Rudyard Kipling

 

To start this topic with a personal connection; Kipling's literary works to which at the time I did not connect with as the author, but like many of my contemporaries was aware of the titles, his stories or short stories would bring.  For Example - 'Rikki-Tikki-Tavi' and 'The Man Who would be King', where names or titles heard in passing many-a-times by my parents, classmates or by literature commentators in some regard.  The  Nursey Rhyme "Baa Baa, Black Sheep" is a semi autobiographical short story published in 1888, The actual rhyme was written in 1744, and the only thing that survived in the collective consciousness, from the two was the Rhyme.  That being said, I had experienced a wonderful childhood in Cub/Scouts with his established archetypes he created, found enlightened with timely exposure to his work in the classroom, or witness the spectacle of his imaginations on the big & small screen in both film and animated adaptations. His most celebrated works has left an indelible imprint to generations.

Rudyard Kipling is an English Author, Born in Bombay, India, on December 30th, 1865. He was educated in England.  In 1882 he returned to India, where he joined the staff of the Civil and Military Gazette in Lahore.  His earliest tales were published in that paper.  In 1892, he married  Caroline Balestier, an American. He lived in Vermont for four years, where he wrote 'Many Inventions (1893), The Jungle Book (1894), The Second Jungle Book (1895), The Seven Seas (1896), and Captains Courageous (1897). He returned to England in 1896

In 1900, Rudyard Kipling went to South Africa to report the Boer War and served for a time as an editor of The Friend in Bloemfontein. In Kim (1901) a long discursive novel on modern India, he tried to fulfill the promise of his shorter workers.  He failed , in the opinion of many critics, but this remained his most ambitious novel.  His later writing was often criticized as propaganda for British colonialism  and as showing more sympathy for institutions than individuals.  Regardless of the social content  of his writing, however, he was recognized  as one of the most talented literary craftsmen  of his age. An international celebrity, he waas honored by the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Paris, and Edinburgh, and in 1907 received the Nobel prize in literature. Among his other works were Department Ditties (1886), Plain Tales from the Hills (1888), Soldiers Three (1888), Wee Willie Winkie (1888), The Phantom Rickshaw (1890), Barrack-Room Ballads (1892), Recessional and other Poems (1899)....Something of Myself (1937), He died January  18th, 1936, His Wife Caroline became custodian of is literary legacy after his death. She past away December 1939.

One of Rudyard Kipling's most acclaimed poems was 'If' (1910),  its an inspirational poem on how one should live one's life - in a way that provides advice.. The poem is curated in a way that at least one advice will be relevant to you at some point in life.  The second last line of the poem was either  conscious /unconscious, but provided inspiration to create a famous line in Scarface (1983)  "Yours is the Earth and Everything that's in it,"

Fate of the Furious (Fast 8)

Fate of the Furious is a 2017, film directed by F. Gary Gray. It is a direct sequel to Fast 7 (2015), with characters and story arcs carrying over onto this film.  The movie introduces us to what will ultimately be a tetralogy story arc involving cyber terrorist Cipher – played by Charlize Theron.  In a quick overview provided by Kurt Russell’s Mr. Nobody   Cipher hired Owen Shawn played by Luke Evans to acquisition Nightshade (Fast & Furious 6)   and hired Mose Jakande played by Djimon Hounsou to steal the software program God’s Eye (Fast 7).  In both instances Dominic Toretto and his family had intervened and thwarted her plans.   

The Question is why use Dominic in the first place?  She has a small group of very resourceful mercenaries at her disposal and the tech and intelligence to rival and crush opposing law enforcement.  The only posing and physical threat to Cipher is DSS agent Luke Hobbs a super cop that is hard to kill and has been making the arrests of all her plans stick.  Blackmailing Dominic Torreto only works in her favor to being able to get close enough to Hobbs without him knowing it and removing him as an obstacle, which is how Dom get Hobbs incarcerated in Prison, while also securing a very powerful EMP device.  Once her obstacle is out the way, and weapon in hand, Getting the Russian Football as they tailored it can be done by anyone of her  highly trained operatives, at this point the blackmail leverage of Elena, the baby, and Dom are just baggage moving forward, there is was no need to hold anyone or keep anyone alive any further. The moment the EMP landed in her possession. She could have sent Dominic on a mission unbeknownst to him into Nobody’s head quarters on a false mission; and suicide bomb him remotely on top of seizing the God’s Eye and ensuring the multiple deaths of Dom’s family to be an added revenge from past grievances and possibly eliminating Mr. Nobody the secret agency leader tasked to stopping her.  This in tally would reduce loss of man power and personal resources on Cipher’s end, while securing the God’s Eye and surgically removing her only opposition in the process.

The Film begins in Cuba, With Dominic and Letty on their honeymoon, it’s a lighter happier time before the story switches into an action drama, According to the Director F Gary Gray , he wanted to acknowledge older fans who wanted the franchise to revisit its roots and offer just street racing.  Cuba was an original choice; as the Obama administration had lifted the embargo from Cuba, Marking this movie to be the first big budget film production in the country. Without decades of trade relations Cuban Cars have remained classic cars from 40’s and 50’s era, with Domenic Toretto racing against a classic 1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria.   Gray had worked with all principle actors directing Dwayne Johnson in Be Cool, and Charlize Theron & Jason Statham in the Italian Job, Ludicris on a Pepsi commercial, and Vin Diesel on the film ‘A Man Apart’; and had established a good rapport. 

Which helped as these actors were all in high demand, Dwayne Johnson was filming the HBO series Ballers and was near completion on production of the Baywatch movie, while Jason Statham was in the middle of filming the movie ‘The Meg’.   Between working out the logistical scheduling and working through the alleged behind the scenes drama, Gray ironed out a pretty smooth filming production. The film’s budget was somewhere between 250 to 270 million dollars; which had used about 30 million dollars worth of cars in the making of the movie and some of those nice cars got destroyed, and nearly a million dollars in fuel to maneuver and operate a submarine.

With Fast X set for theatrical release in May 2023, viewers will see the final chapter of the Fast Saga, Justice for Han, and Justice against Cipher is expected to be realized.  Directed by Louis Leterrier known for Transporter movies will also have us see Jason Statham return one last time as Decker Shaw. This story promises an even bigger ensemble cast out for one last ride and hopefully put to rest many story arcs including that of Brian/ Paul Walker’s character to rest.

 

The Eternals

 

The Eternals was a creation of Jack Kirby, having its first publication in July of 1976.  The story(s) history and various volumes since its conception is as long to cover as it would be to somehow to summarize in a few sentences, the genealogy though not too complex, is meaningless because the comic book never had a broad general audience.  The film’s success would be heir apparent to its own source material as was the hopes of Marvel Studios.

I, this blog writer have heard of The Eternals, and of it’s existence from the 70’s comic book series, but know absolutely nothing about it, and many or if not  all of my contemporaries who read comics or was into some genre of comics did not either.  As the characters did not associated or appear in any other comic books, but their own title, which gets explained why in the cinematic movie.

Critiques who discount marvel movies, have pointed out that the films are heavy on CGI , and stories are formulaic and repetitive.  Chloe Zhao the academy award winning director, and Marvel studios ensured to point out that this film the 26^th Marvel cinematic movie is distinguished as the film is very much shot practically in real world settings. The film wrapped principle shooting in 2019, just before the pandemic hit, and the Director used physical locations and natural lighting as many of the films set pieces.  The fight sequences and choreography is mostly practical with added in CGI to work alongside with the actor in post.  Chloe Zhao who wrote and director the film was extremely well versed with Jack Kirby’s work, and continues to be an avid comic book reader.  Nomadland was shot and completed before production began with Eternals but during that process Zhao had already pitched the idea to Kevin Feige and his team at Marvel Studios and they were sold on her vision.  Instrumental by taking part in casting to include a culturally diverse cast, to make inclusion and representation a priority, swapping genders with some key characters Zhao placed her own signature to this film, a sentiment expressed by Kevin Feige while doing press for the film.  Post production was spent during quarantine months Chloe Zhao was heavily involved with the editing.  So success and failure of the 200 Million Dollar movie can rest squarely on her shoulders, as how it was presented in the promotion of the film; marqueeing it's visionary direction.

The Eternals begins with an opening graphic to set up the film, this read through tells how the audience can expect the story to begin and foreshadow how what will be revealed to us.  We are to assume or know ahead that the film takes place after the events of the infinity war.  …  Here are spoilers ahead…

Eros is the god of love & sex in historic literature, in marvel comics he is an Eternal also known as Starfox the mid post credit scene introduces the character played by Harry Styles. Who looks the part 100%; going by comic book lore as source material he can affect your emotions as one of his gift. Originating from the moon of Titan, he is brother to Thanos, which automatically makes Thanos an Eternal with that revelation.  Their  father

A’lars has a brother Zuras whose daughter is Thena  making Angelina Jolie’s character and Eros 1^st cousins, and his comment to her “you are as beautiful as legends say” sort of inappropriate.   Having his own device which links him to his own celestial like  Sersi/Ajak  had with Arishem  the judge; Starfox has knowledge of the sudden turn of events befallen  Sersi, Kingo and Phastos.  This by its design also suggests other Eternals similar to Ajak are aware of their true nature and disagreed with the celestials.  And thus Giving Thanos an additional layer, Thanos viewed himself as a hero, his own action defies all Celestials across the universe by delaying an Emergence on all chosen Sentient life planets.  

100 deviants were created to eliminate planetary Apex predators who would delay and stall a planetary Emergence once a celestial seed was placed.  Unfortunately deviants evolved and became Apex predators themselves, so powerful beings known as The Eternals were created 100 to be exact to battle the Apex predators deviants.  To ensure the growth of sentient life; The distinction of these celestial creations is on- one-hand Eternals do not evolve, and initially cannot pro-create with humans or other species, deviants can absorb and evolve from sentient life, Eternals exist in their current form for multiple millennia as disgruntle Sprite can attest to. In the source comic book material - children can be created with their own kind as sons of Eros & Thanos are products of.  Making questionable “how” if their form is immortal; in the movie their true creation is revealed in the final act as something completely different.

The second is the post credit scene which introduces Dane Whitmore the black knight whose family history dates back to King Arthur and his knights.  The Ebony blade which is mentioned in conversation between Sprite and Thena (In a scene where Thena wields Excalibur).The Ebony is a dark soul entity that corrupts the wielder. The more powerful the wielder the more the blade corrupts them.  The material made of from the Ebony blade is what cut off the head of “Knowhere” a giant celestial which now floats as a mining colony planet in deep space. One rumor is Dane Whitmore’s sword however is speculated not to be the true ebony blade, but some soul sword with connections to Dracula or vampires, which is why Blade was the voice speaking to Dane off camera.  Director Chloe Zhao in an interview confirmed that, Mahershala Ali’s Blade was the voice heard addressing Dane Whitmore as he was about to touch the sword.

With a very quick cameo appearance of the Living Tribunal showing up in Loki, a strong speculation that Sersi and her team are about to be judged on a cosmic court; that visual should have promise.  As the closing credits indicate “The Eternals shall return”.  Here is the problem that’s reflective upon general audience scores, according to rotten tomatoes.  The film was good and rich and complex, but did not connect fully with its audience.  The movie is more dialogue than action and relied on flashbacks, and 25 % of the movie had action while the remaining three quarters of the film was strictly dialogue.  This told a difficult story, of why they split up, and why no one knows about them.  This is also the case regarding the killing of Tiamut.  The audience has absolutely no reason or need to connect or empathize with any Eternals, The only shared desire is final result of not destroying the Earth.  Ikaris, Druid, Gingo , Sprite, and Thena are characters if they were to perish there would be no outcome, nor would audience cared if they faded back into obscurity.  For the most part the Eternals have no Arc like other characters.  For example Stark being a weapon’s builder looking to make amends for his deeds that made him  rich, Steve Rogers a man out of time trying to find his place in the world, or a Peter Parker an unassuming teen given an extraordinary gift which burdens him while hold him accountable for his gift.  Eternals are supermen born that way and disconnected with humanity and all life events unless deviant harms humanity…  Full stop … nothing else.. the attack on New York, an avenger may have passed an Eternal and not know it and since they won’t die, and the casualties of war does not affect them.

Phastos is Marvel Studio’s first openly gay character; on screen progressively shown displaying an onscreen kiss performed with sincerity and nodes of the drama which is called for under the circumstances and stakes given in that scene.  The lesser known actors have the most screen time and established stars like Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie are given very little screen time,  Sprite is reminiscent to Kirsten Dunst Character ‘Claudia’ in interview with a vampire, as a cursed  immortal viewed forever as child, and harbors great resentment for her  appearance; ironic since her power is illusion.  At the end of the movie Druid remains untrusting of humanity, Phastos disassociates with humanity on a macro level, Sprite is on her own self fulfilling journey, Gingo who disguised himself as four generations of himself recorded the adventure for self profiting means and remains superficial , and is also disconnected to humanity, he just parodies it.  Makkari – we absolutely know nothing about, and still no nothing, as she is living inside a space ship for hundreds of years and continues to do so. Thena struggles with mental health, and remains locked away in solitude either in remote part of the country or in deep space aboard their ship.  And Ikarus has no connection to humanity at all and lives up to his mythology. Sersi is the audience surrogate in this world and serves strictly as a plot device, similar to Edward Scissorhands she can’t touch or be part of humanity and hides from it, she serves as romantic love interest for Dane and Ikarus , but that is only to serve to introduce Dane as what will be the Black Knight Character ; and in the final act, a revelation in the movie when Ikarus reveals the film’s final twist. So in the end we know nothing of these 10 heroes, no one else within the Marvel Universe will know of these characters even after the events of Emergence which largely impacted humanity on a global scale. We as an audience are given representation of a minority with heroes of color, of gender equality as lead by women, and the inclusion of LGBTQ community which are all commendable and should rightfully be displayed as common place in these stories, but the film doesn’t provide a fulfilling story, as it opens up a new world of heroes, it does not stick the superhero landing for us to care. We can expect a division amongst characters like Druid, Sprite, Ikarus, and very likely Thena being villainous with self interested ways, but no interaction from an invisible war makes the film moot and an the audience lethargic.