cosplay

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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Cosplay at the Ren Faire

Posted on by earthtoshawna

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.

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Brush up on your Infinity Stone knowledge before ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

Posted on by earthtoshawna

Nine more days till “Infinity War”! I don’t normally count down the days to superhero flicks, but this one is special because it has everyone in it – the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, but also Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and even Ant-Man and Spider-Man.

If you haven’t seen all the Marvel movies, or you just want to brush up on the history of the Infinity Stones before the new movie, I’ll give you a little background, and a few recommendations on what to watch/re-watch before you see the new film.

If you’ve seen “Guardians of the Galaxy,” you may remember Benicio del Toro’s character, Taneleer Tivan, aka the Collector, talking about the Infinity Stones. He said, “Before creation itself, there were six singularities. Then the universe exploded into existence, and the remnants of these systems were forged into concentrated ingots. Infinity Stones.”

That explains everything we need to know about these gems. Just kidding; it explains nothing. Suffice it to say they’re powerful relics that superheroes and supervillains fight over like third-graders fighting over a Nintendo controller.

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The Collector, played by Benicio del Toro, “explains” the Infinity Stones. 

The blue Space Stone was used by the Red Skull in “Captain America: The First Avenger,” and it’s used to generate wormholes in “The Avengers.” It is housed in the Tesseract. The yellow Mind Stone is in Loki’s scepter in “The Avengers” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” The red Reality Stone was formed into a weapon called the Aether, and was entrusted to the Collector at the end of “Thor: The Dark World.” The purple Power Stone is contained inside an orb which is central to the plot of “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The green Time Stone was encased in the Eye of Agamotto. A master of the mystic arts can use it to manipulate time. It appears in “Doctor Strange.” Not much is known about the orange Soul Stone; maybe we’ll learn more about it in the new movie.

No one has time to watch all 18 films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before the new movie comes out (or maybe you do – I don’t know your life). But I have narrowed it down to the basics. These are my personal recommendations, which I’ve chosen because they mention Infinity Stones, but also because they’re really fun movies. In order of release, they are “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Doctor Strange,” and “Thor: Ragnarok.”

I also recommend “Black Panther,” because T’Challa/Black Panther, as well as several other characters from that movie, will appear in “Infinity War,” and their country, Wakanda, plays a big role in the new film too. Plus it’s just a really awesome movie. Unfortunately, the “Black Panther” DVD won’t be released until May 15, but you may be able to catch a Marvel marathon near you. (Check your local theater listings.)

“Avengers: Infinity War” will be released April 27.

The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire

If you didn’t get tickets to this year’s Ren Faire, it’s not too late. The faire, in Irwindale, runs every weekend through May 20. This weekend (April 21 and 22) is RennCon™ weekend! The faire offers different themed weekends; RennConn™ is a celebration of “cosplay in all its forms.”

Time traveler weekend (including a steampunk costume contest) is May 5 and 6, and Heroes & Villains is May 12 and 13. For more information, go to http://renfair.com/socal/special-events/

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The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire, in Irwindale. 

Photos: “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Renaissance Faire photo by Earth to Shawna. 

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Get your geek on at your local science-fiction convention

Posted on by earthtoshawna

Admit it – you have always wished you could participate in a re-enactment of that bloody rave scene in “Blade.” Right? OK, well, me neither, but the New York City Comic Con is doing it so someone must be excited about it.

Blade Rave is actually a Comic Con afterparty and will recreate the scene in the 1998 vampire movie in which the sprinklers spray blood on the dancers. If that’s your thing, you can still get tickets for the event, which will be Oct. 9, at Terminal 5. The Crystal Method is headlining.

The New York City Comic Con will be Oct. 8-11, in the Javits Center in New York City.

Depending on where you live and how far you’re willing to travel, there are plenty of sci-fi conventions with lots of special guests, costume contests, art exhibits, and more. Here are just a few of the many, many science-fiction conventions:

Geek Girl Con, dedicated to “recognizing and celebrating the contribution of women in all aspects of geek culture,” is scheduled for Oct. 10 and 11, 2015, at the Conference Center in downtown Seattle.

Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo, Oct. 30-Nov. 1, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will feature guests Grant Morrison, Stan Lee, William Shatner, Mike Mignola, Elvira, Nichelle Nichols, Dita Von Teese and more.

Eucon, or Eugene Comic Con, will be Nov. 14 and 15, 2015, at the Lane Events Center in Eugene, OR. Special guests this year include John Rhys-Davies from Lord of the Rings, Jason David Frank, and Chris Roberson.

Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest, Dec. 4-6, 2015, at the University of Phoenix Stadium, is the winter version of the Phoenix Comicon, which will be June 2-5, 2016, at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Wonder Con, the sister show to San Diego Comic Con, will be March 25-27, 2016, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Emerald City Comicon, April 7-10, 2016, at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, will feature Nathan Fillion from “Firefly,” as well as Fiona Staples, the illustrator of one of my favorite comics, “Saga,” and many other special guests.

Comic Con International: San Diego is slated for July 21-24, 2016, at the San Diego Convention Center. Comic Con International is the home of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards (the comic book world’s version of the Oscars), as well as several other awards.

MidAmericaCon II, the 74th World Science Fiction Convention, will be Aug. 17-21, 2016, in Kansas City, MO. Guests of honor will be Kinuko Y. Craft, Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Tamora Pierce, and Michael Swanwick. Worldcon is where the Hugo Awards, for the best science fiction literature, are presented.