Movie Review: Duck Soup (1933)

Duck Soup (1933) directed by Leo McCarey

Groucho Marx is Rufus T. Firefly, the man destined to lead Freedonia in a time of great trial. The previous ruler has left the country in economic trouble and Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) wants Firefly to fix it. She also has more affection for him than he probably deserves. Ambassador Trantino (Louis Calhern) from Sylvania wants to marry Teasdale and take over Freedonia. His plans are thwarted by Firefly, who insists on insulting Trantino in any way possible and not taking any guff in return. Trantino hires Chicolini (Chico Marx) and Pinky (Harpo Marx) to spy on Firefly, but they spend more time tormenting a local lemonade vendor (Edgar Kennedy) than undermining the Firefly administration. 

The plot is more or less an excuse to string together a lot of gags, songs, and routines by the Marx Brothers. The outstanding bits are the "Freedonia is Going to War" musical number and the very famous broken mirror scene--Groucho is in a nightshirt and Harpo, after dressing as Groucho and breaking a mirror, acts as Groucho's mirror image. The running gag with the motorcycle and side car works well too. The film is a lot of fun and doesn't overstay its welcome. 

Highly recommended--this is probably the best of the Marx Brothers along with A Night at the Opera.

Book Review: Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Vol. 1 by L. Wein et al.

Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Volume 1 written by Len Wein, art by Bernie Wrightson and Nestor Redondo

This book has the origin story of Swamp Thing from The House of Secrets #92. It's a short story that chronicles the accidental creation of Swamp Thing. Alex Olson is a brilliant scientist developing a "bio-restorative formula" in a secret lab in the Louisiana bayou. His wife Linda is also a scientist and works alongside him. Alex's best friend hangs around a lot, though he is jealous of Alex's scientific success and of getting the girl. So the "friend" enacts a plan that winds up blowing up the lab and killing Alex. He buries Alex in the swamp and marries Linda. But the chemicals interact with the bog and the body, creating Swamp Thing. The monster returns to the house where the friend, in a bout of paranoia, is about to kill Linda because he thinks she'll figure out what really happened. Swamp Thing kills the husband and the wife flees, never knowing that the monster who saved her was her first husband.

The story was popular enough that Swamp Thing got his own comic. Issue #1 has to be the fastest reboot of a character. This time, Alec Holland and his wife are working for the government on the formula but some mobsters who call themselves "The Conclave" want to buy the formula. Alec refuses. The mobsters' boss decides if they can't have the formula, no one can. So they plant a bomb which causes Alec to get the burning chemicals all over him. He flees into the swamp water where he is eventually transformed. Linda dies in the explosion. Alec then goes on to have various adventures as Swamp Thing. Their friend, FBI Agent Matt Cable, investigates the murder of the couple and blames Swamp Thing.

Swamp Thing's first adventure sees him kidnapped by Doctor Arcane, an eastern European techno-wizard who thinks he can achieve immortality from Swamp Thing's condition. Arcane's minions, the Unmen, overwhelm Swamp Thing and he is flown all the way across the Atlantic. After dealing with Arcane, Swamp Thing works his way back to America in an assortment of bizarre adventures that leads him to Gotham City (and thus Batman) and eventually back to the bayou. The arc leads through some weird and imaginative situations.

The stories are enjoyable. Wein and Wrightson are a good creative team. They lean into the horror elements of the stories effectively, giving them a creepy vibe that matches the tragic fate of Holland. He's a scientist who can no longer communicate, becomes a monster, and is pursued as his own killer. Horror is a less prevalent theme in superhero comics, making this feel fresh. The writing is quite florid, with Swamp Thing often described as a "moss-covered monstrosity" or "muck-encrusted man-monster" with "rheumy, red-rimmed eyes." Sometimes it reads over the top but only occasionally. Again, it fits well with the horror tone.

Recommended--it's an interesting origin story and the horror theme sets it apart from the standard comic book heroes.

Book Review: Love, Treachery, and Other Terrors by Katharine Campbell

Love, Treachery, and Other Terrors by Katharine Campbell

Fausta, the middle daughter of the Kalathean king, decides she wants to be in charge of the country. Her older brother, Justin, is a drunken bully who likes to wage war and terrorize their younger brother Alexander. To help her out, she finds a pair of fairies who use their magical power to manipulate the kingdom. They spread rumors that Justin is a good guy and then have Fausta stab him with Alexander's knife, thus making her younger brother look guilty. Alexander has no regal ambitions and, as third child, was destined to go to a monastery and paint icons. He doesn't really understand what's going on. Fausta has pity on him and orchestrates his escape from execution (against the fairies' wishes). He flees to the kingdom of Kaltehafen. He becomes a beekeeper and a painter, though soon enough he's drawn into the royal court (and love) by Ilona, a local princess. Meanwhile, back in Kalathea, the twin fairies are wreaking havoc on the locals by brutally oppressing them. Word reaches Alexander, who has matured quite a bit in the meantime. He wants to go back but is unsure about tricking the tricksters.

The book is fairly lighthearted. Alexander is a guy who just wants to get by, keeping his head down. He can't live that way, even after his exile from Kalathea. Seeing him grow as a person is gratifying. His romance with Ilona is charming and follows a more bookish, smart-alecky path than the typical fantasy romance. The fairies make interesting villains. They have grown bored of a life where they test the moral fiber of people by pretending to be poor (to see if people will help them out). Now they use their magic and their wiles to trick people into hurting each other or get stuck in difficult circumstances. They do execute some horrible schemes, so this book is not for the youngest readers, though it does read like a typical YA fantasy.

The book has a very strong Catholic tone, which makes it less like a typical YA fantasy. At first, I thought it was set in a fantasy realm (i.e. not this world) but then there's mentions of the Liturgy of the Hours, the division between Eastern and Western Christianity, Greek and Latin, and real world cities like Paris and Constantinople. The combination takes a little getting used to but seems natural by the end. The romance is very chaste and the morality is solid. The happy ending feels natural, not forced, which is also a big plus.

Recommended.

War of the Christmas Novelty Ales 2021--Dessert Edition

See previous wars here!

At the liquor store, I noticed a lot of beers that had dessert-like theming just in time for the Christmas season. I thought this would be a fun twist on the usual War of the Christmas Novelty Ales, so I hunted around for as many as I could find. Here they are!

Blackwater Series Nitro Creme Brûlée Imperial Milk Stout by Southern Tier Brewing Company (10% alcohol by volume)--The can is not very descriptive, just calling it an "Ale brewed with vanilla beans and with natural flavor added." The "Nitro" part of the name refers to the canister inside that introduces nitrogen to the beer. Why? The result is much like pouring a Guinness with the cascade of bubbles going down. The beer is dark and rich with the smoothness of cream (another effect of the nitrogen). The sweet vanilla flavor isn't overly saccharine, it's just right. The stout bitterness is just hinted at as the last flavors leave the mouth. This ale is definitely both a dessert and a beer rolled into one.

Blackwater Series Nitro Coconut Truffle Imperial Milk Stout by Southern Tier Brewing Company (10% alcohol by volume)--Another in the line above, this can says it's an "ale with sea salt, dark chocolate and natural chocolate & coconut flavors." It has the same look and feel (cascading darkness and smoothness of cream, thanks in part to the nitrogen cartridge). The chocolate and coconut are well balanced with each other and also with the beer part of the brew. The flavor is even better. This one ends with a little smokiness rather than bitterness. It really gives the impression of being a coconut truffle in liquid form. Yum!

Holy Donut Imperial Stout with Donuts and Toasted Coconut by Lone Pine Brewing Company (10.5% alcohol by volume)--The label says "Holy Donut brewed in collaboration with our friends at The Holy Donut. Crafted using Dark Chocolate Toasted Coconut donuts baked right here in Portland, along with toasted coconut." The can also has a warning on it: "Caution: Beer in can is delicious." The beer is an Imperial Stout with blackness of color and robustness of flavor that often has a coffee vibe. The flavor is considerably lightened by the donut hints and chocolate notes. The chocolate is the strongest of the added flavors. I don't quite get the coconut flavor but there is a toasty/smoky aroma that lingers afterward in a nice way. I like it but it's not outstanding.

Christmas Pancakes by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery (9.2% alcohol by volume)--The label calls this an "Imperial Milk Stout with Spices, Honey, and Maple Syrup. Hardywood Christmas Pancakes takes our Gingerbread Stout out for breakfast. We intensify our already decadent GBS with gallons of local maple syrup for a sweet and sticky treat. Who doesn't love breakfast for dinner?" I have not had their gingerbread stout, so I can't compare the differences. I can say that I do taste the gingerbread base, a nice set of spices to give some color to this inky black stout. The honey and maple syrup take the edge off, making the beer a little thicker and easier on the palate than the usual stout. It's quite delicious and I don't think I need to even try their gingerbread stout. Speaking of which...

Gingerbread Stout by Guinness Open Gate Brewery (6.0% alcohol by volume)--This Baltimore-brewed (I really need to go visit) stout is very modest with its write-up: "This winter treat was brewed with allspice, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon." [but apparently without an Oxford comma] This beer is definitely more of a stout than Christmas Pancakes. The smoky, dark flavor is not covered by the addition of sweeteners. The holiday spices are there but not front and center. It's a nice stout but not outstanding. I probably would have liked it more if I hadn't had pancakes first.

Shoo-Fly Pie Porter by Lancaster Brewing Company (6.2% alcohol by volume)--The label says, " Bringing to mind the flavor of homemade Pennsylvania Dutch Shoo-Fly Pie, we brewed our porter with pure Lancaster County molasses and a colorful array of toasty malts. We then add pure vanilla for a flavor profile that's both smooth and uniquely complex." The porter base is well complimented by the blend of non-traditional flavors. It is very much like a liquid shoo-fly pie. The combination of bitter and sweet works well, like having a cup of coffee or tea with your shoo-fly pie. I like the flavor even if it is not exactly a Christmas treat.

Gwynns Falls and Leakin Park, Maryland

Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park is a long park that stretches from the west side of Baltimore out to Howard County. The park is over 1200 acres large. We hiked one small part of the park, though some of us were more enthusiastic than others. 

"Why am I here?" can be a practical and not existential question

We started at a parking area near Franklintown. Our hike started by crossing Dead Run, perhaps not the most auspicious place to begin. The park is famous outside of Baltimore only to fans of HBO's The Wire and/or the podcast Serial, both of which make it look like a bad place, or at least a place where bad stuff happens. Oh yeah, some of The Blair Witch Project was filmed here too.

We were undaunted and headed in.

Going to the bridge and not looking back

Dead Run

On the other side of the run is Cardin Pavilion, an area to have a bigger picnic if you've got a large group. We didn't stop, and I only managed to take a picture of it because I saw this fascinating V-shape tree trunk.

One tree with two minds about where to go

We crossed another bridge and headed over to an old structure.

"You guys go on ahead and check for danger!"

Leakin Park was originally part of an estate owned by Thomas Winans in the mid-1800s. His father was part of the B&O Railway and young Thomas headed to Russia to make his fortune. He worked on the rail line from St. Petersburg to Moscow. He earned a lot of money and married a Russian woman, whom he brought back to America. He called his estate Crimea in honor of the land that made him wealthy enough to afford it. Our first discovery of the estate was the old ice house and root cellar.

Who needs an ice house in late November?

The hike took us up the hill along the Old Fort Trail. The trail includes an old fort rampart and what looks like a furnace or fireplace.

Ancient civilization by American standards

This area is particularly wooded and did not feel like it was in Baltimore at all. Plenty of downed trees caught our eyes.

Down the hill, even!

One massive fallen tree became a rest stop.

Too big to haul away

More contemplation

We saw the ruins of a cistern nearby , as well as our first glimpse of the estate house.

No more water here

The estate house in the trees

A few more switchbacks led us to the home of the Winans. The Crimea Mansion is a large house and well decorated. Local signs told us it was Russian Imperial Style.

First close up view

Unfortunately, my youngest son accidentally swallowed a hard candy he was sucking on. His upset face was not about the house or the prospect of touring it. He was fine after a few harrowing minutes of trying to swallow.

Side view of the house

Front door

Back porches!

The backyard and the back of the house look down to the parking lot where our car was. The view must be amazing from the house. We even saw a viewing area on the top of the house.

The highest part

The grounds have a lot of old trees, some of which have seen better days.

Maybe a victim of lightening?

Nearby the house is an old-style labyrinth. When I say "old style" I mean the Victorian style, where it switches back and forth to create a long walk in a small area. Not "ancient style" with a minotaur in the middle!

A promise of Grecian adventure?

Easy to get over the walls here, hard to get lost

Proof of the recent construction

No creature in the middle, and no reward either

We missed out on the art in the park since our exploration ended here. Maybe we will go back another time.

Book Review: Asterix in Corsica by R. Goscinny et al.

Asterix in Corsica written by Rene Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo

Asterix has another adventure as a Roman centurion brings a prisoner from Corsica to one of the nearby Roman forts. Unfortunately for the centurion, it's the anniversary of a Gaulish victory over the Romans so the locals celebrate by beating up the local Roman garrisons. The fort is emptying out as the centurion approaches. The prisoner winds up freed by Asterix, who then joins him on the return trip to Corsica. The Romans in Corsica have a tradition of taking most of the valuables from the local people each year to send to Rome. The Corsicans have a tradition of liberating the confiscated goods just before they are sent. Asterix and Obelix (his trusty sidekick) join in the fun times the Corsicans have with their annual ritual.

The book is another entertaining bit of adventure with the usual characters, the usual Latin puns and other fun jokes, and some good old friendly fights.

Mildly recommended.

Movie Review: Kingdom: Ashin of the North (2021)

Kingdom: Ashin of the North (2021) directed by Seong-hum Kim and written by Eun-hee Kim

In the world of the Korean historical zombie drama of Kingdom, this prequel story is set in the north of Joseon (the medieval kingdom that is now Korea). Japan has threatened invasion in the south so enemies in the north are emboldened, specifically the Pajeowi of Jurchen. They are a tribe that lives across the border though some of them moved into Joseon over a century ago. The Jurchen living in Joseon are accepted by neither the Pajeowi or Joseon, essentially making them orphans. When some Pajeowi are discovered dead in one of the kingdom's forests, blame is put on a tiger. 

Ashin is the daughter of the head of the "orphan" village. She's a young girl who has wandered into the forest. She's discovered something entirely different--an old temple with drawings showing a certain plant that can bring the dead back to life. She wants to cure her terminally-ill mother, but her efforts are swallowed up by the political situation. A Joseon leader tells the Pajeowi that the village is to blame for the deaths, so the Pajeowi burn down Ashin's village. She returns after finding the plant only to see every last member of her family and tribe wiped out. She goes to the Joseon leader and asks for revenge. He puts her off, letting her stay and do menial tasks for the military compound as she learns both how to fight and, eventually, what has really happened to her family. Her path of revenge is terrible, more so because she brings zombies into the mix.

The plot starts with a lot of political intrigue (much like the first two seasons of Kingdom), a little action, and minimal gore. By the final third of the story, the action is full-on, as is the gore. Ashin is an interesting character, morphing from an innocent and intelligent child into a Clint-Eastwoodesque silent avenger. The story fills a hole or two from the other narratives while it stands on its own (i.e. you don't need to watch the previous content to understand what is going on).

Recommended, though the gore level gets high. If you liked the other Kingdom series, you'll like this one-off special.

As I write this (December 2021), this is only available streaming on Netflix.