‘Supergirl’ doesn’t live up to potential

Posted on by earthtoshawna

I loved “Superman” (2025), and I was so excited for “Supergirl.” Milly Alcock is adorable and a great actress. She’s perfectly cast as Supergirl, aka Kara Zor-El. Her naughty pup, Krypto, is also adorable. They’re a spunky superhero duo! What’s not to love? Well, unfortunately there were multiple things about this movie that I did not love.

Don’t get me wrong – I didn’t hate it. It was entertaining, and it had its moments. But it could have been so much better! For starters, Kara is not a great role model for young girls, which is fine, but if you are thinking this is a cute movie to take your little girl to see, you might be disappointed to find out that Kara is less of a fun party girl and more of a full-blown alcoholic. I actually don’t mind this being part of the story except that they don’t really address her addiction in a meaningful way.

There is also lots of violence, and I know that’s par for the course, but I’m talking about massacres of whole families by space pirates who also abduct and imprison teen girls to be their “brides.” It isn’t the most feel-good, family-friendly summer flick, is what I’m saying. (And “Supergirl” doesn’t address human trafficking in any meaningful way either.)

Having said that, I am going to give a lot more spoilers after the following photo, so if you don’t want the movie spoiled, come back later.

I am sad to be giving this film a somewhat negative review, because I really, really wanted to love it. Women-centered films are often unfairly criticized, even before they’ve been released. Like “The Marvels” (2023) there was some anti-women hatred aimed at “Supergirl,” picking on Alcock’s appearance, of all things. There’s nothing wrong with her appearance of course. My issues with the movie are its plot holes and lack of originality.

My first gripe is with the origin story of Clark’s cousin. In “Superman,” we found out Clark’s birth parents were sort of evil and wanted their son to conquer Earth and to rule “without mercy.” Luckily, he didn’t get the memo because their message was cut off, so he became a good guy instead.

Now we are told Kara’s parents were awesome and told her to be a good person! Maybe there was a good brother and a bad brother, and Supergirl’s dad was the good one? That’s possible, but they don’t go into that. We are left to puzzle over it. (I know there’s a theory that the “Go conquer Earth” message translation in “Superman” was a lie, but there’s a line in “Supergirl” about Kal-El being sent off to be a conqueror, and anyway one would think Kara would be able to clear up any doubt, as she speaks fluent Kryptonian.)

It’s hard not to compare the two superheroes. The story and plot in “Superman” felt fresh and original, and also timely. But “Supergirl” felt like a mashup of “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Mad Max: Fury Road.” And not in a good way.

The villains and the fight scenes were sort of boring, Supergirl’s sidekick, Ruthye, was one-dimensional. Her sworn-to-avenge-her-family storyline was very “My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.” And as much as I love Jason Momoa, his character Lobo was extraneous. He could have been removed, and it wouldn’t change the story.

How did all of this pass the first-draft stage? I suspect movie makers don’t expect women superheroes to bring in the big box-office bucks, so they invest less effort in these films. Then when the movies do poorly, they can say, “See we told you, audiences don’t want women superheroes!” (Script writers and directors should study 2017’s “Wonder Woman.” The Patty Jenkins-directed film proved that we can have women superhero movies that don’t suck!)

Another issue I have with “Supergirl” is that, while Kara does help Ruthye and the other kidnapped girls, there’s no follow-up for the girls after they’re freed, because Kara’s main concern is her dog, left paralyzed by the brigands. Krypto spends most of the movie on a doctor’s table, waiting for the heroes to find him a cure, just like Rocket in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”

Maybe I’m being unfair. Kara is younger than Clark, so it makes sense that she’s more immature and self-centered. She also has had childhood trauma which she’s still working out. It’s possible the writers are planning more growth for her in a future film.

I did love seeing Kara and her puppy meeting for the first time, and going to Earth, meeting Superman. Her flaws (and that space scream!) are relatable. I will re-watch the movie. Like I said, I didn’t hate it. But Alcock deserves a better script. (Another note to writers: If you want us to take women superhero movies seriously, don’t use cringey songs like “The Middle.”) I’m holding out hope Alcock will get to play Supergirl again and have a better story the next time around.

Follow Earth to Shawna on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Earth-to-Shawna-1476049362698628/?fref=ts

‘Good Omens’ finale: The good, the bad, & the cop-out

Posted on by earthtoshawna

Season Three of the fantasy comedy “Good Omens” just dropped and it was not a season at all but one 99-minute episode. I know I should be happy we got an ending at all, but like a lot of rushed endings (“Rome,” “Game of Thrones”), this one just felt, well, rushed.

Season One gave us the Antichrist, and our heroes, the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley, joined forces to save the world from that threat. The conflict of Season Two was less apocalyptic, centering on the angel Gabriel’s mysterious amnesia. In part 3, the story returns to the threat of Armageddon, this time with the Second Coming of Christ.

The following contains spoilers, so come back later if you haven’t watched the new episode yet.

My first gripe is that Jesus gets short shrift, but I guess if you consider that an entire season had to be condensed into one episode, it makes sense. I guess he would have gotten a lot more screen time if there had been a full season.

However, I would have preferred to see more of him rather than the car-swindling mobster and his daughter. I didn’t really care for the repetitive three-card monte either. I’m sure there’s some symbolism here that I’m not picking up on. Are we supposed to come to the conclusion that Jesus’ miracles were nothing more than sleight of hand? Or that card tricks are more palatable to modern humans than parables? (I’m admittedly biased; as a Christian, I feel a twinge of annoyance at some of the more blasphemous aspects of this series, and yes, I realize that’s the point.)

I did like the allusion to the loaves and fishes, with the never-ending pizza. That was a nice touch. I also found it funny that the games Crowley and Aziraphale played for the Bentley were Monopoly and crossword puzzles.

It was heart-warming to see Michael Sheen (Aziraphale) and David Tennant (Crowley) together again in these roles, as it has been three years since Season 2. The religious satire is clever (and absurd), but the actors, and their portrayal of these characters are superior to the script, and are what make this series worthwhile.

My second beef with the finale is one pointed out to me by someone else, which is that deleting the Earth/people and replacing them with new ones was not much different from the episode in which Job’s children were going to be killed and then replaced with different children. Good point!

My third, and biggest, complaint is the scene in which Aziraphale and Crowley don’t have a goodbye kiss, but instead Aziraphale kisses his fingers and touches them to Crowley’s lips. They have kissed before, so why the cop-out here? It doesn’t make sense and is insulting to queer audiences. Would they have had a real kiss if they were a heterosexual couple?

The writers and/or director should watch “Our Flag Means Death,” a master class on representation. “Our Flag” went all in and embraced the queerness and diversity of its characters with no apologies or cop-out “kisses.” (Also, “Our Flag” is perfect in every way, and you should go watch it right now.)

Even though the very end (where they meet as humans) was predictable, it was a tidy bow that wrapped up the series.

Is it sad that as humans, they have no memory of their thousands of years together? A little. But I think God gave them the same “souls.” Yes, I realize they shouldn’t have souls since God and Heaven no longer exist. But they are the same: They still wind up together when they’re in human form.

It’s not sad to me that they’re humans and no longer angel and demon, because when they were angel and demon, they loved living on Earth. They loved books and cars and food and tea, and they loved humans! And they loved each other. Heaven and Hell are gone, their old memories are gone, but their love survived. Maybe the moral of the story is that love is the only thing that lasts forever.

I leave you with the kiss from Season 2. What did you think of this finale? Let me know in the comments!

Follow Earth to Shawna on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Earth-to-Shawna-1476049362698628/?fref=ts

‘Project Hail Mary,’ ‘Wonder Man’ bring the bromance

Posted on by earthtoshawna

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I love the Andy Weir novel “Project Hail Mary,” and I was excited about the adaptation. I am happy to report it lived up to my expectations.

Ryan Gosling was great as Ryland Grace, and everything about the film was beautiful: the cinematography, the story, the bromance between two dudes bonding over science in outer space. … I’m getting ahead of myself.

If you have not seen it yet, here’s a little background: Grace wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there. He discovers he’s the only survivor of a three-person crew light years away from Earth. He slowly remembers the events that led him to this distant solar system.

There was a lot of detail in the book that didn’t make it to the screen, and that was to be expected. If they did everything that was in the original, it would have been a lot longer than two and a half hours, and it would have been more tedious, to be honest. They did a pretty good job deciding what to keep, what to cut, and what to add. (I loved the addition of the karaoke scene.)

I really liked the adaptation of Weir’s novel “The Martian” as well. “Project Hail Mary” was even better. My one gripe is that it’s a little too perfect. The book is grittier. In the movie, the conflicts that arise are solved with less blood, sweat, and tears.

The crew of Artemis II wearing special glasses to view the solar eclipse during their lunar flyby (NASA photo)

NASA’s real-life Artemis II flight is giving a similar positive vibe. The crew of four astronauts flew around the moon and launched from Cape Canaveral just a couple weeks after “Project Hail Mary” premiered in theaters. It was a rare parallel. A convergence? Maybe not so rare after all:

CBC reporter and film critic Jackson Weaver has pointed out astronaut movies often align with NASA milestones: “The Martian” (2015) was released a few weeks after NASA’s announcement about water on Mars. “First Man” (2018) came out a few months before the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. It’s not really coincidental; NASA has had a hand in this, having collaborated on many films.

Understandably, NASA will not put its brand on anything that depicts NASA in a negative light. The sci-fi horror flick “Life” was denied the use of the NASA logo, and Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity” had a major disaster in space, which NASA would not support.

Maybe this has something to do with the happy, shiny perfect-ness of the movie I mentioned earlier. Might the setbacks Grace encountered have been minimized in the film – compared with the book – due to NASA’s involvement?

Don’t get me wrong, I think NASA is “amaze,” and I think space exploration reminds us to look at the big picture and moves us to see each other as neighbors and collaborators, rather than enemies. As Jeremy Hansen, one of the Artemis II astronauts, recently said, “Our purpose on the planet as humans is to find the joy in lifting each other up by creating solutions together instead of destroying. When you see it from out here, it doesn’t change it; it just absolutely reaffirms that.”

In that context, it’s easy to see why NASA approved of “Project Hail Mary.” They want us to see them in a positive light, but they also want us to be inspired by astronauts – even fictional ones.

I’ve been seeing comments online about fans becoming “obsessed” with “Project Hail Mary,” and feeling encouraged and motivated by the characters to do something meaningful with their lives.

The Artemis II astronauts worked together, not just with each other, but with all the NASA people on the ground, to carry out their mission.

Ryland Grace felt alone in space, but he did not get there alone. And ultimately, Grace is not alone. He develops a unique friendship with another scientist light years away from Earth, a friendship which is really the heart of the story.

Even though I complained about it being too perfect, I really did love “Project Hail Mary,” and I give it all the stars! It is possible that I like to complain so much that I even complain that there is nothing to complain about. Or maybe I’m too jaded; I need more than a good movie to make me feel hopeful right now – even if it’s a really, really good movie.

‘Wonder Man’

Another bromance I enjoyed recently is Marvel’s series “Wonder Man,” which was released at the end of January on Disney+. The character of Wonder Man first appeared in comics in the 1960s, but this is his first live-action appearance!

In this version, Simon Williams, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Black Manta in the Aquaman movies) is an actor who is excited to hear about auditions for a remake of the “Wonder Man” movie he loved as a child. He hears about the auditions from fellow actor Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), whom you may remember from “Iron Man 3,” in which he was hired (by Tony Stark’s nemesis) to portray a terrorist called “the Mandarin.” (Trevor also appeared in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and the short film “All Hail the King.”)

Due to their shared love of acting, Simon and Trevor become friends. It’s not a typical superhero story. Often serious and suspenseful, exploring themes like trust and self-control, the show is also at times light-hearted and funny, and refreshingly unpredictable. “Wonder Man” is also interesting because it depicts what it’s like to be a struggling actor in Hollywood – and everything that comes with that.

There were reportedly two separate series planned, one about Simon and another about Trevor, and their stories were combined, which is surprising, as their friendship is my favorite thing about the show.   

One of the best episodes is a flashback story behind Hollywood studios’ “Doorman Clause,” which bans people with superpowers from working in the film and television industry. The episode is in black and white and features a cameo from Josh Gad, playing himself and singing his Frozen character Olaf’s song “In Summer” in a nightclub. It is very funny and surreal. 

I thought this might be a one and done miniseries, but it has already been renewed for a second season. It will be interesting to see what happens next for these characters.

The next new series on the Marvel slate is “VisionQuest,” a spinoff of “WandaVision.” Paul Bettany will reprise his role as Vision. The show is expected to premiere on Disney+ later this year but does not yet have a release date.

Follow Earth to Shawna on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Earth-to-Shawna-1476049362698628/?fref=ts

Ten sci-fi & fantasy movies coming to theaters this year

Posted on by earthtoshawna

How’s it going, sci-fi fans? Not great? I get it. The news lately is even bleaker than usual. There are so many horrible things happening on planet Earth – but it keeps turning. We can do our part and also be grateful for art – for music and books and film, and the escape from reality they provide, at least for a few hours. 

I already mentioned the upcoming astronaut movie “Project Hail Mary” (in theaters March 20) in my last post. Here are 10 more movies I’m looking forward to seeing in 2026. 

If you can’t get enough of “baby Yoda,” you’ll be happy to know “The Mandalorian and Grogu” are coming to the big screen. Pedro Pascal reprises his role of the Mandalorian, aka Din Djarin. Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White also star.

Jon Favreau created the fresh, original Star Wars series, and there have been three seasons so far. It’s unclear exactly why the producers decided to release a movie rather than a fourth season. The only explanation I’ve seen thus far is that Disney is “pivoting away” from streaming.

The movie’s plot has been somewhat shrouded in secrecy as well. Some fans were annoyed by the Super Bowl ad parodying the Budweiser Clydesdales. (The ad shows Mando and Grogu in a wagon pulled by tauntauns in place of the famous draft horses.) A longer, 2-minute trailer was released about a week later.

The film will be in theaters May 22.

Steven Spielberg is one of the biggest names in sci-fi; he gave us “Jurassic Park,” “E.T.,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and many others. His newest movie, “Disclosure Day,” stars Emily Blunt as a TV meteorologist receiving extraterrestrial communication. The trailer is somewhat suspenseful. I hope the movie isn’t too anxiety-inducing.

Colin Firth, Josh O’Connor, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo also star in the UFO flick, which will be in theaters June 12.

We got a preview of the new Supergirl (aka Kara Zor-El) at the end of Superman (2025), and it was obvious she’s a fun party girl – a stark contrast to her straitlaced cousin. She is played by Milly Alcock (“House of the Dragon”).

Matthias Schoenaerts (who was amazing in “Rust and Bone”) will play Krem of the Yellow Hills; David Corenswet reprises his role as Clark Kent, aka Superman, aka Kal-El; and Jason Momoa plays Lobo, an “alien mercenary from planet Czarnia.” (I guess he’s not Aquaman anymore?) Most importantly, though, Kara’s adorable dog Krypto will be in the movie! Can’t wait!

“Supergirl” will be in theaters June 26.

It has been five years since the release of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” At the end of that movie, Doctor Strange casts a spell that makes everyone forget Peter Parker (Tom Holland) exists. Even his friends don’t recognize him. He’s now protecting New York City anonymously – no one knows he is Spider-Man.

Zendaya and Jacob Batalon return as MJ and Ned. Mark Ruffalo reprises his role as the Hulk/Bruce Banner. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” will be in theaters July 31.

The film adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, “The Dog Stars,” is coming to theaters Aug. 28. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong, the movie is set in a post-apocalyptic future and centers on a pilot (Elordi) and an ex-Marine (Brolin), survivors of a flu pandemic.

The sixth Hunger Games movie, “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” will be released in theaters on Nov. 20. Based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel, the adaptation is a sequel to “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” and takes place 24 years before the first film. A young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) is chosen to compete in the Hunger Games.

The cast also includes Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Mckenna Grace, Whitney Peak, Maya Hawke, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Ralph Fiennes, and Glenn Close.

“Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew” is coming to theaters later this year, and I’m super excited as it will be written and directed by Greta Gerwig (“Little Women,” “Lady Bird,” “Barbie”). The film is based on the sixth book in “The Chronicles of Narnia,” by C.S. Lewis. This will be the fourth adaptation of the series, but the first by Gerwig.

Carey Mulligan, Emma Mackey, Daniel Craig, Denise Gough, and David McKenna will star, and the film will be in theaters Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving. It will be streaming on Netflix on Dec. 25, Christmas Day.

I love the “Jumanji” movies. They’re silly, I know, but also funny and sweet. The series’ newest movie (which is as yet untitled), will be in theaters on Dec. 11. Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Danny DeVito, and Rhys Darby reprise their roles.

The new Spider-Man flick isn’t the only Marvel movie coming to theaters this year – “Avengers: Doomsday,” the third film in Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will be in theaters Dec. 18. Tony Stark/Iron Man is gone, but Robert Downey Jr. is playing a new role: Doctor Doom.

Doctor Doom is a prominent supervillain in the Marvel comics, and will face off against an all-star cast of superheroes, including the Avengers, the Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers, and X-Men. The film is set 14 months after the events of “Thunderbolts” (aka the New Avengers).

The huge cast makes me wonder if my favorites will get enough screen time, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I’m especially looking forward to seeing what happened with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), as he sort of disappeared after “Endgame.”

“Dune” isn’t my favorite franchise, but I’m invested after seeing the first two movies, so I will be going to see “Dune: Part 3” in theaters. Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, and Robert Pattinson star in the Denis Villeneuve-directed film, which comes to theaters Dec. 18 (bumping “Doomsday” – which releases the same day – from IMAX).

Which movies are you most excited about this year? Let me know in the comments!

Follow Earth to Shawna on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Earth-to-Shawna-1476049362698628/?fref=tsEdit

Sam Rockwell makes satire ‘Good Luck’ worth watching

Posted on by earthtoshawna

I have not posted in a while but I’ve seen a lot of sci-fi movies and TV series in the meantime – some good, some not so good. One good one that I saw recently was our Valentine’s Day date movie, “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die.”

The movie, directed by Gore Verbinski, is not terribly original: We are doing the time loop again, and the tech has taken over. Sam Rockwell plays an eccentric weirdo who shows up at a diner and holds the customers hostage, trying to recruit them for a mission to save the world from an Artificial Intelligence apocalypse.

It’s hard to tell at first what kind of movie this is. During a creepy scene in which phone-addicted teen zombies come after a teacher (Michael Pena), I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to laugh or be scared. Both, I guess – it’s a satire, and it’s sort of disjointed, but I suspect that was the goal.

Rockwell is one of my all-time favorite actors, and I don’t know if I would have liked it as much if he wasn’t in it. But as someone who constantly rails against AI, and as someone who loves time travel movies, it felt like the target audience was me. If that is also you, check it out.

“Good Luck” is still in theaters. If you’re looking for a great Sam Rockwell sci-fi flick on streaming, I recommend Duncan Jones’ trippy 2009 astronaut movie, “Moon.”

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’

If you saw the first two Avatar movies, you already know what this movie series is about. Even if you haven’t seen them, you probably already know what it’s about – humans colonizing a planet (actually a moon) called Pandora, where tribal clans called the Na’vi are just trying to live their lives without humans taking over.

The films, a combination of live action and CGI animation, are visually spectacular. I didn’t get really invested in these characters – or at least I didn’t realize I was invested in them – until this third film. The Sully family tugged on my heartstrings this time. And the messages about protecting our environment and letting others live in peace is more relevant than ever. You know you’re really enjoying a movie if it’s more than three hours long and you’re not annoyed and wishing they would just wrap it up.

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” is still in theaters. There are two more sequels in the works. The next one is expected to be released in 2029.

‘Predator: Badlands’

My husband has been a huge fan of the Alien and Predator films since the ’80s, so I’ve seen a lot of these movies – maybe all of them. I don’t have as much enthusiasm for them as he does, but this new installment is different. Instead of the usual, serious warrior action flick, this one involves a predator – a Yautja – named Dek, who is seen by others in his clan as a weakling.

To prove himself worthy, Dek decides to hunt an apex predator called the Kalisk. He meets an android named Thia. Their relationship is the departure from the typical plot of these movies, and is what made the movie more fun, a little sillier, and more enjoyable than I had expected. Also, Elle Fanning is wonderful and adorable.

“Predator: Badlands” is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

‘Project Hail Mary’

I really liked the book by Andy Weir, on which this movie is based, and I also love “The Martian,” which was based on another Weir novel, so I have high hopes for this adaptation, which stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, a man who wakes up on a spacecraft with no memory of how he got there or what he’s doing there.

I gave copies of the book to my stepmom and stepbrother for Christmas, and we all read it at the same time, and my husband has read it before too, so it holds a special place in my heart. Don’t let me down, Ken!

“Project Hail Mary” will be in theaters March 20.

Follow Earth to Shawna on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Earth-to-Shawna-1476049362698628/?fref=ts

Summer picks: ‘Superman,’ ‘Strange New Worlds’

Posted on by earthtoshawna

Hey, sci-fi fans – let’s talk about “Superman” and “The Fantastic 4: First Steps.” How cool is it that we got both these movies in theaters this summer?

“The Fantastic 4” is a departure from the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Sacred Timeline” (also known as Earth-616).

Our fantastic superhero team lives on Earth-828 – in the year 1964. That’s why their 1964 looks so different and futuristic. They are the only superheroes in their timeline/parallel universe/whatever you want to call it. There are no Avengers there.

Once you wrap your head around that, you can sit back and watch their story unfold.

Their origin story is not the main plot, but it is given in the movie: Reed (Pedro Pascal), Sue (Vanessa Kirby), Ben (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny (Joseph Quinn) acquired their powers after a space mission exposed them to “cosmic rays.” They’ve been fighting villains and protecting their planet for years when a supervillain named Galactus enters the picture.

It was entertaining and fun, but like “The Eternals,” it doesn’t feel connected to the MCU. I know it is going to be tied into future Marvel films, however, so I’m looking forward to seeing how that plays out. I’m not really a big fan of the multiverse plot lines, and it’s mostly for this reason that I enjoyed “Superman” more.

I had mixed feelings about director James Gunn switching from Marvel to DC. He made some of my favorite Marvel movies, but when he ousted Henry Cavill (Superman) and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), I was bummed out. But he wanted to take these characters in a different direction, so it makes sense to re-cast them.

Gunn gave the Guardians of the Galaxy humor and heart, and he’s brought that same winning combo to “Superman.”

David Corenswet had big shoes to fill, and he did an amazing job as the pure and good Clark Kent/Superman. A model of goodness, hope, and compassion is exactly what we all need right now.

I honestly loved everything about this movie – the characters, the casting, the special effects, the dialogue, and of course Krypto, the adorable mutt with superpowers. (Gunn modeled the dog’s mischievous personality after his own pup!)

I’m also loving Season 3 of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” so far. This series was well cast, and I especially love Ethan Peck as Spock.

I was so excited to find out Rhys Darby was added to the cast, but unfortunately, he was only in one episode.

We are halfway through the season, with five episodes left. The finale will be Sept. 11. Season 4 is already in production, and a fifth and final season is expected to begin filming later this year. “Strange New Worlds” is on Paramount+.

My hubby is a huge fan of the “Alien” movies, so we could not pass up an opportunity to see the “ad” for the new “Alien: Earth” TV series on the corner of Hollywood and Vine.

The display features a life-size alien xenomorph and billboards, containment units with buttons and door handles, and sound effects. Here are some of the photos I took when we were in Hollywood last weekend.

The new series, a prequel set two years before the events of the 1979 film, will premiere on FX and Hulu on Aug. 12.

Follow Earth to Shawna on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Earth-to-Shawna-1476049362698628/?fref=ts

‘Andor’ is must-see sci-fi TV; ‘Electric State’ misses the mark

Posted on by earthtoshawna

I will get my negative reviews out of the way first: I did not love “The Electric State.” It is set in the ’90s – an alternate ’90s in which humans have been at war with robots.

It stars Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, who I love, and is directed by the Russo brothers – it should have been a hit. Unfortunately, it was kind of dumb and I don’t recommend it.

I finally got through Season 3 of “The Witcher.” I really liked the first couple seasons of this series, but then it veered into “Xena: Warrior Princess” territory and now I’m over it. Henry Cavill will be replaced with Liam Hemsworth for Season 4, which clinches my decision.

Michelle Yeoh’s character in “Star Trek: Discovery” was cool, but the spinoff movie didn’t live up to my expectations. I can’t pinpoint exactly where it went wrong; I guess it was just too cliched and silly. (It seems to be going around.)

Let’s talk about Season 2 of the Star Wars series “Andor,” on Disney+. Although Season 1 took a few episodes to get interesting, Season 2 hit the ground running.

In the first episode of the season, Cassian impersonates an Imperial pilot in order to steal a prototype of a new ship – the TIE Avenger (I predict a new Lego set!), while Bix, Brasso, and Wilmon hide out on the agricultural planet Mina-Rau. On Chandrila, Mon Mothma prepares for her daughter’s arranged marriage.

It’s been two and a half years since Season 1; I sort of wish I’d rewatched it before beginning Season 2, and if you haven’t started Season 2 yet, I’d recommend doing that. Still, it’s very suspenseful and exciting. As much as I love Mando and Grogu, “Andor” is arguably the most well-done of all the Star Wars TV series.

In the last season and this one, the most powerful scenes are those in which the characters realize the consequences of their decisions and sacrifices. Sacrifice is a major theme in “Andor.” The writers also leaned hard into allegory this season, with the Empire and the Resistance mirroring our current political climate.

One more thing I will say about “Andor” is that while it’s essentially good guys vs. bad guys, there’s more of a blurring of the lines with some of the characters; for example, some of the “good” guys do some very bad things – for a good cause. It is a gray area that hasn’t been seen much in this franchise and boosts this series above the others.

Upcoming films and series

Neill Blomkamp is working on a new “Starship Troopers” movie! This is less a remake of the 1997 Paul Verhoeven film, and more an adaptation of the 1959 novel by Robert A. Heinlein. I really like Blomkamp’s films “District 9,” “Elysium,” and “Chappie,” so I am looking forward to seeing his interpretation of “Starship Troopers.”

If you did not see “The Old Guard,” I wholeheartedly recommend it; it’s on Netflix. I may rewatch it myself before the sequel is released July 2 (also on Netflix), as it has been five years since the first film. Charlize Theron stars as Andromache of Scythia, an immortal mercenary who has been around for thousands of years. It is an adaptation of a comic book (which is also good) by Greg Rucka.

The sequel will have a different director than that of the first movie. Victoria Mahoney took over directing duties from Gina Prince-Bythewood, who is a producer on the film. Theron, KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Matthias Schoenaerts, Van Veronica Ngo, and Chiwetel Ejiofor will reprise their roles, and Uma Thurman and Henry Golding have been added to the cast for the sequel.

I loved “Thunderbolts,” as you know if you read my last post. Next up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

After several not-so-great movies of this quartet, I’m not super hyped about another attempt, but maybe it will surprise me.

I do love the cast: Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Vanessa Kirby star as the team of four superheroes who must save their 1960s-inspired planet (a parallel Earth).

It will be in theaters July 25.

Follow Earth to Shawna on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Earth-to-Shawna-1476049362698628/?fref=ts

Thunderbolts*, Academy museum, Ren Faire, & more

Posted on by earthtoshawna

Before I tell you about my latest sci-fi/fantasy themed outings, let’s talk about Marvel’s newest movie, “Thunderbolts*.”

We went on opening night (the IMAX “fan event”) and, fittingly, it was the same day as our rare Southern California thunderstorm. Unfortunately, the power went out halfway through the movie, and we had to come back the next night to finish it.

The setup is nothing we haven’t seen before – a ragtag team of misfits forced to work together to defeat a common enemy, blah blah blah. But it works. I laughed, I cried, I can’t wait to see these characters together again in another movie.

The MVP (unsurprisingly) is Florence Pugh. She always brings it, and as much as I love her as bratty Amy March in Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women,” I love her even more as Black Widow’s little sister Yelena.

David Harbour reprises his role as the scruffy and comical Red Guardian. There are so many great actors in this: Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen … I will even reluctantly admit that the cast’s nepo babies were good. (Wyatt Russell is the son of Kurt Russell, who has also been in a Marvel movie, and Lewis Pullman is the son of Bill Pullman, who has not.)

My biggest issue with the MCU is that some of the villains (such as Gorr the God Butcher and Ronan the Accuser) are a little over the top. I love Julia Louis-Dreyfus but her character is also a bit one-sided, but that’s par for the Marvel course, I guess.

“Thunderbolts*” is a fun (and funny) action movie, but its greatest strength is its emotional impact. Early in the movie, Yelena is asked what you are supposed to do with your dark feelings, your emotional trauma? Well, you just stuff those feelings down. Way, way down. I laughed out loud at this dialogue (which I’m paraphrasing), but Marvel does not get enough credit for addressing things like PTSD and mental health. This movie in particular does a good job of exploring these topics, which are so important.

Even though I’ve seen it one and a half times already, I would go see this in the theater again, and I may do just that, as it’s playing at El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. There are even costumes from the film on display as well. For more information: https://elcapitantheatre.com/

If you’re a movie lover who lives in Southern California, check out the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Wilshire Boulevard, which opened in 2021.

We went for the Bong Joon Ho exhibition and happened to be there on May the 4th – Star Wars Day! There were photo ops with droids and Jedis, a Star Wars mural painting opportunity, and lots of people dressed up as Star Wars characters.

The Bong exhibition was pretty cool. Even though I have not yet seen all of his films, there were a lot of props, film clips, and story boards from his movies. I especially loved the drawings and concept art from the movie “Okja.” The only bummer: nothing from “Mickey 17.” The only nod to the new film is a copy of the novel from which the film was adapted, for sale in the museum gift shop.

Another current exhibition at the museum is “Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures Through Cinema.” Featured films include “The Matrix,” “Tron,” and “Videodrome” (a Cronenberg film from the ’80s that scarred me for life). There were props from the movies “Blade Runner,” “Ex Machina,” and more. Be sure to check out both floors of this (somewhat sparse) exhibition.

Don’t miss the other galleries – even though we had seen a lot of the costumes and props the first time we visited (in 2022 for the Miyazaki exhibition), there are a lot of new additions, including Barbie and Ken’s costumes from the Barbie movie. For more information, go to https://www.academymuseum.org/en

There are two weekends left of this year’s Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Irwindale.

We went opening weekend; the weather was nice, and the entertainment and food were great. We enjoyed the various shows and vendors. I especially love the Seraphim Arabesque Ensemble. Maybe I was a belly dancer in a past life?

Throw a costume together and bring the family! Make sure to follow the directions on their website – and don’t miss the joust! For more info, visit renfair.com/socal.

Photos of the Academy Museum and the Renaissance faire by Earth to Shawna.

Follow Earth to Shawna on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Earth-to-Shawna-1476049362698628/?fref=ts

Don’t miss ‘Mickey 17’; skip new LOTR & Captain America

Posted on by earthtoshawna

Sitting in the dark theater, watching the many horror trailers, or rather, trying not to watch them, I suddenly realized (with horror) that the movie I was about to watch, “Mickey 17,” might in fact also be a horror movie. I hadn’t even seen a trailer for it. I only knew it was the newest film from Bong Joon-ho, the director of “Snowpiercer,” “Okja,” and “Parasite.”

It isn’t scary. But, like his other films, it’s disturbing and intense (and not for kids). It’s also pretty great. You know going into a Bong movie that it’s going to be dark and funny and meaningful. That’s why I bought tickets for opening weekend, even though I knew almost nothing about it.

(If you also want to go in knowing nothing about it, you may want to come back after you’ve seen it, as the following description includes some spoilers.)

The film, based on an Edward Ashton novel, centers on a mission to colonize a distant planet. The titular Mickey (Robert Pattinson) has signed up to be an “expendable” – his job is to be a guinea pig for things like poisonous gases, radiation, etc. He repeatedly dies and is reborn – from a giant human printer.

Mark Ruffalo plays Kenneth Marshall, an egotistical politician who heads the mission. Most of the crew members have signed on because they’re crazed fanatics who would follow him anywhere. (Remind you of anyone?)

If it sounds silly, it’s supposed to be. It’s one of those crazy movies where you don’t know what is going to happen next. It had a similar vibe to Bong’s movie “Okja,” so if you liked that movie, you would likely enjoy this one. The great thing about Bong’s movies is that while he’s holding a mirror up to our own society, you are laughing and cringing and going along for the ride.

Bong’s style is reminiscent of another well-known director of outlandish and satirical movies, Yorgos Lanthimos. (I much prefer Bong’s style, as Lanthimos’ goal often seems to be inspiring disgust.)

I also was reminded of other clone stories like the 1996 movie “Multiplicity” and the 2019 series “Living with Yourself,” but the clone concept in “Mickey” was only one part of the larger story. Check it out for yourself; I don’t want to give too much away.

Two other movies I had been eagerly anticipating did not live up to my expectations. The first is “Captain America: Brave New World.” The Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” was well done, and I hoped for this new movie to continue with that level of writing. Unfortunately, the new movie is not one of the better entries in the MCU franchise.

It is possible I was not following along very well, but I found the plot confusing, and a little cheesy. Sam Wilson (who has taken up the mantle and shield of Captain America) and Joaquin Torres investigate a conspiracy involving Thaddeus Ross, who is now the U.S. president and is played by Harrison Ford. (Ross was previously portrayed by William Hurt, who passed away in 2022.)

I will not go into detail, but among the many inconsistencies that don’t make sense to me: “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” ended with super soldier Isaiah Bradley in hiding. In “Brave New World,” Bradley is no longer in hiding, and no explanation or background is given regarding that plot point.

Another issue I have is with Bucky Barnes, who appears only briefly, and is running for Congress. No explanation is given here either, although there must be one, as this is out of character for the Bucky we have come to know. Perhaps that will be explained in the upcoming “Thunderbolts*” (scheduled to be released May 2), which will, I hope, be more fun.

(Did “Brave New World” meet your expectations? Let me know in the comments or on my Facebook page!)

The animated movie “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” was just OK. There is an anime vibe, but the backgrounds look like they were taken from photos, which was interesting but also slightly jarring, and I’m not sure if that was the intention.

The plot was formulaic and clichéd: Hera, the strong-willed daughter of the king of Rohan, turns down a marriage proposal from Wulf, the son of a Dunlending lord. Wulf feels entitled to Hera and is angry by the rejection, which leads to the two sides fighting in a long, drawn-out war. It feels Games of Thrones-ish, in that hundreds of people have to die in a war for someone else’s stubbornness and spite. I guess that describes most war stories – and actual wars, for that matter.

Southern California happenings

March is the 10th annual Mermaid Month at the Ventura Harbor Village. Enjoy mermaid-themed treats, scavenger hunts, and shopping specials all month long. Mermaid and pirate cosplay is encouraged.

A special event from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 22 will include mermaid photo ops, ice sculpting, bubble shows, arts and crafts activities for kids, live music, and more. Parking and admission are free.

For details, visit https://www.venturaharborvillage.com/mermaid-month-2025/?2025-03-04/

A Salute to the Women in Sci-Fi convention is coming to Burbank on March 22 and 23. Special guests include Tricia Helfer, Adrianne Palicki, and Denise Richards. All profits will be donated to Los Angeles charities including Defy: Disaster & Random Acts Natural Disaster Recovery Fund. Learn more about this event and purchase tickets here: https://www.creationent.com/cal/scifi_bur/index.html

There are a lot of sci-fi and fantasy conventions coming up – too many to list in this post. To find events in your area, go to https://fancons.com/

The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire will be Saturdays and Sundays from April 5 to May 18 in Irwindale. Themed weekends include Pirate & Marketplace Weekend April 12 and 13, Cottagecore Weekend April 19 and 20, and RennCon April 26 and 27.

If you have never been to the Faire, I recommend going at least once. It’s especially fun to dress up in costume, and there are lots of vendors and shows, live music, acrobats, jousts, and more.

One of the best things is seeing everyone’s costumes and pretending you’re living in a different era, at least for a few hours.

For more information, and tickets, go to: https://renfair.com/socal/

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced its new Universal Fan Fest Nights, select nights from April 25 to May 18. Themes include Star Trek, Back to the Future, Dungeons & Dragons, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Harry Potter, and Super Nintendo World, and will include “experiences,” themed food, and exclusive merchandise. You can buy tickets here: https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/hhn/things-to-do/events-and-seasonal-activities/fan-fest-nights

I didn’t watch the Oscars this year, but I was very happy to hear the movie “Flow” won for Best Animated Feature. It was the first indie film to win in this category, and it was the first Latvian movie to win an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

Congrats to filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis!

Follow Earth to Shawna on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Earth-to-Shawna-1476049362698628/?fref=ts

What to watch: ‘Omni Loop,’ ‘Arcane,’ ‘Flow,’ and more

Posted on by earthtoshawna

When I say I love sci-fi, people think I mean Star Wars and Star Trek, and I do love those (and will talk about them in this post), but I also count time-loop stories like “Edge of Tomorrow,” “Run Lola Run,” “Russian Doll,” and even “Groundhog Day.”

I know time travel stuff doesn’t always make sense, but I don’t care. I love the idea of getting time back, for a day or week or whatever, and thinking about the differences each of our actions make. The best science fiction makes us think: about the meaning of life, what it means to be a human being, how we should be spending our time on Earth – all the big questions.

“Omni Loop,” written and directed by Bernardo Britto and starring Mary-Louise Parker and Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”), is an excellent entry in the time-loop genre. Parker’s character, Zoya, is living the same week over and over when she meets Edebiri’s character, a fellow scientist named Paula. The two attempt to solve the mystery of a bottle of pills Zoya found when she was a kid. Taking a pill from the bottle sends Zoya back in time one week.

Unlike some of the other titles I mentioned, it’s not an action movie – more of a slow burn, and, more importantly, emotional and profound.

‘Flow’

Set in a maybe not so distant future, “Flow” is a beautiful but suspenseful fantasy about an adorable black cat who must rely on others to survive a natural disaster. It is the work of Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis, who made the movie using the open-source software Blender.

I love animals and I love dystopian stories; an added bonus was that I didn’t have to use a captioning device during this trip to the theater as the movie is completely free of dialogue. (I’m hearing impaired.) It was a refreshing change of pace to see animated creatures sounding like animals instead of Chris Rock or Ben Stiller.

I thought about the symbolism in this movie a lot after watching it. This isn’t “Kung Fu Panda”; this one makes you think. (No offense to “Kung Fu Panda.”)

The movie is rated PG, but I don’t feel it was made for kids. There are parts that may be too sad or scary for little kids, or kids who are sensitive. Obviously, every child is different; use your own discretion.

‘Arcane’

Season two of “Arcane” is every bit as visually impressive as season one, and has a lot of twists and turns. My only complaint is that it is confusing as it has been three years since season one. Admittedly, that’s on me; I should have rewatched the first season.

Season two is dark and intense, just like season one. If you liked season one, you’ll like season two. But don’t expect it to cheer you up or anything if you’re already feeling down.

The second season is the series’ last, but showrunner Christian Linke has said there will be more series based on other characters from “League of Legends,” the game on which the series is based. Linke has also suggested that the tone for future series may be less dark and more “whimsical.”

“Arcane” is rated TV-14.

‘Mars Express’

Like “Arcane,” this one is not for kids even though it’s animated (Amazon Prime age rating is 16+). It is also pretty dark. The movie, co-written and directed by Jérémie Périn, is a French, futuristic film noir, about a detective named Aline Ruby, who is tracking a suspect who illegally hacked robots. Ruby’s partner is an android replica of her partner who died five years earlier.

It is an interesting commentary on the relationship humans have with machines, and it’s hard not to wonder if this fictional future is what’s in store for Artificial Intelligence.

Star Wars

Only three episodes of the new series “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” have aired so far, but it’s interesting, and it’s different from recent series in the franchise in that it is centered on kids. It’s also different in that they live on a planet unlike any we’ve seen before in the Star Wars movies or series. It is reminiscent of the suburban “Counter-Earth” created by the High Revolutionary in “Guardians of the Galaxy 3.”

On this planet, called At Attin, a boy named Wim discovers what he thinks is an old Jedi temple, but his discovery turns out to be even more surprising.

There’s sort of a “Stranger Things” vibe here, with a group of kids who ride hover bikes instead of bicycles.

Spoilers incoming. If you haven’t watched the first three episodes, come back later.

OK, so Jude Law is in this, which is reason enough to watch it. (Obviously we watch every Star Wars title regardless of reasons other than “It’s Star Wars,” but you know what I mean.) The identity of Law’s character is (sort of) a mystery, but he can use the Force, which prompts some amusing repartee:

Oh – the thing the kids found wasn’t a temple; it was a ship and they accidentally end up in outer space. Oops! Adventures ensue.

I like it so far, but it’s not without cringey and yikes moments. My biggest gripe is the scene in which they’re fleeing from the authorities, and the kids are cheerfully shooting at the pursuing X-wings. This isn’t a video game, kiddos, you’re shooting at real people – the “good guys,” no less. I feel like the writers didn’t think that one through.

Star Trek

“Star Trek: Section 31” will be the franchise’s first TV movie, and is a spin-off of “Star Trek: Discovery.” The movie, streaming Jan. 24, follows Philippa Georgiou (played by Michelle Yeoh). An emperor when she was in the Mirror Universe, Georgiou has now joined Section 31, a black ops division of Starfleet.

This was originally supposed to be an ongoing series, but I imagine Yeoh’s schedule got a bit busier after winning an Academy Award. Just a guess. I really loved her character in “Discovery” and I hope this new movie is as good as her storyline in that show. The trailer looks a little cheesy, but we’ll see how it goes. Here it is:

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all my readers! See you in 2025.

Follow Earth to Shawna on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Earth-to-Shawna-1476049362698628/?fref=ts