed Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (20150. It is written by Michael Mitnick, a playwright, who also wrote the brilliant adaptation of The Giver (2014). The title has a double meaning that it is a war that is happening now and it also refers to the famous War of the Currents.  

This was the struggle between two industrial giants, Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, with the genius inventor, Nikola Tesla, caught between them. We hear some wind sounds as we get the “Inspired by True Events” line. I have been fascinated with Tesla and have read his works and watched documentaries. This gives some substance to these historical figures working to build the future. It turns into a white screen, the snow is heavy, and we see a figure emerge from the snow. The snow howls as we see a man in a coat.  

This cuts to 1880. We hear the voice of Thomas Alva Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch) speaking about a patent for a lightbulb. Cumberbatch was finishing the last season of Sherlock in 2017 (the movie's release was delayed) and then appeared in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) as Doctor Strange. We move to a train in the night, the train hits its brakes, which is the Westinghouse railway air brake. This shifts to Menlo Park, New Jersey, a man is holding up a lamp as he leads a group of other men in the night partially lit by the moon.  

The man blows out the lamp and we only see the top hats of the men. Edison calls out the signal and an impressive circle of light bulbs on posts revealing Thomas Edison, “inventor.” Excellent cinematography by Chung-hoon Chung and also the visuals match with the dialogue and pacing of the film. Edison looms large as an inventor, the power of celebrity vs. business, and also science and how it can help society. Still, Edison is obsessive, to the point where he is driven and doesn’t acknowledge other options. Even to the point where compromises his values.  

After this demonstration, we are back in a train car with Mary Edison (Tuppence Middleton), she was in the tv movie Diana and I (2017) with her family. “Edison’s assistant”, Samuel Insull (Tom Holland) reminds him of a dinner appointment with Westinghouse. Holland was known as Spider-Man and just debuted as Peter Parker that year in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). Insull is interesting as a young assistant to a genius, his input is heard, but of course not considered.  

Still, he is key to keeping Edison in with the machinations of big business. Then, we see the White House in the snowy day, Edison is meeting with J.P. Morgan (Matthew Macfayden), “banker.” The actor starred in the Howard’s End television mini-series adapting the E.M. Forester novel. Morgan is the money man, representing big business, Edison works with him to accomplish his means, but of course big business dominates inventors. They have a meal with Edison showing his invention, the phonograph, invented by Edison in 1877. It impresses Edison’s family.  

Edison tells Morgan he doesn’t want to invent weapons of war. Instead, he shows one square block in New York that he will light up. Edison’s young son taps his spoon in Morse code, a message to his father about Morgan’s “cherry” nose.  Clever and a secret joke between them. A carriage ride takes the group back as Edison has Insull set up his company, Edison Works. Night, Pittsburgh, we get gifts placed by Marguerite Westinghouse (Katherine Waterson). She starred as Daniels in Alien: Covenant (2017) that year. Marguerite reminds her children not to remark about Morgan’s nose.  

She is fascinating, supportive, her husband would find himself hedged in by the cutthroat business without her. George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon), her husband and “industrialist”, walks in.  He played Richard Strickland in The Shape of Water (2017). This is my favorite role for Shannon.  He questions his wife about trivia questions as they ready for the Edison dinner. They take a carriage to meet Edison exciting about the meeting. At the train station, they meet with engineer, Franklin Pope, “chief electrician”, played by Stanley Townsend. He was also the drama series Redwater in 2017. 

Insull tries to remind Edison, but he says he is tired and doesn’t want the train to stop. The stunned Westinghouses and Pope as the train passes by them! This causes a rift between the two men. They return to find silent servants who are told by Marguerite there was an “emergency.”  There is a flashback, Westinghouse as a Union soldier is riding his horse in the rain. He checks his map and then faces a gun. This flashback is explored more fully later in the film, but it seems like a turning point in his life. Then, Pope notes that the Wizard of Menlo Park, Edison’s legendary name, stayed in his basement.  

We get the contrast with Westinghouse, working with a team, to accomplish his goals. They go over Edison’s methods, Pope says he is methodical in pursuing a “needle in a haystack.” There is an interesting dimension to Westinghouse, he knows what is right, but of course unable to work with Edison so finds him as a rival. Mary is upset at her husband ignoring the dinner invitation.  Morning, the Edison house as he is working on his phonograph with his family around him. Mary speaks into the phonograph. This captures a moment that of course is kept forever as a recording also as a memory.  

Then, Edison answers a phone call from Morgan to get the funding. At his workshop, Edison draws a map of the country, all set with wires and lightbulbs. This is what will be the battle map between Edison and Westinghouse. Then, we get a closeup of Nikola Tesla (Nicholas Hoult), “futurist”, in his ship cabin. At the time, Hoult was in the war film, Sand Castle (2017), and he is currently in series The Great. Tesla is emigrating from what is modern Croatia. He is complete genius trying to help build the future, but he is opposed by the American inventors and businessmen who take advantage of him as an immigrant.  

Tesla starts to write in a notebook as the ship makes its way to New York. Edison speaks at the New York Stock Exchange testing his new lighting system. Tesla walks the dark streets and then looks up as the night is lit up. The crowds cheer for Edison. This is the conflict between Edison and Westinghouse. To light up New York and then the rest of the country through Edison’s direct current or Westinghouse trying to push for alternating current which can be transmitted over long distances. This also involves execution by the electric chair, life and death, media manipulation, politics and the competition of Westinghouse and Edison. Tesla’s ambition to build a hydroelectric plant at Niagra Falls that changes the world. The Current War lights the way to our future, the first rate cast playing historical figures, and their story that created our modern world.  

Five Lightbulbs out of Five!  

#TheCurrentWar, #AlfonsoGomezRejon, #BenedictCumberbatch, #MichaelShannon, #Tom Holland, #NicholasHoult, #TuppenceMiddleton, #KatherineWaterson, #StanleyTownsend 

Jurassic World: Alive Review!

Jurassic World: Alive is the latest in cell phone games with of course the feature of taking on dinosaurs!  It was developed by Ludia and released in May 2018.  Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom hit theaters on June 2018.  Jurassic World: Dominion is targeted for a June 2021 release.  So my interest was trying to get the augmented reality taking pictures of a dino with anything in the background.  Honestly, still haven’t worked out how to do this, the instructions was to search a dino on Google, but it just has animation, no background.  This lead me to downloading the game.  I really like the premise that dinosaurs are everywhere taken from Isla Nubar.  You are part of the Dinosaur Protection Group and advised by Claire Dearing and Owen Grady.  

The basic gameplay is drones that are sent to fly over dinosaurs you encounter.  The more you explore, the different the species of dinosaur, also note that there are also prehistoric animals!  I think I ran into a Elasmotherium, a rhino with a shaggy coat.  I did collect a Velociraptor.  You have a number of darts that you can reload from green or orange supply drop boxes.  The drone has a targeting reticle that pans over the dino.  This is not easy since there is a target circle that gives you vulnerable areas for the dino.  You have a limited time to fire the darts which extract the DNA from the dino.  So you are not hurting the beastie.  It is possible to hit a bullsye, but the limited time just has me shooting wildly, some dinos can deflect the darts.  The game play is not easy to master, some of the dinos are fast moving, the target circle allow for hitting anywhere within it.  Still, you have to patiently wait for the reticle to match up with the target circle. 

The aim once you collected enough dino DNA is to build your own dino.  This is for when you get into battles.  You assign three dinos to fight others.  You can find arenas at a local park.  A good mix of opponents is fun.  One battle, I think with a T-Rex?, had the dino swipe and kill with one hit, all three of my dinos!  The herbivores of course are armored, they have attacks like stomps or tail swaps.  There are also shields, but they don’t protect against massive carnivores.  I hope to build a flying I feel really bad when my dinos are defeated.  I’m not certain how to heal my dinos.  I have on my team, a favorite, the Stygimoloch, bonehead!  I'm running into tough dinos that knock down my dinos health three or more times than their strikes.  This makes any win impossible.  I don't know how to heal the dinos, get more than one strike or reduce opponents' strikes, so this will make game play not fun.  There are special events that happen every week or so.  One dino that seems original is the carnivore, Irritator.  You can also build dino hybrids.  There are sanctuaries, possibly they can bring in rival dinos, I just reached Level 3 where you start using the sanctuaries.  The sanctuaries can be used for toys and food that you get from Supply Drop boxes.  I don't know what effect it has on the dinos you place in there.  The game play is very good and fun!  

Four Scent Capsules out of Five! 

#JurassicWorldAlive, #Ludia, #DinosaurProtectionGroup, #JurassicWorldDiminion 

Hamilton Review!

Hamilton is a sensation from its award-winning Broadway performances and opening American history to every American. It of course made its streaming debut on Disney+ on July 3rd in time for the holiday. The film was intended for release in theaters on October 15 next year. It captured performances in 2016 with the original Broadway cast by director, Thomas Kail, who also directed the musical. Hamilton won eleven Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. 

The musical is based on Alexander Hamilton, the 2004 biography by Ron Chernow, who is very understanding of the potential of the adaptation. It features music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He has previously created the musical In the Heights which has a film directed by Jon M. Chu with a pending release. Miranda is in that movie as well his appearance as Lamplighter Jack in Mary Poppins Returns (2018). The mixture of the hint of history with dialogue and costume and the music of hip hop combine in what Miranda calls “the story of America then told by America now.”  

Alexander Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) poster.

The introduction is by King George III, played by Jonathan Groff, he returned to the production for this filming. This was at the Richard Rogers Theatre, New York. The stage is shown with what looks like a wooden upper floor and brick background. Taking the stage is Aaron Burr played by Leslie Odom Jr. who won the Tony for his performance. Odom Jr. was in the bio drama Harriet (2019). He is dressed in brown coat, trousers, and boots which gives a hint of the historical period.  

The opening number, “Alexander Hamilton”, is begun by Burr who wonders how his rival could be successful going over his poor and Caribbean beginnings. The rest of the cast joins him with the men in pale reflections of their Revolutionary coats. Kudos to Paul Tazewell, the costumer designer for the musical. These are his friends, John Laurens (Anthony Ramos) who also plays Hamilton’s son, Phillip in part 2, Marquis de Lafayette (Daveed Diggs), his other part is Thomas Jefferson, and Hercules Mulligan (Okierete Onaodowan, called Oak by the company), his other part is James Madison. Diggs also won the Tony for Featured Actor in a Musical. He is currently in the sci fi series Snowpiercer. 

Aaron Burr (Leslie Odom Jr.) poster.

The ensemble are dressed in stays which looks like white undergarments and dance and play crowds. This brings out Alexander Hamilton played by Miranda in a close-up, the live audience cheered drowning out his first lines. Then, we get Phillipa Soo who plays Hamilton’s wife, Eliza.  Soo is in the drama, The Code. George Washington (Chris Jackson) walks out singing about Hamilton’s difficult years which he turns to focusing on his studies.  Jackson was in the true crime series When They See Us. 

Burr continues with Alexander’s move to New York.  Alexander takes off his coat and is helped on a brown coat by Eliza. The symbolism is nice. The lyrics are sung, “In New York you can be a new man.” In part, the musical is a love letter to New York. The full cast assembles in a line as Alexander walks up to the second floor. He walks down the steps on the other side, his arrival to America, we get spotlights on the important figures in Hamilton’s life which of course points to Burr saying he shot Hamilton. This is the prologue that gives you glimpses into Hamilton’s life which I think is like the prologue in Romeo and Juliet. 

Marquis de Lafayette (Daveed Diggs) poster.

The opening is also impressive because this is the showstopper, usually at the middle or end of a musical, which of course ends in applause. This shifts to 1776, an inconfident Hamilton talks to Burr, he wants to know how Burr graduates so quickly through college. Burr also gives advice to “talk less”, this is central to Burr’s character, to move ahead without standing out. He introduces Hamilton to the three drinking colleagues; Laurens, Lafayette, and Mulligan. Their boistrous introductions set off some fun showing them to be young and ready to be soldiers. 

Diggs is funny in his part. Historically, Hamilton had just met Hercules Mulligan, but if you want dry history watch a documentary. Hamilton interrupts Burr and sings, “My Shot.” The quartet of friends is formed. Laurens has a dream of freeing the slaves. They take their ambitions to the streets. We get the turntable that is in the center of the stage, it creates movement, and is a centerpiece to some artistic numbers. Hamilton has a moment when he thinks about his mortality, but this shifts to his speech before a crowd about fighting to build a nation that is also financially secure.   

Angelica Schulyer (Renee Elise Goldsberry) poster.

At the tavern, the friends sing “The Story of Tonight”, which is classic musical theater, pondering how their children will remember that night.  Burr is walking the New York streets and notices the Schulyer Sisters; Angelica (Renée Elise Goldsberry), Eliza (Soo), and Peggy (Jasmien Cephas Jones). Goldsberry is an incredible singer, she won the Tony for the role, and she plays the Schulyer Sister who is “looking for a mind at work.”  

She was in the drama Waves (2019). Soo is also strong as a vocalist. She was also in the military drama series The Code (2019). Jones has another part playing Maria Reynolds in the second part.  She was in the romantic film The Photograph this year. Burr is interested in Angelica, but she doesn’t share his interest. The three sisters are excited to be in the center of great change with “The Schulyer Sisters” song, a powerful number. Hamilton is watching Samuel Seabury (Thayne Jasperson) try to make a public speech on loyalty to the king. Burr, Hamilton, and the friends make fun of the speaker and Hamilton takes over.  

Eliza Hamilton (Phillipa Soo) poster.

Soldiers in red coats interrupt to introduce the king’s message. This is delivered by King George III (Groff) in full period accurate robes. His “You’ll Be Back” song turns into shouting that has saliva dripping from his lips in a close-up. Groff of course was in Frozen II (2019). He provides a humorous contrast to the rest of the cast. Hamilton and his friends put on the blue coats of soldiers.  

Burr introduces General George Washington (Jackson). I thought Jackson was a standout in the production. He sings that he needs a "right hand man" to somehow turn the soldiers from running.  Aaron Burr reports for duty, but is dismissed by Washington. He has called in Hamilton who does not want to write reports, but take on the British in the field. Washington holds the quill out as we get the ensemble singing "My Shot." Hamilton accepts the position and brings in his friends and spies. Burr again questions Hamilton and his rise with the army. The simmering jealousy just opens the rift between Burr and Hamilton.  

George Washington (Chris Jackson) poster.

We move to 1780 with the winter's ball, Eliza is there, singing "Helpless", innocent. She is taken by the look of Hamilton across the room. Eliza watches Angelica walking over to Hamilton, she brings him over to meet Eliza, this leads to letters and a wedding. It is very sweet and then we get Angelica toasts which pauses and then rewinds! This is a stunning piece of theater. There is Hamilton's conversation with Angelica at the ball that they are both "never satisfied."  

She sees that her sister has fallen in love, but knows that he is flawed. His flaw becomes tragic in the second part. This carries through the Revolutionary War, which is told through dance not violence, and into the Federalist Papers, the formation of the first national bank, and Hamilton's end in 1804. The initial plan was to show Hamilton in theaters, I would really like to see it in the theaters some time, and also on the stage. Hamilton is a bold musical with the journey through friendship, romance, and betrayal, but its brilliance is relevant today!    

Five Federalist Papers out of Five! 

#HamilFilm, #ThomasKail, #LinManuelMiranda, #PhillipaSoo, #ReneeEliseGoldsberry, #JasmienCephas, Jones#DaveedDiggs, #AnthonyRamos, #Okierete Onaodowan, #ChrisJackson 

Happy Birthday Connie Nielsen!

Happy Birthday Connie Nielsen!  Her first film was in the Jerry Lewis French comedy, Par où t'es rentré ? On t'a pas vu sortir (1984) translated as How Did You Get In? We Didn't See You Leave.  Her first US film was The Devil’s Advocate (1997) co-starring with Al Pacino in the horror film.  Then, Nielsenwas in the sci fi action film Soldier (1998) stranded on an alien planet. Nielsen followed it up with Brian De Palma’s brilliant sci fi tale, Mission to Mars (2000) alongside Gary Sinise and Don Cheadle.  I find it more fascinating than The Martian (2015).  Next, Nielsen had her break through role as Lucilla in Gladiator (2000).  

In 2002, she played Nina Yorkin in the thriller, One Hour Photo. Nielsen was in the comedy film, The Ice Harvest (2005).  She had a role as Detective Dani Beck in 2006 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.  Then, Nielsenstarred as Meredith Kane in the television drama Boss (2011-2012). Nielsen had the role of cult leader, Lily Gray, in The Following (2014).  In The Good Wife, she played Ramona Lytton from 2014-2015.  She returned to genre films playing Queen Hippolyta in Wonder Woman (2017) and also Justice League (2017).  Nielsen perfectly embodied the leader of the Amazons. She is in the biography, The Catcher Was a Spy (2018).  This year, she was in the mini-series, I Am the Night, playing Corinna Hodel, who wraps her niece, Fauna, into the dark world of a tense Los Angeles.  Nielsen was in the horror film, Sea Fever (2019).  She returns as Hippolyta in Wonder Woman 1984!  Happy Birthday Connie Nielsen!  

#ConnieNielsen, #Gladiator, #IAmtheNight, #WonderWoman1984

Happy Birthday Margot Robbie!

Happy Birthday Margot Robbie!  The first film of Margot Robbie was the Australian independent film, Vigilante (2008).  She starred as Donna Brown on the well known soap opera Neighbours (2008-2011).  Robbie started in the U.S. with the drama series, Pan Am (2011-2012), playing Laura Cameron.  She played Charlotte in About Time (2013) before breaking out in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).  Ann Burden, the lead wandering the post-apocalyptic world of Z for Zachariah (2015) was played by Robbie, based on the Robert O’Brien novel set in an apocalyptic world.  

Margot Robbie had a lead role in Focus (2015) with co-star Will Smith.  Next, she was Jane Clayton in The Legend of Tarzan (2016) directed by David Yates.  Another break out role was as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad (2016).  She had award attention with her lead in the biopic, I, Tonya. (2017).  Robbie played the mother, Daphne Milne, in the drama, Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017).  Next, she played Queen Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots (2018).  Robbie  plays actress Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019). This year, Robbie returned as Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)!  Happy Birthday Margot Robbie!  

#MargotRobbie, #TheWolfofWallStreet, #OnceUponaTimeinHollywood, #BirdsofPrey

Happy Birthday Liv Tyler!

Happy Birthday Liv Tyler!  She started out as a model and on her father, Steven Tyler’s Aerosmith, music videos, before getting the lead role of Corey Mason in Empire Records (1995). Lucy Harmon, the young American woman in Italy, was played by Liv Tyler in  Bernardo Bertolucci’s Stealing Beauty (1996).  Then, she played Faye Dolan in Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do! (1996).  She had a genre role in the sci fi action film Armageddon (1998) playing the love interest of Ben Affleck.  In 2001, Tyler had the part of Arwen in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).  She finished the trilogy with The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). 

Liv Tyler was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations in 2003.  Tyler co-starred with Ben Affleck in Jersey Girl (2004) directed by Kevin Smith.  She played Betty Ross in The Incredible Hulk (2008).  Then, was in the comedy Super (2010).  Tyler was then in the comedy Robot & Frank (2012).  She was in the 70’s style sci fi comedy, Space Station 76 (2014).  Tyler played Meg Abbott in the tv series The Leftovers (2014-2017) dealing with the mysterious disappearance of some of the global population.  Tyler starred in the horror film Wilding (2016) which she also produced.  She was in the Gunpowder (2017) mini-series about Guy Fawkes.  Tyler was in the sci fi movie, Ad Astra (2019).  Recently, she stars as Michelle Blake, a paramedic in the series, 9-1-1: Lone Star.  Happy Birthday Liv Tyler!    

#LivTyler, #EmpireRecords, #FellowshipoftheRing, #AdAstra 

Happy Birthday Ray Harryhausen!

Happy Birthday Ray Harryhausen!  He was inspired by King Kong (1933) and worked with stop motion pioneer from that film, Willis O’Brien, on Mighty Joe Young (1949).  Harryhausen worked on his own technique called Dynamation which integrated live action with his stop motion work in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953).  The story was based on Ray Bradbury's "The Fog Horn" and they had a life long friendship.  Harryhausen began a long time partnership with producer Charles H. Schneer with It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955).  His next movie spun off the alien invasion films with Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956).  Harryhausen ventured into the realms of fantasy and the Land Beyond Beyond in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958).  He made creatures like the cyclops and the dragon into living, breathing animals.  It stands as my favorite Harryhausen film.  A film that has the wonder of Jonathan Swift's novel was The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960).  Another favorite Harryhausen movie was Mysterious Island (1961) which had a group of Civil War soldiers stranded on an island filled with a giant crab and giant bees.

Statue of Ray Harryhausen at Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters exhibit, 2016, photo by the author.

A fan favorite of Harryhausen’s films is Jason and the Argonauts (1963).  The skeleton fight at the end is one of the best special effects sequences.  First Men in the Moon (1964) based on the H.G. Wells 1901 novel which also inspired A Trip to the Moon (1902).  One Million Years B.C. (1966) is a classic for Raquel Welch’s fur bikini alone with cavemen battling dinosaurs. Then, there was The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977).  Harryhausen’s final film was Clash of the Titans (1981).  Superior to the CG remake, it has the beauty of the Pegasus and a terrifying Medusa, I saw at a Harryhausen exhibit that the model has tiny threads of red hair which I didn’t see on film!  Ray Harryhausen appeared with the actress from his Mighty Joe Young, Terry Moore, in the 1988 remake.  He received the George E. Sawyer Award at the 1992 Academy Awards.  Harryhausen wrote Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life (2010) and The Art of Ray Harryhausen (2006).  Ray Harryhausen died in 2013, but his work continues with the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, his films, and museum exhibits.  Happy Birthday Ray Harryhausen!

#RayHarryhausen, #MightyJoeYoung, #The7thVoyageofSinbad, #JasonandtheArgonauts, #OneMillionYearsBC, #ClashoftheTitans

Re:tro Re:view: The Princess and the Frog!

The Princess and the Frog (2009) has beauty being the last Disney cel animated film, but also in its songs and setting! At the time, El Capitan Theatre was still playing the CG film, A Christmas Carol (2009), so the other choice was to see the film at Disney Studios. This was my first time at Disney Studios and it was an opportunity not to be passed up. The film was directed by the duo of Ron Clements and John Musker who both worked on Treasure Planet (2002) and The Little Mermaid (1989). They also share story and screenplay credits.  

The story was also worked on by Greg Erb who also co-wrote the comedy Senseless (1998) and Jason Oremland.  The screenplay was also co-written by Rob Edwards who also co-wrote Treasure Planet and there is credit to E.D. Baker’s novel The Frog Princess (2002), but this is a departure from that book.  Tiana as a princess has over the years become one of my favorites.  I think it may be the meet and greets at the Disney parks, but I've always found Tiana to be interesting to talk to about Cajun food instead of just events from the movie. 

The film also has jazz influenced music from composer Randy Newman who previously worked on Pixar films and also worked on the songs in the movie. It begins with the evening star,  we hear Rose sing “Down in New Orleans”, fireflies float around the star, bringing us to New Orleans at night. There is the elaborate house with a single light in the tower, we follow the fireflies and peek inside which has a very pink room. Two girls are being told the story of the Frog Prince, Charlotte (Breanna Brooks) is in her princess costume, Tiana (Elizabeth Dampier) is in her green dress with a crown. The storyteller is Eudora (Oprah Winfrey), Tiana’s mother. 

She gets to the kissing part which excites the girl and repulses Tiana. They are joined by Charlotte’s father, Eli “Big Daddy” La Bouff (John Goodman). The beloved actor is also well known as Sully in Monsters, Inc. (2001). Big Daddy is interesting, he is wealthy, but goes to a small cafe to have Tiana's beignets. He gives in to his daughter’s princess dress demands which Eudora is happy to fulfill.  Eudora takes her daughter home using the streetcar to get to more modest homes.  Inside, Tiana is cooking gumbo with her father, James (Terrence Howard) ready to try it.  Howard played James Rhodes in the first Iron Man (2008).  

All of the family loves her gumbo which she shares with all of the neighbors. James and Tiana have a dream to open her restaurant, Tiana’s Place. She makes a wish with the evening star, but screams at the croaking of a frog. It is day when an older Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) enters her room, tired from her day of working at a restaurant. Rose is known for her part in Dreamgirls (2006) and extensive Broadway work. She sees a photo of her father as a soldier so we get the idea that he died in World War I. Then, she has to wake up early to rush off to her other job at Duke’s Cafe, 

Tiana doesn’t seem to be interested in jazz musicians. They are the heart of New Orleans. I went to New Orleans in 2012. It is the most beautiful and interesting American city. We also see there a card game played by Dr. Facilier who is later interested in Big Daddy driving past. Big Daddy is reading in the newspaper about the arrival of Prince Naveen. We see Prince Naveen slide down the rails of a boat to the delight of all of the ladies. Still, Naveen is fascinated by the street musicians and goes to play with his ukulele. He passes by Tiana who is not impressed. Tiana takes care of all of the customers including her friend Georgia who notes that it is Mardi Gras.  

She is mocked by her boss and chef, Buford (Michael Colyar), for her dream of owning a restaurant.  Tiana greets Big Daddy and congratulates him on being King of Mardi Gras. She brings him some beignets. This is the part that doesn’t make sense. Big Daddy loves Tiana’s beignets, Tiana wants to own her restaurant to serve the beignets, so never does Big Daddy realize he could invest in Tiana’s restaurant? The older Charlotte (Jennifer Cody) joins Big Daddy enthralled of the visit by Prince Naveen of Maldonia. He can’t get a word in with Caroline’s excitement that Big Daddy invited Prince Naveen to their masquerade. It is strange that neither Caroline or Big Daddy met Prince Naveen when he arrived by ship.  

Caroline thinks she can win Naveen’s affection with Tiana’s beignets and gives her a pile of money. This will make Tiana’s dream come true much to the slack jaw of Buford. Overhearing this is Dr. Facilier. At an abandoned sugar mill, Tiana is excited to sign the papers for the Fenner Brothers to buy the property, she is met by her mother entering the building. Interesting connection, so Big Daddy is a sugar baron so he would be responsible for putting the sugar mill out of business. Tiana has dreams of what the restaurant could be, singing “Almost There”, it shifts to her dream restaurant with the stylizing of a jazz poster. 

We shift to Naveen (Bruno Campos) playing with street musicians. Campos was in the comedy series Royal Pains. Naveen is the most fun of the Disney princes. The harried servant, Lawrence (Peter Bartlett), is surprised to see the prince dancing. He seems to be in the vein of the hard working, but in the way servant similar to Nathaniel in Enchanted (2007). Dr. Facilier (Keith David) appears before them, a slick con man, but threatening. David is of course well known for the providing the voice of Goliath in the Gargoyles animated series. Dr. Facilier is one of the best Disney villains.  

He takes Naveen and Lawrence through the alleys to his Voodoo Emporium. Dr. Facilier reads Naveen’s cards saying that his parents are cutting off his wild spending, Naveen just shrugs, and Facilier gets Naveen to agree to a show stopping Transformation Ritual! At the masquerade, Tiana is working on her beignets, Charlotte in her formal dress is nervous. Prince Naveen arrives and Charlotte takes him in a dance. Tiana finds that another bidder has taken the sugar mill from the Fenner Brothers. Charlotte takes Tiana who has fallen to get cleaned up.  She comes out in her princess dress.  

Still, she is desperate for her restaurant and goes to the balcony to make a wish. There is a frog and now talks as Prince Naveen! He takes some bashing, funny, and realizes that her book, he calls the Froggy Prince, gives the answer. Naveen of course has the answer a kiss from Tiana. She is repulsed, but manages to give him a kiss, which instead transforms her into a frog! They end up in the middle of the masquerade and Big Daddy sends his dog, Stella, after them. The duo manages to escape on some balloons. Dr. Facilier sees their escape, the Naveen at the party is the transformed Lawrence, he wears the amulet that keeps the Naveen appearance. 

This display of Princess Tiana's dress was at Disney Studios, 2010, photo by the author. 

The two conspire together to get Lawrence married to Charlotte. At the rainy night, the balloons bring Tiana and Naveen to the bayou, where they have to escape fish, a stork, and alligators! They end up in a tree stump. The next day, they are on a raft of wood. Naveen’s spider-web ukulele made from a branch playing brings the attention of another alligator, Louis, who has ambitions to be a trumpet player on a riverboat. He finds that they are under a voodoo spell and Louis brings up Mama Odie, Voodoo Queen of the Bayou. Still, Louis is frightened of the dangers of the deepest part of the bayou.  

Naveen convinces Louis to be transformed so he can play for audiences. Louis sings with Naveen and the spoiled prince is chastised by Tiana. At the mansion, Charlotte is dining with Naveen, but he starts to revert back to Lawrence just before he is able to get a proposal to Charlotte. Dr. Facilier makes a deal with the shadowy spirits to hunt after the frog and get more of Naveen’s blood for the amulet in exchange for his plan to take over New Orleans! At the swamp, Naveen tries out his fly catching tongue, and Tiana is also drawn to a firefly looking up at the sky. They get tongue tied and then helped out by the firefly, Ray, voiced by Jim Cummings. The veteran voice actor brings charm to every role he plays. Ray knows the way to Mama Odie.  

Naveen is unable to cut a mushroom for Tiana’s bayou gumbo. He admits that he has no practical skills which is questionable. One that his music and dancing ability is seen as a hobby and not a profession by everyone. Two that Naveen is somehow not independent though he has decided on going to New Orleans with only Lawrence to help him. This becomes interrupted with the hunters, a funny scene, but more of a gag. A contrivance for jokes rather than building on the heroes journey for Mama Odie which they believe will solve their problems. For some reason, I keep thinking of The Wiz (1978) with companions picked up along the way, Louis and Ray, who also need something from Mama Odie. She is played by Jenifer Lewis who voiced Flo in Cars (2006).  The Princess and the Frog has a talented voice cast, a memorable prince and villain, plus some good songs! Ashidanza! 

Four Fireflies out of Five!  

#ThePrincessandtheFrog, #RonClements, #JohnMusker, #AnikaNoniRose, #BrunoCampos, #KeithDavid 

Strolling through the (Theme) Park One Day: Mission: SPACE!

It is so awesome to see a return to astronaut space missions by Space X from Cape Canaveral on May 30th.  I will say that it was on my bucket list to take a trip to outer space.  I not only fulfilled it, but went to Mars.  So imagine this all leads to Mission to Mars which was at Tomorrowland until 1992.  This attraction is located at the Alien Pizza Planet location and I would have liked that dated attraction than the pizza that is served.  I took the attraction for granted and really didn’t take photos.  Similar to Journey to Inner Space.  You enter Mission Control which had a room of control panels and the flight director, Mr. Johnson, an Audio-Animatronic figure which again is a marvel of technology, but as a kid, I went get on with the ride!  There is a little comic moment with an intruder alert from a clumsy bird.  Then, you get to the ride itself, a circular theater, several rows, with a panels above and below.  There are also large screens with technical information.  

Mission:SPACE, EPCOT, 2010, photo by the author.

You get narration by Third Officer Collins.  You see the rocket blast on the lower screen, feel the rumble, and see the blue sky of your destination.  Then, you lose booster engines and then get ready for a hyperspace jump so you can make the journey in seconds.  Collins explains the details of the mission as you make your space travel.  You are headed to Mars Acquistion Velocity and head into hyperspace.  This makes a surreal light show and whirring sound.  Then, you get a view of Mars, courtesy of the Imagineers.  Next, two camera drones are sent to the Mars surface.  You are shown some features of Mars like Mariner Valley and then a view of the camera drone showing a rift.  Then, a view of Olympus Mon with the camera drone exploring it.  Then, Collins is interrupted by the camera drone hit by meteorites, it is an emergency as your ship is hit by meteorites so it is back into a surreal hyperspace to return to Earth.  Some videos exist for the attraction.  

In WDW, it was replaced by ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, which had an alien creature transported to a tube.  Lights turn out and then you are sprayed with “blood”, it wasn’t a fun attraction.  This closed in 2003 and then there was Stitch’s Great Escape which had you enter the Galactic Federation Prisoner Teleport Center.  There is another Audio-Animatronic scene with a Sergeant and Skippy from the previous attraction.  You enter the  prisoner teleportation chamber, theater, and then Stitch of course runs amok in the theater.  Stitch spit is more fun than “blood.”  Next, Stitch is seen escaping into the park!  The area is still up, but the ride is inconsistently open and will most likely be closed.  So let’s head over to EPCOT, head to Future World East, and it is next to Test Track.  The attraction replaced the former Horizons.  The outside of the attraction features sytlized arcs, flowers, and the X-2 Deep Space Shuttle hurtling from Earth to the large globe of Mars.  

X-2 Capsule, Mission: SPACE, photo by the author.

The cast member outside asks you if you want the Green, less intense ride, or the Orange, more intense ride.  I don’t try the intense rollercoasters, but you don’t go halfway if you are going to outer space.  I said Orange all the way and took the Orange Mission pass which has the warnings.  You enter the ISTC, International Space Training Center, which has a replica of the ride vehicle, the capsule that contains the riders.  There is also a model of larger X-1 spacecraft and a lunar rover hanging overhead.  Next to it is a massive, spinning gravity wheel from the X-1.  There is a control station that looks like Mission to Mars.  Where is Mr. Johnson?  Once you hand your pass, there is a wall of astronaut suits, and you are given your crew assignments.  There is Navigator, Pilot, Commander, and Engineer.  This is of course similar to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run.  I usually got Engineer.  The mission is explained by Capcom, this was Gary Sinese, which was cool since he was in Apollo 13 (1995).  Now, it is Gina Torres, who is Zoe in Firefly, I would have liked both actors in the two sections.    

She shows you the X-2 space shuttle which uses “solid hydrogen” fuel, next the crew positions are shown, and she notes that you have to work as a team.  This is similar to the Falcon ride, you need to activate certain buttons, but if a position is missing, the action will be taken automatically.  A video shows you the curved hallway with the position and numbers.  The video shows the X-2 Flight Simulators and the narrator explains the “turblence and g-forces.”  Once you find your crew position, another video gives the warning,  Capcom explains that your objective is to reach Dallas Marinaras on Mars.  The trajectory uses a slingshot around the Moon for a “lunar gravity assist”, the trip takes three months, during which you are put in hypersleep.  This is more reasonable than the hyperspace jump.  The next video shows you how to enter the simulator and prepare for the ride including bringing down the restraint.  The narrator says that you should lean back and always keep your eyes open or you will be disoriented.  This is the only ride where there is motion sickness bags for sick riders.   

Astronaut suits, Mission:SPACE, photo by the author.

  

The door opens and you enter the simulator, there are two simulators side by side, and the two hatches are closed by the cast members.  There are four panels that show the status of the X-2.  Capcom tells you that there are two tasks you are responsible for, Engineer gets to activate Hypersleep and extend the ship’s wings for descent.  You see the camera move from the launch pad to the launch rail and the sky and clouds above.  Mission control reports main engine start, you see the blast and then feel the G-forces crushing you in your seat!  It is the best sensation in any ride.  You pass through the clouds and then reach outer space!  The Commander activates second stage separtation and then you get Zero-g.  This is another novel sensation, you feel light, I don’t feel spinning or see it from the simulator.  It is awesome to see the Earth spinning below you and then passing the International Space Station.  Navigator fires the rockets to orbit around the Moon.  Then, you get a good look at our Earth, before the good ol’ Engineer activates hypersleep.  The screen is covered with ice.  Everything turns to black.  

Then, an alarm wakes everyone up, there is Mars before you, but there is a meteor storm!  Pilot hits the shields, maneuvering through the meteors is something out of Empire Strikes Back!, once clear you see the surface of Mars and Navigator hits rockets for descent.  This is a fast descent, an impressive visual I haven’t seen in sci fi planetary landings, and Engineer gets to activate the wings for gliding.  You reach the canyons and there is another alarm that auto pilot has failed!  Commander has to hit manual control and everyone has a control stick to guide the X-2 from hitting the canyon walls!  It is an intense Top Gun-ride through the canyon with Capcom telling you what direction to move the control stick.  You reach the crater and snow-slicked landing strip of Dallas Marianas.  It is not an easy landing since you are at an incredible acceleration!  This is duplicated in Star Tours.  The snow collapses and you get a peek at the bottom of the crater!  Capcom and all of the ISTC personnel clap for your accomplishment and welcomes you to Mars!  At the exit of the attraction is the Advanced Training Lab, computer stations for young ones to become astronauts.  I exited Mission:SPACE and immediately returned to take another trip, the cast member handing out passes was stunned that I was up for another intense trip!  The attraction is an opportunity to be on the Demo-2 mission and even beyond to Mars!         

#MissionSPACE, #Epcot, #MissiontoMars, #GinaTorres 

Happy Birthday Nicole Kidman!

Happy Birthday Nicole Kidman!  She worked in tv and had the lead in the horror film, Dead Calm (1989) and then played Dr. Claire Lewicki in Tony Scott’s Days of Thunder (1990).  Kidman was also in the Batman Forever (1995) as Dr. Chase Meridian.  Then, she played a witch in Practical Magic (1998).  A standout part was as Satine in the Baz Lurhmann musical, Moulin Rouge (2001)!  Kidman entered the haunted house of The Others (2001). In 2002, Nicole Kidman won the Academy Award for Best Actress playing Virginia Woolf in The Hours.  Then, she starred in the Frank Oz remake of The Stepford Wives (2004) trying to uncover the strange secret of the town and the wives.  Kidman returned to playing a witch in Nora Ephron’s adaptation of the sitcom, Bewitched (2005). 

Nicole Kidman returned to a singing part as Norma Jean in George Miller’s animated Happy Feet (2006).  Next, she played a psychiatrist trying to fight The Invasion (2007). She was Mrs. Coulter in the fantasy The Golden Compass (2007).  Kidman played the villainous taxidermist in Paddington (2014).  She played Miss Martha in the remake of the drama The Beguiled (2017). Kidman was Celeste Wright in the Big Little Lies series.  She won the 2017 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for the show.  In 2018, Kidman played Queen Boadicea in the sci fi comedy How to Talk to Girls at Parties based on the Neil Gaiman story. She also played Queen Atlanna, the mother of Aquaman (2018)!   Kidman played Gretchen Carlson in Bombshell (2019).  She is in the drama The Undoing from David E. Kelley. Happy Birthday Nicole Kidman!   

#NicoleKidman, #MoulinRouge, #Aquaman, #TheUndoing