Posts by JPRoscoe:
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
June 4th, 2023Movie Info
Movie Name: Guardians of the Galaxy
Studio: Marvel Studios/Film New Zealand/Marvel Entertainment
Genre(s): Comic Book/Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Release Date(s): April 22, 2023 (Premiere)/May 3, 2023 (UK)/May 5, 2023 (US)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
The Saga of Rocket Raccoon
Rocket (Bradley Cooper) is attacked by a strange man calling himself Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) on Knowhere, and the Guardians find themselves in a race-against-time to save Rocket before it is too late. Rocket’s past is revealed with the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) trying to capture him, and Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) finds himself and the Guardians teamed with an uncooperative revived Gamora (Zoe Saldana) who has no memory of their past. The High Evolutionary has plans for the universe, and the Guardians are in his way.
Written and directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a Marvel Comics MCU film. Following Ant-Man and Wasp: Quantumania in 2023, the film is the 32nd entry in the MCU series and part of Phase Five of the Multiverse Saga. The story follows the Disney+ Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special in 2022, the film received mixed to positive reviews and had a strong box office.
Ant-Man and Wasp: Quantumania was the first MCU movie I didn’t see in the theater. I do feel that comic book fatigue is real, but I try to remind myself how much I wanted comic book movies growing up. While Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 isn’t bad, it is my least favorite of the Guardians movies.
High Evolutionary is more interesting than Kang…prove me wrong
The plot is virtually stand-alone. It is beneficial to see the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special since it establishes Mantis and Star-Lord’s relationship and of course, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame important, but they also recap a lot of the events. The only problem is that a lot of the jokes seem like rehash instead of throwbacks. The jokes don’t always land as strongly as they did in previous entries…it is a fun series, but it is time to retire it (or revamp it).
The cast works well together. Chris Pratt continues to be one of the more identifiable leads of the Marvel movies since he is the “everyman” unlike a Tony Stark or even a Steve Rogers. The nice dynamic between Pratt and Saldana is shattered and Gamora is back to being “the most dangerous woman in the universe”. Dave Bautista’s Drax jokes are getting a bit stale, but it is a good showcase for Bradley Cooper’s Rocket Raccoon. Will Poulter’s Warlock isn’t necessarily like his comic version, but he also is “developing”. I do like Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Evolutionary who doesn’t just feel like a rehash of Thanos or another version of some other Guardian.
Is Adam Warlock the future of the franchise?
The visuals of the movie are all over the place. The film goes for a candy-colored pallet that means it already takes a surreal look. Sometimes these visuals look great without looking cheap, but other times, they look poor instead of intentionally looking this way. The movie is a bit of mixed bag (it also continues the trend of fusing the story with music, but it too feels more obligatory than incorporated).
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 isn’t a perfect movie, but it still is fun. It tries a bit too hard to pull at your heartstrings, and it doesn’t do enough to really show a clear path forward for the MCU (though it does offer a lot of options). The tone of the Guardians movies work better than some of the Marvel movies, but even this feels a bit overdone in this entry…which makes it feel that it needs to be retired a bit. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is followed by The Marvels in 2023.
Related Links:
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
The Eternals: The Dreaming Celestial Saga
June 4th, 2023Comic Info
Comic Name: The Eternals (Limited Series)/What If? (Volume 1)/Iron Man (Volume 1)/Avengers (Volume 1)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Peter B. Gillis/Walter Simonson/Roger Stern/Mark Gruenwald/Ralph Macchio
Artist: Sal Buscema/Al Milgrom/Keith Pollard/Paul Ryan/Ron Wilson/Rich Buckler/Luke McDonald
# of Issues: 24
Release Date: 2020
The Eternals (Limited Series) #2
Reprints What If? (1) #23-30, Iron Man (1) Annual #6, Avengers (1) #246-248, and The Eternals (Limited Series) #1-12 (October 1980-September 1986). The Eternals have been guardians of Earth for centuries as man evolves and the Deviants continue to seek power. When Ikaris learns that the Deviants are planning something new, he must summon the Eternals to fight…but not every Eternal might agree with him. As Thena continues to hide her secret past with Kro, the Eternals could find themselves pitted against each other…and the threat could destroy the world.
Written by Peter B. Gillis, Walter Simonson, Roger Stern, Mark Gruenwald, and Ralph Macchio, The Eternals: The Dreaming Celestial Saga is a Marvel Comics collection. Following the events of Thor and the Eternals: The Celestial Saga, the series features art by Sal Buscema, Al Milgrom, Keith Pollard, Paul Ryan, Ron Wilson, Rich Buckler, and Luke McDonald.
The Eternals limited series was being released right when I was starting to collect. Secret Wars, Squadron Supreme, Eternals, and even Team America…it felt like everyone could get a limited series that even extended over four issues. While Squadron Supreme got the attention and praise, The Eternals feels like classic Marvel Comics.
The Eternals were always tough characters. Kirby originally didn’t intend them to be part of the Marvel Universe and then the characters were shoehorned into Marvel in Thor. The Eternals and their lore is deep and tied to Earth…but they had little encounters with other Marvel heroes. The story somewhat goes to explain it (mankind is officially made to forget things like giant Celestials looming over Earth). Despite this, the Eternals still feel pretty separate from Marvel, but the size and scope of the story doesn’t make sense to not have more heroes involved (the Avengers and a few other heroes do make appearances).
The Eternals (Limited Series) #12
The art for the series is strong. Sal Buscema does a great classic style comic design. While I like Kirby, his style of art is closely tied to the characters, and Buscema had a challenge of adopting a more modern style for the characters. Buscema gets it right and it has that a traditional comic look that fits from the 1980s.
The challenge for modern readers probably is the amount of dialogue in the series. It was pretty indicative of comics of the time, but it feels weightier and clunky. A lot of the dialogue is skippable, but I love classic writing with all the melodrama and internal conflict.
The Eternals: The Dreaming Celestial Saga gives a bit deeper insight to the characters who feel like blank slates at this point since they are still relatively new to the Marvel Universe. Like the movie, Eternals comics are kind of divisive…but it is a challenge for readers to determine which side they fall on.
Related Links:
Eternals by Jack Kirby—The Complete Collection
The Muppet Movie (1979)
June 3rd, 2023Movie Info
Movie Name: The Muppet Movie
Studio: Henson Associates (HA)/ITC Films
Genre(s): Musical/Comedy/Family
Release Date(s): May 31, 1979 (Premiere)/June 15, 1979 (UK)/June 22, 1979 (US)
MPAA Rating: G
Movin’ Right Along!
Kermit the Frog has been presented with a future where he can make people happy. As he heads to Hollywood to meet his destiny he meets others with dreams and visions. A comedian bear named Fozzie, a band trying to make it on their own, a pig with dreams of stardom…and a Gonzo. As Kermit and his friends make their way across the country, they are doggedly pursued by Doc Hopper (Charles Durning) who wants Kermit for a spokesperson for his frog-legs restaurants…and Doc Hopper doesn’t take no for an answer! Can the Muppets make their dreams come true?
Directed by James Frawley, The Muppet Movie is a family musical comedy-adventure. The movie was a spin-off of The Muppet Show (1977-1979) and was well received upon its release. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song (“The Rainbow Connection”) and Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score and was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Archive in 2009.
Friends make the Frog
The Muppets meant everything to me as a child. I had the toys, books, and even Muppet clothes (my Animal tennis shoes were a favorite). The Muppet Movie was a culmination of all things Muppets, and pre-VCR, just having the soundtrack was a key to Muppets daily.
The story is smart. It is presented as an “origin of the Muppets” with the Muppets telling of how they made it big in Hollywood through a movie. It presents the story of Kermit but slowly adds friends to Kermit’s adventures. With Charles Durning playing the bad guy, a message of friendship and dreams develops that still stands today.
The Muppet cast already was firmly established (and also features a cameo by Big Bird on his way to make it in public television). The real fun of The Muppet Movie is that it is a slice of life period. It is loaded with the celebrities of the time including Dom DeLuise, James Coburn, Madeline Kahn, Carol Kane, Telly Savalas, Paul Williams, Milton Berle, Elliot Gould, Bob Hope, Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Mel Brooks, Cloris Leachman, and Orson Wells with Edgar Bergman and his puppet Charlie McCarthy receiving special credit for his final role before his death in 1978.
The Lovers, the Dreamers, and You!!!
The movie also is a step up from The Muppet Show. With more “real world” experiences, the Muppet performers can’t simply be behind a wall. You see Kermit fully and sometimes it works great and other times (like Kermit and Fozzie’s dance) sometimes doesn’t hold-up…but it all falls under Muppet charm and any faults can be passed on.
The Muppet Movie is a classic. The characters are enduring and the story is strong enough that young and old can enjoy it. “The Rainbow Connection” not only is a song, but a way of life for dreamers, and the Muppets can always inspire. The Muppet Movie was followed by The Great Muppet Caper in 1981.
Related Links:
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
June 3rd, 2023Movie Info
Movie Name: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Studio: Warfield Productions
Genre(s): Musical/Romance/Action/Adventure/Family
Release Date(s): December 16, 1968
MPAA Rating: G
Toot-Sweets…dogs love them!
Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) is an inventor extraordinaire who has yet to invent anything of significance. When his children convince him to buy a former racecar, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is born. A trip to the sea side with Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes) the daughter of a candy magnate named Lord Scrumptious (James Robertson Justice) leads to Potts’ amazing car catching the attention of the ruler of Vulgaria Baron Bomburst (Gert Fröbe). Accidentally kidnapping Grandpa Potts (Lionel Jeffries) instead of Professor Potts, Caractacus, Truly, and Potts’ children Jemima (Heather Ripley) and Jeremy (Adrian Hall) must set off to Vulgaria to rescue him…a kingdom where children are outlawed!
Directed by Ken Hughes, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a family musical adventure. The film is based on the 1964 children’s book Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magic Car by James’ Bond’s creator Ian Fleming (and Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli produced it). A loose adaptation, the script was crafted by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory writer Roald Dahl and was met by mostly negative reviews. The movie lost money on its run in the theaters, but has gained cult classic status. The movie received one Oscar nomination for Best Song (“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”).
Every child of the ’70s and ’80s thought child abductors looked like this…
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was allegedly out to “out-Disney” Disney. It hired the Sherman Brothers who wrote songs for big Disney films like Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, and The Aristocats to write the music and brought in Mary Poppins’ Dick Van Dyke (also allegedly trying to get Julie Andrews) to be part of it. The result is sometimes great…but often flat.
The problem with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is that it is almost two and a half hours and the first hour of the film really doesn’t even involve any fantasy. The set-up of the movie has Chitty Chitty Bang Bang saved from a junkyard, the meeting of Truly, and a fun number involving Toot-Sweets (which leads to a dog invasion) and a dance number for Dick Van Dyke. It probably wouldn’t hold kids interest and could sour them before they reach the fun and creepy part of the movie.
Something’s fishy about these dolls…
The movie’s second half involves a story being told by Dick Van Dyke about the kingdom of Vulgaria. When I was little, I didn’t see that it was obviously a story, but that is what is supposed to happen for kids. It is here that the story about a car gets weird…and creepy. The last of the film really feels like a Roald Dahl novel. The car can travel on water and then reveals it can fly. Vulgaria is completely trippy. It is ruled by a tyrant king (and his wife who sometimes have a kinky Chicago thing going on), and children are outlawed and hidden under the city to prevent them from being captured by the scary Child Catcher (Robert Helpmann) who smells children. It is twisted and scary as hell.
The movie is aided by the likable combination of Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Heather Ripley, and Adrian Hall. Lionel Jeffries plays the grandfather, but actually was younger than Dick Van Dyke. The movie brings in Goldfinger Gert Fröbe as the evil ruler and Benny Hill as the helpful toymaker. Robert Helpmann’s Child Catcher has gone down as one of the scariest cinema creations on many lists and deleted from the children’s takeover of the castle is a young Phil Collins.
I wish Doc Brown made the DeLorean like this…
I think the movie also looks great. The sets are fantastic and the cinematography is top-notch. The big castle scene was shot at Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany which served as the model for Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland. I also love both the jack-in-the-box designs and the final dance sequence with Van Dyke and Howes as a marionette and a wind-up dancer (which Barenaked Ladies used in their “One Week” video).
I like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but only because I grew up with it. It is long but fun to revisit on occasion and the first half of the movie is well worth the second half. The movie isn’t perfect but it is goofy fun in the lines of Disney and those who like musical movies like Pete’s Dragon, Mary Poppins, or Oliver! might enjoy this adventure.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
June 3rd, 2023Movie Info
Movie Name: Singin’ in the Rain
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre(s): Musical
Release Date(s): March 27, 1952 (Premiere)/April 10, 1952 (US)
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
A true Hollywood picture?
Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) have a successful career in the movies and are pursued by the press. When The Jazz Singer is introduced, things are going to change. Lina’s voice is not the voice of a star, and Don wonders if he is really an actor at when a preview screening of their first talkie goes wrong. Don must find a solution to his problem with his girlfriend Kathy Seldon (Debbie Reynolds) and friend musician Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor). Now Don, Kathy, and Cosmo have a plan but will it work to save the movie and Don’s career?
Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, Singin’ in the Rain is a musical romance-comedy. The film was well received upon its release but was not a box office hit. It received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress (Jean Hagen) and Best Musical Scoring. It was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1989.
These guys know how to party!
Gene Kelly dancing and singing on the street in a downpour is classic cinema…and even if you have not seen the film, you have probably seen this sequence. Singin’ in the Rain is a classic through and throughout though it does have some of the pitfalls of classic musicals of the period.
The story of Singin’ in the Rain is a fun great story, but it actually came second. The music for the movie was written first, and the script had to be written around it. It is a musical, but even more so a dance picture. The movie features a number of dance number that sometimes get a little long but also show the grandeur of old Hollywood. It reminds me a lot of Gene Kelly’s An American in Paris which also has a number of long dance scenes and won Best Picture the previous year…but in many ways this entry is more story driven.
A Clockwork Orange? Never heard of it…
The period of Hollywood covered in the picture was a game changer. The experiments in sound and those opposed to bringing sound to the pictures had ramifications that are still felt today. If The Jazz Singer had bombed, who knows where movies would be today. The material was toyed with again in The Artist, and both pictures show how difficult it was for some actors to make the jump stylistically and vocally to being in a talking picture. Hagen’s character was based on Norma Talmadge who failed to make the transition.
The ironic thing about the whole movie is the Debbie Reynolds factor. She wasn’t really a dancer when she made the film and her singing voice wasn’t where it really needed to be. She carries her scenes, but she’s actually dubbed for many of the songs, and Hagen (whose voice is supposed to be awful) had a great voice. Hagen actually sang her own song at a point when Reynolds was supposed to be dubbing her. Kelly and O’Connor are perfect in their dance numbers.
That’s right…I’m taking credit now!
The movie pops. The bright Technicolor look of musicals from the period really highlight filmmaking of the time, and the set-based movie benefits from the control a set creates. The look, the style, and the music of the movie is perfect.
Singin’ in the Rain is a spectacle of old Hollywood but it was made as Hollywood was reinventing itself again. The movie is visually stunning. The plot is compelling (though too easily solved), and those who can’t handle a dance numbers might struggle since they are extensive. If nothing else, sit back and watch the scene and enjoy the nice soundtrack and look of the film. It’s a classic.
Broad City—Season 4
June 3rd, 2023
Abbi and Ilana get animated
Things are looking up for Ilana (Ilana Glazer) and Abbi (Abbi Jacobson). Abbi has a new job at a design company after leaving Soulstice but her new boss Dara (Wanda Sykes) is a challenge. Ilana lands her dream job at a sushi restaurant that could finally give her waitress wealth. Ilana and Abbi are ruling the city and have big plans for the future!
Broad City—Season 4 is a Comedy Central sitcom. The season received positive reviews and won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Motion Design (“Mushrooms”).
I love Broad City. The chemistry between Ilana and Abbi is great and each season of Broad City makes me a bit sad because I know it is approaching the end. With a great cast, a love of New York, and humor that pushes boundaries, Broad City continues to be a winner.
Trey, the sex was good…but I got to train Shania Twain…which is better
The season is a bit of an exploration of how Abbi and Ilana’s friendship started (with a butterfly effect telling of their first meeting) and the season ends with the anniversary of their friendship. The friendship is unflappable despite being sometimes horrible to each other and you get to see more of Abbi and Ilana’s interactions with each other’s families…and how they have built their own families within them.
The breakout episode for the season is “Mushrooms” which is largely animated. The episode features Abbi and Ilana traversing a cartoon New York City high on mushrooms until they are forced to come down to deal with Abbi’s boss…and in classic Broad City fashion, it goes horribly wrong…the characters never can win, but instead of being a downer, it always works out because they have each other.
The core of the series is the relationship between Ilana and Abbi which on the surface seems a bit of an odd couple pairing, but in reality, they are made for each other. I do like Hannibal Buress, so it is too bad that he’s a bit less featured this season, but additions like RuPaul, Fran Drescher, Jane Curtin, and Wanda Sykes help fill out the cast.
You can’t hide from the laughs
The third star of the series is New York itself. It feels like it factors into the lives of Ilana and Abbi just as much as any person they encounter. From the Met to Soho to Central Park…it feels that they inhabit that world. Even if they are pretty poor, you’re jealous they get to live that life.
Broad City continues to be a great series and it is painful to know that Broad City—Season 5 will mean the end of it. It feels like there is so much potential to see the women get older and face the challenges of aging…in that sense, the series could go on indefinitely until they turn into their parents. Instead, you have to savor Broad City and enjoy each episode…visit New York again!
Broad City—Season 4 Complete Episode Guide:
“Sliding Doors”
4.1 Sliding Doors Airdate: 09/13/17
Abbi (Abbi Jacobson) and Ilana (Ilana Glazer) meet through a chance encounter at the subway…but what if something slightly changed.
“Twaining Day”
4.2 Twaining Day Airdate: 09/20/17
Abbi has a new job at a design agency, but her new boss Dara (Wanda Sykes) is a bit of a challenge. Ilana goes for a job at Sushi Mamba but has to prove herself to the hiring manager Marcel (RuPaul). When Abbi gets a package delivered to her old job Soulstice, she learns Shania Twain is training with Trey Pucker (Paul W. Downs)…and it could prove Abbi’s dream true.
“Just the Tips”
4.3 Just the Tips Airdate: 09/27/17
Abbi adjust to having a new boyfriend in Mike (Omar Maskati). When Ilana uses her new money to go to a big party, she finds herself faced with Lincoln (Hannibal Buress) and old feelings.
“Mushrooms”
4.4 Mushrooms Airdate: 10/11/17
Ilana and Abbi have a mushroom trip but run into problems with Abbi’s boss Dara requests a Saturday delivery. As Ilana faces a threesome with a hot couple, Abbi’s could have the opportunity of her career.
“Abbi’s Mom”
4.5 Abbi’s Mom Airdate: 10/18/17
Abbi’s mom Joanne (Peri Gilpin) has come to visit, but a revelation that she had a life crisis has her heading out for a night on the town. Ilana deals with seasonal depression and a contest at the sushi restaurant could challenge her job.
“Witches”
4.6 Witches Airdate: 10/25/17
Abbi finds a grey hair…and Ilana declares that she now has the power of a witch. With hopes of earning enough money for a space heater from Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Abbi decides to sell cards in front of the MET…which leads to an encounter from her past. Ilana deals with having sexual repression since Trump’s election.
“Florida”
4.7 Florida Airdate: 11/08/17
Abbi and Ilana are headed to Florida to clean out the home of Ilana’s grandmother’s apartment. When Abbi and Ilana debate getting an apartment at the retirement community of Darlington Lakes, they could be leaving New York City forever.
“House-Sitting”
4.8 House-Sitting Airdate: 11/15/17
Ilana is housesitting for Heidi Strand (Amy Ryan)…and Abbi gets to join the fun. Jaimé (Arturo Castro) deals with his circumcision as Ilana has her new relationship with Lincoln. Abbi gets a Bumble match with her former high school English teacher Mr. Miller (Mike Birbiglia).
“Bedbugs”
4.9 Bedbugs Airdate: 11/29/17
Ilana is finding having money is hard as she gifts to everyone she knows…but when Jaimé gives her bad news on the home front, her life could be turned upside down. Abbi gets a new purse from Ilana to change her luck…and it could work.
“Friendiversary”
4.10 Friendiversary Airdate: 12/06/17
It is Abbi and Ilana friendiversary…except Abbi has forgotten. When Abbi’s impromptu trip to the Empire State Building leads to the witnessing of a murder, Abbi and Ilana must solve the crime.
Related Links:
Broad City—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Broad City—Season 2 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Broad City—Season 3 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Summercamp! (2006)
June 3rd, 2023Movie Info
Movie Name: Summercamp!
Studio: Orchard Pictures/Roadside Cinema
Genre(s): Documentary
Release Date(s): September 8, 2006 (Toronto International Film Festival)
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Kids don’t always have a filter (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing)
Swift Nature Camp in Oak Brook, Illinois is open for business and a group of campers are coming to spend three weeks of the summer and make friends. As the summer passes, the campers get to know each other. All the kids have quirks and fears as they leave home (sometimes for the first time). From homesickness to language challenges to even bigger problems…a camp becomes a microcosm of the bigger world. The summer is long and hot and emotions can run high and fast.
Directed by Bradley Beesley and Sarah Price, Summercamp! is a documentary film. The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and featured music by the Flaming Lips.
I went to camp a few summers growing up, but they were shorter camps. The movie stills spurs memories of intense and quick friendships, a period of early independence, and hot summer days. Summercamp! is a simple documentary, but it is effective.
Start of Movie: This girl’s a bit too into chickadees…
End of Movie: Awwwww
The movie starts focusing on a few campers, but the attention soon diverts to two campers. You have Holly who seems to have an unnatural obsession with chickadees…it goes on and on until Holly reveals the tragic reason she cares so much about chickadees (and reminds you that everyone has a story). The second camper is Cameron. He’s a troubled kid who is teetering between being a big bully and being scared all the time. As a kid, I wouldn’t have liked Cameron (as the other campers do), but as an adult, you can have pity for him…he’s really struggling.
The movie also does a good job reminding you about how everything was life or death as a kid and that has not changed. You could lash out at someone for knocking down your sandcastle, and it was over in a few minutes. Emotions flared, but they always passed. You could cry one minute and be playing with your friends the next.
Sometimes you just got to get away…from camp
The documentary actually is a bit too fast. It would have benefited from streaming. More time to know more campers would have helped. A reality series called Bug Juice took a similar method, but focused on more a “reality TV” style that Summercamp! shies away from. It would have been better to get more perspective on more campers and the counselors at the camp.
Summercamp! is a fun little documentary, but it feels like it misses a lot of opportunities. The movie has some completely heartbreaking moments, but because of how fast the documentary goes, it cannot dwell…and children also can’t express their emotions as well though their expressions are more pure and honest. Like a lot of these movies, I’d love to see a follow-up…to see how the kids turned out, and you always wonder who came back year after year.
Powers 10: Cosmic
June 3rd, 2023Comic Info
Comic Name: Powers (Volume 2)
Publisher: Marvel Comics/Icon
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2007
Powers (2) #14
Reprints Powers (2) #13-18 (September 2005-April 2006). When a galactic superhero named Millennium dies, Christian Walker finds he’s at a crossroads that could change his life forever…and make himself a target. Meanwhile, Deena Pilgrim discovers her new superpowers and her use of them could be coming back to haunt her.
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Powers Volume 10: Cosmic is a Marvel Comics collection released under the Icon imprint. Following Powers Volume 9: Psychotic, the collection features art by Michael Avon Oeming. The issues in the collection were also collected as part of Powers—Book 4 and Powers: Definitive Collection—Volume 4.
Powers was one of my favorite titles, but I only read it in trade paperback. By Powers 10: Cosmic, I was getting a bit tired of Powers, but Powers kept rolling on. Even though I had some Powers fatigue (partially due to Bendis and his expansion into the Marvel Universe), Powers 10: Cosmic shows why the series manages to endure.
The story is pretty much divided into Christian’s story of his new powers and Pilgrim’s crimes coming to surface. The Christian story is a lot of set-up for future adventures. Like a lot of Powers, it is a reflexive story with it creating parallels between the Millennium Guard and DC Comics’ Green Lantern. It is a chance to explore what Christian (as a true hero) would do with bigger and more world shaping powers.
Powers (2) #18
The flipside to Christian’s storyline is Pilgrim who is suffering from her powers. She’s killed and she’s a danger…and people are starting to catch on. Pilgrim has always been a train wreck, and she didn’t have superhuman powers…now she has powers and is even more of a threat. Bendis manages to keep you caring about Pilgrim despite her always making the wrong choices.
The comic books have a unique framework which is also a trend in Powers. The issues in this volume use the standup routine to create a wrap-around between issues. While most of the dialogue works, sometimes it feels like Bendis is trying too hard to be edgy with the stand-ups.
Powers 10: Cosmic is a solid entry in a series which always changes up the format. It feels like Deena and Christian’s paths are separate but converging, and Powers is often a story of redemption and human heroes that make mistakes. I never know where Powers will go, but I always enjoy the ride. Powers 10: Cosmic is followed by Powers 11: Secret Identity.
Preceded By:
An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
June 3rd, 2023Movie Info
Movie Name: An Officer and a Gentleman
Studio: Lorimar Film Entertainment/Paramount Pictures
Genre(s): Drama/Romance
Release Date(s): July 28, 1982
MPAA Rating: R
I got no where else to go!!!
Zack Mayo (Richard Gere) has been on the run all his life. He was dumped on his father (Robert Loggia) after his mother’s suicide and grew up an outsider. When he decides to join the Navy, Zack heads to the US Navy’s Aviation Officer Candidate School in Washington. Faced with the biggest challenge of his life, Zack finds himself butting heads with his commanding officer Marine Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley (Louis Gossett Jr.) while befriending Sid Worley (David Keith). In Port Townsend, Washington, there are woman that try to land officer candidates, and Zack begins dating a woman named Paula Pokrifki (Debra Winger)…but finishing school might be impossible.
Directed by Taylor Hackford, An Officer and a Gentlemen is a romantic drama. The film received positive reviews and was a box office hit. The film received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Louis Gossett Jr.) and Best Original Song (“Up Where We Belong”) with nominations for Best Actress (Debra Winger), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score.
Do I make the grade?
“Up Where We Belong” seemed to be everywhere when this movie was out…it was all over the radio. It was years before I saw An Officer and a Gentleman, and it was a better movie than I expected.
While the movie was kind of marketed as a romance, it is like a grittier, dirtier version of Top Gun. Zack’s life is a mess, and he’s been let down by everyone. While Paula is into him, he continues to distrust her and doesn’t trust himself to open up. He is often cruel to Paula despite her devotion and their relationship is contrasted to Lynette (played by Lisa Blount) and Sid which is more of a trainwreck. Zack is a punk and the training and experience makes him into a better man…he earns the relationship and the loyalty that Paula gives him.
The cast is strong. Richard Gere is kind of bland (intentionally) as the directionless Zack who doesn’t want to be his father. Debra Winger was at the top at the time and plays a great and real feeling character in Paula. Louis Gossett Jr. gets the easy standout role as the no-nonsense drill instructor. He’s not as bombastic as Lee Ermey’s Full Metal Jacket instructor, but he feels like a predecessor to him. Lisa Eibacher is underplayed as a woman candidate among a group of men while Lisa Blount is the rather cold Lynette who destroys the wishy-washy David Keith.
Love lifts us up where we belong!
The movie isn’t flashy. Unlike a lot of military films that glorify the whole process, the film feels cold and emotionless. The Washington of An Officer and a Gentlemen is dim and rainy. It is a place you don’t want to be stuck…which is seen in Lynette and Paula. The officers are a way out of their dull world.
An Officer and a Gentleman is a pretty decent romance that actually feels more like an anti-romance. While it all ends up decent for the couple, the movie takes an even rockier path than most romances. While the characters famously walk off into the sunset, it mimics movies like The Graduate where you are unsure of the characters’ future together…you hope they’ll make it, but you don’t really know.
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition 5—Four Swords
June 2nd, 2023Comic Info
Comic Name: The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition 5—Four Swords
Publisher: Viz Media
Writer: Akira Himekawa
Artist: Akira Himekawa
Release Date: 2017
Four Links set sail for adventure!
Young Link is a hero despite his age and size, and in the Kingdom of Hyrule, he’s won the eye of Princess Zelda. When the seal of the Four Swords is broken, a Shadow Link appears, and the land is plunged into danger. Link must summon the legendary Four Swords and finds himself split into four versions of himself. Stopping the Shadow Link is dangerous, and the Links must find a way to work together to do it…but there might be a force bigger and more dangerous than the Shadow Link behind the evil.
Written and illustrated by Akira Himekawa, The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition Volume 5—Four Swords is video game manga series. Following The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition Volume 4—The Minish Cap/Phantom Hourglass, the manga collection was released by Viz Media and based on The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure released in 2004 for the GameCube.
I grew up with The Legend of Zelda and Nintendo. It was a “game-changing” game. It spawned sequel after sequel…and most were rather strong. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure, however, was not a game I played.
Capturing a video game on paper is sometimes difficult…especially considering that games aren’t always heavy in plot. Each game (especially Zelda) have aspects of a plot and an overarching plot, but the rest of the story has to be fleshed out. The collection does a decent job building up a mythos. What is interesting about the Legendary Edition series is that you see that each time the mythos has to be built again since the games are technically separate though they share a complete timeline (which has been mapped out online to some extent).
Four Links vs. One Ganon…guess who wins?
The way the collection goes about trying to present the energy and kinetic feel of a video game is through the manga art. It is a good entry level manga with the classic formatting (which might throw a gamer that just decides to visit their favorite game in story form). It does bounce back and forth between “serious” art or more playful art which sometimes feels odd tonally. What is difficult about this collection is that the four Links are all different colors, and the black-and-white art does not help you in distinguishing them (but Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles also did that for the early volumes when all the Turtles looked alike even in their all-red bandanas for the color artwork…but at least they had different weapons)
The Legend of Zelda mangas have been a bit hit or miss in their nature. I like what they attempt, but they don’t always land. I don’t know if it is because I haven’t played this game and I had no expectations, but I felt that this was one of the more interesting adaptations. With game after game continuing to come out, I hope the adaptations continue…and this format is a great way to go. The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition Volume 5—Four Swords was followed by The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess.
Related Links:
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition 1—Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition 3—Majora’s Mask/A Link to the Past
