Why I Am Still Hesitant About "Fantastic Beasts"

I am a big fan of Harry Potter. I have read all of the books. The movies are the only major film franchise that I have seen all movies in the theater. I participate in Pottermore, listen the the MuggleCast podcast, and used to be active in Harry Potter message board forums. I was excited to hear that J.K. Rowling would be writing movies set in the wizarding world, but over the last year I have become more and more hesitant about the upcoming "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" movies.

The EW Synopsis

In November 2015, "Entertainment Weekly" had a cover story about "Fantastic Beasts" and included the following synopsis:

Eccentric magizoologist Newt Scamander ... comes to New York (for a reason we won’t disclose) with his trusty weathered case. This case is one of those way-way-way-bigger-on-the-inside magical devices, and within are expansive habitats for a collection of rare and endangered magical creatures from Newt’s travels around globe. He discovers the American wizarding community is fearfully hiding from Muggles (who are called “No-Maj” in the States, ...) and the threat of public exposure is an even graver concern than in the UK (remember the Salem witch trials?). Fantastic Beasts is the story of what happens when this uniquely skilled English wizard travels to wiz-phobic America and a variety of his creatures, some quite dangerous … get out of their case.
Emphasis Mine

For a movie set in America, it seems to be very anti-American. First, it seems Americans are too stupid to understand an word like "Muggles" and instead they call no magic people "No-Maj"s. It's possible it was only 1920s slang, but I still don't like the term. Second, the synopsis describes America as wiz-phobic, which I will discuss in a later point.

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"

The next part of my concern came after the opening of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child". It is called the "eighth Harry Potter story", though it was not written by playwright Jack Thorne, not J.K. Rowling. Rowling insists that it should be considered canon, despite the fact that it continually contradicts her original stories. This is not the place for my review of "Cursed Child", but the fact that J.K. Rowling approved this terrible story to be part of her created world does not help ease my fears about her other upcoming additions.

The Story

My biggest source of apprehension is in the story. It's called "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and does feature Newt Scamander, the author of the textbook the movie get's its name from, and does show magical creatures but it seems that there are two other stories as well.

Ever since the EW synopsis, it has seemed that they are going to be using "wiz-phobia" as a metaphor for "homophobia". Openly gay actor Ezra Miller is playing Credence Barebone, an adopted son of the leader of the anti-wizard "Second Salem Society" and who is probably secretly a wizard. Auror Percival Graves tells Credence about his mother's group, "If they succeed, we will be forced to stay in the shadows forever. And we've both lived in the shadows too long." That takes on a double meaning if wizardry is being used as a metaphor for the LGBT lifestyle. My problem with that is that is the X-Men movies thing. The wizarding world already contains messages about racism. They don't need to steal X-Men's analogy as well.

And now it seems that "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is actually going to be five movies that are going to depict the wizarding world's war against the dark wizard Grindlewald. This seems like a bait-and-switch, or at the very least major retconning. We know that Dumbledore defeats Grindlewald. Are they now going to say that Newt Scamander was involved as well? Or is the four sequels going to shift away from Newt's story and be about other characters? The character poster for Graves contains a Deathly Hallows symbol necklace. At the time the symbol was known as Grindlewald's mark. He may be the link to the Dumbledore-Grindlewald story. At first it made me think that he will be revealed to be on Grindlewald's side, but Percival is the name of Dumbledore's father and is also Albus's first (of three) middle names.

Canon

And finally, my concern is how the movies fit into the Harry Potter cannon. We have the seven books, the eight movies, and one play. The movies are not canon because they contain many differences from the books. The same goes for the play (see above). "Fantastic Beasts" are movies only, but they are written by J.K. Rowling, so how do they fit? For example, the Lumos Maxima spell was created in the movies, but it is also used in "Fantastic Beasts". If "Cursed Child" divided Potter fans over what is considered canon, these movies will only complicate things.
---

I really want want the "Fantastic Beasts" quintilogy (is that a word?)* to be good. I just have many reservations about them. I hope the first movie proves me wrong!

*The correct word is pentalogy.

Live-Action Mulan Director Suggestion

Earlier this week, Disney announced that they are working on a live-action adaptation of their 1998 movie "Mulan". "Mulan" is in my Top-3 Disney Animation movies, if not #1. My favorite part is the song "I'll Make A Man Out Of You".


Reportedly, Disney offered the director's role to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" director Ang Lee, who turned it down. So Disney is continuing their search for a Chinese director to take the helm. I have a suggestion, someone who was associated with the animated "Mulan" and who has a lot of directing experience though that is not what they are primarily know for.

Jackie Chan was the speaking and singing voice for Li Shang in the 1998 "Mulan", and he has directed 15 movies in China. He also could portray Mulan's father Fa Zhou.

I hope that Disney is at least considering Chan for the director's job. But I trust that whoever the hire will be the right person for the job.

Doctor Strange IMAX 3D Preview

Tonight Marvel previewed 15 minutes of "Doctor Strange" footage in IMAX 3D.

I am not a fan of 3D movies. I have only seen 3 movies in 3D; 2 of them have been in IMAX.* So I was entering this screening skeptical.

I did not know what the footage was going to be, except that I knew that it would show off the best of IMAX 3D.

I am not a "Doctor Strange" reader, but I had heard a web show host (either Jon Schnepp of "Collider Heroes" or Matt Key of "Marvel Movie News", I don't remember) speculate after the first trailer was released, that there could be a long sequence after The Ancient One knocked Strange into the Astral Plane, he would travel the multiverse before coming back to the Ancient One and begging her to "Teach me!" I speculated that that could be what was shown.

And I was partially right. That was included, but there was a lot more shown. There was so much in the preview that I can't recap it all. Some highlights are: the car crash, multi-dimensional travel, the humor, and the Stan Lee cameo.

The negative: you can tell Tilda Swinton is wearing a bald cap in IMAX 3D.

Overall, I am convinced to see "Doctor Strange" in IMAX 3D. It is definitely worth the $15 ticket price.


*"Star Trek Into Darkness", May 2013, IMAX 3D; "Man of Steel" 3D, June 2013; and a butterfly documentary in IMAX 3D, July 2013.

My Movie Ideas: Live-Action Curious George Casting

I'm getting tired of coming up with a movie or TV show idea, keeping it to myself, and then seeing the idea come to life and not getting any credit for it. For instance, certain plot points included in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" are very similar to the story I came up with playing "Star Wars Episode VII" with my Star Wars Legos when I was 9 in 1999. After watching "Man of Steel", I said that the follow up to "Star Trek Into Darkness" needed to bring back Chris Hemsworth as George Kirk - which is happening in the follow up to "Star Trek Beyond". I also came up with the basic idea behind "Hannah Montana" in 2000 and a similar concept to "LOST" in 2003.

For the last year, I've been saying that there should be a live-action "Curious George" movie with Andy Serkis playing George and James Franco playing The Man In The Yellow Hat.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Schmoeville/permalink/1077729192310000/?comment_id=1077737945642458

Today news broke that a live-action "Curious George" is going to be made. No cast has been announced yet. But if either one of my casting choices is used, I am going to demand Universal give me an executive producer credit, and the standard union payment amount that come with it.

I am going to try to stay a head of the curve and start posting my movie ideas to this blog. Maybe one day I will get the Hollywood credit I deserve.

2016 - The Year of Animated Talking Animal Movies

2015 was the year of the spy movie, with "Kingsman: The Secret Service", "Spy", "Barely Lethal", "Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", and "Spectre". 2016, however, is the year of the animated talking animal movies, with 12 movies.

Movie Remix: "Star Trek" (2009)

Updated and Expanded version 2024 (HD, subtitled)

Movie Remix: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"

1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare/Disney and Lucasfilm logos.

2. Rey/Pink Floyd's "Time"
A few months ago a person posted on Reddit that "The Force Awakens" syncs with Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon", similar to how the album syncs with "The Wizard of Oz". I attempted the "Dark Side of the Force Awakens" and the only really good sync was the chapter "Rey" with a portion of "Time".

3. Unkar Plutt's offer/"Live Long and Prosper"
The audio clip comes from the scene in JJ Abrams' "Star Trek" when the Vulcan council insults Spock, so he responds "Live Long and Prosper" meaning "Go f--- yourselves". The look on Rey's face is the same as Spocks.

4. Rey/"Maybe" from "Annie"
A female "orphan" growing up in less-than-desirable conditions hopes her family will come back to get her, but ends up with a new father-figure instead.

5. Han & Chewie/Spock Prime

6. Snoke/Palpatine

7. Resistance Base/"Danger Zone" from "Top Gun"

8. "The Supreme Leader is [Darth Plagueis the] Wise"

9. R2-D2 reboots/dial-up internet.

Review: God's Not Dead (2014)

I have been trying for almost 20 months to write a review of the movie “God’s Not Dead”. The movie has so many flaws that to address each one in-depth I would end up writing a book. In trying to keep this review brief I will only be hitting the highlights.

I am going to start with story first. All of the characters are one-dimensional/stereotypes. The chronology doesn’t make sense. It took me until the fifth time watching the movie to realize the events begin on a Wednesday and not a Monday. Then, Rev. Dave’s secretary informs him he can have lunch with Mina on Friday, but their lunch scene does not take place until the following Monday. And there are too many characters with sub-plots.

The biggest story problem is the main one: Josh vs. Radisson. Even if a professor would allow a student to present a differing viewpoint in his class, the student should not take the bait. Prof. Radisson was making the claim that “God is dead”. The burden of proof was on him, and he made it clear that he did not want to teach why he believed what he believed. Instead, Radisson shifts the burden of proof to Josh. Josh should respectfully point out that Radisson has the burden of proof, instead of falling for “The Professor’s Ploy”.

The "professor's ploy" is to shift the burden of proof from himself to someone else. He demands that others defend views they have not expressed even though he is the one who has made specific claims. He tries to sidestep his responsibility, but the burden of proof is still his.

Gregory Koukl, "Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions", p. 67

Once Josh begins his presentations, he make many errors. For this review I am only going to address two that he makes in his first lesson.

He begins by saying, “[T]he only way to debate this issue is to look at the available evidence, and that is what we're going to do. We are going to put God on trial, with Professor Radisson as the prosecutor, and me as the defense attorney, and you as the jury.” I could write many paragraphs about what is wrong with those statements, but the bottom line is that God is the judge of sinners not the other way around.

Next, Josh tries to fit the atheistic myth of the “Big Bang” with the Christian account of creation in Genesis 1. There are many reasons why Christians should not accept the “Big Bang” fairy tale.

Again, this is only briefly looking at some of the problems I have with “God’s Not Dead”.

For additional information, I recommend my editorial “God's Not Dead: Advice for Christian Students”, the websites ProofThatGodExists.org and AnswersInGenesis.org, and the books “Tactics” by Greg Kokul and “The Ultimate Proof of Creation” by Dr. Jason Lisle.

“God’s Not Dead” has a BBM MGS grade of 5/10, and a BBM CMGS grade of 7/12.

Audacity - Full Movie

Peter (Travis Owens) is an aspiring comedian encouraged by his friend Ben (Ben Price, Australia’s Got Talent finalist) to perform at the local comedy club. But stage fright isn’t Peter’s only fear. When confronted with one of today’s most divisive issues, he feels compelled to speak, but can he? Challenged by his coworker Diana (Molly Ritter) to defend his convictions about homosexuality and gay marriage, will he have the courage to stand for what he believes—even at the risk of losing a friendship? And how will he respond when faced with a harrowing life-or-death experience?

From Living Waters, creators of the award-winning TV program The Way of the Master and the hit movies 180 and Evolution vs. God, comes the powerful film Audacity. Executive produced by TV co-host and best-selling author Ray Comfort (Hell’s Best Kept Secret, Scientific Facts in the Bible), this film delivers an unexpected, eye-opening look at the controversial topic of homosexuality.

Opinion: Karl Urban Should Be In Fast and Furious 8

The eighth movie of the "Fast and Furious" franchise has been confirmed to be in the works. As of this writing, I have yet to see "Furious 7", but I believe actor Karl Urban needs to be in the next movie. It is a brilliant idea, even if my reasoning for it is kind of dumb.

In late 2013 throught early 2014, Urban starred in the T.V. show "Almost Human". Also on the show were Michael Ealy, Minka Kelly, and Michael Irby - three actors linked with the "Fast and Furious" franchise. Kelly was in "Turbo Charged Prelude", the short film that linked "The Fast and the Furious" and "2 Fast 2 Furious", Ealy was in "2 Fast 2 Furious", and Irby was in "Fast Five". Therefore I reason that it is time for series lead Karl Urban to be in a "Fast and Furious" movie.

Who could he play? He would be great as a villain, like he was in the movie "RED". And as an extra piece of reasoning for my theory, Urban will next be in the untitled "Star Trek" sequel which will be directed by Justin Lin, who was the director of the third through sixth "Fast and Furious" movies.