Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 16
April 8, 2025
Faery Glade
Just finished listening to "Faery Glade" by Willow Mist, released by Medwyn Goodall Music.
Willow Mist is a new artist to Medwyn Goodall Music's catalogue.
Willow Mist is the recording and production alias used by Mike Parks. The biographical information comes from Medwyn Goodall Music's website. I could not find anything on him online.
Parks began composing since the age of 15. Other influences come from his fascination with science fantasy and things other-worldly. He is also a keen photographer, rock climber and a regular visitor to the western highlands of Scotland where the beautiful rugged landscapes and appreciation of nature provide much of the inspiration for his music. His introduction to the MG Music label came after a chance meeting with MG artist Wychazel.
Parks used guitars, piano, and synths with continuous tracks.
My favorite tracks are: "Where The Owls Fly," "Whispers of Leaves," "Faery Pool," and "Fox Cubs In The Moonlight."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://medwyngoodall.com/willow-mist
Willow Mist is a new artist to Medwyn Goodall Music's catalogue.
Willow Mist is the recording and production alias used by Mike Parks. The biographical information comes from Medwyn Goodall Music's website. I could not find anything on him online.
Parks began composing since the age of 15. Other influences come from his fascination with science fantasy and things other-worldly. He is also a keen photographer, rock climber and a regular visitor to the western highlands of Scotland where the beautiful rugged landscapes and appreciation of nature provide much of the inspiration for his music. His introduction to the MG Music label came after a chance meeting with MG artist Wychazel.
Parks used guitars, piano, and synths with continuous tracks.
My favorite tracks are: "Where The Owls Fly," "Whispers of Leaves," "Faery Pool," and "Fox Cubs In The Moonlight."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://medwyngoodall.com/willow-mist
April 7, 2025
The Ragpicker King
Just finished reading "The Ragpicker King" by Cassandra Clare, published by Del Rey Books.
"The Ragpicker King" is the second book released in Clare's "Chronicles of Castellane" - which I think is supposed to be a four-book series. And yet, I had the distinct feeling that I had read parts of it before in one of Sherwood Smith's books.
Clare was accused of plagiarism dating back to 2000–2001 when she was writing the fan fiction work The Draco Trilogy. The Christian Science Monitor wrote in 2013 about how Clare's plagiarism and cyberbullying angered many in the Harry Potter online fandom community. Later that year, The Daily Dot described how Clare had copied much of a chapter of The Secret Country (1985), an out-of-print fantasy novel by Pamela Dean, into Clare's own The Draco Trilogy, without attribution to Dean.[24][25] A complaint by another website user in mid-2001 led to a review by FanFiction.Net administrators, resulting in Clare banned for plagiarism and her writings removed from the website.
I'm not saying that Clare plagiarized parts of "The Ragpicker King," but I found parts of it to be familiar - especially about Lin Caster being a goddess reborn who must undergo a trail to prove she is who she says she is.
Kel Saren, body double to Conor, crown prince of the dazzling city of Castellane, is caught between two worlds. In order to protect his beloved prince, Kel must find the culprits responsible for a massacre at the royal palace—and the only clues are held by the Ragpicker King, the notorious criminal who rules Castellane’s underworld. The trail Kel follows leads back to the Hill, where among decadent nobles and glittering parties a dark conspiracy to destroy the royal family has taken hold—a conspiracy headed up by the monstrous Artal Gremont, the man engaged to marry the woman Kel adores.
Meanwhile, Lin Caster must face the aftermath of the greatest risk she’s ever taken. To save the life of a dying friend, Lin has falsely claimed to be the Goddess Reborn, the legendary heroine destined to save her people. Now the terrifying—but strangely magnetic—leader of her people has arrived to test her powers. The price of failure is exile, and only through her alliance with the Ragpicker King can she continue to access the magic that may save her.
Then Prince Conor reappears in her life, demanding that she use her healing powers to cure the madness of his father, the King. Lin soon realizes the King is gripped by an ancient and terrible magic, one whose lure she cannot deny any more than she can deny her growing passion for Conor.
Clare, who has a large following in the LGBT+ community for her Shadowhunter series, shies away from graphic gay sex, though she does include a rather graphic heterosexual encounter.
Weakly Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525620028/...
"The Ragpicker King" is the second book released in Clare's "Chronicles of Castellane" - which I think is supposed to be a four-book series. And yet, I had the distinct feeling that I had read parts of it before in one of Sherwood Smith's books.
Clare was accused of plagiarism dating back to 2000–2001 when she was writing the fan fiction work The Draco Trilogy. The Christian Science Monitor wrote in 2013 about how Clare's plagiarism and cyberbullying angered many in the Harry Potter online fandom community. Later that year, The Daily Dot described how Clare had copied much of a chapter of The Secret Country (1985), an out-of-print fantasy novel by Pamela Dean, into Clare's own The Draco Trilogy, without attribution to Dean.[24][25] A complaint by another website user in mid-2001 led to a review by FanFiction.Net administrators, resulting in Clare banned for plagiarism and her writings removed from the website.
I'm not saying that Clare plagiarized parts of "The Ragpicker King," but I found parts of it to be familiar - especially about Lin Caster being a goddess reborn who must undergo a trail to prove she is who she says she is.
Kel Saren, body double to Conor, crown prince of the dazzling city of Castellane, is caught between two worlds. In order to protect his beloved prince, Kel must find the culprits responsible for a massacre at the royal palace—and the only clues are held by the Ragpicker King, the notorious criminal who rules Castellane’s underworld. The trail Kel follows leads back to the Hill, where among decadent nobles and glittering parties a dark conspiracy to destroy the royal family has taken hold—a conspiracy headed up by the monstrous Artal Gremont, the man engaged to marry the woman Kel adores.
Meanwhile, Lin Caster must face the aftermath of the greatest risk she’s ever taken. To save the life of a dying friend, Lin has falsely claimed to be the Goddess Reborn, the legendary heroine destined to save her people. Now the terrifying—but strangely magnetic—leader of her people has arrived to test her powers. The price of failure is exile, and only through her alliance with the Ragpicker King can she continue to access the magic that may save her.
Then Prince Conor reappears in her life, demanding that she use her healing powers to cure the madness of his father, the King. Lin soon realizes the King is gripped by an ancient and terrible magic, one whose lure she cannot deny any more than she can deny her growing passion for Conor.
Clare, who has a large following in the LGBT+ community for her Shadowhunter series, shies away from graphic gay sex, though she does include a rather graphic heterosexual encounter.
Weakly Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525620028/...
Omni Loop
Just finished watching "Omni Loop" released by Magnolia Pictures.
"Omni Loop" is a quiet metaphysical science fiction movie that explores one woman's quest to unlock the secrets of why she has the ability to time travel five days back into her past before she is destined to die.
Zoya Lowe is a quantum physics textbook author with only one week left to live. She is diagnosed with a black hole growing in her chest. To avoid her death, Zoya enters a time loop. She takes a time travel pill that allows her to travel back in time 5 days. She found these mysterious pills when she was 12 years old and had used them to improve her life, but stopped for many years before her diagnosis.
Frustrated with repeating the same sad loop with her husband, adult daughter and son-in-law, she decides to take action and resume her past research on the pills. She meets Paula, a research assistant studying time at a local community college, and enlists her help. Zoya hopes to find a way to travel back to gain years and potentially alter her past.
Once Zoya begins working with Paula, she spends every cycle sneaking out of the hospital and hiding from her worried family. As the research continues unsuccessfully, Zoya is upset, but refuses to reach out to past colleague and ex Mark Harrison. When Zoya, in a last ditch effort, tracks him down, she finds that he died 4 months before. His son, now living in his dad's house, invites her in and says he wishes that his dad hadn't spent his last days working.
After this, Zoya listens to the voicemails her family have been leaving every cycle and breaks down in tears, resetting her week one final time. This time she is happy to be in the loop repeating things she's done with her family while still creating new memories. She also stops by Paula's to give her a copy of all the research they had done together and the time travel pills. Zoya says that maybe Paula is the one to figure it all out.
As the loop is coming to a close, Zoya's family bring her out a birthday cake, but unlike any loops in the past Zoya opens her gift. She is shocked to find a photo of her daughter's sonogram. Zoya is going to be a grandmother. She smiles and tells her family how much she loves them before the black hole consumes her.
"Omni Loop" is not a ground breaking film, but it does explore the impact of how time travel and how the choices we make when trying to undo the past impact family and friends.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Omni-Loop-DVD-...
"Omni Loop" is a quiet metaphysical science fiction movie that explores one woman's quest to unlock the secrets of why she has the ability to time travel five days back into her past before she is destined to die.
Zoya Lowe is a quantum physics textbook author with only one week left to live. She is diagnosed with a black hole growing in her chest. To avoid her death, Zoya enters a time loop. She takes a time travel pill that allows her to travel back in time 5 days. She found these mysterious pills when she was 12 years old and had used them to improve her life, but stopped for many years before her diagnosis.
Frustrated with repeating the same sad loop with her husband, adult daughter and son-in-law, she decides to take action and resume her past research on the pills. She meets Paula, a research assistant studying time at a local community college, and enlists her help. Zoya hopes to find a way to travel back to gain years and potentially alter her past.
Once Zoya begins working with Paula, she spends every cycle sneaking out of the hospital and hiding from her worried family. As the research continues unsuccessfully, Zoya is upset, but refuses to reach out to past colleague and ex Mark Harrison. When Zoya, in a last ditch effort, tracks him down, she finds that he died 4 months before. His son, now living in his dad's house, invites her in and says he wishes that his dad hadn't spent his last days working.
After this, Zoya listens to the voicemails her family have been leaving every cycle and breaks down in tears, resetting her week one final time. This time she is happy to be in the loop repeating things she's done with her family while still creating new memories. She also stops by Paula's to give her a copy of all the research they had done together and the time travel pills. Zoya says that maybe Paula is the one to figure it all out.
As the loop is coming to a close, Zoya's family bring her out a birthday cake, but unlike any loops in the past Zoya opens her gift. She is shocked to find a photo of her daughter's sonogram. Zoya is going to be a grandmother. She smiles and tells her family how much she loves them before the black hole consumes her.
"Omni Loop" is not a ground breaking film, but it does explore the impact of how time travel and how the choices we make when trying to undo the past impact family and friends.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Omni-Loop-DVD-...
Shadow Highlanders - Rouge Angel #65,
Just finished listening to "Shadow Highlanders - Rouge Angel #65," released by Graphic Audio.
A little bit of background on the "Rouge Angel" series may be a bit helpful to those who are unfamiliar with the series.
"Rogue Angel" was a series of paperback novels produced bi-monthly since July 2006 by Harlequin Enterprises, published under a succession of imprints and written under the house name of "Alex Archer". Actual authors are credited with small notes inside the books but not on the front covers or spines. Each novel relates to history or mythology with a heavy fantasy slant, and the main character is Annja Creed - who may or may not be the reincarnation of Joan of Arc.
The series was first envisioned by Randall Toye, a Harlequin executive who fell in love with the history concerning Joan of Arc and wanted to develop the idea of a present-day Joan. Veteran action-adventure editors Feroze Mohammed and Nicole Brebner teamed up with Mel Odom to flesh out their series.
When Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for heresy, her sword was shattered by an English soldier, and the fragments were widely dispersed. However, Roux and Garin, two of the knights in her personal retinue, were cursed with immortality in order to be able to eventually track down and reassemble the artifact.
Annja was present when this came to pass, and at her touch, the blade magically reformed, making her its new bearer. It cannot be taken from her against her will, and she has the power to remove it to and retrieve it from a supernatural location referred to as "the Otherwhere," plus her abilityrecover from injuries.
Mom, Dad, and I always listened to the latest "Rouge Angel" adaptation when Graphic Audio released it, and I'm glad that Graphic Audio was able to continue the series.
As a series, "Rouge Angel" often lacked continuity and never really referred to previous adventures or of any of Annja's previous paramours.
Series narrator Nanette Savard, who co-wrote the last four Rouge Angel audio adventures attempts to redress the continuity issues with this long running audio series by giving Annja a "steady boyfriend" in the form of Conrad, a journalist, and have established links and references to the previous two adventures, and there is more of a supernatural element in this outing and Joan's sword reveals a new ability in providing holographic maps of an enchanted realm - something it can not do yet in the human world.
Charles Stuart, "the Young Pretender" who started a war between Scotland and England for the British throne and lost badly; had millions in gold buried by his followers and lost to time.
Annja, Roux, and Garin team up to hunt for the Jacobite treasure from the underground alleys in Edinburgh, to the misty hills, lochs, and castles of The Highlands. Annja is attacked by one supernatural creature after another until she comes face to face with a clan of mysterious Highlanders who have their defender, an evil doppelganger of Annja who wields the sword of Vlad the Impaler.
A great outing and I'll be curious to see how Graphic Audio proceeds with future Rouge Angel outings.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.graphicaudio.net/rogue-an...
A little bit of background on the "Rouge Angel" series may be a bit helpful to those who are unfamiliar with the series.
"Rogue Angel" was a series of paperback novels produced bi-monthly since July 2006 by Harlequin Enterprises, published under a succession of imprints and written under the house name of "Alex Archer". Actual authors are credited with small notes inside the books but not on the front covers or spines. Each novel relates to history or mythology with a heavy fantasy slant, and the main character is Annja Creed - who may or may not be the reincarnation of Joan of Arc.
The series was first envisioned by Randall Toye, a Harlequin executive who fell in love with the history concerning Joan of Arc and wanted to develop the idea of a present-day Joan. Veteran action-adventure editors Feroze Mohammed and Nicole Brebner teamed up with Mel Odom to flesh out their series.
When Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for heresy, her sword was shattered by an English soldier, and the fragments were widely dispersed. However, Roux and Garin, two of the knights in her personal retinue, were cursed with immortality in order to be able to eventually track down and reassemble the artifact.
Annja was present when this came to pass, and at her touch, the blade magically reformed, making her its new bearer. It cannot be taken from her against her will, and she has the power to remove it to and retrieve it from a supernatural location referred to as "the Otherwhere," plus her abilityrecover from injuries.
Mom, Dad, and I always listened to the latest "Rouge Angel" adaptation when Graphic Audio released it, and I'm glad that Graphic Audio was able to continue the series.
As a series, "Rouge Angel" often lacked continuity and never really referred to previous adventures or of any of Annja's previous paramours.
Series narrator Nanette Savard, who co-wrote the last four Rouge Angel audio adventures attempts to redress the continuity issues with this long running audio series by giving Annja a "steady boyfriend" in the form of Conrad, a journalist, and have established links and references to the previous two adventures, and there is more of a supernatural element in this outing and Joan's sword reveals a new ability in providing holographic maps of an enchanted realm - something it can not do yet in the human world.
Charles Stuart, "the Young Pretender" who started a war between Scotland and England for the British throne and lost badly; had millions in gold buried by his followers and lost to time.
Annja, Roux, and Garin team up to hunt for the Jacobite treasure from the underground alleys in Edinburgh, to the misty hills, lochs, and castles of The Highlands. Annja is attacked by one supernatural creature after another until she comes face to face with a clan of mysterious Highlanders who have their defender, an evil doppelganger of Annja who wields the sword of Vlad the Impaler.
A great outing and I'll be curious to see how Graphic Audio proceeds with future Rouge Angel outings.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.graphicaudio.net/rogue-an...
April 4, 2025
Riley
Just finished watching "Riley" released by Dark Star Pictures.
A reminder about reviews. I do not get paid for reviews, nor do I receive a commission if a sale is made from the link I've provided in the review. I either have bought the book, movie, music CD, and/or audio drama that I am reviewing or a review copy was sent to me.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, on to the review.
Now there are some elements of this movie that may disturb some viewers because it's implied that Dakota Riley, who is played by actor Jake Holley, is a minor who willing hooks up with a 30-something man in the movie's opening sequence.
Dakota is a star football player on the varsity team who is trying to live up to his father's legacy and expectations are sky-high that he wo;; start an athletic career post-graduation like his father did - who just happens to be the coach of his high-school football team. Of course, he’s also got to keep up that GPA, balancing school work with practice and with the affections of his friend who’s not quite his girlfriend.
But the image Dakota’s carefully built for himself—that high-achieving, All-American jock—begins to crumble when he realizes he can no longer ignore his true self and starts seeking gay hookups.
"Riley" is a well acted movie, but it doesn't break any new ground. What may be of interest is the short movie that served as a "Proof-of-Concept" on the fund raising site Seed Spark, is included on the DVD.
"Riley" is an independently funded and produced movie.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Riley-Rib-Hill...
A reminder about reviews. I do not get paid for reviews, nor do I receive a commission if a sale is made from the link I've provided in the review. I either have bought the book, movie, music CD, and/or audio drama that I am reviewing or a review copy was sent to me.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, on to the review.
Now there are some elements of this movie that may disturb some viewers because it's implied that Dakota Riley, who is played by actor Jake Holley, is a minor who willing hooks up with a 30-something man in the movie's opening sequence.
Dakota is a star football player on the varsity team who is trying to live up to his father's legacy and expectations are sky-high that he wo;; start an athletic career post-graduation like his father did - who just happens to be the coach of his high-school football team. Of course, he’s also got to keep up that GPA, balancing school work with practice and with the affections of his friend who’s not quite his girlfriend.
But the image Dakota’s carefully built for himself—that high-achieving, All-American jock—begins to crumble when he realizes he can no longer ignore his true self and starts seeking gay hookups.
"Riley" is a well acted movie, but it doesn't break any new ground. What may be of interest is the short movie that served as a "Proof-of-Concept" on the fund raising site Seed Spark, is included on the DVD.
"Riley" is an independently funded and produced movie.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Riley-Rib-Hill...
Orion And The Dark
Just finished watching "Orion And The Dark," released by Dreamworks, and aired on Netflix.
"Orion And The Dark" is based on the 2014 children's book of the same name by Emma Yarlett; and is the type of animated movie that Walt Disney himself dreamed of making from a story that wildly succeeds in taking risks with its viewers - something Disney has forgotten along the way, and no, race swapping characters espousing WOKE dogma isn't groundbreaking, it's capitulating to the diverse popular belief of the day.
Orion is a severely anxious 11-year-old with an extensive list of irrational fears. He journals his fears in his diary and is nervous about being rejected by his school crush, Sally, at an upcoming planetarium field trip. One night, after a sudden blackout, Orion is greeted by Dark, the embodiment of his worst fear, in his bedroom. Tired of Orion's constant complaints about him, Dark offers to take Orion on a trip to help him overcome his fears by showing him the benefits and wonders of nighttime. Along the way, it is revealed that an adult Orion is telling the story to his young daughter, Hypatia, to help with her fears.
During their travels, Dark introduces Orion to his fellow night entities Sleep, Insomnia, Quiet, Unexplained Noises and Sweet Dreams. Dark convinces them to let Orion witness their work, to which they reluctantly agree. Initially, Orion's anxious behavior interferes with the night entities' jobs, but as Orion warms up to and eventually befriends Dark, he helps the night entities in their tasks. Additionally, Orion briefly encounters Light, Dark's nemesis who brings daylight in the mornings while Dark brings nighttime in the evenings.
Continuing their journey, Orion inadvertently remarks how Light seems preferable to Dark, as Light makes him feel safe and warm. Feeling dejected, the other entities abandon their nighttime duties in exchange for working during the day. Angry and saddened by their abandonment, Dark stops on a mountaintop. A guilty Orion pleads with Dark to move before Light passes through and disintegrates him but Dark stays still and vanishes as Light passes through him, abandoning Orion. Now alone, Orion sits on the mountaintop, which he realizes is the back of a flying turtle, ashamed of his actions.
With the story ended, the now adult Orion and his daughter Hypatia walk through the city to the planetarium. Hypatia is shocked by his ending and suggests a different narrative. As she takes over the story, Orion, now alone at the beach, is met by Hypatia who promises to help him. She recites a poem she has written based on the story so far and the night entities return, having witnessed the chaos brought by endless daylight without nighttime to maintain the natural balance of the world. Remembering Dark to be the literal embodiment of Orion's worst fear, they realize Orion needs to sleep and dream about Dark to bring him back.
With Sweet Dreams' help, the two children enter Orion's subconscious and successfully summon Dark from the memory of the first time they met in Orion's bedroom, but the reunion is cut short when his closet door opens and reveals a black hole which tries to pull Dark in. Finally learning to accept his fears, Orion jumps in to save Dark, while Quiet softly wakes him up right in time for them to get out of the dream. Dark reappears, restoring the natural order of the world, and returns the children to Orion's house before bidding them farewell. After Dark's departure, Hypatia is now stuck 20 years in her past with no way to return home. However, the story is resolved as a young boy named Tycho arrives in a time machine to bring Hypatia back.
The story ends again, and it is revealed that an adult Hypatia is telling the story to her son, Tycho. Finishing the story, Hypatia goes outside to say goodnight to her father and mother, the now much older Orion and Sally, as the scene cuts back to the start with a young Orion and Sally gazing at the stars on the Planetarium field trip.
And this is why "Orion And The Dark" succeeds and Disney's current slate of original animation and live action movies for that matter, fall flat. "Orion And The Dark" is about a young boy finding himself and reaching out beyond himself to find what he wants the most.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/306067354281...
"Orion And The Dark" is based on the 2014 children's book of the same name by Emma Yarlett; and is the type of animated movie that Walt Disney himself dreamed of making from a story that wildly succeeds in taking risks with its viewers - something Disney has forgotten along the way, and no, race swapping characters espousing WOKE dogma isn't groundbreaking, it's capitulating to the diverse popular belief of the day.
Orion is a severely anxious 11-year-old with an extensive list of irrational fears. He journals his fears in his diary and is nervous about being rejected by his school crush, Sally, at an upcoming planetarium field trip. One night, after a sudden blackout, Orion is greeted by Dark, the embodiment of his worst fear, in his bedroom. Tired of Orion's constant complaints about him, Dark offers to take Orion on a trip to help him overcome his fears by showing him the benefits and wonders of nighttime. Along the way, it is revealed that an adult Orion is telling the story to his young daughter, Hypatia, to help with her fears.
During their travels, Dark introduces Orion to his fellow night entities Sleep, Insomnia, Quiet, Unexplained Noises and Sweet Dreams. Dark convinces them to let Orion witness their work, to which they reluctantly agree. Initially, Orion's anxious behavior interferes with the night entities' jobs, but as Orion warms up to and eventually befriends Dark, he helps the night entities in their tasks. Additionally, Orion briefly encounters Light, Dark's nemesis who brings daylight in the mornings while Dark brings nighttime in the evenings.
Continuing their journey, Orion inadvertently remarks how Light seems preferable to Dark, as Light makes him feel safe and warm. Feeling dejected, the other entities abandon their nighttime duties in exchange for working during the day. Angry and saddened by their abandonment, Dark stops on a mountaintop. A guilty Orion pleads with Dark to move before Light passes through and disintegrates him but Dark stays still and vanishes as Light passes through him, abandoning Orion. Now alone, Orion sits on the mountaintop, which he realizes is the back of a flying turtle, ashamed of his actions.
With the story ended, the now adult Orion and his daughter Hypatia walk through the city to the planetarium. Hypatia is shocked by his ending and suggests a different narrative. As she takes over the story, Orion, now alone at the beach, is met by Hypatia who promises to help him. She recites a poem she has written based on the story so far and the night entities return, having witnessed the chaos brought by endless daylight without nighttime to maintain the natural balance of the world. Remembering Dark to be the literal embodiment of Orion's worst fear, they realize Orion needs to sleep and dream about Dark to bring him back.
With Sweet Dreams' help, the two children enter Orion's subconscious and successfully summon Dark from the memory of the first time they met in Orion's bedroom, but the reunion is cut short when his closet door opens and reveals a black hole which tries to pull Dark in. Finally learning to accept his fears, Orion jumps in to save Dark, while Quiet softly wakes him up right in time for them to get out of the dream. Dark reappears, restoring the natural order of the world, and returns the children to Orion's house before bidding them farewell. After Dark's departure, Hypatia is now stuck 20 years in her past with no way to return home. However, the story is resolved as a young boy named Tycho arrives in a time machine to bring Hypatia back.
The story ends again, and it is revealed that an adult Hypatia is telling the story to her son, Tycho. Finishing the story, Hypatia goes outside to say goodnight to her father and mother, the now much older Orion and Sally, as the scene cuts back to the start with a young Orion and Sally gazing at the stars on the Planetarium field trip.
And this is why "Orion And The Dark" succeeds and Disney's current slate of original animation and live action movies for that matter, fall flat. "Orion And The Dark" is about a young boy finding himself and reaching out beyond himself to find what he wants the most.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/306067354281...
6 Underground
Just stopped watching "6 Underground" released by Lionsgate for Netflix.
'6 Underground" directed by Michael Bay, does have the dubious distinction of being the most expensive movie Netflix made to date. It was supposed to be the start of a lucrative movie franchise.
Yet, on July 28, 2021, Netflix's film chief Scott Stuber confirmed that the film would not be getting a sequel, despite its success. He considered the film to be a failure: "We didn't feel like we got there on [6 Underground] creatively. It was a nice hit, but at the end of the day we didn't feel like we nailed the mark to justify coming back again. There just wasn't that deep love for those characters or that world."
I got seven minutes into "6 Underground" before I turned it off. It seems that every 30 seconds or so that there was a jump cut back to the past to a jump cut back to the present with inane action sequences. Well, this is a Michael Bay movie, so I should have expected that I suppose.
Basically, the plot for "6 Underground" is that four years after witnessing the horrors of a brutal regime in the fictional Central Asian nation of Turgistan, American billionaire and philanthropist Magnet S. Johnson, who made his fortune from inventing neodymium magnets, fakes his own death to form an anonymous vigilante squad to take down criminals and terrorists which the world as a whole either cannot or will not pursue. Known as One, he recruits five others to abandon their pasts and join his cause, each given a numbered nickname similar to his own: Two, a spy; Three, a hitman; Four, a parkour runner and thief; Five, a doctor; and Six, a driver. They refer to themselves collectively as ghosts.
Keep in mind that basic logic goes out the window since deadmen can't access the billions in their bank accounts.
Oh well, I will list this on eBay and try to recoup my losses if I can.
DEFINATELY NOT RECOMMENDED!
ZERO STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/235864479959...
'6 Underground" directed by Michael Bay, does have the dubious distinction of being the most expensive movie Netflix made to date. It was supposed to be the start of a lucrative movie franchise.
Yet, on July 28, 2021, Netflix's film chief Scott Stuber confirmed that the film would not be getting a sequel, despite its success. He considered the film to be a failure: "We didn't feel like we got there on [6 Underground] creatively. It was a nice hit, but at the end of the day we didn't feel like we nailed the mark to justify coming back again. There just wasn't that deep love for those characters or that world."
I got seven minutes into "6 Underground" before I turned it off. It seems that every 30 seconds or so that there was a jump cut back to the past to a jump cut back to the present with inane action sequences. Well, this is a Michael Bay movie, so I should have expected that I suppose.
Basically, the plot for "6 Underground" is that four years after witnessing the horrors of a brutal regime in the fictional Central Asian nation of Turgistan, American billionaire and philanthropist Magnet S. Johnson, who made his fortune from inventing neodymium magnets, fakes his own death to form an anonymous vigilante squad to take down criminals and terrorists which the world as a whole either cannot or will not pursue. Known as One, he recruits five others to abandon their pasts and join his cause, each given a numbered nickname similar to his own: Two, a spy; Three, a hitman; Four, a parkour runner and thief; Five, a doctor; and Six, a driver. They refer to themselves collectively as ghosts.
Keep in mind that basic logic goes out the window since deadmen can't access the billions in their bank accounts.
Oh well, I will list this on eBay and try to recoup my losses if I can.
DEFINATELY NOT RECOMMENDED!
ZERO STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/235864479959...
April 2, 2025
Endless Summer Syndrome
Just finished watching "Endless Summer Syndrome" released by Altered Innocence.
I was a bit hesitant to review this movie because of the subject matter - the possibility of incest between a parent and an adopted child - especially since I have repeatedly stated/warned people who send me movies, books, and music CDs to review that I will NOT review pornographic material, and "Endless Summer Syndrome" is not rated Yet is is a rather intense psychological thriller of a woman on the edge who is undone by an anonymous phone call on a Friday afternoon. And this movie is a French production, so it's rare that I get to put my French to good use. French, not English, was my first language, and my parents forbade me from taking French in school out of fears that I would revert to speaking only French again, and/or speak English with the speed of French.
It's the anonymous phone call, that sets the stage and exposes the cracks and fissures behind a well-to-do French family’s façade.
The family consists of high-powered lawyer Delphine and her handsome husband Antoine a writer, and their two adopted teen children: 18-year-old Aslan, the son who is about to go to college in the U.S., and 17-year old daughter Adia. Their last summer before Aslan’s leaving is spend largely together poolside on their tony estate, enjoying cocktails and each others’ company as Antoine plugs away at late corrections on his manuscript. It’s a family Delphine has all but selected, it seems, with the deliberation of a methodical lawyer constructing a case. The family lives in isolation, the only signpost nearby a tourist destination: an imposing dam that suggests something is being welled up and held back.
Delphine is determined to discover if the phone call is true. Yet as we discover, Delphine is not entirely stable and she is alone when she receives the call. And we do discover that she has trouble distinguishing between reality and fantasy at times and pops pills to deal with and cope with the stress.
Now because of the way the movie opens, we know something terrible has happened and we only learn bits and pieces through the surviving family members who are struggling with and hiding their guilt when questioned separately by the police.
Delphine does discover the truth when she stumbles upon Antoine and Aslan in the throes of "passion" - keep in mind that this is a French film, so there is nudity.
And it is here that Delphine decides to play a deadly game of Russian roulette with poison and all members of her family, including herself.
"Endless Summer Syndrome" is a rather intense psychological thriller that won't be for everyone due the subject matter.
Oh, and before anyone accuses me of reviewing/watching porn - Amazon doesn't sell x-rated movies.
Recommended, but this movie is definitely NOT for everyone.
Three-and-a-half Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Endless-Summer...
I was a bit hesitant to review this movie because of the subject matter - the possibility of incest between a parent and an adopted child - especially since I have repeatedly stated/warned people who send me movies, books, and music CDs to review that I will NOT review pornographic material, and "Endless Summer Syndrome" is not rated Yet is is a rather intense psychological thriller of a woman on the edge who is undone by an anonymous phone call on a Friday afternoon. And this movie is a French production, so it's rare that I get to put my French to good use. French, not English, was my first language, and my parents forbade me from taking French in school out of fears that I would revert to speaking only French again, and/or speak English with the speed of French.
It's the anonymous phone call, that sets the stage and exposes the cracks and fissures behind a well-to-do French family’s façade.
The family consists of high-powered lawyer Delphine and her handsome husband Antoine a writer, and their two adopted teen children: 18-year-old Aslan, the son who is about to go to college in the U.S., and 17-year old daughter Adia. Their last summer before Aslan’s leaving is spend largely together poolside on their tony estate, enjoying cocktails and each others’ company as Antoine plugs away at late corrections on his manuscript. It’s a family Delphine has all but selected, it seems, with the deliberation of a methodical lawyer constructing a case. The family lives in isolation, the only signpost nearby a tourist destination: an imposing dam that suggests something is being welled up and held back.
Delphine is determined to discover if the phone call is true. Yet as we discover, Delphine is not entirely stable and she is alone when she receives the call. And we do discover that she has trouble distinguishing between reality and fantasy at times and pops pills to deal with and cope with the stress.
Now because of the way the movie opens, we know something terrible has happened and we only learn bits and pieces through the surviving family members who are struggling with and hiding their guilt when questioned separately by the police.
Delphine does discover the truth when she stumbles upon Antoine and Aslan in the throes of "passion" - keep in mind that this is a French film, so there is nudity.
And it is here that Delphine decides to play a deadly game of Russian roulette with poison and all members of her family, including herself.
"Endless Summer Syndrome" is a rather intense psychological thriller that won't be for everyone due the subject matter.
Oh, and before anyone accuses me of reviewing/watching porn - Amazon doesn't sell x-rated movies.
Recommended, but this movie is definitely NOT for everyone.
Three-and-a-half Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Endless-Summer...
It's For You, Snoopy
Just finished reading "It's For You, Snoopy" by Charles M. Schulz, published by Fawcett Crest.
Many frequent visitors to Barnes & Noble and other "big box" bookstores and independently owned bookstores with physical retail locations will find it hard to believe that once upon a time that bookstores did not have sections devoted entirely to graphic novels like they do nowadays.
Now the bookstores of old did have shelves/sections devoted to what I call "comic strip books" which essentially were collections of previously ran strips of a newspaper comic ran that were reprinted in paperback. It was really only later, at least here in the Untied States, where hardcover collections of comic strips like "Calvin & Hobbes" and "The Farside" were reprinted in hardcover and readily available to collectors and consumers here in the United States and across the world. [Sidenote: Just wait to Zack and Jeff when they find out who gets which collection in my will Bwahahahahahahaha].
While Michelle's Bookstore in the Brynn Marr shopping center in Jacksonville, North Carolina closed its doors for the last time in the mid-1990s, they did have a section that was ceiling-to-floor of shelves filled with comic strip books - a majority of which "Peanuts" books by Charles M. Schulz. Schulz, shared a similarity to Andre Norton in the 1970s because they completely dominated the shelves in their respective sections in bookstores.
Now a majority of my "Peanuts" books were lost in time due to when we moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and I got my "replacement" copies at Chamblin's Bookmine out on Roosevelt Avenue.
The "Peanuts" strips in "It's For You, Snoopy" originally were printed in Sunday newspapers and is an older collection of selected Sunday "Peanuts" strips. The majority of the strips revolve around Snoopy. In addition, there are one or two usual "Peanuts" strips: one of Linus writing to the Great Pumpkin, a few of Charlie Brown on the baseball team, one with Charlie Brown trying to kick the football from Lucy, etc. There are also a couple of strips in this collection where Frieda gets Snoopy to go rabbit hunting with her. Frieda is like Shermy, a short-time Peanuts character. This collection does have some comic strip historical significance because of Frieda since Woodstock wasn't a part of the Peanuts' universe yet and the birds Snoopy was friends with or knew looked like traditional birds.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Its-You-Snoopy...
Many frequent visitors to Barnes & Noble and other "big box" bookstores and independently owned bookstores with physical retail locations will find it hard to believe that once upon a time that bookstores did not have sections devoted entirely to graphic novels like they do nowadays.
Now the bookstores of old did have shelves/sections devoted to what I call "comic strip books" which essentially were collections of previously ran strips of a newspaper comic ran that were reprinted in paperback. It was really only later, at least here in the Untied States, where hardcover collections of comic strips like "Calvin & Hobbes" and "The Farside" were reprinted in hardcover and readily available to collectors and consumers here in the United States and across the world. [Sidenote: Just wait to Zack and Jeff when they find out who gets which collection in my will Bwahahahahahahaha].
While Michelle's Bookstore in the Brynn Marr shopping center in Jacksonville, North Carolina closed its doors for the last time in the mid-1990s, they did have a section that was ceiling-to-floor of shelves filled with comic strip books - a majority of which "Peanuts" books by Charles M. Schulz. Schulz, shared a similarity to Andre Norton in the 1970s because they completely dominated the shelves in their respective sections in bookstores.
Now a majority of my "Peanuts" books were lost in time due to when we moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and I got my "replacement" copies at Chamblin's Bookmine out on Roosevelt Avenue.
The "Peanuts" strips in "It's For You, Snoopy" originally were printed in Sunday newspapers and is an older collection of selected Sunday "Peanuts" strips. The majority of the strips revolve around Snoopy. In addition, there are one or two usual "Peanuts" strips: one of Linus writing to the Great Pumpkin, a few of Charlie Brown on the baseball team, one with Charlie Brown trying to kick the football from Lucy, etc. There are also a couple of strips in this collection where Frieda gets Snoopy to go rabbit hunting with her. Frieda is like Shermy, a short-time Peanuts character. This collection does have some comic strip historical significance because of Frieda since Woodstock wasn't a part of the Peanuts' universe yet and the birds Snoopy was friends with or knew looked like traditional birds.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Its-You-Snoopy...
March 30, 2025
Here's To You, Charlie Brown
Just finished reading "Here's To You, Charlie Brown" by Charles M. Schulz, published by Fawcett Crest.
Many frequent visitors to Barnes & Noble and other "big box" bookstores and independently owned bookstores with physical retail locations will find it hard to believe that once upon a time that bookstores did not have sections devoted entirely to graphic novels like they do nowadays.
Now the bookstores of old did have shelves/sections devoted to what I call "comic strip books" which essentially were collections of previously ran strips of a newspaper comic ran that were reprinted in paperback. It was really only later, at least here in the Untied States, where hardcover collections of comic strips like "Calvin & Hobbes" and "The Farside" were reprinted in hardcover and readily available to collectors and consumers here in the United States and across the world. [Sidenote: Just wait to Zack and Jeff when they find out who gets which collection in my will Bwahahahahahahaha].
While Michelle's Bookstore in the Brynn Marr shopping center in Jacksonville, North Carolina closed its doors for the last time in the mid-1990s, they did have a section that was ceiling-to-floor of shelves filled with comic strip books - a majority of which "Peanuts" books by Charles M. Schulz. Schulz, shared a similarity to Andre Norton in the 1970s because they completely dominated the shelves in their respective sections in bookstores.
Now a majority of my "Peanuts" books were lost in time due to when we moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and I got my "replacement" copies at Chamblin's Bookmine out on Roosevelt Avenue.
The "Peanuts" strips in "Here's To You, Charlie Brown" originally were printed in newspapers from 1960-to-1962
Baseball season is one of the one going theme in Peanuts strips and this collection contains several story lines revolving around baseball - including Charlie Brown looking for a job as a manager for a new baseball team, and his decision to send Linus out on a mission to scout out another baseball team to see how well they can play. Also of note in this collection, Schulz introduces the concept of Linus wearing glasses. Now as the comic strip progressed throughout the years, Linus didn't wear glasses, so I'm not sure what Schulz's aim was. Believe it or not, there was a stigma about wearing glasses in the early-to-mid 20th Century, and Dad had a bad reaction when he learned that I had to wear glasses when I was 16 years old. He thought I just wanted to wear glasses to look smarter and went on about how I would never be able to become an astronaut because I had to wear glasses. Dad could go off on weird tangents. So could Mom for that matter as well, though she wore glasses. and had saw no problem with me wearing glasses. Dad quickly got over the fact that I was wearing glasses when I showed him photographs of space shuttle astronauts wearing glasses in orbit.
[Yes, parents say and do hurtful things sometimes. The trick is not to let that get to you.]
There is also the famous; or infamous, criticism by Schulz of the commercialization of the Christmas holiday season, which ran for about two weeks when it first appeared in print. And yes, even Charlie Brown is greedy. [Note to Jeff and Zack: Please review my Amazon Wish List for Channukah 2025. I made some additions.]
HIGHLY RECCOMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Peanuts-Heres-...
Many frequent visitors to Barnes & Noble and other "big box" bookstores and independently owned bookstores with physical retail locations will find it hard to believe that once upon a time that bookstores did not have sections devoted entirely to graphic novels like they do nowadays.
Now the bookstores of old did have shelves/sections devoted to what I call "comic strip books" which essentially were collections of previously ran strips of a newspaper comic ran that were reprinted in paperback. It was really only later, at least here in the Untied States, where hardcover collections of comic strips like "Calvin & Hobbes" and "The Farside" were reprinted in hardcover and readily available to collectors and consumers here in the United States and across the world. [Sidenote: Just wait to Zack and Jeff when they find out who gets which collection in my will Bwahahahahahahaha].
While Michelle's Bookstore in the Brynn Marr shopping center in Jacksonville, North Carolina closed its doors for the last time in the mid-1990s, they did have a section that was ceiling-to-floor of shelves filled with comic strip books - a majority of which "Peanuts" books by Charles M. Schulz. Schulz, shared a similarity to Andre Norton in the 1970s because they completely dominated the shelves in their respective sections in bookstores.
Now a majority of my "Peanuts" books were lost in time due to when we moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and I got my "replacement" copies at Chamblin's Bookmine out on Roosevelt Avenue.
The "Peanuts" strips in "Here's To You, Charlie Brown" originally were printed in newspapers from 1960-to-1962
Baseball season is one of the one going theme in Peanuts strips and this collection contains several story lines revolving around baseball - including Charlie Brown looking for a job as a manager for a new baseball team, and his decision to send Linus out on a mission to scout out another baseball team to see how well they can play. Also of note in this collection, Schulz introduces the concept of Linus wearing glasses. Now as the comic strip progressed throughout the years, Linus didn't wear glasses, so I'm not sure what Schulz's aim was. Believe it or not, there was a stigma about wearing glasses in the early-to-mid 20th Century, and Dad had a bad reaction when he learned that I had to wear glasses when I was 16 years old. He thought I just wanted to wear glasses to look smarter and went on about how I would never be able to become an astronaut because I had to wear glasses. Dad could go off on weird tangents. So could Mom for that matter as well, though she wore glasses. and had saw no problem with me wearing glasses. Dad quickly got over the fact that I was wearing glasses when I showed him photographs of space shuttle astronauts wearing glasses in orbit.
[Yes, parents say and do hurtful things sometimes. The trick is not to let that get to you.]
There is also the famous; or infamous, criticism by Schulz of the commercialization of the Christmas holiday season, which ran for about two weeks when it first appeared in print. And yes, even Charlie Brown is greedy. [Note to Jeff and Zack: Please review my Amazon Wish List for Channukah 2025. I made some additions.]
HIGHLY RECCOMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Peanuts-Heres-...
