How to Train Your Dragon (2025) Review!

A live action How to Train Your Dragon breathes life into the animated adaptation courtesy of original co-director and writer, Dean Deblois! The writer and director has guided the franchise with the trilogy starting with the 2010 film (it is currently streaming on Max), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019). This also includes eight seasons of Dragons: Riders of Berk (2012) with many of the original voice cast. Season 2 was Dragons: Defenders of Berk (2013-2014) and season 3 to 8 was Dragons: Race to the Edge (2015-2018). It all began with the children’s book written by Cressida Cowell which led to four more books.

This is the first time that the director of the animation has moved to directing the live action and it is clearly the way to go since Deblois know the world and characters! We follow the moonlit sea as we hear the narration of Hiccup played by Mason Thames. Finney in the horror movie, The Black Phone (2021), was played by Thames. We see the island which Hiccup introduces, “This is Berk.” He continues, “The only problem is the pests.” Hiccup is seen with his mop of brown hair. He goes to open a door, but it is smothered in flames as he closes it! The village is in chaos during the dragons’ attack. One burns a trail as Hiccup is pulled back by his father, Stoick the Vast. 

It is a welcome return for Gerard Butler from the animated film. He was also in the action movie, Den of Thieves: Pantera, this year. Stoick is massive, more armor than beard here, and with a large, horned helmet. Also the chieftain of the village. He gets a report of the dragons in the invasion. Large devices with a bowl of fire rise illuminating the dragons. Hiccup goes to help Gobber (Nick Frost), he works as apprentice to the blacksmith. Frost was the voice of the droid, SM-33 in Skeleton Crew. He has a bushy, blonde moustached and beard, with attachements for his right arm and a peg leg. The young villagers, the cool kids, are part of the Fire Brigade who are important later. 

Hiccup’s attention is focused on their captain who is swinging on a pole to put out a fire on a roof. Out of the mist, Astrid appears, played by Nico Parker. The actress is memorable in the premiere episode, “When You’re Lost in the Darkness” (2023) of The Last of Us, she played Sarah the daughter of Joel Miller. Hiccup has his double barreled cannon, but it almost shoots the Fire Brigade! He is a clever inventor, an engineer for this time, and his device is less brutal than the harpoon weapon in the original. He rolls it up to a cliff and when he sees a burst sends its bolo weapon out catching a Night Fury! Hiccup returns to his village. The dragons have found the storehouse and rip off it roof to find the sheep herded inside. This is also new. Hiccup’s victory is short lived as the Monstrous Nightmare starts to chase him! 

The designs for a photo realistic dragon of course tend towards the creatures of fantasy movies and Jurassic Park than the silly animated forms. The dragon is struck back by Stoick who literally shows his prowess against dragons by punching its jaw. He drives it away and the village is left devasted with the dragons flying away with sheep in the night. It is interesting that Hiccup and Gobber are inventors, but have not used any devices to protect the sheep. The inventions don't always work out, but just hiding the sheep doesn't seem to be a defense. At the village hall, Hiccup tries to explain to his father about the Night Fury, but Stoick is more interested in the loss of food for the winter. A few of the gathered Vikings are from different parts of the world. This is a change, but none of them prove really useful to the rest of the film. 

Hiccup tries to convince Stoick that he is a dragon killer, but his father is exhausted and sends him away with Gobber. He is mocked by the Fire Brigade as he leaves. On the way to Hiccup's house, Gobber tells him, "Stop trying to be something you're not." Difficult when everyone is a Viking, but one of the themes of the movie. When Gobber leaves, Hiccup takes to the hills. Stoick returns to address the village and says that they have to mount an attack on the unknown nest of the dragons.They all agree to take their ships to find the nest. Afterwards, Stoick tells Gobber to train the new recruits. He also confides in his friend his disappointment in Hiccup who was always different. Gobber tells his chief that he can't always protect his son. The next day, Hiccup is still searching for the Night Fury in the forest. Then, he sees a broken tree trunk and goes to the edge of a cliff to see the dragon! 

The lost opportunity for the adaptation to live action is the dragons. We have hints of the parents of the other young characters. We know from the animated film that they eventually ride the dragons. So in the arena scene, the dragons should defeat our heroes, but there should be hints that dragons are interested in Snoutlout, Fishlegs, and the twins. For instance, the Gruesome Gronckle is Fishlegs' favorite dragon, and the Gronckle is playful in defeating him. It could be a comedic moment when the Hideous Zippleback tangles its two heads trying to go after Ruffnut and Tuffnut running in different directions. Each young Viking should be first in attacking the dragon and the dragon should at some point sniff them to get their scent.  

Five Viking Helmets out of Five! 

#HowToTrainYourDragon, #DeanDublois, #CressidaCowell, #MasonThames, #NicoParker, #GerardButler, #NickFrost, #JulianDennison, #GabrielHowell, #HarryTrevaldwyn, #BronwynJames

Hollywood Show, June 6th, 2025!

The Hollywood Show kicked off the June 6th show for this year with rooms of celebs to meet and gets some signed items! It takes place several times a year at Los Angeles, the Marriott Burbank Convention Center, Las Vegas, and Chicago. More details, check at: https://www.hollywoodshow.com/. This show I was set on seeing John Rhys-Davies. He had a queue with many patient fans that went out of the door of the building. There were a few fans cosplaying as Indiana Jones. Rhys-Davies was a joy to meet gibing every person some personal time. Bolo Yeung, the actor known for his villain in Enter the Dragon (1973), appeared for the first time at the show. 

    Hollywood Show, author’s photo. 

Also first time celebs were Garrett Morris and Laraine Newman from Saturday Night Live. There was a reunion of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) actors, Jeffrey Jones, Cindy Pickett, and Lyman Ward. Other reunions included Scarecrow and Mrs. King with Bruce Boxleitner, Kate Jackson, Martha Smith. Richard Thomas was there with Michael Learned for The Waltons. Priscilla Presley returned to the show. Sam J. Jones and Melody Anderson had tables and were memorable from the campy sci-fi adaptation, Flash Gordon (1980). A number of music celebs appeared including Wilson Phillips; Carnie Wilson, Wendy Wilson, Chynna Phillips, there was Toni Basil, Dale Bozzio from Missing Persons returned, as well as Stacey Q.  I got the chance to meet again Michael Klastorin, the author of Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History (2020), production publicist for the films, highly recommended for fans. He mentioned an update on Universal Studios Fan Fest Nights.There were so many chances to meet celebs at this Hollywood Show! 

#HollywoodShow, #BoloYeung, #GarrettMorris, #LaraineNewman, #JeffreyJones, #CindyPickett, #LymanWard, #BruceBoxleitner, #KateJackson, #MarthaSmith, #RichardThomas, #MichaelLearned,#SamJJones, #MelodyAnderson, #WilsonPhillips, #CarnieWilson, #WendyWilson, #ChynnaPhillips, #ToniBasil, #DaleBozzio, #StaceyQ, #MichaelKlastorin

Lilo & Stitch (2025) Review!

The live action adaptation of Lilo &Stitch is heartfelt and funny working on the charisma of the leads, Maia Kealoha and Sydney Agudong! The original film, hand was the studio’s 42nd animated film, hand drawn, considered to be part of Post-Renaissance Era in the 2000s. The end of hand drawn animation was heralded by Dinosaur (2000) with its CGi animation. Hand drawn animation finished with The Princess and the Frog (2009) part of the Disney Revival era. Chris Sanders provided the story, co-wrote, and co-directed the film with Dean DeBlois. They went on to co-writing and co-directing How to Train Your Dragon (2010). Sanders had solo directing reins with last year’s The Wild Robot. Deblois has directing and writing the live action How to Train Your Dragon which out on June 13th. 

Lilo & Stitch went on to create a franchise with two direct to video films; Stitch! The Movie (2003) and Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005), and Leroy & Stitch (2006). Then, animated shows; Lilo & Stitch: The Series (2003-2006) and anime series, Stitch! (2008-2009). The film was moved from a Disney+ release and unlike Moana 2, this was a good decision. It is directed by Dean Fleischer Camp who had directed Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021). The screenwriters are Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, writer of the historical dramatic short, Tsuru (2014), and Mike Van Waes, co-writer for the horror movie, Dear David (2023). A strange team to adapt a Disney film, but they should break out to make more films.  

The big question about animation adaptations are what does the film bring to the story? Development of characters, this is the cast especially with Nani, and story. Direct adaptations with some scenes tacked on just don’t work. We are told that there is an emergency session of the Galactic Council. The leader is the Galactic Councilwoman voiced by Hannah Waddingham, same design as the cartoon movie with smaller eyes. Waddingham voices Deliria in the Krapopolis cartoon show. Her costume has a fronds like coral around her neck here. She announces that they are meeting about “illegal genetic experimentation.” The scientist is Jumba Jookiba voiced by Zack Galifianakis also with the original design, multiple eyes around a round head and bulky frame. 

Galifianakis was the voice of Ron in the animated film, Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021). He uses a regular voice, a mad scientist who is chill, not cold and calculating, and not particularly funny. David Ogden Stier’s Jumba was goofy and brutal with his Russian-like accent in his pursuit of his creation. The trilobite-like ship moves in and Stitch is revealed, in his orange suit from the cartoon, but in his six armed, furry form with antennae. Stitch of course is voiced by Sanders and is still nasty and destructive. My favorite part is when Stitch speaks in an alien language. The robot at the Grand Councilwoman leans over the side and vomits nuts and bolts! This is cut away in this film. There is no Captain Gantu to take away the prisoner since his character has been merged with Jumba. 

Stitch is confined upside down and covered by blaster cannons locked onto his genetic signature. He is able to escape and we return to the bridge of the galactic councilwoman’s ship. Stitch has taken a police cruiser, like a hot rod, and races past the ship. She notes that it is a planet “covered in water” which will threaten Stitch’s dense molecular structure. The technicians find that Stitch’s cruiser is instead headed to an island, Hawai’i! The councilwoman asks for an expert on the planet. Pleakley, voiced by Billy Magnussen, enters with a cowboy hat and jacket. Magnussen was Prince Anders in the other adaptation, Aladdin (2019). He is a thin alien with a large, cyclops eye and antenna. Magnussen is able to be silly with Pleakley. The councilwoman assigns Jumba to retrieve Experiment 626 and deputizes Pleakley to watch over him. The relationship makes me think of Gaston and LeFou in the live action Beauty and the Beast (2017). 

A few changes including Jumba being released from his prison cell, but the film has basically followed the original. This shifts to striped yellow tang swimming in the waters off Kaui’i. Lilo played by Maia Kealoha is perfect casting. She can handle the playing with Stitch scenes, but also the dramatic scenes. I hope she gets a young actor award and continues with other roles. Lilo plays a sandwich on the sandy floor and swims back. The director of photography is Nigel Bluck and I have to give a hat off to the underwater and surf photography. Lilo relaxes in a hotel pool and says, “I’m in town for the convention.” This interesting line between locals and tourists is in another scene, but doesn’t make a clear comment on it like the surf movie, Blue Crush (2002). She goes to hula for a recital. Her older sister, Nani, played by Sydney Agudong, hurries from work. Agudong starred as Savannah in the Hawai’i set drama, At Her Feet (2024). The actor adds to the drama, the tension with her sister, and comedy. Another actor to watch for the next project.  

Five Portal Guns out of Five! 

#LiloAndStitch, #DeanFleischerCamp, #ChrisKekaniokalaniBright, #MikeVanWaes, #MaiaKeloha, #SydneyAgudong, #ChrisSanders, #BillyMagnussen, #ZachGalifianakis, #AmyHill, #KaipoDudoit, #TiaCarrere, #CourtneyBVance, #HannahWaddingham

Supergirl #1 Review!

The Girl of Steel returns All In, but finds things have changed in Midvale for Supergirl #1! The regular cover by writer/artist Sophie Campbell has Supergirl happily flying above a blue Superman symbol. Her new costume was designed by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau who provides a variant cover. “Misadventures in Midvale part 1” is by Campbell who is also the writer and artist for Mothra: Queen of the Monsters. Supergirl has numerous identities, but Campbell has simplified Kara Zor-El as the cousin of Kal-El. She was sent as a teen to protect him as a baby, but her craft was delayed so she emerged when he was Superman. This was in her first appearance in Action Comics #252 (1959). 

Originally, she was adopted by Fred and Edna Danvers, but this was changed to Eliza and Jeremiah Danvers to put it in line with the Supergirl (2015-2018) show. Their debut in comics was with Superman/Wonder Woman #29 (2016). Then, we have that Supergirl had traveled to the “furthest reaches of the galaxy”, this is in the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2021-2022) limited series. This is the subject of the upcoming DC Studios film. So this new title synthesizes all of the incarnations of Supergirl into one vision. It opens with an attack on Metropolis with the shark woman, Princess Shark! She has a pink dress made up of some giant octopus with a split jaw forming the top! Her first appearance! 

Sharks fly from the sky in a Sharknado-type attack! She wants to turn the city int

o a Sharkopolis! It is so absurd that I want to see more! Closeup as Supergirl flies in with her fist ready! She flies out to the sea holding up Princess Shark. the artwork has clean lines with great expressions and action! A splash page as Princess Shark is dunked into the sea and Supergirl flies with Krypto! She tells Krypto that they have to collect all of the sharks before heading to the Bottle City of Kandor. This is kept at the Fortress of Solitude. She thinks about her cousin’s exile from Kandor. Superman was exiled from Kandor by defying the Science Council by releasing the Phantom Zone criminals before its destruction in Action Comics #1078. No editorial note for this reference. 

They reach the corridors of the Fortress of Solitude and Kara cautions Streaky the Super Cat from tipping over the bottle city. She places the Yellow Ring of Nor-Kann on her finger to keep her super powers in Kandor. This was a device introduced in Supergirl #2 (1973)! Supergirl flies into the microwave miniaturization tunnel to enter the city. A train suddenly crashes and Supergirl flies to stop it, but this was no accident. Lar-On, the transformed Phantom Zone criminal, is attacking the train! The Kryptonian werewolf made his debut in World’s Finest #256 (1979). He also faced Kara in Supergirl #7 (2017). Kara tries to talk sense to the enraged Lar-On and his rampage sends a ginger haired girl with glasses trying to take cover. His attack as weakened a column that is about to fall on the Kandorian girl! 

Cut to closeup of Supergirl noticing, the rubble falling, then an almost first page splash of Supergirl holding up the debris with small panels of the girl wincing and then looking up. There is sparkles around her. Lar-On pounces, but Supergirl wraps him up with her cape. She is concerned at his situation and says that she will talk to the Science Council about his therapy program. The girl says Supergirl is better than Superman, but Kara says it isn’t a contest. I really, really like this characterization! The leader of the Science Council rejects any changes to Lar-On’s treatment. Still, she adds that there is a clause that he can be a ward with a sponsor to help him. Another council member says that Kara can be his sponsor. Closeups as we see Kara is reluctant to be a sponsor. Disappointing that she refuses, Kal-El mentored her, but she doesn’t do so in return, a selfish thing to do. Supergirl is not the hero she should be, this must be a part of the character’s arc in this story. 

She walks away from the council thinking about Kal and being under his shadow. We see a burning jet, a pointer shows Supergirl holding it aloft, while a closeup shows Supergirl talking on the phone to her parents. In Midvale, Eliza Danvers is talking to Kara while Jeremiah is gardening at the side of their house. Kara off-hand says she would like to visit them at Midvale as Krypto flies at her side. Jeremiah asks his wife about a trowel and finishes up with the conversation as we go back to Supergirl flying the plane. At her Metropolis apartment, Kara thinks about going back home. She takes out her Chromatic Super Comb that changes her blonde hair to brunette. Supergirl had used a wig to hide her identity, but gained the Kryptonian comb in Supergirl #17 (1984). She uses the comb and puts on her glasses. 

I have this strange feeling with Campbell bringing in all aspects of Supergirl, there is one left out. The 1984 film that starred Helen Slater. The villain was Selena, a sorceress played by Faye Dunaway, the character first appeared in comics with Supergirl #10 (2017). So there may be a spell involved, but I have a sense that this new Supergirl is actually Selena’s assistant, Bianca! Is it magic or something different? We’ll see in the daring new  adventures of Supergirl! Sophie Campbell injects fun and action into Supergirl #1 with ties to other incarnations of the character! 

Five Chromatic Super Combs out of Five! 

#Supergirl, #AllIn, #MisAdventuresInMidvale, #SophieCampbell, #ElizaDanvers, #JeremiahDanvers, #LarOn, #PrincessShark 

Last Day at Ren Faire!

Today was the last day of the Original Renaissance Faire and it was a wonder! The Ren Faire was open from April 5 to May 18, today, located at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area. Check for details, it is ever year, at: https://renfair.com/socal/. It was previously sold out online, which I’m told by my friend who attends every day, was due to Tik Tokers. The last day was not sold out, but it felt like the faire has outgrown its usual area by several times. I hope there is an expansion at least by a third than the standard set up just to handle the crowds. I purchased my ticket, $44, at the door and then found my way to the end of the queue. It was pressed against the end of the fence and went chaotic. 

    Sir Edgerton of Aquitaine takes all three rings with Bob! at the Deptford Tournament Joust, Renaissance Faire, author’s photo. 

Once the crowds entered, it just dispersed all over the city of Deptford, the winding, dusty paths. I love the opening announcement, hollered, it needs to be miked like the other shows. The drums beat as you slowly make your way into the square. There is music, all sorts of costumed and uncostumed people milling about, stores of different wares; jewelry, dragons, and clothing of all kinds. Cosplay here is high, 1 out of 2, much more than any convention or event. Some have masks, half-costumes, and others were fantastic including Teletubbies, a Gandalf or two, and I saw a Princess Bride cosplay. Elf ears were like 1 out of 4, which is the same ratio as cosplayers at other events. 

The path winds around until you reach the Maypole and Dragon Swing this reaches the edge of the waters for the Santa Fe Reservoir. Along the way, there are stands for drinks and chocolate covered strawberries and Royal Nuts. I have to try the Welsh Cakes at the Welsh Baker. Most of the path is dirt with some rocks, this can make walking after some time challenging some wear comfortable shoes! There are some concrete walkways and park restroom facilities, but other privies, outhouses, are available. The food court is a wide swath of tables and many food vendors, I saw beignets, Fairy Tails offers treats like Lemon Sorbet Ripienos, and the giant turkey legs at Smoking Serpent! 

    AJ Gamez takes to the sky in Wings of Whimsy, photo by the author. 

Still, I was eager for the entertainment, and this ultimately leads to the joust. The first joust was the Deptford Tournament Joust. I was on the far side cheering for Sir Edgerton of Aquitaine and his new horse Bob. There were many rousing chants of “Bob! Bob! Bob!” The colors for Sir Edgerton were blue and white while Maxmillian rode with black and gold for his mount Drax. Sir Edgerton won the lance and offered the tournament flag to a young lord! The joust went to the other side though Sir Edgerton disputed the results since Bob had left droppings on the jousting field! Of course, it would all be settled at the Queen’s Joust later in the day. Next to the joust was Wings of Whimsy with aerial acrobat, AJ Gamez, suspended from silk. Impressive. I very full day that was a joy just walking around the faire and seeing some fantastic performers! 

#OriginalRenaissanceFaire, #SantaFeDamRecreationalArea, #Deptford, #RoyalNuts, #WelshBaker, #FairyTail;s, #SmokingSerpent, #SirEdgertonOfAquitine, #Bob, #Maxmillian, #Drax, #WingsOfWhimsy, #AJGamez 

Another Night at Universal Studios Fan Fest!

 The opening of Universal Studios Fan Fest Nights was fun, some parts were ok, but this time it was a strange “right place at the right time”! First off a mention of the cosplay, I was previously at CityWalk and noticed some great Dungeons & Dragons cosplay and Star Trek uniforms. So the coplay game has been upped from the orange vests. Many One Piece straw hats throughout the park. Also, the number of cosplayers at the meet and greet was great. Cosplay; enthusiasm: high, participation, good, not 1 in 3 dressed up like a fan convention, creativity, good, not innovative like a centaur I saw at one con. By enthusiasm, I mean excitement dressing up, being with other cosplayers, and meeting characters. I don’t think guests took pics of cosplayers, but I would like to cosplay next Fan Fest Nights. Kudos to the cosplayers, they were really excited to be there. 

This time I was at the upper lot during rope drop. There were crowds eager to enter the Fan Fest. I was relaxing at a table to the side. Before the rope drop, I went into the Universal Studio Store, it has a great decor from the different IPs. There wasn’t much merch for the Fan Fest. I was kinda looking for a t-shirt maybe a pin. I was hoping for a pin for each of the different Fan Fest areas. They could have sold a number of Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley shirts and other clothes just with the logo. There was some interesting merch connected to the IPs, the Yoshi stuffies, I saw a Mimic plush bag, and I like the Ceti Eel Lollipop! Merch; display: high, range (clothing, collectibles, candy), ok, needs work, affordability, good, I didn’t buy anything, but thankfully, no high end merch items. 

    Rope drop at Universal Studios Fan Fest Nights, author’s photo. 

Also, at that store were two costume displays; Jean-Luc Picard’s uniform and the Borg, Vox. By the way, I like books on theme parks, maybe magazine-sized, yes, theme parks don’t have them available now, but this is a special event. So I bee lined Star Trek: Red Alert, I think this was so fun, I tried to take pics of the things I missed last time. I really hope this one returns exactly as is, story and characters, next Fan Fest. The only additions I would add are character meet and greets, an Andorian and Vulcan, whom I saw in the experience. There was the photo op of the Enterprise-D bridge , but I think there needs to be something by the walk through experience. Also, a connected food area, I think the highlight of the Las Vegas Star Trek: The Experience, was it empties into the recreation of Quark’s Bar in DS9. There were re-themed Quark’s Bar and Ten Forward for drinks, but these were separate and really only themed by menu items. 

This may not be possible with the space limitations, but I think adding meet and greets and a food area would be a plus. Star Trek: Red Alert; experience: high, story: high, theming: high, characters: good, again the acting was on point, but needs meet and greet. There is supposedly a shuttle that takes you to the Starfleet Museum, ok, but transporters would be more in line with the story. I would not mind a room that just had a vibrating floor, windows, and screens showing movement for a transport shuttle maybe this could be part of the introductory video, running it while you move to the Starfleet Museum. I saw a Starfleet jacket at the store, a little pricey for me, but quality, I’m not certain if I saw comm badges, pins, again a t-shirt with a Star Trek: Red Alert logo would just be dandy. Then, onto Mel's Diner to get the Outtatime Cookie, $5.99. This is a chocolate malt cookie with Whooper pieces, I’m imaging the fire trails and the license plate, also I noticed the BTTF logo on the cookie with sparkling sprinkles! 

A nasty Mimic dand Evilina at Dungeons and Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep, photo by the author. 

I moved to the lower lot, heading towards the First Roll Tavern, and ordered the Gelatinous Cube, $7.99. This was the dessert that had sold out along with the food on the first night. A popular Dungeons & Dragons beastie, it scavenges dungeons, with floating bones of unfortunate adventurers inside its transparent guts! The dessert version was a block of blue raspberry gummy with candy bones! A surprisingly fun snack, it’s rubbery inside was invulnerable to my plastic utensils, so I just messily gobbled it up. Next, it was onto Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep. This time I was on the side of Rogues and Fighters, I got a better sense of the story, you help your party find the Dragonstaff and defeat the Beholder, Xanatar. The interactive element is that you as a group insult him. This should be introduced earlier as a spell to open something or stop the Mimic. I would have like the guests as Wizard and Clerics to help channel the insults (maybe through the Dragonstaff?) into powerful spells. 

I do like that I was at the side of the room where Xanatar sends out his eye stalk blasts and you can see the explosions. Secrets of Waterdeep; experience: very good, more interactivity, maybe a character sheet or something on the characters, Waterdeep, or Xanatar. The best part was that each side has its own part of the experience so hopefully you will go to both sides, story: good, theming: high, characters: very good. I would have liked Evelina to say she was a Tiefling. I was seeing the Xanatar toys out there, but not available at Fan Fest Nights. Again, also no game books, there is a books to introduced D&D, the Young Adventurer’s Collection perfect to have as merch. Then, it was a return to Hill Valley. I got pics of the singing gas station attendants. Also saw Goldie Wilson. Next, I had a good view of the Enchantment Under the Sea dance. I got to see Biff and his sidekick, T-Bone. 

Lorraine and George at Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley, author’s photo. 

A crowd gathered around the Hill Valley sign, it was Marty meeting with George McFly. Then, an awkward meeting with George and Lorraine. The actors move around the square and interact really well, I got a great closeup of Lorraine looking at George. Then, I waited for the Biff confrontation at the car. The guests really get into the excitement and cheer on George. I really like Biff’s henchman, T-Bone, picking him up and then he is the one who tries to dance with Lorraine. He gets thrown by George and ends up dancing with Barbara Hayes who coordinated the dance. Finally, got a good pic with Doc Brown before the finale. Back to the Future: Hill Valley; experience: high, story: high, theming: high, characters: high, live entertainment, singing, dancing: high. One of the best experiences at Fan Fest Nights. I imagine that it might return as Back to the Future: Part II (1989), two Martys?, but hopefully this returns next year! 

A visit to Hogwarts was next, I walked into the square, and saw the pink baby dragon. I missed that one and only saw the Niffler so this was a reverse. The highlight though was the food. I was really intent on getting the Toad in the Hole. The deal with Three Broomsticks was that there was a three course meal for $39. I think the price might have scared away two guests, but really it was worth every penny, and a good selection. The burgers and other theme park fare is just basic. I chose for the starter, the Gryffindor Cornish Pastry, I really like the crust on this one which had potato and pea with red pepper chutney, a bonus. The Toad in the Hole was my main course, it was like having a soup, sausage, and potatos and veggies on the side. The sausage was plant-based and the Vegan Yorkshire pudding was so good. This is one of my favorite meals period. 

Three Broomsticks Three Course Meal; Gryffindor Cornish Pastry, Toad in the Hole, The Golden Snitch, and Iced Tea, photo by the author. 

My drink was just a iced tea, got too much butterbeer. Then, the sparkle to the meal was the dessert, I had the Golden Snitch, it had the golden ball that needs to be broken with chocolate mousse inside! It had honey tuille wings and a cream that made the dessert beautiful! Highly recommended! Food; flavor: high, price: good, service: high, and atmosphere: very good. Three Broomsticks is cavernous and like a cozy, medieval tavern. It was also quiet, I think in the day it is more active, but nice to get away from the noise of the park. I would like a quiet violin or piano that would be relaxing. This was special for Fan Fest Nights, but I hope it returns for the regular theme park. I left Three Broomsticks and found in the square the Occamy from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It was wrapped around his keeper. I love its dragon-like head. Some guests noted that the keeper had great handling with the Occamy and interaction with the guests. 

I finished the night with the anime experiences which I had missed last time. I was just in time for the Luffy meet and greet for One Piece: Grand Pirate Gathering. I was freezing by that time in the night and he was wearing on open shirt and shorts, his energy was amazing, worth the wait. Then, I was told all of the group would be going to another photo op. I also missed this one last time. I think I waited an hour or so for the meet and greet. The fans were so excited that in a group, one would talk with the characters, another one would join, and then the rest of the group. This was a few times. There were favorites like Sanji, Usopp with his staff, and Nami. The team members were really good taking pics, but I would put in a photographer and most likely would pay for the picture. Meet and Greets; interaction: high, photo op area: high, photos: high, and line wait: good plus well organized. I’m going to also note that the team members all take around ten pics, not five or so at other parks. I do like the pics talking with characters taken by Disney cast members. 

The Straw Hat Pirates at the One Piece: Grand Pirate Gathering!, author’s photo.

Lastly, I finished the night with Jujutsu Kaisen: Hunger of the Cursed, this was at the Dreamworks Theater. I was researching a little bit about if beforehand, basically, it is sorcerors in the modern world. The twist is that negative emotions create the Cursed, Energy, an energy that sorcerors use, trained in schools like Harry Potter. The film is a multi-sensorty experience, I would have actually liked 3D glasses, wind, rumbling seats. I have to say I think most anime would be great in 4D! This is about a new school about to be opened and you are the visitors to it. The bulky administrator has lured you there, but Yuji Itadori is there. I do like that the characters are not forced to have Western names now (I’m looking at you Derek Wildstar, instead of Susumu Kodai). He battles along with his friends, but a demon is waiting for everyone below. Love that the audience are potential sorcerors and especially the tie-in Universal Studios Japan (USJ), one character was getting an annual pass! It ends this weekend, May 17th and 18th!, but hopefully returns and gives the chance for fans to live their dreams!  

#UniversalStudios, #FanFestNights, #StarTrekRedAlert, #MelsDiner, #OuttaTimeCookie, #FirstRollTavern, #GelatinousCube, #DungeonsAndDragons, #SecretOfWaterdeep, #BackToTheFuture, #DestinationHillValley, #GeorgeMcFly, #LorraineBaines, #MartyMcFly

#DocBrown, #WizardWorldOfHarryPotter, #BabyDragon, #Occamy, #ThreeBroomsticks, #GryffindorCornishPastry, #ToadInTheHole, #GoldenSnitch, #OnePiece, #GrandPirateGathering, #Luffy, #Sanji, #Usopp, #Nami, #JujutsuKaisen, #HungerOfTheCursed