Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 10, 2023

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

NOV222086 100 GIRLFRIENDS WHO REALLY LOVE YOU GN VOL 06 (MR) $13.99

MAR231391 ADHERENT GN $20.00

FEB231056 ANCIENT ENEMIES THE WRAITH & SON #1 CVR A $3.99

FEB231057 ANCIENT ENEMIES THE WRAITH & SON #1 CVR B WRAITH WAGON VAR $3.99

SEP221506 ART OF DRACULA OF TRANSYLVANIA HC $65.00

FEB231532 BACK TO FAIRTAYLIA #5 (OF 6) $4.99

MAR231835 BANSHEES #2 (OF 5) $4.99

MAR231694 BINKY THE SPACE CAT TOP SECRET COLLECTION $44.99

DEC222006 BY THE GRACE OF GODS GN VOL 08 $12.99

JAN231160 CARTOON PUPPET HORROR THEATER #1 CVR A MAIN ROPP $3.99

JAN231161 CARTOON PUPPET HORROR THEATER #1 CVR B VICTIMS HANSEL $3.99

JAN231162 CARTOON PUPPET HORROR THEATER #1 CVR C SHINING HOMAGE HANSEL $3.99

FEB239325 CARTOON PUPPET HORROR THEATER #1 CVR D AM EXC HOMAGE FOC $6.99

JUN222199 CHASING AFTER AOI KOSHIBA GN VOL 04 (MR) $12.99

OCT222214 COLORLESS GN VOL 04 (MR) $14.99

FEB231697 COUNT DANTE #1 (OF 6) CVR A CARY NORD $4.99

FEB231698 COUNT DANTE #1 (OF 6) CVR B WES WATSON $4.99

OCT221992 CRIMSON STORM #2 $3.99

MAR231516 DAUGHTERS OF SNOW & CINDERS $29.99

MAR232262 DEATH MAGE GN VOL 01 $12.95

MAR231449 DF AMAZING SPIDERMAN #800 HUGHES VIRGIN VAR $39.99

FEB231349 DF MARVEL COMICS BLANK VAR NICIEZA & DELBEATO HOMAGE SKETCH $99.99

MAR231492 DF MAY MADNESS MASHUP $55.55

MAR231475 DF PLANET OF APES #1 MOVIE ADAPTATION ALLIE SGN $29.99

MAR231478 DF SILVER SURFER #50 STARLIN SGN $500.00

MAR231456 DF SPIDER GWEN #1 BROOKS EXC $39.99

DEC221291 DF SUPERMAN #1 WILLIAMSON GOLD SGN $38.00

MAR231476 DF WARLOCK #10 STARLIN SGN $400.00

MAR231477 DF WARLOCK CHRONICLES #1 STARLIN SGN $500.00

MAR231521 DOG KNIGHT GN VOL 01 $14.99

MAR231522 DOG KNIGHT HC GN VOL 01 $22.99

MAR231719 DONT SPIT IN THE WIND #2 (OF 4) $3.99

JAN231375 DREAM MASTER #5 (OF 5) CVR A BARRICELLI & CURTO $4.99

JAN231376 DREAM MASTER #5 (OF 5) CVR B CARITA $4.99

MAR232174 FLY ME TO THE MOON GN VOL 17 (MR) $9.99

MAR231559 FOUR EYES HC GN VOL 01 $24.99

FEB231615 FRANK FRAZETTA DEATH DEALER #12 CVR B FRAZETTA $4.99

SEP222211 GAMBLING APOCALYPSE KAIJI GN VOL 04 (RES) $21.95

MAR231317 GATSBY GN (MR) $19.99

MAR232172 HELCK GN VOL 03 $9.99

FEB231073 HEROINE HEAVEN #2 $5.95

NOV222167 HIDDEN DUNGEON ONLY I CAN ENTER GN VOL 08 $12.99

MAR232263 HINAMATSURI GN VOL 18 $11.95

AUG222177 I AM NOT A SUCCUBUS GN VOL 03 (MR) $13.99

MAR231565 I CAN READ COMICS GN TYS TRAVELS CAMP OUT $5.99

MAR231846 IMPOSSIBLE JONES & CAPT LIGHTNING #1 CVR A  HAHN $5.99

MAR231578 INCAL THE DYING STAR HC (MR) $24.99

MAR231849 KEEPERS OF THE COSMOS #1 CVR A AGUNG PRABOWO $4.99

MAR231725 LEGACY OF VIOLENCE #5 (OF 12) (MR) $3.99

MAR232009 LIQUID KILL #4 (OF 6) CVR A KNOTT (MR) $3.99

MAR232010 LIQUID KILL #4 (OF 6) CVR B IUMAZARK (MR) $3.99

MAR232011 LIQUID KILL #4 (OF 6) CVR C MEDEIROS (MR) $3.99

MAR232012 LIQUID KILL #4 (OF 6) CVR D KNOTT VIRGIN (MR) $9.99

MAR232175 MAO GN VOL 11 (MR) $9.99

MAR232140 MEGUMI & TSUGUMI GN VOL 02 (MR) $12.99

MAR231503 MISTER NO ATLANTIC GN $16.99

JAN231707 MONKEY KING COMP ODYSSEY GN $29.99

DEC222010 MY HAPPY MARRIAGE GN VOL 03 $12.99

MAR232164 MY HERO ACADEMIA VIGILANTES GN VOL 14 $9.99

NOV222198 MY SECRET AFFECTION GN VOL 02 $13.99

FEB231875 MYSTERE ANNUAL SPAWN OF ABYSS CVR A FAJARDO $7.99

FEB231876 MYSTERE ANNUAL SPAWN OF ABYSS CVR B OTERO $7.99

FEB231877 MYSTERE ANNUAL SPAWN OF ABYSS CVR C LOMOV $7.99

FEB231878 MYSTERE ANNUAL SPAWN OF ABYSS CVR D ALFREDO REYES $7.99

FEB231807 NASTY #2 CVR A CAHOON (RES) $4.99

FEB231808 NASTY #2 CVR B CANTIRINO (RES) $4.99

NOV221201 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD REVENANCE #3 CVR A PHOTO $3.99

NOV221202 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD REVENANCE #3 CVR B CORPSE CREW $4.99

NOV221203 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD REVENANCE #3 CVR C CARACUZO $4.99

NOV221204 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD REVENANCE #3 CVR D LTD ED $9.99

FEB239610 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD REVENANCE #3 CVR E FOC PHOTO ED $4.99

MAR231419 OCTOBRIANA & UNDERGROUND FULL TILT BOOGIE #1 (OF 2) CVR A PA $3.99

MAR231175 OLIVIA JAIMES NANCY HC NANCY WINS AT FRIENDSHIP $12.99

MAR231311 PET PEEVES GN $16.95

JAN232016 PHOENIX FILES #3 (OF 3) CVR A AL BARRIONUEVO $5.99

JAN232017 PHOENIX FILES #3 (OF 3) CVR B IGOR VITORINO $5.99

JAN232018 PHOENIX FILES #3 (OF 3) CVR C KEITH GARVEY $5.99

JAN232019 PHOENIX FILES #3 (OF 3) CVR D ABBONDANZA $5.99

MAR232179 POKEMON ADVENTURES X Y GN VOL 05 $9.99

SEP222246 PTSD RADIO GN VOL 03 $19.99

MAR231861 QUICKSAND #1 CVR A LANCIANESE $4.99

FEB231533 RAVAGE TP (MR) $19.99

JAN232168 REBORN AS A VENDING MACHINE WANDER DUNGEON GN VOL 01 $13.00

MAR231939 ROBERT JORDAN EYE OF THE WORLD TP VOL 03 NEW PTG $21.99

MAR231940 ROBERT JORDAN EYE OF THE WORLD TP VOL 04 NEW PTG $21.99

MAR231780 RUCA CHICANA SUPERHERO GN $15.00

NOV221075 SAMURAI DOGGY #6 $3.99

MAR231119 SECOND COMING TRINITY #2 (OF 6) CVR A PACE (MR) $4.99

JAN231758 SILVER AGE CLASSIC MIDNIGHT COMICS SOFTEE $32.99

JAN231759 SILVER AGE CLASSICS GORGO SOFTEE VOL 02 $32.99

NOV222212 SKIP AND LOAFER GN VOL 07 $12.99

NOV222213 SLOW LIFE IN ANOTHER WORLD I WISH GN VOL 05 $12.99

SEP228047 SOLOIST IN A CAGE GN VOL 01 $14.99

JUN222183 SUNDOME MILKY WAY GN VOL 06 (MR) $14.99

MAR231695 THUNDERBOOM GN $16.99

MAR231804 TIG AND LILY GN BOOK 01 TIGER TROUBLE $10.99

DEC222016 TOKYO ALIENS GN VOL 03 $12.99

DEC222034 TWILIGHT OUT OF FOCUS GN VOL 01 (MR) $12.95

MAR231173 WE ARE THE SMURFS GN BRIGHT NEW DAYS $12.99

FEB231379 WINTER EMBER #1 (OF 8) $3.99

MAR232157 WOLF GIRL BLACK PRINCE GN VOL 01 $9.99

MAR231208 WORLD OF BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #25 $9.99

MAR232177 YO-KAI WATCH GN VOL 21 $9.99

MAGAZINES

MAR231386 COMIC SHOP NEWS (100CT BUNDLE) #1864 $PI

JAN231742 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #588 $13.99

BOOKS

JAN231688 ART OF PINK FLOYD THE WALL HC $200.00

NOV222233 CASE FILES OF JEWELER RICHARD LIGHT NOVEL VOL 04 (MR) $14.99

NOV222234 CLASSROOM OF ELITE YEAR 2 L NOVEL VOL 04 4.5 $14.99

MAR231737 DARK AVENGER STRANGE SAGA OF THE SHADOW SC $29.95

FEB231313 GLAMOUR GIRLS OF PARIS SC 2 FRENCH PIN UP MAGS (MR) $24.95

NOV222239 I SWEAR I WONT BOTHER YOU AGAIN LIGHT NOVEL VOL 03 $14.99

MAR231113 MARVEL SCHOOL OF X NOVEL SC PHOENIX CHASE $16.95

MAR231576 ONE COOL DUCK GN VOL 01 $8.99

MAR231418 SNIPPETS 52 WEEKS OF DIARY COMICS $19.99

MAR232265 WRONG WAY USE HEALING MAGIC L NOVEL VOL 02 $14.95

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DC Comics Shipping from Lunar Distributors for May 9, 2023

DC COMICS:

Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries #8 (Cover A Erich Owen), $2.99

Batman Incorporated #8 (Cover A John Timms), $3.99

Batman Incorporated #8 (Cover B Alan Quah Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman Incorporated #8 (Cover C Isaac Goodhart AAPI Heritage Month Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman Incorporated #8 (Cover D John Timms Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #5 (Of 7)(Cover A Scott Godlewski), $3.99

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #5 (Of 7)(Cover B Danny Earls Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #5 (Of 7)(Cover C Francis Manapul Villain Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman The Adventures Continue Season Three #5 (Of 7)(Cover D Hayden Sherman Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman White Knight Presents Generation Joker #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Sean Murphy), $4.99

Batman White Knight Presents Generation Joker #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Mirka Andolfo), $4.99

Batman White Knight Presents Generation Joker #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Dan Mora), AR

Batman White Knight Presents Generation Joker #1 (Of 6)(Cover D Sean Murphy Black & White Variant), AR

Batman White Knight Presents Generation Joker #1 (Of 6)(Cover E Sean Murphy Foil Variant), AR

Danger Street #6 (Of 12)(Cover A Jorge Fornes), $4.99

Danger Street #6 (Of 12)(Cover B Evan Doc Shaner Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Gotham Academy Maps Of Mystery #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Karl Kerschl), $5.99

Gotham Academy TP, $39.99

Green Lantern #1 (Cover A Xermanico), $4.99

Green Lantern #1 (Cover B Lucio Parrillo Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Green Lantern #1 (Cover C Ivan Reis Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Green Lantern #1 (Cover D Pete Woods 5th Color Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Green Lantern #1 (Cover E Daniel Sampere Card Stock Variant), AR

Green Lantern #1 (Cover F Ariel Colon Card Stock Variant), AR

Green Lantern #1 (Cover G Xermanico Card Stock Variant), AR

Icon Vs. Hardware #3 (Of 5)(Cover A Rahzzah), $4.99

Icon Vs. Hardware #3 (Of 5)(Cover B Mateus Manhanini), $4.99

Icon Vs. Hardware #3 (Of 5)(Cover C Darryl Banks), AR

Looney Tunes #272 (Cover A Derek Fridolfs), $2.99

Multiversity Harley Screws Up The DCU #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Amanda Conner), $4.99

Multiversity Harley Screws Up The DCU #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Tyler Kirkham Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Multiversity Harley Screws Up The DCU #3 (Of 6)(Cover C Amanda Conner Card Stock Variant), AR

New Champion Of Shazam HC, $19.99

Sandman Universe Nightmare Country The Glass House #2 (Of 6)(Cover A Reiko Murakami), $3.99

Sandman Universe Nightmare Country The Glass House #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Michael Walsh Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Sandman Universe Nightmare Country The Glass House #2 (Of 6)(Cover C Javier Rodriguez Card Stock Variant), AR

Sandman Universe Nightmare Country The Glass House #2 (Of 6)(Cover D Joelle Jones Card Stock Variant), AR

Spirit World #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Haining), $3.99

Spirit World #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Dustin Nguyen Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Spirit World #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Zu Orzu AAPI Heritage Month Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Spirit World #1 (Of 6)(Cover D Trung Le Nguyen Card Stock Variant), AR

Spirit World #1 (Of 6)(Cover E Haining Card Stock Variant), AR

Stargirl The Lost Children #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Todd Nauck), $3.99

Stargirl The Lost Children #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Marguerite Sauvage Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Stargirl The Lost Children #6 (Of 6)(Cover C Kevin Maguire Card Stock Variant), AR

Superman Lost #3 (Of 10)(Cover A Carlo Pagulayan & Jason Paz), $4.99

Superman Lost #3 (Of 10)(Cover B Lee Weeks Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Superman Lost #3 (Of 10)(Cover C Tony Harris Card Stock Variant), AR

Superman Son Of Kal-El Volume 3 Battle For Gamorra HC, $24.99

WildC.A.T.s #7 (Cover A Stephen Segovia), $3.99

WildC.A.T.s #7 (Cover B Clay Mann Card Stock Variant), $4.99

WildC.A.T.s #7 (Cover C Chuma Hill Card Stock Variant), AR

Wonder Woman Paradise Lost TP (2023 Edition), $19.99

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 1st to 6th, 2023 - Update #17

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

STRIKE - From Deadline:  The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is on strike.

From Deadline:  Disney, HBO/HBO Max, and CBS have sent letters to showrunners (the TV equivalent of film directors) instructing them to return to work, inspite of the writer's strike.

From Deadline:  The WGA's chief negotiator, Ellen Stutzman, talks about the state of the writers' strike, including the lack of engagement on the part of the strike's other party, AMPTP.

From Deadline:  What went wrong between the WGA and AMPTP? What could they not agree on that led to a strike?

From Deadline:  The site explains the WGA strike: the issues, the stakes, movies and TV shows affected, and how long it might last.

SCANDAL - From the AP:  The Labor Department has fined McDonald's restaurant franchisees in Louisville, Kentucky, a total $212,000 for illegally employing children.  That includes two 10-year-olds who were not paid for their labor.

CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  Oscar-winning actor and performer, Jamie Foxx, breaks silence for the first time since his hospitalization after a "medical emergency."

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Paramount Network's drama, "Yellowstone," will end after its upcoming fifth season.  It will be replaced by a follow-up series starring Matthew McConaughey.

From ETOnline:  Star Kevin Costner will not return to Paramount Network's television series, "Yellowstone," past this currently filming fifth season.

TONY AWARDS - From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 76th Annual Tony Awards have been announced.  The musical "Some Like It Hot" leads with 13 nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, June 11th at 8pm Eastern on CBS.

ANIMATION - From Deadline:  J. Michael Straczynski, the creator of the TV series, "Babylon 5," has announced that more information about the release date of the "Babylon 5" animated film is coming in a week.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  In a first look, Oscar-nominated actor, Austin Butler ("Elvis") is bald and without eyebrows as the villain, Reyd-Rautha, in "Dune: Part Two."

OSCARS - From Deadline:  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday its “most significant overhaul” of the campaign promotional regulation and awards rules for the upcoming 96th Oscars.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Fox had opted not to renew its highest-rated scripted drama, "9-1-1," after its current sixth season, which has its season finale May 15th.  However, the series will move to ABC for the 2023-24 season, its seventh season.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 4/28 to 4/30/2023 weekend box office is Universal/Illumination Entertainment's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" with an estimated take of 40 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Actor Ioan Gruffudd (2005's "Fantastic Four," and "San Andreas") has been added to Sony Pictures' "Bad Boys 4."

OBITS:

From Variety:  Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and folk singer, Gordon Lightfoot, has died at the age of 84, May 1, 2023.  He had a number one hit in the U.S. with the 1974 single, "Sundown."  He also had huge success on the U.S. "Adult Contemporary" charts with such songs as "If You Could Read My Mind" (1970), "Carefree" (1974), and "Rainy Day People" (1975), among others.  His songs were covered by such artists as Elvis Presley, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young, to name a few.

From Variety:  Film and television editor, John Gordon Wright, has died at the age of 79, Thursday, April 20, 2023.  Wright was nominated for the "Best Editing" Oscar twice, for "The Hunt for Red October" (1990) and "Speed" (1994).  He won a Primetime Emmy Award for editing the 1991 CBS television film, "Sarah, Plain and Tall."  He edited two films for director Mel Gibson, "The Passion of the Christ" (2004) and "Apocalypto" (2006).  He also edited "X-Men" (2000) and Marvel Studios' "The Incredible Hulk" (2008).

Review: James Gunn Delivers a Series Best in the Great "GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 20 of 2023 (No. 1909) by Leroy Douresseaux

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Running time:  150 minutes (2 hours, 30 minutes)

MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, strong language, suggestive/drug references and thematic elements

DIRECTOR:  James Gunn

WRITERS:  James Gunn (based on the Marvel Comics characters)

PRODUCER:  Kevin Feige

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Henry Braham (D.o.P.)

EDITORS:  Fred Raskin and Greg D'Auria

COMPOSER:  John Murphy

SCI-FI/FANTASY and ACTION/ADVENTURE/COMEDY

Starring:  Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Chukwudi Iwuji, Sean Gunn, Will Poulter, Nico Santos, Miriam Shor, Elizabeth Debicki, Sylvester Stallone, Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, Gregg Henry, and the voices of Linda Cardellini, Seth Green, Maria Bakalova, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a 2023 science fiction, comedy, and action-adventure film written and directed by James Gunn and produced by Marvel Studios.  It is the third film in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy film series, following 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy and 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.  It is also the 32nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).  Vol. 3 finds the Guardians fighting to save one of their members from his creator, a mission that may destroy the Guardians whether they are successful or not.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opens on Knowhere, the strange space station where the Guardians of the Galaxy have established their headquarters.  Their leader, Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), mourns the loss of his girlfriend, Gamora (Zoe Saldana).  The alien warlord, Thanos, killed Gamora (as seen in Avengers: Infinity War), but an alternate universe version of her appeared (as seen in Avengers: Endgame).  This new Gamora does not love Peter, and she associates with The Ravagers, which was once essentially Peter's surrogate family.

The group has bigger troubles ahead.  The Guardians are being targeted by the “Sovereign” empress Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), someone with a grudge against them (as seen in Vol. 2).  She sends her son, Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), to attack the Guardians, and he grievously wounds Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper).  To save Rocket, Peter and his fellow Guardians:  Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Groot (voice of Vin Diesel), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Nebula (Karen Gillan), and a reluctant Gamora, must confront The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), the Counter-Earth scientist who created Rocket.

The original Guardians of the Galaxy was one of the surprise hits of 2014, if not the surprise hit of the year.  Vol. 2 was a fun sci-fi-action movie and a surprisingly thoughtful character melodrama.  Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 does everything the first two films did well and amplifies that.  Vol. 3 is the series' funniest film, and I found myself laughing throughout it.  That still surprises me because this movie has some pretty dark moments, especially concerning The High Evolutionary, who is superbly played with volcanic intensity and unremitting cruelty by the most excellent Chuckwudi Iwuji.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is one of Marvel Studios' best films in years.  I think it works for three reasons.  First, the film's production values and special effects are impressive.  The CGI-created environments, backdrops, sets (interiors and exteriors), space-ways, worlds, etc. are so dazzling in scope, color, and imagination that they surpass the impressive work of the first two films, especially the second film.  The entire entire “Orgoscope” sequence is an eye-popping collection of inventiveness.  Even the menagerie of people, creatures, and robots exceeds the first two film, probably combined.

The acting is quite good, and that makes me want to engage the characters even more.  Chris Pratt gives his best tern as Peter Quill/Star-Lord – drama, pathos, big emotions, and the sarcasm and quips are still here – but with edginess.  This is the first time that I really hoped that Star-Lord would be a long term MCU character.  It is so shocking that Zoe Saldana can convince me that she is a different Gamora.  Karen Gillan as Nebula and Pom Klementieff as Mantis do superb work with the character arcs that the story gives them.  As Drax the Destroyer, Dave Bautista makes the character seem not extraneous for the first time.  Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper as always are winning in their voice roles as Groot and Rocket, respectively, with Diesel bringing some extra to Groot this time.

The third reason Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is so damn good is writer-director James Gunn.  This is Gunn at the peak of his powers.  Honestly, I liked Vol. 2 so much that I didn't think he could top himself, but he does with this third film.  I did find Vol. 3 a little dry and too dark in the beginning, but once it grabbed me, it would not let go.

This film has a heart – a center that is about the struggle to help a friend or family member no matter how bad his or her troubles might be or even if he or she resists and rejects the help.  In Vol. 3, Gunn makes all the characters unique individuals with wants, needs, goals, conflicts, and melodrama.  However, the best thing that Gunn does is accept that even the most intense relationships change, so he lets some of the characters move on.  The result is a last act for the ages and a closing sequence that recalls the beginning of the original film and leaves the viewer with the warmest feelings.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opens in the U.S. today, May 5, 2023.  That is 15 years and a few days after the release of the first MCU film, Iron Man (2008).  Vol. 3 exemplifies something that I just realize runs throughout Marvel Studios' film.  In almost all of them, a dominant theme is the formation of surrogate families.  Friends, enemies, heroes, and sometimes even the villains come together in a unit that is more than just a group of friends; they are family.  In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn gives us the end of one version of the family as it evolves into something larger.  What makes Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 an amazing film is that it is as heartwarming as it is exciting and thrilling.  Yes, there are big, mesmerizing action set pieces, but by the end, I really believe that these guys love one another.  I could watch it forever.

9 of 10

A+

★★★★+ out of 4 stars

Friday, May 5, 2023

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: Riveting "WOMEN TALKING" is a Film That Speaks Directly, Even to Us

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 19 of 2023 (No. 1908) by Leroy Douresseaux

Women Talking (2022)

Running time:  104 minutes (1 hour, 44 minutes)

MPA – PG-13 for mature thematic content including sexual assault, bloody images, and some strong language

DIRECTOR:  Sarah Polley

WRITER:  Sarah Polley (based upon the book by Miriam Toews)

PRODUCERS:  Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Frances McDormand

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Luc Montpellier

EDITORS:  Christopher Donaldson and Roslyn Kalloo

COMPOSER:  Hildur Guðnadottir

Academy Award winner

DRAMA/RELIGION

Starring:  Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, France McDormand, Judith Ivey, Emily Mitchell, Kate Hallet, Liv McNeil, Shelia McCarthy, Michelle McLeod, Kira Guloien, Shayla Brown, Vivien Endicott-Douglas, August Winter, and Ben Whishaw

Women Talking is a 2022 drama film from writer-director Sarah Polley. The film is based on Miriam Towes' 2018 Canadian novel, Women Talking.  Both the film and the novel are inspired by real-life events.  Women Talking the film focuses on a group of women who must decide if they should do nothing, stay and fight, or leave their isolated religious community where sexual abuse of girls and women is common.

Women Talking opens in the year 2010 in an unnamed, isolated Mennonite colony.  The colony's women and girls have discovered that some of the men in the colony have been using livestock tranquilizer to subdue them in order to rape them.  Although other men in the colony have had these attackers arrested and imprisoned in a nearby city, they are also seeking bail for the attackers.

The men have left the women by themselves for two days in order for the women to determine what they will do going forward.  However, the men expect the women to forgive their attackers or be expelled from the colony.  The women gather in a barn to discuss and to vote.  They have a young man named August (Ben Whishaw) sit in the meeting in order to take the minutes.  When he was a boy, Ben's mother was expelled from the colony.  Ben returned to become the colony's sole teacher, but he only teaches the boys because women are not allowed to attend school.

Elders like Agata (Judith Ivey) and Greta (Sheila McCarthy) lead the discussion, but young women like Ona (Rooney Mara), Salome (Claire Foy), Mariche (Jessie Buckley), and Mejal (Michelle McLeod) have strong opinions.  Should the women do nothing... forgive... stay and fight... or leave the colony?  As they grapple with the brutal reality of their faith, the time to decide is running out.

Almost four days out from watching Women Talking, and I find myself still thinking about it, dear readers.  In the wake of the of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, it feels like a supernaturally timely film.  The “Dobbs decision” held that the Constitution of the United States did not confer a right to abortion.  It is just the latest in a more than three-decade assault on women's rights to reproductive freedom and choice.

Women Talking effectively delivers a valuable message.  The women of the Mennonite colony that this film depicts must confront not only the violence against them, but also a religion designed down to its bones to give men all the power over women.  Their faith essentially renders women and girls indentured servants and non-citizens.

I quibble that writer-director Sarah Polley's direction and Oscar-winning screenplay bury the actresses of Women Talking beneath the scenario and story.  There is a lot of genuine talent here, and I wanted to see more of them, in a broader sense, although no one can really keep Rooney Mara from shining.  In a way, however, that is good thing.  The way Polley presents this makes Women Talking as timeless as it is timely.

Women Talking is truly an exceptional and spectacular film because the women at the heart of its story are talking.  What they say crosses over into our real world.  Because what is depicted in this film is real, it matters.  Women Talking is based on something that happened not that long ago, in this century, so women struggling for equality and human rights must keep talking.  And this movie, Women Talking, is entertainment, educational, and hopefully, inspiration for future generations.

9 of 10

A+

★★★★+ out of 4 stars

Thursday, May 4, 2023

NOTES:

2023 Academy Awards, USA:  1 win: “Best Adapted Screenplay” (Sarah Polley) and 1 nomination: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Jeremy Kleiner, Dede Gardner, and Frances McDormand – producers)

2023 Golden Globes, USA:  2 nominations: “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (Hildur Guðnadóttir) and “Best Screenplay-Motion Picture” (Sarah Polley)

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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