#characters and BOOM keith david

[aychama]

Voice claims for the royal au?

This ask got me doing homework dbfrkjrpflrş

Although I havent thought about their voices before (and I might change them in future who knows) this might give some insight me hopes (i legit typed "voice claim ideas" and clicked on random videos so dont hunt me cuz of these characters dhkfşflgğ)

Lambert:

Philip/Emperor belos (owl house) (Matthew Rhys)

Deckard(Bee and puppy cat) (Kent Osborne adventure time writer??????)

Miko (glitch tech)

Ayumu Murase (va)

Narinder:

King andrias (amfibiya) (HE IS KEITH DAVID?!?!)

Proffesor venomous (ok k.o.) (Steven Ogg THE GUY FROM GTA????????)

Takeuchi Ryouta (va)

[fishymom-art]

BOOM!!!!! SUDDEN OC REF SHEET DROP!!!!!!!!!

Say hi to my beloveds!! Some of them were created around uuuhhh 2012/13 maybe, but they went through drastic redesigns throughout the years (specifically Rose, Polen, Amelie, and Raff + Milo, who didn't change a bit), and some of them are brand new (Eru was my D&D character and Tim was created out of nowhere inspired by my husk redesign lol)

Details under the cut!

They exist in The End Realm - the prison of all the other realms, where all criminals and whatnot go. There were so many people, that The End Realm developed it's own communities, politics, etc. It homes many many different people from every part of the multiverse - Human Realm, Ether Realm, Occult Realm, etc. The leader of The End Realm is Raff (or Armel Howl, as he used to be called), an emotionless demon who controls his subjects with their every step. His servants - Shadows - watch everyone and everything around his isolated castle and the rest of the Realm. He tricks people into making a deal with him and they own him their lives. They get a golden jewel with a red ruby in it that is unbreakable and a swirly tattoo is carved into their skin to showcase, that they belong to him. If a person tries to break the pact, they become one of the Shadows. Tim Baccarat - The only human out of the whole bunch - He/They - Demisexual - 28 y.o - Used to own a casino, now works as Raff's butler, coz he owns him. - Was exiled from the Human Realm for Soul Gambling. - (Inspired by Tim Wright from Marble Hornets, Husk from Hazbin Hotel, and Jeeves from Jeeves and Wooster) ((what a combination)) - Voice Claim: Husk from Hazbin Hotel (Keith David)

Rose Seed - Dark Fae, pretending to be a Love Fae - He/She - Gay - 26 yo - Native to The End Realm. A singer and a performer in general, Raff's assistant. Was found by Raff with a missing wing and made a deal. - (Currently inspired by 10th Doctor from Doctor Who, Angel Dust from Hazbin Hotel, Francœur from Monster in Paris) - Voice Claim (for noooow): Angel Dust from Hazbin Hotel (Blake Roman)

Eru - Aasimar (at least originally) - They/them - Aroace - 38 yo - Used to be a part of a high religious power/church in the Ether Realm, but was exiled due to going against some of their beliefs. Leads a rebellion against Raff. Had a son. - (Inspired by Odysseus and Athena (specifically from EPIC: The Musical), and Queen Angella from She-Ra) - Voice Claim: Odysseus from EPIC: The Musical (Jorge Rivera-Herrans)

Polen - Forest Fae - She/Her - Pansexual, Polyamorous - 35 yo - Native to The End Realm. Eru's right hand in the rebellion. Used to be best friends with Rose, but they stopped talking after he made a deal with Raff. - (Currently inspired by Daisy from The Magnus Archives, Hecate (specifically from Lore Olympus)), ZombieCleo (any Life Series, mostly Last Life though) - Voice Claim (might change): Lizzo, lol

Amelie Fairchild - Succubus - She/They - Lesbian - 32 yo - Raff’s maid. She used to be a high overlord but Raff took over and she signed an unbreakable contract so he doesn’t kill her. Is very in love with Polen. Wants to be a part of the rebellion. Was exiled from the Occult Realm for being weak. - (Currently inspired by The Beast from Beauty and the Beast (I am a horrible person lol), c!Captain Puffy (Dream SMP), and Pearl (Double Life)) - Voice Claim: The Crane Wives (specifically "Curses")

Raff (Previously: Armel Howl) - Demon, used to be a human - He/It - Bisexual - 29 yo (looks like that at least) - Highest overlord of The Realm. Leads an army of shadows, that look over each and every person in his realm. He has eyes everywhere. Was exiled from The Human Realm many many years ago for practicing Dark Magic (creating Shadows). - Voice Claim: MISSIO (Matthew Brue)

Milo Howl - Unknown - He/Him - Unknown - 9 yo - Raff’s son. Powerful being. - Voice Claim: Sushi Saucy

[almacambiondaughterofsaleos]

Keith should have been Lucifer if he was cruel and evil. or adam IF he was WAY better written, overlord or archangel with deep booming voice. like this guy leads army or has fellow. keep the old va and have these big names for the new characters.

Keith David as a dark skinned Adam would be awesome and more of a surrogate father figure who looks out for his descendants even those in hell.

[romancomicsblog]

Who should be the villain of Spider-Man 4?

Following the Watts Spider-Man trilogy, Peter Parker in the MCU has faced a number of his most iconic villains. From the villains of the Raimi-verse to Mysterio and Vulture, it seems like there are few villains left for a reported 6 more movies.

What's worse, villains like Venom, Kraven, and Carnage are being taken up by Sony Picture Universe of Marvel Characters (or SPUMC) with mediocre to bad films like Madame Web or Morbius.

While there is potential for new and fresh versions of Doc Ock, Green Goblin, and more to be put into the MCU, and I think they absolutely should, before we go there I think there are a number of solid to great Spider-Man villains who have not made their film debut who can add something new to these films.

I've put together a list of five I think could make solid contenders for Spider-Man 4, a few potential film ideas for each, and some casting ideas, all leading up to my favorite.

5. Swarm

Starting off with the least likely and my least favorite, Swarm was a Nazi Scientist and Beekeeper turned literal swarm of Bees. Due to his form, he can become intangible, fly, possesses super strength, and is the stuff of nightmares.

Due to his Nazi background, this character would need a complete retooling. Perhaps a scientist looking to cure death, or an Oscorp accident turning a good man into a monster.

If we wanted a more horror based superhero movie, this would be the way to go. This character has the potential to be very scary. Think Candy Man but a scientist hunting Spider-Man, perhaps for a cure or for getting in his way.

I'd love a Keith David, someone with a booming voice, scary, but can play sympathetic. Imagine the cat from Coraline or the Voodoo Man hunting Spider-Man, or desperately seeking a cure for his condition, killing anyone in his way.

I think characters like this have been done in the Raimi movies in particular, but could feel fresh in the MCU. Again though, it's a bit controversial being a former Nazi, and the retooling of the character may not be worth it if we're just scratching the surface of good villains.

4. The Prowler

This one is extremely obvious but worth a mention.

The only character already in the MCU, he has been casted extremely well AND has only grown in popularity. Putting him in as Spideys new big bad would not only ground the movie with a very human villain, but set up the story for Miles Morales.

Prowler can take the place of the physical villain of the film similar to Winter Soldier. His strings can be held by Kingpin, Hammerhead, Norman Osborn, Silvermane, or Tombstone, using him as a weapon against their enemies, including Spider-Man.

My main argument against this is simple, it isn't the right time. If we are doing Aaron Davis, we need to do Miles. I think that's better for the 5th or even 6th movie, but not yet. Let Peter have more years under his belt as Spidey before he teaches another.

He'd be a strong pick for a 5th movie, or even maybe a secondary villain in a 4th movie, but not a good main antagonist.

3. The Beetle

Abe Jenkins or Leila Davis have both donned the name The Beetle, an armored villain usually after money and fame. However, this character has a lot of range.

Sometimes they're a heroic member of the Thunderbolts, sometimes they're a petty villain, a genius, daughter of mob boss Tombstone, and sometimes even in a wildly different armor. There are a lot of ways to go with this villain.

Due to the flexibility of the character, we really can use them anyway imaginable. He could be a failed Stark employee (again), a genius prodigy like Peter, an antihero who kills, a terminator like threat, or anything in between.

I think having Spidey face an Iron Man of his own could be a good way to show his more intelligent side, and make Peter deal with the loss of Tony yet again.

Again the range give us quite a few ideas for actors. I'd really like someone who can do desperation and scary but intelligent. Jason Clarke I don't think gets enough love.

If we went with a younger actress and the daughter of Tombstone, I'm a big fan of Logan Browning. I think she'd make a great antivillain turned hero in the MCU, and be part of Spider-Mans new crew. Maybe help him engineer new (although be it not Tony Stark levels) of tech.

I think this villain has the potential to be brought up to Vulture or Mysterio status, they're just not my favorite as far as fresh and interesting.

2. The Jackal

This may be controversial but I'll die on this hill.

Miles Warren is a geneticist who has gone mad due to the loss of Gwen Stacy. He blames Spider-Man and swears revenge, turning himself into the monstrous Jackal.

The Jackal would be an excellent villain to introduce into the MCU and a Spider-Man movie so we can get a version of the worst comic book storylines: The Clone Saga.

Now before you think that is a terrible idea, remember that we just got a great Spider-Man movie based around a version of One More Day. So hear me out.

Having the Jackal create a Spider-Man for Peter to fight would be inherently interesting. Imagine a chase scene where two Spider-Men (both Tom Holland) are chasing each other swinging around New York. It could be as iconic as Zod and Superman in Man of Steel.

Adding the Jackal also means adding Ben Reilly into the MCU, a fun new addition which lets us see Hollands range. Who doesn't want to see edgy Tom?

The Jackal would also be very reminiscent of The Green Goblin while being something fresh and new. He can be scary and creepy, all while being a physical match for both Peter and Ben Reilly. We can get someone Dafoe type to ham it up and give us an iconic weird performance.

My pick would be Bryan Cranston. Forget Lex Luthor, let's let him ham it up and go nuts as a hairy Grinch style villain.

My only concern would be the backlash for even considering it from comic book fans. But, I think if done well, all will be forgiven.

1. Mr Negative

Anyone who has played PS4 Spider-Man and read my blogs knew where I was going.

Having Martin Li as the central antagonist would be a perfect balance for Spider-Man. He is superpowered, making him an equivalent to Spidey. He has the potential to be a mentor turned villain, like all great Spider-Man villains.

Li also is the perfect linchpin to crime villains in the Marvel Universe. He could create a Superpowered gang war against other villains like Kingpin, Silvermane, or Tombstone, putting Spider-Man in the center of something very grounded and dangerous.

Create a mob style movie with Spider-Man unable to fathom how deep crime in NY goes could be the refreshing story the MCU needs. It could add interesting Marvel characters like Daredevil, Black Cat, Punisher, Kingpin, Hammerhead, and more.

And it would all be centered around a character Spider-Man fans currently love. It's absolutely perfect.

I don't have a cast for this, as it would need to be a very gifted martial artist and seemingly good guy turned evil. But I think Marvel can nail casting.

All in all, Li would be the perfect villain for Spider-Man 4. Someone powerful enough to be a threat, fresh enough to be fun, and grounded enough to tell a very different interesting Spider-Man story.

Thank you so much for reading! Please consider following, and check out my socials and other sites here! And let me know: Who do you want to see Peter face in Spider-Man 4?

[godscobhhq]

Vinny from Atlantis

Name: Vincenzo Santorini Age: 32 Profession: Construction/Demolition Pronouns: He/Him FC suggestions: Keith Powers, Lakeith Standfield, Joseph Quinn Face Claim: David Castaneda Availability: Taken

Vinny grew up deep in the city of New York in a large family where he had his parents, grandparents, and 5 siblings. As soon as a child was able too the child was working. if it was delivering newspapers, yard work, or babysitting, every child had a job to help the family as soon as they could. Vinny worked mostly on yard work and soon learned to do home repairs and fix cars as teenager. But that lead him to a job on a construction site. He wasn't at first allowed to do anything major but soon learned he had construction and building skills but mostly the demo. He watched in amazement as a teenager when they would demo buildings using demolition. He soon went and learned how demolition worked and the chemistry behind it. Quickly taking it and learning what it took to make expositions and demolition.

In school, he soon was a master of his science classes and was taking chemistry early. His family did not go to college; they all worked. However, due to his grades in science, he was able to go to college on a scholarship. He kept working in construction as he f finished up school and started working doing demolition. He was hired to take down builds all over the state and soon around the country. One job led him to meet someone who worked with a crime group in the city, blow up an old mine so they could get into a building nearby for supplies they wanted. He did it, and that led him to more, and before he knew it, he was the demolition hire for anyone who needed something to go boom.

He still works in construction as his day job and enjoys it. He loves to build things up as much as he loves to tear them down. He loved working his job no matter the size but did want to meet someone to settle down while working the job that he loved. But for the past many years, his life has been at work, and he's hoping to change that as he gets older. 

Notable character information: Vinny's explosive inventions are always in high demand, especially for the various gangs feuding around town.

[rex101111]

I’m thinking about Dissidia. My PSP is busted so i can’t play my copy of 012, but the game was just...so good on so many levels. A series wide crossover where the main heroes and villains duke it out? A robust and fun system where you can choose what moves you want to use to suit your opponant? The final, main villain of the whole game being voiced by Keith goddamned David? It was so great on every level. Too bad there were only two games...oh well!

Anyway one of the coolest things in Dissidia was the the final boss, Chaos, was actually pretty well characterized for what was essentially a crossover fighting game boss. And those don’t really have to do anything other than be really tough and look cool. Chaos was all of that and he had a lot of personality. He even got a personal opening quote for every single character! If you look up a video of them you’ll see a bunch of people making up more quotes for him for other characters, final fantasy or otherwise, in the comments because its actually really fun to think about....so im gonna do that; (only for vii x xii and xiii because those are the ones i played...plus a couple of quick “just for me” bonuses) (for added impact imagine these in the deep booming voice Keith uses for chaos )

VII:

Barret: “You will die, along this world you so cherish!” 

Yuffie: “Reckless child, you will steal no victory here!”

Cid: “The stars are forever lost to you...”

Aerith: “Destiny’s chain binds you, you have no escape!”

Vincent: “Corpse with no future, I will grant you release.”

Cait Sith: “You wish to buy redemption with a toy?”

Red XIII: “Your line, your blood, ends with me.”

Zack: “Nothing but a forgotten memory, vanish.”

Angeal: “Come, monster, I shall free you from your misery!”

Genesis: “You were born nothing and you shall forever be nothing.”

X:

Rikku: “You have no home to return to, thief.”

Wakka: “Your faith will protect nothing!”

Lulu: “Your failures have come to collect you, mage.”

Kimahri: “Hornless whelp! Know your place!”

Auron: “Your oath means nothing, and will save nothing.”

Seymour: “The world’s despair is nothing before the yawning chaos!”

Paine: “Foolish girl, you have nowhere else to run.” 

XII:

Penelo: “Give in! Your war is finished!”

Ashe: “Your kingdom is lost, and so are you.”

Basch: “Soldier with no battlefield, drown in the abyss!”

Baltheir: “The final act! And no more beyond.”

Fran: “Come, pirate, perish certain that she hates.”

Larsa: “Come child! I shall you give you your bloodied crown!”

Cid: “Your research avails you not, all for nothing.”

Vayne: “The reins of history are beyond your power to grasp!”

XIII:

Snow: “Your back is heavy with the weight of your failures.”

Sazh: “Your despair, your fear, it all lead you to me.”

Hope: “You will never have the strength to forge the world you desire.”

Vanille: “Beast of ruin! Do not deny your purpose!”

Fang: “Struggle all you will, your hands will never hold her again.”

Sarah: “Your time had ended long ago, now comes your destiny.”

Noel: “You shall fail! Again and again! For eternity!”

Orphan: “Foolish worm, you overreach.”

Caius: “There is no respite, no redemption, suffer eternal.”

Bhunivelze: “All shall end! Even I! And even you!”

Bonus (because, if this post hasn’t told you already, i am a nerd):

Izuku: “You will save no one boy.”

Bakugou: “Your noise shall be swallowed within the abyss!”

Naruto: “You can’t hide your fangs forever, beast.”

Sasuke: “Your hatred shall forever be lacking.”

Ichigo: “You are but a ghost, vanish into the wind!”

Luffy: “Your freedom, is but a fleeting illusion.”

Ragna: “Beast of darkness! Fall before Chaos!”

Jin: “I shall shatter your empty heart of ice.”

Taokaka: “Die in ignorance, die in bliss.”

Terumi: “Laugh serpent, laugh as you fall into the abyss!”

Sol: “Your corrupt flame shall flicker and fade.”

Ky: “Your kingdom is beyond your ability to save.”

Dizzy: “The power you fear within you is nothing compared to me!”

Anji: “Dance until every light finally goes out!”

Baiken: “Drown in the blood you have spilt!”

I-No: “Your tomorrow is forever beyond your reach.”

Justice: “There is no justice, there is only me.”

Happy Chaos: “I shall provide you with all the drama you could ever desire...”

[aion-rsa]

DuckTales Season 3 Episode 22 Review: The Last Adventure!

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

This DUCKTALES review contains spoilers.

From the opening moments of DuckTales’ final episode it feels like the end. Almost everyone is here. There’s an extra care put into the scenes, a knowledge that we are in the last hour of their adventures. A last moment of uncomplicated joy before things get messy. And at the center of it all?

Webby. In the beginning she seemed to be the POV character of DuckTales, the one everything seemed to focus around. Some of that was caused by the original air dates of the episodes accidentally putting all her focus episodes at the start but it was a feeling that never left me. The show was an ensemble piece but there was something about Webby that kept her at the forefront. Something that made go, “if anyone had to lay claim as the main character of DuckTales, it’s her.” Boy, was I right about that!

The finale puts her in the middle of everything and finally pays off the mystery set-up at the top of the season. We finally learn about her past and as its slowly revealed it tugs on Webby’s biggest heartstring. Family. 

Her clones May and June press her with questions about the family. How none of the people she has connections with are related to her by blood. They aren’t her REAL family. Scrooge’s family isn’t hers. Her friends aren’t family. They play on a fear that’s been deeply held within her, that for all the talk of family is what you make it they still aren’t REALLY family.

It calls into question that critical core element of this new DuckTales. One could argue the show has done a LOT to say family is what you make it and this shouldn’t be a problem for Webby but come on, she has two sisters right in front of her. That would mess with her head and make her feel insecure.

This question of family extends out of Webby’s plotline and to all the others, especially Donald and Della. Donald wants to go off on a big trip with Daisy, intentionally leaving the family behind for the first time in who knows how long. This is a major step for him. He gave up his life to help raise Huey, Dewey, and Louie. He’s stuck by them even as they lived at the mansion. The guy deserves some time with the person he cares about without the weight of responsibility he’s carried for so much of his life.

Della though can’t take it. She tries to get him to reconsider. She has excuse after excuse but the real reason comes out, she doesn’t want to lose any more time with him. She was gone for so long why can’t he stay and make up for that lost time? He could, but as much as Donald loves Della he’s finally putting himself first. Of course Della accepts it because she’s Della and she’s great. I’m so happy they did this with Donald, the guy deserves it. Just because Della wants to spend more time with him doesn’t mean he HAS to. He can take time for himself, he can be his own person, he doesn’t have to be defined by the loss of Della anymore. Of course he’ll still see her and the rest of the family, he’s just going off to start his own part of the family. That’s a crucial element of family as well; you don’t always have to be together.

But of course when Webby and Huey get kidnapped Donald is right there to help and so is everyone else. The whole family rallies together, though Beakley is off on her own. Earlier in the episode Beakley revealed to Webby that she retired specifically because of her. That Webby was more important than anything else and, as we later learn, she gave up taking out F.O.W.L. to do it. There’s a running theme of how much you’ll sacrifice for your family here, as Beakley puts it, “when you find your family you’ll give up everything for them.” It’s well threaded throughout the episode, the biggest example of it of course being the giant mission to storm the temple.

It’s here the family comes up against the biggest nemesis of the series, Bradford. Bradford’s whole deal is that he was the first Woodchuck (and a terrible one.) He wants to rid the world of adventure, contain all the chaos it brings. What does all this mean? Why is he doing this? On first watch it’s a little unclear but when you zoom out Bradford wants to keep the world in order, in check. No deviations, nothing unexpected, no challenges, nothing unpredictable. He claims he’s a businessman, not a villain… but of course he’s a villain because a LOT of business people ARE villainous. Wanting to keep the world in check and playing by their rules is how they keep control. How they stay in power.

Adventures threaten that. They give power to those who don’t have it; they allow a wonder and mystery to fill the world. To give people hope, to bond them together. For Scrooge, it helped create his family. So of course Bradford would try to shut that down, he’s better served if people are unhappy and under his thumb as a businessman. Controlling Scrooge’s money was also a great bonus.

Bradford threatens the very heart of the series, adventures. He uses Webby specifically to gain the ability to take Scrooge’s adventures away… but of course he underestimated the family. He thought creating Webby’s clones would tear them apart, that separating everyone into cages would keep them from rising up… but you can’t stop the Duck family and Webby is the heart and soul of that. Even when she learns she was just another clone that doesn’t stop her for long. For anyone else that might have been a bigger blow but when she learns that Beakley saved her when she was a baby? That Beakley gave up everything for her so that someone would love her? That keeps her going.

That and the fact she’s (more or less) Scrooge’s daughter. Yeah she was made by F.O.W.L. but WHATEVER SHE’S REALLY A BLOOD PART OF THE FAMILY! At this point I was taken aback. Why does Webby NEED to have a blood relation to the family? Why can’t she just be a friend who became a part of the family? Isn’t that what DuckTales has been preaching for its entire run, you don’t have to be related by blood to be family and even if you ARE related by blood that doesn’t always mean you’re like family to someone else.

Some might consider this an easy cop out, a way for Webby to get what she always wants… but it’s so much more than that. Okay yes, Webby was sort of made from Scrooge’s DNA but that still doesn’t automatically make her a part of the family. They could easily reject her for not being “real.”  But everyone in the McDuck family loves her and that’s why she’s family, blood or not. Plus, the rest of the episode goes out of its way to show that damn near every good person the team has met is part of the family. So yes, Webby is now confirmed to be related by blood but that doesn’t undercut DuckTales’ message about family. Lena and Violet are part of the family, Gizmoduck, Darkwing Duck, Gosalyn, Launchpad, EVERYONE. As Webby tells May and June,

“Family are the people who stick by you. Fight for you. Blindly invade a sinister villain’s secret strong hold for you. Family would do anything to keep you safe and sacrifice everything to love you no matter who and what you are. Like Scrooge, like my granny, like you two.” That’s family and that’s DuckTales. Scrooge is willing to sacrifice it all, to give up adventuring… but FAMILY is the greatest adventure of all! It’s so powerful it breaks the most powerful magic contract of ALL TIME. BOOM, FAMILY! 

‘The Last Adventure’ was nothing short of an absolute masterpiece, the closest thing to a true 2017 DuckTales movie we’ll ever get. The action was big, damn near every character from the show made it in, and it capped off everything so beautifully. It’s stunning how many references and characters are squeezed in here but it never feels rushed or over bloated. All the references work, whether you know the deep cuts or not. My personal favorite was the revelation that Manny is no intern… he’s actually The Headless Manhorse of the Apocalypse AND HE LIVES AGAIN… voiced by Keith David. It’s such an elaborate Gargoyles reference but even if you don’t know that it’s hilarious to see this new side of Manny.

There’s too many moments to talk about. So many little bits that could deserve full articles on their own. Della using her leg like an axe, B.O.Y.D. being just a head, or Launchpad becoming Gizmoduck! If you’ve been reading all my DuckTales reviews you know how much I’ve loved the character of Lena and just seeing her there at the end as part of the family made me smile and warmed my heart. She went through so much and look where she is now, she has people who love her AND she’s a superhero. 

As the credits rolled and all the characters we’ve all grown to love soared past the screen for the final time, it hit me just how much I’m going to miss DuckTales. I’ve reviewed every single episode of the series and it has been an immense privledge. The level of care and creativity that went into every single aspect of the series did not go unnoticed. The people behind the scenes truly delivered something special, a series that will stand the test of time as not just a worthy entry into the Duck universe or just a Disney cartoon series, but as an absolutely wonderful show all on its own. It was incredibly funny, joyously warm, and knew how to hit you with some major life lessons. Lena’s story arc in particular will always stick with me and works as a gut wrenching portrayal of the effects of abuse. Her story was just an example of DuckTales as its strongest, when it was able to use it stories to hold up a mirror to our own lives and safely let us explore them. While also giving us a lot of laughs.

DuckTales has power; it’ll keep having power. Now that the show’s ended I have no doubt more people will check it out on Disney + and realize how special it was. How great it was. How even if it still had more stories to tell it still gave all it had. 

Thank you for everything, DuckTales. You’ll never be forgotten. 

DuckTales Quotes To Make Your Life Better

-“No, no maniacal laughter! We are not common villains.”

-“Come with me if you want DEW-live.”

-“Yes I was right! …. Oh no, I was right.”

-“I LIVE AGAIN… Again.”

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

-“Please hold all startled utterances of disbelief for the end.”

The post DuckTales Season 3 Episode 22 Review: The Last Adventure! appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/2Q9vozW

[scalproie]

You know how you realize the weirdest thigns? Namely, when you watch a cartoon, and realize the VA would be perfect for a character who has never been properly voiced? I ask because I can't stop imagining Dialga being voiced by Keith David. (Add in a weird echoey filter and a few layers at various layers of reverb, and boom. Perfect Dialga voice.)

👌👌👌👏👏👏👍👍👍 THANKS NOW I DO TOO

[eddycurrents]

For the week of 21 October 2019

Quick Bits:

Action Comics #1016 continues brilliantly integrating Naomi into the broader DC Universe as she helps Superman with the Red Cloud and introduces Batman to her mom. Some very nice double-page spreads in this one from Szymon Kudranski and Brad Anderson, with a nice structure from Brian Michael Bendis in the form of a investigative journalist format.

| Published by DC Comics

The Amazing Mary Jane #1 is an interesting debut from Leah Williams, Carlos Gomez, Carlos Lopez, and Joe Caramagna. It plays upon MJ’s resumed career as an actress and a different turn for Mysterio (I need to go back and read some of his stuff with Kindred, because something seems off).

| Published by Marvel

Amazing Spider-Man #32 begins the next stage in Marvel’s seeming neverending onslaught of event after event with the prelude into the upcoming 2099 thing, including the Marvel debut of Patrick Gleason providing line art. The thing that gets you is that it’s good. Nick Spencer, Gleason, Matthew Wilson, and Joe Caramagna give us an interesting hook in a future and a present that have apparently gone wrong, but we’re really unsure what’s happened yet, just that a seemingly powerless Miguel, back in his original costume, needs to find Peter. It’s compelling.

| Published by Marvel

Amazing Spider-Man: Full Circle #1 is a rather fun and funny story that you really have to go into blind in terms of most content. It’s better to be surprised by the experience. It’s an all-star team of talent including Jonathan Hickman, Chris Bachalo, Gerry Duggan, Greg Smallwood, Nick Spencer, Mike Allred, Kelly Thompson, Valerio Schiti, Al Ewing, Chris Sprouse, Chip Zdarsky, Rachael Stott, Jason Aaron, Cameron Stewart, Mark Bagley, Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Karl Story, John Dell, Laura Allred, Mattia Iacono, Dave McCaig, Tríona Farrell, Nathan Fairbairn, Frank D’Armata, and Joe Caramagna playing a game of exquisite corpse, with each team coming up with a more outlandish cliffhanger for the next team to extricate Spider-Man from. It’s hilarious and incredibly well done.

| Published by Marvel

Angel #6 gives us another perspective on the “Hellmouth” crossover event, as a dejected Spike is tracked down by Fred and Gunn. I really like how Bryan Edward Hill, Gleb Melnikov, Roman Titov, and Ed Dukeshire are continuing the ongoing narrative of the series, while still dovetailing seamlessly into the event. It doesn’t miss a beat on either side of the equation, while still presenting an entertaining story in its own right regardless of whether you’ve read anything previously. All while introducing another player that’s already causing complications. Very nice layered storytelling here.

| Published by BOOM! Studios

Aquaman Annual #2 seems to have been oddly scheduled, with a story taking place after the still ongoing “Amnesty” arc in the main series, but Kelly Sue DeConnick, Vita Ayala, Victor Ibáñez, Jay David Ramos, and Clayton Cowles still deliver an entertaining story that plays into the DOOM that’s been spread by the Legion of Doom and Perpetua. There’s an undercurrent of animosity, anger, and paranoia that seems to be fostered by the doom mark hanging in the sky, and this story nicely builds on it.

| Published by DC Comics

Ascender #6 begins the next arc, though it is much more a direct continuation from the story unfolding, with Andy captured and Mila on the run by boat. Jeff Lemire continues to inject humour into this story through the sheer ineptitude from the vampires. It’s a wonder that they can control anything.

| Published by Image

Avengers #25 is the finale to “Challenge of the Ghost Riders” from Jason Aaron, Stefano Caselli, Jason Keith, Erick Arciniega, and Cory Petit. It does a good job of building Robbie back up, while showing more of the cracks that we’re seeing in Johnny Blaze that were shored up in Ghost Rider. 

| Published by Marvel

Bad Reception #3 goes hard into more traditional themes around horror and, more specifically, slasher films and it’s absolutely wonderful. Juan Doe is giving us a very compelling mystery here, adding more layers as to why the killer is doing this and adding complications through the different characters. Great stuff.

| Published by AfterShock

Batgirl #40 escalates Oracle’s plans as she launches an offensive on Burnside in order to draw out Batgirl. The art this issue from Carmine Di Giandomenico and Jordie Bellaire gets taken to a completely new level. They layouts and colours are absolutely beautiful.

| Published by DC Comics

Batman/Superman #3 goes deeper into the Batman Who Laughs’ machinations for the Infected and what he’s trying to unleash on the DC Universe. Joshua Williamson, David Marquez, Alejandro Sanchez, and John J. Hill are very nicely executing this story, playing with the darker elements that have been bubbling since Metal, but presenting it in such a way that it’s not a dour, grim and gritty story. Also, though it doesn’t have the branding, this is still absolutely integral to the overall “Year of the Villain” event.

| Published by DC Comics

Black Adam: Year of the Villain #1 aims the infected Shazam at Khandaq at lets explosions ensue from Paul Jenkins, Inaki Miranda, Hi-Fi, and Tom Napolitano. This gives us an interesting look at leadership, humility, and responsibility, seemingly entrenching Black Adam again as a somewhat heroic figure.

| Published by DC Comics

Bloodborne #16 concludes “The Veil, Torn Asunder”, revelling in some of the madness that really grips the world. There’s a real unnerving sense of reality crumbling here, somewhat more horrific than what we’ve seen before. Great art from Piotr Kowalski and Brad Simpson.

| Published by Titan

Contagion #4 gets darker in this penultimate chapter from Ed Brisson, Damian Couceiro, Veronica Gandini, and Cory Petit. Things get even more grim as more and more of the heroes fall and we’re left with a rag tag band of street-level heroes and the z-list ring of magicians.

| Published by Marvel

Count Crowley: Reluctant Monster Hunter #1 is an entertaining debut from David Dastmalchian, Lukas Ketner, Lauren Affe, and Frank Cvetkovic. It revels beautifully in the low budget local network horror programming of the ‘70s and ‘80s, following an alcoholic reporter who gets fired for her behaviour, before taking the job as the host to a b-movie segment like Elvira. Great stuff here.

| Published by Dark Horse

Criminal #9 distances us a bit from Jane and that story in this chapter of “Cruel Summer”, instead giving us a look at what Leo is up to as his father plans a heist and Ricky’s recklessness. It’s a nice side track, giving us a different perspective again along with a seriously messed up robbery. Love the washes for the flashbacks from Jacob Phillips.

| Published by Image

Detective Comics #1014 brings Nora Fries back. And aside from just the extreme lengths that Victor has gone to in order to accomplish it, something about all of this feels very, very wrong and that some new horror is about to be unleashed on Gotham. Beautiful artwork from Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy, Mark Irwin, and David Baron.

| Published by DC Comics

Dial H for HERO #8 gives us the origin stories for The Operator and Mister Thunderbolt from Sam Humphries, Paulina Ganucheau, Joe Quinones, Jordan Gibson, and Dave Sharpe. There’s a rather neat format for the storytelling here as we get parallel stories of The Operator and Mister Thunderbolt, told forwards for one and then backwards for the other.

| Published by DC Comics / Wonder Comics

Doctor Mirage #3 has some gorgeous and trippy art from Nick Robles and Jordie Bellaire. The oddity in the colours and the impressive layouts and double page spreads really adds to the overall feel and atmosphere of the story, immersing you into the surrealism and unsettling feel that even Doctor Mirage herself is feeling.

| Published by Valiant

The Flash #81 concludes “Death and the Speed Force” from Joshua Williamson, Scott Kolins, Luis Guerrero, and Steve Wands. There are some major ramifications here for the DC Universe as a whole and some interesting developments for Hunter Zolomon himself. Like last issue, it’s pretty fitting that this is being handled with Kolins’ art. Also, we see a bit of what might be happening because DOOM won.

| Published by DC Comics

Ghost Spider #3 keeps things interesting as we get a continued build for two different Miles Warren stories on both Earths-65 and -615, from Seanan McGuire, Takeshi Miyazawa, Rosi Kämpe, Ian Herring, and Clayton Cowles. There’s also a feeling that through school and superheroics across two realities, Gwen might be wearing herself out more than she already has been with a hungry costume, which is a compelling fact that might feed into to forthcoming stories.

| Published by Marvel

GI Joe #2 takes a bit of a step back from the explosions of the first issue, still following Tiger, but in a much more introspective and measured way as he keeps getting his ass handed to him by Scarlett. Paul Allor, Chris Evenhuis, Brittany Peer, and Neil Uyetake are giving this a very different feel from any previous GI Joe incarnation and it’s very interesting. Some neat twists and some very welcome humour.

| Published by IDW

Hellboy and the BPRD: Saturn Returns #3 concludes this excellent mini-series from Mike Mignola, Scott Allie, Christopher Mitten, Brennan Wagner, and Clem Robins. I quite like this new approach to the historical series, giving a broader view of the previous years. Also, the development of Liz and Hellboy is wonderful, just great character building.

| Published by Dark Horse

Immortal Hulk #25 is very strange. Very, very strange. The lead story is set in the future where the Hulk has become the Breaker of Worlds and everything is slated for destruction. A pair of former lovers are trying to stop him. From Al Ewing, Germán García, Chris O’Halloran, and Cory Petit. There’s a lot of your usual dystopian future stuff, plus sending something back to save the future, but there’s more to this. The set up plays into some of the Kabbalistic themes and ideas that Al Ewing has been using through this series and we get an interesting interpretation of Binah and Chokhmah here. Though it might be more appropriate to consider them as their Qliphoth. Granted, you don’t need to get into any of this to enjoy the comic. Especially since it will appear much more straightforward in the present as the usual team of Ewing, Joe Bennett, Ruy José, Paul Mounts, and Petit reintroduce a familiar evil face.

| Published by Marvel

Josie and the Pussycats in Space #1 is a digital original from Alex de Campi, Devaki Neogi, Lee Loughridge, and Jack Morelli. It’s a pretty damn good reimagining of the characters, putting them on an intergalactic USO tour, and then eventually cranking up the weird and the horror.

| Published by Archie Comics

Justice League Dark #16 is incredible. “The Witching War” continues in this story from James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martínez Bueno, Fernando Blanco, Raul Fernandez, Brad Anderson, and Rob Leigh as Wonder Woman confronts Circe and everything gets doomed. The stakes here feel real, especially as the team continues to fall apart.

| Published by DC Comics

King Thor #2 is as epic as the first issue with Jason Aaron, Esad Ribić, Ive Svorcina, and Joe Sabino seriously bringing the thunder here. The artwork is drop dead gorgeous and the magnitude of the confrontation between Thor, Loki, and Gorr is massive.

| Published by Marvel

Marauders #1 gives us our first look at an X-book in “Dawn of X” without Jonathan Hickman at the helm. It’s really good. Gerry Duggan, Matteo Lolli, Federico Blee, and Cory Petit give us a somewhat more lighthearted approach to some of the concepts, featuring a Kate Pryde who for some reason can’t go through the Krakoan gates, so is recruited by Emma to helm a vessel for the Hellfire Trading Company. It then sets up the more serious element of rescuing mutants who wish to accept Xavier’s offer, but are stuck in hostile regimes. Very nice humour here.

| Published by Marvel

Martian Manhunter #9 rounds the corner for the homestretch, with Steve Orlando, Riley Rossmo, Ivan Plascencia, and Deron Bennett plumbing the depths of one of Charnn’s victims and discovering a bit of a plan for what’s to come. The artwork from Rossmo and Plascencia remains some of the most inventive currently on the stands.

| Published by DC Comics

Middlewest #12 puts together the pieces of where Abel and Bobby have been taken and gives us an introductory glance at the horrible place that they’re being forced to work. Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, Jean-Francois Beaulieu, and Nate Piekos continue to work magic on this story.

| Published by Image

Money Shot #1 is definitely unique. Tim Seeley, Sarah Beattie, Rebekah Isaacs, Kurt Michael Russell, and Crank! give us a story of a group of scientists who turn to making alien porn in order to fund their science projects. There’s humour and a lot of oddity here. Also, alien sex.

| Published by Vault

Punisher Kill Krew #4 sees the Black Knight enlisted to the team as they continue to navigate the Ten Realms to get vengeance for the orphaned war children. The art from Juan Ferreyra is absolutely gorgeous.

| Published by Marvel

Resonant #4 dives into the two new regions of Honcho’s island and the Congregation. It’s interesting to see how other areas are dealing with the waves, even in horrifying ways. The art from Alejandro Aragon and Jason Wordie is incredible.

| Published by Vault

Second Coming #4 sees Sunstar enlist help to find Jesus, while Jesus laments Christians with his new friend Larry in jail, from Mark Russell, Richard Pace, Leonard Kirk, Andy Troy, and Rob Steen. Some very interesting ideas presented here about how a religion can get away from apparent foundational messages. This issue is rounded out by the usual text pieces and short stories.

| Published by Ahoy

Sera and the Royal Stars #4 has us still in the underworld, from Jon Tsuei, Audrey Mok, Raul Angulo, and Jim Campbell. It’s very interesting to see the zodiacals interacting with variations on various deities. Also, Mok and Angulo remind us that they’re an incredible art team. The visual shifts throughout this issue are beautiful.

| Published by Vault

Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader’s Castle #4 gives us a central tale featuring Jabba the Hutt’s extended family and a bunch of disembodied brains, as illustrated by Nicoletta Baldari. We’re also getting to the end of the framing tale from Cavan Scott, Francesco Francavilla, and AndWorld Design and this issue gives us an interesting cliffhanger to take us home.

| Published by IDW

Strikeforce #2 maintains the high level of storytelling from the first issue, continuing to keep us on our toes about this oddball group, and deepens the threat of the Vridai as the team heads to Satana in Vegas. Tini Howard, Germán Peralta, Miroslav Mrva, and Joe Sabino have hit on a winning combination here and it just keeps getting better.

| Published by Marvel

Unbound #1 is kind of a cyberpunk/fantasy series with this first issue focusing on Lukas, a famous hunter who takes on a helper for his current hunt, from Ralph Tedesco, Oliver Borges, Leonardo Paciarotti, and Carlos M. Mangual. There’s some nice world-building here, but the real hook comes later in the story that’s really compelling. I won’t spoil it, but it definitely takes it above what you’d expect.

| Published by Zenescope

Valkyrie #4 unveils a lot more of the context of what happened in the first three issues in a rather interesting way, while bringing back a trio of really old Dr. Strange villains. One of whom will be familiar to moviegoers. Al Ewing, Jason Aaron, CAFU, Jesus Aburtov, and Joe Sabino are telling a very interesting story here with some great twists and gorgeous art.

| Published by Marvel

Wonder Woman #81 concludes “Loveless” and with it G. Willow Wilson’s run on the title, here with Tom Derenick, Trevor Scott, Scott Hanna, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Pat Brosseau. It’s not bad, progressing with a few changes and setting up Steve Orlando’s incoming arc.

| Published by DC Comics

You Are Obsolete #2 gets creepier, playing up even more of the Midwich Cuckoos vibes and revealing that the kids are actively spying on people, with the implication that they’d use more salacious details to their benefit as potential blackmail. We’re still not entirely sure why anything is going on, but the series is definitely setting up a creepy atmosphere.

| Published by AfterShock

Other Highlights: Absolute Carnage: Lethal Protectors #3, Agents of Atlas #3, Archie vs. Predator 2 #3, Black Canary: Ignite, Books of Magic #13, Fearless #4, Freedom Fighters #10, Future Fight Firsts: Luna Snow #1, Immortal Hulk: Director’s Cut #6, Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - Allegiance #3, Kaijumax - Season 5 #1, Lumberjanes #67, Marvel Action: Spider-Man #10, Rat Queens #19, Red Sonja & Vampirella meet Betty & Veronica #6, RWBY #5, Sharkey: The Bounty Hunter #6, Spider-Man: Velocity #3, Star Wars #73, Tony Stark: Iron Man #17

Recommended Collections: Amazing Spider-Man - Volume 5: Behind Scenes, American Carnage, Ascender - Volume 1, Evolution - Volume 3, GI Joe: A Real American Hero - Volume 23, Harrow County: Library Edition - Volume 4, Hex Wives, Infinity 8 - Volume 5: Apocalypse Day, Invisible Kingdom - Volume 1, The Long Con - Volume 2, Naomi: Season One, Spider-Man: Life Story, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Teen Titans - Volume 2: Turn It Up, Wonder Woman - Volume 1: The Just War

d. emerson eddy is not a pineapple.

[tessatechaitea]

Inferior 5 #1

Hopefully this will be like when Giffen made the Legion of Super-heroes super fucking dark.

How many dicks can you find, kids?!

"How many dicks can you find, kids" is the least quotable line I've ever written. The Kamandi just out of surgery cosplayer winds up getting exploded by the kid in the canvas sack face mask. You know the kid is bad news because he can make people explode with his mind. Although if you ran into him in the desert, you wouldn't know that immediately so I should have stated the other ways you can tell he's bad news so as to maybe avoid exploding. First off, he's a kid out in the desert alone. Kids by themselves are creepy. Plus he's wearing a canvas bag on his head. Canvas is always a warning sign that you might be dealing with cannibal hillbillies, especially when it's covering an almost certainly mutilated face. Also, the kid's canvas bag mask has a big red X on it. Anybody who's been through the American educational system has a strong aversion to red X's. Also spooky: the kid recites nursery rhymes. When you hear one of those, you know you're either about to die or laugh hysterically because did you hear how the Diceman said "cock" instead of "clock"?! How did we never stop laughing in the Eighties?! Oh, one more clue that not all is right with this kid: he lives in Dangerfield, Arizona. That's almost as big a red flag as some sweaty, long-haired kid in overalls from Back Swamp, North Carolina. The story picks up with some nerdy kid (probably Merrymaker since he's the big virgin of the group) whining about how his dad died in The Invasion of Metropolis (what was that? Is that a reference to the beginning of The New 52 when Darkseid attacked Earth? Or is this a reference to the Invasion by the Dominators which was compiled in three way-too-long comics?). After the Invasion, he and his mom moved to Dangerfield, Arizona. Because who wouldn't feel safer in a place with a name that causes constant anxiety over a place where the greatest hero in the world lives?

According to the date on this calendar, the Invasion mentioned was the Dominator one which created the Meta-Gene explanation of superpowers which we recently learned was a computer jargon shortening of the term "metal-gene."

The calendar isn't the only proof that this invasion was by Dominators and not Parademons! By turning the page instead of trying to ferret out what's going on by examining every panel carefully and spending an inordinate amount of my short lifespan trying to guess what's about to happen instead of just fucking turning the Goddamned page and letting the writers explain it to me, I discover the Dominators are leading an invasion of Earth Number This Is Fucked Up. At least I think it's Earth Number This Is Fucked Up because the invasion seems to have worked. Superman is dead and most of the other heroes have been placed in a space gulag. Plus that kid in the canvas bag marking X's on houses seems to play an important role in the Dominator's invasion force.

Unless this is all just a comic book on Earth Number Main Earth?

Maybe I should turn some more pages! But first, I just need to Google "Lisa Loeb's boobs." The kid complaining about the Invasion comic book is named Lisa (no relation to Lisa Loeb's boobs) and she points out to the suspiciously bloody comic book seller with a light sensitivity named Vlad that the Invasion really happened. So I guess DC is simply profiting on everybody's pain and misery. I bet just to make the series even more painful and miserable, DC hired Scott Lobdell to write it. Justin, the whiny kid from Metropolis, is being observed by some outside observers (as opposed to inside observers which would be, I guess, parasites?). He heads downtown where he's about to make contact with Dumb Bunny and Awkwardman! Except he doesn't. Man, I should probably read more than two panels at a time before writing anything. It would save everybody a lot of wasted effort, me with writing sloppy synopses of comics and the three people reading this having to fucking read this. But then I don't have any responsibility to anybody to make these "reviews" shorter. It's not my fault if somebody wanted to Google "Lisa Loeb's boobs" but found they didn't have enough time because they were reading this shit. That's their own fault for not prioritizing their desires! Googling "Lisa Loeb's boobs" was so important to me that I did it in the middle of this review! Come on, people. It's the modern age! You can view Lisa Loeb's boobs any time you want (through clothing, that is. I'm not advocating for searching for nude pics of Lisa Loeb's boobs which probably don't exist anyway and if you think they do, it was probably just Lisa Loeb's head photoshopped onto a naked torso). Lisa has been uncovering clues to the weirdness of Dangerfield, Arizona because she dresses like Velma. Unless she dresses like Velma because she searches for clues the way her hero, Velma, searches for clues. I don't know enough about Lisa's backstory to say. It's possible Lisa isn't even aware of Velma and it's just Giffen spending some easy pop culture capital so readers associate Lisa with Velma and understand her more simply by looking at her image.

Here are a bunch of the clues she's uncovered that I didn't want to try to parse through my digressions and fascination with Lisa Loeb.

Billy Shanker, the kid with the canvas bag who says things like, "Oh! The three little kittens! They fucked their mittens! Oh! Look at the way I hold my cigarette! Boom!", murders Justin's mom and takes her corpse to some guy in a hazmat suit that might be a Dominator but also might be, seeing as how Giffen is writing this, Ambush Bug. Man I hope it's Ambush Bug! Justin returns home to find his mother gone and the interior (five?) of his house covered in red X's. Oh no. That's a really bad sign! Not one black check mark in the bunch! Some people might think Keith Giffen isn't the best artist in town because he's a writer and his art isn't for everybody. Plus he never puts any thought into his panel layout and just goes the same size boxes every time (sometimes in the six variety, sometimes in the nine). I happen to love his art so I'm not one of those people. But in keeping with a guy whose art isn't what people would call great (although those people usually love mainstream great garbage art like John Romita Jr or David Finch or Tony S. Daniel), Jeff Lemire draws the back-up story. I don't think that was an insult at Lemire's expense. If it was, I'm sorry because I was really just trying to insult John Romita, Jr and David Finch and Tony S. Daniel. The back-up story features Peacemaker whom I only remember by look. According to the Who's Who, Peacemaker is a guy who loved peace so much that he realized sometimes he'd have to use extreme violence to ensure it. Also he suffered a head injury during Crisis on Infinite Earths which seems like a weird thing to mention in the Who's Who. "Trillions of lives were extinguished during the multiversal extermination event! Billions and billions of worlds destroyed! People's pasts erased in the blink of an eye! Supergirl and Flash and some other people nobody remembers killed! And Peacemaker suffered some head trauma." I suppose it's important to the character. Maybe it was meant to make him more extreme so he'd be relevant in the post-Crisis era. Peacemaker is on a mission for Amanda Waller to find some super weapon that the Russians want. His search leads him to a bunker with a dead Dominator, a mysterious capsule, and a map leading him to Dangerfield, Arizona! Inferior 5 #1 Rating: B+. I'm a sucker for Giffen stories and Giffen art. And Giffen stories backed up by Lemire's writing are probably even better. This one was pretty good so consider it evidence that my previous statement is almost certainly correct. One thing I like about Giffen is that he doesn't mind writing things that can be confusing on their first (or even second!) read through. He tells the story, makes the jokes, slowly unveils the plot, and to hell with anybody who doesn't want to invest a little time in making it all out. Seems to me, a lot of modern comic book readers could learn to love ambiguity. But they're all so desperate for the interior monologue of the main characters so they know exactly what to think after reading something. They're so coddled that they think subtlety is when a story explicitly shows them what's happening without the main character also explaining it in a monologue as they experience it. They wouldn't recognize subtlety if it...well, I mean, it's subtlety. It should be hard to recognize so I don't know how to finish that statement. Now go read Inferior 5 and hate me for recommending it when you're finished.

[paralleljulieverse]

G’day Gertie: Star! debuts Down Under  

After its global premiere in London and subsequent release to select international markets such as Japan, the Julie Andrews mega-musical Star! made its way to Australia in early-October 1968, fifty years ago this week. Release patterns for films in this era could be a little idiosyncratic, and the Australian release of Star! was no exception. The film was treated to two lavish “preview” premieres in Sydney and Melbourne on October 4 and 8, respectively, but didn’t open to the general public till October 24 with a premiere roadshow engagement at Melbourne’s Paris Theatre. Even more strangely, Melbourne was the only Australian city to screen Star! for the first six months. The film didn’t open in Sydney till 23 May 1969 with other Australian cities to follow.*

The three previous Julie Andrews film musicals –– Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and Thoroughly Modern Millie –– had all been major hits in Australia with Millie and Music still in theatrical release when Star! opened in late-1968. In point of fact, The Sound of Music enjoyed longer roadshow runs in Australia than anywhere else in the world: 181 weeks in Sydney (140 at the Mayfair before transferring to the Paris for a further 41 weeks), and 178 weeks in Melbourne (140 at the Paris, then transferring to the Esquire for a final 38 week run). By 1968, it was estimated that just under half the national population had seen The Sound of Music with more to come as the film entered suburban and regional release (Dale: 15; Keavney: 4-5).

As a result, Twentieth Century-Fox had high hopes Star! would do well in Australia and sent director Robert Wise on a special PR trip to the country to help launch the film. Accompanied by his wife, Patricia, Wise touched down in Sydney on 31 September 1968 where he was treated to a round of civic and industry receptions before officiating at a special gala invitation-only premiere of Star! on October 4 at Sydney’s Mayfair Theatre, home to The Sound of Music for so many years  (“New Boom”: 18). The following week, Wise flew on to Melbourne for the second Australian premiere at the Paris Theatre, another Sound of Music alma mater, on October 8. While in Melbourne, Wise gave a host of press interviews and even helped the Lord Mayor lay a plaque for a new $4-million cinema complex in the city (Messer: 8; see also, Bennett: 14; Musgrove: 2; Veitch: 18).

As with the UK response, Australian critical reception of Star! was generally very positive. In Melbourne, Howard Palmer of The Sun wrote:

“Star! the Julie Andrews epic is indeed one of those films that a critic sees with relief, because he can let his his hair down and quite safely say it is wonderful in every way...Wise has put theatre on the screen better than anyone else before him...Julie Andrews gives the drama of the Lawrence love affairs so well...Add to this the many comic scenes of her early career....and you have a complete actress...It’s a wonderful film not to be missed” (27).

Alec Martin of the Melbourne Truth was equally enthusiastic:

“[I]f Gertrude Lawrence was alive today she would be the first to whistle and  stamp her feet at...Miss Andrews’ brilliant performance in Star!...Miss Andrews sheds her wholesome Mary Poppins and Sound of Music image to play the glamorous, temperamental Gertrude Lawrence with perfection....Star! will be a box-office success, that’s for sure” (39). 

Ronald Conway of Melbourne’s The Advocate declared Star! “[a]n agreeable, civilised musical...Julie Andrews sings and acts splendidly and it is a relief to see her in something other than Sound of Music which lasted at the Paris for ever so long...A handsome production to be enjoyed by patrons of all ages” (20). While Kay Mealun of The Australian Women’s Weekly gushed, “I found it rich and big and happy–– could have sat it through, three hours and all, all over again right away” (56). 

Not all Australian reviews of Star! were as unreservedly laudatory, though even naysayers conceded the film had charm. Colin Bennett of The Age wrote that Star! “is well set in theatreland and reproduces...a series of splendid old favourites performed to perfection by Julie Andrews who looks fabulous and sings beautifully...But [she] lacks the bite of a Gertrude Lawrence. She is too fundamentally ‘nice’ and tasteful and efficient to be really insolent or bitchy” (6). 

In a similar vein, Valda Marshall of The Sun Herald wrote: 

“Star! is like an unrealised and long-forgotten musical script of the 30s...a conglomeration of vaudeville numbers, revue material and musical acts...It lacks a central sustaining interest [and] the star herself is without a unified character...Julie Andrews is...in top form. Her voice is as sure and strong as ever. Her acting still has the same unabashed directness and warmth. But the spark of mischievousness and spontaneity are missing” (87).

Charles Higham of the Sydney Morning Herald –– who summarily titled his mixed review, “Julie glitters but she isn’t Gertie Lawrence” –– declared Star!  “a carefully made picture...with fine dramatic moments [but] there is something tame and bloodless about it...Julie Andrews in the title role...brings a brittle professionalism and impeccable coldness to a part that demanded vulnerability, anguish, a maddening neurotic edge. Impossible to imagine this athlete of the musical screen missing an appointment or failing to pay a bill, falling hopelessly and foolishly in love or singing out of tune” (6). Still, Higham mused in another column, “[o]ne hopes Sydney audiences will respond warmly to this very well-made film” (Higham: 19).  

And, for the most part, Australian audiences did respond with comparative warmth to Star!. While the film didn’t score anywhere near the record-breaking success of The Sound of Music, it enjoyed respectable theatrical runs, playing in roadshow release in Melbourne for just under six months (23 weeks from 24 October 1968-26 March 1969) and in Sydney for five months (20 weeks from 23 May 1969-9 October 1969), two of the longest roadshow runs of Star! anywhere outside London (Davies: 198. 206; Louden: 6). 

Star! also went on to a fairly solid theatrical after-life in Australia. The film avoided the debacle of post-release editing that occurred in North America and the full roadshow print screened in residual first release in suburban and regional Australian markets well into the early-70s. Star! even ran as a 70mm double-feature with Hello Dolly at Sydney’s Village Cinema City in late-1974. The film continued to pop up intermittently in subsequent years in repertory screenings. It played several times throughout the 1970s and 80s at Sydney’s Ritz and Mandarin cinemas. The National Library in Canberra hosted a special archival screening of Star! in March 1980, and the film was given a lavish one-week showcase season at Melbourne’s Astor Theatre in November 1998 to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Star! was also a frequent feature on Australian TV screens. It made its national small screen debut as the Sunday Night Movie of the Week in October 1973 and was rebroadcast every few years thereafter: 1975, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1986 and 1989. As far as can be ascertained, the first two broadcasts were edited for running time, but most later broadcasts appear to have been the 176 min. roadshow release.

Notes:

* In a sign of the times, the delay of the Sydney release of Star! was due to the unexpected success of The Graduate which had been booked in to the Mayfair, Sydney’s “home” of Todd-AO roadshows. The theatre’s previous roadshow offering, Doctor Dolittle, closed earlier than anticipated and The Graduate was scheduled as a “filler” –– it ended up running at the Mayfair for 11 months (Louden, 6).

Sources:

Bennett, Colin. “Box Office Wisdom.” The Age Saturday Magazine. 5 October 1968: 14.

________. “New Films: Star.” The Age. 28 October 1968: 6.

Bishop, Barbara. “Julie Misses the Point.” The Sun. 25 October 1968: 14.

Conway, Ronald. “Star.” The Advocate. 31 October 1968: 20.

Dale, David. “The Tribal Mind: What Australians Love the Most.” The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 February 1999: 15.

Davies, Keith. 50 Years of Cinema and Movie’s in Melbourne’s CBD (1940 – 1989). Melbourne: (n.p.), 2016.

“Films on TV.” The Age Green Guide. 21 December 1978: 8.

Higham, Charles. “Star-Maker.” The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 October 1968: 18.

________. “Turmoil in Film City.” The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 May 1969: 19.

________. “Julie Glitters but she is not Gertrude Lawrence.” The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 May 1969: 6.

________. “Films like Mother Used to Cry Over.” The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 June 1969: 17.

Keavney, Kay. “‘The Sound of Music’ Greatest Film Bonanza.” The Australian Women’s Weekly. 36: 1, 5 June 1968: 4-5.

Louden, Doug. Sydney in 70mm. Sydney: (n.p.), 2016. 

MacDonald, Dougal. “Julie Never Stops Being Julie.” The Canberra Times. 28 September 1969: 30.

Marshall, Valda. “It’s a Happening World: Star!” The Sun-Herald. 25 May 1969: 87.

Martin, Alec. “She is the True Star.” The Melbourne Truth. 2 November 1968: 39.

Melaun, Kay. “Julie as Gertrude.” The Australian Women’s Weekly. 36: 20, 4 December 1968: 56.

Messer, John. “From Horror to the Sound of Music––That’s Wise.” The Age. 8 October 1968: 8.

“Movies on TV.” The Sydney Morning Herald: TV Guide. 12 May 1975: 1.

“Movies on TV.” The Sydney Morning Herald: Monday Guide. 27 March 1978: 3.

“Movies on TV.” The Sydney Morning Herald: 7-Day Guide. 29 January 1979: 3.

“Movies on TV.” The Sun-Herald. 15 April 1984: 84.

Musgrove, Nan. “Two Women on His Mind.” The Australian Women’s Weekly. 36: 20, 16 October 1968: 2.

“New Boom for Star Musicals.” The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 October 1968: 18.

Palmer, Howard. “Julie Proves It.” The Sun Weekend Magazine. 26 October 1968: 27.

“Sunday TV.” The Age TV-Radio Guide. 30 March 1975: 8.

“Television.” The Age. 3 April 1980: 2.

“Television.” The Age. 28 August 1981: 2.

“Television.” The Age. 21 January 1989: 18.

“Today’s TV.” The Sun-Herald. 21 October 1973: 71.

Veitch, Jack. “Why Robert Wise Doesn’t Need to Work Again.” The Sun- Herald. 6 October 1968: 18.

“What Was the Name of that Film?” The Age. 8 October 1968: 16.

Copyright © Brett Farmer 2018

[allthefilmsiveseenforfree]

Night School

Comedies are tricky things. You take funny people, a silly premise, some ridiculous sight gags and boom, laughter happens, right? As someone who saw Fist Fight in theaters last year, I can tell you that this formula is not always enough, y’all. So with Night School, we’ve got two of the brightest stars in the 2018 comedy universe, Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, facing off against each other as GED student and teacher. So, does this combo go to the head of the class or is this a school you’re better off dropping out of? Well...

I went in with low expectations. I’m talking llllooooowwwwwww expectations. So maybe this is just a case of a lot of benefit going to the doubt, but...I kinda liked it. I really did. The plot is pretty basic and predictable. Teddy (Kevin Hart) is a high school dropout who’s doing pretty ok for himself. He’s poised to take over the store he works at as a salesman, and he’s just gotten engaged to Lisa, a woman who is WAY out of his league (Megalyn Echikunwoke, aka Cassie from that one episode of Supernatural) - but his proposal backfired - literally - and his store burned down, so he’s out of a job and needs to get his GED. Now he’s matriculating at his old high school, currently run by his high school rival (Taran Killam) and is trying to survive a night school class of lovable misfits taught by the no-nonsense Carrie (Tiffany Haddish).

Some thoughts:

Surprise lesbian! Sure would be nice if they had actually showed her character expressing any sort of desire towards another woman. Even a subtle up-and-down of Cassie’s super hot assistant would have been nice. Like, yay for inclusion to where it isn’t a big deal, but also like...let lesbians act like lesbians? Otherwise that’s some bullshit “oh yeah and Dumbledore was gay the whole time!” erasure.

Kevin Hart has a problem with self-editing. This movie is about 20 minutes too long. 

I’m no special education expert...but I feel like yelling “CONCENTRATE” is not the key to solving learning disabilities. Also where are his accommodations?? This movie is an ADA and Accessibility nightmare. 

Keith David, here playing Teddy’s father, is just such a treasure of a character actor. That voice, man. Gosh I love him.

I appreciate that the movie as a whole is a lot more cohesive than the trailers make it out to be. In the context of these rag-tag losers coming together as a found family, all the hijinks and shenanigans make a lot more sense.

Rob Riggle, you sweet little ray of sunshine. Every time you’re onscreen is like a big hug.

I love that this movie actually passes the Bechdel test, which is a (sad) rarity in comedies like these.

The funniest bit in the whole movie, hands down, is everything involving the fast food restaurant Teddy has to work at to make ends meet. It’s called Christian Chicken. Y’all. I cannot overemphasize how incredible Christian Chicken is. The set designers and props department had a field day. There are posters for The Holy Trinity - a combo featuring chicken strips, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Posters for Beezlebub’s BBQ Wings. The soda machine contains beverages like Ruth beer, Psalms soda, Christ’s coconut water, and Lazarus lemonade. 

I appreciate that the ending doesn’t feel like a cheap movie cop out. Like, I’m 99% sure that’s not how the GED works - you definitely have to wait a certain period of time before you can retake any major test like that - but the message is clear that you have to work hard for things you really want, and sometimes that means failing along the way. People who have the deck stacked against them might fail a lot. This movie doesn’t shame those who take a different path, and that’s a message more people need to hear, I think.

Overall, this is a silly, sweet, ridiculous little movie that has some pretty important things to say about belonging, self-worth, and the value of education in all forms. The movie shines the most when it’s not struggling to make Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish face off against each other, but when it allows the entire ensemble to showcase meaningful connections and relationships. And TBH it’s all worth it just for the Christian Chicken bits.

[architectnews]

The Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre

The Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre Galashiels Building, Scottish Borders Architecture, Scotland

The Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre Galashiels Building

20 May 2022

Design: Page \ Park, architects

Location: 14-20 High Street, Galashiels, Scottish Borders, Scotland

Photos by Keith Hunter

The Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre Galashiels Building Design

The Great Tapestry of Scotland Gallery is in Galashiels at the heart of the Scottish Borders. The building was designed to house the Great Tapestry of Scotland; a unique visual history of the nation crafted by the hands of a thousand stitchers.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland was designed by Andrew Crummy to a narration written by Alistair Moffat, with the grand vision imagined by Alexander McCall Smith. The tapestry, at almost 143 metres (469 ft) in length, is a linear pictorial history of Scotland depicting key events going back 12,000 years. It was meticulously embroidered in communities across Scotland led by master stitcher Dorie Wilkie.

The architectural vision by Page \ Park was to create a distinctive building rooted in its physical and historical context, with a special room for the tapestry at its heart.

The dramatic geometric roof design is inspired by the unique roofscape of towers, dormers, gables and pitched roofs that defines the architectural character of Galashiels. As you approach Galashiels the roofs of the town unfold before you. The new gallery inserts into this roofscape as a contemporary and playful re-imagining of the traditional Victorian pitched roof.

The ground floor houses a temporary gallery space, reception, shop, café, and education space. The tapestry gallery is on the first floor; a dramatic room formed from folding walls and ceiling. The gallery is precisely shaped to house the tapestry. The artwork wraps around a series of radial display walls to form a continuous linear display. At the four corners of the gallery are tall windows, each looking to one of the four hills that surround Galashiels.

The palette of colour and texture in the interior design reflects the nuance and detail of the tapestry, as well as the rich landscape of the Borders. The walls of the gallery are clad with fabric woven on the Isle of Bute and finished locally in Galashiels. The bespoke colour was designed for this project, inspired by the ever-changing colours of the hills surrounding Galashiels.

The scale and massing of the visitor centre was designed in response to the surrounding Victorian townscape. Due to concerns regarding UV light and conservation of the tapestry, it was not possible to have a lot of windows into the gallery. To break down the mass of the building to a scale more appropriate to its neighbours we folded the external walls creating subtle undulating bays. These bays relate to the rhythm of the windows, doorways, and corner turrets of Channel St.

The gallery is connected by a glazed link to the old Post Office building. The Post Office opened to great fanfare in 1896 and was a symbol of Galashiels’ prosperity as a booming textile town of the nineteenth century. The subtle articulation and detailing of the stonework elevations to the Post Office inspired the stepping stone façade of the visitor centre. Vertical and horizontal bands of stonework envelope the building, like the warp and weft of a textile.

The gallery acts as an anchor for town centre regeneration. Supported by the new Borders Railway line linking Galashiels to Edinburgh, the gallery will bring new activity to the high street supporting the existing retail offer and inspiring a 21st century version of this textile town.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre in Galashiels – Building Information

MAIN PROJECT INFORMATION

Project name: The Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre Architects: Page \ Park Website: http://pagepark.co.uk/ Contact person: Suzy O’ Leary / David Wyllie Contact email: s.oleary@pagepark.co.uk / d.wyllie@pagepark.co.uk Contact phone: 0141 5535440 Completion year: 2021 Approx. gross floor area: 1300m2 Project location: 14-20 High Street, Galashiels

Photo credits: Keith Hunter Photographer’s website: http://www.keithhunterphotography.com/

OTHER TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Lead Architects: Suzy O’ Leary, David Wyllie Page \Park team: Suzy O’ Leary, David Wyllie, David Paton Client: Scottish Borders Council Structural Engineers: Goodsons Associates Services Engineers: Atelier 10 Fire Engineers: Atelier 10 Project Management: Turner and Townsend Cost Consultant: Turner and Townsend Main Contractor: Ogilvie Construction Ltd.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland Phone: 01896 809354

Page \ Park

Art Galleries

Location: Galashiels, Scotland

Scottish Architecture

Another building in the Scottish Borders designed by Peter Womersley on e-architect:

Bernat Klein Studio

Scottish Borders Buildings

Scottish Architecture News

Recent Design by Page \ Park in Scotland

Health and Wellbeing Centre, Edinburgh, south east Scotland photo : Keith Hunter University of Edinburgh Health and Wellbeing Centre

Contemporary Architecture in Scotland – architectural selection below:

Paisley Museum Building News, western Scotland Design: AL_A image courtesy of architects office Paisley Museum Renewal

Charnock Bradley Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian Design: Atkins image Courtesy architecture office Charnock Bradley Building Roslin

Scottish Architects Practices

Scottish Buildings

Scottish Architecture

Scottish Architect

Traquair, Scottish Borders Traquair House

Comments / photos for the Fairydean Stadium Galashiels design by Page \ Park Architects page welcome

The post The Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre appeared first on e-architect.

[superemeralds]

classic sonic :)

Classic Sonic: What’s your dream voice cast, if you have one?

I’ll assume this is only for an english cast

Junichi Kanemaru will forever be best sonic though... just saying

ok my fav VA’s are...

Sonic: Jason Griffith (you know who)

Shadow: Jason Griffith / David Humphrey fusion (tho jason is sliightly better)

Rouge: Kathleen Delaney (06)

Eggman: Mike Pollock (you know who he is)

Silver: Pete Capella (06)

Blaze: Erica Schroeder (06)

Knuckles: Dan Green (sonic x) but yakno the new VA (Travis Willingham) is doing a good job; and his portrayal/version of the character is just.. tainted. caugh boom knuckles caugh

Espio: David Wills (sonic x, shth)

Charmy: Emily Corkery (heroes) did a good job bc she was REALLY into it but idk if she still has the same voice?; otherwhise i also liked Amy Birnbaum (shth, sonic x)

Vector: We didn’t really hear much of Keith Silverstein yet but..  I like his vector. he could get a little more into it tho *thinking face* James Carter (shth, sonic x) was good. if keith just... pulls thru a big more he would be even better.

Tails: I honestly liked Conor Bringas (sa2) but Amy Palant (pmuch everything after that until colors) was just. very present

Amy: Cindy Robinson (current) is actually pretty good,,, just wish that the writing for her was too

Omega: i like Jon St John (heroes)  ; but Maddie Blaustein (06) sounds more ... authentic? since its so monotonous... so yeah idk both are done really well!!

uuuuuuh did the rouges ever swich VAs? and orbot and cubot have always been the same too right? sorry im.... not much invested in them kasjfhkjshfkasj

[vmheadquarters]

ASK THE FANDOM--RESPONSES

Here is the latest Ask the Fandom question:

In The Bitch Is Back, Nish tells Veronica that the founder of Hearst College started The Castle at Hearst and at Stanford. Does that cause any problems for Veronica after she transfers there?

And here is what you had to say:

@iamjmgardner--What a great question!

I mean, I guess it should have, right? Veronica leaves Neptune because of everything that happened with her dad, Jake Kane, the Castle, and Gory.  I don’t quite know how she thought Stanford would mitigate the fall-out of those last three things, but whatever.

I wish we had more details as to the outcome of S3.  Did Gory ever go after Logan? Did Veronica ever go back to Jake and Clarence to exonerate her dad? Did Gory ever come after Veronica.

I mean, WHAT THE HELL happened when Nish and the other Lillith women sued the Castle for admission at Hearst (remember Veronica gives her the list of names).? Wouldn’t the Castle at Stanford been pretty upset with the new transfer student who was bringing down their boys’-only club on their heads?

This is one of those instances where our amazing VM fanfic writers comes to the rescue and pick up on and explore these brilliant story lines that are conceived in the show but never fully fulfilled/drawn out.

It’s been awhile since I read the books, but I don’t think they even mention the Castle or much of Veronica’s time at Stanford.

This is why we need(ed) more Veronica Mars.

@cheshirecatstrut--Veronica runs away to Stanford, but Jake Kane carries a grudge. So he uses his pull with the Stanford Castle to make her life hell.

Logan’s not sorry he gave Gory Sorokin a beatdown. But even the bodyguard service he hired can’t keep the Russian Mafia at bay.

Wallace learns the price of crossing the Castle when he returns from Uganda to find his scholarship revoked. Mac learns the price of cracking Jake’s hard drive when he gives her an ultimatum: work for me or go to jail. Keith, up to his neck in legal debt, is forced to take increasingly sketchy jobs to make ends meet. And Weevil’s meal card empire comes crashing down when the originators of the scheme vow revenge.

It all comes to a head when Nish files suit against the most prominent members of the Castle, and they band together with one purpose–make Veronica Mars, and everyone she loves, pay. In order to stop them, V must claim every favor she’s ever been owed…and work with all the loved ones she left behind for their own good.

@iamjmgardner--BOOM!! 

 And @cheshirecatstrut blows it out of the water with a VM fanfic moment that brings all the loose ends together like…

Well done, darling.  In response to OP, ^^^what she said. That’s what happened when Veronica went to Stanford.

@chikabiddy—That’s an amazing idea…

Adorkable Author (via Twitter)--Interesting. I doubt Jake told people that V took the hard drive. I picture V keeping her head down at Stanford. She didn't poke and prod. I bet she was fine there, but would love to read more theories.

Merrick Green (via Twitter)--I think the better q is - did V and Jake Kane cut some backroom deal to save Keith and get Veronica into Stanford (show never established she got accepted as a sophomore transfer)?  The ignominy of being outsmarted by a teen girl prolly kept Jake's mouth shut, and just blame Gory.

Isa (via Twitter)--I think she was acting so out of character that they didn’t even care that she went there. Also I don’t think they knew about the hard drive.

David Murray (via Twitter)--If anything, they were informed not to stir the hornets nest by messing with her.

[doomonfilm]

Thoughts : The Thing (1982)

When the video game Among Us found a sudden boom in popularity this past summer, two years after its 2018 release, immediate comparisons to John Carpenter’s classic creature feature The Thing began to pop up.  Whether intentional or not, the remote location and the sinister nature of imposter presence could not be ignored.  Seeing as I had only recently (FINALLY) gotten around to watching The Thing, now seemed like the perfect time to share my thoughts on the film.

A dog finds its way onto the grounds of an American research facility in Antartica, and shortly after its arrival, a Norwegian helicopter follows with gunfire and grenades.  After one of the Norwegian contingent accidentally blows himself up with a dropped grenade, the second is killed by station commander Garry (Donald Moffat).  MacReady (Kurt Russell) and Dr. Cooper (Richard Dysart) head to the Norwegian research facility to investigate, while the remainder of the team stays behind and watches the dog.  MacReady and Dr. Cooper find a malformed corpse they are unable to identify at the Norwegian station and bring it back to the American station for Blair (A. Wilford Brimley), the site biologist, to autopsy.  While Blair is in the midst of discovering that the creature has human organs, Clark (Richard Masur) kennels the dog, only for it to transform and absorb the other dogs it is locked in the kennel with.  Childs (Keith David) eliminates the dog-creature with a flamethrower, and in the wake of this shocking event, the entire crew attempts to investigate what is going on.  The ensuing investigation not only puts true fear into the entire crew, it manages to eliminate any sense of trust amongst the team.

For a film with such a deliberate pacing, the terror and paranoia moments presented are some of the most palatable committed to film.  The Americans do present somewhat of a united front (no pun intended) when the Norwegians first intrude upon the grounds, but as the mystery of the creature among them grows, and facts about its deceptive abilities are revealed, the group quickly begins to splinter, forming multiple factions with little to no trust of one another.  On top of all of this, from the opening to the closing moments, those ‘lucky’ enough to survive are never given a clear answer about the threat that they are facing, only wilder and wilder bits of understanding about it that make it seem more and more of an undefeatable menace.

Having an unclear, undefined force to pit the cast against works better than a standard monster, as the ability to mix the fear of the unknown and the fear of the grotesque packs a much more powerful punch.  The multiple forms that the creature takes, be it part humanoid, mid-transformation beast, or even the traces of an evasive monster, all serve to up the paranoia of both the cast and the viewer.  The sounds that come out of the mouth of the Bennings/creature combination alone are enough to fuel nightmares for a lifetime.  It’s hard to classify The Thing within the pantheon of classic movie monsters, but it is this ambiguity and fluidity that explicitly make it such a memorable movie monster.

The set design and isolated nature of the frozen location are monumental in terms of setting up the desperate nature that the team faces before any exposition is dropped or any musical cues inform us of the terror we should feel.  It goes without saying that the creature effects and sound design in the film were outstanding, with Rob Bottin’s creature budget standing at a tenth of the film’s complete budget.  The score, which John Carpenter was more than capable of handling, was assigned to Italian composing legend Ennio Morricone, and his finished product further served to build the epic nature of the outrageous situation, fueling the deep moods that the viewer rotates through.  With every role in this film being key, as the number of interactions starts limited and shrinks throughout the runtime, the strength of the cast speaks for itself.

The collaborative force that is Kurt Russell and John Carpenter is a tried and true formula, and by the time Carpenter cast Russell in The Thing, Russell had the everyman hero role down to a tee.  Keith David has a commanding presence, serving as both muscle and one of the cooler heads among a group falling to pieces.  Donald Moffat also has a commanding presence, but with all the apprehension lacking in David’s character performance.  A. Wilford Brimley lets knowledge drive his character, which makes his assimilation that much creepier, as he is able to hide it up until the point of his fantastic transformation.  T.K. Carter brings a bit of levity into the situation while also serving as a bit of an audience surrogate in regards to the realness of his fear.  Richard Masur fills in the role of gentle giant, with his particular care for animals serving as a direct in for the creature.  David Clennon, Richard Dysart, Charles Hallahan, Joel Polis and Thomas Waites also deserve recognition, as the entire ensemble does equal pulling of the weight to carry this masterpiece to fruition.

I don’t usually throw the term ‘must-see movie’ around much, but if there were a shortlist I was forced to make, The Thing would certainly be on it.  At nearly 40 years old, this movie has not only managed to escape the label of being ‘dated’, but it continues to prove that it belongs in the realm of films labelled ‘timeless’.