I Watched All the Shrek Movies or The Surprising Beauty of Puss in Boots

 

What makes a movie endure? That's a really good question to start an article and yet I'm not sure I have an answer. It was question that came up as Amanda and I decided to go through all the Shrek movies. There was no particular reason for this, just a whim. While I sometimes have a desire to rewatch an old film I'm very familiar with or one I have missed that I've finally felt like getting around to, the Shrek films don't really fall into either category. 

That's not to say that I have any animosity towards the franchise, in fact I really liked the first two films growing up. I've been told recently that I throw the term "favorites" around too much, especially when it comes to movies. I guess there must be hundreds of films that I might have called that at one time or another, but that doesn't always mean they rank highly in some essential list for any great length of time.

My point is that while I may have probably considered the first Shrek films among my favorites for some brief time in preteen/early teen years (as I know my sister and I rewatched them frequently for a bit), they never made it onto any list currently or retroactively. So, no, I guess they were never REALLY among my favorites per say, but I enjoyed them and I wouldn't dispute the classic nature of the tale combined with the weird time capsule and memeability (is that a term?) the franchise has sparked with many people.

However, since I've never been a huge Shrek fan, I never watched anything past the second film. It was just one of the instances where interest waned between the second and third and I never had a desire to watch the remaining sequels. It's possibly I grew out of it, although I think it was a just simple matter of kind of forgetting about it and then (right around my high school years) I started to consider myself a "serious" film connoisseur and critic. Maybe my inclination towards believing more sequels generally equated to a downward trend in quality. Or may I just felt to mature for it. In any case, I don't think there was a conscious reason, Shrek just wasn't something I connected with enough to keep up with.

Amanda enjoys occasionally watching kids films. I feel like she suggests than more regularly than I do. So this prompted us to borrow the Shrek films from the local library. After watching all the films, something kind of unexpected happened that I honestly would have never guessed. My opinion on these films radically shifted, partially due to the simple input of new information. 

As is often the case when we get behind on what's current, my new perspective may or may not provide new revelations to Shrek fans far more diehard than I.  In fact, I find this franchise just one of many examples that I find interesting in regards to such an adoring fanbase. It's not necessarily that I can't see some appeal, I just never would have thought this franchise would result in yearly festivals. 

Having seen all the films at this point, I can still appreciate the fandom being what it is, even though it's not one of those things that resonates at the same frequency. Then again, I guess you could say that about any fandom you aren't are part of (perhaps with a few exceptions, like if you really don't GET something at all). I think I'm starting to stall, so here are my thoughts briefly on each film:

Shrek (2001)- This is of course the classic I grew up with. I can still appreciate how it's a clever jab at fairy tales and Disney's corporate nature in particular. All the while it does have a good message for kids with some spicy yet subtle adult humor in there. It's hard to deny how truly unique a film it is, which is a big part of what helps it endure, even if I don't love it as much as I did as a young viewer.

Shrek 2 (2004)- For about twenty years, this was where my knowledge of the franchise basically ended. I remembered for the longest time thinking this was the superior movie, with a good continuation of the themes of the story. I was surprised how many movie references of the time where thrown in. These stood out much more prominently and I may potentially damage the timelessness even more so than the pop songs.

Shrek 3 (2007)- Entering new territory, this was definitely the funniest of the movies for me. There were some very strong visual gags and some darker/slightly more sophisticated humor that I think the adult viewer would appreciate more. I was surprised to see how much they managed to push boundaries while still remaining fairly accessible to younger audiences. This movie was very much a direct sequel to the previous movie, following up Prince Charming's story as a villain in a natural way while actually providing some layers that make his perspective the sympathetic of franchise villains.

Shrek 4 (2010)- This one is kind of a mixed bag for me, as I loved the scale and scope of the concept (alternate reality a la It's A Wonderful Life). However, I must admit that this sort of scenario has been done before and does retread extensions of the same message we've been hearing since the first movie. Personally, I still think it stands out as unique, with perhaps the movie evil villain and the darkest tone. Yet, my biggest issue isn't really any of the formula, just that I feel we could have gone deeper into Shrek's internal plight or at least created a grander scale of events that the movie seems to suggest it wants to build on. Ultimately,  the movie kind of peters out rather than going out with a strong conclusive note. It's flawed, and certainly not as balanced, but I still liked it overall.

Now we come to what this article is really about. The secret of this series is not in the Shrek films themselves (at least for me). No, the biggest delight is in the spinoff, the Puss and Boots movies.

I'll admit to always liking the character in Shrek 2. I like cats. I like Antonio Banderas. I like swashbuckling adventures and fantasy in general. Someone must have really noticed the potential and ran with it. 

While the feline's first outing is pretty good, acting as sort of an origin story to the character, it's in the sequel that he really shines. Honestly, what surprised the most about these two movies is just how fundamentally different they are from the main movies.

Perhaps one reason I wasn't drawn from them was due to expecting more of the same satire but without the titular ogre. I had heard in passing the first movie was good, but with no ringing endorsements that I should rush out and watch it. No, it slipped under my radar as many good movies do. It's a shame because (and I'm not sure if this is a hot take or not) I think I enjoy these movies more than the Shrek films. 

This might be just do to the initial surprise they were actually pretty good movies, but that the tone was just not what I was expecting. Unlike the satire of Shrek, while there is some humor, these are much more straightforward, serious and fun adventure/fantasy stories. They took advantage of the melded fairy tale setting with an expanded world with set pieces. I particularly loved the ascent to the clouds to find the golden eggs. 

While the first movie is good, with the exception of an aspect of the ending that doesn't make much sense (even within the logic of the film), the second film truly blew me away.

I'm sure most people reading this probably know already, but in case you haven't seen it, just go for it. If you like fantasy or just good quality movies, I highly recommend it. While it benefits from the previous movie, you don't really need to see it or the main series to appreciate the story. The animation was wonderful, the humor was great and the themes were very poignant and complex. It may in fact be one of my favorite movies now. Time will tell.

So basically, the Shrek franchise didn't go as downhill as I feel I was led to believe over the years. Nice.

No Romulans But Still Pretty Good! (Alien: Romulus Review)

Alien: Romulus is pretty scary, but not as scary as adenocarcinoma.

Well, horror films provide a different type of scare. They often echo the fears in our own lives while providing that detachment once we are no longer immersed, if we are successfully immersed of course. We can dip into these fears and explore them in a new way, perhaps coming away with a little more perspective and maybe some relief. These seems to be true of many stories, horror or otherwise.

It is fitting to draw comparisons to the Alien franchise with something akin to cancer. The xenomorph, in its various transformations which accompany its otherworldly life cycle, invites all kinds of comparisons which have been analyzed since the inception of the first film back in the 1970s. Probably the most commonly cited is showcased by the H.R. Giger production design. The creatures and their methods of attack are invasive, particularly with a sexual connation.  There is a type of violation the alien creature commits which reflects fears many people have of similar violations of a physical nature. After all, the face hugger forces its eggs down the throat of the victim violently with its proboscis, regardless of how the victim feels.

This concept is indeed frightening and I know some people have found the films uncomfortable for this reason and have refused to watch them. Some people don't like horror movies and others understandably like them even less if they take them to traumatic places. If nothing else, this proves the Alien franchise is willing to use these monsters from space to elevate itself above B movie camp (which I love and also has its place of course) to try and explore these primordial concepts.

For me, the Alien films never came off as overtly sexual, at least not at the forefront of my mind. No, it usually gets under my skin (if you will) due to fears that are more akin to classic body horror. The face hugger always bothered me due to its forceful entry into the body but then leaving behind the egg within. This growth could be a stand in for many biological dangers that can strike. It acts as a tumor or some sort of parasite but could also become suddenly violent like a heart attack, albeit with much more blood. The chest bursting itself is terrifying of course. This film in particular made use of crackling bones crunching as the creature made its way out. Never underestimate great sound design. 

Then there is the other, more basic and perhaps primal horror that these films tap into. That is fear of the unknown. That is perhaps the greatest fear but, more specifically, the xenomorph seems to be a brilliant representation of the predatory animal. The creature, particularly due to the design of the monster and the accompanying atmosphere of these films, seems (for lack of a better word) evil. It's this greyish and ebony not quite humanoid/not quite reptilian/insect creature with multiple jaws of fangs, a speared tail and acid blood. It's a nightmare. Worst for me though is the lack of eyes. This brings much more emphasis to the scowling and drooling fanged mouths, which seem just so filled with hate.

This is, of course, a human perception, but the design choice is also somewhat deliberate I'm sure. As far was we can tell though, this thing is just an animal being driven by that instinct for survival we also have. This in itself brings us questions about the natural world, for we as humans often place ourselves above the typical animal. Our intelligence, our consciousness, or sense of morality and compassion separate us from the other creatures of the world. It makes us better than them in some way, right? We're special. We should get some special treatment. Well, maybe. Maybe not. Either way, regardless of what makes us different, when thrown among the wolves, the wolves will care little for your human qualities. Perhaps we're not so separate after all.

What makes the xenomorph more intimidating than say, a lion, is that we know a lion. We, to some degree at least, understand the lion. The lion, in this example, has some spectrum of emotion we can project on to it. This potential understanding makes the animal less frightening, at least from a distance. The lion is a mammal though, similar to me, more similar to my cats, which I can equate as cute and loveable. The lion can even be cute and loveable, from a distance. I think some people tend to have less connection to the animal the further they are removed from it. Reptiles or insects for instance. Unless you find those things interesting, you probably won't have as much natural affection for a reptile or insect. Personally, I think reptiles are really cool and I even would dare say I find some of them cute. Maybe not as cute as other critters, but probably cuter than an insect. Even insects we can make cute, through marketing or animation. We can project the best aspects of our humanity onto these creatures. The xenomorph is truly alien, so this lack of understanding feeds into that most basic aspect of fear, fear of the unknown.

The mystery of the xenomorph was a driving force for the franchise for years. Less information always makes things scarier, in movies and in life. We can bring our own ideas about the origins of the monster and incite fan discussion and debate, all while bonding over our individual and common fears. I guess that's one reason horror movie fans are so passionate. Maybe the whole thing is therapeutic. Movies have been a great outlet for me in general, for escapism as well as reflection and socializing. So maybe the whole Prometheus thing may not have been the best thing for the xenomorphs. I do like of like the movie but it has some big flaws. Aren't I supposed to be talking about another movie? Oh yeah!

I had some medical news come up that kind of threw me off for about a month, so I didn't feel focused enough to write a review on Alien: Romulus after seeing it in theaters. It's kind of good thing though, as I had some time to ruminate and really solidify how I felt about it. In short, I liked it! I liked it quite a bit actually. 

I'm sure most die-hard fans have probably seen it at this point, but as I write this it is coming out available for streaming. With that said, about a month after seeing it I really want to watch the movie again. I would declare its the best movie in the franchise since Aliens. At first, that probably wouldn't sound like a ringing endorsement, but I feel confident saying that. 

I certainly have some mixed feelings and a few doubts upon my initial viewing, but there is one major factor which causes me to (mostly) push those things aside. This movie made me feel something. Most movies do of course, but I had a significant emotional response based on the events occurring on screen. I'll go even further. This movie made me shed tears. Yes. Tears. I don't often cry in movies and when I do, they are in dramas. I don't think I've ever cried in a horror movie before. 

My theory on why is simply that I was invested in the characters. Much like characters in past Alien films, these were blue collar everymen/women/people you could sympathize with. They were believable and relatable without having to know much about them. I connected with their family dynamics and an instilled sense of survival against a large money hungry company that seems to own everything. This concept seems to get more relevant and dystopic every year. Oh my. Anyway, our characters are part of a mining colony, essentially indentured servants to the corporation and a ship with cryogenic technology is their chance to escape. Whatever could be on this ship? You already know.

What really aided my investment wasn't really the writing. Although there are some nice subtle touches, the characters aren't the most complex or dynamic, although their relationships do compel the audience to consider ideas about family and loyalty, despite inherent differences. No, it's all about the performances. The initial trailers with the young cast made me more than skeptical. It just looked like they'd turned Alien into another disposable slasher. I was very wrong. The youth of the cast provides something new. They seem like a ragtag group of misfit orphans who are really out of their depth. For the most part, even with one character who was meant to be unlikable, I really wanted this group to make it. 

Two scenes stick out in particular. One involves a young girl who we find out is pregnant. There are some obvious parallels to the the concepts toyed with regarding childbirth and motherhood in this franchise, so it's not surprising this was included. Also, this girl had few other attributes other than being a young mother to be who simply wants to get out of her situation, therefore providing a better life for her child. Much like other things in this movie, it's pretty safe and potentially boring but...it worked for me. Perhaps it's partially due to my own thoughts regarding mortality in recent months along with the possibility of having children of my own. It was also a very compelling performance. I worried about this young woman. I cared about her and her unborn child. I was doing that sort of cinematic prayer you sometimes may find yourself doing. Please let her make it. Please let her be okay. They wouldn't go that far. Of course they would, that's why she's here. No, they won't do that. Come on. No!

There is also a scene involving characters separated by a door and the moral decision of opening it versus closing it, with a xenomorph hunting one person on the other side.  It's a basic, classic dilemma. Once again, it's simple but therefore a universal conflict with lives on the line. Much like a pregnant woman in danger, it seems passé and tired but it was done very well. There was tension. My anxiety was up. I'm pretty sure I shed tears here too. I understand if they have to make the decision but maybe they'll let her in. Maybe. I hope they do. I won't reveal the resolution for either of these characters in case you haven't seen it but the point is that this movie had me invested. It upset me. I left the theater feeling unsettled and it took me hours to feel more like myself...and that was kind of a good thing? 

​Before I wrap this up (this went on much longer than I anticipated) I wanted to try to be fair and point out a few potential flaws that do stick out to me. I hesitate calling them flaws but I could totally see some people hating these elements. It's tricky though and something many movies based on these franchises often have trouble with. This is an Alien movie. So it does...Alien stuff. On one hand you always want to try to bring something new to the table instead of rinsing and repeating the stuff we've seen. However, if the movie strays from the established beats too much, why see it? How much can a thing be different from itself before it no longer becomes that thing? Indeed. Ha. No, but seriously, I've wondered this regarding many IPS. The truth is, I think Alien: Romulus does both. 

Face huggers. Chest bursters. Androids. Weyland-Yutani. Cryo sleep. Strong female characters. Hybrids? You've seen it all before. If these things weren't there it wouldn't be an Alien movie. Some of these things I admit felt almost a little obligatory, like fan Easter eggs or...what's the South Park term? Member berries. Look at this? Remember this? Hit those nostalgic neurons and like our movie! Except, it never really felt disingenuous to me. I'm pretty cynical about this stuff and I just felt that these things were done very effectively, with reverence to the source material. Yeah, they repeat some things, but they do add new elements. Some of it is just more or bigger or with a new coat of paint, but they do add something new. This batch of characters offered a new perspective and the whole mining colony setting did expand the world bit more. That's about it but otherwise it was a more intimate tale covering much of the same ground. I liked it!

There is one thing I think people may have hated that could be the exception. It would be the appearance of one character that could be seen as a fun throwback or a cheap nostalgia hit. It was probably a bit of both but I kind of like the reintroduction of this character. Maybe it's because I think of him as such a classic villain and a very fascinating one. If people hate it, that's fine but it mostly worked for me. I'm not sure if the movie needed it but hey, whatever.

So, there you have it. There were no Romulans but it was still pretty good. Take care everyone.

​- Joe

Our First Wedding Anniversary

Due to recent circumstances over the last few weeks, we had to modify our anniversary celebration a bit. As most of you know, Amanda Manduck and I are generally homebodies, so the biggest change was transportation and (most unfortunately) food-related.

Our original plan was to retrieve samples from each of the Hummelstown pizzerias and sample them, much like we did to determine the menu for our wedding. Since I'm currently recovering from surgery, I haven't really been able to go along on long car rides and my ability to intake food has been rather limited at the moment. I thought it was a rather cute idea and I look forward to making it happen next year. This time, my lovely wife was my personal delivery driver! This marriage thing has some nice perks.

As much as I love pizza, we decided to get some pasta from Fabio's. It's an Italian place in Grantville we discovered on our honeymoon this past summer. I highly recommend it. Although the amount was small, I was able to have fettucini alfredo. Amanda got the macaroni and cheese dish.

After eating the wonderful food she brought home, we spent time finishing one of the stories from a Planet of the Apes anthology. It was based on the live-action show, so we watched an episode of that and then followed it up with Amanda's favorite film, an obscure sci-fi entitled 2001: A Space Odyssey. Ever heard of that one? Even though Amanda insisted on not talking through the whole film, ironically, we talked through the whole thing.

When Amanda suggested the idea for the time capsule filled with vows, letters and other writing material, I thought it was a very fitting idea. However, I could not have anticipated how fun and heartfelt this new tradition would be. There was even a plot twist or two!

We opened the box and examined the contents within. These included badges from the Star Trek convention and our little yarn ghosts. I've gotten much better with crafts in part due to our crafternoons at the library. I hope to go to one this month if I'm up to it.

I also think we did a pretty good job with our author summaries and recommendations. It's almost like we like reading or something. Sheesh, what a pair of nerds.

We then reread our vows after looking for Frank Saveslives wonderful wedding ceremony script. He did such a wonderful job with the ceremony. We read our letters to each other and I have to say, Amanda Manduck wrote a much better letter than I did. This is proof that I really have to up my game yo.

The best part of this process was reading the requested letters from our wedding party and families with words of wisdom, encouragement, and love.

Yolanda Poth thank you so much for welcoming me into the family. Your letter continued that message and I am very proud to be a part of it.

Brianna Steimer had some great advice and sweet words that provided laughter and joyful reminiscing. I'm sorry to say that Amanda is still the spider-slayer though.

I'm very happy to say, as with the wedding-related events in general, my guys really came through for me.

Sometimes, especially with how our past few weeks have been, it's good to hear kind words from friends and family. It serves as a reminder of the smallest yet most important aspects of any relationship. With this new tradition, it was also full of wonderful surprises.

Jonathan William and Hannah Emily We loved hearing your kind words and, in a way, your letter served as a time capsule reminder of your new union as well. Thank you so much for supporting us as friends, fellow educators, and lovers of literature. We're looking forward to seeing you both again soon!

Nathaniel Rose Amanda and I really appreciated your time travel-themed letter. It was both humorous and heartfelt. Thank you for continuing to add to the laughter and humor of our movie nights. We plan to do more in the future!

Justin Miller is a truly fantastic writer and really took the theme to the next level. I guess we should have expected no less. Two letters and with a bit of a novel-like structure complete with preludes and afterwords of a sort. We were both amazed and greatly touched by how honest and open you were as you wrote. To put it bluntly, you went there. You should really put more of your work out there. These letters were fantastically written and were full of love and honesty. You had some great advice as well. As expected, you gave us something to ponder, reflect on, and perhaps discuss in the future.

James, my best man. I know that typically you are a man of few words. I also know you probably didn't like that I gave you a writing assignment. Despite this, your letter was beautiful. Amanda can attest, I got a little tearful reading one particular line. We really enjoyed your letter and look forward to the five-year one you generously and most optimistically provided us as well. You're my best friend too.

Thank you once again to everyone who helped make our wedding special and also continue to support us on our journey together. This first year was mostly good, but it's had its challenges of course. Overall though, it was just so great to have this reminder of all those who love us and who we love together in one special memento. Amanda and I really needed this, especially after my stay at the hospital. You all helped make the day truly special for us. In my case, I actually managed to forget what had happened so recently. That's how powerful the experience was.

It's been a scary few weeks but as I recover from my surgery, I've been thinking a great deal about what's important. Specifically, that I've done a pretty good job of being thankful for every little gift each day brings. Now I'm just even more aware of it.

I'm a very lucky man to have a loving, sweet woman in my life who shares my interests and laughs at my corny jokes. I hope to have many more years with you to go to Star Trek conventions, watch bad movies (and some good ones) with friends, share good meals, take long walks in the woods, and create new crafts together among many other things I hope to do. I'm incredibly fortunate to have found such a wonderful person who accepts me and encourages me as you do. I love you, Amanda.

I also love all of you, my family (cats included), my friends, my colleagues, and all those people who have enriched my life up to this point. I thank all of you who wrote letters, I thank all who helped put our wedding day together, everyone who made it out on that chilly day to share the moment, and all who have supported us since then. We appreciate you all greatly.

Take care, everyone! Happy anniversary, my love!

P.S.- Justin told me to be more open and vulnerable, so I'm taking his advice. Be forewarned, I plan to write something similar in the future.

A Review of the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

To wrap up our summer honeymoon week, my wife and I decided to go out and see a movie in the theater. I've always enjoyed the movie theater experience more than my wife has, but since it's so rare that we go out to one, I wanted to make it part of our week. We both happen to be Planet of the Apes fans. More so of the original films than the ones that started in 2011, but Amanda is very much a completionist and I have liked the newer movies well enough.

This one has been out for a little while as I post this, so I won't go into too many plot synopsis or spoilers here. Mostly I intend to give my overall impressions. Admittedly, the film isn't super fresh in my mind. I saw it over a week ago at this point. However, how much a movie sticks with you upon an initial viewing can often be telling in itself.

Enough excuses for my laziness and lack of professionalism (haha irony and self-awareness makes it better!), how was the newest Apes movie for Joe?

The thing I expressed to my wife first is actually the element that sticks out the most to me as I type this and attempt to recall my impressions. It's the visuals. The movie looked rather good. I know that in heavy CGI ladden epic action movies like this, which are rather common nowadays, that's kind of expected. Anything that doesn't look expensive is going to stand out as shoddy computer effects. As someone who typically prefers practical effects (there's just something about the idea of people handcrafting something and using resources at hand), I think the CGI here was pretty good. I think there are some really good examples of heavy CGI that do look pretty and can be marvels in their own way. The problem is, a really good practical effect tends to age better. CGI that blew me away 20 years ago often looks a little tacky. Even when I push nostalgia aside, as with most aspects of movies, I think you should consider a film in the context of when it was made as well as asking, "does the story hold together well?"

I feel like I'm ranting more here than usual. I'm not sure if this is my desire to seem more experimental or an attempt to capture my stream of consciousness while also trying to make a written piece more polished. Probably a bit of both. Is such a thing possible? Is the pretentious level over 9000? You tell me. Are we having fun yet? 

Amanda just asked, "How's it going over there?" I guess it's going good. Maybe I should go back to trying to write about this movie. This is the  Manduke Movie Blog, is it not?

Anyway, I think the visuals of the film were pretty impressive, particularly everything involved with the setting. The jungle looked vibrant and lush. It was one of those instances of something being very digital but it was so detailed and pretty I didn't care. There can be true artistry in CGI too!

The apes themselves looked good as expected, although there is one area where I felt they may have done better in previous films of the series. It was the eyes. There is kind of a creepy lifelessness to them that I found distracting at some points. Beyond that, they looked pretty darn good. 

Despite the visuals looking appealing, this movie didn't really show off as much in the action. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as this one tries to focus a little more on character, plot and general world building. All these particular areas are relatively simple, straightforward and familiar. You've got the classics revenge/find my family arc all tied into a very primal plot. Despite the simplicity, I kind of appreciated the tropes found within those sort of early man/prehistoric narratives which use these basic formulas. They tend to take some of the most basic formulas of plots and strip them down to their purest form. 

While I find it refreshing in a way (it's kind of why I like games like Far Cry: Primal or the stories of Robert E Howard due to that foundational universal sort of tale), it is extremely simple. I kind of found myself wishing it would delve a little more into some of the themes it teased a bit. The Apes movies in the past at least attempted to be cerebral sci-fi asking societal questions. The biggest idea this one touted was how history and religious/philosophical ideologies can be misinterpreted or twisted by different groups over time. We've seen the character of Caesar and what his beliefs were, but enough time has passed that he's become a legend, a fragmented story and simply an idea. The characters in the film didn't truly know Caesar or his experiences or perspectives, they just have ideas. The parts of these ideas the have power, for good or ill. 

You've got so many classic elements of the hero's journey here, most prominent to me being the mentor orangutan figure (why are they always the wisest ones?). He gives our hero, Noa, the teaching of Caesar based around peace among apes as well as acceptance of humans. I liked the pendant he gives Noa, which was  based on Caesar's memories of his human home, now a symbol much like a cross. The specifics of the origins of this symbol are unknown to these followers, but the idea permeates. Meanwhile we of course have our baddies, who latch onto the hatred and fear Caesar had toward humans. Once again, they don't have the full story, but there is some truth to the foundation of their particular ideology.

It's kind of a small thing, but my favorite aspect of the film, beyond the general presentation and some visual/auditory references to the older films I thought were pretty well integrated, was the villain. Proximus is just a fun bad guy. At first glance he seems like he'd be written as pure evil or some sort of brute. He's actually a student of history and fully believes he's doing what his best for his kind, using the Roman expansion as his inspiration for his persona and military ambition. Of course, he sees himself as an inheritor of ape leadership. His ego feeds into this visage of bombastic theatricality, much in line with one who wishes to rally his troops as a figurehead. He was over the top in some ways, but behind this was kind of a sort of everyman (or everyape in this case) who took an opportunity and went with it. He was scary but in a believable sort of way. I appreciate the subtlety.

There were some things we didn't like though. Gary Oldman is the obligatory well known human actor in the movie, who  plays a character who reads to Proximus and sides with him after being captured. He is sort of a defeated person, but we don't really know who he is or what truly motivates him. He's just seems to be there more for exposition. Even worse is the main human, the girl named Nova (naturally) who turns out to be part of a group of humans who have retained their intelligence and use of technology. While I kind of appreciated the twist, this woman just seems to know everything and be able to do everything. Without her, the apes would have not been able to accomplish much, at least not without a more complex plot and perhaps a whole other movie. Her motivations also weren't entirely clear. I appreciate that there is a level of mistrust the humans have of all apes, but she's another character who wasn't fleshed out enough.

Those issues aside, Amanda and I both did enjoy the movie. Maybe this was due to lowered expectations but it was a good viewing experience. I settled on giving this one a B and Amanda gave it an A-. So I guess you could say we collectively gave it a B+. If you're not a huge Apes fan, maybe wait to give this one a rent or see if it available for free, but its a nice watch for some good simple storytelling. Until next time, thanks for reading!

Joe

The Manduke's Summer Honeymoon Adventure (Hershey, the Poconos and a Movie!)

 

With the school year over, Amanda and I were able to take our honeymoon week vacation. We decided  to do something a little different each day, encompassing our trip to Jim Thorpe. This trip didn't exactly go as planned but we'll get to that. 

On Monday we started off our week with a day at the pool. We're still getting to know the area and were not familiar with every public pool. We opted for one by a park I had frequented once or twice and it turned out to be a very nice pick. It wasn't too crowded and we got pretty good use of the available space. Our attempts to read/sunbathe were interrupted by an older gentleman who kept inciting conversation with us. He was friendly enough, but it prompted us both to go back into the pool a bit sooner than we intended. Not really a bad thing. It was a beautiful day. 

We then had dinner at a local Italian restaurant I'd never heard of before. Fabio's had wonderful decor and was surprisingly busy for a Monday night. It turns out the food was one of the main reasons why (in addition to speedy and friendly service). The atmosphere was something between fine dining with an air of homestyle you'd expect from a family-run establishment. The portions of the appetizers and entrees were so sizeable that dessert was simply out of the question! Amanda had a great pick and I hope to go back soon!

The whole week was hot. So, while we remained mostly pretty cool on our Monday, Tuesday we ventured outside again without the assistance of water-related activities to keep our temperatures down. It turned out to be somewhat fortunate that we would be leaving town for a few days, as our air conditioner stopped functioning properly around this time. Our apartment was pretty muggy to put it mildly. Our diversion on the second day was mini-golf at Adventure Sports. This was only our second time at mini-golf (surprisingly). It was a good time. The course wasn't too difficult and we went at a pretty decent pace despite the groups of teenagers ahead of us. We had to deliver one of their bags to them since one of them kept leaving behind. Alas, we earned our Good Samaritan badges for the day (I suppose/is that a thing?). I'm not being cheeky when I say I'm not sure who won the game. I think Amanda did though, as revenge for my defeating her the first time. I'm interested to go back and check out the arcade at some point. 

Wednesday we set forth on our little trip to Jim Thorpe. Our initial plan was to take a day or two to see a few of the recommended sites in the town, sprinkling in a day at the lake with a trail or two in there. Before reaching town, we decided to stop at Mauch Chunk Lake Park and check out one of the trails. We opted for an easier one. Switchback Trail is mostly shaded and goes well around the lake itself. There were many deep greens and tiny tributaries around us and along much of the trail which comprised most of the dense forest. I hadn't been up that way in a long time and don't think I ever went to Poconos specifically. The forested mountains there seemed so green and full compared to the valleys of Central Pennsylvania I'm used to. The roundness of the peaks seemed more pronounced to me. I was surprised but there did seem to be some differences. 

This next part was the result of my lack of experience with the area, a lack of research, and perhaps just a simple misunderstanding of the layout of our primary destination. While I suspected that Jim Thorpe was a small town in which one could walk to all the major points of interest, I underestimated perhaps how small. I guess pictures just don't do it justice. 

For anyone who would like to go to Jim Thorpe, parking is pretty limited. The whole town is along one road which is tightly interwoven between the mountains. It's very cool visually, but the heavy traffic combined with the heat made us rethink how much we really wanted to check out the several points of interest recommended. After some deliberation, we decided that Jim Thorpe may be a day trip at some point, perhaps when it's a little cooler. 

To break up the time before heading closer to where we would be staying, we decided to find a place to stay cool. Naturally, we made our way to the library in Lehighton. It was a small library but cozy. Amanda finished a community puzzle and we each started a book we'd never read. Amanda went for Lolita and I went for the novelization of Attack of the Clones. We both enjoyed what we read and expressed interest to continue reading them. Never before would I have thought that particular novelization would have piqued my interest. It was a pleasant surprise brought on by a very specific circumstances. It's interesting how things work out that way sometimes.

Our next destination was the Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary, which I'm confident to say we both found pretty adorable. It's deceptively bigger than it appears from the outside, although the butterfly room is only a small part of it. There is of course a gift shop and an educational wing where the employees give presentations on butterflies. There are also some fun activities for the family which we partook. I enjoyed the coloring myself. 

Amanda was extremely popular with the butterflies, as she had three on her at one point. One of them rested on her hand and just would not leave! As one of the young ladies working there put it, "It must be because she's so sweet."

To be honest though, my favorite aspect of the place had nothing to do with butterflies. It turns out the sanctuary was home to some reptiles and amphibians. There were a pair of turtles, many different frogs, and an axolotl, which neither of us had ever seen outside of textbooks or online images. It was a very cool (and cute) creature! 

We had booked a few nights in this house in Albrightsville, where I've seen more deer in the span of five minutes than at any other point in my life. Seriously, on the way back to the home one of the nights there must have been ten deer acting as obstacles to prevent us from getting back. It was a nice place, though maybe not well designed for a couple, as it was set up more for a bigger family to place their belongings in between excursions. Amanda and I liked the idea of watching a movie at night, but the furniture wasn't set up the best for that. It worked out though, since (although watching options were limited) we did end our evenings with some Steven Seagal films. This has become something of a tradition and running joke since we've gotten together.

Unfortunately, the lack of AC and just getting acclimated to sleeping in new surroundings meant neither of us slept super great during the trip. Also, trying to find places suitable to eat proved to be its own adventure. 

The journey to Jim Thorpe became an exploration of the Poconos near Albrightsville. We primarily went to Hickory Run Park and spent some time on the beach at Sand Spring Lake. The water was nice and healthy, as indicated by the many tiny fish that swam in large clusters near the shore. There weren't too many people so it was relaxing and felt nice and tucked away. I kept trying to get a picture of the birds as they swooped by. Every time they landed, they had flown away before I could get a good shot. They were pretty cool though.

Amanda also humored me by picking a local winery. This was Mountain View in Stroudsburg. It's been a while since I've tasted some new wines. Mountain View is also a brewery and distillery, so there were even more options for samples. The view was absolutely lovely. It felt quiet, secluded, and peaceful. The food was excellent as well. For me, it's one of the best winery experiences I've had and one of the high points of the trip for both of us. I highly recommend it to those who are interested!

We spent the nights there playing some party games provided by the host. These were Spot It!, I Wish I Didn't Know, We're Not Really Strangers, and Guess the Gibberish. These were fun to pick up and we both enjoyed them enough that I made a note to remember them all. As someone who really has to be in the right mood to play any sort of card game, I did pretty well and enjoyed all the games more than I thought I would. These were quiet moments, but we had some laughs and some good discussions with them. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Of course, as I was starting to feel comfortable in the new area, it was time to go.

Before we left, we went for a little hike up to Hawk Falls. It was a pretty short hike, therefore a popular one. Getting to the waterfall revealed a pretty sight. It was awesome how being in relative proximity to the falls made us immediately cooler. I was a wonderful site to behold. I'd like to check out some similar ones. Maybe we'll have to make that another little goal!

Our last stop before returning home was to check out the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum. Anyone who is interested in history or geology would probably find this fascinating. The museum is filled with so many artifacts from early 20th century mining and beyond that you could probably be there for hours if you examined every individual piece. The real highlight is the tour itself, where you are transported by rail 1600 feet into the mine, where the tour guide gave us extensive information as to the working conditions of the miners. It was chilly in there and we even got to experience what it was like with no lights on. I must admit, I really looked forward to getting out of the mine before the tour was over. Overall though, it gave me a major appreication for the struggles of the miners of Pennsylvania's mountains. I have a great respect for these people. 

Upon our weekend return we made a point to make more excursions out, as our air conditioning still wasn't working properly. We went out to eat at a few places and on Saturday we went to the Pirate and Fairy Festival in Pottsville. This festival didn't have the biggest turnout, probably due to the heat. We were able to see the actors perform and sing at several of the events. It felt like a much more personal gathering of a community which added its special charm. The actors were dedicated and Amanda had several interactions with the Pirate Librarian, who seemed to be running the show. It was a nice time although I'd be curious to see what it will be like in the future. I'd love to see this festival grow. 

We wrapped up our honeymoon week with a movie and an ice cream. Both were simian in nature, as we decided on Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Ice cream was had at King Kone. We both liked the movie (more than I think either of us were expecting). It's been a bit since I've written a movie review, so I'll expand more on that later. I'll just say here that it was a good time and a nice way for us to end our week of honeymoon celebration. The ice cream was good too!

This was a pretty eventful week for us and I admit that it was stressful at times for two homebodies like us. Even so, as I've taken the time to look back and document this trip, I realized that it was pretty fun and often interesting. It didn't work out exactly as we planned, but we still had a really good time together. I'm looking forward to more events like this in the future, as discussing and analyzing the aftermath with Amanda is often the best part of these trips. I'm happy we made some good memories this past June and we plan to make many more!

-Joe