What Could Have Been: It Came from Beneath the Sea

You may be wondering why I am writing about Mother!, Darren Aronofsky’s new horror film, as a blog post and not as a review. A complex piece of cinema that is both rewarding and frustrating, it is something I cannot wholly recommend for viewing – a must for me. To many viewers, it will likely feel like the exclamation point should be replaced by a question mark. . . perhaps several. Likely to leave many audience members baffled, it is still important to understand the basis for the story, as well as the text, subtext, and sub-subtext that makes the tale so seeped in allegory. This will hopefully provide brave cinephiles with a guidepost that will enlighten them to Aronofsky’s vision, whether they walk away from it with one viewpoint or another, loving or loathing it.

Over misty mountains and through coniferously wooded dales, I made the three plus hour trek back through the picturesque Adirondacks, returning to the beautiful town of Ticonderoga, New York. Nestled between striking Lake Champlain, Lake George and the Vermont border, the third annual Trekonderoga, the aptly named convention, provides fans of the original Star Trek series with a multitude of opportunities and activities. Starting on Friday, the 25th of August and running through the weekend, attendees were able to tour the meticulously constructed set of the original USS Enterprise, see the Batmobile, browse through a plethora of vendors, listen to a wide array of panels, and meet their favourite celebrities – a rich, nuanced and vivid experience for all those looking to collect, learn, and make long lasting memories.

As a change of pace, I thought that it would be fun to take a look at Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, not from a review perspective, but rather, to connect some of the dots to the Harry Potter franchise (be it novels or movies). Right off the bat, we hear John Williams’ iconic score from the first Potter feature (when the Warner Bros. logo appears), which then transitions into an original composition from James Newton Howard. Written for the screen by J.K. Rowling (her first time writing a script, there is no one better to build upon the imaginative world she created more than 20 years ago) and set in the Roaring 20s, specifically 1926, the story follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) on his many adventures – the name may mean something to true Potter afficionados, as he is the author of one of the Hogwarts required textbooks, which just happens to have the same title as the film. The tale takes place just prior to said book’s publication, with the Brit taking a trip to New York City. As he explores the metropolis, many of you may chuckle when an anti-witch group leader asks, "are you a seeker?", to which he slyly replies, "I’m more of a chaser, really" – a quidditch joke for those in the know.

This past weekend saw costumes, comic books and celebrities, as the third iteration of CAPE – Cornwall and Area Pop Expo, came to town. There was something for all, as crowds surfed through a plethora of booths, looking for their favourite vintage video games, that elusive comic book, kooky new board games, or a certain desirable trading card. Likewise, cosplayers, both new and old, littered the floor. The always entertaining Dr. Stevil was even making his way around the venue on roller-skates – perhaps with a new maniacal plan to take over the world.

Predicted winners, who should win, and my favourites from this year's Oscars (the 89th Academy Awards). Catch up on all of the buzz before the big event.

Here’s hoping that everyone has been enjoying the beginning of 2017. The end of last year was certainly a difficult one for us film fans, as we lost both Star Wars’ Carrie Fisher and her mother, icon Debbie Reynolds just one day apart. This followed the loss of so many other iconic actors, ranging from Alan Rickman (one of the best voices in the business) to Robert Vaughn (the last living member of The Magnificent Seven), and many, many more. Thankfully, we have their work to remind us of their amazing talents. Yet, it was not all doom and gloom – it was exciting to be able to witness two milestone birthdays, as two members of Hollywood royalty, Kirk Douglas and Olivia de Havilland, both turned one hundred this past year.