Storm Boy

An ominous board meeting looms for the former director of a prosperous company, which may result in the industrialization of large verdant swathes of Western Australia. 

He's more or less retired and not that concerned with business as of late, his son leading the woebegone way to widespread inanimate environmental degradation. 

His granddaughter is quite concerned though and at irascible odds with her dismissive father, and as granddad listens to her passionate criticisms his mind begins to impressionably sway.

He begins telling an old school tale of his unorthodox childhood isolated on a beach, where he grew up with his father and three pelicans and a local friendly Indigenous neighbour.

The tale, much like the original, follows young Kingley as he raises the pelicans, his father and friend warm and pleasantly accommodating throughout the non-traditional animal husbandry.

The birds are an active lot whose jaunty forthright exuberant instincts, lead to the acquisition of thousands of pounds of increasingly larger delicious fresh fish.

Unfortunately, bird hunters are near who outrageously kill just to have deranged fun.

But as he trains them they thoughtfully respond.

And a bird sanctuary may be on its way! 🐦 

Plus the deal to alarmingly pollute so much vital Australian land, is suddenly challenged by the swift reemergence of a caring activist and his granddaughter. 

It's a heartwarming familial account of the spectacular bonds forged between different species, and the ways in which so many animals can forge lifelong ties with us if raised from birth.

Look to the energetic Moo Deng who recently captured the world's attention, or at manifold other online videos delicately telling similar stories. 

Not just when humans are involved, one video depicts a leopard raised by a cow, who still returns to visit her years later, intense congenial interactive love!

I didn't think this version of Storm Boy would be like a reimagining of the original, which I strongly encourage curious peeps to synchronously check out if you've got time.

The new version's good, don't get me wrong, but the original shouldn't be overlooked by any means.

It's much more independent and ingeniously realized a genuine masterpiece to be widely shared. 

🎄🎅🤶⭐

Godzilla vs. Kong

The idea that Antarctica is home to vast enticing treasures has spellbindingly appealed to me for many a year, the thought that it was once inhabited millions of years ago makes me envious of those who will see it thaw.

Godzilla vs. Kong speeds things up a bit to archaeologically respond to an emboldened theory, which maintains that the Earth is hollow and that an ancient civilization dwells within.

It's theorized that both King Kong and the mighty Godzilla resided there in their youth, and somehow broke free to disputatiously arise upon the newfound realms above.

King Kong settling on his cherished island where he made the fertile land his home, Godzilla residing beneath the waves at times emerging through bellicose intrigue.

Why must Godzilla attack when he consciously knows of King Kong's bearings, why can't they both make peace and congenially bask in apex acupuncture? 

I didn't even know there was a new Kong/Godzilla film when I wrote my Gojira tai Mekagojira review in early winter, I was just reviewing random Godzilla films because that's what appealed to me at the time.

But my Highlander Godzilla scenario certainly applies to 'Zilla and Kong.

And lo and behold Mechagodzilla as well!

I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised. 

I hope people don't fight wars over Antarctica as it thaws, such endeavours would seem rather costly considering the inhospitable environs. 

Unfortunately, economic wealth does appeal to many but so does anthropology!, and if it significantly thaws during the wrong financial crisis competing nations may clash for its wealth.

Don't overlook the integral import of Indiana Jones films in the fantasy sector, they challenge plutocratic impeti and encourage intergenerational cultural growth (not resource exploitation).

Kong and Godzilla seem to come to terms after battling Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Kong, as it seemed the United States and the Soviet Union resiliently would after defeating Nazi Germany.

Perhaps the next versatile film won't see the emergence of a cold war (I think it was just released), an archaeological investigation of the Hollow Earth would be apt perhaps featuring ye olde Dr. Jones.

In terms of constant improbable ridiculousness multivariably motivating competing interests, within a fast-paced imaginary plot where so many things could possibly go wrong, Godzilla vs. Kong doesn't disappoint and was a lot of fun to sit back and watch, multilayered and inherently uncanny, indeed what lies deep within the Earth?

It's at least as appealing as outer space! 

Maybe not that appealing. 

Storm Boy

A mild-mannered father (Peter Cummins) takes up fishing off the rugged coast of Australia, securing a modest independent living for him and his only son (Greg Rowe as Mike 'Storm Boy' Kingley).

His wife passed on unfortunately and he never sought the hand of another, incredibly chill laidback pastoral but still stern about materialistic things.

His poor son would like a radio to tune into the outside world, he's naturally curious and doesn't attend school and would like to learn more about his bustling surroundings.

But he's not a brat, he doesn't bother his dad in routine disgruntled tantrum, instead he turns the beach and its enveloping countryside into a multifaceted mysterious classroom.

His habitual innocent candour leads to the making of animal friends, notably after finding some baby pelicans whose parents were likely shot by casual hunters. 

He takes the babies home and helps to raise them with good ole dad, forging fluent amicable bonds, one even stays on into adulthood.

Mr. Percival makes adorable sounds while going about his pelican business, and proves quite perspicacious as the sea erupts in challenge.

But will 'lil Storm Boy ever go to school or at least take correspondence courses?, so full of life and compassionate vision he'd no doubt benefit from general learning.

His Indigenous friend (David Gulpilil as Fingerbone) encourages schooling and teaches him to be cautious 'round snakes, perhaps too cautious indeed they're lifeforms too with a right to exist!

Nevertheless, young Storm Boy authenticates the amiable inquisitive frontier spirit, perhaps not as wild as at the time of first contact, but still overflowing with naturalistic life.

If you can still find joy in nature there's certainly an abundance in Canada and Australia, true the winter makes it difficult in North America, but there also aren't many venomous snakes (or spiders).

Storm Boy presents open-minded individuals who haven't been misled by prejudice, and gradually shows them peacefully interacting with intuitive grace and humanistic dignity. 

It also composédly challenges speciesism by crafting integral animal friends, not just cats and dogs but other animals who can also learn to harmoniously co-exist.

Its inherent calm enabling chill well-meaning tranquil harmless goodwill, should make Storm Boy a family favourite for different generations not only in Australia.

A must see if you have a family that's genuinely interested in the natural world.

It's not entirely chill, tough scenes await!

Why the emphasis on gruelling mortality?

*Isn't Kes's return the worst episode of Voyager?

**Speciesism doesn't show up in spellcheck!

***I can't find the Storm Boy sequel online!

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

An ancient warrior fortunately comes across 10 vital rings which grant immortality, afterwards using his newfound power with invincible finesse on the field of battle (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung as Xu Wenwu).

Hundreds of years pass and the thrill of ruling loses its appeal, he begins to seek out myth and legend to discover alternative adventurous yields. 

He's led to a mythical forest reputed to nurture fascinating animals, whose unique supernatural existence endemically eclipses mortal agency.

Not that they likely wouldn't spiritedly co-exist with adorable hippos and freewheeling zebree, but having spent millennia secluded in wild embowerment it's difficult to determine how they may react.

Xu finds the entrance to their peaceful home but is mischievously prevented from entering, a feisty resident bluntly refusing his unexpected visitation (Fala Chen as Ying Li).

He slowly falls in love with her and she indeed with him, but he is forbidden from staying in the village, so the two depart for the outer world.

Children are born their family expands but Xu's enemies soon come calling, and take the life of his cherished bride which drives him into a chaotic fury.

Years later he believes he hears her voice behind a forbidden gate.

And swears to break her free.

Unaware he's tragically mistaken.

Shang-Chi's mythic secluded forest with its multidimensional peaceful species, immediately bring humble Ghibli to mind, and I wonder if Marvel and Ghibli influenced one another (Marvel Comic Books and eventually Marvel Film) over the bountiful contemporaneous years.

Or if legends of mythic forest villages gained more prominence as Asian populations expanded, the less forest the greater the mystery the more mythically profound the innovative narrative.

Thus, I may search for some books chronicling the development of forest myths in Asia, which perhaps refer to Ghibli and Marvel, that may be asking too much!

And perhaps stories need to be written of integral First Nations exceptionality, still at eternal play in the unexplored forests of Northern Canada.

So much to gingerly explore if only time and weather weren't pressing factors.

Experimental venturing June through September.

Novel expenditure come January.