Re:tro Re:view - The Magic Flute!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Five+ Magic Flutes out of Five! 

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

Happy Birthday George Lucas!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Four Hats of Many Spells out of Five! 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Four Markers out of Five! 

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

Re:tro Re:view - Brzrkr #12!

Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney’s Brzrkr comes to an epic conclusion with Brzrkr #12! It was revealed that B. is the warrior, Unute, has been fighting 80,000 years ago! His eyes glow blue when he gets into a violent, unstoppable state. He was analyzed by Caldwell who it turns out secretly worked for a cult and siphond away Unute’s power! On the scientific team was Diana who is now B.’s ally and tranformed by the “red lightning” energy in issue #8! In the following issue, Unute encounters his cosmic father, but returns to Earth. Last issue, B. is struck with energy from a silver, eagle-like form, but it is drained by a satellite to be transmitted to Caldwell and his soldiers! Unute is now mortal and now faces Caldwell! Spoilers ahead! The white cover by Garney features B. His face dark with energy crackling across it with Diana by her side in uniform, Caldwell silhouetted in black, and Keever with his binocular. The conclusion starts with the two forces of Keever and Caldwell clashing on the battlefield. Keever’s rifle shot goes through Caldwell and blasts apart his soldier’s head! 

Caldwell runs with a berzerker scream, Keever fires another shot with similar results, and Unute picks himself. His torso is bleeding and Diana reminds him that he is human.  He replies that he knows how to fight, thousands of years of combat experience!, and takes away the rifle of one of Caldwell’s men. Diana is captured by two of the soldiers. Unute uses automatic fire killing the soldiers around them! Diana’s narration reflects that she didn’t want the power as her eyes crackle with black energy. All horizontal panels arranged by Garney. Caldwell races towards Unute. The cannon fire from one of Caldwell’s military jeeps destroys one of Keever’s units. He calls for a retreat. Unute opens fire on the savage Caldwell, but he is tackled by the madman. Still, he is able to kick off Caldwell, but is wounded. Diana uses her power to throw off the soldiers. Caldwell growls and Diana is ready for him. The black energy weaves around them both. It streams out of Diana’s eyes as she takes Caldwell’s hands and - rips off his arms! The fight scene goes from the blue of Brzrkr’s energy to purple with Diana’s eyes and then red with the violent scene, kudos to colorist Bill Crabtree! 

The armless, fallen Caldwell growls incoherently, still alive, Keever rolls up in his jeep. Then, Unute takes away the silver eagle. Keever calls for an airstrike from a stealth bomber. Its payload levels the battlefield! Diana becomes sick and she explains that the reaction is like when she was pregnant! Afterwards, a soldier collects the head of Caldwell. Diana explians that the HQ needed Unute to try to contact the “intelligence” that sent him. In a darkned control room, contact was made by scientist as Unute’s father sends the message, “hELLO”, but then we see soldiers in decontamination suits burn the scientists with flamethrowers! Diana’s narration continues that the “Franken-B” made out of Unute’s lost body parts was lost, we see a Frankenstein’s Creature-like leave the destroyed lab and run into the woods! A horror element to the action, superheroic battles, and surreal encounters! We move to the HQ safehouse, in a wooden fort-lie structure in snowy Virginia. A scientist has tested Unute and his readings are normal. In a dining room, a female doctor is checking Diana while Keever watches. 

The HQ sphere asks the due date and she replies possibly a week. Later, Keever meets with the sphere watching the security screens and given the order to kill Unute and “preserve” Diana! Keever walks into a room with Unute seated and bandaged. He tells Diana via their earpieces that Keever is there to kill him. Unute walks to the window as Keever holds a gun to his head. The lights go out and Unute ducks the gunshot. Black energy takes out the soldier guard as Diana enters! We see a full vertical panel as she explains that she can shut off Keever’s heart just like the lights. She leaves with Unute. As they reach the porch, the HQ sphere says that her children belong to them. She blasts it with her power and says she can find help as they walk into the moonlight. Sunset at a church in Tuscany, Italy. A soldier knocks at the door and met by a mysterious man in googles. At the American South-West, Seline introduces Unute to Songaa who are there to help him on his journey. She will act as the midwife to Diana. We see in a photograph, Unute with a Native American hunter. Seline says the “Ancients” found Caldwell’s head, but lost track of him in Malta. Gruesome!

Diana reveals that she is carrying twins. Shades of Padme Amidala, but very mythical. Seline checks on Diana and points out Unute to his room. Songaa and Seline help deliver the babies, who do not cry!, and Diana breastfeeds her children. Next, we find grassy fields from winter to spring, Unute and Diana watch her kids play while sitting on a porch. At a night campfire, Unute tells Diana that the twins, unnamed, don’t berserker. They later hold hands watching the twins play wiht the dog. At night, they are asleep when the twins at the foot of the bed. They take their parents outside to see two drones in the sky. Diana blasts them. Some Firestarter vibes. Unute goes to his trunk to load up on weapons. Three attack helicopters head towards the family. Unute tells his kids to get inside the house. Soldiers repel down and Diana destroys one of the helicopters. Unute returns as a soldier throwing a grendade and fires with an M-16. He is able to fight the soldiers, but a bullet pierces his wrist, very mortal. He takes out the pin of a grenade and then shoves a soldier into a helicopter. It explodes sending him backwards, a bloody mess! 

Diana unleashes her power throwing a head off a soldier!, but she is struck by a rifle butt! Keever gives the order for the soldiers to “Secure the kids.” Their eyes flare blue. Their parents remark, “No” seeing the berserker in their children. The twins start to rip apart the soldiers, the boy bites into Keever’s throat until Unute shouts for them to stop. They look up, the girl’s eyes turn red, and they restrain themselves. Keever walks away and sees Unute in a pool of his blood. Diana sends Keever off, he again says “See you on the other side” to her. Technically, Diana left him alive even though he eventually killed her husband. She kneels at her husband’s side and asks her kids if they can help, but they say no. Unute tries to tell Diana about his purpose, that it is his time, and then thanks her. We see the stars, the fires of the battle, as the family is at Unute’s dead body in blood. Incredible image! Then, we have the image in black, Diana closes her husband’s eyes. The next morning we see the grave marker, the silver bird, as they pay their respects along with Seline and Songaa. We are told it is “days later”, Diana is wakened again by the twins. They say it is time to begin their lives, the cycle continues. 

They say, “It’s so wonderful” and show their mother that they have each red and blue energy of both parents. Sunrises at a HQ base as Keever sees a sphere which says, “It’s a new day.” We go back to the Tuscany church at sunset, it is reddish and see what looks almost like a pantomime theater with curtains. The congregants eat the flesh of the head and torso of the half-formed Caldwell. At a house in the blue of the night, the corpse-like Franken-B stares at a house with blue eyes the color of berserker energy. Diana’s thoughts are that HQ thinks Unute was a seed. We see the twins at red lit The Bar, they meet a couple, and walk different directions. Next, Diana is the edge of a sea cliff lit by the setting sun and brilliant colors. She asks for Unute. A sun rises as we see the egg-like pod with Unute emerging from it resurrected. Diana asks if he can come back. It is a red sky with strange alien shapes. It has the feel of alien Edgar Rice Burroughs worlds like Barsoom! Unute looks up at an alien sky of triple suns and says that he will find a way back to her! Still, he says it will take some time. We see a collection of huts like his early days and then Unute’s eyes open red and blue as Diana tells him to hurry. This is a stunning end to the Brzrkr series which combines comic books, bit of the ultra-violence, a splash of history, a mythical journey, and a touch of sci fi, impressive! 

Five Protocols out of Five! 

#Brzrkr, #KeanuReeves, #MattKindt, #RonGarney, #Unute, #Diana, #Seline, #Keever, #Caldwell

 

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Ewoks Review!

The last Return of the Jedi one-shots, Ewoks, brings us back to the “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” and stories going back to Legends material! On the Forest Moon (Chiutatal) of Endor (Tana), Chief Chirpa is part of a campfire tales to the young Woklings. The cover is by Ryan Brown of a closeup of an Ewok, Chief Chirpa?, with pale fur and a brown hood. There are three stories that are all written by Alyssa Wong, the writer of the Star Wars: Doctor Aphra title. It begins with the Ewok village (vootok) at night, the fires lighting the platforms is impressive work by colorist, Java Tartaglia. 

The camp fire scenes has art by Lee Garbett. The Woklings (Theesa) cross a bridge, but the pale-furred Ewok falls, he is helped up by a brown fur friend. The massive village fire burns with the Ewoks huddled around it. We see Chief Chripa call (Oh hheneheh) the Woklings. The first segment, “The Woklings’ Tale”, has the artwork of Paulina Ganucheau. The artist worked on the Wonder Woman back-up stories that collected in Wonder Woman: The Adventures of Young Diana Special #1 (2021). It is delightfully cartoony art just like the Ewoks (1985-1986) cartoon by Nelvana. 

An Ewok with a blue hood and a tuft of yellow hair gathers fruits (sleesh) in a basket. Again, I think Ewoks are vegetarian and not carnivores. Her parents (shodeesh) are disapproving and the Ewok nervously takes the rope (shtek) from the tree hut. The Ewok explains in thought dialogue, the comic has gestures more than dialogue, that she will feed her Endorian pony. There is some of the Ewok language, Ewokese, in The Galactic Phase Book & Travel Guide (2001) by Ben Burtt and we picked up on Ewok words in the tv movies, but no Ewok words are translated. The father (Deej) fears the Ewok will face the clubs of the Duloks! 

They were the Grinch-like version of the people who also inhabited the Moon of Endor. They were the menace of the Ewoks in the cartoon. The Duloks first appeared in The Adventures of Teebo (1984) by Joe Johnston. Chief Chirpa relates the story as the Ewok walks with the pony. They reach a cave (kreeth) that Blue Hood enters with the pony.  A female Dulok happily gives both of them garlands and given fruits to share for a picnic. They discuss in image dialogue about disapproving Dulok parents. At the campfire, Kneesa and Wicket, the heroes of the Ewoks cartoon, are quick to stop Paploo from telling the Woklings. This is a fun story of forbidden friendship. Paploo can’t believe the happy story and decides to tell the Woklings a scary story. 

Next is “Paploo’s Tales” with artist, Kyle Hotz. His art is also found in Spider-Man: The Lost Hunt #3 (2023). We get darkness and a swampy floor of the Endor forest (Eeekeekeek). There is a fly crawling on the black cornea of an Ewok corpse. He has a broken spear (kaletuhkuh). Rachel Rosenberg is the colorist for a story that is almost an Ewoks: Black, White, & Red! Paploo checks on the Ewok, hears something, and then in a stunning splash page we get the giant Gorax! The Gorax first appeared in The Ewok Adventure (1984). I would have liked to have seen the warrior (shetai), Chukha-Trok, played by Kevin Thompson. Even more is (you know this is gonna be noted) Teek (Niki Botelho) from Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985).

The Gorax chases after Paploo though the forest, its vicious claw reaching for him! This is for the Ewoks a terrifying tale and Chief Chirpa disapproves of scaring the Woklings, but this honors the lost, brave Ewok! Lastly, there is “Peekpa’s Tale”, illustrated by Caspar Wijingaard. He worked on the first volume of Doctor Aphra with writer Simon Spurrier. She was identified in the novel, Star Wars: Last Shot (2018). She stayed by Chewbacca after the Battle of Endor. She is tying a rope around a tree and this takes out the scout trooper on the speeder bike. She starts collecting parts from the speeder bike. The scout recovers and reaches for Peekpa without his helmet, but is struck by heavy branch by her. 

Peekpa sees her project, the head part of the scout walker with her tent next to it on a cliff. She starts working on the cables and other workings of the walker head. Other Ewoks are able to help Peekpa. She works through the day and into the night looking out to the stars. The end sequence of a Wokling going to sleep and then going through the adventures before sleeping, to dream? The trick to all of the tales is that they are campfire stories so they may come from Legends material, but could still be fictional in the Star Wars Universe. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Ewoks #1 has a collection of fun and spooky stories, almost bringing Legends material into canon, but I can’t wait for more stories on the Moon of Endor - with Teek! Ee Chee wa Maa! 

Four Ewok Hoods out of Five! 

#StarWarsReturnOfTheJedi, #Ewoks, #AlyssaWong, #LeeGarbett, #PaulinaGanucheau, #KyleHotz, #CasparWijingaard

Star Wars: Visions, “Screecher’s Reach”, Review!

"Screecher's Reach" is an episode of Star Wars: Visions in part beautiful and also part darkness! Season two of Star Wars: Visions has animation studios across the world including Cartoon Saloon from Ireland. The studio produced features like The Irish Folklore Trilogy that began with The Secret of Kells (2009). The second episode of Star Wars: Visions is directed by Paul Young, the co-founder of Cartoon Saloon. The beginning has a starfield, but then we see endless rows of Younglings as a droid rolls in. We pan up to see the Younglings pushing carts in a refinery and then shoveling ore. They are all monitored by droids. It continues upwards as we see workers in suits turning dials sending out steam. One worker leaves after sending out steam from the dial and crosses a massive hall. The scale and simple design is impressive. She removes her helmet, face smeared by work, wearing a locket. This is Daal (Eva Whittaker) and she joined by two others; a larger Baython (Alex Connolly) and a smaller Quinn with goggles (Noah Rafferty). Whittaker voiced Mebh, the wild girl who can transform into a wolf, in Wolfwalkers (2020). 

Daal says she is going to Screecher’s Reach, she holds her locket, and Quinn adds that it is haunted. Quinn notes that they can steal speeders. An even smaller girl Keena (Molly McCann) asks what is happening and Baython asks if she wants to see a ghost. McCann played Odette in the UK crime series, The Holiday. Outside, we see the dark of the sky, industrial stacks belching smoke. It reminds me of the design of the Genndy Tartakovsky Clone Wars (2003-2005) series, but more of the illuminated manuscript style of Cartoon Saloon. They speed away, a beautiful sky of moons, Keena rides with Daal. At night, they break for camp, Baython tells story of the ghost of Screecher’s Reach. This worries Keena. Daal is holding her locket saying the ghost can only be seen in the mind! Keena and Quinn go off playing. Daal wonders about leaving the workhouse. The mood is lightened by Quinn who is banging his head against a tree! The conversation just has the drama of orphans like Anakin. They start walking towards the mountain. The quartet are at the edge of a cave, a gap that twists like a candle flame with black, spindly cracks! They are quiet looking into Screecher’s Reach. 

Daal holds up her locket and gives a saying about following a path, strength, and courage. Then, she walks into the cave.  Some eerie music is heard. The others follow, Baython activates a lamp, and Daal walks on. There is moaning, Baython sees behind Daal something shift, black claws and the ghost screams (Niamh Myles)! This is not for young ones! They fall back onto the cave floor, the cave is about to collapse, and the screaming continues. Baython starts to leave with Quinn. Keena tries to go with Daal, but she sends her to go with the others. The cave collapses and Daal repeats the saying with the locket. A ghostly hand reaches for Daal as she repeats the saying. Then, a red lightsaber ignites held by the ghost! It swings the lightsaber cutting Daal’s shoulder! This is a Shiim lightsaber move that causes a wound, but doesn’t sever anything. The ghost’s form shifts, shrieking, and then a crack of light forms above it. This is a test like Luke at the cave, “The cave… remember your failure at the cave!”, except with the red lightsaber, it is a Sith test! There is a character voiced by Angelica Houston who played The Supreme Leader in the Disney attraction, Captain EO (1986). “Screecher’s Reach” is impressive as the beginning of a Sith apprentice and I hope there will be more episodes of Daal’s journey! 

Five Red Lightsabers out of Five! 

#StarWarsVisions, #ScreechersReach, #PaulYoung, #EvaWhittaker, #AlexConnolly, #NoahRafferty, #MollyMcCann, #NiamhMoyles, #AngelicaHouston