The Caped Crusaders "Return" Again

There have been many different versions of Batman since his 1939 debut in the pages of Detective Comics #27, but there’s one that still resonates strongly in the memories of the baby boomer generation: the campy 1966-68 Batman TV series that starred Adam West and Burt Ward. While some “serious” fans dislike the series, many others, like writer-director Kevin Smith, are advocates for and devotees of the show. The colorful series has experienced a renaissance and re-appreciation in recent years. In 2014, the entire series was released on Blu-ray and DVD in a beautifully re-mastered edition. DC Comics (who had distanced themselves from the series in the past) has been publishing stories set in the show’s continuity, in a wonderfully retro digital and print series entitled Batman ’66. Now, they've released a fantastic new animated movie, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders.

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders features the voices of Adam West as Batman, Burt Ward as Robin and Julie Newmar as Catwoman, reprising their iconic roles from the show. As the movie opens, we learn that The Joker, The Riddler, The Penguin and Catwoman have once again escaped prison. They’ve teamed up to wreak havoc on Gotham City, and take over the world. Who are the only ones that stand in their way? Why our stalwart heroes, Batman & Robin, of course! But what happens when Batman is given a dose of a strange drug by his arch enemies, and turns into a very different sort of Dark Knight? The story that follows is a loving valentine to the TV series and its unique style, with campy dialogue, cool Bat-gadgets, narrow escapes from deadly death traps, and battles with vile villains. I won’t spoil the fun by giving away any more of the plot, but if you’re a fan of the show, this will be like catnip (pun most definitely intended) for you.

James Tucker & Michael Jelenic’s screenplay hits all the right notes. You’ll definitely feel like you’re watching a lost episode of the original 1960s series. West, Ward and Newmar all have great fun returning to their characters. The supporting voice actors are well cast, managing to give their own spin to The Joker, The Penguin and The Riddler, whose original portrayers (Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith and Frank Gorshin, respectively) have sadly, passed away over the years. There are plenty of visual treats and Easter eggs for fans, and the animation nicely captures the essence of the show’s pop art look. This is a delightful film that pays tribute not only to the classic TV show, but the entire history of the Batman character. Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and for digital download. Here’s a link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGeQKu8RXDc. By the way, a sequel (Holy follow-up, Batman!) has already been announced, with William Shatner joining the fun to portray Two Face, a member of Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery who never got to appear in the TV series. So, in a sense, we can look forward to Batman vs. Captain Kirk in the near future!

Newton Theatre hosts "The Genesis Show"

Genesis fans all have their favorite period of the bands long history. Some enjoy the progressive rock sound and elaborate costumes & theatricality of the Peter Gabriel era. Others favor the middle period, when Phil Collins took over the lead singer role. That’s when the group moved away from the costumes, but retained the elaborate lyrics & progressive rock style, while adding a hint of jazz into their music. And there are many fans of the band’s third version, as the group re-invented itself yet again and achieved its greatest mainstream success as a trio, with Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford adding pop & R&B sensibilities to their sound. Whatever time period is your favorite (and many fans, like myself, enjoy the band’s entire ouvre) you can find multiple tribute bands out there on the road who play the music of Genesis.

The Genesis Show - photo by John V

One of the best is The Genesis Show, who performed a show at The Newton Theatre in New Jersey on Saturday night, November 19. This band narrows its focus to the 1976-82 period of Genesis' musical output. For this concert, the group recreated music from the “Wind & Wuthering Tour,” which was featured on the 1977 live album, Seconds Out. This was the last recording by Genesis to feature original guitarist Steve Hackett.  The Genesis Show, led by Jeff Giulanni on lead vocals and drums, did a masterful job recreating the elaborate live arrangements & sound of songs like “Eleventh Earl of Mar” and “Supper’s Ready.”  The appreciative audience of diehard fans clearly enjoyed the show, as the group moved its way through classics like “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)” and “The Carpet Crawlers,” and a beautiful rendition of “Your Own Special Way,” highlighted by Giulanni’s passionate singing.

The group also managed to sneak in a surprise or two, including compelling takes on “Blood on the Rooftops” and “Unquiet Slumber for the Sleepers...In That Quiet Earth.” Other band members included the nimble fingers of Andre De Champlain on bass, the fluid guitar work of Stephen McQuaid, and the soaring sounds of Matt Thomas on keyboards. And let’s not forget the solid drumming of Vince Corda, who faithfully recreated the double drum sound originally provided by Chester Thompson and Collins, by banging the skins alongside Giulanni. Their skills were especially evident on an energetic version of "Dance on a Volcano" and "Los Endos." The evening also featured a solid light show (a staple of Genesis concerts throughout the years) and a number of slides & videos echoing the art & music of the “Wind & Wuthering” period were projected onto the walls near the stage during several songs.

The band members are very clearly fans of these songs, and their passion & love for Genesis was echoed in their excellent playing. It was a terrific and entertaining night of music, and the band left the crowd wanting more. After two excellent sets, and an encore, we were all clearly basking in the “Afterglow” (pun intended) of a fantastic concert. The Genesis Show is a South Jersey/Philadelphia based band, and many of their shows & appearances are centered in that area. If you’re a fan, and you get the chance to see them, it is truly worth the trip. Here’s a link to their website: http://www.thegenesisshow.com, and some video highlights of their live performances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xfjh2HONWw.

A Shaman's Powerful, Moving Odyssey

Have you ever felt the universe was pointing you in a certain direction? Perhaps you’ve thought of changing your life in significant ways and doing something different? In This Trip Will Change Your Life: A Shaman’s Story of Spirit Evolution, Jennifer Monahan tells a deeply personal story of a series of transformative events. It’s a moving and emotional account of a fateful time in her life that leads Jennifer towards her true destiny: becoming a shamanic healer. This mesmerizing book recounts the significant changes in Jennifer’s world as she transitions from living and working in the corporate arena, and shifts her focus to use her inner talents to help others. The results of this journey and how it changes her outlook on life, love and the universe are truly moving and deeply profound.

One of the best things about the book is that Jennifer takes the time to convey the spiritual aspects of what a shaman is, and how their inner light and energy allows them to focus on healing & guiding people. This odyssey of self-discovery takes Jennifer across the world, and unfolds in unique and intriguing ways. Her openness and willingness to share all the details of this amazing story is truly inspiring. It's obvious that this is only the first chapter of her adventure, and that the universe has a lot more in store for her in the future. This Trip Will Change Your Life will surprise you, delight you & move you. Readers just might find this wonderful book will inspire you to reflect on your own life choices, and be open to all the possibilities that are out there for you in the world.

Now, the more secular and rational minded among you may scoff at this sort of thing, but I invite you to keep an open mind and read this beautifully written, deeply felt book. It is a powerful story of love, light & the joy of accepting all the glorious things the world has to offer. Jennifer is an extraordinary person who's bravely recounted a significant and remarkable change in her life. It affected & inspired me, and I think will do the same for you. I heartily recommend This Trip Will Change Your Life: A Shaman’s Story of Spirit Evolution. The book is now available for purchase on sites such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Here are links to Jennifer’s author bio on She Writes Press: http://shewritespress.com/portfolio/jennifer-b-monahan/ and her shamanic healing site at Spirit Evolution: https://spiritevolution.co.

Full disclosure: Jennifer & I are friends, and I read & commented on an early version of the book for her. I’m writing this post to help get the word out about this compelling story. I'm glad she shared it with all of us. It took a lot of courage, and I commend her for it.

Cheap Trick Rocks & Rolls In Ridgefield

Cheap Trick at The Ridgefield Playhouse - photo by John V

Cheap Trick strode onto the stage at The Ridgefield Playhouse on November 1, and proceeded to give the audience an hour & a half of full throttle rock & roll: it was an electrifying show. The band can always be counted on to provide fans with an excellent performance, and this evening was no exception. Lead singer Robin Zander was in fine voice, and guitarist Rick Nielsen was as exuberant as ever, running around the stage, and tossing off his solos with wild abandon. Tom Petersson contributed his usual superb playing on the 12-string bass, and even took a turn on lead vocals for a wonderful cover of The Velvet Underground’s “Waiting For The Man.” Since the departure of drummer &  founding member Bun E. Carlos in 2010, Nielsen’s son Daxx has been behind the kit for the group, and he provided solid & thundering support during the show.

The set list featured songs stretching across the group’s long career, from crowd-pleasing classics such as “She’s Tight” and “Baby Loves To Rock” to the “hits” like “I Want You To Want Me” and the ubiquitous power ballad “The Flame.” The band also treated us to a couple of tunes from their most recent album, Bang, Zoom, Crazy, Hello, which was released in April. Nielsen featured his usual assortment of custom guitars throughout the show, and tossed scores of picks into the audience at regular intervals. The Illinois-based band also kept the audience updated on the score of the World Series game being televised that night, as the (now World Champion) Chicago Cubs were playing during the evening. Of course, almost all of the fans in the near sellout crowd were on their feet for the entire concert, singing along & having a great time. You don’t sit down at a Cheap Trick show.

After being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, and releasing their latest album, the band shows no signs of slowing down after 33 years. I’ve seen them numerous times, and they sound as good now as they did back in the 70s & 80s. They rocked The Ridgefield Playhouse (a fantastic venue to see a show, by the way) and left us wanting more! They're true road warriors and rock & roll icons. If you haven’t seen Cheap Trick before, get out there and attend a show. If you have seen the band, but haven't gone to one of the group's concerts in a while, it’s time to go see this awesome band again. Cheap Trick continues to perform regularly, and they’re currently scheduled to be on tour through June of 2017. Here’s a link to their official site: https://www.cheaptrick.com.

Set list:

Hello There

Elo Kiddies

California Man (The Move cover)

On Top of the World

In The Street (Big Star cover: That 70s Show theme)

If You Want My Love

Baby Loves to Rock

Ain't That a Shame (Fats Domino cover)

She's Tight

When I Wake Up Tomorrow

No Direction Home

Waitin' for the Man (Velvet Underground cover: Lead Vocals by Tom)

The Flame

I Want You to Want Me

Dream Police

Encore:

Never Had A Lot to Lose

Surrender

Goodnight

Penny Dreadful: Classic Horror Team Up

Have you heard of or watched Penny Dreadful? Game of Thrones & The Walking Dead garner much love from critics and fans, and rightly so; both are excellent series that have redefined the rules for genre TV. Creator John (Gladiator) Logan’s Victorian era horror saga, which ended its run last season on Showtime after three years, is a show that flew under the radar for most viewers, despite praise from critics. It's one of the best genre series to air in recent years. The series is a feast for horror fans, giving us a meta-fiction style gathering of characters from classic novels such as Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde & The Picture of Dorian Gray. But the centerpiece of the story is Vanessa Ives, a tormented medium magnificently played by Eva Green (Casino Royale), a character created for the series by Logan, who also penned The Last Samurai.

Green fully inhabits the role of Ives, who’s first introduced as a friend of Mina Murray, one of Dracula’s victims in Bram Stoker's original novel. She has a complicated relationship with Mina’s father, Sir Malcolm, who’s portrayed by former James Bond Timothy Dalton. The first season follows the hunt for the missing Mina, who’s been taken captive by Dracula. Throughout the show's run, Vanessa & Sir Malcolm find themselves interacting with Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous creation, Dorian Gray, Dr. Jekyll, and a mysterious American gunfighter named Ethan Chandler, who's hiding a dark secret that should be very familiar to Universal horror fans when they see it revealed late in the first season. There are also some additional original characters created by Logan, including some memorable female villains in the second season.

As the series moves forward, themes that are introduced in the earlier episodes are expanded, including the nature of good & evil, and how no one person can be all good or all bad, but is really just a small step away from moving into the darkness. It’s a literate, well-written and expertly directed show. Fans of the original stories, and classic terror sagas such as Hammer’s horror films of the 1960s will find much to delight them in the series; you'll be treated to some truly creepy moments and spine-chilling sequences. The look of the show is visually arresting, with lush production values that really make you feel like you’re in the 1890s. The imaginative plots cleverly intertwine themes and familiar figures from the original Victorian terror tales with new stories & ideas. As always with a show like this, there are Easter eggs and nods to the tales that inspired it scattered throughout the series' three seasons. 

The performances are all excellent, with Green taking the acting honors in a multi-layered turn as Vanessa that’s equal parts dark, sensual, eerie and captivating; Dalton is very effective as Sir Malcolm, and the rest of the fine cast includes Josh Hartnett as Ethan, Reeve Carney as Dorian Gray, Billie (Dr. Who) Piper as Brona, the amazing Patti Lupone, who shows up in two inter-connected andimportant roles in Seasons Two & Three, and Rory Kinnear, who's a standout as Frankenstein’s monster. Kinnear really hits it out of the park in a third year episode entitled “A Blade of Grass,” which is a superb two-character acting duet between him and Ms. Green’s Vanessa that should have snared them both Emmys. There are strong moments for the entire cast during the series.

The show builds its story slowly, and less patient viewers may balk at the pace, but if you stick with it, this is a rewarding experience. There are haunting and chilling scenes throughout, and some truly powerful episodes, culminating in a third season showdown with Count Dracula himself. The show finished its run after three seasons and 27 episodes, reportedly at creator Logan’s request. It had started to gain in the ratings and build a following, but Showtime executives contend it was indeed Logan’s choice to end the show. While I feel that some of the threads carefully introduced throughout the series are not fully dealt with by its conclusion, the main story, the journey of Vanessa Ives, is completed by the end of the run. There are so many fantastic performances and compelling storylines, that the show is truly worth watching for fans. Highly recommended. Penny Dreadful is available on Blu-ray and DVD, and the entire series is currently streaming on Netflix. Here’s a link to a trailer for the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOM0rziqEY4.

"Shin Godzilla" vs. Japanese Politicians

What if Godzilla arrived in Japan in 2016, and the Japanese government had to find a way to defeat him, but the process became mired in political infighting & second-guessing? Shin Godzilla (aka Godzilla: Resurgence) is the 29^th film in the long running series produced by Toho Studios. It’s already been a huge success in Japan, and is being shown in U.S. theaters from October 11-18. The version being screened here is in Japanese with English subtitles. Not only are there subtitles for the dialogue, but the title & position of each character flashes on the screen as well. It's a lot of information to read, but it gets a bit easier to take in as the film moves forward. There's a bit of dialogue in English as well. This film is as much a study of the Japanese political structure (with some pointedly satirical elements) as a giant monster or kaiju movie. For most of the story, we see the gatherings of various groups within the government trying to figure out the best way to deal with Godzilla, whose appearance on the scene is treated like any other natural disaster.

This is not the friendly, heroic "Big G" of the late 60s & early-mid 70s Toho entries. Much like the original Godzilla from Gojira/Godzilla, King of the Monsters, this creature is an elemental force of nature, and causes a great deal of mayhem & destruction. The issue of the nuclear contamination the monster leaves in its wake and the long-term effects it could cause are on everyone’s minds. When the U.S. proposes a nuclear weapons strike to eliminate Godzilla, it’s up to a team of Japanese scientists (with some help from other sources) to find a solution that's not as aggressive, and less devastating to the population. You can also sense some definite allusions to two real-life events that occurred in Japan during 2011: the nuclear disaster at Fukushimi Daiichi & the earthquake & tsunami in Tohuku. Those events inform the film as much as the aftermath of the bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki were a clear & present subtext in the 1954 version. 

There are definitely moments of satire & humor in the movie, with parts of that directed at the U.S. political structure as well as Japan’s. Since it takes up a good amount of the movie's running time, some viewers may find this a bit off-putting. I thought it worked pretty well. But as the saying goes, your mileage may vary. The film was co-directed by Hideaki Anno (who also wrote the screenplay) & Shinji Higuchi, who are both anime veterans. The design of this iteration of Godzilla starts out a bit more on the comical side, which I think hurts his effectiveness early in the film. But as the creature evolves, it becomes a bit more frightening, culminating in a scene with the monster walking upright and firing radioactive blasts from its back as well as its mouth, in an impressive battle sequence that’s the highlight of the movie. And it was a treat for this long-time fan to hear some of composer Akira Ifukube's iconic original music from the earlier films throughout the movie.

Several reviewers have noted that there’s not much Godzilla action in the film, but there’s a bit more of it here than in Gareth Edwards’ successful & well-regarded 2014 American reboot of the franchise. The Godzilla scenes are very well done, and deliver the goods for kaiju fans. This film is considered a separate entity from the U.S. series (whose next entry is due in 2018) and is a re-launch of the Toho series, which has been dormant since Godzilla: Final Wars was released in 2004. Shin Godzilla is now the highest grossing entry in the Toho series in Japan, and one of their biggest box office successes of the year. It’s a safe bet to assume we’ll see more Godzilla from Toho in the future. The film is in limited release in U.S. theaters until October 18, and a home video release (it's rumored that it will include a dubbed version) is planned for the near future. Here’s a link to the trailer for Shin Godzilla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgyq6YKeIms.

Update: The theatrical run of the film has been extended until 10/22, with a few theaters offering screenings through October 27. Details can be found on the following site: http://www.funimationfilms.com/movie/shingodzilla/.

The Fab Faux's "Glorious Hodgepodge"

The Fab Faux - photo by John V

On Saturday, October 1^st, The Fab Faux performed an amazing show at College Street Music Hall in New Haven, Connecticut.

If you’re a Beatles fan, this is one tribute band you simply must experience, though that description actually does the group a disservice. Led by Will Lee, former bassist for The Late Show with David Letterman, this is not just a “cover” band, but a group of extremely talented musicians who get together to perform the music of The Beatles, and share their love of these classic songs with audiences. The group often tackles themed sets, where they play an entire album, or music from a specific period of the Beatles career. But for this evening it was the “Glorious Hodgepodge of Beatles Music” show, featuring music from throughout the Fab Four’s catalog.

The songs ranged from crowd-pleasing renditions of well-known early tunes like “I Should Have Known Better” and “A Hard Day’s Night” to later period tracks such as “Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds” and “Old Brown Shoe,” as well as a couple of my favorites "And Your Bird Can Sing" and "You Can't Do That." It’s a great experience to see many of these well-loved songs performed by the group, as The Beatles stopped touring in 1966, and never played them live. The Fab Faux is dedicated to performing these tunes in the style they feel the Beatles would have played them. The band, which also includes keyboardist Jack Petruzzelli and guitar wizard Jimmy Vivino, are an extremely focused & tight unit. Everyone had multiple opportunities to shine during the show. Petruzzelli did an outstanding “blow the roof off” lead vocal on “Oh! Darling” and Vivino contributed strong vocals & a blistering solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Clint de Ganon filled in for Rich Pagano on drums, and did a great job. (Get well soon, Rich; we missed you!)

The Fab Faux - photo by John V

College Street Music Hall was a perfect venue for the band, and the audience was lively & enthusiastic during every minute of this top notch show. The entire group is fantastic, and they’re led by the boundless energy of Will Lee, who leaps around the stage like a whirling dervish, enjoying every minute of playing with his musical compatriots. This simply is the next best thing to seeing The Beatles in their heyday. The Fab Faux is a wonderful band, keeping alive the memory of some of the best rock & roll music ever recorded. These songs are part of the fabric of our lives, and you simply won’t see this music performed any better than by this stellar group. If you get the chance to see them, grab some tickets and get to the show. Here’s a link to their website: http://www.thefabfaux.com.

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