Jurassic World Dominion – Is this the END OF THE JURASSIC ERA

-

June 13, 2022

Jurassic World Dominion – Is this the END OF THE JURASSIC ERA

This Article Will Contain Spoilers

In 1993, fans were given their first glimpse of the world of Jurassic Park. As much as it was an adventure, there were many perils along the way. The concept of corporate greed leading to catastrophe by playing god and cloning once extinct monsters has captured our attention for almost 30 years. Jurassic World Dominion is reportedly the end of that era. Here is why I think that works and what the future could hold.

The Legacy Story

Since the failed tour on Isla Nublar and the failed attempt of Biosyn to steal what advancements InGen had made, we have experienced 6 movies within this story line. Dominion comes full circle and addresses the intent of executive Lewis Dodgson (Cameron Thor-1993, Campbell Scott-2022) to have Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) steal the embryos of the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park.

More Movie News and Features

From Fallen Kingdom

Since the events of Fallen Kingdom, four years ago, dinosaurs have roamed freely and been trafficked in the black market all over the world. Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) return seeking to help these creatures in their own way. Biosyn is given complete control in containing the dinosaurs that are captured and continue the genetic research by making dinosaurs without modifications. Dodgson is not as benevolent as he is advertised to be and fans will expect that from the beginning. Biosyn is absolutely playing with genetics in a way that is about to cause all life to go extinct if not stopped. This is the premise that brings our legacy characters, Alan Grant (Sam Niel), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), back into action to save the day.

Jurassic World Dominion – The Cons

There are multiple sub plots that attempt to fill in gaps within the franchise and some don’t always hit right. There is plenty of exposition, some that is helpful and some that is unnecessary and only showcases the actor giving it. This movie also attempts to give each character some sort of payoff that is not entirely necessary and too far of a reach for one movie to accomplish for a 30 year franchise.

Jurassic World Dominion – The Pros

Apart from some of the short falls in this film, it is a decent entry to the Jurassic Franchise. The dinosaurs are impressive and visually stunning. The mixture of CGI and Animatronics help to blur the lines of fantasy and the physical. Action is fast-paced and there are many different landscapes that this movie covers to give the overall understanding that dinosaurs are able to exist in every conceivable environment. We get the introduction of new dinosaurs like the Giganotosarus, Pyroraptor, Therizinosarus, Atrociraptors, and one I am entirely excited for…the Dimetrodon which until this film was only hinted at in the original Jurassic Park toy line! There are also plenty of pay off moments, easter eggs, and nods to the previous films. Dominion is also able to correct some of the problems from previous stories and leave our characters in a better place then they were left last we saw them.

Is This Really The End?

Probably not, there is definitely Season 5 of Camp Cretaceous on Netflix that is hinting at filling in some of the gaps from Dominion. I personally think that stories could continue, but in a manner similar to the Disney+ Star Wars shows, within universe but smaller stories. There is so much potential for movies involving people being terrorized by dinosaurs in the mainland, that I would love to see. Check out Battle at Big Rock on Youtube for the concept.

Jurassic World Dominion – Overall Opinion

Jurassic World Dominion is exactly what is expected in a Jurassic Era film, a dinosaur spectacle with plenty of action and jump scares. Some people will be disappointed as this film does not get much of a world full of dinosaurs with the exception of some filler scenes. This movie follows a very similar trend with all Jurassic movies, people try to contain dinosaurs, dinosaurs break free and eat people, some people survive and grow close in their shared traumatic experience… or and Karma is a Dilophosaur!

Comics To Read Before Watching “Thor: Love And Thunder”

Comic Books

Sean Winningham

-

June 13, 2022

0

Comics To Read Before Watching “Thor: Love And Thunder”

Fans rejoiced all around the globe as Thor: Love And Thunder tickets officially went on sale Monday. The Marvel Studios epic is easily one of the most anticipated movies of the year.

We received the film’s official trailer in late May, giving us an idea of what to expect in the upcoming film. The introduction of Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster as Mighty Thor, Christian Bale’s portrayal of Gorr The God Butcher, and the introduction of another deity mythos (such as the gods of Greek mythology) have had everyone abuzz about what to expect with the 4th Thor movie (by the way, Thor is the first character in the MCU to have a 4th movie in the MCU).

Like many comic book fans, I wanted to learn a little more about what comics I could read in preparation for this film. As someone who just recently got back into reading comics, I haven’t read many Thor comics, so I wasn’t sure where to start. Luckily, thanks to the power of Twitter, I’ve become friends with another avid comic book reader who I consider to be one of Thor’s #1 fans and is my show’s expert advisor or anything related to Thor.

JT, or “Fat Thor” as he is known on Twitter, joined me in a Zoom call to guide me on the best comics to read for this film based on what he knows about the Thor comics and what he’s seen in the trailers so far. There are three main series he recommended, and he even shortened it for us to focus on just what we may want to know about the characters and stories we will see in the movie.

If you want to jump right into it, here is a list I created on League of Comic Geeks that lists every single issue JT recommended. Below is also a video and text breakdown of the series as well.

Don’t forget that you can read all of these comics on Marvel Unlimited!

VIDEO: What To Read Before Watching “Thor: Love And Thunder” (by The Captioned Life Show)

Thor: God Of Thunder

Years Published: 2012 – 2013

Issues: 1-11

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artists: Esad Ribic, Dean White, and Virtual Calligr,

Summary And Film Connection

This series introduces us to Gorr The God Butcher, his origin story, and who he is as a character. Thor faces him in three different eras where eventually all three Thors team up to face off against Gorr and stop him from releasing a doomsday weapon that would completely kill off all gods from existence. This series interestingly enough also has a number of religious metaphors and compositions.

Thor

Years Published: 2014 – 2015

Issues: 1-8

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artists: Russell Dauterman, Matt Wilson, Joe Sabino, and Frank Martin

Summary And Film Connection:

Due to prior events, Thor Odinson is no longer considered worthy to wield Mjolnir, but there must always be a Thor. So Mjolnir chooses an all-new Thor! This is the first time we see Jane Foster take up the mantle of Thor.

The Mighty Thor

Years Published: 2015 – 2018

Issues: 1-5, 12, 700-706

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artists: Russell Dauterman, Matt Wilson, and Joe Sabino

Summary And Film Connection:

This series dives into Jane’s origin story of her becoming Thor and why she was deemed worthy to take up the mantle. Issue 12 also dives into the origin of Mjolnir and how it came to be.

Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER stars Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, and Christian Bale. Directed by Taika Waititi. In theaters July 8, 2022.

Watching Ms. Marvel with My Daughter – The Kind of Role Model She Deserves

Popculturerabbi

-

June 10, 2022

1

Watching Ms. Marvel with My Daughter – The Kind of Role Model She Deserves

By presenting us with Ms. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Marvel, open the door to conversations about diversity, representation, and different experiences of growing up in America.

From the moment “Blinding Lights” by the Weekend started playing in the pilot episode of Ms. Marvel on Disney+, and my daughter’s head began to bob with the beat, I could tell this was going to be a very different Marvel experience for the two of us.

The two of us share Marvel. It has been our common ground of fandom for years. We have watched the movies, read the comics, and poured over the (age appropriate) TV shows (no Daredevil, Punisher or Jessica Jones for her yet).

My Daughter and I started reading the adventures of Kamala Kahn about five years ago when she was in second grade. She was struggling with reading, and it was hard to find stories that lit her passion.

I wanted to get her into reading and so I turned to my first love of reading: comics. At the time, a friend was telling me how the “new” Ms. Marvel had become her favorite character. I decided to give it a try and my daughter and I read the first issue. We were both hooked.

Much like this first episode of the Disney+ show, the deeper themes of assimilation, representation and identity went over her head at the time. What did speak to her was a girl, with her head in the clouds, proving everyone wrong. When everyone says you should be X … this hero says “No, I won’t.”

Kamala Kahn’s impact on representation and diversity in the comic world should not and cannot be overstated. She defied the conventional wisdom that a female lead could not sell comics to a broad audience. Also, and perhaps most importantly and what made her character stand out, it that she did not look like everyone else.

All rights reserved – Marvel.com/ Marvel Entertainment 2022

As her character in the show says, “It’s not really the brown girls from Jersey City who save the world”. And the conventional, steeped in patriarchal, misogynistic thinking, and racist ideologies, was that they couldn’t sell comic books or action figures either. A character like Kamala could not possibly speak to a broad audience.

However, all that conventional wisdom that was proved wrong in 2014 with Ms. Marvel, has been proved wrong again in 2022. After the head bobbing, and transfixed wide eyes, when the show ended my daughter turned to me and said, “Wow, I loved it!”

She loved how the show captured the spirit of Kamala. Everything that character means to my daughter, and to me as a father, was conveyed on screen. My daughter noted the changes from the comic but reasoned that they were telling a slightly different Kamala origin story.

Kamala’s greatest power to me as a father is that she tells my daughter it is okay to be weird, and that weird, powerful and being a girl do not have to be contradictory ideas. For my daughter, Kamala makes the word “weird” a good one. She does what is right, not what is convenient or easy. She, along with so many teen female hero’s that have come along in the last seven years, is the role model I want for my daughters.

*Iman Vellani in Ms. Marvel – All rights reserved Marvel Entertainment 2022*

Iman Vellani, has taken a character from the pages of a comic and given her life, and now expands the myth of Ms. Marvel. She makes Kamala exactly the kind of girl that I hope my daughters grow into. A person who struggles, fails, keeps trying and never stops dreaming.

In a few years, my daughter will revisit the show and see where she fits into Kamala’s narrative and where her narrative differs from her own. She will see similarities and differences between being a Jewish girl several generations in growing up in America and being a Pakistani American girl growing up with immigrant parents. These are important differences and conversations, some which began right after the show (she wanted to know where Pakistan was) and some that will have to wait as she learns more about herself and the world.

For now my daughter sees no difference between her experience as an American girl and Kamala’s. She will one day see the differences – good and bad. And I will be there with her to help her through that journey. There is so much more left for Kamal Kahn to teach her and show her. The comics and this show will help her learn and grow a sensitivity and awareness that will serve her well in the world.

By presenting us with Ms. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Marvel, open the door to conversations about diversity, representation, and different experiences of growing up in America. The MCU might be a story about fictional people on a fictional Earth, but the issues it tackles are real. They allow my family to grow. They give me an opportunity to have conversations with my children that are natural but important.

Personally, I loved the show. I found it entertaining, fun, and it reminded me of growing up. But this is not a show for me to enjoy. It is a show for my daughter. It is a show that is going to entertain us all, but also teach us all.

It will teach us about other cultures that do not always get as much representation and normalization as they should. It will teach young girls that they can be heroes and old white men that seeing different colors and genders on screen does sell. It will teach that us about what makes a hero and that anything is possible if we dream. These are just the lessons my daughter got from the first episode. We can’t wait to see where Ms. Kahn’s adventure goes and what this show teaches us from here!

Representation Matters: A Conversation About Ms. Marvel

Pooja Chand

-

June 10, 2022

0

Representation Matters: A Conversation About Ms. Marvel

Ms. Marvel released on Disney+ earlier this week and quickly became one of the most unique, inventive and representative shows we’ve seen on the streaming service or even in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

We sat down with two of our incredible creators — Yaseenthatguy and samosasandpopcorn — to talk about what this show means to different cultures, the Muslim community and so much more.

*All rights reserved – Marvel Entertainment 2022*

Check out the full video below and let us know what you thought about the first episode!

What was your favorite part of episode 1?

What are you excited to see the rest of the season?

Can a 16-year-old handle such incredible powers?

Let us know! A new episode of Ms. Marvel hits Disney+ on Wednesday!

A Dream Come True: Artist Creees Lee on His Journey to Marvel

Nerd Initiative Interviews

Michael Rothman

-

June 7, 2022

0

A Dream Come True: Artist Creees Lee on His Journey to Marvel

Growing up, artist Creees Lee wanted to be a musician. He never dreamed he’d one day be an artist at Marvel Comics.

His parents were musicians, but around junior year in high school, he realized that wasn’t going to be his professional path. So, he pivoted to drawing and comics.

He had always dabbled in art, being a big Dragon Ball Z fan, in addition to the Batman animated series, but it wasn’t until this time in his life that he actually considered it a possible career.

An Awakening

“My friend introduced me to comics and to Jim Lee,” he said. “I thought it was cool that a Korean guy was an artist in comics, but also one of the best!”

After discovering comics and falling in love with the art, he attended and graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

Fast forward to just over a year ago and Creees got the email that so many artists dream of.

“When I got the email from Marvel to work with them, I thought it was a scam,” he joked. “I still think it’s crazy that I’m doing Marvel covers.”

*All rights reserved – Marvel Entertainment*

In the past year alone, he’s worked on titles like X-Factor, Immortal Hulk and Spider-Man 2099. He also got to work with one of his dream writers.

“The first cover i worked on was with Greg Pak, that was a dream,” he said.

The next phase of his career includes a continuation of working with Marvel of course and then possibly adding DC Comics to the mix. He’s already begun to work with them and has done a variant cover, but would love to continue this relationship.

“I’m very happy at Marvel,” he said. “I would love to do more work for DC … I mean, the dream is Batman, he’s the character I grew up watching.”

With his talent and drive, chances are that dream will soon become a reality!

‘Marcel The Shell With Shoes On’ – Inspiring New A24 Film Shows Heroes Come in all Shapes, Sizes

Eric "Mr SniDBitS" Sanders

-

June 7, 2022

4

‘Marcel The Shell With Shoes On’ – Inspiring New A24 Film Shows Heroes Come in all Shapes, Sizes

Meet Marcel, he’s a shell with shoes on. He’s got a small view of a very big world and you can catch Marcel The Shell With Shoes On later this month as his debut film opens June 24 in select theaters.

Marcel first debuted back in 2010 as a YouTube short created by Jenny Slate (Parks and Rec, Zootopia) and her Husband Dean Fleischer Camp (Fraud). The short is a series of moments where Marcel the Shell tells the cameraman a series of quips about life with such small stature. Marcel is a one-inch shell with shoes that sees life just a bit different than you or I.

And while many of Marcel’s moments are made to make you laugh, they also make you think and see things differently.

Marcel the Shell – **Theatrical Release by A24**

Marcel was also turned into a series of books by Slate and Camp, that made the New York Times-Bestseller list. The books are an adaptation of the short film and some continued stories about life lessons in a small world. So far there are two books in the series, but the future could bring more titles, especially with his first big-screen appearance looming.

Marcel the movie will see Marcel living with his Grandma Connie. The pair happen to be the only shells in their village after the rest of the shells left without any explanation. A spark of luck and a little fame may just propel this little shell on a wild adventure.

Jenny Slate returns as the voice of Marcel with Camp also returning to direct and play Dean. We also get the great Isabella Rossellini as Grandma Connie. Legendary 60 Minutes Anchor Leslie Stahl is also in the film, showing Marcel’s world getting pretty big.

This movie looks like it will be endearing, funny, and will even show us what might be most important in life. The screen may be bigger, but this little shell is still learning what it means to be tiny in such a vast world. I am so excited and can’t wait to see it.

Check out the Short for Marcel the Shell with Shoes on and the Preview for the new A24 film below.

The Original Marcel the Shell With Shoes On short film.

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On A24 Film Preview

Neve Campbell exits Scream 6 Just Weeks ahead of filming!

Donavan Rose

-

June 7, 2022

0

Neve Campbell exits Scream 6 Just Weeks ahead of filming!

It’s been 25 years since Neve Campbell first portrayed Sidney Prescott in Scream. She became one of the most well-known final girls in horror history.

Image Credit: JoBlo.com

The franchise, which quickly became a horror classic, now has had five total installments with the fifth film having been released this past January after a ten-year hiatus. The fifth installment brought Campbell back as Sidney Prescott. however this time not as the main protagonist but rather as a brief cameo until the final act.

More Movie News from Nerd Initiative

Instead, the film set up a new group of friends and centers the story around a new protagonist, Sam Carpenter portrayed by Melissa Barrera who’s the secret daughter of Billy Loomis (Sidney’s ex-boyfriend and one of the original Ghostface killers).

Anime for Beginners: Here’s a ‘Heavy Metal’ Place to Start!

A sixth installment was greenlit after the success at the box office with the fifth ($140 million). The next movie is set to film this Summer and for the first time ever it is filming in Canada. Up until this point Campbell stated that she would return in this next film but on Monday news broke that she will no longer be reprising the role due to a pay dispute.

The actor said this in a statement to The LA Times “Sadly, I won’t be making the next Scream film. As a woman, I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to Scream. I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.”

She added, “To all my Scream fans, I love you, I’m forever grateful to you and for what this franchise has given me over the past 25 years.”

It’s unclear what writers will do with Sidney’s character in the next movie; whether they will not mention her, kill her off-screen, or just mention her in passing, whatever it may be it won’t feel the same without Neve. While the final girl that started the franchise isn’t returning, there are already several characters that have been confirmed to be returning in the sixth installment.

See the confirmed cast and returning characters below.

Confirmed Scream 6 Cast

Returning from Scream 1-4:

Courtney Cox as Gale Weathers

Gale Weathers is the only confirmed returning character from any of the first three movies. She is a reporter, author, and ex-wife of Dewey Riley. She has had her share of flights with Ghostface and has been shot twice and stabbed once throughout the franchise.

She lost her best friend and the love of her life Dewey Riley in Scream 5. What could Ghostface have in store for her in the upcoming sixth installment?

Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed

Kirby’s fate was left unknown in Scream 4 but a hidden easter egg in the fifth installment has seemingly proved that the character survived her battle with GhostFace back in 2011.

Panettiere took a break from acting after Nashville ended in 2018 and reprising this fan favorite is a great comeback. Many speculate that Reed could be the opening kill or perhaps be behind the Ghostface mask. Whatever may come to be of Kirby Reed in this film fans are just happy to have her back, especially if we no longer have Sidney Prescott.

Returning from Scream 5:

Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter

The main protagonist of the latest movie and who will perhaps go on to be the Final Girl of the entire Scream franchise.

Sam Carpenter found out at thirteen that her real father was one half of the original Woodsboro GhostFace, Billy Loomis. After finding out about her father she became a troubled teen and left home once she turned eighteen. After her sister was attacked she returned to Woodsboro and had to accept who she was to beat Ghostface in the end. She will return in the unarmed sequel alongside her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega).

Jenna Ortega as Tara Carpenter

Jenna Ortega’s Tara Carpenter was the opening kill…well attempted kill. For the first time in Scream history, the opening victim did not actually die. This must have been the way to go because Jenna Ortega just won Most Frightened Performance at the MTV Movie & TV Awards for her opening scene in the movie. Tara proved to be a strong and smart girl which is what helped her and her sister beat the people behind GhostFace and become Final Girls. Tara should be finishing High School in the next installment, will she live to see graduation day?

Jasmine Savoy Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin

Mindy is the daughter of Martha, twin of Mason, and niece of the late Randy Meeks. Mindy is the first openly LGBT character in the Scream franchise and while she is single, she does love to mingle. She shares a similar taste for horror movies as her uncle once did. She defines the killer’s pattern as a “requel” (A movie that revisits the subject matter of an earlier film but is not a remake or a linear continuation of its plot).

Both she and her brother are attacked by Ghostface and the audience is briefly thought to believe that the twins had succumbed to their wounds but in the end, they are seen to be one of the handful of survivors. Will Mindy suffer the same fate as her uncle Randy did in his second Scream film or will she be the first of the Meeks to survive Ghostface (Aside from Martha) and make it to the trilogy?

Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin

Every group of friends has to have a jock and in this group that’s Chad Meeks-Martin. The polar opposite of his uncle Randy and twin Mindy, Chad is a football player and was dating Liv McKenzie before she was killed by Ghostface. Chad is seemingly killed by Ghostface while looking for Liv but is seen in the end alive in the back of an ambulance with Mindy.

New in Scream 6:

Dermont Mulroney as an Unnamed Cop.

Dermont Mulroney is most famously known for his roles in My Best Friend’s Wedding and the Insidious franchise. He just signed on and is said to be a cop. We all know what usually happens to cops in Scream, but who knows maybe Dermont will one of the lucky ones.

Plot details are being kept under wraps, but according to Paramount, the sixth Scream film “continues with the four survivors of the Ghostface killings as they leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter.” Lead actress Jenna Ortega said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight the following about the next installment. “Ghostface gets a lot more intimidating, It just gets more and more gory. I think that this is probably the most aggressive and violent version of Ghostface we’ve ever seen, which I think will really be fun to shoot.” Screenwriters James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick will return to compose the script. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett will return to direct. Filming is set to begin this Summer in Canada.

Scream Six is set to slash its way into theaters on March 31st, 2023.

Early Opinions on Netflix’s New Film: HUSTLE

Tony Abdullah

-

June 6, 2022

0

Early Opinions on Netflix’s New Film: HUSTLE

Donavan and I were able to catch an early viewing of Netflix’s HUSTLE starring Adam Sandler before it hits streaming and select theaters. Donavan was able to experience the Red Carpet event while in LA, I was able to get an early screener. Since the Embargo has lifted, we decided to share our opinions of the movie.

Creator Spotlight – Yaseenthatguy on Representation, His Infectious Smile and Anime Onlies

Tony’s Opinion:

It has been a long time since a sports film sparked my interest. I was given an opportunity to an early screening of the movie Hustle. I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the typical Adam Sandler film. There are of course self-deprecating jokes targeted at Sandler’s character, but not to the point that it detracts from the message of the story. This film is, sensitive, encouraging, and full of heart. Any inspirational sports film has its predictability, but the ending is still satisfying. This had the potential of being a family film but be advised that there is plenty of adult language and content. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and think that this is one of the best Netflix movies I’ve seen in a while.

Donavan’s Opinion:

Adam Sandler is one of those actors that when you see he’s in a movie you just have to watch it even if you know nothing about it or aren’t necessarily interested in what it’s about. That was originally the case for me going into Adam Sandler and Netflix’s new movie Hustle. I am not a sports fan, never have been, and probably never will be. However, I am a huge Adam Sandler fan and grew up watching his movies. I was lucky enough to attend the red carpet world premiere and got to see how much hard work went into this film and I think that made me appreciate it a lot more. Adam has loved the sport of basketball since he was a kid and learning that many involved in the NBA not only helped produce but also Star in this film (many for their first acting role) really shows the passion and dedication behind it. The movie which I originally was only excited for to see Adam and Queen, I actually thoroughly enjoyed! This movie brought emotion, comedy, action, and smoothly molded it all in one. I was fully intrigued the whole time and while it’s a sports movie it is centered around family and that aspect is going to be able to reach a lot of people. I can’t wait to watch this movie again once its streaming. I think any Adam Sandler or Queen Latifah fan needs to be sure to check out Hustle when it releases on Netflix regardless if you’re a sports fan or not.

Shang-Chi Stars Share Details About Deleted Karaoke Scene

Tony Abdullah

-

June 4, 2022

0

Shang-Chi Stars Share Details About Deleted Karaoke Scene

On Saturday, June 4th, during a Panel at Awesome Con in Washington, DC, Shang-Chi stars Simu Liu, Meng’er Zhang, and Florian Munteanu talked about their experiences of being casted in the Marvel blockbuster film. When asked by a fan about their interest in karaoke, Florian Munteanu who played Razor Fist in the film shared that there was an alternate karaoke scene filmed for the end of the movie where Razor Fist was to enter with a plate of nachos and join Shang-Chi and Katie in singing “I want it that way” by the Backstreet boys.

While the scene that was included in the theatrical release made more sense with the references to “Hotel California” as it was referenced throughout the film, the revelation of this alternate ending brings to question: Why was it not included in the Blu-ray Special features?

Obi-Wan’s Ewan McGregor is Right: Toxic Fans Are Not Truly Fans

Michael Rothman

-

June 2, 2022

0

Obi-Wan’s Ewan McGregor is Right: Toxic Fans Are Not Truly Fans

The following is an opinion piece about comments made about toxicity from Obi-Wan’s Ewan McGregor.

If you look up the definition of fandom, you may stumble across Wikipedia, which reads – “A subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of empathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest.”

And while the original root word stems from fanatic – someone devoted to a topic, subject, or passion – the core beliefs and essence in that definition is not meant in any way to embody racism, toxicity, homophobia, or any other nasty traits that have stained culture over the years.

A ‘Nerd’ Origin Story – It Feels Good to be Home

In fact, fandom originated in friendship, support, and the outcast having a place in the world with others who also needed kindness and love.

If you are a Star Wars fan, by now you’ve probably heard about the horrible treatment Obi-Wan Kenobi actress Moses Ingram has faced online from toxic fans simply for playing a make-believe character on screen that some fans of a “galaxy far, far away” may not like.

*Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) in Lucasfilm’s OBI-WAN KENOBI, exclusively on Disney+. © 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.*

This treatment of the actress has included death threats, comments about the color of her skin, and more absolutely abhorrent behavior that has absolutely no place in Star Wars, fandom, or anywhere in the world for that matter.

The treatment was so horrendous that Obi-Wan himself, Ewan McGregor, took to social media to post a video slamming the behavior and making his thoughts as executive producer of the show, in addition to its key star, very clear.

“You’re no Star Wars fan … in my book,” he said of those attacking Ingram. And guess what — he’s 100% right.

Over the years, Star Wars has meant so much to so many. But there have certainly been some bad apples.

Kelly Marie Tran faced similar racist backlash after the release of The Last Jedi, simply because some did not like her character’s relationship with another character … aka Finn.

Do you think this kind of behavior is what George Lucas had in mind more than 40 years ago when he decided to create this space opera? Yeah, I don’t think so either.

I’ve been to Star Wars Celebration, I’ve seen the mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and friends who’ve gathered every year to celebrate together since “A New Hope” debuted all those years ago, and I also don’t think any of those fans would ever want someone like Moses or Kelly or Hayden or Daisy or anyone to be treated this way just because of a role they play.

We are proud to welcome Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family and excited for Reva’s story to unfold. If anyone intends to make her feel in any way unwelcome, we have only one thing to say: we resist. pic.twitter.com/lZW0yvseBk
— Star Wars (@starwars) May 31, 2022

They would want fans to embrace these characters with open arms and if they did not like what they saw on screen, discuss it, debate it, but be civil, cordial, and empathetic.

It’s ironic that those values so easily resemble the hope, the rebellion and the love we’ve seen from the light side all these years and the toxic behavior is far worse than the dark side could ever imagine.

So yeah, Ewan is dead-on when he says these so-called fans are not really fans in his book.

In fact, they’re not really fans in any book or any planet or any galaxy … either far away or more importantly, the one we live in and have to all share today.

NERD INITIATIVE

This Article Will Contain Spoilers

The Legacy Story

From Fallen Kingdom

Jurassic World Dominion – The Cons

Jurassic World Dominion – The Pros

Is This Really The End?

Jurassic World Dominion – Overall Opinion

VIDEO: What To Read Before Watching “Thor: Love And Thunder” (by The Captioned Life Show)

Thor: God Of Thunder

Thor

The Mighty Thor

An Awakening

Confirmed Scream 6 Cast

Tony’s Opinion:

Donavan’s Opinion: