joelrcallen | Geekscape

Five Female Leaders Who Kick Serious Ass!

by joelrcallenMarch 13, 2017

The last few years saw some great strides forward for various realms of equality, but more recently, a setback has left many feeling down about the state of gender equality. So, in an effort to remain optimistic about not just the world at large, but the world of art, here are five female leaders who knew how to get it done.

Yeah, we realize that we’re a little late for International Women’s Day, but… better late than never?

Buffy Summers – Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The titular heroine of Joss Whedon’s seminal show, Buffy was a direct response to Whedon’s desire to see the female victims in horror movies turn around and turn the tables on their attacker. What this subversive impulse brought us was an upbeat, funny teenager with the weight of the world placed squarely on her shoulders. Though she initially tried to escape her destiny, Buffy quickly rose to the challenge of being a strong leader in a world that saw her as little more than a girl. From preppy cheerleader to fearless general, Buffy grew up before our eyes, and helped buck the stereotype that beautiful girls need saving.

Laura Roslin – Battlestar Galactica: After the apocalyptic Cylon attack on the Colonies, Roslin remains the highest ranking surviving member of the Presidential line of succession, and is sworn in as President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. What makes Roslin so different to many of the women in power often seen in the media is that she didn’t have a clear political ambition. This unwanted ascension to the mantle of leader saw her grappling with her own instincts and qualities to reach her one goal: the survival of humanity.

Ellen Ripley – Aliens: After surviving the horror movie that was Alien, Ripley reluctantly joins a mission to investigate another potential infiltration. The second film in the franchise departs significantly from its predecessor, largely doing away with the horror motifs to contrast them with a war theme, casting Ripley as what many have hailed the first true action heroine. She continually comes up against male voices who seek to silence her, and is forced, in the end, to take matters into her own hands – once again for the good of all.

Leslie Knope – Parks and Recreation: In the everyday world of small town government, it might be difficult for some to imagine anyone kicking ass, but those people have clearly not encountered the sheer force of nature that is Pawnee’s Leslie Knope. From childhood, Leslie wanted to serve her country, and we see her doing that every single day. Despite her setbacks, including the small-minded town in which she lives, Leslie fights on to make the world better. What makes Leslie so special (well, one of the things), is her friendship with her boss, the hyper-masculine, anti-government Ron Swanson. Though their views stand at direct opposition, Leslie and Ron are always able to work together and remain friends – an optimistic model for how all leaders should behave.

Katniss Everdeen – The Hunger Games: Possibly the most influential heroine in recent memory, Katniss’ journey from peasant on society’s outer rim to revolutionary leader began when she volunteered as tribute for The Hunger Games to spare her younger sister from the same fate. As the world watched, Katniss defied the odds, and teamed up with her childhood admirer, Peta, to win the deadly competition. By subverting the ruling class’s expectations of her, Katniss became a marked woman – singled out for elimination by the government, and forced into a second Hunger Games. This act galvanized not only Katniss’ resolve, but thrust her into the spotlight as the face of a resistance movement to bring about revolution.

Geekscape Movie Reviews: ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’

by joelrcallenNovember 17, 2016

With a darkness at its heart that even Harry Potter didn’t see, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an exciting, lush plunge back into J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. The story, unlike anything we’ve ever seen from Rowling, and despite its sometimes grim tone, is a true delight to behold.

In 1926, magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) stops in New York City to see a breeder of exotic creatures, but is waylaid when a No-Maj (North American wizards’ word for non-magical folk) accidentally picks up his case full of magical beasts. Obviously, it doesn’t take long for a number of the creatures to escape, adding a little extra chaos to a city already terrified of a malevolent force literally tearing its streets and buildings apart. Newt and the No-Maj, Jakob (Dan Fogler), set out to recapture the creatures, which include an invisible ape (otherwise known as a Demiguise), and an enormous, explosive rhinoceros (Erumpent). They’re given aid and shelter by two sisters, Porpentina and Queenie Goldstein (Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol), and it isn’t long before the group face dangers they never expected.

Played by the utterly charming Redmayne, Newt isn’t an extraordinary man, and is certainly not a Chosen One. More akin to Harry Potter’s best friend Ron than to Potter himself, he is a refreshing, modest screen hero amongst a slew of post-apocalyptic rebels (with his unique, unassuming performance, I couldn’t help but wonder what Redmayne could have done in the titular role of the main Potter series). As former magical law enforcement officer, Waterston’s Tina is brittle – her confidence left her some time ago, and we’re left to ponder what happened in her past to dull her light. Scene-stealers Fogler and Sudol shine as Jakob and Queenie. He’s wide-eyed and full of wonder at every new surprise the Wizarding World throws at him, while she is wholly enchanting as Tina’s psychic sister. At once motherly and flirtatious, Sudol’s beguiling smile will surely bewitch you, just as it does – well, I don’t want to spoil you.

Unlike the original Potter films, Fantastic Beasts allows more time for wonderment at the pure magic of its world. Through the eyes of Jakob, we’re allowed generous stretches of time to soak in what we’re seeing, and the sheer unrealness of this new reality. And those breathers are needed, as director David Yates takes the film to some undeniably grim places. In the politically turbulent climate into which it is released, Fantastic Beasts hauntingly echoes our own world; politicians who dodge accountability, corrupt law enforcement, hate groups masquerading as religion, and mistreated outsiders trying desperately to find a way into the fold. Rowling’s script doesn’t pull any punches as it pushes you headfirst into a scarier, and altogether more industrial Wizarding World than the safe haven of Hogwarts.

The film is dense, with several action lines chugging along at once, so one can imagine that it would richly reward repeat viewings. First time around, however, you’d best strap yourself in for your long-awaited return to this most beloved of fantasy worlds.

The New Age of Harry Potter: 20 Years On, It’s Good To Be A Fan

by joelrcallenNovember 15, 2016

In 1997, the world was introduced to Harry Potter, the orphaned boy who was whisked off to magic school when he turned 11. Over the next ten years, author J.K. Rowling wove a breathtaking story of spells and sorcery, prophecy and romance, and the importance of bravery in all its forms. Along the way, the sales of Harry Potter books tallied in the hundreds of millions, and spawned a blockbuster film series. Now, here we are almost 20 years after the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and it feels like perhaps we’ve entered a brand new phase of the fandom. While the final volume of Harry’s story was published in 2007, and the conclusion to the film series was released in 2011, Harry Potter still trends on social media on a regular basis, and creates major news stories around the world. As we happily drink in the new facets of the fandom, the question arises: is this a new age of Harry Potter?

Earlier this year, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened on London’s West End. Coinciding with the opening, the production’s rehearsal scripts were released as a hardcover book. Stamped in multiple places on the book is a seal designating the script as belonging to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. The appearance of this seal signals a shift in the fandom as we are given more and more information about the storyworld Rowling meticulously crafted in the Potter books; it seems that after years of longing to know more about the Wizarding World, we’re going to get our wish.

Just days from now, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them will be released in cinemas around the world, kicking off a brand new series of films, set decades before Harry and his friends were even born. Not only are we getting the chance to see a new period within this world, we’re going to be immersed in an entirely new setting: a magical America. In the Potter books, we knew that the Wizarding World extended beyond just the United Kingdom, but we saw very little of this for ourselves. We already know that Fantastic Beasts will take place primarily in New York City in the 1920s, but with the recent confirmation that Johnny Depp has been cast as the infamous Gelert Grindelwald for a number of the follow-up films, came the news that the timeline of this new series will span about 19 years. This story, originally announced as a trilogy, is now set to be told over five films, setting it apart as more than a standalone spinoff. With Grindelwand and a young Albus Dumbledore in the mix, you can expect a truly epic story fresh from Rowling’s own pen.

Speaking of new lore from Rowling, since 2011, the Harry Potter community has seen a steady stream of fascinating stories, histories, and character profiles on Pottermore. Originally an interactive experience taking users through the books one chapter at a time with games, puzzles, and competitions, Pottermore has always been revered for the tantalizing glimpses beyond Harry’s story that were unlocked as progression rewards. In 2015, however, the site did away with much of the interactive components (eventually reinstating the Sorting quiz in 2016), flattening the site into an easily accessible encyclopaedia of sorts; full of new writing from Rowling, as well as Potter news.

While Pottermore originally featured new information and stories about characters from within Harry’s story – especially those only on the periphery – in 2016, it published a slew of new information about the Wizarding World in the USA. After a rich history of magic in North America was laid out, Pottermore published an account of how the first magical school in the states, Ilvermorny, came to be. Showing that she can still weave an exciting tale of magic, intrigue, and friendship, Rowling’s account of the school is some 5,000 words, and introduces brand new characters, creatures, and lore. Rowling’s Wizarding World has grown.

Across the pond, in London, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues to thrive, with tickets being released for as far away as February 2018. By all accounts, the production is a spellbinding marvel, with enchanting theatre craft, nuanced performances, and a captivated audience. The announcement of the two-part play’s scripts publication brought about celebration within the Potter fandom. When the big night came, the world saw a joyful return of midnight bookstore release parties – costume contests and Wizard Rock made glorious, welcome comebacks. A new addition to these celebrations were the new parents who grew up reading Harry Potter, and had brought along their young children to experience the magic for themselves. One of the most revered experiences in the fandom had come full circle. Despite the fans’ mixed reactions to the script itself, the opportunity to reconnect where it all began – in a bookstore – was magical.

Famously borne of musings upon a delayed train, Harry Potter began as a scrawny boy wizard, and eventually grew into the worldwide phenomenon credited with turning an entire generation back to reading. Though the story concluded nine years ago, it feels like we truly are entering a new age of Harry Potter. And I couldn’t be more excited for what comes next.