Memorial Day Special - The Looking-Glass Warrior

 

I really like this poster 😊

    In my last review of Night on the Galactic Railroad, I mentioned how it was something from my childhood that I had overlooked. Today, I am going to tackle something from my childhood that I had seen many times over and still appreciate to this day. One that can also be appreciated by many others, especially for Memorial Day, however belated. It is a piece of my childhood media that has stuck with me in many unexpected ways. 

    My friends, in honor of Memorial Day, I'd like to share with you an episode from one of my favorite childhood cartoons, Ghostbusters! 

    No, not the one you're likely thinking about right now; this one. 

    For those who may be confused, the long story short is that a series of rights issues caused two different Ghostbuster cartoons to air alongside each other, albeit for only one season. 

    If you would like a more in-depth explanation, check out this well put-together video essay by Bob Chipman, a.k.a. MovieBob, then feel free to return to the review:

Too Many Ghostbusters 

    Anyway, Filmation's Ghostbusters was one of the many cartoons of my childhood that featured insane animation, wild stories, and over-the-top characters, guaranteed to make its target audience laugh and smile. It followed the exploits of two best friends, Eddie and Jake, along with their Gourilla companion Tracy, who take on paranormal threats sent mainly by the dark lord of the ghost world, Prime Evil (yes, it was that kind of show). While the show primarily existed to sell toys and other merchandise to my peers and me, it was also one of those shows that occasionally featured episodes that spoke volumes in many ways, more than the creators could have possibly predicted or intended. Today's subject is about one such episode that is not only perfect for a Memorial Day review (again, belated), but is also one of my favorites: 

    Episode 21 - The Looking-Glass Warrior 

    The story centers around one of the side characters, a reporter named Jessica, and her uncle, John Guardian (yes, that's his name), who recently retired from the armed forces. While spending the day together, Jessica and John are suddenly pulled into a mirror and find themselves trapped in another dimension populated by some insect-like robots dubbed "Invertroids." Fortunately, the Ghostbusters are on the case and make their way to the other side to save their friends and stop the Invertroids from taking any more victims. 

    The presence of a supporting character who happens to be a soldier is enough to make this a good episode for Memorial Day. Under most circumstances, that would be enough. However, this episode succeeded in driving home an essential aspect of the armed forces and why they deserve, usually, our admiration, appreciation, and respect: their willingness to self-sacrifice. 

    Typically, I would not explain everything I mean, as I encourage you to watch the episode for yourself to understand my point. However, I am aware that some of my beautiful readers may not have the time or inclination to watch a twenty-minute episode of an '80s cartoon show (which I understand). Still, in the interest of presenting as many options as possible, if you would like to see the episode for yourself, you may find a link to it below this paragraph. If you are the least bit interested, give the episode a watch, then return to this review. Otherwise, feel free to continue reading. 

The Looking-Glass Warrior on YouTube

Skip to the "END" prompt if you have watched the episode.

    For those who have opted to not watch the episode, here is a brief summary: 

    It turns out that the Invertroids are collecting warm bodies to use as vessels for their minds, transferring their very essence into a new biological form and freeing themselves from their robotic forms. Once they have collected enough bodies, they will transport them and themselves through a large dimensional portal back to their home world. After Uncle John, along with the help of Jessica and the Ghostbusters, preemptively sent most of the Invertroids back to their home world, they freed all of the captured people and sent them back home to Earth. 

    After sending the last victim home, the Ghostbusters make their exit and await their friends to join them. However, just as Jessica is ready to leave with her uncle, he pauses and tells her that he plans to stay behind. Uncle John realizes that some of the Invertroids are still out there, and he needs to stay behind to prevent them from carrying out their evil plans again. While Jessica protests, Uncle John assures her that he'll still see her on occasional visits, and he's likely to make some new friends in this strange world. However, his sense of duty calls for him to continue the fight for the freedom of those he holds dear. 

    When Jessica emerges from the mirror, one of the Ghostbusters asks where Uncle John is. When Jessica explains the situation, the Ghostbusters ask her why, and she replies...

    "Because he's a soldier, and he's doing it for us!" 

    The final shot of the episode shows Uncle John patrolling the strange dimension, on duty once again. 

    END

    This episode spoke volumes to me as a kid. I was well aware of the kind of bravery and selflessness expected of those who volunteer to join the armed forces, at least in my own way at the time. As I grew more mature and gained a better understanding of things, this episode continued to resonate with me for its commitment to such a mature theme. It also became one of the many examples that deepened my admiration and appreciation for those who dare to defend those who cannot defend themselves. 

    The cherry on top of all this is that the character of Uncle John was voiced by the legendary voice actor, Peter Cullen, who some of you may recall as the voice of one of the greatest animated heroes of the 20th century, Optimus Prime! 

    Incidentally, the story of how Peter Cullen developed the voice for Optimus Prime is equally fascinating and relevant to Memorial Day, as he heavily modeled his portrayal of the character after his brother, Larry, who was a Marine during the Vietnam War. If you would like to hear the whole story (and it is truly a beautiful one), check out this video of Peter telling it at a convention: 

The Voice of Optimus Prime

    This episode of a silly 1980s cartoon show may not be the most profound statement about the necessity of Memorial Day. However, it is still a solid piece of work that succeeds in demonstrating what it means to be a soldier to a young and impressionable audience. In that way, it may very well be one of the many hidden gems of many collective childhoods that remind us who the real heroes are, and why they must never be forgotten. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

Vigilamus Pro Te

https://www.normanluce-writer.com/

Retro Review - Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985)

 

Streaming on Amazon Prime and Crunchyroll

Rent on Amazon Prime

    It was FanimeCon again this past weekend, so what better time to review an anime classic?

    Night on the Galactic Railroad, an anime based on the novel of the same title by Kenji Miyazawa, is one of those films I recall seeing the poster for and hearing about through the grapevine, but never getting around to seeing for myself. There was even a film screening at FanimeCon some years back, but I sadly didn't notice until after. After attending that awesome convention again this past weekend, I popped in the Blu-ray copy I acquired as of this writing and finally gave it my full attention. While the film is certainly not what I expected, the experience I was left with was still memorable and awe-inspiring, if a tad melancholic. 

    Set in a world populated by anthropomorphized cats, the story follows a young boy named Giovanni, a bullied outcast who cares for his ill mother while dealing with an absent father and drifting into daydreams. One night, on his way to get milk for his mother, Giovanni encounters a mysterious and celestial railroad train on the outskirts of town. Giovanni finds himself aboard the train and meets up with another boy named Campanella, who defended Giovanni from the bullies before offering his friendship. The two of them ride the train together into the unknown of the Milky Way and witness some of the strangest yet amazing sights, as they encounter other people from many walks of life. 

    On the surface, Night on the Galactic Railroad sounds like your standard magical coming-of-age adventure with hints of philosophical undertones, and, for the most part, it is. However, what isn't entirely clear until about halfway through the film (or for anyone unfamiliar with the source material, like I wasn't) are themes of self-sacrifice, concepts of the afterlife, and the power of friendship and platonic love. The film is a slow-burning exploration of all these themes and ideas presented through child logic and symbolism: some fascinating, some religious, and all gorgeously presented. 

    One thing that struck me a bit silly is that the English dub features Veronica Taylor as the voice of Giovanni, whom most anime fans may recognize as the voice of Ash Ketchum from the long-running Pokémon series; the irony isn't lost on me. 

    While some may disagree with the film's religious implications, they are not as relevant to the main story or the overall message as the endearing friendship between the two main characters. Like any good story, the focus is not on what the characters are doing, but why. 

    Night on the Galactic Railroad is a beautiful classic that will unexpectedly tug at your heartstrings. It's a story about life, death, the importance of empathy, and the bravery of selflessness. Its slow burn style may cause you to peek at your watch sometimes, but your patience will pay off in the end. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

Happy Memorial Day!

https://www.normanluce-writer.com/

A Nice Indian Boy - Admirably Average

Rent on AppleTV, Amazon, and Spectrum

    Romantic comedies can be a dime a dozen. That's not to say that they are inherently bad, just that they can potentially be overplayed and repetitive. Especially the commonly used super-shy-person-falls-for-outgoing-star kind of story. Still, as I mentioned in my Death of a Unicorn review, originality does not come from what story you choose to tell, but in how you choose to tell it. Plenty of nuances and interpretations have yet to be experienced in some of the most common genres. 

    Today's subject, A Nice Indian Boy, is precisely that kind of movie: a standard romantic comedy storyline told with cultural elements not often explored within the genre. While the movie itself can feel a bit too long and a little repetitive for its own good at times, it succeeds in keeping you interested with just enough nuance and goodwill. Not to mention sharp writing and committed performances. 

    Based on the play by Madhuri Shekar, the story follows a timid and mostly introverted doctor of Indian descent named Naveen (Karan Soni), who is constantly on edge with his family over his sexual orientation. Although his family isn't outright outraged by their son, Naveen can't help but feel as though there is some unresolved tension lingering underneath the surface. Things take an unexpected turn when Naveen falls head over heels for a freelance photographer named Jay (Jonathan Groff), who happens to be the adopted son of an Indian family. Having fallen for someone with much common ground, Naveen wants to take the plunge and introduce Jay to his family, but is too afraid to actually do so. A series of family drama moments follows that, while familiar but not-so-fresh, ultimately builds up to an excellent message about family, acceptance, and love. 

    Despite the film having all the expected hallmarks of your typical romantic comedy, the cultural explorations and committed performances make it worth your time. While I might have preferred that the runtime had been a hair shorter and that there was a tad more visible growth from the protagonist in the middle of the story, the film never made me feel like my time was being wasted. Anyone who has had to deal with the emotional landmine that is introducing your significant other to your family will immediately understand and appreciate this story. 

    Worth a look. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

https://www.normanluce-writer.com/

Death of a Unicorn - Something Strange This Way Comes

For rent on Apple TV and Amazon Prime

    One phrase I have found regularly useful when discussing some movies is "familiar yet fresh." This term describes movies with plots and narrative elements that have been done many times before, but succeed in presenting them in a way that hasn't been explored before. Consider films like Cabin in the Woods, which puts a fun twist on the classic slasher genre, or the action masterpiece Dredd, which utilizes a similar chlosterphobic hostile setting not unlike The Raid: Redemption or Die Hard, to name a few examples. In my experience, this notion is the best way to explore and discover true originality: it's not about what story you're telling; it's how you choose to tell it. 

    Such is the case with today's subject, Death of a Unicorn, the latest offering from the little production company that can, A24, arguably the cornerstone of original modern cinema, albeit mostly within the horror genre. While their latest release is essentially a scarier version of weird creature features like Harry and the Hendersons and Purple People Eater, the film successfully fuses two clashing tones (family-issue-dramatic-comedy plus gruesome-monster-invasion) into a single experience that I'm confident hasn't been considered before, at least not to the extent this film has taken it. In any case, enough goodwill was built up for me to appreciate and enjoy this weird experience. 

    The story follows a private business lawyer named Elliot (Paul Rudd) and his young daughter, Ridley (Jenna Ortega), on their way to a private mountain mansion for a weekend retreat. The mansion is owned by Elliot's boss, a pharmaceutical mogul named Odell (Richard E. Grant), who is on the cusp of death and needs Eliot's help sorting out his family affairs. On the way to the mansion, Elliot and Ridley hit something with their car. What they find is unusual and highly unexpected: a real-life Unicorn. Not sure how to handle the strange situation, and not wanting to get in trouble with the wildlife authorities, they take the presumably dead creature to the mansion, whereupon they are found out by the rest of the family. Then, when it's discovered that the Unicorn's biological components contain miraculous healing properties, they collectively decide to explore and prepare for massive profits with their fantastical discovery. Little do they know that something far more sinister and dangerous awaits them. 

    This film is insane in the best possible way. It takes a familiar fantastical element and plays with it in a way that feels simultaneously realistic and far-fetched. Although given the absurd, non-funny ridiculousness of the modern world, that's saying a lot! 

    A delightful surprise comes from the young and talented Jenna Ortega. She has incredible energy and succeeds in carrying much of the weight she's tasked with handling. I haven't seen her in her starring role as Wednesday Addams on Netflix yet, but this might finally get me started watching it. 

    My only real nitpick with the film is the moments of graphic violence. While it is foreshadowed correctly in the film and justified within the story's internal logic, I can't help but feel like it would have benefited more from fewer on-camera depictions of gore and utilized more power of suggestion. At least that's how I might have preferred it. 

    Death of a Unicorn is not for everyone, but if you're willing to turn your brain off for a little while and allow the strangeness of it all to take over, you might have a better experience than you thought. 

    Give it a shot. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.