Joker Folie À Deux

I do apologize for the halt in the Rings series, yesterday was indeed a day and I barely got any work done so accept this movie review as my burnt offering.

Madness For Two? Don't mind if I do! If there ever was a word to concisely sum up this movie it would be, ballsy. I mean a comic book musical movie, that is polarizing enough as is! But me being a bit of a theater kid and fan of musicals, my reaction when that tidbit of information was, far out. This movie is one part court drama, one part romance, with a splash of musical and is that everyone's beverage of choice? Of course not, but I'll recommend it anyway. So we pick up not long after the ending of the last movie with Arthur in Arkham getting ready for his court case when he meets musically inclined Lee and a mad romance blooms, with Arthur almost having an identity crisis during the trial that could lead to his death. How on earth do you make a sequel to Joker? The answer is, you go off the rails and do your own shit unapologetically making an already unique movie all the more a beast of it's own. We kick off the movie with a Looney Tunes style short, which is a splendid gauge cause if you don't like that the musical madness ain't gonna do much for you either. Well while we are on that topic how was the music? I didn't expect original composition per sé but the selection of songs they picked were good ones, and there is indeed many a musical moment, and the vocal performances from Joaquin and Lady Gaga worked well. Even the romance while kind of a switcheroo in the Joker/Harley dynamic I found to be interesting and just fine, not super deep but functional. I felt the movie did a very good job proposing the question of is it Arthur or is it Joker? Is there indeed a split personality or is the man also the legend? It's not super involved or has monologues of flowery dialogue, because Joaquin can do so much with his face and before he even meets Lee he's kind of in a rut very much like comatose Joker in The Dark Knight Returns. How the Joker got his groove back would be a fun subtitle. The pacing is good, it gets artsy from time to time which of course my cinema snob heart sings to see, the direction taking in terms of plot is in short bold, and I am almost waiting with baited breath how this movie will be recieved now or a year from now or even a decade from now. 3 stars from me, 8/10, and we cap off the week with the forging of the Seven.

In Retrospect: The Rings Of Power (Season 1)

I'm not even done with season 2 and I can tell you the rewatch is worth it!

Granted almost every single aspect is like a knife twist in hindsight but still a damn good season. I mean for goodness sake if Charlie Vickers and his performance knowing what we know at the end ain't gonna do it for you, I really pity you. It's an eye opener no question about it, and having that foreknowledge of these characters, what they are about to go through, how much more we know about them improves an already strong season. 1st seasons are always setting that foundation to build upon, and while this is far from boring or tedious there was a reason they did this. Hell you could even argue season 2 is a slow burn but we gotta bide our time before we discuss that. Admittedly the dwarf storyline still holds much sway over my heart to this day and is still my favorite, no shock there I know with Rob and Owain putting the work in to make these characters not only come alive but feel like real people. I'll never shut up about them! Got a different read on Galadriel this time too, better understanding the flat out PTSD anger and tunnel vision that certainly didn't impede my enjoyment first time around, Morfydd still rocks and I will continue to say for any brain stem lacking mouth breathers out there that elves are not perfect and not above fault either, the truth hurts princess grow a wang and then sit on it. Adar is still #1 in my heart and while there will be notes on the character in the upcoming review I'll state right now that I really like both performances from Joseph Mawle and Sam Hazeldine, this is no slight against Sam but the emotions and vestiges of light that are seen in Adar are what made him the best character in my book. Still one of the most interesting and faceted original characters in modern fiction for my money. I just can't take my eyes off that norwegian black metal looking elf dude for a second. Also more props to Daniel Weyman as our totally unknown wizard, for a guy who only gets full sentence dialogue in the last flip flapping episode a lot of credit has to go to any actor that has to work with just body language primarily. And of course Sophia, my queen, my light, Disa I'd marry you myself if you weren't already taken even when you get mega Lady Macbeth near the end! I do appreciate also the balancing act of all the plot threads, true the Harfoot story is very much a side quest to the main Galadriel/Southlands stuff buuuut if we're being bold with honesty the whole forging of the Three kinda was last minute this season. Doesn't make it bad, it's just the truth. Mind you the level of detail and the practical effects utilized were a neverending treat to drink in, and ooh Amazon! Amazon! Why the hell are you not selling me merch and props and box sets Amazon! This is your show, I know the estate has to sign off on stuff, but come the fuck on Bridgette! You're sitting on a pile of treasure that would make a mithril vein look like two copper coins. Call me, I got ideas! I'm honestly thrilled to talk about the next season, and it's funny when I heard a Lord Of The Rings show was going to happen I was so feverishly against it until details came out about the setting taking place in the Second Age and I've been having a blast with it all. I've read The Silmarillion more times than I have The Lord Of The Rings so to see these events finally realized in some shape or form is a happy occasion. And I promise not to go apeshit and talk about everything come next review, I shall attempt to restrain myself. Until then my friends!