Happy Birthday Mark Hamill!

A very happy birthday to Jedi Master and Clown Prince of Crime, Mark Hamill!  One of his first movies and early voice actor roles was Sean in the animated movie, Wizards (1977).  The same year was also his iconic part as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars (1977).  The following year, he was Kenneth W. Dantley Jr. in the comedy Corvette Summer (1978).  Hamill also returned in time for Life Day in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978).  He trained as a Jedi to face Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back (1980).  The Star Wars trilogy finished with Luke Skywalker finally becoming a Jedi in Return of the Jedi (1983).  The bounty hunter, Tasker, was played by Hamill in the sci fi movie, Slipstream (1989).  He entered the superhero world playing the Trickster in The Flash (1991).  Another iconic role and well loved role was Hamill playing the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1994).  

Also in 1994, he played Colonel Christopher Blair in the computer game, Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger.  He voiced the younger Blair in the animated series, Wing Commander Academy (1996).  Hamill also co-created comic book series, The Black Pearl, published by Dark Horse Comics.  He starred in the Watchers 4 (1998) based on the Dean Koontz book.  Merlin was voiced by Hamill in the live action Wing Commander (1999) movie.  Next, he directed and was featured in Comic Book: The Movie (2004) filmed at San Diego Comic Con.  Hamill voiced Fire Lord Ozal in Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008).  Darth Bane was voiced by Hamill in the Clone Wars episode, “Sacrifice” (2014). He returned as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015).  Hamill also returned as The Joker in the animated film, Batman: The Killing Joke (2016).  He was back as the Trickster on the CW show, The Flash (2015-2016).  Then, Hamill took up the Jedi robes in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).  

One of Mark Hamill’s best voice roles was playing himself, The Joker, Trickster, and Swamp Thing in “Missing the Mark” (2017) episode of Justice League Action.  Hamill voiced Luke Skywalker in the animated Star Wars: Forces of Destiny (2018).  He also voiced Old Air in the animated series Kulipari: An Army of Frog.  Also, voicing Dictatious in Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia.  Hamill appeared as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode IX (2019).  He played Master Talus in the Knights Templar series Knightfall (2019). The Scientist was voiced by Hamill in Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019). He is a sensation as Jim the Vampire in What We Do in the Shadows episode “One the Run” (2020).  Luke Skywalker was again played by Hamill in “The Rescue” (2020) episode of The Mandalorian. Hamill voices Art Rosebaum in the animated series, Invincible.  Also, another return of Jedi Master Skywalker in The Book of Boba Fett episode, “From the Desert Comes a Stranger” (2022).  Merv Pumpkinhead is voiced by Hamill in The Sandman series.  Happy Birthday Mark Hamill!   

#MarkHamill, #Wizards, #StarWars, #CorvetteSummer, #TheStarWarsHolidaySpecial, #TheFlash, #BatmanTheAnimatedSeries, #TheBlckPearl, #WingCommander, #ComicBookTheMovie, #Knightfall, #DarkCrystalAgeOfResistance, #WhatWeDoInTheShadows, #TheMandalorian, #TheSandman

Rings of Power, “The Great Wave”, Part 2, Review!

 “The Great Wave” episode is so packed with important story points, it requires an in-depth look, Elrond hands back to Durin the mithril, but is told he can keep it for their friendship.  The ground starts to rumble and there is a cave collapse, Durin races to help his fellow Dwarf miners.  Eärien is sketching a Númenorean doorway and then is called to bring drinks and wash floors.  She turns and splashes a bucket on Kemen, stalker!, he was lurking near her.  Kemen tells her that he will scrub the floors while she can work on the goblets. Eärien smiles at his comment.  At the prison, Galadriel paces, Halbrand tells her that she should understand her opponent’s fear.  Then, help the opponents with their fears.  Halbrand says her demands didn’t interest the queen regent at all.  He probes further until Galadriel mentions that she was imprisoned when she wanted to see Tar-Palantir, her father.  

Chancellor Pharazôn arrives with Míriel’s decision.  He tells Galadriel that she will be taken under armed guard to the Elves.  Her cell is opened with several armored guards ready to accompany her.  Before the guard can bind her, Galadriel lashes out and puts the guards in the cell.  Pharazôn is about to draw his sword, but is warned by Halbrand. Eärien walks over to her brother, Isildur, to tell him that she had a dinner, the agreement she made with Kemen.  Isildur tells her that he and his cadet friends were expelled.  There is a beautiful mural on the wall behind them.  They are disturbed by guards searching for Galadriel.  Night, she has broken into the tower with the sleeping Tar-Palantir (Ken Blackburn), Míriel is there, and Galadriel wonders how she knew she would go to the tower.  The king coughs and wakes up.  

Galadriel asks Míriel why she doesn’t share her father’s loyalty to the Elves.  Míriel says that on his coronation, Tar-Palantir thought they were all disrespecting the Valar.  The people replaced him with Míriel as she walks into a chamber with something hidden under a cloth!  The Queen Regent was taken there by her father and reveals the palantíri, the Seeing Stones, that later corrupted Saruman and Theoden!  Galadriel is warned, but still touches the globe which seems to shatter, great effect!, and we see her in the same vision as Míriel.  This repels her and the queen regent tells Galadriel that she has seen the future of Númenor!  Míriel says the first sign was Galadriel’s arrival, taking Halbrand’s advice, Galadriel says that she is acting out of fear.  She says that Númenor should ally with the Elves again, of course this is what is leading to the island’s downfall, but the queen regent rejects the sound advice.  

At the Southland watch tower, Bronwyn is told that there is no more game in the forests.  Rowan has arrived with his cart of supplies. Bronwyn asks about Theo, but Rowan lies that he was “right behind” him.  In the well, Theo hears that the Orcs have given up their search for him, he climbs out and tries to sneak past them.  Theo grabs a bag of flour and limps past the Orcs.  Vrath finds him and lifts up his sword, but he is killed.  This is by Arondir!  They run in the forest chased by the Orcs, Arondir pushes Theo down, and then catches an Orc arrow to return it to the archer!  Theo starts to makes his run, looking up he sees his mother, Bronwyn!  They make it to the clearing now lit by the morning sun.  Arondir has his sword ready as the sunlight repels the Orcs!  At the Misty Mountains, Disa is singing as other Dwarves look up in a ceremony, she later explains to Elrond that it was asking the mountain to release the miners.  

Durin IV enters saying that all of the miners were saved, but his father sealed off the cave. Elrond tells him that his father, Eärendil, sailed to Valinor to get the Valar to fight in the war against Morgoth. He wonders if his father who carries the Evening Star, a Silmaril, would look down and be disappointed in him.  Wow, this conversation is so deep for Durin.  Disa asks for how they met, Durin says he saved his friend from two trolls, Elrond corrects Durin that he had saved him from three trolls!  Always funny scenes with Dwarves!  Durin goes to apologize to his father, Durin III, and is told when a king is crowned all of the past kings give advice.  Durin III tells his son he is there for him even in anger.  A powerful reconciliation between father and son!  Durin IV says that he was been invited by Elrond to Lindon, which we saw in the first episodes.  His father asks what Durin IV’s intuition tells him and he replies that there is something more to the Elves.  Durin III sends him to Lindon.  

At the guard tower, Bronwyn thanks Arondir, he tells her the message that the Southlands have to give up any rights to the land and swear loyalty to Adar.  The Orcs will come to Ostirith if they refuse!  The couple look down at the refugee people.  Waldreg says Theo stole the hilt from his barn.  He shows his mark and then Theo shows his scar from the sword.  Waldreg says it was from Sauron!  Adar is given a report about the sword now in the tower!  In the morning, many Númenoreans watch as Galadriel is taken to a boat with soldiers.  Pharazôn leads Míriel to make her announcement at the courtyard, she sees the leaves of the White Tree, I guess she “chose poorly”!  It is flowing throughout the city.  Míriel gives her speech and then says she will escort Galadriel, who enters to stand beside her, back to fight with the humans in the Southlands.  Pharazôn says the ships will leave in ten days.  Elendil declares that the ships will have crews that represent all of Númenor.  The crowd is silent, but Ontamo and his friends, including Isildur volunteer.  This spreads to others and Eärien looks on.  We have reached the mid-season point of Rings of Power, the fate of Númenor and its survivors are clear, and some powerful scenes with Elrond, Disa, and Durin IV!   

Five Rings of Power out of Five!  

#RingsOfPower, #TheGreatWave, #MorfyddClark, #CharlieVickers, #LloydOwen, #MaximBaldry, #EmaHorvath, #TrystanGravelle, #LeonWadham, #KenBlackburn, #CynthiaAddaiRobinson, #RobertAramayo, #OwainArthur, #SophiaNomvete, #PeterMullan, #IsmaelCruzCordova, #NazaninBoniadi, #TyroeMauhafidin, #IanBackburn,#JosephMawle, #JedBrophy, #GeoffMorrell 

Happy Birthday Anthony Mackie!

Let’s give a happy birthday cheer for Anthony Mackie!  One of his first film roles was Papa Doc, who has rival to Eminem’s B-Rabbit in 8-Mile (2002).  He played Joker in the action comedy, Hollywood Homicide (2003).  The boxing drama, starred Mackie as Shawrele Berry in Million Dollar Baby (2004).  A football player who did not make the fateful flight, Nate Ruffin, was played by Mackie in We Are Marshall (2006).  Mackie played Sergeant JT Sanborn alongside Jeremy Renner in the war drama, The Hurt Locker (2008).  Notorious (2009), the bio drama, featured Mackie as Tupac Shakur.  Mackie entered genre films with the sci fi Philip K. Dick adaptation, The Adjustment Bureau (2011).  He was also in another sci fi movie, Real Steel (2011), playing Finn.  Mackie continued in action films playing Wil Johnson who fights alongside Abraham Lincoln: Hunter (2012).  

Anthony Mackie entered the MCU as Sam Wilson, The Falcon, in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).  He fought with the Avengers in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).  Also, having a cameo as the character in Ant-Man (2015).  Mackie was also in the comedy, The Night Before (2015).  He was again The Falcon in Captain America: Civil War (2016).  He starred as Martin Luther King, Jr. in the television bio drama, All the Way (2016).  Mackie returned as The Falcon in Avengers: Infinity War (2018). He was in the drama, The Hate U Give (2018)  baseed on the novel by Angie Thomas.  Mackie finished the threat of Thanos in Avengers: Endgame (2019).  He starred in the Black Mirror episode, “Striking Vipers” (2019) as Danny.  In the sci fi series, Altered Carbon (2020), Mackie played Takeshi Kovacs.  He put on his Falcon wings in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) and at the end took up the shield as Captain America!  He has upcoming the comedy video game series adaptation, Twisted Metal and the lead in Captain America: New World Order! 

#AnthonyMackie, #8Mile, #MillionDollarBaby, #WeAreMarshall, #TheHurtLocker, #Notorious, #TheAdjustmentBureau, #AbrahamLincolnVampireHunter, #CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier, #AllTheWAy, #TheHateUGive, #AvengersEndgame, #AlteredCarbon, #TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier, #TwistedMetal, #CaptainAmericaNewWorldOrder 

She-Hulk, “Just Jen”, Review!

She-Hulk's latest ep struggles with comedy, but we still have the performance of Tatiana Maslany to keep things going!  Re:cap - Jen realized that her dating profile is evidence that she had used the name She-Hulk before Titania’s trademark!  Mallory Book shows her profile, her four dates are her witnesses, Jen slips in her chair at the embarrassment.  Cornelius boosts about his date with She-Hulk, he brings up that he wouldn’t date Jen Walters.  The judge rules in favor of Jen and recalls all of Titania’s cheap products.  Titania tells She-Hulk that they are not finished.  One of the dates follows Titania.  Outside of the courtroom, Mallory says Jen could do better.  Jen asks her to go for drinks.  They laugh, but Jen crosses the line saying she is friends with Mallory.  She-Hulk heads over to see Luke who gives her one to try on and gives her something extra. Luke takes a box and sets it in the back, the helmet of Daredevil!  In the credit scene we see Titania’s She Hulk Booty Boost tried by Holden Holliway! Pug is happy with his Iron Man 3 shoe.  

Jen is opening a box with her name on a label, it bursts open party-style with a horn, and she sees a “Will You Be My Bridesmaid” card.  It pours out confetti and the card reads, “Duh! Of course you will!” from her friend Lulu from high school.  Nikki really wants to see the supersuit.  Jen shows she the Luke Jacobsen dress that she is eager to wear at the wedding.  She explains that she doesn’t talk to Julie, but just goes along with being a bridesmaid.  Jen breaks the Fourth Wall saying it’s a wedding episode.  She Hulk steps out and walks in her blue, spotted Luke Jacobson dress.  The circle of friends is impressed by She Hulk except Lulu. She is taken aside and Lulu doesn’t want Jen to be She Hulk.  If that is the case, why invite her?  Lulu keeps repeating for her to promise to show up as Jen.  She Hulk addresses the camera that she wanted to show up as She Hulk, not “Just Jen” which we see in the title!  As Just Jen, Lulu notes the pairing up of bridesmaids, and notes that Jen will be accompanied by Jonathan who the others gush over, warning!  

Nikki shows up at Mallory Book’s office where she talking with client, Craig Hollis, who calls himself, Mr. Immortal (David Pasquesi).  She is helping with his divorce case and he explains he didn’t want to talk with his wife, so walked out into traffic, Hollis is Mr. Immortal.  He kind of dies, maybe you could say “mostly dead”, but revives with his power.  Nikki and Mallory start to argue about his strategy to end his marriage.  Mr. Immortal stands up and then leaps out of the building window.  Mallory and Nikki look down the window, Mr. Immortal has crashed into a tiny security car, and shrugs it off.  At a party, Lulu asks Jen what is happening with her, very dense with the trials and news about She Hulk.  She asks about her dating life, but then Titania arrives.  Jen should just leave, this is already a boring party.   Titania says she is dating a friend of the groom.  Frustrated, Jen goes outside to a couch where she is joined by Josh (Trevor Salter). Lulu walks over to them and says the most of the staff quit and she wants Jen to clean up.  

It is obvious that Lulu is jealous of Jen’s attention and is really trying to show her up maybe with Titania’s help.  She doesn’t really have a stake in this wedding, is uncomfortable, she should just leave with Josh.  The next day, Mallory, Mr. Immortal, and Nikki hear all of the funds owed to his spouses.  A woman says she learned about Mr. Immortal’s supposed deaths from the site, Intelligencia. The trio turns their chairs, Mallory says there should be criminal charges, Mr. Immortal makes his excuses. She says she will take the case to get the best deal, but he will have to pay.  Mr. Immortal notes that she is smiling. The evil bridesmaids have another task for Jen, the groomsmen are playing Mario Kart so she has to iron their shirts.  Then, Lulu brings her groomsman, a dog.  Jen should Hulk out and throw the wedding party into the sky!  The Mean Girls treatment is not funny here. At the law firm, Mr. Immortal says he will use his Apple shares from 1981 and fortune from his first wife to give them equal payments.  They start to argue about their time and children with Mr. Immortal.  

Back at the so called wedding, Jen drops money at the cash bar, I think the others get drinks for free, and starts dancing.  Return to the law firm, Nikki has worked out deals with all of the spouses.  Mr. Immortal doesn’t accept the terms.  Mallory compliments Nikki on her deal making.  At the party, a very drunk Jen leaves a message for Bruce, Josh joins her.  She wants to show him her She Hulk side, but he likes her as Jen.  Then, she is overcome with the drink and goes outside, she is consoled by Titania who punches her!  Jen tries to fight Titania, but she is too drunk. Titania goads her, but somehow Jen forgot how to transform!  Her double vision turns to just one Titania and she slams her green leg down to send Titania flying into the party!  Josh is impressed.  The dj announces the wedding fight as the two super powers start brawling.  The wedding party is taking cell phone video of the bashed up Titania who starts to run forward, trips on some ice, and slams her face on the floor!  She stands up with smeared eye shadow and jagged teeth.  Lulu sees her and is happy that She Hulk is at her wedding for some reason.  A not too funny episode A & B story, but I do like the She Hulk fight.  

Three Cheetos Chopsticks out of Five!          

#SheHulk, #TatianaMaslany, #GingerGonzaga, #JameelaJamil, #ReneeEliseGoldsberry, #DavidPasquesi, #TrevorSalter, #PattiHarrison. 

House of the Dragon, “We Light the Way”, Review!

House of the Dragon's "We Light the Way" changes the political landscape and brings closer to the Dance of the Dragons!  Re:cap - “King of the Narrow Sea”, late at night after Viserys leaves Alicent, Lord Hightower brings him to see a messenger. They see the boy who has the White Worm’s message.  In the morning, Daemon wakes up after the night he almost spent with Rhaenyra, Mysaria is there.  She has given him a room to sleep off his night.  Otto Hightower is alone, contemplating, he enters the king’s room.  He tells Viserys about seeing Rhaenyra and Daemon at the pleasure house.  They were not hiding their identities on purpose as Hightower puts it “coupling.” Viserys wants to know the spy and Hightower adds the servants saw her leave dressed as a page boy. He sees Hightower as a threat to himself. All of the Hightower cards have been played out!  Viserys turns to see Alicent.  Rhaenyra gets a message from the queen delivered by her love, Ser Criston.  The aftermath of a crazy night!  

She walks over to the weirwood grove to see Queen Alicent.  Rhaenyra is asked about her night, where to start?, but Alicent brings up her uncle.  Alicent puts it rather bluntly about what she did.  She also knows about the Targaryen ways.  Rhaenyra pleads innocence, oh that innocence has long since been gone. Alicent says her father was told which Rhaenyra says was from a spy.  Rhaenyra gives the half truth story saying they took in a show, drank, and Daemon left with a woman.  She even adds that she swears on the memory of her mother.  Liar, liar, dress on dragon fire.  Ser Harrold and the Kingsguard take the still drunk Daemon, dragged really, to see the king.   He is dropped before the Iron Throne.  Viserys walks in while Daemon is still on the floor and kicks him.  He wants to know what he has done to his daughter.  Daemon says they visited many brothels when they were younger.  Viserys, this is him truly acting as king, says they were just young men, and Rhaenyra is a girl.  

The king begins to choke him saying that no lord would marry her now, Daemon says that his brother can get them married in the Targaryen tradition. Daemon adds he could have another wife like Aegon the Conqueror, Viserys has a dagger put to his brother’s throat, and realizes that Daemon just wants the throne.  He sends Daemon to the Vale or doesn’t care what he does unless he leaves for good.  Alicent talks with her husband, thinks Rhaenyra has told the truth, and Daemon is known for lies.  Rhaenyra is taken to Viserys’ room by the Kingsguard.  She reaches for the dagger of Aegon the Conqueror, told about it by Viserys, and it also later is the killer of the Night King.  Her father shows her the blade that has the prophecy written on it.  He brings up her “desires”, she counters with the truth, but Viserys that it doesn’t matter only the perception. Viserys says she will marry Ser Laenor Velaryon.  Rhaenyra brings up Otto Hightower, who was pushing for his son, Aegon, to be king and had her spied upon.  She agrees to the marriage with one condition.  Hightower is summoned to the Small Council.  

Viserys brings up that his father died five days after he named Jaehaerys as his Hand. Jaehaerys named Hightower to be his Hand.  Viserys takes away his Hand symbol!  I like that Viserys put together, finally, the manipulations on his own.  Grand Maester Mellos brings Rhaenyra a tea ordered by the king.  It is a morning after tea!  Lady Rhea (Rachel Redford) in armor rides through the hills.  She sees on the road, in a cloak, her husband, Daemon!  She is attractive and assertive, Daemon must fold at strong women.  Rhea brings up the rumors, Daemon silently reaches out, and the horse retreats.  She wonders if he will kill the child, she reaches for her bow, the horse rears and throws her down!  Rhea whimpers as Daemon is about to walk away, she mocks him, and Daemon returns with a large rock!  At sea, a servant brings the sea sick king a bucket, but he waves it away.  Viserys wretches over the side.  The new Hand, Lord Lyonel Strong, tries to help him.  Ser Criston takes Rhaenyra to see the Driftmark!  Castle of House Velaryon.  It is raining, Queen Alicent meets with her father before he leaves. 

 

He faults her for believing Rhaenyra and the queen counters saying that he backed Aegon as heir.  He says the king will likely die (treason!), and if Rhaenyra takes the throne, this will cause war.  Otto says Rhaenyra will have to kill her children.  Not the best farewells by a father.  She cries as he hugs her and then he leaves on his horse.  Viserys is sickly with Rhaenyra in the wagon to the castle.  Leonor and another man (Solly McLeod) are sparring with swords and then the king’s entourage arrives.  Lord Strong wonders at the greeting without Lord Velaryon (and really Princess Rhaenys).  They are greeted by the older Laena Velaryon (Savannah Steyn) whose hair looks more natural than her younger self with the bad wig.  She explains her father has been on a “long journey” and she will take them to the Hall of Nine.  At the bleeding tears of the heartwood tree face, Alicent is there, but interrupted by the ultra creepy Lord Larys Strong.  He pays no homage to the queen who is alone.   Lord Larys, hobbling on his cane, says he has listened to the rumors and offers to be the queen’s ally.  He is no Littlefinger, but seems to know what is going on everywhere, a spy!  Dangerous.  

At the House of Nine, Laena takes away Rhaenyra, Viserys coughs, and on the Driftwood Throne, Lord Corlys meets with the king and the new Hand.  He bows and then Rhaenys enters, it has been a long time seeing these two characters. Corlys gives congradulations to Lord Lyonel, former Master of Laws, for becoming the new Hand.  Lord Coryls and Rhaenys mention the hunting accident of Lady Rhea.  No connection that Daemon was sent there?  They mention that she was known as a horse rider. Viserys brings up the marriage of Rhaenyra and Ser Leonor.  The couple wants to know how Viserys’ heir will work.  He says that when he dies everything passes to his daughter, a heir of the marriage, any gender, love it!, will become the next king or queen.  Corlys mentons that the child may take the father’s name.  Viserys takes his suggestion as the ending of the Targaryens’ rule.  He has another coughing fit.  Then, Viserys declares that the child will have a Velaryon name, but take a Targaryen name becoming ruler.  I think this was already run by the Master of Laws.  On the beach, Rhaenyra walks with Leonor, she cleverly brings up they have different preferences, Leonor favors men, using food analogies!  She tells him that they perform their duties and afterwards go their own way. 

 

                            Rhaenyra’s dress, House of the Dragon: The Targaryen Dynasty exhibit, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, author’s photo.  

Rhaenys says to her husband that they are walking on the beach, he is happy that they will fancy each other, but his wife points out “his true nature.”  Corlys says he will “outgrow it.”  Master of Ships, but that’s about it.  She worries about the situation, but Corlys says that the merging of his fleet and the dragons will destroy any dissent.  Rhaenys denied the throne, still is conditioned that there will be no female ruler.  She says she no longer thinks about it, but you know it haunts her everyday so Rhaenys should ally with Rhaenyra.  Leonor is reassured by his lover, Joffrey Lonmouth. They start wrestling and then kissing, Joffrey offers to be his bodyguard.  This arrangement kinda works out, but this is the world of Game of Thrones, you know it won’t end happily. On board the ship back to King’s Landing, Rhaenyra is looking out to sea, as Ser Criston joins her.  He says she always wanted to be away from all of the burdens of court life, and offers her an escape to Essos!  Rhaenyra would be free to do anything, including marrying him.  I think she has more ambition.  

Rhaenyra tells him of the understanding with Leonor. Poor Ser Criston falls back on his knight’s oath and wants to make good on his family name.  She tries to explain that the Iron Throne is bigger than her, but Ser Criston just walks away.  Alicent watches the return of the king, ha!, but he falls.  The call is made for the Grand Maester.  Ser Criston, now in his Kingsguard armor, walks up steps, but a messager tells him that he is summoned.  It is the queen.  Alicent is trying to eassure her crying child, daughter Helaena, but then hands to the midwife.  Ser Criston sats across from her as she heard rumors of Rhaenyra.  He admits to the sin, Alicent didn’t mention it was him!, he asks not to be gelded, removal of his important part!, and tortured.  Instead, he just wants to die.  Alicent has him leave.  Grand Maester Mellon tells Viserys that he is going to bring the leeches.  Viserys asks Lord Lyonel about the queen and he says that she is busy.  He wonders to the Hand how he will be remembered, he has “no control who lives, who dies, who tells his story.”  Viserys thinks about who he would be if he was tested.  The royal wedding has begun, uh oh, George R R Martin has a serious problem with weddings. "We Light the Way" is a turning point for House of the Dragon and also the departure of actresses Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as their characters grow up into other actresses!   

Four Dragon Saddles out of Five!  

   

#HouseOfTheDragon, #WeLightTheWay, #MillyAlcock, #EmilyCarey, #MattSmith, #PaddyConsidine, #RhysIfans, #SteveToussaint, #EveBest, #TheoNate, #Solly McLeod, #GavinSpokes, #SavannahSteyn, #FabienFrankel,    #RachelRedford,  #MatthewNeedham 

Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva Review!

There are certain films that are pure entertainment with heart warming messages, Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva has these plus superheroes, Indian mythology, and great singing and dancing!  It is written and directed by Ayan Mukerji whose previous film was Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.  This is part of the Astraverse with other movies in this trilogy.  The runtime of the film is two hours and forty-seven minutes and the pacing and characters is perfect so I didn’t notice as much as other movies. 

The beginning has an explosion, the Big Bang?, that has a narrator explain that a group of sages were at the top of the Himalayas and given the divine light, Brahm-Shakti. We see them in illustrated form, very comic book-likeThey are given weapons called Astras; fire, water, wind, and "birds and animals." They are thrown back by a powerful astra, the sages struggle to control it, and then emerged the lord of all Astras, Brahmāstra. The sages call themselves the Brahmānsh and passing the Astras through generations in secret until we see antique photos. Then, there is beautiful, colored silhouettes of Astras and they were forgotten.  

This moves to the present day in Mumbai, it is the time of Dussehra and a young man in a red shirt runs in to prey, the narrator dramatically says his name, Shiva! He closes his eyes and sees visions that led to a building in Delhi. We find The Scientist, played by Indian cinema legend, Shah Rukh Khan, the film I remember him well was Ashoka the Great (2001).  A dark figure has watched him and drops down to demand a piece he was examining.  

He says his name is Mohan and is confronted by two brute types whom Mohan names, the quick cheetah-like Raftaar (Rohollah Ghazi) and Zor (Saurav Gurjar) with the power of a hippo. The Scientist uses his power, activated by Vanarastra with the quickness of a monkey.  He tries to escape leaping upwards to roar as the monkey, but is seen by Junoon (Mouni Roy), she has the dark temptress look about her, and is known as Passion.  She is a deadly, relentless villainess.  They are joined by the other two and Junoon takes control of the Scientist with red lashes.  

He is resisting Junoon and says, “The Light is coming”, the dark building is filled with the dawn's light, which turns to a temple attended by Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor).  I like that he is not an overbuff action hero, but looks like an ordinary guy.  He sees across the temple a beautiful woman (Alia Bhatt). She played Sita in RRR: Rise Roar Revolt (2022).  She inspires him to sing “Dance Ka Bhoot” during the Dussehra festival, but it is just stunning to see the number of dancers.  

This goes into the night where he promotes himself as DJ Shiva.  He is on a platform of drums when the pyrotechnic arrow is loosed from the statue of Ram to ignite the Ravana statue.  Shiva is stunned to see it overhead and then watches the burning statue.  He sees the woman smile, but the Ravana statue is covered with supernatural flames that explodes in the night sky and Shiva faints.  His friends waken him and Shiva says he was dancing too much, but then mentions seeing the woman and says he will see her again.  

At a club, he spins his music and then his friends want him to leave for a party.  Shiva leaps over the turntable to follow the woman.  She enters a packed elevator and Shiva climbs around it until he can talk to her.  The woman says, “Click” which she explains is to “remember this moment.”  I think this line is perfect.  Her cousin, Shaina (Rashi Mal), reveals her name, Isha, and tries to pull her away with another cousin, Sunny (Rohan Rustomji). 

Isha invites him to a Dwali party, the Festival of Lights, celebrated for five days in October.  This is literally a festival of light over darkness.  She is taken back when he doesn’t invite her to his party mentioned by his friends.  Shiva explains that he was embarrassed because he sees that she is high class and his party would be slumdog.  She agrees to attend the party which she discovers is a happy birthday for a kid at an orphanage where Shiva also lives.  Later, at his room, he mentions he says about his mother, “She’s a goddess like all mothers.”  

Shiva tells her that his mother left him a conch shell.  He gets a vision of The Scientist forced to reveal the Protector of the Second Piece, The Artist. He is Anish Shetty (Nagarjuna Akkineni) in Varanasi.  Mohan refuses to tell anything more to Junoon and slams backwards shattering the glass wall to fall down the building! Shiva awakens again having fainted and is told by the children that Isha waited two hours before leaving.  Fortunately, one of the kids is Facebook friends with Isha. 

She is preparing a temple for Dwali and Shiva finds out about the death of Mohan Bhargav, not a dream!  Isha is there and looks up on a computer that Anish is at a heritage palace restoration project.  Shiva is headed to Varanasi and Isha is set on going with him. They take a crowded river boat, take a Titanic pose at the bow, and Shiva sings the love song, “Kesariya” where he tells Isha that “saffron is the color of your love.”  Yes, the songs are memorable and catchy.  They pay respects at a temple, it turns to night on a boat, and Shiva then has fire trailing on the water to him!  He is disturbed to reveal his secret, but Isha only wants him to tell her the truth.  

This is an important connection for his agniastra power.  They find Anish at a crowded ceremony for the project and also the assassins are there!  Shiva convinces him to sneak away.  Isha cleverly interrupts Kor asking him for his cell phone since her batteries are used up!  She is later faced by an assassin with a gun.  Shiva leaps down and begins a fight being thrown around by Raftaar.  Anish uses his bright power to shatter the floor with his bracelet.  They escape in a BMW to find the Guru in the Himalayas!  

Anish uses his astra, the Nandi Astra, giving him the power of a bull!  We find out later that the Guru, Raghu, is played by another legend, Amitabh Bachchan!  He was in Baz Luhrman’s film, The Great Gatsby (2013). The best part of the movie was walking out with a feel-good, positive feeling!  Shiva has to discover his destiny and power, deal with united the pieces of the Brahmānstra that may cause the destruction of the world, taking on the assassins while finding romance with Isha who is connected to all of it! Brahmānstra: Part One - Shiva has an epic combination of Avengers: Endgame (2019),  West Side Story (2021), Harry Potter films, with a touch of Indian mythology and a first rate cast!    

Five Astras out of Five!  

#BrahmanstraPartOneShiva, #AyanMukerji, #RanbirKapoor, #AliaBhatt, #ShahRukhKhan, #NagarjunaAkkineni, #AmitabhBachchan, #MouniRoy, #RohollahGhazi, #SauravGurjar. 

The Rings of Power, “The Great Wave”, Part 1 Review!

"The Great Wave" threatens the fall of Númenor and covers the events across Middle-Earth!  Re:cap of "Adar" - Galadriel and Elendil are riding on horses to the House of Lore on Númenor.  They ride across fields, a beach, Galadriel smiles (first time?) on her white horse.  Galadriel’s blue dress is beautiful, more kudos to costume designer, Kate Hawley.  Elendil and Galadriel reach the Hall of Lore, a castle perched on a sea cliff.  Halbrand is at a forge and offers his services for free. The Smithy (Phil Vaughn) says he needs a guild crest to be authorized to work at a forge. Two workers are suspicious of Halbrand arriving with an Elf.  He is busy eating his clams by himself.  A worker, Tamar (Winham Hammond) sits across from him and Halbrand notices his guild crest.  Halbrand is mocked as other workers sit next to him.  He offers all of them coins for more ale.  The party is just getting started, but Halbrand leaves flipping his gold coin, the worker and three others follow him. They are bullies and supposedly some higher form of human?  Tamar calls him Low Man. 

The focus on Númenor is so corrupt, I’m hoping for everything to go the way of Atlantis.  Elendil and his family are sailors so at least they will be free.  He is bounced around, punched twice, but Halbrand gets up with several strikes knocking out a few including Tamar.  Guards have spears on him because they don’t notice a street fight until it is over?  Galadriel finishes writing a letter and hands it to Elendil in a room of scrolls.  She wonders at the library built by Elros, brother to Elrond, and first king of Númenor.  Elendil explains that it was saved by the last king who is now exiled because of his loyalty to the Elves.  He is now locked in a tower.  He gets some pages about an enemy spy, Galadriel sees a symbol and matches it with a map of the Southlands (later Mordor!).  She reads from the page that it is written in Black Speech, a plan to build a realm of evil.  This is in case Morgoth is defeated, a contingency plan!  A great scene that lays out what is going to happen.  

A Harfoot dressed with raven wings and a beaked mask dances along with the others in a Harvest Festival.  It is to prepare them for the journey.  Sadoc leads them and chants, “Nobody goes off-trail.”  I really like seeing a festival like at Ren Faires for than Bilbo’s birthday party, but there are similarities.  Marigold checks on her husband’s injured foot.  She’s afraid that they will be left in the village.  Largo reassures her that they will reach the Grove.  Nori is sneaking over to have a look at Sadoc’s book.  She is stopped by Poppy who doesn’t want to help the Stranger find his stars.  Nori coerces Poppy to stand watch or she will reveal her practical joke.  These two are like Merry and Pippin, troublemakers.  Nori looks at the star charts, Poppy gives a warning, and Sadoc enters his cart.  She has hidden underneath the table.  Poppy enters to say to Sadoc that the others are waiting while she tries to guide Nori’s hand, very funny!  Nori is able to get the pages she needs.  Sadoc makes his speech and says the Harfoots left behind and calls out their names.  

The response is “We wait for you.”  Very sad.  The Stranger goes to a campfire and sees the star chart page.  The page is set on fire and the Stranger stumbles, covered by tarps and netting, he stands up roaring.  Then, calls for Nori!  She is surrounded by the community and told about the danger from Sadoc.  Nori is told she will be punished by being “decaravaned”, left behind!   She protects Poppy and says it was only herself.  Sadoc says that all of the Proudfoots will go at the back of the caravan.  Marigold chastizes her daughter and says they must pack.  A puppet show tells the defeat of Morgoth, Elendil meets with Isildur and Eärien.  Isildur doesn’t want to take the Sea Trial.  Eärien gets a message and tells her father that the Builder’s Guild accepted her.  Galadriel visits Halbrand behind bars and gives him the page in Black Speech.  She says that he is the king from the Soutlands.  Galadriel wants him to return to Middle-Earth for both their sakes.  Night, a tower, Queen Regent Míriel tells her father, Tar-Palantir, that with the arrival of the Elf, the “moment” has come.  Yes, the last part of his name is familiar!    

In a sunken path, the Harfoots travel with their carts, Poppy stays back to check on the Proudfoot family who are struggling.  The cart rocks and they find that the Stranger is there.  Nori says the Stranger can help them and he carries the cart above the path.  At the mines, the Elven guards start the revolt, swinging leg chains to strike the Orcs, and pulling their hoods off to reveal the sun!  The Orcs begin dragging the prisoners back with the chains, but the Elves catch them in a tug of war.  Arondir leaps off them to attack with an axe!  He brings down the tents making the Orcs scream in the sunlight!  Lurk orders the Warg to be set on the prisoners!  It has a wild, hyena-like look and takes down two Elves!  Arondir pulls back on its chain and then flips around it, sending the warg into the tree roots!  He begins tying the chains around the tree roots, the Orc Vrath pulls him back, but Arondir grabs a tree root to stab the Orc!  Revion has freed himself and begins scaling the pit.  The warg chases after him, but a spear thrown by Arondir kills it!  Arondir tries to climb up the pit, he sees Revion turn, struck by arrows!  

He is thrown back to the pit and Lurka orders him taken to Adar.  The Orcs chant Adar’s name and he almost comes into focus, a human! At the capital of Armenelos, Míriel starts to give blessing to babies, but suddenly they start crying as there is a rumble.  She walks out to see the flowers drift from the White Tree and flood waters swamp the island.  It is the Doom of Krypton, Middle-Earth style!  The waters swallow her and she wakes from the vision/nightmare.  At a market, Kemen (Leon Wadham) tries to get the attention of Chancellor Pharazôn, his father.  Eärien hears the guildsmen including Tamar mock the queen regent inviting Galadriel to court. He leads the crowd in shouting, “Elf lover!”  At a market, tries to get the attention of Pharazôn interrupts them to remind them that one Elf couldn’t topple what their people have built.  He gives a speech to the crowd that he promises Elves won’t take Númenor.  Drinks are given out to the Númenoreans.  Kemen tries to flirt with Eärien, but she is called away to work on plans.  Míriel sees the papers of the Enemy's plans meeting with Galadriel and says she stole the scroll.  

She says that Halbrand is a former king of the Southlands and that the queen regent can help take back his land.  Um, this isn’t going to work, small minds… Galadriel decides to ask her father and defies the petty ruler.  So Galadriel joins Halbrand behind bars.  Isildur is on board a ship for the Sea Trial, he hears a woman whisper his name, he is distracted and allows the rope to fly out from his friends’ hands.  Isildur stands up for his friends, but the sail master removes all of them from the Sea Guard.  Later, Ontamo is angry that he heard a voice from the Undying Lands, he brings up his mother who died, the voice, and Isildur punches him.  Arondir sees the Orcs bowing before Adar.  We see him (Joseph Mawle), hardly fair, his left side of his face is scarred (hardly fair) with Elf ears.  He speaks in a hoarse, raspy whisper.  Adar puts his hand on a wounded Orc and stabs him with his dagger!  Arondir watches this and Adar speaks in Quenya.  He tells the Orc leader that he is from Beleriand, only Lindon remains from that place, Adar remembers it.  Adar wants Arondir to give a message to the men (and Bronwyn) at his former watch tower.  

More refugees from the Southland enter the tower.  Waldreg has only a piece of bread, the rations are running to low, Theo brings up that he can go to Waldreg’s cellar for food.  His mother tells him that they can hunt.  There are bodies of sheep on the road seen by Rowan and Theo.  They make it back to the village and forage for supplies.  Rowan is frightened of going to the tavern so Theo goes on his own.  He finds a bag of grain on the floor and the door starts to open.  Rowan sees the clouds are dark over head and runs off with the cart of supplies.  An Orc, Vrath, startles him so Theo takes out the black hilt, stabs himself, and reforms the blade!  Theo runs away and Vrath warns the others.  Theo hides in the well.  Vrath takes a drink of water from a bucket, drops it on Theo, but finds only water in the well.  Theo bursts from the water.  He has a deadly, black sword and just hides from Orcs in the daylight?  The base of a tower and another are being constructed which amazes Elrond, the work shared by Dwarves and Elves.  Celebrimbor is stunned seeing Elrond look like his father, Eärendil the Mariner.  He is troubled by Durin.  At Khazad-dûm, Elrond speaks to Dissa, who suddenly remembers that Durin went to Quarz Chasm.  Elrond notes that Durin didn’t take his chiseling axe while Gerda continues her play. 

Disa meets with her husband on a bridge, Durin IV says they are working on the old mine, this is seen by Elrond.  Another part of the books with the distant sight of Elves not really seen with Legolas in the movies.  He notes that the mine is below the Mirrormere at the eastern entrance.  Guards approach Elrond, but he says he knows where to go. Elrond enters the mine, he hears wind from a stone wall, and repeats Gerda’s song.  The wall opens, impressive to see a Dwarf mine!, he sees at a wall a vein of silvery metal, Mithril!  Durin IV is angry, thinking Elrond is a spy come to take their discovery.  Remember that Gandalf said the Dwarves dug too deep and awakened the Balrog!  Elrond doesn’t want it, but he says he only cares about their friendship, and not secrets.  Durin wants him to swear and oath, “hand to mountain”, love it!  Elrond swears on the memory of his father.  Durin opens a chest and says it was found by Disa, “a new ore”, called in Dwarvish, “gray glitter.”  Elrond corrects his Elvish pronunciation as Mithril!  This will lead to the height of the Dwarven kingdom and its fall!  There is still the matter of Númenor, Galadriel and Halbrand’s escape, and its destruction!  Eowyn dreamed about it in The Two Towers (2002).  This episode does a good job juggling the cast of characters spread across Middle-Earth.  “The Great Wave” brings Galadriel’s quest for Sauron, the fall of Númenor, and the discovery of the Dwarves together, but it is still slowed by Míriel’s arrogance.  

Four Rings of Power out of Five!  

#RingsOfPower, #TheGreatWave, #MorfyddClark, #CharlieVickers, #LloydOwen, #MaximBaldry, #LeonWadham, #CynthiaAddaiRobinson, #IsmaelCruzCordova, #NazaninBoniadi, #TyroeMauhafidin, #MarkellaKavenagh, #MeganRichards, #LennyHenry, #DanielWeyman, #RobertAramayo, #OwainArthur, #SophiaNomvete, #CharlesEdwards, #JosephMawle