Tolkien (2019)

I hadn't been aware that a J.R.R. Tolkien biopic was in the works, and so it came as a pleasant surprise when my wife and I learned about it.  We saw "Tolkien" in theatre, and both of us really enjoyed watching it.

Movie poster for "Tolkien" (2019)

Nicholas Hoult was a fitting choice to portray Tolkien as a young man.  There were also great performances by Lily Collins as Edith Bratt, and the actors who portrayed Tolkien's friends, the other members of the T.C.B.S. club.

I had read both Daniel Grotta-Kurska's "unauthorized" and Humphrey Carpenter's "authorized" biographies of Tolkien, published around the time of Ralph Bakshi's "The Lord of the Rings" movie, and so was already somewhat familiar with Tolkien's life.

I didn't realize the film had received such mixed reviews, or that the Tolkien Estate didn't endorse it.  (Certainly, there were liberties taken with historical facts.  Tolkien and Bratt were married by the time he went to fight in WWI, for instance).

Nevertheless, I'm a big fan of the Inklings, particularly J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams, and so am also looking forward to seeing "The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis".

As for "Tolkien", I think it needs to be understood that a biopic is a form of storytelling, just as historical films should not be equated with documentaries, and so my wife and I are looking forward to watching it again, this time with our kids.

Black Panther (2018)

As a collector of comic books growing up, I was familiar with the character of T'Challa, Prince of Wakanda, aka Black Panther, mostly in his role as a member of the Avengers.  (I also picked up the 1st issue of "Black Panther" in Greece).

Movie poster for "Black Panther" (2018)

By 2018, Marvel Cinematic Universe fatigue was beginning to set in.  Nevertheless, I really enjoyed "Dr. Strange" (2016) and "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017), and so went into "Black Panther" with high expectations.

I was quickly impressed with the complexity of themes the film was willing to address.  Although primarily a superhero movie, "Black Panther" is nuanced and leaves the viewer with much to think over.

The score by Ludwig Goransson is fantastic.  (Goransson researched traditional African music, and even went on tour with Senegalese musician Baaba Maal, who contributed an original song for the film.)

"Black Panther" was the first superhero movie to be nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning three (for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Original Score).

Chadwick Boseman's unexpected passing a couple of years later due to colon cancer was truly saddening.  He was a gifted actor, and made such a tremendous impact during the time he had with us.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Ever since they were little, I would remind my kids that Wonder Woman was Greek (every chance I got).  In fact, she was the only member of the "Superfriends" who wasn't American (counting Superman as a naturalized citizen, of course).

Movie poster for "Wonder Woman" (2017)

My cousin Dina was a huge fan of the TV series starring Lynda Carter in the 1970s.  (I remember watching the pilot with my father in our living room at home.)  See also "13 Great Reasons to Watch the 1970s Wonder Woman Show - Ranked".

Finally, I was an avid collector of the 1980s run of DC's "Wonder Woman" by George Perez, which emphasized the Greek roots of the Amazon princess.  That's why I was so excited to see a big-budget Wonder Woman film.

Gal Gadot was a good choice to play Wonder Woman on the big screen (her pronunciation in the one Greek line was spot-on, by the way), and setting the action during WWII, as in the original season of the Wonder Woman TV series, was perfect.

However, the scene which really caused me to jump out of my seat?  When Steve Trevor says "British tea for the Germans, German beer for the British, and Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels for both" of course!  (You can check it out, here.)

Wonder Woman was originally created by psychologist William Moulton Marston.  I found the documentary "Professor Marston and the Wonder Women" (which I caught on a flight, pre-Covid) to be interesting, although somewhat disturbing.

The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

As a lifelong fan of the character, I was excited to learn that a new Tarzan movie was in the works.  It had been over three decades since I'd seen "Greystoke" in theatre, and none of the Tarzan movies since then had been particularly good.

Movie poster for "The Legend of Tarzan" (2016)

I got back into the Tarzan novels in 2012, on the centenary of the publication of the first Tarzan story in the pulps.  I even attended the Centennial Conference at Bridgewater College in Virginia, that November.

When I learned that the Edgar Rice Burroughs Chain of Friendship would be holding their annual gathering in Los Angeles that year, with a special advance screening of "The Legend of Tarzan", I knew that I had to attend.

My wife and I took separate planes to LA, and I was ready and waiting in a rented jeep when she stepped out of the terminal.  We saw the movie on the Paramount lot with fellow Burroughs enthusiasts and members of the Burroughs family.

I think director David Yates did an admirable job of portraying a classic hero through a twenty-first century lens.  The music and cinematography were brilliant.  It's a shame the movie didn't do well enough to justify a sequel.

We saw "The Legend of Tarzan" three more times in theatre, including once with my friend Joe and his wife, Kim.  We've seen the film again on DVD and itunes, since then.  It never fails to bring back memories of a really special trip.