Book Review: Scott Pilgrim Vol. 2 by B. L. O'Malley et al.

Scott Pilgrim Color Edition Volume 2: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World written and drawn by Bryan Lee O'Malley and colors by Nathan Fairbairn

See my review of Volume 1 here.

Scott's complicated love life becomes more hazardous as his friends and family insist he has to break up with high schooler Knives Chau because he is totally infatuated with Ramona Flowers. He's finally forced into a corner and does the deed, leaving Knives heartbroken. Scott fights another of Ramona's exes. In an interesting twist, Knives runs across Ramona at the Toronto reference library and they have a fight in the same exaggerated, over-the-top style of Scott's fights. The ladies have no fatalities but the situation remains tense, at least in Scott's mind. He has another ex-girlfriend, Envy Adams, who has her own successful band and is coming to town. She wants Scott's band to open for them on their Sunday gig (the originally-scheduled band can't make it). Scott is nervous about the situation, especially when everyone shows up to the Friday-night performance where Scott and Envy are supposed to work out the details. Scott discovers one of Ramona's exes plays in Envy's band. The book ends with that cliffhanger, promising a big battle at the beginning of the next volume.

The story gets a little more depth in this volume. Knives is a more interesting and sympathetic character who goes through a normal story-arc. Suggesting Ramona will have to fight exes makes a nice parallel in the main narrative where Scott has to fight her exes. Maybe the next volume will start with two battles?

Recommended--I like the improvements.

Movie Review: Barbie (2023)

Barbie (2023) co-written and directed by Greta Gerwig

Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) lives in Barbieland in her dream house with her dream life of dressing up, going to the beach, and having a girls' night every night. The same routine keeps happening until one day she has a thought about death. And she gets a touch of cellulite. And she has a feeling she can't quite describe but it is not a positive feeling. In a fit of desperation, she goes to visit Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon). Weird Barbie has chopped hair, odd clothes, marker on her face, and loves to do splits. She is more aware of her reality--that she is a doll and that the girl who plays with her has decided to cut her hair, write on her, and put her in awkward physical positions. Stereotypical Barbie's owner is having problems in the real world that are reaching between worlds. Weird Barbie tells Barbie she has to go through the rip in between the two realities and help out her owner. Barbie is very reluctant but agrees to go alone. Ken (Ryan Gosling), who is a bit clueless and purposeless but loves Barbie, hides in the back seat of her convertible and tags along for the trip to the real world. Of course, the real world isn't filled with empowered and safe Barbies who do all the work. Barbie experiences what it is like to be a woman in our reality, which is a bit of a shock. Also, she finds a lot of people who have less than flattering opinions of her, including the executive board at Mattel. The journey becomes a time of growth for her as she finds her owner and has to deal with a lot of challenges, both in the real world and in the Barbie world.

The movie is visually amazing. Barbieland is all plastic and pastel, with an ocean that's plastic waves (so no real swimming or surfing) and medicine that works instantly and non-invasively. They have food items but don't really eat (Barbie is caught off guard when she drinks from a real-world cup and it has liquid in it!). They party all the time with the only conflicts ever being the Kens trying to impress the Barbies, sometimes the same Barbie causing a bit of jealousy. They have impressive dance numbers and an idyllic life. The movie starts with a spoof of the 2001: A Space Odyssey opening and has plenty of other little nods to other films. Visually, the movie is great.

The movie is fairly honest about the history of Barbie. Barbieland is filled with every Barbie ever made, including all the careers, skin tones, outfits (well, maybe not all the outfits), and nationalities she's had in the past sixty-plus years. The same with Ken. The other dolls show up but are less numerous (Skipper, Alan, etc.). In the real world, people have very different attitudes about Barbie. The corporate execs are constantly looking at the financial bottom line; a mom has fond but fading memories; a daughter has disgust at the superficial impossible standards implied by Barbie dolls. 

The biggest flaw in the film is its assumption of superficial relationships, divisions, and competitiveness between men and women. In Barbieland, all and only women are in charge, the Kens are just accessories suitable for little more than meeting at the beach. The Kens have almost no intelligence and do nothing other than swoon over Barbies. The Gosling Ken is smitten enough to try and help Barbie though his efforts have a negative impact overall. Once they get to the real world, things are flipped--all and only men are in charge at Mattel and the world in general, though at least there are female teachers and assistants (no employed (or even employable) males in Barbieland). Gosling Ken takes the idea of patriarchy back to Barbieland and tries to take over. It makes for some conflict that is resolved by returning to the matriarchal status quo. Barbie ultimately admits she has no interest in Ken and goes her separate way. The movie has no substantive female and male cooperation or even interest in working together. The sexes remain divided even to the end. I found it very disappointing, especially when it seemed like they would bond over love of horses. The undertone made the film less enjoyable for me.

Mildly recommended--this is an entertaining film but take no formation from it.

Hershey 2023 Random Stuff

The odds and ends of what we did on our Hershey getaway...

We stayed at the Hersey Lodge, a large complex of hotel rooms with many restaurants and other activities to keep families busy at the hotel while the park and other attractions are not open. We got on the shuttle to the park first thing. While waiting for the free shuttle bus, someone took our picture (with our cell phone). 

You probably already saw this on Facebook!

After a wonderful time at Hershey Park, we came back and had dinner at the Bear Den, which is a sort of sports bar in the lodge. It did have a lot of TV screens (including one at each table) but they were all showing the exact same game. I had chicken and waffles for dinner. It was delicious with a Blue Moon.

Beer and Chicken and Waffles!

One of the conference rooms (the Lodge also hosts conferences) was made over as an arcade, with some video games and other fun things to do.

Practicing basketball skills

Baseball challenge!

The next day, we tried out the Lodge's water park as soon as it opened. It was not as large as a Great Wolf Lodge, but was still a lot of fun.

Twisty slides named after Twizzlers

Pool with hoops

A perilous crossing

Since it was Sunday, we went to Mass at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church, a short drive from the Lodge.

St. Joan of Arc Church

We went for lunch at Iron Hill Brewery, which had parking near the park. 

Heading back to the car (this picture is out of sync!)

The bar at Iron Hill Brewery, Hershey

The waiter offered me samples of various brews to try. After four selections that didn't quite hit the spot, I tried two more beers and wound up drinking their porter.

Seasonal sampling

My daughter "enhances" the porter pic

Fish and chips, a classic pub meal

On the drive home, we stopped at Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt in York, Pennsylvania. Even though it was outside in December, the treat was still delightful.

Going for a snack

A happy customer

Vanilla fudge brownie

Hershey Gardens Winter 2023!?!

Part of the package deal for our stay at Hershey Lodge was complimentary tickets to Hershey Gardens, which is just across Hershey Park Drive from Hershey Park. Even though it was the end of December, we decided to use the tickets anyway, though our hopes were not high.

The Gardens are up on a hill with a nice sign promising butterflies along with the gardens.

Hershey Gardens

View to the park

More of the park

Being December, the main garden building had a special exhibit of decorated Christmas trees that we enjoyed walking through. The warmth of the indoors was a definite plus.

Another sign

A row of trees

A frosty blue

My favorite decoration

White and purple

Favorite decoration tree!

Knit hats make trees warm

Not sure about this tree topper

More traditional top

A better angle on a row of trees

Penguins working on a tree

The building also has the year-round butterfly exhibit, which has many real and fake butterflies.

Let's Go Butterfly a Kite?

Some of the butterflies were clearly interested in escaping, though they probably didn't know that the weather outside is frightful, especially for them.

At the ceiling windows

Ready for the door to open

Most of the butterflies were down on the tropical plants, showing off their colors or camouflage.

A beauty

Trying to blend in (or look like an owl?)

More spotty camouflage

Black and white stained glass?

Having a snack

Since it is Hershey's garden, naturally there are cocoa plants.

Surely these will be used nearby

A display shows the various types of cocoons butterflies make.

"Cocoons and Things" would be a good name for a butterfly store

Downstairs are the bathrooms along with this two-plant planter. I don't mind the Blue Chalk Sticks growing upward but the Snake Plants creeping on out the bottom are a bit Tim Burton.

Nice and Naughty for Christmas?

We saw a Money Plant which was a little disappointing.

Money doesn't grow on trees, even in Hershey

Outside, we saw the main lake and some of the greenery.

Lake with the fancier hotel overlooking it

Probably better in the spring or summer

The best plant in the garden at the time

The Children's Garden has some interactive exhibits and some fun things to do. They have a small amphitheater for education or entertainment. 

Children's Garden

Another plant you'd expect in Hershey

Outdoor fish pond (not frozen over)

One decorated tree

A play area has a global map with the cocoa-producing countries in brown.

Shipping the most important global product

The pretzel maze was fun if not challenging.

Don't get lost!

The garden below is called the Show-Off Garden, though clearly the show-offs were on Christmas break. Also, you can see the top of the amphitheater seating just beyond.

Useless bragarts!

We had a fun, short visit to Hershey Gardens. Maybe we will go back in a better season and explore the other acres and acres of plants. I tried to convince the kids to go to the rock garden because they are always at their peak, but I had no takers.