tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9531297768206291972024-03-27T16:53:26.858-07:00The View From The MountainReviews of Movies, TV, Books, and various things. SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-66710892602454903372024-02-03T19:22:00.000-08:002024-02-03T19:22:57.748-08:00The Last Voyage of the Demeter -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVjGf1OZanFwmLmpoKhHJTb01gFZ2Zn2e-VRQn6CmjYprssUAF_7K-7Jcnbvove9pOGsRdygdM_bU6-6z8hTKXHXCM3GId8VEPpLYahxUxJMRkr0W_UvdUpnwfDhzm0dC8KWFZ3QFTpXMAF0lcK2T4brt_2oipdiRawJn8KpUB-VehzzXi1B4e1D98_8/s848/01.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="848" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVjGf1OZanFwmLmpoKhHJTb01gFZ2Zn2e-VRQn6CmjYprssUAF_7K-7Jcnbvove9pOGsRdygdM_bU6-6z8hTKXHXCM3GId8VEPpLYahxUxJMRkr0W_UvdUpnwfDhzm0dC8KWFZ3QFTpXMAF0lcK2T4brt_2oipdiRawJn8KpUB-VehzzXi1B4e1D98_8/s320/01.jpg"/></a></div><p>
<b>The Last Voyage of the Demeter</b> literally takes a chapter from Bram Stoker’s novel, <b>Dracula</b>. This chapter in the legendary novel that details Dracula’s arrival in England via a sailing ship named the Demeter is pretty scarily effective. It shows the ship beaching itself on the shores of England, with its crew all dead--and, with Dracula apparently on the loose ashore. It creates a dreadful, ominous tone that informs the rest of the story. <p>
And I haven’t given anything away by revealing the ending, because the film itself opens on that very same scene: the Demeter beached on the rocks, with the police and locals gathering around the stricken ship and discovering its horrors. This opening serves as a framing device for the rest of the film, which is told in flashback. But while that chapter shows what happened after the voyage, <b>The Last Voyage of the Demeter</b> attempts to fill in the gaps of the voyage itself. <p>
Or, at least it tries to.<p>
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Horror fans--both fanatical and casual--know that everybody aboard the Demeter is trapped with Dracula himself. So the viewer goes into this film already knowing a great deal. But <b>The Last Voyage of the Demeter</b> doesn’t really shed any new light on the Dracula story, instead showing the characters each slowly becoming aware that there is something inhuman aboard, stalking them all. <p>
But do they try to fight back? No. For the better part of the film, the characters act completely crazy by doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, all while Dracula picks them off. And wouldn’t one think, after a certain point, that Dracula would just drop all the pretense of hiding and just devour everybody in one fell swoop? This movie is another annoying example of characters doing stupid things because the uninspired script requires them to do so--and, as a result, there are long sections of the film where it winds up being pretty boring. <p>
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The production values are all very well done, making us feel as if we’re really aboard a 19th century sailing ship. And the make up effects are also superb, with Dracula being presented as a Nosferatu-like bat creature. When this monster unfurls his wings during a raging storm, he’s a pretty impressive sight to behold. The film shows Dracula flying around the ship often, usually taunting his victims just before putting the bite on them. <p>
But, this also brings up another problem. If Dracula was in full bat mode--with wings--near the end of the voyage, then why didn’t he just fly away once the Demeter got within spitting distance of England? Instead, the film has him engaged in a battle royal aboard the ship just as it’s floating precariously close to the shores of England. Wouldn’t it make more sense for Dracula to just leave the few survivors behind while he goes to set up shop in his new home? Assuming they survive the ship wreck, the survivors would be treated like ranting lunatics by the authorities, anyway. <p>
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That would be a much better ending than the problematic one here that desperately tries to set up a direct sequel between Dracula and one of the surviving characters, which falls flat. Filling in the gaps of an old and beloved tale with a prequel can work, but it takes a really good script, and when the script is lacking, then it just becomes a clunky mess that winds up rewriting the original tale itself while creating plot holes. I have to give the filmmakers credit for trying to approach the Dracula legend from a different angle, but I just wish they had done a better job at it. <b>--SF</b>
<center>The Last Voyage of the Demeter is available on physical media, as well as digitally.</center>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-91814786816830790452024-01-18T11:35:00.000-08:002024-01-18T11:35:27.618-08:00The Creator -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BlxyfC8Y1qa-UlUFKV_DPZWvgtfgcM0uBfkd6gcJ_jVVWo_0PSB6_m2Ji4ttPhb4qxohuu7e_nhD0y7CYQ-FxphU922wJwheKyLEPLrXNqxi6UigDScQZ4zNJXDBl4ZxvtYqUUZv1B1DiY0KN8rXUBuhTbvX3naqfcsJFZJ02F5mYDpGv_Ex3lm8NgE/s1200/Screenshot-2023-09-29-at-9.00.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BlxyfC8Y1qa-UlUFKV_DPZWvgtfgcM0uBfkd6gcJ_jVVWo_0PSB6_m2Ji4ttPhb4qxohuu7e_nhD0y7CYQ-FxphU922wJwheKyLEPLrXNqxi6UigDScQZ4zNJXDBl4ZxvtYqUUZv1B1DiY0KN8rXUBuhTbvX3naqfcsJFZJ02F5mYDpGv_Ex3lm8NgE/s320/Screenshot-2023-09-29-at-9.00.jpg"/></a></div><p>
<b>The Creator</b> was directed by Gareth Edwards, who also directed the superb <b>Monsters</b>; the somewhat annoying 2014 <b>Godzilla</b> (which was pretty good--when you could actually SEE the Big G), and the excellent Star Wars film <b>Rogue One</b>. <b>The Creator</b> takes place midway through the 21st century, when the United States suffers a devastating blow when Los Angeles is destroyed by a nuclear weapon that was set off by an Artificial Intelligence. This prompts the US and its western allies to ban all AI worldwide. When New Asia, a newly formed state in Southeast Asia, refuses to cease using AI, along with its robotic constructs, this creates a war between them and the United States. <p>
In 2070, Sergeant Joshua Taylor (John David Washington) of the US Army, goes into New Asia with a commando force to destroy a special weapon that had been created by the enemy forces. He’s also looking to see if he can find his wife, whom he thought had died five years before, but is now seen to be alive and working for the lab that created this special weapon. Much to his surprise, Taylor discovers that the “weapon” that the New Asian scientists were working on is a young girl, a robotic simulacrum, whom he names Alfie (and who’s very engagingly played by young Madeleine Yuna Voyles).<p>
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<b>The Creator</b> almost plays like a live action anime film, taking place as it does in Southeast Asia and deftly employing its culture within its outstanding futuristic production design. It’s also slightly similar to James Cameron’s first <b>Avatar</b> film in how Taylor here also goes “native” by disobeying his orders, but <b>The Creator</b> thankfully lacks the pretensions of the first <b>Avatar</b>: instead of making Taylor the God-like savior of an entire race, <b>The Creator</b> manages to make Taylor heroic by giving him the more realistic goal of protecting Alfie at all costs.
John David Washington, who was previously seen in Christopher Nolan’s trippy <b>Tenet</b>, gives a sturdy performance here as Taylor. And Allison Janney is also very good as Colonel Howell, the leader of the commando team who has a very good reason to hate the New Asian AI and its robots. The special effects are flawless, easily blending exotic science fiction buildings and tech in with the natural surroundings, and the sheer creativity on display in this film is truly wondrous to see. They take fantastical SF notions and give them a practicality that makes it seem very real. <p>
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The only nitpick I have with <b>The Creator</b> is the opening, where jagged editing makes jumping between timelines a bit confusing. But once the film settles into its main storyline, all is well--save for some plot holes. But despite its flaws, <b>The Creator</b> is worth seeing just for being so visually stunning. <b>Star Trek</b> and <b>Star Wars</b> are the 800 pound gorillas of science fiction in the cinema and on television--and I love them both--but I also always enjoyed the independent science fiction projects that try to dig deeper into the human condition, like <b>2001</b>, <b>Blade Runner</b>, and even recent SF films like <b>Blade Runner 2049</b>, and <b>Ad Astra</b>. <b>The Creator </b>is the latest of these worthy SF films, and while its plot holes keep it from being a completely perfect film, it’s still highly recommended as being a nice addition to the growing list of non-franchise science fiction films. <p>
<center>The Creator is available on physical media and streaming.</center><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-50755400965961028082023-12-24T15:11:00.000-08:002023-12-24T15:13:40.266-08:00Rebel Moon Part One -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w8hv5imysO87E7A21UXugl1EDXOUASRCUCYYfJRxVRhdGFRguqcrcneVwrN0ghNzUivj8UeOlac78P_PnWDjzJnrCfkCd1e0Sp7oZUj5T3oNQZvrJWj2Ez0N9Fw1qIrB5ejrEIIKGpxrmhJn8bFcvqwnRnv9KXRcM7dC5FGm3GY4KZatWQlV5rbbv8s/s1200/rebel-moon-2-6585b8c05a80a.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w8hv5imysO87E7A21UXugl1EDXOUASRCUCYYfJRxVRhdGFRguqcrcneVwrN0ghNzUivj8UeOlac78P_PnWDjzJnrCfkCd1e0Sp7oZUj5T3oNQZvrJWj2Ez0N9Fw1qIrB5ejrEIIKGpxrmhJn8bFcvqwnRnv9KXRcM7dC5FGm3GY4KZatWQlV5rbbv8s/s320/rebel-moon-2-6585b8c05a80a.png"/></a></div><p>
Director Zack Snyder has made enough of my favorite films (<b>Man of Steel</b>, <b>Zack Snyder’s Justice League</b>, the <b>Dawn of the Dead</b> remake) that I genuinely look forward to his latest project. Of course, he’s also made some real stinkers (<b>Sucker Punch</b>, <b>Batman Vs Superman</b>), but everybody has a bad day at the office, right? And I was brightened up considerably when I saw that his latest film, the star-spanning space saga <b>Rebel Moon: Part One: A Child of Fire</b>, would be premiering on my birthday on Netflix. <p>
And then I saw the frigging movie. Seriously, WTF did I do to deserve <i>this</i> on my birthday?<p>
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<b>Rebel Moon</b> first started out life as a pitch for an R-rated <b>Star Wars</b> film that Lucasfilm, the producers of SW, had turned down. Undaunted, Snyder then brought the project to Netflix, and traces of its <b>Star Wars</b> inspiration still remain: the space Nazis, a scene in a cantina, the laser swords that one of the characters uses. But even if a film is derivative--which <b>Rebel Moon</b> certainly is--it can still be great fun. Unfortunately, <b>Rebel Moon</b> isn’t much fun at all.<p>
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There’s virtually no humor in the film, which also borrows its main plot from <b>The Seven Samurai</b>, as well as <b>Battle Beyond the Stars</b> (which still remains the better SF adaptation of <b>Seven Samurai</b>). Sofia Boutella stars as a farm girl whose farming village gets paid a visit by the aforementioned space Nazis, who set up a “deal” to take all of the villagers’ grain at the end of harvest season, leaving them with nothing to eat. And so Boutella (a very good actress who was a standout in movies like <b>Kingsman: The Secret Service</b>, <b>Star Trek Beyond</b>, and <b>Atomic Blonde</b>) goes off to find herself a group of warriors who will help her protect the village.<p>
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In addition to a lack of humor, <b>Rebel Moon</b> also has no characterization to speak of. The characters are so one-dimensional, with no intimate moments between them at all, that they are merely science fiction archetypes who go through the motions of being super-duper action heroes. Many of the settings in the film also feel so familiar that they give you the impression that you’ve seen this movie already, even when you’re watching it for the first time. One character in <b>Rebel Moon</b> must ride a winged creature in a scene that’s straight out of one of the Harry Potter films. <b>Rebel Moon</b> kept imitating so many better films that it made me want to shut it off and watch them throughout its run time. <p>
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Synder has promised a director’s cut of this film, which doesn’t make sense. A director’s cut comes out on video right after a theatrical release, but since he’s already releasing this on Netflix, why not just put the director’s cut out right now? That’s because it’s just part of a cynical ploy to generate hype in launching what Snyder and Netflix hope to be their own <b>Star Wars</b>-type franchise, complete with action figures already in the stores. There’s nothing wrong with starting a new SF franchise. I’m all for it. But Snyder, and Netflix, are forgetting that all of the big science fiction franchises began with one great film, and with <b>Rebel Moon</b> falling flat on its face right out of the gate, their hoped-for franchise may not even take flight. <p>
<center> Rebel Moon: Part One was made exclusively for Netflix.</center><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-24195758938255834022023-11-24T02:01:00.000-08:002023-11-24T09:53:08.401-08:00Fire and Ice -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkj3CIHzFRb0IhxoH1i41ekGtZhU_CPRoqFjZMiFhwV8tpqUpXeVgzh8nfNEdR9bPDaXw9DUQ7u2Nv93ikcttvTvGaAZSBemEDJLcL77OFGmufYZuiH6Lw3_9c0J3alado1_RM4qiDiAeqJscKHclxqP0w4g5qaw2amqKZkDK-mFichLO7-kFqu0yrcM/s853/01.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkj3CIHzFRb0IhxoH1i41ekGtZhU_CPRoqFjZMiFhwV8tpqUpXeVgzh8nfNEdR9bPDaXw9DUQ7u2Nv93ikcttvTvGaAZSBemEDJLcL77OFGmufYZuiH6Lw3_9c0J3alado1_RM4qiDiAeqJscKHclxqP0w4g5qaw2amqKZkDK-mFichLO7-kFqu0yrcM/s320/01.jpg"/></a></div><p>
I was watching a video on YouTube about the "wacky" animated fantasy films of the 80s, and it made me realize that this year marks the fortieth anniversary of <b>Fire And Ice</b>. Unlike the other fantasy films (both animated and live-action) that were released in the 1980s, <b>Fire And Ice</b> was notable because it was a collaboration between animated film director Ralph Bakshi (<b>Fritz the Cat</b>, <b>Wizards</b>) and noted fantasy illustrator Frank Frazetta. <b>Fire And Ice</b> takes its inspiration more from the <b>Conan the Barbarian</b> stories (which Frazetta became first known for, having drawn the covers for them) rather than the <b>Lord of the Rings</b>. Bakshi was no stranger to J.R.R. Tolken’s works, having produced his own animated version of <b>LOTR</b> a few years prior.<p>
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Bakshi re-used his favorite form of animation, called rotoscoping, where actors are filmed onstage, and their actions on film are then hand-drawn, frame by frame, by an animator onto cells. This provides a far more realistic and gritty look than would be offered in a traditional animated film (at least back then), and it’s a technique that served the darker, bloodier story much better. The film was written by Roy Thomas & Gerry Conway--who also wrote the <b>Conan The Barbarian</b> comics for Marvel, and they did a very good job in crafting the story.<p>
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Taking place in a long-forgotten realm, the evil wizard Nekron sends giant icebergs south into the human realms, threatening Firekeep, ruled over by King Jarol. But before the icebergs even reach Firekeep, Nekron orders a delegation from his realm to make peace with Jarol. However, Nekron also sends a second team of warriors to Firekeep, and it’s their job to kidnap Teegra, the princess of Firekeep, in the hopes that her abduction will force Jarol to surrender. The cold-hearted fiends!<p>
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<b>Fire And Ice</b> is still an enjoyable watch for me after all of these years. Although a couple of things seem a bit off, like how they use the annoying trope of having an attacking character yell out before he charges, easily warning his enemy beforehand. And the film feels very over-sexed with Teegra, who runs around in a teeny weeny bikini--which may be fine for the tropical jungles of Firekeep, but she looks very chilly running through the ice and snow of the villains’ lair in that same scant outfit. <p>
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But the pterodactyl flight through the frozen halls of Icepeak is this movie’s version of X-Wing fighters attacking the Death Star, and it’s still pretty cool to watch. And the behind the scenes trivia is fascinating: the late artist Thomas Kinkade, whose Christmas ornaments have hung from many a tree, worked on the backgrounds on <b>Fire And Ice</b>. The creator of <b>Aeon Flux</b>, Peter Chung, was a layout artist, here. And James Gurney, the creator of the <b>Dinotopia</b> illustrated books, was another background painter. <p>
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<b>Fire And Ice</b> is a fun film for fans of the wild, visionary (and sexually charged) fantasy realms of the legendary Frank Frazetta, because it’s the only movie that really brought his vivid imagination to life. <b>--SF </b> <p>
<center><b>Fire And Ice</b> is available on streaming services and can be bought digitally. The physical media copies appear to be out of print, so if you find one, grab it.<p></center>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-88179275881063166652023-10-30T23:18:00.000-07:002023-10-30T23:18:54.224-07:00Wilderness -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZym0QHduX9pHF7Rw560HwF3E6oMLSgWKGnhN1BjvxnlS-7j766iGYw7wcAsGpSVgHB_bSQuONk1EuNsVebW2wmxlHzkoPVVCki7SjnZcmrRuonCRH0qsViMt9R-SPTi9Mzn1XB9ahFqcrd7_5VmCuVAPi1ZmYx1McGjR5ehWioXEHGI_LqQOgDOuGbc/s1000/img-jenna-coleman_131944711091-1000x665.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZym0QHduX9pHF7Rw560HwF3E6oMLSgWKGnhN1BjvxnlS-7j766iGYw7wcAsGpSVgHB_bSQuONk1EuNsVebW2wmxlHzkoPVVCki7SjnZcmrRuonCRH0qsViMt9R-SPTi9Mzn1XB9ahFqcrd7_5VmCuVAPi1ZmYx1McGjR5ehWioXEHGI_LqQOgDOuGbc/s320/img-jenna-coleman_131944711091-1000x665.jpg"/></a></div><p>
I was a huge fan of Jenna Coleman when she played Clara Osborn, the companion to the eleventh and twelfth Doctor Who (played by Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi, respectively). Doctor Who, a sort of mad magician who literally travels through space and time, can be an intimidating character, but Coleman more than held her own, plying an engaging performance that was self-assured without being too arrogant. Her time on the program, stretched across the better episodes of two of the Doctors, was extremely memorable for me. <p>
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So when I heard that Coleman was starring in Wilderness, a mini-series for the Amazon Prime streaming service, I was more than happy to give it a shot. Of course, I waited until all of the episodes were up. I hate the trend with some streamers reverting to the old ’one episode per week’ tactic; I’d rather binge-watch the whole thing over a day or two, which was easy to do with Wilderness, seeing how it only had six episodes, overall. But the first episode was slow going, and it felt so much like a bad soap opera that I had considered quitting, but I stuck with it. And I'm glad that I did.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZemUs8l2rb-OM8Mepu4TdtsswbnB-r3WDk0CyqP9bgPmJK7GpZKN50bK-qjBg4hUkAYDH_nsgT8GjKmKG-CKK850Nz8iNZ9btv4QNRpQkGcMv3vv0T0KgxJd3W9mSPDYFlyZldzibL4K4UZOFNKCHVWfAweIyJWN85Xcrqg8lHDxvtwX8A80P4qWavzQ/s1024/WDNS_S1_UT_201_07072022_SCHKAI_00129.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZemUs8l2rb-OM8Mepu4TdtsswbnB-r3WDk0CyqP9bgPmJK7GpZKN50bK-qjBg4hUkAYDH_nsgT8GjKmKG-CKK850Nz8iNZ9btv4QNRpQkGcMv3vv0T0KgxJd3W9mSPDYFlyZldzibL4K4UZOFNKCHVWfAweIyJWN85Xcrqg8lHDxvtwX8A80P4qWavzQ/s320/WDNS_S1_UT_201_07072022_SCHKAI_00129.jpg"/></a></div><p>
Coleman plays Olivia (“Call me Liv”) Taylor, a British woman who happily moves to New York City when her husband Will (Oliver Jackson Cohen) gets a job on the staff of a major hotel. While Olivia gave up her journalist job in England to basically be a housewife, she feels she’ll be able to use the free time she has to write a novel. But on Christmas Eve, just after Will comes home, Olivia discovers that he had been having an affair with another woman at work. <p>
After undergoing the expected turbulence that such a revelation would bring to a marriage, Olivia agrees to stick it out with Will by going on an extended vacation with him across the United States. But Olivia, who also narrates this tale, makes it clear that she still very much despises Will--who is revealed to have had affairs with at least two women, and has promised one of them (caught on video) that he shall leave Olivia. For her part, Olivia plans to use this trip to kill her cheating husband in an “accident.” All she needs is the right place and the right time.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UIlKAuhW99SCo2LNt7H7aHXHNvqEO435BFHbZf3Lf_abMANhM7wS6QzxUFVxqLPAD2jIy_fb6LEm9MCxWtBM7i8PW0aeENSLWdU84wXphh_Vm74z25hGgWz4Dug4oPQsQcWP-UVG39xYU4CMoJ4RgVurGmPIsR6kqtst2z34sW9EZMIp-P7F5jP2ErA/s1115/assets.aboutamazon.com.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UIlKAuhW99SCo2LNt7H7aHXHNvqEO435BFHbZf3Lf_abMANhM7wS6QzxUFVxqLPAD2jIy_fb6LEm9MCxWtBM7i8PW0aeENSLWdU84wXphh_Vm74z25hGgWz4Dug4oPQsQcWP-UVG39xYU4CMoJ4RgVurGmPIsR6kqtst2z34sW9EZMIp-P7F5jP2ErA/s320/assets.aboutamazon.com.jpg"/></a></div><p>
Once it reaches this black-hearted stage, Wilderness stops being a dopey soap opera and almost soars to Hitchcockian heights. Almost. While it’s a very well done and suspenseful crime drama (based on the novel by B. E. Jones), it still can’t quite shake its soapy flourishes. But I found myself rooting for Olivia throughout this saga. Coleman manages to make her character’s descent into murder gripping to watch without completely dehumanizing her, and the twists and turns are captivating without making things too silly. Wilderness wound up being an entertaining and engrossing thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat till the end. <b>--SF</b><p>
<center>Wilderness is available only on the Amazon Prime streaming service.</center><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-7644718242061737682023-10-04T16:55:00.001-07:002023-10-05T04:36:23.978-07:00Batbike<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQWmseEoUL2UQjQMnr0ROI3v_ZKFqFuTCbnorzck2HokuWNM3Uw4MbR_Q53KsQKPMgGILj_uaUgcjq9Wp0lM63urSsr7R7aq4l5Ecr3HLOiju3r7JZt1EZiyyT2tqjjVxeJdnotaFCZgWkN-MdbrAZAx4Sj3mwIeSSalUPxoKM1JZvnZnNhz7PodcyWE/s2592/IMG_7745.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQWmseEoUL2UQjQMnr0ROI3v_ZKFqFuTCbnorzck2HokuWNM3Uw4MbR_Q53KsQKPMgGILj_uaUgcjq9Wp0lM63urSsr7R7aq4l5Ecr3HLOiju3r7JZt1EZiyyT2tqjjVxeJdnotaFCZgWkN-MdbrAZAx4Sj3mwIeSSalUPxoKM1JZvnZnNhz7PodcyWE/s320/IMG_7745.JPG"/></a></div><p>
I was a toddler when the Adam West Batman series first aired in the late 1960s, and I just ate it all up. My father originally built this model kit of the Batbike that was seen on the show. <p>
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They re-released this model kit back in 2003, and after recently finding the unbuilt kit in my stash, I decided to build this myself.<p>
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The pictures you see here are of my build of the 2003 re-release of the Batbike. I don't know what happened to the original that my father built; it was lost to time. <p>
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I just finished building this Batbike just a couple of days ago. The kit was a complete replica of the original 1960s kit, and it was pretty easy to build.<p>
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I always loved the sidecar with Robin on this design.<p>
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Just like my father, I didn't glue the cart into place. I wanted Robin to be able to go off on his own little jaunts.<p>SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-68614561504394065792023-09-12T17:14:00.002-07:002023-09-12T17:19:00.341-07:00Operation Fortune -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pNDpwvo4EITacoqO56vnbaybHgkbJwh4CW6f0ONsfxTKxzktZiB7Uks9A_TWpIwIpoj0F7vw0o15Bw2zwHNRu_Z1JIaW_fTixYJ5vPzAv66sv2_h_yNQy2d2nV3yTXU4b8alBDN32uqsTkSm-wgP8Kjqo42JIrvmTSJOkbUcv7sC-ODjpaEKgSvZiY4/s848/01.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="848" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pNDpwvo4EITacoqO56vnbaybHgkbJwh4CW6f0ONsfxTKxzktZiB7Uks9A_TWpIwIpoj0F7vw0o15Bw2zwHNRu_Z1JIaW_fTixYJ5vPzAv66sv2_h_yNQy2d2nV3yTXU4b8alBDN32uqsTkSm-wgP8Kjqo42JIrvmTSJOkbUcv7sC-ODjpaEKgSvZiY4/s320/01.jpg"/></a></div><p>
Director Guy Ritchie is making a lot of movies, lately. Ritchie will make a big-league film--like <b>Aladdin</b>, for Disney--and then go off and make a mid-budget movie immediately afterward. And this is a good thing. Because the more Guy Ritchie films, the merrier. His latest, <b>Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre</b>, stars Jason Statham as Orson Fortune, a cool, suave, James Bond-type agent who does special missions for the British government. Cary Elwes plays Nathan, his long suffering handler, who constantly has to explain Fortune’s maverick antics to Knighton, their tedious boss at MI6 (well-played by long-time Ritchie collaborator Eddie Marsan). <p>
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Fortune is called upon once more when an experimental weapon known only as “the Handle” has been stolen from a secret lab. Tracking the theft to international arms dealer Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant, who seems to be having a lot of fun here), Fortune must stop Simmonds before he can sell the Handle to a buyer. Fortune is teamed up with JJ (Bugzy Malone), whom he’s worked with before, and computer expert Sarah (Aubrey Plaza), whom he hasn’t. And while she’s very good at her job, Sarah’s laid-back attitude is hard for Fortune to get used to.<p>
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Josh Hartnett is also superb as a hapless Hollywood actor whom the team recruits into their scheme. The result is a breezy, fun action-comedy that plays like a slightly more realistic and humorous take on the <b>Mission Impossible</b> films. Jason Statham brings his usual tough-guy charm to bear, and it works very well. Aubrey Plaza is another highlight; she’s often hysterically funny as the droll, dry-witted Sarah, who almost steals the movie. Although it’s comedic, the film treats its threats seriously, with the humor coming from the characters’ reactions to the situations. <p>
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Despite its clunky title, <b>Operation Fortune</b> winds up being a fun, free-wheeling movie that’s genuinely funny. It was originally made back in early 2021, and was supposed to be released a lot sooner, but was held back for various reasons, before seeing a release in early 2023. Sadly, it didn’t make much money at the box office. That’s a shame, because I would really love seeing another fun spy adventure with the cool Fortune, and the plucky Sarah, along with the rest of their crew. <b>--SF</b><p>
<center>Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre is out on streaming and is also on physical media. </center>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-48652286306305297052023-08-12T19:56:00.000-07:002023-08-12T19:56:55.067-07:00Dr. Strange 1978 -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VCUTbIzocqMc8zS8eDGO7aB9v6uwNWroTQFKxjDX49zpEddzWkcy-SadwsE9Nb2GfgxJFut9iHBRyr8Ai5EQcJeynWY39SGqQMNAUOmoKJAvdAJVxzmFHyRgODIqJVCoOhHr7HnXYH2-jzMId3Ez93H3oyA43sa5R2c6fObePSCPYv29AB5RXtUseeI/s640/08.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VCUTbIzocqMc8zS8eDGO7aB9v6uwNWroTQFKxjDX49zpEddzWkcy-SadwsE9Nb2GfgxJFut9iHBRyr8Ai5EQcJeynWY39SGqQMNAUOmoKJAvdAJVxzmFHyRgODIqJVCoOhHr7HnXYH2-jzMId3Ez93H3oyA43sa5R2c6fObePSCPYv29AB5RXtUseeI/s320/08.jpg"/></a></div><p>
Since exploding onto the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016’s <b>Doctor Strange</b>, the eponymous hero--also known as the Sorcerer Supreme--has been a trusted ally in the fight against evil in several of the MCU films. But the 2016 movie was not the very first time that the mystical adventures of <b>Doctor Strange</b> was caught on film. Forty five years ago this year, a TV movie starring Peter Hooten as the heroic sorcerer was released. In the 1978 TV movie, Hooten’s Stephen Strange was a psychiatrist on staff at a hospital in NYC, when he comes across an interesting case.<p>
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A young woman (Eddie Benton) shows up in bad shape. Suffering from amnesia, she’s very disoriented and unsure of who or where she is. Yet the viewer has already seen what has happened to this woman, who turns out to be a college student named Clea Lake. Clea had been used as a pawn in a battle between sorcerers Lindmer (John Mills) and Morgan le Fay (Jessica Walter). The evil Morgan le Fay had used Clea--temporarily possessing her--into pushing Lindmer off of a pedestrian bridge. Although badly injured, Lindmer survives this attempted murder through his magic. <p>
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But as <b>Dr. Strang</b>e soon discovers, Clea has been left seriously debilitated since she had been used as a puppet, and in this weakened state, she’s left highly susceptible to whatever dark magic is out there. And rest assured, there’s plenty more dark magic to come. The TV film version of <b>Dr. Strange</b> was meant to be a backdoor pilot for a TV series, which was never picked up, sadly. This TV movie was not only my very first exposure to this character as a boy, but also to a fascinating concept that the film proposed. <p>
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Up until that point in my young life, I was always intimidated by horror movies, and even horror stories and books. They often had these overwhelming threats--almost always supernatural in nature--that seemed just too big, too powerful, for any normal person to overcome. And if they did overcome them, it was usually at a great cost. But <b>Dr. Strange</b> posited that while there were indeed scary things that went bump in the night, there were also good sorcerers of equal power--like Strange--who actively fought against the darkness and all of its denizens. <p>
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This very same idea, of a super-powered human battling the forces of evil, would later be repeated with the marvelous <b>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</b> TV series. Being originally introduced to this notion by the <b>Dr. Strange</b> TV movie was very empowering for me, and because of this, I was no longer intimidated by horror. Instead I embraced it by reading the <b>Doctor Strange</b> comics (since I was denied a TV series) and soon went on to read the works of Stephen King (and others) and started watching and enjoying horror movies. <p>
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Screen and stage star Sir John Mills, the father of actresses Juliet Mills (<b>Nanny and the Professor</b>) and Haley Mills (<b>Pollyanna</b>), lends the perfect air of legitimacy with his stately performance as Lindmer. Jessica Walter, who previously starred in Clint Eastwood’s <b>Play Misty For Me</b>, and would be better known for her later work on <b>Arrested Development</b>, easily holds her own as a malevolent villain who’s set upon her evil deeds. And Lindmer’s assistant, Wong, is well-played by veteran actor Clyde Kusatsu.<p>
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Forty five years on, the TV movie surprisingly holds up pretty well. Granted, the effects here may seem cheesy--especially compared to the VFX seen in the 2016 <b>Doctor Strange</b>, and its equally fun <a href="https://viewfrommountain.blogspot.com/2022/09/doctor-strange-in-multiverse-of-madness.html" target="_blank">2022 sequel</a>--but they serve their purpose in the telling of this entertaining tale, which is basically an origin story for Strange, who inherits the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme from Lindmer. It’s a more subtle, less flashy take on <b>Dr. Strange</b> that I think still works. And with the MCU’s recent foray into the concept of multi-universes, I like to think that Peter Hooten’s<b> Dr. Strange</b> is still out there, somewhere, perhaps now recruiting a new apprentice to follow him as the Sorcerer Supreme. <b>--SF</b><p>
<center>Dr. Strange 1978 is available on <a href="https://amzn.to/3OW37sF" target="_blank">DVD by Shout! Factory.</a></center><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-32616570586991089332023-07-31T04:27:00.000-07:002023-07-31T04:27:00.204-07:00My Klingon D-7 Space Dock<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-2Ay5xp2c_Jkvj1chX74CgzoVNgbHznbC7ZuJKFGY9fFzn5SbbGn2Eq2SboHyuByDEITz2w6LIB-4c90EhiJa5s16kO9pZivqat0si_LjjJgbKwAqMfPddwiNexeHI3Htjj1Jr1OYxmWAyWiCh1bvFJY-x5sQa9ZXdU4mNp5x_zLm_3cChnXbztofmA/s2592/IMG_7738.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-2Ay5xp2c_Jkvj1chX74CgzoVNgbHznbC7ZuJKFGY9fFzn5SbbGn2Eq2SboHyuByDEITz2w6LIB-4c90EhiJa5s16kO9pZivqat0si_LjjJgbKwAqMfPddwiNexeHI3Htjj1Jr1OYxmWAyWiCh1bvFJY-x5sQa9ZXdU4mNp5x_zLm_3cChnXbztofmA/s320/IMG_7738.JPG"/></a></div><p>
I had this 1/1000th scale model kit (from Polar Lights) of the Klingon D-7 battleship from Star Trek on my hands. So I decided to build a space dock for it.<p>
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I knew I wanted some kind of gantry covering the ship on top, so I used these plastic girders from Evergreen and assembled them into the basic shape of the D-7.<p>
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I scratch-built the buildings you see on the gantry from styrene sheet. Then I covered them with greeblies--these are bits and pieces of model kits that I placed on the surface of the buildings to give them some texture.<p>
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I also made sure to give the D-7 plenty of battle damage, so as to give it a good reason to come in for repairs.<p>
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And so, after a really rambunctious time on the Romulan DMZ, the Klingon Battlecruiser K'Prang pulls in for repairs and some blood wine. Then it's back out to play with those pesky Romulans some more. K'plah! <p>SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-5173652388258214092023-07-22T02:31:00.000-07:002023-07-22T02:31:13.635-07:00Woman of the Dead -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-oscq1sBl5mjYg9DbG4WKP03M92RHrZqTx8Tt-f_errbyabzaASZHPxuaj3AsCVGhGc9Yzxcpi_BTOjBtTQU-B2e58LK0OIFdBXThhl8nSZkauinPEKtZNA3wKHdAK13n77FDisADoqHeFuSNnr6VW4nSxx09_UNSKovbLMbujjsznxwqU83GXSucMc/s800/Woman-of-the-Dead-But-Why-Tho.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-oscq1sBl5mjYg9DbG4WKP03M92RHrZqTx8Tt-f_errbyabzaASZHPxuaj3AsCVGhGc9Yzxcpi_BTOjBtTQU-B2e58LK0OIFdBXThhl8nSZkauinPEKtZNA3wKHdAK13n77FDisADoqHeFuSNnr6VW4nSxx09_UNSKovbLMbujjsznxwqU83GXSucMc/s320/Woman-of-the-Dead-But-Why-Tho.jpg"/></a></div><p>
Back in January of this year, Netflix premiered <b>Woman of the Dead</b>, a crime thriller from Austria with slight supernatural overtones. I figured I’d give it a shot, since I was in the mood for a good Lifetime-type crime story. Do you know what I mean when I refer to these Lifetime TV movies? They’re goofy crime “thrillers” regarding soccer moms who become amateur sleuths that wind up being so silly that they’re more unintentionally funny than anything else. But within the first fifteen minutes of its first episode, <b>Woman of the Dead</b> proves itself to be more of a Hitchcockian thriller: a darker, high-brow, and sophisticated thriller that’s genuinely exciting.<p>
Anna Maria Mühe stars as Brunhilde Blum (everybody calls her Blum), an undertaker in a small Austrian mountain town where it seemingly snows all year round. Her beloved husband works as a cop with the local police force--until the moment when he gets savagely run down on his motorcycle by a black Range Rover that abruptly takes off afterward. With her husband now dead, Blum, soon getting sick of all the platitudes, and with no movement on the hunt for whoever ran her husband down, decides to take matters into her own hands. <p>
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But while <b>Woman of the Dead</b> starts out as a far better take on the amateur sleuth tale, it manages to go even further in terms of quality, once Blum drops all pretense of seeking justice and goes all out for black-hearted vengeance. Now, as it dives into extreme violence and a depraved conspiracy between the pillars of the community, <b>Woman of the Dead</b> becomes more like a David Fincher film (<b>Panic Room</b>, the remake of <b>The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo</b>), and that’s a very good thing. At this point, an already exciting story has now become supercharged with suspense, as we cheer for Blum while recoiling from her dark escapades. <p>
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Anna Maria Mühe is marvelous as an initially meek undertaker who becomes an avenging angel in her single-minded pursuit of revenge for her husband. Her normally ghoulish job actually becomes a huge help to her in her murderous quest (it’s perfect for hiding bodies). And unlike most Hitchcock films, where bad things befall innocent characters, it’s slowly revealed that seeking vengeance for her husband has awakened a darker side within Blum, and God help all who stand in her way.<p>
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The only downside to <b>Woman of the Dead</b> is the supernatural element, which is very slight. Blum carries on casual conversations with the corpses that she works on in her mortuary and its presented in such a subtle way that the viewer can’t help but wonder if she’s really speaking to the deceased, or if it’s all in her mind. Blum’s dead husband never communicates with her--neither do any of the dead connected with the case, which makes me wonder why the supernatural element is even present in the first place, since it doesn’t really serve the story. <p>
But it’s Blum’s determined, no holds barred quest for vengeance that really makes <b>Woman of the Dead</b> worth your while. It’s an unrelentingly suspenseful ride with a heroine who proves to be just as nasty as the cold-blooded monsters she takes on. <b>Woman of the Dead</b> is presented on Netflix in an English-dubbed version. There are still captions available for the deaf and hard of hearing. <b>--SF</b>
<center>Woman of the Dead is only available on Netflix.</center><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-44213307572414970892023-07-09T19:30:00.002-07:002023-07-09T19:38:04.155-07:00The Legend of Hell House -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fpVv_w1I5areqH_C1t3d0doaoIPdAgSTRaawXvCLxk-zEh05JujK-7ggT4xvoQ9sFev00hoypXSRruywaak9PKd5AJ90VnYtRQ3R9XmB-fNMCplPvdbKLah8DLxPNqR4QmwDYU8qlQnZwFG_O792XAdYXKCIWavAooQcGzSuPaaT_BofvgJI7Yl_xuE/s853/01.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fpVv_w1I5areqH_C1t3d0doaoIPdAgSTRaawXvCLxk-zEh05JujK-7ggT4xvoQ9sFev00hoypXSRruywaak9PKd5AJ90VnYtRQ3R9XmB-fNMCplPvdbKLah8DLxPNqR4QmwDYU8qlQnZwFG_O792XAdYXKCIWavAooQcGzSuPaaT_BofvgJI7Yl_xuE/s320/01.jpg"/></a></div><p>
Released in June of 1973, <b>The Legend of Hell House</b> was a supernatural gothic horror movie that was based on the book, <b>Hell House</b>, written by Richard Matheson. On the surface, <b>The Legend of Hell House</b> can be seen as a remake of <b>The Haunting</b>, the 1963 classic ghost story movie that was adapted from <b>The Haunting of Hill House</b>, the equally classic Shirley Jackson novel. Both films deal with paranormal investigators probing a legendary haunted house, but Matheson’s take on the story was different in that science played a stronger role, and Hell House had a very nice twist at the end. <p>
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Directed by John Hough (he also helmed <b>Twins of Evil</b>, and <b>Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry</b>, among others), <b>Hell House</b> abruptly begins when physicist Dr. Lionel Barrett (Clive Revill) is called to the estate of a millionaire (Roland Culver), who makes him an enticing offer: take a paranormal team to The Belasco House, otherwise known as “the Mount Everest of haunted houses,” to determine if there is any evidence of an afterlife. This is a limited time offer and Barrett must make his decision quickly. <p>
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Of course, he goes ghost hunting. Barrett brings with him his wife, Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt), along with two psychics: the young and extremely powerful psychic Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin) and Benjamin Fischer (Roddy McDowall), who was part of an earlier investigation into the Belasco House that ended in disaster. Dr. Barrett, a staunch man of science, soon clashes with the head-strong Florence over their varying methods. But it’s not long before everybody starts clashing with each other and everything as the dark forces of Hell House begins grinding them down.<p>
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I own The <b>Legend of Hell House</b> on DVD, and having recently re-watched it in light of its fiftieth anniversary this year, I have to say that the movie holds up extremely well. I also read Matheson’s novel, many years ago, and the movie is much more tamer than the book, only suggesting the horrors and debauchery that the novel graphically described in detail. But this restraint in showing the horrors on-screen only helps the movie immensely, because the scare scenes are that much more effective because the viewer has to imagine what’s there. <p>
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One particularly unsettling scene--both when I first saw it as a child and even now as an adult--is the “sitting” scene, where Florence tries to contact the spirits of the house while connected to various scientific gizmos that Dr. Bennett is overseeing. Florence goes into a deep trance as thin white streams of ectoplasm emit from her fingertips. It’s not a big “horror” moment, in the sense that extreme violence breaks out--instead it’s a very subtle moment, which is given a really eerie feel by the deep red lighting, that’s still effectively creepy even now. <p>
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The film’s unusual music score, by Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson, is also extremely well-done. It sets up a dark, menacing mood from the very first scene with its low thrumming that helps to build up the frightening atmosphere and looming danger. The film is still genuinely scary, even after fifty years, and its bigger shock moments still land wonderfully--with the exception of a cat-attack scene that plays more funny than anything else, with Pamela Franklin battling what obviously looks like a stuffed cat in some shots.<p>
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But the screenplay, adapted by Matheson from his novel, is still very sturdy and well-thought out. He presents a mystery deep within the core of the story that you easily become engrossed in. I’ve heard rumors of a remake of <b>Hell House</b> coming soon, but I’m still quite happy with the original version. It makes for a great double feature with <b>The Haunting</b>. <b>--SF</b><p>
<center>The Legend of Hell House is available on <a href="https://amzn.to/46Hwt4H" target="_blank">digital</a>, but it's also on <a href="https://amzn.to/44CNIT6" target="_blank">physical media.</a></center><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-27364372656484076112023-05-31T23:46:00.004-07:002023-06-01T03:23:59.940-07:00Dungeons & Dragons 2023 -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8610va_mcHOT80gQK176zkK6Rc_-B7oYjgaob7ZVeY7MC2sKdK_QQpHDiIJAEU5afiBg3PwZpiif-wKO8kAcU-W9Wleq_W21kOLWHdR_gSPOMPHmkFhZ6wDFvi6qtT5s8R18_FJqrdCm6ojZiUeQ36qEhbCOHIIngEG_gWTn-purk1r9bD_Ofwld/s848/01.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="848" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8610va_mcHOT80gQK176zkK6Rc_-B7oYjgaob7ZVeY7MC2sKdK_QQpHDiIJAEU5afiBg3PwZpiif-wKO8kAcU-W9Wleq_W21kOLWHdR_gSPOMPHmkFhZ6wDFvi6qtT5s8R18_FJqrdCm6ojZiUeQ36qEhbCOHIIngEG_gWTn-purk1r9bD_Ofwld/s320/01.jpg"/></a></div><p>
After a disastrous first attempt at making a movie in 2000, with <b>Dungeons & Dragons</b>, they’ve tried it again in 2023 with <b>Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves</b>. And this time, they’ve scored a bullseye in creating a very successful quest. Fresh from the behind the scenes shenanigans of the vastly disappointing <b>Don’t Worry Darling</b>, Chris Pine stars (and also has a producer credit) here as charming thief Edgin Darvis, who breaks out of jail with his partner in crime Holga Kilgore, played by the always great Michelle Rodriguez. <p>
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Edgin is eager to reconnect with Kira (Chloe Coleman), his young daughter, whom he left behind when he and Holga got caught while trying to pull a heist. They were out to score a magical amulet that would have brought Edgin’s deceased wife back from the dead. But, Edgin discovers that his old partner, Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant)--who promised Edgin that he would take care of Kira--has become the ruler of the city of Neverwinter, and that Forge had poisoned Kira against Edgin and Holga. After barely escaping being murdered by the machinations of Sofina (Daisy Head), a powerful wizard working with Forge, Edgin and Holga form a team to infiltrate Neverwinter so they can rescue Kira. <p>
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Running against the current grain of the “dark and gloomy epic fantasy saga with everybody fighting to save the world” trend, the new <b>D&D</b> movie is a more vibrant, family-friendly adventure that’s a welcome change of pace. But while the <b>D&D</b> ‘23 movie is lighter in tone than most of the recent darker TV fantasy productions, it still takes its threats and villains very seriously in very well-executed action sequences. Even the extensive CGI sequences are extremely well done; they support the story while creating a great deal of tension without taking over the film. <p>
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The focus here is on the characters, and it helps that the movie has a great cast. Hugh Grant is superb as the dastardly, back-stabbing Forge. And Daisy Head is appropriately creepy as the mysterious Sofina. Justice Smith does a good job in playing Simon Aumar, a young sorcerer who’s always done in by his insecurities. Sophia Lillis, who was so good in the <b>It</b> remake films, is also great here as Doric, a shape-shifter who doesn’t trust humans (and with good reason). <p>
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Directors Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley have crafted the perfect blend of comedy and adventure, while deftly bringing to life the vast, imaginative fantasy world that these characters inhabit. Much like the Star Wars films, this <b>D&D</b> movie also has various critters and people wandering around in the background, giving the viewer the sense that there is a fully-evolved world that exist just beyond the fringes of the story we’re watching. The new <b>D&D</b> film was such a pleasure for me to watch that I really want to see more of these characters, and their well-thought out fantasy world, in a sequel. But even if we don’t get a sequel, <b>Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves</b> can still confidentially stand alone as a highly enjoyable entry in the ever-growing fantasy film/TV genre. <b>--SF</b><p>
<center>Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves can be seen on the Paramount+ streaming service. It is also available on all physical media.</center><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-25932323521297781312023-05-19T18:14:00.000-07:002023-05-19T18:14:01.497-07:00The Ant Man films -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJwjvv3pToT_dcMuspd7jyGMdRt4-K4l476T2fkOTyOkJJn78GNOaTZ1An_BCuO4Ect5t7z4U9NBl3WKIJRWV_pJ0xyYT_ma-UCHDHkqFvIJZ3d6GSdcG5vBkTo677FxFvF4bgfQngNhsSymdoL8dxiod5yx2WrYh6t2p65A-zIyLWhjxHYKpmEqI/s700/42cc3c51ea5be30f658fd4d8331eafa0db-27-ant-man-wasp.rhorizontal.w700.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJwjvv3pToT_dcMuspd7jyGMdRt4-K4l476T2fkOTyOkJJn78GNOaTZ1An_BCuO4Ect5t7z4U9NBl3WKIJRWV_pJ0xyYT_ma-UCHDHkqFvIJZ3d6GSdcG5vBkTo677FxFvF4bgfQngNhsSymdoL8dxiod5yx2WrYh6t2p65A-zIyLWhjxHYKpmEqI/s320/42cc3c51ea5be30f658fd4d8331eafa0db-27-ant-man-wasp.rhorizontal.w700.jpg"/></a></div><p>
The first<b> Ant Man</b> movie was a pleasant surprise when it was released back in 2015. Paul Rudd starred in the title role as a man who can shrink himself down to the size of an ant (and more), thanks to a special suit. The film was well-directed by Peyton Reed, who took over at the last minute from director Edgar Wright (<b>Shaun of the Dead</b>). While <b>Ant Man</b> is considered a second-tier hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he’s been around since his first appearance in 1962, in the comic <b>Tales To Astonish</b>, having been created by such big-league comics talents as Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby. <p>
The first <b>Ant Man</b> film worked superbly by having its titular character operate as a street level hero. Rudd plays Scott Lang, an ex-convict who’s struggling to make it in the world, only to fall back into a life of crime, thanks to Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and his grown daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly). Hank was the one who created the Ant Man suit, and the movie reveals that he was the original Ant Man, working as a counterintelligence operative with his wife, who was the Wasp, back in the 1980s. Hank and Hope recruit Scott into an elaborate heist to use the Ant Man suit to stop a tech billionaire (Corey Stoll) from weaponizing the Ant Man tech. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxgyp1jNHzqsM-_RufibWxgAqPocCbD16ZF7IRmuVmnWOb4HuiWvjl9DVLigf07mJWeSexPQOHVFC7BWIEGr_pWXb1Hb5gIhhEXEy0uBgh6m9x_EpR0CAvuZ_EGFL9LGAeoM7xhQN1xxsxD9LQIcyjITYzVL3DlorfSzBsEMRkoPMmW5BbqvXQ_Xe/s1200/cbl-12707-r-1530562343.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxgyp1jNHzqsM-_RufibWxgAqPocCbD16ZF7IRmuVmnWOb4HuiWvjl9DVLigf07mJWeSexPQOHVFC7BWIEGr_pWXb1Hb5gIhhEXEy0uBgh6m9x_EpR0CAvuZ_EGFL9LGAeoM7xhQN1xxsxD9LQIcyjITYzVL3DlorfSzBsEMRkoPMmW5BbqvXQ_Xe/s320/cbl-12707-r-1530562343.jpg"/></a></div><p>
Michael Peña, Wood Harris and David Dastmalchian also star as Scott’s friends, and who serve as a great source of comic relief. They return for the superior sequel, <b>Ant Man and the Wasp</b>, in which Hope--after waiting in the wings for far too long--finally makes her impressive debut as the Wasp. Her fearlessness and fighting skills had already been established in the first film, and so the sequel offers a natural progression for the character by having her fight side by side with Scott Lang’s Ant Man. Michelle Pfeiffer also makes her debut in this film as Janet, the original Wasp.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8Rx-NcEkeUcRIno0c4NVmlBcfUDgMWCo8Raj6rmG_8vVEIAjl_ivLGp_M41QUpN73ieluebuoEkiEjHk1_-kr3rhI7z02SEc1dqmlGPfcu51KT8GDuxmiJFh1QO7x1QpX3HXLZ7Lkge6TQVuSNzWtLouB60uvvYdON1x_cOGAiG7zyfeKpB6fwM0/s759/ant-man-and-the-wasp-7594.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="759" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8Rx-NcEkeUcRIno0c4NVmlBcfUDgMWCo8Raj6rmG_8vVEIAjl_ivLGp_M41QUpN73ieluebuoEkiEjHk1_-kr3rhI7z02SEc1dqmlGPfcu51KT8GDuxmiJFh1QO7x1QpX3HXLZ7Lkge6TQVuSNzWtLouB60uvvYdON1x_cOGAiG7zyfeKpB6fwM0/s320/ant-man-and-the-wasp-7594.jpg"/></a></div><p>
The villains include the very good Walton Goggins as a gangster looking to steal the Ant Man/Wasp tech, Laurence Fishburne as Hank Pym’s former lab partner, and Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, an interesting opponent who has the ability to phase through objects like walls (and she even uses this ability to put her arm through Hank’s throat in one memorable scene). <b>Ant Man and the Wasp</b> has some incredible and imaginative fight scenes, with Scott and Hope battling two separate teams of villains through the streets of San Francisco. <p>
Yet while the stakes are bigger in the sequel, it never loses sight of its original focus: a street-level superhero story with memorable (and lovable) characters while still effectively raising the bar in excitement, humor, and overall excellence. Because the first two films were so good, I had high hopes for the third film in the series, <b>Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania</b>.<p>
And then I saw the third film. Unfortunately.<p>
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<b>Quantumania</b> completely eschews all of the elements that made the first two Ant Man films work so well. And, because of this, <b>Quantumania</b> is easily the weakest film in the trilogy. Scott, Hope, Hank, Janet, and Scott’s daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) are all immersed in the microscopic Quantum realm, which looks sort of like outer space in the <b>Guardians of the Galaxy </b>movies. And they all become embroiled in a <b>Star Wars</b>-like battle involving a resistance movement seeking to overthrow an evil warlord named Kang (Jonathan Majors). It’s tired storytelling, with an overabundance of overblown special effects, that we’ve seen too many times before. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0kkKO3vc8w6BYXV60o6n--gqn0xcCs5WxIDOI1hbDCUZdsbbNzUd0qo5KJdM7HlhtRbDyf82K_OJdc5gt5L2eghbUr8fPvPKi-wKiLotJnLnNU1bl5s73LxmjDSW1VbqYSb1joD4nDTS0yn5mYg2Tds7L4lKpj2vARJKNbWKthMEn9upkBCnkSIv/s700/TDP-Z-AntManQuantumaniaMCU-02.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0kkKO3vc8w6BYXV60o6n--gqn0xcCs5WxIDOI1hbDCUZdsbbNzUd0qo5KJdM7HlhtRbDyf82K_OJdc5gt5L2eghbUr8fPvPKi-wKiLotJnLnNU1bl5s73LxmjDSW1VbqYSb1joD4nDTS0yn5mYg2Tds7L4lKpj2vARJKNbWKthMEn9upkBCnkSIv/s320/TDP-Z-AntManQuantumaniaMCU-02.jpg"/></a></div><p>
Where the first two movies used location work to keep their stories grounded, <b>Quantumania</b> was clearly shot on a stage with CGI backgrounds behind its actors, who look like they’re all struggling not to look bored. Granted, <b>Quantumania</b> was shot during the pandemic, with all of the restrictions that came from that era placed on the filmmakers. But <a href="https://viewfrommountain.blogspot.com/2022/09/doctor-strange-in-multiverse-of-madness.html" target="_blank">Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness</a> was also shot at the same time, along with the same Covid 19 restrictions, and I thought that movie still managed to be extremely engaging and fun. <p>
The first two <b>Ant Man</b> films worked so well because they were witty, sophisticated adventures that offered a vibrant new fresh take on the superhero film. And then its third film becomes the very same mundane, unimaginative, creatively hollow superhero “epic” that we’ve seen too many times now from Marvel. Oh well, I guess, from now on, I’m just going to assume that <b>Ant Man</b> had two great films…and the less said about the misbegotten third chapter, the better. <b>--SF</b> <p>
<center>All three Ant Man films are available on Disney+. They're also all available on physical media, including DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K.</center><p>SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-88248468939333889202023-05-13T11:39:00.003-07:002023-05-13T12:12:16.586-07:00Spy TV -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrptvF94UzZXLYJowpqKyQxizFvnU_wcM2JN4Ogi-ZJpk-jmJvJZcLnl9lFlaajnUBTLuoizguM4DGidhUfxD2rxsPg4vkowEHUcSY0wxHRLikkyAzTJH_2ws9f3GJUbImN9rdbHmpyONeXM9_2z9wnaj3wgj8PvhF1Xte4YAsuuBDcGvdCmPrGAS/s576/EB20020429REVIEWS08204290301AR.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrptvF94UzZXLYJowpqKyQxizFvnU_wcM2JN4Ogi-ZJpk-jmJvJZcLnl9lFlaajnUBTLuoizguM4DGidhUfxD2rxsPg4vkowEHUcSY0wxHRLikkyAzTJH_2ws9f3GJUbImN9rdbHmpyONeXM9_2z9wnaj3wgj8PvhF1Xte4YAsuuBDcGvdCmPrGAS/s320/EB20020429REVIEWS08204290301AR.jpg"/></a></div><p>
I’ve always loved the paranoid thriller. It’s the type of thriller that sees our hero either go on the run (usually for something that they didn’t do), or try to deal with such a vast, monolithic conspiracy that it makes them <i>want</i> to go on the run. Alfred Hitchcock’s <b>North By Northwest</b>, Oliver Stone’s <b>JFK</b>, and <b>The X-Files</b> all immediately come to mind as the type of paranoid thriller that I love. These are the kind of manic, gotta-keep-moving, paranoid thrillers that leave their heroes unable to trust anybody, even their dogs (“Et tu, Rover? You little Shih Tzu!”).<p>
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Three new paranoid thriller TV series are available on streaming right now, and the first of these I’ve watched is <b>The Diplomat</b>, on Netflix, starring the sublime Keri Russell. An explosion aboard a British aircraft carrier creates an international crisis that Kate Wyler (Russell), the newly appointed American ambassador to England, must avert. Wyler is a veteran Foreign Service officer who’s used to doing a lot of running around behind the scenes, but now she’s in the big leagues. Unlike the usual toadies who get the job because of a contribution, Wyler was asked to take the ambassador post because of her prior experience of closing delicate deals by thinking on her feet. <p>
The always good Rufus Sewell plays her husband, who’s also a fellow Foreign Service operative and a real cad who’s always looking out for number one. With England rightfully seeking revenge for its fallen sailors, Wyler must juggle multiple conspiracy theories--all of which can lead to World War Three. <b>The Diplomat</b> is a vastly entertaining series with the solid Russell always keeping her cool, even as she’s racing through the streets of London (and elsewhere) looking for a lead. It’s a sleek and oftentimes very funny series that's never boring, and leaves you wanting more at the end.<p>
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The second TV series is also from Netflix, and it’s called <b>The Night Agent</b>. Based on the novel of the same name by Matthew Quirk, <b>The Night Agent</b> is an FBI agent who is stationed by a special phone that’s located in the basement of the White House. The phone rarely rings, but when it finally does, it’s answered by Peter (Gabriel Basso), who winds up getting plunged into a conspiracy wrapped in an enigma when Rose, the young woman who called him (Luciane Buchanan), witnesses her aunt and uncle get murdered by assassins. And these assassins are now after Rose. <p>
Unable to figure out who to trust, Peter and Rose soon go on the run and try to solve the case on their own before they are found and killed. <b>The Night Agent</b> is fast paced and fun, if a little silly at times. For instance, Peter is just a bit too naïve for his own good; he’s sincerely shocked (shocked, I say!) that people in Washington D.C. actually lie and do dishonest things. Still, despite the goofiness, <b>The Night Agent</b> plays up the whole ’young lovers on the run’ storyline very well. It’s an energetic, exciting jaunt that also manages to humanize the villains without making them too sympathetic. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkhagGi7NFtp7hILKcZyDD9DzAe_wxASQnPxIUzLTyeaBZ5fZASnMjQGZ9s4Elu3f5EVVFkmb9g6sXche3feqGZZQsp0Tw7vAHKSrs6Cqzpm7cTiZtltzgoKaSwwlE-A9opXL6uOJBMuLHtihHWXrzXBRxeNA-DXai_Xvk-BAKlMTd2wm2ElUMWoY/s1355/citadel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkhagGi7NFtp7hILKcZyDD9DzAe_wxASQnPxIUzLTyeaBZ5fZASnMjQGZ9s4Elu3f5EVVFkmb9g6sXche3feqGZZQsp0Tw7vAHKSrs6Cqzpm7cTiZtltzgoKaSwwlE-A9opXL6uOJBMuLHtihHWXrzXBRxeNA-DXai_Xvk-BAKlMTd2wm2ElUMWoY/s320/citadel.jpg"/></a></div><p>
The third paranoia series is on Amazon Prime Streaming, and it’s called <b>Citadel</b>, which is the name of a super secret spy agency that employs Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as two agents who lack even the most basic chemistry with each other. I haven’t seen the entire first season yet, because Amazon is dropping this series…one…episode…per…week (I admit to being a big fan of the Netflix way of premiering new TV shows, which is to drop the whole season at the same time).<p>
<b>Citadel</b> tries very hard to recreate the super spy vibe that was done much better in previous series like <b>The Avengers</b> and <b>Alias</b>. But what I’ve seen so far is pretty ‘meh.’ A large part of the problem is the aforementioned lack of chemistry between the leads, as well as the poor writing that makes the ultra-super-spy concept feel very stale. Maybe <b>Citadel</b> will get better in their later episodes. But who knows? While watching <b>The Rings of Power</b>, I had the same hope that it would also get better as it went on, and that series still turned out to be a big, heaping pile of Shih Tzu. Here's hoping <b>Citadel</b> avoids that same fate. <b>--SF</b><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-30774600249439244532023-04-05T16:20:00.003-07:002023-04-05T16:24:34.429-07:00My D&D Dragon<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwF_AgZcGabwoCXqt91fWtukyg32ukBG-i5eeVbHlQ5C8JLf6NNtV-seFo5_zDYbND2mF8-0qjJT7FAmCHf73_FHioI0XqfWRjsJ53PPlt4hJXCqC_F-FlCYjNNsFvK5MkQ8BDFK-241w32WZd67I0iD5jZlT9bk1o0StWMgByWHRzuC7_gTTMqJN/s2592/01.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwF_AgZcGabwoCXqt91fWtukyg32ukBG-i5eeVbHlQ5C8JLf6NNtV-seFo5_zDYbND2mF8-0qjJT7FAmCHf73_FHioI0XqfWRjsJ53PPlt4hJXCqC_F-FlCYjNNsFvK5MkQ8BDFK-241w32WZd67I0iD5jZlT9bk1o0StWMgByWHRzuC7_gTTMqJN/s320/01.JPG"/></a></div><p>
Back in the 1980s, I got caught up in the whirlwind of the Dungeons & Dragons craze (a craze that's still going strong today) and bought myself one of their dragon kits. I never got around to actually building and painting this kit until very recently. It was the new D&D movie starring Chris Pine that actually spurred me onward. I was also inspired to build this after watching the fantastic House of the Dragon TV series. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNp7oK7jLeyeIQVclOysLOWpDg1MKQ_2d5K6nbR4uTUBTgLJGXh0DQ8iLkqfWBedmYZdct0CM_ONB5KLoq-95sdmk_4JE6mGrgAiXmDjDp-4osnUVySmBHHrsJ096xW3eCVMrCUQvR3hE4w7YrjnhvT8QwWImPkw5wMfDDhfe3i_8J_Ysw6pMW_cYN/s2592/03.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNp7oK7jLeyeIQVclOysLOWpDg1MKQ_2d5K6nbR4uTUBTgLJGXh0DQ8iLkqfWBedmYZdct0CM_ONB5KLoq-95sdmk_4JE6mGrgAiXmDjDp-4osnUVySmBHHrsJ096xW3eCVMrCUQvR3hE4w7YrjnhvT8QwWImPkw5wMfDDhfe3i_8J_Ysw6pMW_cYN/s320/03.jpg"/></a></div><p>
And here she is, in all of her glory. I had to glue on the wings with superglue, then secured them in further with putty. I then painted her with a burgundy red and green paint job, with a honey brown color painton her legs and underside. I also used a black wash on the figure to really bring out the great sculpt job.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRuZGsV8JjdKTGRVgLSZ-Er2fJ2snWAltsV7bSDd3QCmN5M8Lg1bdEN2vClfZqUdwJBY1f-YKk6dhDKKbn3tdtcZO_ZwzBn4UqXr6wxjcLI1KRp8_G0qWKFyO6dEBnG0yfbXqn6_IEOSSugzSznj-B5_xLNm605GHdXbesnHwtA4ecmT-hvmmhgO5/s2592/04.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRuZGsV8JjdKTGRVgLSZ-Er2fJ2snWAltsV7bSDd3QCmN5M8Lg1bdEN2vClfZqUdwJBY1f-YKk6dhDKKbn3tdtcZO_ZwzBn4UqXr6wxjcLI1KRp8_G0qWKFyO6dEBnG0yfbXqn6_IEOSSugzSznj-B5_xLNm605GHdXbesnHwtA4ecmT-hvmmhgO5/s320/04.jpg"/></a></div><p>
She came already standing on a rock base, which I glued down to a large block of solid wood. The wood base worked well, because the dragon, being solid metal, is really heavy. The wood base, while heavy in its own right, gives the dragon a secure home.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOysWIm7bXSNlPVZeqGmUCxEyav5m9yskUriKgUM2Qt94mN3a1qpR5z6Lx71gw2IAJmqjZDV1smi3Oi9JHRzW5wjXH2Es7BDWcTTREFN8qkxOa-ozhu7EqpMCIqOLyL0EPKSHJDsWzT4V2A1b2WSTMvaFxaJ6WZP-Y026Mp12LAIyIeYvzEVAWJTlT/s2592/05.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOysWIm7bXSNlPVZeqGmUCxEyav5m9yskUriKgUM2Qt94mN3a1qpR5z6Lx71gw2IAJmqjZDV1smi3Oi9JHRzW5wjXH2Es7BDWcTTREFN8qkxOa-ozhu7EqpMCIqOLyL0EPKSHJDsWzT4V2A1b2WSTMvaFxaJ6WZP-Y026Mp12LAIyIeYvzEVAWJTlT/s320/05.jpg"/></a></div><p>
I smeared Flex Paste, from Woodland Scenics, and after it dried, I painted it blue with white dry-brushed on the high ridges. This created the look of water, as if the dragon had landed on a tiny sliver of land in the ocean, or on a lake. <p>
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The dragon is six and a half inches long, with the wingspan also coming in at six and a half inches. I'm glad I've finally brought this beauty to life. <p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-75992985337447584282023-02-27T13:56:00.001-08:002023-02-27T13:56:13.786-08:00War of the Worlds is 70<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9aVnYXDh9CY9psXDODksEAQTd9veQlhakHZDt3PX7ihsrSZ9Y8F9GMjNhJs_pfn7FbvyeF3XxHrOkLACnA3e9twf9YwqQVsAzZHD5ctO55n73t3dVvxkxPytoy4uhYaaYLranG3S-zYP1VoAax2a0MvpjnyYx_iO6V61Cqp-485g-Flv7JXtLNsF/s2592/01.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9aVnYXDh9CY9psXDODksEAQTd9veQlhakHZDt3PX7ihsrSZ9Y8F9GMjNhJs_pfn7FbvyeF3XxHrOkLACnA3e9twf9YwqQVsAzZHD5ctO55n73t3dVvxkxPytoy4uhYaaYLranG3S-zYP1VoAax2a0MvpjnyYx_iO6V61Cqp-485g-Flv7JXtLNsF/s320/01.jpg"/></a></div><p>
I was just recently reminded that the original War of the Worlds film, produced by George Pal, was released 70 years ago this year.<p>
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This is my 1/8th scale Martian figure from Pegasus. I built and painted this a while ago.<p>
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The model represents the Martian that encounters Gene Barry and Ann Robinson when they were all in the farmhouse. The Martian wound up being just as scared of Ann as she was of it.<p>
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It's a great kit of a classic film character. Happy 70th birthday, Martian!<p>SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-63805770750370024952023-01-18T03:05:00.005-08:002023-01-18T03:11:14.056-08:00Legends & Lattes -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWkw__P6kSSrP2l9VIKV1L93E8TgY0hf3yUj_8C0tuy_qpoK6GfUCmCD3j2Hgb1nfMMhSRTJMOB9cc3HypgIWF53YSAeb2lYujM8RZSnZLZrMHXgCYwtHBSmb8j8jAO00lAi_MIbuU7cxKZaGMIvvNqsEISKhNV8izFaTElbqv7f168mvVhOHhIqD/s2592/lattes.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWkw__P6kSSrP2l9VIKV1L93E8TgY0hf3yUj_8C0tuy_qpoK6GfUCmCD3j2Hgb1nfMMhSRTJMOB9cc3HypgIWF53YSAeb2lYujM8RZSnZLZrMHXgCYwtHBSmb8j8jAO00lAi_MIbuU7cxKZaGMIvvNqsEISKhNV8izFaTElbqv7f168mvVhOHhIqD/s320/lattes.JPG"/></a></div><p>
Travis Baldree's new novel, Legends & Lattes, is a nice change of pace from the usual fantasy story. Viv is a battle-weary Orc who dreams of opening a shop in the city of Thune. In this fantasy world of orcs, elves and real magic, Viv's shop will sell something that is completely unknown in this realm: coffee. Having discovered coffee during her travels as a sword for hire, Viv now wants to just settle down and run the first coffee shop.<p>
This was a very pleasant and fun read that runs against the expected fantasy trope of the characters having to drop whatever mundane thing they're doing to run off and save the world. It works very well in making the mundane interesting by deftly describing Viv's journey into settling down in Thune, and setting up her shop. And Baldree's attention to detail makes this whole process engrossing to watch. The characters are richly fleshed out to where you're cheering for them to succeed--not only in running the store, but also falling for each other, as in the case with Viv and Tandri, her engaging shop assistant.<p>
Legends & Lattes is a very comfty and cozy book--it's just the perfect thing to cuddle up with on a chilly night with a cup of tea (or coffee). It's highly recommended. <b>--SF</b><p>
<center><a href="https://amzn.to/3XC4vSt" target="_blank">Legends & Lattes is available here.</a></center><p>SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-85384117892830742082022-12-27T13:33:00.004-08:002023-01-18T03:17:05.651-08:00Schizoid -- A Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Jdylz7iYDaby7SeEk8PRCbPZKk_qTdtXnMtsfOpncXHMNMv9HsJ87EXKDGuQUqtSa3rujCSThzBwyKKZf5rgBc-c_uEo77F0_nYxsrBwGfnYPBJsjzU2KHVRfvKv740_uiZQoh4hKTGtpyLGAXQWzIJAicEMw2SOylo_kMTDqFPW-QSrfOAvWFbt/s853/01.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Jdylz7iYDaby7SeEk8PRCbPZKk_qTdtXnMtsfOpncXHMNMv9HsJ87EXKDGuQUqtSa3rujCSThzBwyKKZf5rgBc-c_uEo77F0_nYxsrBwGfnYPBJsjzU2KHVRfvKv740_uiZQoh4hKTGtpyLGAXQWzIJAicEMw2SOylo_kMTDqFPW-QSrfOAvWFbt/s320/01.JPG"/></a></div><p>
I came across a movie on Amazon Prime called Schizoid, starring the infamous Klaus Kinski, who is maybe better known for his starring role in the 1979 German remake of Nosferatu (as well as his strange and inexcusable behavior). In Schizoid, released in 1980, Kinski plays a Los Angles psychiatrist who runs a group therapy session that features Julie (Mariana Hill, from Blood Beach), a newspaper columnist who is receiving threats in the mail from a stalker. Things heat up when people in Julie’s group therapy start turning up dead. <p>
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<p>
For what it is--a low budget horror thriller--Schizoid is not bad, not bad at all. Despite it’s slasher trappings, writer/director David Paulsen manages to create a decent murder mystery amidst the gory kill scenes. The cast of suspects include Donna Wilkes (Angel) as the doctor’s volatile daughter, Craig Wasson (Ghost Story) as Julie’s ex-husband, Flo Gerrish (Don’t Answer The Phone), and Christopher Lloyd (Back To The Future), as another member of Julie’s group therapy. Paulsen expertly keeps you guessing throughout the film--right up until the climax, which manages to still be very suspenseful after the killer is revealed. <p>
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Kinski claimed in his memoir Kinski Uncut that he had an affair with Donna Wilkes while shooting Schizoid (he doesn’t use her name in the book, but the film is implied). She has never confirmed or denied this--but, as noted earlier, the late Kinski had a notoriously bad reputation for acting like a jerk both on and off film sets, so perhaps this claim should be taken with a grain of salt. To get a view of his reprehensible behavior, just watch Burden of Dreams, the making-of documentary of Fitzcarraldo, where Kinski oftentimes comes off as a certifiable lunatic. Kinski’s fellow actors should have received combat pay just for dealing with him. <p>
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The most impressive thing about Schizoid is how it came to be. David Paulsen was told by producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus that they needed a movie for Klaus Kinski--who was under contract to them--and that Paulsen only had a month to get everything set up. Considering the rush job that the pre-production must have been like (including coming up with a script), the fact that the movie turned out to be this enjoyable is a testament to Paulsen’s talent. Granted, it might not be as slick as a Hitchcock film, but given the rapid set-up time, and limited budget (plus dealing with Kinski), in the end, Schizoid turned out better than one would think it would. --SF<p>
<center>I caught Schizoid on Amazon Prime, but it's also available on <a href="https://amzn.to/3WH1zn6" target="_blank">physical media.</a></center><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-61802410855860672132022-12-16T18:55:00.004-08:002022-12-16T18:55:56.432-08:00The Starfury from Babylon 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1r5jac9FfK6atGf8ejAJwZiWq9Gh_9PqEzUEqc44-sa1LlLmxArGKwFk05e5Wb4tO1ENDdS154Av92f2ufi8yenjv6R7PFioviH4ssr3-CRcfzpiokaHHLS3sVVm-AzfQCpDtkJpRSwCDmdwC9lAaCDC3vCUBzK0qYS5_Lk6bxANgW9RyshAh7zSI/s2592/01.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1r5jac9FfK6atGf8ejAJwZiWq9Gh_9PqEzUEqc44-sa1LlLmxArGKwFk05e5Wb4tO1ENDdS154Av92f2ufi8yenjv6R7PFioviH4ssr3-CRcfzpiokaHHLS3sVVm-AzfQCpDtkJpRSwCDmdwC9lAaCDC3vCUBzK0qYS5_Lk6bxANgW9RyshAh7zSI/s320/01.JPG"/></a></div><p>
Babylon 5 was a science fiction TV series that aired back in the 1990s. It was about a massive space station that was under the command of Earth. It was a fantastic series, and is available on physical media, as well as HBO-Max.<P>
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In the show, the space station was protected by several wings of space fighters known as Starfuries. They were one of the best-designed, and coolest-looking space fighters to ever launch from a TV series.<P>
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This is a model kit of the B-5 Starfury that was released by Revell/Monogram in 1/72 scale. <p>
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But instead of doing the standard Starfury assigned to Babylon 5, I decided to do mine up as a Psi Corps version. The Psi Corps was a telepath group whose fascist ideals threatened B5, as well as Earth itself. <p>
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The Psi Corps version of the Starfury was black in color, although I had decided back then to paint mine in a Navy Blue color. The Psi Corps markings came with the decal sheet. This model has to be at least 25 years old, making it one of the oldest kits that I own. I also still have her sister ship, which I built at the same time. I'll post that pther Starfury on here shortly.<P> SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-78193805120615852562022-12-11T23:45:00.004-08:002022-12-11T23:45:49.775-08:00Wednesday -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaHHE4DL2Nd2EKRgTzLKyaHV8YjinT56KxY6LsOCjdpJTzC9vPnDDqxVFvEo2wG_QZumRM6OxIKtuGOzEEOeLOBXZrtQXk5B6HH5ZJWd_LcFi4jGYiPxAWcTQQqKmbQHCwsfNrKoWjrB-KmyKW3wh2NFIfWbqvgPdWnCYPKQn6gicgC2DVBtF19Ba/s3600/Wednesday-jenna-ortega.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaHHE4DL2Nd2EKRgTzLKyaHV8YjinT56KxY6LsOCjdpJTzC9vPnDDqxVFvEo2wG_QZumRM6OxIKtuGOzEEOeLOBXZrtQXk5B6HH5ZJWd_LcFi4jGYiPxAWcTQQqKmbQHCwsfNrKoWjrB-KmyKW3wh2NFIfWbqvgPdWnCYPKQn6gicgC2DVBtF19Ba/s320/Wednesday-jenna-ortega.jpg"/></a></div><p>
<center><i>"Satre said, 'Hell is other people.' He was my first crush."<p> -- Wednesday Addams.</i></center><p>
Back when I heard they were making a TV series out of the <b>Addams Family</b> character Wednesday for Netflix, I really didn’t have much faith that it would be very good. And when I read what the basic plot would be: that Wednesday would be sent to a special school of the dark and wicked, I figured this was going to be much worse than I had initially thought. The <b>Addams Family</b> had been around for decades; it didn’t need to be “modernized” with a bastardized format that merged it with <b>Harry Potter</b> (and I’m really sick and tired of the frigging “magical school for kids” plot that has seemingly overtaken nearly every movie and TV show within the last twenty years).<p>
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But when I finally saw <b>Wednesday</b>, you know what? It didn’t suck. In fact, the new <b>Wednesday</b> show on Netflix is really very good. What the heck happened? It’s several things. The first is that <b>Wednesday</b> is being portrayed by Jenna Ortega, who’s a marvelous young actress with a great screen presence. Her Wednesday is still very much the stern, deadpan little creep whom we know and love from the <b>Addams Family</b> films and TV shows. Ortega plays her with just the right balance of contempt for her fellow students, with a dash of sympathy that prevents her from being an all-out monster. <p>
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There’s also the superb writing in this series. The writers smartly realize who they’re dealing with, here. Wednesday might be taken aback on the first day at her new school, but this is still Wednesday, who gives as good (even worse!) as she gets, and who takes no prisoners while doing it. Forget any associations to <b>Harry Potter</b>, because even in a school with vampires and other things that go bump in the night, Wednesday is still a formidable force of her own who stalks along her own path--and to hell with anybody who gets in her way. The fact that the writers “get” Wednesday so well, and right out of the gate--from the very first scene of the first episode--is what makes this series so much fun to watch. <p>
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And having Tim Burton direct the first half of the season is also another reason why I love this show. His usual gloomy and creepy aesthetic is a such perfect fit with the <b>Addams Family</b> that I’m surprised that Burton hasn’t worked within this franchise sooner. Recasting Wednesday as a teen sleuth from one of those dipshit CW shows should have been a really bad idea. But by maintaining Wednesday’s true, darkly caustic self, this also becomes a wickedly funny take-down on those very same Nancy Drew-type series. I’m eagerly looking forward to another sleuthing adventure with Wednesday and her right-hand hand, Thing. <b>--SF</b><p>
<center>The first season of <b>Wednesday</b> is only available on Netflix for now.</center><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-45242694680201408252022-12-05T06:42:00.000-08:002022-12-05T06:42:46.384-08:00Andor -- a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUaEBhanrn2FBJZ_JJjwkakzxLrm15xPaCg7rq3DMpUQ752gP0pSw3GI7AmxhI7w5pfVbsAwCjrGKNey2DhnXTDg4poM6lcIbNWBXId4l97B2fmhokLeGRGCBKM0RnbPHfrb9Ce5u3eRkcytbTQyEwx9adgltyAhljKf9-Z_D9yhK0MJgLbpSek5O/s960/220825155916-01-andor-season-1-genevieve-oreilly.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUaEBhanrn2FBJZ_JJjwkakzxLrm15xPaCg7rq3DMpUQ752gP0pSw3GI7AmxhI7w5pfVbsAwCjrGKNey2DhnXTDg4poM6lcIbNWBXId4l97B2fmhokLeGRGCBKM0RnbPHfrb9Ce5u3eRkcytbTQyEwx9adgltyAhljKf9-Z_D9yhK0MJgLbpSek5O/s320/220825155916-01-andor-season-1-genevieve-oreilly.jpg"/></a></div><p>
Looking at the reviews for <b>Andor</b>, the latest <b>Star Wars</b> series produced by and exclusively for Disney Plus, they all say the same thing: that <b>Andor</b> is a vastly mature TV series--and it is. But many of these reviews also appear to be a back-handed insult to the <b>Star Wars</b> franchise in general, by stating how <b>Andor</b> was made for the adults in the room, and how it lacked the dopey ‘pew-pew-pew’ action of space wizards fighting each other with their laser swords that we get in <b>Star Wars</b>.<p>
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<p>
And yeah, <b>Star Wars</b> does have its silly moments (and that’s pretty much all of <b>Return of the Jedi</b>). But the very best of <b>Star Wars</b> (the original <b>Star Wars</b> film, <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, <b>Rogue One</b>, <b>The Last Jedi</b>) strived mightily to be far more than the simple space operas they appeared to be. And even the films that didn’t have such lofty goals (<b>Solo</b>, <b>SW: Revenge of the Sith</b>) are still vastly entertaining. But it doesn’t appear that most people are really complaining about the <b>Star Wars</b> films being immature--instead, they’re grousing about the recent Disney Plus <b>Star Wars</b> TV shows, and they have a right to complain. <p>
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Because, by and large, the Disney Plus <b>Star Wars</b> TV series are pretty bad. Lacking the budgets, along with the solid writing, of the better <b>Star Wars </b>films, series like <b>The Mandolorian</b>, <b>The Book of Boba Fett</b>, and <b>Obi-Sucky Kenobi</b> constantly fall back on the same tired clichés (Stormtroopers who can’t shoot straight, oh-so-perfect main characters who come across as un-relatable superheroes, dull and predictable plots) that it was hard for me to feel any enthusiasm for them. <p>
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After all of this, just when I was about to tap out of the whole <b>Star Wars</b> experience on Disney Plus for good, along comes <b>Andor</b>. A direct prequel to the superb <b>Rogue One</b>, <b>Andor</b> centers on Cassian Andor, who’s very well-played with subtle shadings by Diego Luna. <b>Andor</b> is a twelve part series that gives new meaning to the term slow burn. It basically shows how Andor gets recruited into the nascent struggle against the Empire that will ultimately become the Rebellion. <p>
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And not only are the Stormtroopers (and Deathtroopers) really good shots in <b>Andor</b>, but the series also manages to do the impossible: it makes the Empire a truly scary and intimidating foe. Taking a Charles Dickens-like approach to its storytelling, Andor uses a vast cast of characters who are either fighting for or against the Empire. It’s a testament to the talent on display here, both behind and in front of the camera, that such an infuriating character like Deedra Meero (marvelously played by Denise Gough) is still captivating to watch. <p>
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<b>Andor</b> is indeed the deeper cut into <b>Star Wars</b>. It lacks Jedi knights, and even Darth Vader, but it’s still an enthralling look at regular people rising up to fight a monstrous, black-hearted entity that is insidiously seeping into every aspect of their lives. It’s a series that makes you care for everybody, here. It’s so well done, so well written, that you can’t help but get caught up in this struggle. And if you’d rather not watch this, if you’d rather have your Jedi knights, that’s cool, too. <b>Star Wars</b> has become a giant buffet, with various delicious delicacies for everybody to enjoy. So dig in; there's something for everybody. <b>--SF</b>
<center>Andor is only on Disney +. But Rogue One and the other Star Wars films are available on D+, as well as on physical media.</center>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-3160954783299197502022-11-18T03:27:00.001-08:002022-11-18T03:27:40.889-08:00Bram Stoker's Dracula -- a look back<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3GiBvja9gntdZhU9fOFzuwiehlX0lFNIDhdVDBpaZXfXJZI2ACYCRajC_r52R1vkmYRaRPsHCpLhLXofXpalChQ6KiA5zcOzdxhjaA5LiilHdYyR6SrTkacwOPTCyyWoJdA4le80ELB2W8UV_NOUm4qxayVxzYlBRdi_Jz_-AhYVGZfqRJmCiih-/s853/05.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3GiBvja9gntdZhU9fOFzuwiehlX0lFNIDhdVDBpaZXfXJZI2ACYCRajC_r52R1vkmYRaRPsHCpLhLXofXpalChQ6KiA5zcOzdxhjaA5LiilHdYyR6SrTkacwOPTCyyWoJdA4le80ELB2W8UV_NOUm4qxayVxzYlBRdi_Jz_-AhYVGZfqRJmCiih-/s320/05.jpg"/></a></div><p>
I first saw <b>Bram Stoker’s Dracula</b> when it was initially released in theaters in November of 1992, and I recall expecting to see a serious, solemn drama that was based on the classic horror novel that was written in the 19th century by Stoker. But I also remember being pleasantly surprised by the luscious, imaginative cinematic dark fairy tale that was weaved onscreen by Francis Ford Coppola, the visionary director of the <b>Godfather</b> trilogy, along with <b>The Conversation</b>, and <b>Apocalypse Now</b> (the latter being my all-time favorite Coppola film). Um, Coppola also gave us the lame <b>Jack</b>, with Robin Williams as a boy who pre-maturely grew into a man, but nobody's perfect. <p>
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While Coppola presented the Dracula story with complete seriousness, he also seemed to have a great deal of fun with the subject matter, as well, presenting the movie as a lurid fever dream by using every in-camera movie trick in the book (even a few from the silent film era), with the lone exception being optical effects used for the eerie blue rings seen on the desolate roads in Transylvania. Coppola also assembled a great cast to tell his then-updated tale of the legendary Count Dracula, and the dark horrors he brought to an unsuspecting London. <p>
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Gary Oldman played Dracula with great passion and zeal, immersing himself into the part just as much as he immersed himself into the still-impressive make up effects. Winona Ryder, who had previously dropped out of Coppola’s third <b>Godfather</b> film, thankfully rejoined the maestro here as Mina Harker, an innocent young woman who is personally targeted by the Count. Anthony Hopkins--just a year after his success as Hannibal Lector in <b>The Silence of the Lambs</b>--gleefully chews the scenery as Van Helsing, Dracula’s adversary. <p>
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Even the supporting cast was filled with superb actors: Sadie Frost as Lucy Westenra, and as the three men who are her suitors: Richard E. Grant as a psychiatrist in charge of an asylum, Cary Elwes, as Lord Holmwood, and Billy Campbell as Quincy P. Morris. And Renfield, Dracula’s bug-eating, wild-eyed servant, is played in an inspired and perfect bit of casting by actor/singer Tom Waits. The only casting misstep would be Keanu Reeves, as Jonathan Harker, whose performance is so stilted, he feels like he’s in a different movie--and Reeves freely admitted later that he was exhausted and suffering from low energy while shooting this film.<p>
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However, even thirty years later, <b>Bram Stoker’s Dracula</b> still holds up very well, thanks to Coppola treating its soapy shadowy horror story with complete conviction, and framing it within such a scrumptious and bold tapestry that makes it great eye candy to watch even now. If you can’t catch it in a revival house, then try to watch it on the biggest TV you have, and turn off all of the lights in the room, in order to best appreciate this bloody, visually stunning valentine to the timeless Count Dracula. <b>--SF</b><p>
<center> Bram Stoker's Dracula is available on physical media and streaming.</center><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-52735718938980677042022-10-03T23:07:00.002-07:002022-10-03T23:07:58.987-07:00Hocus Pocus 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABhZFq4FweVZLDkIUwQrq_mA3jgi8uMJ3EZo5EscxbmFhnow-OQ2X9_5gVcEx5efP4LOmbSoj-bbcCTnm1T01O_lWJSmNNo2wDkPPj_PztqNt7Y_JLl5uUN8CX2KFgekreMnjVrA_9nuj_RzJUcv0w_vU3L3uXbkvshgVDpy7ICyZMoucOuCw-FaE/s1200/hocus-pocus-2-movie-review-2022.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABhZFq4FweVZLDkIUwQrq_mA3jgi8uMJ3EZo5EscxbmFhnow-OQ2X9_5gVcEx5efP4LOmbSoj-bbcCTnm1T01O_lWJSmNNo2wDkPPj_PztqNt7Y_JLl5uUN8CX2KFgekreMnjVrA_9nuj_RzJUcv0w_vU3L3uXbkvshgVDpy7ICyZMoucOuCw-FaE/s320/hocus-pocus-2-movie-review-2022.jpeg"/></a></div><p>
Hocus Pocus 2 is a bit of a disappointment. While it’s great seeing Bette Midler, Sara Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy back as the Sanderson Sisters, the witch trio from 1600s Salem who have returned a second time to terrify modern day kids, I just wish the sequel was at least half as good as the original 1993 film. The first HP did a superb job of also firmly establishing its three young leads, played by Omri Katz, Thora Birch, and Vinessa Shaw, that you were still rooting for the kids--despite the wildly charismatic and funny performances by the veteran actresses playing the Sanderson Sisters.<p>
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In sharp contrast, the sequel barely spends any time fleshing out its three young leads (played by Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, and Lilia Buckingham); they each lack a specific character "moment" that everyone had in the original film. The sequel seems more preoccupied with blatant product placement instead of creating full-blooded characters. And the three young actresses do what they can with the flimsy material they’re given, but the script is so weak that it barely even spends careful consideration on its own scenarios. <p>
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Take, for instance, the true villain of the piece (not the Sandersons, who are treated here as more of a dark force of nature), a modern day character named Gilbert (Sam Richardson) who manipulates two of the girls into calling forth the Sanderson Sisters into modern day Salem once more. Gilbert coerced the girls into this scheme, knowing full well that he would be putting their lives at risk. But when all is said and done at the end, Gilbert literally walks away scot-free with a promise of giving the girls--who survived the ordeal that he put them in--a discount at his store. <p>
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And the girls gladly accept this with an “aw shucks, that wacky guy!” attitude towards Gilbert, who was more than willing to revive a great evil on the world, while literally sacrificing them in the process. This just felt wrong, and winds up being a hell of a lesson for a film that’s supposed to be aimed at children. The saving grace for me was seeing the Sanderson Sisters back in action once again, along with the always great Doug Jones as Billy. They are such a delight that their antics made me laugh out loud a few times. It would have been really nice if the movie overall was just as superb as all of its actors were. Maybe Hocus Pocus 3, which this film sets up in a post credit scene, might finally revive that old Sanderson magic.<b>--SF</b><p>
<center>Hocus Pocus 2 is available on Disney Plus only, at least for now.</center><p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-49766498038024138522022-09-15T07:31:00.000-07:002022-09-15T07:31:30.178-07:00Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfWL8mNmP6hTa2CgMtGntTQzWSWVVewqhuiKP_iTiPdpvx9ALyrZmbytE-paxf9DJQ7hUh0w2-KPr9kBX8rqfKhtYALNmfR-JBBnEVmHeTdfS01VZ-hO_pdPvA5LaGUPQKG9780TZspTlGNQKma6qEiomxbEdkvGAUXanm2EjtKzgxWLdNHokL-g0/s450/Doctor-Strange-Photofest-H-2020-1601504268.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfWL8mNmP6hTa2CgMtGntTQzWSWVVewqhuiKP_iTiPdpvx9ALyrZmbytE-paxf9DJQ7hUh0w2-KPr9kBX8rqfKhtYALNmfR-JBBnEVmHeTdfS01VZ-hO_pdPvA5LaGUPQKG9780TZspTlGNQKma6qEiomxbEdkvGAUXanm2EjtKzgxWLdNHokL-g0/s320/Doctor-Strange-Photofest-H-2020-1601504268.jpg"/></a></div><p>
I dreaded watching the <b>Doctor Strange</b> sequel, so much so that I avoided it for a while now. I didn’t want to see it for the simple reason that Scott Derrickson, who did such a marvelous job with the first <b>Doctor Strange</b> film, opted out of helming the sequel. Derrickson, who directed such frightfully good films like <b>The Exorcism of Emily Rose</b>, <b>Sinister</b>, and <b>The Black Phone</b>, gave us a wonderfully weird and dark <b>Doctor Strange</b> film that was tinged with such strong elements of horror that it was a little unnerving in certain moments. In other words, the first <b>Doctor Strange</b> was pretty fucking great, and remains one of my all-time favorite Marvel Movies. <p>
But since I was a Doctor Strange fan from way back when I was a kid, I finally gave in and watched <b>Doctor Strange in The Multiverse Of Madness</b> on Disney Plus, and guess what? It really wasn’t bad at all. In fact, I kinda, sorta liked it. Well, OK, I really liked it. Yes, I really enjoyed Doctor Strange 2, I admit it. <p>
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And I strongly suspect that the reason I liked Strange 2 was the guy who the MCU replaced Derrickson with: Sam Raimi. Most people would normally associate him with the Spider-Man trilogy of films that he made starring Tobey McGuire. And they wouldn’t be wrong. But Sam Raimi also made The Evil Dead films, along with Drag Me To Hell (another horror favorite of mine). Raimi earned his horror movie cred just for the Evil Dead films alone (starring the mighty Bruce Campbell, who has a cameo in Strange 2. Hail to the king, baby!).<p>
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While <b>Strange 2</b> is more of a regular superhero movie, lacking the intensity and creepy darkness that the first <b>Doctor Strange</b> had, Raimi still makes it a really fun ride. The movie starts with the good Doctor attending the wedding of Christine (the divine Rachel McAdams), his former flame who’s now getting hitched to another guy because Strange got himself zapped for five years (see <b>Avengers: Infinity War</b> and <b>Endgame</b> for that whole finger-snapping, sordid story). <p>
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But Strange must abruptly leave the wedding (which involves a really cool superhero-costume-change scene) to fight a one-eyed octopus monster that’s trying to kidnap a teenager named America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). America has a very special power where she can traverse the multiple universes with just a thought. Gomez is very good here; she easily projects a sympathetic vibe that automatically makes you want her to be safe. <p>
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It turns out that the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) was behind the attack on America (the kid, not the nation), because she wants to use America’s power for her own nefarious ends--which turn out to be pretty sympathetic on their own. Olsen is simply wonderful in this film. I loved her performance throughout. She effortlessly conveys a former superhero (she was in the Avengers, for chrissakes!) now turned villain, who still tries to rationalize every horrible act she does, because she’s doing it for a VERY GOOD REASON, and that by having everybody--especially this frigging Strange guy--not leaving her well enough alone, they are all giving her NO CHOICE WHATSOEVER. And yet Olsen still makes you feel for the Witch, thanks to her superb performance. <p>
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The sorcerer verses sorcerer action in this flick is fantastic, and worthy of the cosmic battles I used to read in the Doctor Strange comic. Not only are the special effects very well done--the movie is visually stunning in every sense of that term--but the action is even plotted out very well. And Raimi pays careful attention to the smaller details, like how the Scarlet Witch’s fingertips are blackened from flinging all of those magical fireballs. <p>
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Raimi also does a great job playing with the alternate universes, giving us several different versions of our Earth, some of which look pretty inviting, along with different versions of the Marvel heroes, like Captain Carter, instead of Captain America. And, I have to say, after seeing Hailey Atwell in (all too brief) action as Captain Carter, I really wouldn’t mind seeing more of her in this role. I like how Raimi also manages to keep Christine in play, serving as a sturdy sidekick to Strange, who is still the sorcerer supreme in my book, even if he isn’t in this film (thanks once again to that pesky zapping). Benedict Cumberbatch is superb as always as Doctor Strange. I’d gladly follow this guy anywhere, no matter how many eyes he has. --SF<p>
SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-953129776820629197.post-91467500073561574942022-08-29T03:50:00.002-07:002022-08-31T19:40:49.896-07:00Watcher<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQrjaiTizu3HAXnDeAV0VngidOfUjYj0vgKfXRHiqwZv_YqZP1yG0Job8WZcKvsvcanC7IyptRkUCPGDbAi8h45R5oJrDjuHmDKXThELcNx-UxvmbNgyOHA9LriaVtfZJjDJLXoTyGE0yrCD_7GWnCwC5gV7-lKF-dqwj7tn-P65HQV2q1dAZ4VwG/s840/watcher1.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQrjaiTizu3HAXnDeAV0VngidOfUjYj0vgKfXRHiqwZv_YqZP1yG0Job8WZcKvsvcanC7IyptRkUCPGDbAi8h45R5oJrDjuHmDKXThELcNx-UxvmbNgyOHA9LriaVtfZJjDJLXoTyGE0yrCD_7GWnCwC5gV7-lKF-dqwj7tn-P65HQV2q1dAZ4VwG/s320/watcher1.jpg"/></a></div><p>
It’s been forty two years since the death of legendary master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock, but his influence lives on the a new generation of filmmakers. The recently released Watcher, ably directed by Chloe Okuno, is another thriller with a Hitchcockian flair. Julia (Maika Monroe) moves to Bucharest with her husband Francis (Karl Glusman), who’s been transferred to the Romanian office by his company. Francis speaks Romanian fluently, having been raised by a Romanian mother, but Julia--who’s still trying to learn the language--is lost at sea. <p>
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Okuno makes a point of not translating any of the Romanian that’s spoken in the film, making us feel Julia’s isolation and frustration at being left out of conversations and life in general. But life gets even harder for Julia when she starts seeing a shadowy figure watching her from one of the windows in the apartment building across the street. Soon, she starts seeing a strange man who appears to be following her wherever she goes. It doesn’t ease Julia’s suspicion any when she further hears that there’s a serial killer on the lose in Bucharest, a killer known as the Spider, who cuts off the heads of his female victims. <p>
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But is Julia really being stalked by a killer? Or is her paranoia just a figment of her imagination? This is a perfect Hitchcock moment, where a normal person finds themselves in an abnormal and crazy situation. Maika Monroe, who was so good in David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows and Neil Jordan’s Greta, really shines here as Julia. She plays the paranoia without becoming too overwrought, which keeps the viewer in her corner throughout the film. The viewer stays on her side also because Monroe also does a good job at revealing Julia’s inner strength and tenacity through such a trying time. <p>
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Okuna directs this film with such aplomb that I wanted to see it again right after I saw it. She uses the apartment’s own architecture to frame shots, deftly creating a closed in, claustrophobic feel to the proceedings, which mainly take place in Francis and Julia’s abode. Watcher was a pleasant surprise for me, because I was honestly not expecting much--at least beyond the usual good performance from Monroe. But Watcher is such a good movie overall that it’s a real keeper. <p>
<center> I watched Watcher on Shudder. But it will be available on physical media on October 4, 2022.</center><p>SJ Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06089555552389961280noreply@blogger.com0