Stranger Things Artwork

Happy October! It's so exciting that Halloween is just around the corner. What better way to kick off this spooktacular month than with artwork from the hit series Stranger Things. Inspired by the nostalgic eighties and eclectic characters of Hawkins, Indiana, this collection of artwork hails from every corner of the web, especially the upside-down. Hope you enjoy!

50 Shades Darker Trailer Reaction

Photo Credit: Fifty Shades Darker / Universal Pictures

If anyone warned me almost two years ago my complete disinterest in the 50 Shades series would ever take flight, I wouldn't have believed it all. The 50 Shades Darker has been released. Since it was actually the series' first trailer that started me down this confusing road, it's only fitting we prepare for the next installment with great hesitation and excitement. Sooo, here is my trailer reaction...

Pottermore Releases New Quiz: What's Your Patronus?

As far back as Pottermore's old beta-mode in 2011 for their initial interactive launch, the site has been promised a Patronus quiz for young witches and wizards. Finally, FINALLY, our dreams came true because Pottermore released a Patronus quiz.

Surprisingly, taking the test was a little emotional for me - not almost as emotional for me when I took the Sorting Hat quiz and was literally praying to the powers-that-be I ended up in Gryffindor ('cause I always was sorted in Gryffindor).

Growing up, I always thought of my patronus as my dog Lola, a Jack Russell Terrier. As my best friend who was almost like a therapy dog for me, she was by my side for twelve years (half of my whole life) before passing away last year. She is still a source of so many happy memories, but like many important parts of our pasts, my time with her now has a subsiding grief over a lost companion.

My only other consideration for a Patronus was a duck at one point. Only because one of my hobbies is to swim as much as possible.

It was good a reminder that a Patronus can change over the years, so it wasn't very realistic to have a major attachment to any result. Eventually, I put my big girl Hogwarts robes on and went for it like Harry trying to catch a golden snitch.

This was my result:

I was a little surprised by the quiz, to be honest. At first it tells you to be calm and think of your happiest memory. Which kooky and geeky me made me smile of my dog or swimming or reading. But then the prompts are timed so I have to choose quickly or it will move to the next. I was asked to choose leaf, blade or thorn, hope, trust or love, who or why, sweet or salt, mind, heart or spirit..

My result was a robin. Pottermore doesn't include more info about the kindred animal's meanings, so I dug around. Robins as symbols represent (to people) putting dramas behind them, seeking joy, reveling in a song, and look for new beginnings for growth. A part of me almost wants a hippogriff-like patronus that's a bit of everything: half-dog, half-duck, and half-robin. but a robin suits me too.

What were your results? Are you happy with your Patronus? Feel free to share in the comments below!

FanFest Orlando Charity Rallies for Pulse Victims

Orlando native James Frazier  created an opportunity for fans to engage and support the victims of the tragic attack on the LGBT nightclub Pulse. As the creator of the WalkerStalker cons, he immediately reached out to actors to create a fundraising event FanFest Orlando.

Actors like Stephen Ammell (Arrow), Robin Lord-Taylor (Gotham) and The Walking Dead such as Melissa McBride and Lauren Cohen were in person to sign autographs and be apart of photo ops. The day also offered free panel sessions, merchandise, a cosplay contest, and a charity auction. One hundred percent of the profits raised from ticket sales, autographs, professional photo ops, and vendor sales will be donated to the One Orlando Fund.

Support a good cause for Orlando and have the opportunity to meet stars from my all-time favorite show? Sign me up! It was truly something I couldn't miss!

Wonder Women: Maggie Greene (The Walking Dead)

Guts and blood? Check. Zombies? Check. Andrew Lincoln always looking amazing? Check. Oh yeah, what does The Walking Dead also have: kick-ass women. BOOHYAH.

In the first edition of celebrating women of The Walking Dead, we evaluated two controversial survivors: Lori Grimes and Andrea. I personally love them both and it was fun to dissect how the writing served them in the best and worst ways.

Each character on this show handles surviving the apocalypse differently. What works for one person may not work for another. There may be no better example than the Greene sisters, Maggie and Beth.

In a previous post here I've explored Beth Greene and her underrated layers as a survivor until the fifth season. For this post we're focusing primarily on the elder Maggie, and compare how they were both similar and different in terms of adulting in the apocalypse.

We're going to take a look at how awesome this woman is, and how the flaws and achievements of the writing shapes them. Hope you enjoy!

Galaxy Quest (1999) inspires us to never surrender our fandom

Photo Credit: Galaxy Quest / Dreamworks Pictures

Galaxy Quest is a very clever satire, mixing fans' passion for science-fiction and highlighting the best and corniest aspects of its entertainment with clever homages.

At the height of its popularity, a fictionalized sci-fi soap opera Galaxy Quest was canceled. The riveting cliffhanger involving Cmdr. Peter Quincy Taggart (Tim Allen) and his crew are left to the imagination of hardcore fans in cult corners and fan conventions. Science fiction proves to be all too real when the dysfunctional cast is greeted by real aliens who misinterpreted their tv show as facts and are calling on them to save their race.

Parodies are a particularly challenging film to pull off. Films like Scary Movie or Epic Movie start off with decent ideas to spotlight inconsistencies and zany cliches but then it's enterprise is warped by absurd and irrelevant jokes. Galaxy Quest, on the other hand, is a totally fun ride notating just how quirky, heartfelt, and bold the genre is while honoring the big role fans play in its success.

Using Star Trek and similar franchises as it's backdrop, the movie latches onto details that a variety of viewers can understand from the most hardcore Trekkies to most general movie goer. The story (even if it has a plot-hole or two the size of a black hole) and the script makes entertaining references everyone has seen at some time- like the suave captain who takes his shirt off for no reason, fans knowing more about a spacecraft's technology than the actual crew, the unaccredited crew member who is doomed to die, the cross-species romance subplot, and so much more.

With all the little nods aside, one of the best ways Galaxy Quest spoofs beloved various series is how the cast resents or embrace the lasting impact of their one hit wonder.

One of my favorites is Sigourney Weaver as Gwen DeMarco, or Lt. Tawny Madison. (The other credited actor is below). Her main role is to repeat every command the computer responds to or gives. She represents the token female character who isn't given much to do except look hot. (Doesn't this sound like a few franchises nowadays?) Despite her lack of agency fans dress up as her to value her inner strength, sure but also question whether the torrid chemistry DeMarco has with Tim Allen's Commander was genuine. When Gwen's mates recognize the ridiculousness of her role, she owns up to it but does it anyway with authority. The movie scoring Sigourney Weaver to portray Gwen takes the movie to another level of meta brilliance.

And there is also Alan Rickman as Alexander Dane. Similar to the "don't want to be recognized only as Luke/Spock' phases Mark Hammill and Leonard Nimoy went through, Dane is entirely over his involvement in the franchise. He can't stomach repeating catch-phrases and making appearances, yet for all the lamenting he does, it is uniquely a part of him; a role he can't even shake off when he's at home. Rickman delivers a wonderful performance, putting his underrated timing and humor to great use.

For a movie that's seventeen years old, Galaxy Quest achieves an impressive feat by being highly aware of how geek culture supports, and nearly rescues, the cast from their own intergalactic demise. To great surprise, upon the film's initial release, it was a hit not only with Star Trek's Trekkies but even actors from the series like George Takei and Patrick Stewart. Even though the landscape of the genre and it's devotees has changed since 1999, the movie stays surprisingly relevant with age.

Beaming up the power of sci-fi and its earthling admirers, the movie was way ahead of its time. Galaxy Quest affectionately celebrates eccentricities within this ever-growing community: the conventions, actors dealing with the pros and cons of a canceled franchise, its tropes, and the fans. It doesn't skewer or point fingers, casting the genre or fans out to be bad or weird. In fact, with comedy, action, and heartfelt respect, it teaches to never give up, never surrender your fandom.
Rating: ★★★ Have you seen Galaxy Quest? What are your thoughts?

My Way-Too-Early 2017 Oscars Predictions

Award show season is just around the corner. With film festivals underway, I thought it'd be fun to dabble in a round of early Oscar picks. This collection is a mix of movies I'm really excited for and ones that are already getting rave reviews. Who do you will be up for nominations next year? Feel free to share in the comments!

Arrival

Amy Adams plays a linguist recruited by the military to make contact with alien spacecrafts landing around the world. Both director Denis Villeneuve and Adams are longtime critic faves but have yet to earn top prizes. With the film becoming a smash-hit at this summer's festivals, Arrival will probably make contact with award show season for Best Picture and Best Actress. If Leonardo DiCaprio can finally snag the big one, so can Adams!

Bill Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Upon returning home from an Iraq battle, a young soldier Billy Flynn recounts the horrors of what happened during a victory tour. From the visionary director of Life of Pi, director Ang Lee adapts the book which contrasts the reality of war, military members returning home, and a country's patriotic perception of sacrifice. This could easily put newcomer Joe Alwyn on the map and be worthy of another Best Picture nod for Lee.

Certain Women

Director Kelly Reichardt weaves the lives of three women played by Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams, and Laura Dern in a small-town. Reichardt is touted as one of America's best yet quietest filmmakers but this could be the work-of-art that gains her 'mainstream' recognition.

Hidden Figures

Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) star as the brains behind one of NASA's historical achievements of launching astronaut John Glenn into orbit. Hidden Figures echoes the warmth and liveliness of The Help by celebrating the women who broke through barriers of gender and race.

Jackie

Like icons Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis is in a special league of historical figures that Hollywood has tried to create biopics of for decades. One of the biggest surprises has been director Pablo Larrain's first English film starring Natalie Portman as the titular character. Many are calling it truly visionary and a biopic worthy of Jackie's story exploring the before and after of her time in the White House. This biopic might actually do her justice.

La La Land

Lala Land is earning rave reviews for best picture and it's leading lady. Director Damien Chazelle of the ruthless Whiplash changes his tune with an old-fashioned musical a la Singing In The Rain to explore a romance between a jazz pianist (Ryan Gosling) and aspiring actress (Emma Stone). I love Classic Hollywood, and I'm eager to see Chazelle try to channel modern stars to Tinseltown's retro era.

The Lobster

Similar to Wes Anderson's slow-to-rise hit The Grand Budapest Hotel, director Yorgos Lanthimos' The Lobster is one of the most polarizing independent films this year. Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz play two of many singles who live at specialty residences and are given forty-five days to find a romantic partner or be turned into an animal. Called everything from artistic, boring, and a weird love story, the movie has been loved or hated across the board. While I was in the middle over The Lobster - didn't love or hate it, I'd just love to see Rachel Weisz nominated for anything, The Lobster, Complete Unknown or The Light Between Oceans.

Lion

Based on Saroo Brierley's memoir A Long Way Home, a young boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta and adopted by an Australian couple, and grows up to find his lost family. The film looks beautifully directed, and I don't know - isn't it about time Dev Patel was shown more love in Hollywood?

A United Kingdom

Set in the 1940s, A United Kingdom recounts the interracial marriage that sparked international controversy when Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana married a white Londoner Ruth Williams. Uniting Oscar nominees David Orweylo and Rosamund Pike, director Amma Asanta brings her extraordinary touch to a political-fueled romantic story dealing with racism.