Welcome back aboard the, what number was it again, Jupiter 2 I think it was, and the trials and tribulations of the Robinsons and their guests!
The Robinsons have their own internal and external issues, as always, but this episode begins with Lady Smith’s background, at least parts of it. The Harris sisters obviously have all kinds of issues with each-other too, but Jess at least seems to be willing to let bygones-be- bygones with June. And that’s likely because Jess has gotten herself into the Alpha Centauri project and will be quitting Earth, so she offers everything she’s leaving behind to her sister June, who seems to take being tossed cast-offs rather badly. Jess is successful enough to get into Alpha Centauri, but June is clever and resourceful enough to strike first, and take her sisters place!
Back on the Jupiter 2, Mama Bear Maureen and soldier dad John are at odds with each-other, as they often are, over the disposition of the ship and the mental health of their children. Judy is obviously suffering from PTSD after her ordeal with the ice, who could blame her, and John, the one person with the most experience in these matters, is concerned that Mo frankly hasn’t even noticed. Will is of course having nightmares from his Robot-vision and concerns with the Robot him-itself, but nothing and no-one will stop the Robot from protecting Will from any and all dangers. And Penny, well, she has as yet to really freak out, but that all changes when the outside bad guys of this episode manifest.
The Robinsons need to get that darned ship out of the ice as the ground around them continues to disintegrate, and to make matters worse, the dwindling fuel tanks have been infected with eels, that’s right, eels that apparently feed on what their fuel is made of. Alien spaceship-fuel-eating eels, wandering through the pipes all through the ship and attacking when our heroes get themselves mistakenly covered in fuel liquid.
This is an instance where John Robinson begins to shine, because the sheer physical effort it takes him to wrestle down each individual eel and kill it dead, is pretty staggering. We have to remember, that John wasn’t missing from so many Robinson family activities by choice – it was because back on Earth he was a soldier, and as the planet begins to degrade, he has to go out and help keep the peace as best he may, which usually means kicking a bunch of degenerate ass.
Will wants to help his family, but the Robot very much has other ideas, so when the Jupiter begins listing from planet issues, Will finds himself locked in a storeroom with a sneaky Dr. Smith, who was inevitably preparing to disappear herself. Even after the eels are dealt with, the ship is out from under degrading ground and more or less in one piece elsewhere, the Robot thinks his friend Will Robinson needs more protection, so he/it goes and does something very naughty. And potentially lethal.
Poor Will understands the Robot’s desire to protect him, but his respect for life flares first and that surreptitiously printed gun gets a hasty hiding. Sadly, the one person we really did not want to see that, did in fact watch, from her hiding place around the corner, which is after all a Smith trademark.
The comms are now working and everyone about the Jupiter 2 is all kinds of excited about hearing from the Resolute, the original mega transport ship that was supposed to take the to Alpha Centauri. Except perhaps the nefarious Dr. Smith, who as we all learned from the beginning of this episode, isn’t any kind of Doctor or Smith at all.
Explore the unnamed planet the Robinsons and their cohorts landed on, here in ‘Lost in Space’ on Netflix now!
If you were born in the ’80s, ’90s, or literally ANY decade after those, you know about Super Mario. A cultural phenomenon was brought to life on the big screen this last weekend. One that has not only stood the test of time but reinvented itself time and time again. This wasn’t even the first time it’s been made into a movie but, well, let’s be honest.. some of us choose not to acknowledge the LIVE action adaptation of the beloved game from 30 years ago.
It was pretty bad… But this was animation. ILLUMINATION animation at that. The Universal company that brought us Gru and his Minions, showed us the Secret Life of Pets, and gave us a reason to SING! Still, I had my reservations and even some concerns, especially when the casting was announced.
Eyebrows were raised. As big of stars as they were on paper, could they really deliver on voicing characters from a staple of our childhood? They did.
Chris Pratt and Charlie Day may not be Italian, and Jack Black may not be a King or Turtle creature from the Mushroom Kingdom, but they make the characters their own all while paying homage to the lore of a video game.
From the jump, the story reintroduces us to the brothers that just want to save Brooklyn one clogged sink at a time. We feel an instant connection and relate to these “underdogs of the plumbing world”. The movie is riddled with easter eggs, each of which tugs on the heartstrings of every generation of Mario fandom. And the soundtrack was beautifully put together to not only make us feel like we’re taking a walkthrough of the game but like an experience all its own with some familiar favorites thrown in.
Every word in the movie is pure eye candy for both those that are casual fans, and those analyzing every frame to see what they’ll catch next. Bowser’s ship, the Mushroom Kingdom, Kong’s arena, and the Rainbow Road.. They’re all meant to give us just enough of a “new” look at these amazing worlds, but stay true to how we remember them.
The movie itself moves along at the perfect pace. Although, if you don’t really know ANYTHING about the Super Mario Bros, you may have gotten a little lost and felt left behind in the green tunnel. But that’s ok! It’s an adventure of the imagination and a classic story of a boy that meets a girl and tries to save the world from a monster that wants to destroy it.
What’s funny is that you could easily say this is a story about two characters who couldn’t be more opposite if they tried, battling to win the heart of a princess. Who would’ve thought that the King of the Koopas was just trying to impress his crush?
And that song? Ohhh THAT song! It’s my new ringtone and deserves the Oscar for Best Original Song.
Back to the movie.
Universal and Illumination clearly understood the assignment. Is it missing some things or could things have been done differently or even better? Absolutely! We’re the worst critics of the things we hold nearest and dearest to our hearts. But if you’re up for going on a 90-minute adventure through amazing worlds, with awesome music, and characters that’ll make you smile and laugh, then this is the perfect movie to spring you into that warm summer feeling.
Plus there’s the whole part with karts and shells, and banana peels and oh my goodness how amazing was that?? It’s enough to make you want to stand up and cheer, then go home and destroy your friends and family on your favorite track haha.
The bottom line, it pays homage in all the right ways to the little guy with the mustache, while giving us something new and exciting. Take the kids and go see Super Mario Bros. You’ll be glad you did!
Justice League x RWBY: Superheroes & Hunters Opening Act Saturday, March 25 at 1:30 p.m. on North 200A. Talent confirmed so far to participate in the post-screening panel is Natalie Alyn Lind (Big Sky, The Goldbergs, Gotham) as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and longtime RWBY cast member Lindsay Jones (Camp Camp) as Ruby, Kara Eberle ( RWBY: Ice Queendom) as Weiss, Arryn Zech (Detective Now Dead) as Blake and Barbara Dunkelman (Blood Fest) as Yang – along with Jeannie Tirado (Soul, Saints Row) as Green Lantern and Tru Valentino (The Rookie, The Cuphead Show!) as a cyborg. Also attending the panel will be producer/director Kerry Shawcross (series RWBY) and writer Meghan Fitzmartin (Supernatural, Justice Society: World War II).
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023 with the big screen debut from DC Animated Films: highlights this year include the world premieres of the highly anticipated Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham and Justice League x RWBY: Superheroes & Hunters Part One the weekend of March 24-26 in Anaheim, California. Both screenings will be followed by panel discussions with actors and creators. Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham premieres at The Arena on Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m. Tati Gabrielle (Kaleidoscope, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Uncharted) as Kai Li Cain, Christopher Gorham (The Lincoln Lawyer, Insatiable) as Oliver Queen, David Dastmalchian (Dune, Suicide Squad, Ant-Man) as Grendon, producer/co-director Sam Liu (The Death and the Return of Superman), co-director Christopher Berkeley (Young Justice) and screenwriter Jase Ricci (Teen Titans Go! and DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem Across the Multiverse).
Both films will have encore screenings in the Arena on Sunday, March 26. Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part One will screen at 12:15pm, followed by Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham at 2:00pm
No Question Mark Box Here; Super Mario Delivers a 1-Up in Theaters
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023
Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Crunnchyroll presents ‘BOFURI: I don’t want to get hurt so I’ll max out my defense’: You’re not twinking!
‘Knock at the Cabin’: Puttin on your boogie shoes!
No Question Mark Box Here; Super Mario Delivers a 1-Up in Theaters
Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Illinois’ financial crisis could bring the state to a halt
The final 6 ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes might feel like a full season
No Question Mark Box Here; Super Mario Delivers a 1-Up in Theaters
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023
