#i know it's a plot point that clarisse is who finds Chris because he shows up at her house

[hamletshoeratio]

"They brought up May too early!"

No, no, they haven't. It makes sense that Annabeth knows about May, or at least has an idea of what happened to her, and make no mistake; all she has is an idea and theory about May. She doesn't know the May Luke grew up watching or about the curse Hades put on the oracle of delphi or how and why that curse affected May. Non book viewers don't know what state May is currently in, this is just building up to her heartbreaking appearance in tlo, and it also raises the stakes of Rachel's arc between botl and tlo (worry and wariness from Percy and Annabeth regarding a mortal who can see through the mist as well as Rachel, just like May could, fear about what that could mean for Rachel). Also Luke, especially from Percy's pov from the end of tlt to nearly the end, is a villain. By introducing these elements of his past now, the full reveal will also help re- humanise Luke when it looks like he is lost forever. It will make everything hit so much harder.

[justanothercinemaniac]

Epic Movie (Re)Watch #186 - The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Spoilers Below

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: I think so.

Do I remember it: Better than I did the 1st one, which isn’t saying much.

Did I see it in theaters: No

Format: Blu-ray

I nominated the recap for the first Princess Diaries to @princessofsunnydale because she nominated it for my (Re)Watch so I thought I’d do the same for this post. Thanks!

1) I think it was a wildly smart decision to move the setting of this film from San Francisco to Mia’s often spoke of but rarely seen dominion of Genovia. It’s an organic next step to her story. We saw her learn how to be a princess in San Fran, now we see how she actually adapts to her home country (which is a lively character in its own right). The decision to jump ahead five years ahead instead of three (the number of years between releases) I think also is nice. Mia is more comfortable in the agency she gained in the first film, the relationship with her beau Michael is not hanging over her head, it just allows the film to not be dogged down by some plot points from the first film.

2) Sir Fat Louie? Did they knight him? Can you knight a cat?

3) I didn’t remember this line before I put in the movie but I do now.

4) Shonda Rhimes co-authored the story AND wrote the screenplay? Huh.

(I don’t actually watch any Shonda Rhimes shows, now that I think about it.)

5) Chris Pine as Nicholas.

There is a strong initial chemistry Pine has with lead actress Hathaway, allowing the audience to grow invested in their relationship quickly. Even/especially when they’re not getting long, you can just fell the sexual chemistry in the air between them. It’s fun, making the film stronger because of it.

Chris Pine on his own is as charismatic and interesting as ever. In lesser hands the character of Nicholas could be an even bigger jerk and while there are antagonistic qualities to him the audience UNDERSTANDS his motivations. He is trying to honor what he believes his dead father wanted, he believes he’s trying to do what’s best for Genovia. And when he sees he was mistaken, he tries to step aside. There’s a nice honesty to Pine’s performance. He doesn’t play Nicholas as an over the top mustache twirling villain. All in all, Pine does a fine job in this film and helps support it.

6) Except for one black guy, Genovia’s parliament is made up of all white guys saying they don’t want a woman to rule unless she has a man by her side.

I think Queen Clarisse has the perfect response to that.

The law is severely sexist and antiquated. One of the members of parliament claims it should be respected because it is 300 years old. Saying a law is that old is not an effective argument for it as much as it is AGAINST it. 300 years ago in 2004 that’s 1704. That’s slavery, that’s a fundamental lack of women’s rights across most countries. Don’t use the fact a law is old to argue for it. Laws should evolve as the world does.

7) John Rhys Davies is a wonderful character actor who plays Nicholas’ uncle as a holier than thou elitist arrogant jerk. I love to hate him in this, but I might need to watch Lord of the Rings or Raiders of the Lost Ark next to balance out my feelings.

8) Hey guys. Remember that time Catwoman stomped on Captain Kirk’s foot in front of Gimli and Mary Poppins?

I’m sure someone has made this joke before, but still.

9) The last film was largely about Clarisse putting her duty as queen aside to be Mia’s grandmother, a relationship which is as strong in this film as ever.

Clarisse [after Mia stomped on Nicholas’ foot]: “As a grandma I say right on.”

10) Like the first film, this movie’s biggest flaw is definitely pacing. Many scenes serve no purpose for the larger plot and instead distract from the main conflict. But - like with the first film - these scenes are also some of the most memorable. So…I’m not sure what to say then. I’m just going to move on.

11) I dig this.

Matarazzo is a continued treat in this film as she was in the first, stealing a number of scenes and infusing some quality humor into the plot. The way she mixes with Genovian life and culture can lead to some nice fish out of water observations, and Matarazzo plays the role with as much commitment and heart as she did in the first film. God bless Lily.

12) The bachelor selection scene is - by far - one of my favorite moments in the film. It is directly related to the plot and has an incredible amount of humor to it. Also, it’s not nearly as long as I remember.

For those of you who didn’t watch the clip above (or even if you did), here is my favorite moment from the scene.

(GIFs originally posted by @ezrajamessharkington​)

I mean it’s small, but I appreciate that both this film and its predecessor acknowledge the LGBTQIA+ community more than other Disney films did at the time.

13) Callum Blue as Andrew Jacoby.

Much like Michael from the first film, Andrew is able to be a good guy while avoiding the trope of Nice Guy™. There is a respect he has for Mia, an understanding and a fondness. They clearly have a connection and appreciate each other’s company, but it is clear that neither of them love each other. And Andrew does not force this on Mia. He’s pretty much at her service, ready to respect her wishes without being a total pushover. He’s a good guy, someone who could have easily been a jerk or a bully but the fact Mia could plausibly end up with him just ups the stakes.

14) The fan scene is a nice moment of chemistry between Hathaway and Andrews, which (much like in the preceding film) is one of the strongest elements of this movie.

this film one of those moments is when she is reduced to tears because John Rhys Davies spooked her horse and revealed that - SHOCKER - women actually prefer to not ride side saddle. I suppose it’s better that she’s too hard on herself than not hard enough though, as she will be queen.

16) Damn, Joe is a badass.

Mabrey: “Sir, you will find that the word ‘fear’ is not in my vocabulary.”

Joe: “Perhaps. But it’s in your eyes.”

17) Hey look! The foot pop!

18) Okay, Nicholas is being creepy with Mia at the fountain. Yes, they kiss. But then she says no to him. Multiple times, too. Yet he keeps groping at her and chasing her around the fountain until they both fall in. And MIA’S in trouble?

19) The parade.

By far the strongest moment in the film. It shows off not only the agency Mia gained in the first film (she has the confidence to stop a parade), but also her incredible heart. She shows off such kindness and care for the people of Genovia, accepts her role as a leader, and is able to create a positive change through the sheer depth of her heart. Also, little Abigail Breslin is very cute.

20) Holy crap, Paul Williams is in this movie.

What is this movie?

21) The bridal slumber party is another scene which doesn’t really add to the plot and it goes a little long. BUT - again - it is wildly memorable. Especially seeing Julie Andrews surf on a mattress after giving a wink to her most iconic character.

22) Julie Andrews’ song.

Julie Andrews underwent surgery in 1997 to treat what she referred to as a muscular striation on her vocal cords. She emerged from the surgery with permanent damage that hurt her singing voice and gave a rasp to her speaking voice (for which she sued the hospital for malpractice two years later). Julie Andrews basically lost her singing voice. Her song “Your Crowning Glory” was the first time she sang on screen since the surgery. Although it was set in a limited range to accommodate her voice, she was reported to have nailed it on the first take and brought tears to the eyes of crew members on set. Raven Symoné - who duets with Andrews on the song - was so moved when she told she’d be singing with the legend that she too was reportedly brought to tears. If for no other reason, I am grateful this movie exists for all of that.

23) Nicholas is very ready to step aside and let Mia rule.

Nicholas [after his uncle notes all their work would be for nothing]: “It wouldn’t be nothing. Genovia would in good hands.”

I love that. I love that he’s true to his beliefs about doing what’s right for Genovia, NOT himself.

24) So there’s a slight bit of foreshadowing here.

Nicholas [at Mia’s window]: “Rapunzel, Rapunzel…”

Chris Pine would later go on to play Cinderella’s Prince in the 2014 film adaptation of Into the Woods, which also featured the characters of Rapunzel and her prince.

25) I’m surprised Paolo’s back. I mean, Larry Miller is great. But didn’t he totally betray the trust of the royal family in the first film? And also, why is he suddenly kinda bad at styling Mia?

26) Bless whoever made this

(I just found this on google. If this is your’s and you want credit let me know and I’ll be happy to give it.)

27) Um, guys…

What the heck is Stan Lee doing in The Princess Diaries 2? Is Mia going to join The Avengers? Is Genovia a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? What is happening!?

All humor aside, as I understand it Stan Lee will cameo in any movie asked as long as he gets his standard fee. I think he wants to have the record for most cameos ever.

28) I dig it, Andrew.

Andrew [after Mia calls off the wedding]: “Uh…thank you. Thank you for saving me from doing the proper thing for once in my life.”

29) Much like the first film, it is Mia who must take her own fate in her hands. She’s the one who argues against the marriage law, she’s the one who convinces the people and parliament to strike it down (although the Prime Minister is again incredibly supportive and I love that). It’s her taking charge of her life, which I think is absolutely great.

30) I 100% forgot that part of this film ended with Clarisse and Joe getting married. I am very okay with that.

31) OH MY GOD YES! PARLIAMENT IS MORE DIVERSE AT THE END! THERE ARE SO MANY WOMEN AND EVEN WOMEN OF COLOR AND IT’S JUST BEAUTIFUL AND DIVERSE AND I NEED MORE OF IT! THANK YOU!

Like the first film, The Princess Diaries 2 held up surprisingly better than I was expecting. Obviously it’s aimed at a younger audience than me but it was pretty enjoyable. Anne Hathaway is strong as ever, as is Julie Andrews, while Chris Pine is a welcome and fitting addition to the cast. The themes are nicely feminist as is the ending. Overall I just find it an enjoyable film worth the watch.

[optimusphillip]

The Lightning Thief is a Divine Musical

If my timing is right, The Lightning Thief has recently concluded its seven-month first national tour. I saw it on its penultimate weekend in Boston, Massachusetts, and it was quite an experience. I haven’t mentioned this very much, but I was a huge fan of the Percy Jackson books in middle school, so as soon as I knew this musical existed, I had added the cast album to my musical lexicon, and before long had all the lyrics memorized. And naturally, when the opportunity to catch it on tour presented itself, I jumped on it, and was not disappointed. So let me attempt to revisit this, and share my opinion on it.

Plot

For those unfamiliar, The Lightning Thief is about a preteen boy named Percy Jackson (Chris McCarrell), who discovers that he is the half-blood son of Poseidon, and the prime suspect in the theft of Zeus’s master bolt. As a result, he must embark on a quest to find the bolt before the summer solstice, clear his name, and stop the gods from going to war. Joining him on his quest are Grover Underwood (Izzy Figueroa), his best friend from school and secret guardian satyr, and Annabeth Chase (Kristin Stokes), the know-it-all daughter of Athena. It’s a wonderful send-off to the ancient Greek legends, and is surprisingly well-suited to the musical stage. It didn’t come through completely unscathed from book to play, but I feel the changes ultimately help the story. Percy’s two encounters with Clarisse are condensed to one, and much of the long journey is condensed into a single musical number (though this does come at the cost of the Chimera fight and the Lotus Hotel scene, but they’re at least referenced), while the campfire scene gives us a glimpse into the life of a half-blood, while still fitting seamlessly into the story. Aside from that, it’s the same great story we’ve come to know and love over the past decade. I can’t think of much to complain about.

Cast/Characters

Let’s get this out of the way: the main cast are way older than the characters they play. For example, Percy Jackson is 12, while Chris McCarrell is 28. This doesn’t bother me as much as it did in the movie, though. For one, the medium of off-Broadway theater doesn’t lend itself especially well to the use of child actors. And for two, these actors capture the role so well, you barely notice the age difference. Percy is a dimwitted joker, Grover is a neurotic glutton, Annabeth is a know-it-all with abandonment issues, and all three actors capture it really well. Special mention goes to Izzy Figueroa, by the way. He had some big shoes to fill when George Salazar left the show, but he still managed to pull it off at least as well, if not better.

But I really do need to give mad props to the rest of the cast. James Hayden Rodriguez, T. Shyvonne Stewart, Jalynn Steele, and Ryan Knowles all play multiple characters, and even Izzy has an extra role as Dionysus, aka Mr. D. And all of them pull it off perfectly. I really liked Ryan Knowles as Poseidon. But James Rodriguez is probably my favorite of these multicast players. He does a great job as both Luke, the jaded son of Hermes, and Ares, the badass, loudmouth god of war. At no point did I feel I was watching people pretend to be these characters: they felt like the real people, jumped out of the pages. It was a stellar performance all around.

Music

But what is a musical without good music? Not much. And does The Lightning Thief have good music?

Boy. Did you not read the introduction?

The moment I listened to this cast album, it went right on my frequent listening list. What can I say? The music slaps. From earworms like “Another Terrible Day” and “Lost”, to emotional powerhouses like “Strong” and “Their Sign”, to rocking jams like “Put You in Your Place” and “Bring on the Monsters”, it covers all its bases. You also get some stand-outs, like “The Campfire Song”, which is exactly what it sounds like; a campfire-style song about all the gods from their children’s perspective. If I had to pick a top three, it would have to be “Strong”, for its powerful message that speaks to me as an autistic individual, “The Tree on the Hill”, for being such a gut-punch that I nearly cried in the theater, and “Good Kid”, for just being a catchy glimpse into Percy’s psyche. That said, there’s not a bad song on this album, and even if you never get a chance to see this show, at least give it a listen.

Tech

The technical elements of this show were really impressive, as one would expect from a musical based on gods and monsters. The creature effects in particular amazed me, partly because I hadn’t seen any pictures of this production prior to going to see it. The two that stand out to me in particular are Mrs. Dodds and the Minotaur, who are both played by large puppets that ended up being surprisingly terrifying. I also found the Oracle rather interesting: Jalynn Steele stood on a platform, wearing a dress that draped over several other actors, creating this weird multi-armed effect. Medusa was about what you’d expect, being just Ryan Knowles wearing a snake wig, but they also gave her LED eyes, which helps get across the magic eye effect, as well as making her fit with the other monsters. As I mentioned, the gang doesn’t fight the Chimera in this version, but it does make an appearance... kind of. They put a pair of LED’s in the dog crate Echidna was holding, and played some growling noises. Cerberus is... weird in this version. He makes an appearance in “D.O.A.”, a song and dance number led by ferrywoman Charon, as a deadmau5 style DJ. It was kind of funny, really, but still a strange choice.

The lighting setup was pretty clever as well. The grid consisted of several LED light fixtures mounted on universal pivots, which made for some clever lighting effects. There was also a row of lights on the edge of the deck, which could either be angled towards the actors as additional lighting, or angled forward for effect. I don’t know how common this is in professional theater, but I found it to be a really cool setup, that definitely made up for the minimal set design. The effect that really stood out to me was the lightning. It was incredibly lifelike, almost to the point where I’d caution those with sensory issues before seeing this show.

Final Thoughts

This show was amazing. From start to finish, I was geeking out at watching one of my favorite childhood stories being brought to life. Even putting my nostalgia aside, this felt like an entertaining musical, with spectacular effects, stellar acting, beautiful music, and a compelling narrative to hold it all together. Now like I said, this show is just now concluding its first national tour, and has not announced any future theatrical runs, so sadly, you may not have a chance to see it with this cast and crew. Even so, I’d still recommend you check this musical out, or at least listen to the cast album. And when Percy's back next summer, I’ll definitely see him again.