America’s Tallest Singing Christmas Tree

 Yes, the title is true and it is spectacular.

And these are all high school students from Mona Shores High School in Michigan. 

I first heard about it a few years ago on TV and put in the list of things I wanted to do. Then two years ago a comic con friend of ours posted about it and I had to know how she knew about. Crazily enough they live in the area and her husband works at the school. I told her that we wanted to visit to see the tree. 

Fast forward to earlier this year and we find out both her children would be part of the orchestra for the Tree. Right then and there we started making plans to visit and see the show. 

We arrived Thursday in Grand Rapids Michigan and then drove to Muskegon Michigan to check in across the street from the theater. 

Saturday we went to the 3pm show and had seats in the lower balcony. There are no words to describe how incredible the show is. They played and sang so many of my favorite songs and the ones I didn’t know are now favorites too. The kids put everything in to the show and we loved it so much we bought tickets to the 7pm show too. The seats this time were not together and we had a person in the last row of each section so now I want to see it from the orchestra seats I might have to go back for the 40th anniversary!!

They live streamed the 7pm show and we are told it might replay at Christmas. I hope so because I would love to see it again. 

If you ever find yourself in Muskegon Michigan the first weekend of December I highly recommend this show. 

4 paws and a tail with a jingle bell collar 

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

 Dangrdafne review 

Hmmm I liked it but it wasn’t amazing or anything. In fact I really want to watch it again already to see what it was about it that was just ok or if it can be elevated.

All the actors were great and overall the story was interesting. The cinematography of course was incredible. I was worried about the horror aspects but I think watching it on our TV and not a huge movie screen help temper the scenes for me. It is definitely violent and there is definitely horror aspects throughout, it is Sam Raimi after all. But I had no issue overall.

I did feel like I was thrown into the middle of the story when the movie started and I don’t mean because this is the middle movie. I mean it felt like I was missing information to start the movie. But apparently it didn’t matter overall as I managed to figure it all out and watch the movie.

I am sad that Scarlet Witch was a villain but it is important to distinguish the difference between Scarlet Witch and Wanda in this case. I’m curious where we go from here and I will definitely stick around to find out.

3 paws

Titans - Season 3 HBO Max

 Dangrdafne review

My goodness I love this show. My first love is Ted Lasso but I’m pretty sure this is my second. And it couldn’t be more opposite. Or is it?

Yes Titans is incredibly violent and dark and angsty but at the heart of it is my favorite theme, making a family out of a rag tag bunch of folks. 

There was not one moment of this season that had me complaining or bored or irritated. I loved every second. 

I am especially enamored with Barbara Gordon, portrayed by Savannah Welch. Not only is she incredible in the role but she is truly from the disability community and what she brings to this role is the heart and soul of everything. She is simply marvelous. Every person should view her fight scene in the Lady Vic episode. It is incredible! She is incredible!

There are some new family members too and it was fun to watch Brainwise realize who they were and how they were being introduced to this version of Titans. I loved all the new characters and how they were woven into the story. I can't wait to see where we go in Season 4!

Remember I have no history with Titans or any baggage either. I do have knowledge from watching Gotham, Teen Titans, and other Batman movies/shows and it does enhance watching Titans and definitely never detracts for me. This season leaned a lot on Gotham history it seemed and definitely tied to the show many times. The biggest was one of the rooms shown in Wayne Manor, I would swear it was the identical room from the Gotham series. 

I hope you have watched the previous seasons and if you haven't, get to it! You can't watch this one without the other 2 and why would you want too :)

I will close with a memory I had while watching Brenton Thwaites this season and that was when he came on the screen in the first episode and I didn't know who he was going to portray, I turned to Brainwise and said "He's Dick Grayson isn't he?" I was 100% right and he is 100% the perfect Dick Grayson. He looks like him, he acts like him, he is him. I absolutely adore Brenton's portrayal and I am so glad the casting team found him and hired him. Honestly, I am grateful for each actor in this series, they are all amazing and perfectly matched to their characters.

4 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for June 26, 2020

[LIVE Signs] -- First things first: I will agree to disagree with just about anyone regarding the status of Prince's 1987 double studio LP, Sign 'O' the Times. The album has many staunch defenders, but I feel it could have been better with some judicious editing (i.e., pruning it back to a single platter would have more effectively showcased Prince's genius). That's simply a matter of personal preference, really. But whatever one thinks of the studio release, and whatever you think of me for my opinion, we can probably agree that the concert film released that same year is a tour de force. It wasn't exactly a box office success, but VHS sales the following year propelled its popularity and fueled many positive reviews. SKY Magazine even suggested that it "was the greatest concert movie ever made" (Wikipedia entry without citation). 

Set list:

1. "Sign o' the Times"
2. "Play in the Sunshine"
3. "Little Red Corvette"/"Housequake"
4. "Slow Love"
5. "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"
6. "Hot Thing"
7. "Now's the Time" (Charlie Parker cover by the band excluding Prince)
8. Drum solo by Sheila E.
9. "U Got the Look" 
10. "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
11. "Forever in My Life"/"It"
12. "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night"
13. "The Cross"

Twelve of the thirteen songs are live, on stage performances; "U Got the Look" is actually a promo video.

And this week's Flashback? It's the entire concert film courtesy of YouTube:

Flashback: "If  you go to only one concert this year. The Prince movie is the one!"

---

That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!