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‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ is a fun ‘Star Wars’ adventure

Posted on by earthtoshawna

Is “Star Wars” suffering from franchise fatigue? “The Mandalorian and Grogu” was a fun movie, but it did not do as well as expected at the box office.

Maybe it’s because it’s a sequel to “The Mandalorian” series which ran for three seasons on Disney+. Or maybe the “baby Yoda” craze has worn off, which is unfortunate because baby Yoda, I mean Grogu, is actually so great in this movie that you forget he’s a puppet. Well, a combination of puppet, CGI, and animatronics.

Writer and director Jon Favreau breathed new life into this franchise, and the movie version of his creation is just as good as the series, if not better. Pedro Pascal plays Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (aka “Mando”) and Grogu is his apprentice/foundling/adopted child. Their father-son relationship was established in the series, but if you haven’t seen the series, you won’t be lost – it’s a brand-new adventure/plot for our fearless heroes.

Sigourney Weaver plays a leader of the New Republic who gives Mando the assignment of tracking down an Imperial warlord, Commander Coin. Mando also reluctantly agrees to work with the Hutts (Jabba’s siblings), who supposedly have info on Coin, but in exchange, they want Mando to locate their nephew, Rotta, voiced (unrecognizably) by Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”).

The bigger budget and the big screen make for a more fun viewing experience for audiences. Grogu is more adorable than ever, and there are a lot of cute and funny moments with Grogu and the little mechanic dudes, the Anzellans.

It’s also sweet to see how Mando and Grogu take care of each other, because that’s what family does. Having said all that, it’s not that deep, and it’s not going to change the world, but it’s a fun Star Wars adventure that isn’t about boring trade wars, so I’m happy.

‘Spider-Noir’

This live-action spinoff of the animated “Spider-Verse” films features Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly, an alternate-universe Spider-Man who is a detective in 1930s New York City.

Noir is not my favorite genre. Hardboiled detective, femme fatale, tragedy, corruption … yawn. I also am not a huge Cage fan. (And he’s 62. Only a man would be cast as the main character in a superhero series at that age.)

I am apparently alone in my criticism of the Amazon Prime series; it earned an impressive 92% on the Tomatometer. I found it boring and formulaic. Maybe it got better. I admit I could not stick it out to the last episode.

Sony had a great opportunity to create a series for one of the really cool Spider-Man alternates in the Spider-Verse. Gwen Stacy and Spider-Punk are reportedly getting spin-offs, but I don’t know if they will be movies or series, or if they’re animated or live action.

I also think the afro-haired, motorcycle-riding, pregnant Spider-Woman would be a great story to bring to the big or small screen.

I’m not sure why they picked one of the less spectacular iterations for their first Spidey spinoff. My theory is that they’re cheap, and noir costs less than the flashy special effects that would inevitably be a part of any modern-day setting. Or, judging by the reviews, other people like noir a lot more than I do.

‘Klara and the Sun’

I loved Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel “Klara and the Sun,” about a solar-powered android named Klara who is purchased as a companion for a sickly teenage girl. It’s dark and dystopian, and like most stories about androids, explores what it means to be human.

Should robots have rights?

It’s a timely question in this age of Artificial Intelligence. Humanoid robots are already being manufactured, and their mass production, for better or worse (my money is on worse), will likely come much sooner than we realize. But that’s a topic for another blog post.

I’m very excited that “Klara and the Sun” has been adapted into a movie, and that Taika Waititi is the director. I am a big fan and am interested to see his take on Ishiguro’s book.

Some of my favorite actors are in the movie too: Amy Adams, Natasha Lyonne, and Jenna Ortega, who plays the robot, Klara. The film will be in theaters Oct. 23.

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‘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!

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‘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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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‘Agatha’ a good witch, I mean watch, for spooky season

Posted on by earthtoshawna

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!

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What if … they introduced a cool new Mohawk superhero?

Posted on by earthtoshawna

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!

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New ‘Loki’, ‘Our Flag Means Death’ episodes feed the soul

Posted on by earthtoshawna

Just when I was starting to think, “Maybe I just don’t like anything right now,” the second seasons of “Loki” and “Our Flag Means Death” started off with a bang and are exactly what I needed. (Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Scorsese!)

Loki and Mobius have the best friendship and make such a great team, and how great is Ke Huy Quan? He’s so funny and charming. I want to give all of them a hug. There are so many multifaceted characters in this series. I really wanted to see B-15 in her ’70s garb for more than just the few seconds she was on screen. Give us a whole episode in the ’70s please!

Taika Waititi as Blackbeard

“Our Flag Means Death,” everyone’s favorite gay pirate show, is soooo good. The mermaid (merman?) scene! The unicorn leg! There are so many flawless moments in these first few episodes, I can’t wait to see what is going to happen next. Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby are amazing, and the entire cast of characters and their neuroses are so ridiculously funny while at the same time being poignant and perfect.

I have been thinking a lot about the entertainment industry and the arts, and the writers’ and actors’ strike. Some people think things like TV and movies aren’t essential, and maybe they aren’t as essential as say, health care, but lately we have been using the word “comfort” a lot – as an adjective: “I am re-watching Mike Birbiglia’s stand-up; he’s my comfort comedian.” “I’m on my third viewing of Season One of ‘Our Flag Means Death’ – it’s my comfort show.”

When mass shootings and war are dominating our news headlines, and when bad things are happening in our lives or in the lives of our loved ones, there is only so much space we can hold for those feelings of hopelessness. Something art and entertainment offers is a break – however brief – from thinking and feeling all the things we don’t want to think and feel.

What are your comfort shows? Do you have a favorite sci-fi or fantasy movie that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, or like maybe someday everything will be OK? Leave me a message in the comments, here or on my Facebook page.

More Marvel

Tickets are now on sale for “The Marvels,” opening in U.S. theaters on Nov. 10. I am hoping our favorite flerken gets a lot of screen time.

Inktober

Some of my (admittedly amateurish) Inktober art

I am not a good artist by any stretch of the imagination, but my daughter is, and she convinced me to do Inktober with her this year.

The annual October art celebration, begun in 2009 by illustrator Jake Parker, offers a different art prompt for each day of October.

I think the prompts are supposed to be sort of spooky themed. For “rise,” I assume the word association is supposed to be a zombie or something, rising from the grave, for example. But that’s not what I did, and there are no rules, really; the important thing is to have fun.

For more information about Inktober, go to https://inktober.com/

Solar eclipse

I saved my solar eclipse glasses from 2017, which came in handy for the eclipse that was visible in some areas (including mine, in Southern California) this morning.

The picture taken on my phone through the glasses came out a little fuzzy. We also had fun taking photos of the crescents in the shadows of the leaves.

If you want to see when the next eclipse will be visible in your area, you can check
here: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/list.html

Well, that post was all over the place. Anyway. Hope you all have a great rest of October and happy Halloween.

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