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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hey sci-fi fans! Is it just me, or is there nothing groundbreaking or earth-shattering on TV or the movies lately? I think the last movie I saw in the theater was “Deadpool & Wolverine.” I really wanted to love it, but I didn’t. That’s all I will say about that mess.
Let’s talk about “Agatha All Along,” the newest Marvel series on Disney+. I love Kathryn Hahn, but I’ve never been a huge fan of witches or witchy things. I blame it on the creepy witches from my childhood, like the Wicked Witch of the West and Witchie-Poo from “H.R. Pufnstuf.” I used to have recurring nightmares about being kidnapped by witches. Movies like “The Blair Witch Project” didn’t help.
I am fine with non-threatening witches like Samantha from “Bewitched” and Kiki from “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” but Agatha Harkness – the evil, dog-killing Agatha Harkness from “WandaVision” – is not a nice witch. Is she irredeemably evil in the spinoff series? That remains to be seen. There are three episodes left. I’m wondering if we will yet see a redemption of this villain, a la “Loki.”
If you’ve not watched the first six episodes, you may want to come back after you’re caught up – there are some spoilers after the photo.
It seems Agatha is an LGBTQ character, of note because we rarely see lesbian characters on Disney+ but when we do, they’re witches (in “Acolyte” and “The Owl House”). I’m not sure what to make of that. Is Disney testing the waters? Maybe if audiences accept villainous main characters who are queer, they’ll branch out to queer main characters who aren’t villains? Hmm.
Joe Locke (who stars in the series “Heartstopper”) plays a character known for the first few episodes as a guyliner-wearing teenager referred to simply as Teen because someone put a spell on him so he wouldn’t reveal his identity.
I thought he was going to turn out to be Agatha’s long-lost son Nicholas, but no. He has now been outed (see what I did there?) as none other than Wanda Maximoff’s son Billy! Well, not none other. He’s the spirit of Billy Maximoff inhabiting the body of William Kaplan. Such a great twist, and one I did not see coming, as I did not read the comics. Oh, and he is also gay. In the comics and in the series.
I am happy for all the queer fans who are finally getting more representation in the MCU, but it’s been a long time coming. Better late than never, I guess.
I’m enjoying the series more than I thought I would. It has a great cast which also includes Aubrey Plaza, Debra Jo Rupp, and Patti LuPone; and it’s Halloween-y in a fun way, and not a super-scary way. (Or maybe witches aren’t as scary to me now that I’m not 6?)
Another fun note: The Witches’ Road song is brought to you by the songwriting duo (Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez) who did the tunes from the “Frozen” movies – and now that you know, you’ll be able to tell when you hear it.
In other Marvel news, I’m looking forward to 2025, when “Captain America: Brave New World” (Feb. 14) and “Thunderbolts” (May 2) will finally be in theaters. I love Florence Pugh and based on the trailer, it seems she is the main character, so I’m here for it! Observe.
Well, that’s all I have to say for now. Until next time!
The movies I’m talking about today are my husband’s picks. They’re sequels or prequels to some of his favorite series, which are themselves remakes or reboots of series from the ’70 or ’80s, so us Gen Xers started watching them when we were kids.
First up is “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” I went into this with low expectations, as I did not love “Mad Max: Fury Road.” I normally like postapocalyptic stuff, but not this subgenre which seems to be revenge-flick/car-chase-movie-but-with-monster-trucks.
I do love Charlize Theron though (who was in “Fury Road”), and Anya Taylor-Joy did an amazing job playing the younger version of Theron’s character, the titular Furiosa. With a prosthetic nose, Chris Hemsworth was unrecognizable – and also amazing – as Dementus, the warlord of a biker gang.
I liked this more than “Fury Road,” if only because I was able to follow the plot better this time. I was on the edge of my seat the entire 148 minutes, which I guess is a good sign – if you’re the type of person who likes experiencing anxiety for fictional characters. There’s a lot of torture and other gross stuff that inspires disgust and dread (and I think that’s probably the goal here). Despite knowing Furiosa had plot armor, it was intense and suspenseful. I admit that’s better than watching a movie where you don’t care what happens to the characters, but I was relieved when it was over.
George Miller is a skilled filmmaker; he brings you right into this cruel and gritty futuristic world. The problem is that I don’t want to be there.
I felt the same way about “Dune: Part Two.” The cast is wonderful (I love Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet), the cinematography makes you feel like you’re in Arrakis – suffering with them. It is emotional and dark and not a place I want to be for 166 minutes.
Like “Furiosa,” it’s unsettling and creepy. If you compare “Furiosa” and “Dune” to say, the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies, which are also violent and sometimes dark, at least the Guardians series is balanced with lighthearted, hopeful moments, connection, and humor, whereas “Dune” and “Furiosa” are bleak and depressing.
Of course, I realize these movies aren’t trying to be Marvel movies. The new Dune films are directed by Denis Villeneuve, who has earned nominations and awards, but is not known for uplifting, feel-good movies. (And the books are bleak as well.)
My take is that real life is depressing enough. And I live in a hot desert; I don’t care to watch it onscreen. To make matters worse, we saw this in the theater and the electricity went out. We had to evacuate the building halfway through the film and didn’t get around to watching it again until a couple weeks later.
Another sequel to a movie franchise that began in the ’80s, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” came out in March and we saw it in theaters. It was a little more fun than 2021’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” maybe because we were just meeting the newer characters for the first time and now we “know” them. This time around, they’re in New York City, battling a powerful entity known as Garraka.
It’s not deep or earth-shattering; it’s Ghostbusters. But it’s entertaining enough and it’s less than two hours long (but not much less, at 115 minutes).
The fourth film in a franchise rebooted in 2011, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” takes place 300 years after the events of the previous film (“War for the Planet of the Apes,” 2017). This one was 145 minutes. Why are all these movies longer than two hours?
Even though the characters are mostly chimpanzees, it reminded me of “Furiosa.” Postapocalyptic worlds, kidnappings, revenge, etc. And again, it’s stunning and impressive. If you’ve seen any of these movies, you know the CGI looks convincing and real. I just wish they’d spent as much time and effort stitching up all the plot holes.
Another sequel coming up this summer is “Alien: Romulus,” the seventh movie in the Alien franchise. It is set between the events of the first two movies, “Alien” (1979) and “Aliens” (1986). It will be in theaters Aug. 16.
In yet more prequel/sequel/reboot news: The second season of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” will be available on Amazon Prime on Aug. 29.
Season 2 of the other long blond wig show, “House of the Dragon,” will premiere on HBO on June 16.
Here’s hoping they start off with a bang instead of the slow burn that characterized their first seasons.
Over on Disney+, the miniseries “Agatha All Along” (a spinoff of the Marvel series “WandaVision”) will air the first two episodes on Sept. 18, with subsequent episodes released weekly.
If you haven’t been to the Ren Faire yet this year, there’s still time – there are four weekends left! The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Irwindale, California, is open Saturdays and Sundays through May 19.
The theme this weekend, April 27 and 28, is RennCon, a cosplay event where almost anything goes! Dress like your favorite sci-fi, fantasy, anime, comic book, TV, or fairy tale character.
Described as “the biggest costume party in L.A.,” RennCon will feature various cosplay panels, and a time traveler costume contest. More information can be found at renfair.com. (Make sure to check out their page about directions to the faire too – the GPS will not show you the quickest way to the parking lot.)
The Bristol Renaissance Faire begins July 6, and the New York Renaissance Faire begins Aug. 17.
This year, my family and I dressed as pirates from the series “Our Flag Means Death.” I went as Buttons and wore a bird on my head. Several people recognized us; my seagull, Carl, attracted a lot of attention and comments.
It would have been awesome if the bird show was there this year. Carl would have fit right in! But we did catch the joust, and lots of great performers, including Seraphim Arabesque Ensemble and Clan Tynker Family Circus.
It’s always fun to see what new wares the vendors are selling, and we got some trinkets and souvenirs. There were lots of food and drink vendors as well. But the best part of the faire is seeing all the costumes worn by faire workers and visitors.
It was hot – if you go, bring a shade parasol or fan, or you can purchase them at the faire.
In other news:
I finally started “Resident Alien.” I like Alan Tudyk and it’s sci-fi, so I don’t know why it has taken me so long to watch it.
My verdict thus far: It’s OK. It’s interesting enough to keep watching but it isn’t my favorite. To be fair, I’ve only seen one season (there are three); maybe it gets better.
It reminds me of Matt Haig’s novel “The Humans,” which was published 10 years ago, but I just read it a few months ago. The premise is similar, but the book is better.
The fifth and final season of “Star Trek: Discovery” began April 4 and will run through May 30. I will be sad to see it go, but at least there’s still “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” the third season of which is expected sometime next year.
Jenna Ortega
I’m super excited that Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel “Klara and the Sun” is being made into a film – and it will be directed by Taika Waititi! Jenna Ortega stars as the title character, a solar-powered android. (If you’ve seen Ortega in “Wednesday,” you know this is great casting.) The movie is already in production and expected to be released later this year.
Speaking of Ortega, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is coming out Sept. 6. Ortega will play the daughter of Winona Ryder’s character from the 1988 movie.
The upcoming Star Wars series “The Acolyte” will premiere on Disney+ on June 4.
The fourth and final season of “The Umbrella Academy” is scheduled to be released on Netflix on Aug. 8.
And last but not least, “Deadpool & Wolverine” will be in theaters July 26. I will leave you with the trailer. Enjoy!
All Renaissance Faire photos by EarthToShawna, 2024. Photo of Ewen Bremner as Buttons on “Our Flag Means Death,” HBO Max; “Resident Alien,” Syfy; “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
I guess this list should have come before my “chocolate and kittens” post, in which I listed the sci-fi and fantasy movies and series coming in 2024. Apparently, my brain is working backwards. … Here are my favorite shows and movies of 2023:
Movies
My #1 favorite movie of 2023: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” I laughed, I cried, I saw it in the theater three times. I’ve already gone on and on about the Guardians in previous posts, so I’ll leave it at that.
Best fantasy movie that exceeded my expectations: “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.” I have never played the game, and I knew almost nothing about the movie when I went to see it, which is often the best way to go into a movie. I was pleasantly surprised. D&D is a fun adventure with humor and heart – and Chris Pine. What’s not to love?
Favorite fantasy comedy: “Barbie.” The success of this movie based on a children’s toy will probably inspire a wave of copycats, but it’s not really about toys, and it’s not for kids (although apparently a lot of people thought it was, despite its PG-13 rating). Written and directed by the incomparable Greta Gerwig, it’s a moving film which is mostly for women, as it has a feminist message, but it’s also satirical and funny.
Favorite fantasy musical: “Wonka.” This movie, while simple and somewhat silly, touched my heart. I loved the hopeful message and the sweet friendship between Wonka and Noodle. The songs were well done, and Timothée Chalamet is the best Willy Wonka – better than Johnny Depp, and better than Gene Wilder. Yes, I said it.
Best animated movie: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” The animation in these movies is amazing. I’m looking forward to the next one, which was supposed to be coming out next year, but it’s been taken off the schedule for reasons unknown to me.
Honorable mention: “The Marvels.” I really liked this, as I mentioned a couple blog posts ago. It has badass women superheroes, Nick Fury, and the fantastic Flerkittens! So why is it just a runner-up? I felt like something was missing; it was too rushed. Reviewers praised its brevity (it is an hour and 45 minutes) but I suspect too much was left on the cutting room floor.
Series
My favorite thing on TV this year was absolutely, 100 percent, Season 2 of “Our Flag Means Death.” I guess it’s a bit of a stretch to call a pirate show science fiction or fantasy, but Rhys Darby does one scene in a mermaid tail, and there are some magical elements sprinkled in, so I say it counts.
The second season of “Loki” was so good. Tom Hiddleston is the best. Sophia Di Martino is also great as Loki variant Sylvie, and of course Owen Wilson and Ke Huy Quan are wonderful. Honestly, the whole cast was terrific, and the story, the style – really almost everything about this series was so fun and cool.
“Good Omens,” Season 2. Michael Sheen’s portrayal of the angel Aziraphale is so wholesome and lovely, and David Tennant is perfect as demon Crowley – his “apology dance” alone is worth the price of admission.
“The Last of Us.” I don’t normally care for horror, so for a zombie show to make my list of favorites is a big deal. Pedro Pascal navigates a post-apocalyptic world. And it’s based on a video game. Somehow it works.
“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” Season 2. The new Trek series surprised me, in a good way. I thought it was kind of boring at first, but now I love it and can’t wait to see where it (boldly!) goes next.
Honorable mention: “Shadow and Bone.” I enjoyed this show until the disturbing cliffhanger finale in Season 2. Then the series was cancelled. Boo! I guess I will have to read the books if I want to know what happens. Or maybe I’ll just pretend it had a happy ending.
Well, that’s my Top 10 for 2023! I haven’t seen everything I want to see yet, so maybe I missed something that would have made the list. What were your favorites this year? Tell me in the comments or on my Facebook page! Happy new year,
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if the United States was never colonized? What if the Europeans were driven away by Native people?
Yesterday, I posted about how disappointing this season of Marvel’s “What If …?” (on Disney+) has been so far. Then last night I watched the new episode, “What If … Kahhori Reshaped the World?”In it, a young Mohawk woman finds a lake that contains the Tesseract, aka the Space Stone (from the Avengers movies).
Kahhori is not in the Marvel comics. She’s a brand new character, created by writer Ryan Little, who spent four years creating the episode, researching the Mohawk people so he could get every detail right – right down to the tattoos and the baskets.
Little worked with a Mohawk language expert, Cecilia King, for the episode, in which the characters speak Mohawk. There are English subtitles.
Doug George-Kanentiio, an Akwesasne Mohawk and historian, was the cultural adviser. In a recent NPR interview, he discussed the stereotypes of Native Americans in early comics, and in the media: “Those figures were angry and aggressive and, you know, had war paint on and were always in a state of conflict and warfare. And that wasn’t – you know, that kind of turns you off as a kid.”
In a recent post on X, Devery Jacobs, who voiced Kahhori, explained that she worked on the episode for three years. “Never did I think I’d be able to bring a character like this to life; few roles mean as much as this one,” she said.
I love the new character and am impressed with the amount of work that went into this. It’s the first time I’ve watched this show and wanted more of the story. I hope we will get to see more of Kahhori in future Marvel series and movies.
What did you think? Let me know in the comments or on my Facebook page!
Earth to Shawna 