Las Piñas Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery and the NCRPO officers with the tarpaulin. (source – City of Las Piñas Facebook page)
In recent times, the City Government formally turned over its donation of three electric tricycle (e-trike) units to the police. Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery led the turnover of the vehicles which were formally received by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Director, Brigadier General Vicente Danao, Jr. during the ceremony held right in front of City Hall.
The electric tricycle units will be used by the police to patrol around the city and help secure the public as Christmas is nearing.
Another shot. (source – City of Las Piñas Facebook page)
The City Government is noted for spearheading the use of electric tricycles. In 2018, they approved City Ordinance Number 1536-18 (Series of 2018) which formally legalized the operation of electric tricycles in the city.
+++++
The above information and images were provided by the Las Piñas City Government for the purpose of public information and transparency. Some parts were edited for this website.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Having reviewed the first nine issues of the 2nd Wonder Woman monthly series (1987-2011) that was handled with care initially by great creators George Perez and Len Wein, I can say that the Queen of Superheroes herself was redefined not only for the readers of the post-Crisis era but in general. Under the Perez-Wein team, Wonder Woman was portrayed to be human and compassionate as she gradually discovers what her destiny is just as she takes part in the struggles and affairs of her fellow Amazons led by her mother Queen Hippolyte.
Also told along the way was the story of the deities of Olympus headed by Zeus. In their realm, the deities are divided and each has his or her own ego and agenda. Because they have tremendous power, they are able to manipulate events on the physical world and make mortals struggle. Under them, the Amazons have struggled and even people of Earth got affected as well.
When I reviewed the ninth issue, it was the full debut of the modern Cheetah who proved to be a worthy adversary for Wonder Woman. By the way, Cheetah is the antagonist in the new film Wonder Woman 1984 portrayed by Kristen Wiig. By the end of issue #9, Wonder Woman returned home to Themyscira leaving her American friends Julia and Vanessa Kapatelis in tears.
So what happened next? We can all find out in this look back at Wonder Woman #10, published in 1987 by DC Comics with a story written by George Perez and Len Wein. Perez did the art with inkwork by Bruce Patterson. This is the first chapter of the Challenge of the Gods storyline.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in the realm of the deities. They noticed Pan has been joyful recently and Zeus states that has been the case since Wonder Woman thwarted the scheme of Ares. Pan approaches Zeus and followed-up on him regarding a past conversation they had. Zeus then looks Themyscira, finding it secluded yet a true paradise. A paradise worthy of his personal favor.
On Themyscira, Princess Diana/Wonder Woman and a fellow Amazon ride horses not knowing Zeus and the others are watching them. Pan tells Zeus that as Heracles (Zeus’ son) once favored Queen Hippolyte (Diana’s mother), it is only fitting that Diana should be the first among the Amazons to experience his manly grace. Zeus then decides to come to the Amazons and tells Pan to play a love song.
Hestia and Artemis notice Zeus’ decision. An angry Artemis makes her move stating that Paradise Island (Themyscira) will be no one’s brothel.
Diana and Euboea talk while riding their horses slowly on a beach. She states that it is good to be home. She learned so much from the world of men finding its people so different and yet so much the same, that the Amazons all could learn from one another.
Meanwhile the Amazons’ council of justice discuss the gifts and records Diana brought home. Queen Hippolyte is in attendance…
Quality
Wearing armor and a helmet, Wonder Woman prepares to start taking on the challenge of the deities.
I can say that this story not only marked the beginning of a new Wonder Woman storyline but also it marked a new turning point not just for the Queen of Superheroes but also for her fellow Amazons as this involves the Olympus deities a whole lot more. The good news here is that the script is of high-quality writing and has special care made on it by the Perez-Wein creative team. As the story is more focused on Themyscira and Olympus, more details about the history and legacy of the Amazons is revealed and it is all done with a deep amount of engagement. The way the details and events were handled, it looked like Perez and Wein had these story elements planned ahead of time as they continued to develop and redefine Wonder Woman in the post-Crisis era of DC Comics.
At the heart of the first chapter of the Challenge of the Gods storyline is the link between the Amazons (who rely on Wonder Woman to represent them) and the divided deities of Olympus. With very compelling writing and visuals, you will get to see how fragile Diana, Queen Hippolyte and their Amazon sisters really are when facing the deities. In relation to that, it is a unique reading experience to see Wonder Woman struggle with interacting with Zeus and the other deities directly.
Conclusion
Princess Diana, her mother Queen Hippolyte and the Amazons analyze their situation.
Wonder Woman #10 (1987) is clearly a great comic book to read and it marked the continued excellence done by George Perez, Len Wein and their creative team.
If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Wonder Woman #10 (1987), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $60 while the near-mint copies of the fold-out edition and the newsstand edition cost $30 and $120 respectively.
Overall, Wonder Woman #10 (1987) is highly recommended!
+++++
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
Welcome back gamers! All the speculation about the first game being made by Xbox game studio The Initiative can finally be put to rest as it has been announced (during The Game Awards) that they are officially working on a new project simply titled Perfect Dark. Watch the video below and enjoy it.
For the newcomers reading this, The Initiative is a game studio that was established a few years ago to make high-quality video games for Xbox consoles and the Xbox ecosystem as a whole. While it took them two years to reveal their first project, The Initiative is very notable for having hired several high-profile talents. Previously I wrote about them hiring Lee Davis and Lauren Garcia from Sony’s acclaimed studio Naughty Dog.
The Initiative is one of the twenty-three game studios under the Xbox hierarchy. Right now there is pressure on Microsoft to release high-quality, exclusive games in 2021 and beyond so that the sales drive of the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X can be sustained. 2021 will indeed be a crucial year for the Xbox ecosystem because by then the gamers’ demand for 1st party games will be great and expectations of high-quality gaming experiences, art and technical performance of games running on the Xbox Series consoles are inevitable. Such trends will continue beyond 2021.
The above video of the first unveiling of Perfect Dark looks really good and slick, and clearly the developers are trying to give it a distinctive look. It should be noted that Joanna Dark’s face was not shown. There is passion within The Initiative on reinventing the Perfect Dark franchise. Watch the official developer interview video below.
As you can see in the above video, the team is really aiming high on making the new Perfect Dark. They also have the hardware and tools to help them realize the high ambitions they have for the game. That being said, it will be a few years before that new game will be released. More on the upcoming game, pay close attention to the words of The Initiative leader Darrell Gallagher posted at Xbox.com. Here’s an excerpt:
With Perfect Dark, we’re aiming to deliver a secret agent thriller set in a near-future world.
We have built the Perfect Dark team at The Initiative by bringing in some of the most talented game makers from around the industry who all share a passion for storytelling, world-building and creating memorable game experiences. With the full backing from Xbox Studios to re-imagine one of the best loved IPs from gaming history, we couldn’t be more excited to share some of our early ideas.
While I never got to play a Perfect Dark game in the past, I am looking forward to the new game starring Joanna Dark. I hope to see the new game have a third-person view with gameplay laced with stealth, shooting and exploration. I also hope it will also have some fast-paced sequences of driving or flying that would put gamers into the heat of action. If the developers decide to present it as a first-person shooter, that would be fine with me. It’s nice to see that Microsoft decided to revive the long-dormant PD franchise (which they inherited after acquiring Rare in the early 2000s) and have The Initiative lead the way creatively. Now that the unveiling has been done, only time will tell how the game’s development will turn out during this pandemic.
In ending this, posted below are some gaming-related videos for your enjoyment.
+++++
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
The Muntinlupa City Molecular Laboratory is now operational following its accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH) in a bid to strengthen the local testing capacity and COVID-19 response efforts.
Ospital ng Muntinlupa (OsMun) director Dr. Edwin Dimatatac said the city’s molecular laboratory started processing swab samples from COVID-19 patients on Wednesday. He noted that test results may be released within the day of the collection of swab samples.
Under the approved pricing scheme, the RT-PCR swab test performed at the Muntinlupa Molecular Laboratory costs P3,800. Indigent admitted patients qualified in OsMun’s No Balance Billing scheme and patients with valid Philhealth coverage can avail discounted prices.
Swabbing of out-patient clients will be accommodated from Mondays to Fridays, except holiday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM. While the molecular laboratory will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. All other request for in-patient and emergency request are subject to regular specimen collection.
Muntinlupa Molecular Laboratory is located at the Saklolo at Gabay ng Ina at Pamilya (SAGIP) building at the back of Ospital ng Muntinlupa in Filinvest, Alabang. For more information, the public may contact OsMun at (02) 8771 0457.
Recently, Department of Transportation Sec. Arthur Tugade vowed to assist Muntinlupa for the accreditation of the laboratory. Tugade also noted that Deputy Chief Implementer against COVID-19 Sec. Vince Dizon committed to donate one RT-PCR machine to Muntinlupa’s Molecular Laboratory once the accreditation is approved by the DOH.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi says the construction of the Molecular Laboratory will augment the city’s detection-isolation-treatment strategy in curbing COVID-19. The local exec noted that while the City Health Office records improvement with COVID-19 cases, the local government will not be lenient in implementing health protocols and other programs.
As of December 9, Muntinlupa City has 4,987 confirmed cases with 4,776 recoveries, 50 active cases, 161 reported deaths, 35 suspect cases, and 230 probable cases.
+++++
Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media releases. Some parts were edited for this website.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to distorted views, NO to reckless publishers, and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila-related community developments, engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, visit and join the growing South Metro Manila FB group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, comic book collectors and fans of the Ultraverse! In my recent reviews of the Mantra monthly series, the events of the Archimage Quest were examined. For the newcomers reading this, Archimage is the leader of the tribe of warriors that Lukasz served for fifteen centuries. As told in issue #1, Boneyard neutralized Archimage’s power and Lukasz died one last time in a male body only to be reincarnated as a woman (displacing the soul of single mother Eden Blake). As it turned out, the transfer of Lukasz’s soul into Eden Blake’s body was planned by Archimage some time prior.
The Archimage Quest lasted several chapters and one of them took place in a one-shot Mantra comic book. With the details laid down, here is a look back at Giant Size Mantra, published in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story written by Mike W. Barr and drawn by Mike Heike (1st half) and David Williams (2nd half).
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Mantra (wearing original costume) waking up in the presence of a lady wearing white. Upon waking, Mantra sees her and recognizes her from some time back at the Moon (refer to Mantra #6). The lady turns out to be none other than Eden Blake whose soul Lukasz displaced.
Mantra, now wearing a new costume, wakes up suddenly. A short time has passed since she left The Strangers during the previous encounter with Boneyard and now she finds herself trapped in dream-like place. Being really the man (Lukasz) inside the body, Mantra does what she can to break out of the place…
Quality
The first appearance of Topaz, the queen of Gwendor.
There is no surprise that Mike W. Barr’s writing remains strongly solid. The story is really engaging from start to finish and by this time, Barr not only knew the characters well but also showed clear signs that he prepared how to portray the characters as the story of Mantra continues. Here are further good news…Barr wrote a pretty expansive story that is worthy of this one-shot comic book that has almost 40 pages of content (told in two portions). While the first half told briefly what happened between The Strangers #13 and this comic book, and had Mantra discovering a brand new science fantasy realm with two cities (one male, one female), the second half was were the narrative really became more fantastic especially since this comic book marked the debut of Topaz (who went on to become a key member of the UltraForce) not to mention the introduction of not one but two different societies separated by gender and city walls. To see Topaz and her society of women comes with vibes of Wonder Woman and Themyscira.
The pace of the story ranged from moderate to fast, and Mike W. Barr carefully took his time with the exposition, the spectacle, the characterization and the sense of discovery with the new realm. This is a story worthy of the one-shot format and as a Mantra story, it clearly stands out and fits in well with the main narrative in the monthly series.
When it comes to the art, Mike Heike and David Williams did good jobs visualizing the script. Most notably, their art really brought the fantasy realm (as well as the two societies and cities) to life.
Conclusion
All those men staring at Mantra do not realize that the soul of male warrior Lukasz occupies her body.
I can say that Giant Size Mantra (1994) is a pretty good comic book to read. Its overall concept and high-quality script made it a very worthy one-shot comic book. While this story is not the conclusion of the Archimage Quest, it serves as a turning point in the life of Mantra and the results can be seen in subsequent issues of the monthly series.
If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Giant Size Mantra (1994), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the comic book costs $8.
Overall, Giant Size Mantra (1994) is recommended.
+++++
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
I am a long-time Wonder Woman fan. I deeply love watching the 2017 movie that starred Gal Gadot. I saw that movie thrice in movie theaters here in the Philippines, the first screening of which was inside the local IMAX cinema.
That’s because after experiencing the initial excitement of the international release dates published by Variety, I decided to verify with Warner Bros. Pictures directly via their official page on Facebook. In a November 26, 2020 FB post of theirs, I asked them directly (plus about IMAX) and they actually replied. Below is the screenshot.
As you can see above, Warner Bros. Pictures pointed to the Variety article (about the global release schedules) and with regards to the Philippines, the supposed launch of Wonder Woman 1984 in cinemas hangs in the balance because until now many cinemas – at least in the National Capital Region – remain closed even though restrictions (related to community quarantine) have been eased over the past several months as local authorities monitored the developments related to the current pandemic. This means that the Wonder Woman 1984 opening for the Philippines remains tentative at best. Warner Bros. did not say anything about IMAX.
What the status for Metro Manila will be come January 1, 2021 remains unknown. Speaking of movie theaters, I have yet to find any signs or confirmation that local movie theater operators are lobbying/appealing to the authorities to allow them to resume operations.
Again, the Philippines opening date for Wonder Woman 1984 is tentative. Whether the Patty Jenkins-directed movie will open on January 8, 2021 or be delayed, I will make it a point to watch the movie on the big screen. I will not stream Wonder Woman 1984. As far as watching the movie at home later is concerned, I’d rather watch it on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray. Paying for streaming will help the service but NOT the people who made the newest Wonder Woman movie.
While waiting for solid updates about Wonder Woman 1984’s opening here in the Philippines, check out my review of the 2017 movie, my review of the literary classic Wonder Woman #1 (1987), my review of Wonder Woman #9 (1987) which is the essential read before watching the new movie, and my most recent review of Wonder Woman Gallery (1996).
In ending this, here are some Wonder Woman-related videos for your amusement.
+++++
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
Yesterday, the City Government headed by Mayor Imelda Aguilar with Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery formally accepted the donation of two thousand hot meals and bottled water from Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Task Force Zero Hunger chairperson) under the PILIPINAS Kontra Gutom (PKG) multi-sectoral coalition.
From left to right: Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles and Mayor Imelda Aguilar at City Hall. (source – City of Las Piñas Facebook page)
Secretary Nograles and Mayor Aguilar do a ceremonial pose related to the donation of 2,000 McDonald’s hot meals and bottles of water for drinking, for the benefit of local residents. (source – City of Las Piñas Facebook page)
The mayor had the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to lead the distribution of the hot meals (provided by McDonald’s) and bottled water to the residents of Christian Habitat in Barangay Talon Uno.
A few of the donated goods being distributed. (source – City of Las Piñas Facebook page)
The donated meals and drinks being released to local residents of Christian Habitat in Barangay Talon Uno. (source – City of Las Piñas Facebook page)
The City Government thanked Secretary Nograles for the donation that benefited residents.
+++++
The above information and images were provided by the Las Piñas City Government for the purpose of public information and transparency. Some parts were edited for this website.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
I am not a fan of director Christopher Nolan but I say he still deserves credit for the massive contributions he made in cinema, specifically with the Dark Knight trilogy (which strengthened the superhero film genre) and IMAX (Dunkirk and Interstellar come to mind.)
Director Christopher Nolan. (photo source – IMDB.com)
Very recently the acclaimed movie director and producer made tremendous buzz in the news as he slammed AT&T-controlled Warner Bros. over their plans to release their seventeen 2021 movies in both movie theaters and the streaming app HBO Max. As you already know, the much-awaited Wonder Woman 1984 is just the first of many WB films that will debut inside cinemas and via streaming on the same day. HBO Max is currently way behind rival streaming services Disney+ and Netflix in terms of subscribers, and this fact makes Warner Bros. look not only desperate but traitorous towards movie theatre operators (who lost money and have struggled to retain their employees).
Going back to Christopher Nolan, read closely below the excerpt from The Hollywood Reporter article.
For many in the movie business — producers, directors, stars and their representatives — Dec. 3, 2020 is a day that will live in infamy.
“Some of our industry’s biggest filmmakers and most important movie stars went to bed the night before thinking they were working for the greatest movie studio and woke up to find out they were working for the worst streaming service,” filmmaker Christopher Nolan, whose relationship with Warners dates back to Batman Begins in 2005, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
Nolan added: “Warner Bros. had an incredible machine for getting a filmmaker’s work out everywhere, both in theaters and in the home, and they are dismantling it as we speak. They don’t even understand what they’re losing. Their decision makes no economic sense and even the most casual Wall Street investor can see the difference between disruption and dysfunction.”
Personally, I agree with the Batman films director. Even with the ongoing pandemic, it still does not make sense economically to release brand new movies in both cinemas and online streaming simultaneously. I know that there are a lot of people who don’t want to leave their homes to watch a movie because of fear that they will get infected with COVID-19. I noticed a few people who posted on social media that the movie theatre is a death trap of COVID-19 and they disregarded the efforts movie theater operators made to have their facilities sanitized, cleaned and practiced social distancing. This contributes to them relying on streaming to watch brand new movies in their homes.
The WB plan to release new movies in both cinemas and HBO Max only made the tough situation of movie theater operators even worse. Cinemas have been struggling to survive and badly need customers to buy tickets, snacks and drinks, and most notably enjoy the grand experience of watch films on the big screen which streaming will never ever match nor replicate. It should be noted that the business model of standalone movies recovering the negative costs (production, marketing and others covered by movie producers and investors) by means of movie ticket sales (plus merchandising) followed MONTHS LATER by revenue from sales/rentals of DVD/Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray, cable TV, pay-per-view services, and public TV showing is still the best even though several theaters have been closed down due to the pandemic.
It should be noted that the fact that WB does not charge a dedicated upfront fee for viewing Wonder Woman 1984 on HBO Max only means that the said movie’s producers won’t be collecting proceeds from the payments of subscribers. If you are a dedicated fan of Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig and you want to see more Wonder Woman movies in the future, you are better off skipping streaming and instead pay for the movie by buying movie tickets, buying the movie’s eventual releases on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray, pay for the movie’s eventual pay-per-view release, pay for the future rental service of the movie, etc. Paying HBO Max only pays for the service, and not for Wonder Woman 1984. Streaming will NOT help Wonder Woman 1984’s producers, investors and filmmakers, and it also will NOT help movie theater operators.
As for me, I’ll make it a point to watch Wonder Woman 1984 in the local cinema (especially IMAX) a number of times and then anticipate its release on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray. I will not stream to watch it!
Going back to Christopher Nolan, he is not alone with his reaction towards WB’s plan. Major cinema chain AMC reacted negatively as well. Below is an excerpt from The Hollywood Reporter story.
“Clearly, Warner Media intends to sacrifice a considerable portion of the profitability of its movie studio division, and that of its production partners and filmmakers, to subsidize its HBO Max startup,” said Adam Aron, CEO and president of AMC Entertainment, in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “As for AMC, we will do all in our power to ensure that Warner does not do so at our expense. We will aggressively pursue economic terms that preserve our business.”
The move will see the studio’s 17-film slate hit HBO Max for a one-month window that starts the same day the titles will be available in theaters in the U.S. The move comes after the studio had already revealed plans to release Wonder Woman 1984 day-and-date on Christmas Day, a plan that AMC says it was notified about.
“These coronavirus-impacted times are uncharted waters for all of us, which is why AMC signed on to an HBO Max exception to customary practices for one film only, Wonder Woman 1984, being released by Warner Brothers at Christmas when the pandemic appears that it will be at its height,” read a statement from the exhibitor, which added, “However, Warner now hopes to do this for all their 2021 theatrical movies, despite the likelihood that with vaccines right around the corner the theatre business is expected to recover.”
CEO Aron added that the company has already started an “immediate and urgent dialogue” with the studio. AMC, which announced today that it would be selling 200 million shares in the hope of improving its liquidity, has seen its stock fall some 16 percent by Thursday afternoon.
You heard about the Independent Cinema Alliance? They too are disappointed with Warner Bros. They called for a return to theatrical exclusivity and expressed that releasing films solely in movie theaters for a period of time is “what drives that value – not streaming.” Below is the full statement of ICA from the Variety report.
“Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. The Independent Cinema Alliance, however, is disappointed in WarnerMedia’s questionable decision to release its entire 2021 film slate simultaneously in movie theaters and on HBO Max. WarnerMedia is correct that its content is extremely valuable, but it also must know that theatrical exclusivity is what drives that value—not streaming. Given that COVID-19 vaccines will begin distribution in the coming weeks, the ICA calls on our partners at Warner Bros. and other studios to help write the industry’s comeback story with a recommitment to exclusive theatrical content.
The ICA welcomes short-term, innovative film distribution models developed to bridge the coronavirus pandemic. It is important that our studio partners support independent exhibitors during this crisis with new theatrical releases backed by robust marketing campaigns. For our part, exhibitors will bring the magic of moviegoing to communities across America while implementing expert-backed, industry-specific health and safety protocols.
But let’s be very clear, it is essential to the success of the entire motion picture ecosystem that hybrid distribution models influenced by the pandemic properly reflect appropriate terms for movie theater owners. It is also imperative that these reactionary policies made in response to a public health crisis do not reflect long-term, formal shifts in distribution strategies for studio films. A theatrically driven business model is vital to the success of movie theater owners, studios, and the creative community. The ICA looks forward to collaborating with our partners in Hollywood on deliberate, innovative solutions that build a brighter future for this great industry.”
The hybrid film release model of WB is not only harming movie theater operators, it is also destroying the mutual trust movie theaters have with movie studios as we know it. As seen with Christopher Nolan, his long-time business relationship with Warner Bros. looks like it will crumble. Nolan might as well leave WB and find another Hollywood studio that agrees with him.
Not only that, Warner Bros. long-time business relationship with Legendary Pictures is in danger as well. Legendary Pictures co-financed WB’s upcoming films like Godzilla vs. Kong and Dune, and according to a Variety report, they may take legal action against the studio over its plan on launching movies in both cinemas and HBO Max. Here’s an excerpt from the said report.
It’s unclear what legal grounds Legendary would use to challenge the decision, though it would likely involve some breach of contract.
Legendary declined to comment, as did Warner Bros.
Part of Legendary’s frustration is that despite largely bankrolling “Dune” and “Godzilla vs. Kong,” the production company didn’t have much of a say in how its buzzy titles would be released. Moreover, the company felt that Warner Bros. wasn’t being transparent with its intentions. Months ago, Netflix had discussed a possible sale of “Godzilla vs. Kong” for a hefty $250 million but WarnerMedia, the parent company of Warner Bros., blocked that arrangement.
Denis Villeneuve, the director of “Dune,” is similarly disappointed with the HBO Max plan and would prefer a traditional theatrical release for his movie, according to insiders.
Studios have tried to salvage some of their big-budget films this year by selling them through streaming services for $20 to $30. But that business model has made it easier for pirates to illegally copy and share new releases, with an estimated loss of millions of potential customers for the production companies.
Unlicensed downloads of Walt Disney Co.’s most-recent picture, “Mulan,” have outpaced those of other movies since its Sept. 4 U.S. debut on the Disney+ streaming service, according to TorrentFreak, a website that tracks pirating activity on public servers. Compared with “The Lion King,” which came out last year in theaters, “Mulan” saw about twice as many downloads in the days and weeks after its release.
When a traditional movie is released in theaters, thieves struggle to obtain high-quality recordings of it, often resorting to bootlegging with a hidden camcorder. With digital releases, pirates use technologies not available to most consumers to make perfect copies quickly.
On the other side of the spectrum, Warner Bros. Entertainment chairman and CEO Ann Sarnoff defended her company’s decision and specified that they have “many movies which are ready to go, and they’ve been sitting on shelves. So we thought this was the most creative and win-win situation to bring them not only to theaters but simultaneously for 31 days on HBO Max.”
The same CNBC report also states that Warner Bros. did not consult the actors, the directors, the agents with regards to the 2021 movies, and that they did not make distribution deals with the cinemas.
In ending this, here is an excerpt from The Hollywood Reporter’s report. Play close attention to the details.
The Warners move poses big, maybe even existential questions: How do theaters survive this supposedly one-time, excused-by-the-pandemic move? Genies are hard to put back in the bottle and no one believes Warners intended this to be temporary anyway. What damage will be done to exhibitors by training customers that if they sit on their sofas, the biggest movies will come? And will Warners face serious backlash from important producers, filmmakers, guilds and on-screen talent? “Warners was the quintessentially talent-friendly, filmmaker-friendly studio,” says one agent. “Now Warners isn’t the first place, second place or third place you want to go.”
Many in Hollywood think WarnerMedia jumped at this drastic move to play to streaming-infatuated Wall Street and re-do the botched launch of HBOMax, which netted a dismal 8.6 million subscribers. But one prominent agent notes that the top executives at WarnerMedia and its parent — AT&T CEO John Stankey, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar and, of course, Sarnoff — “don’t understand the movie business and they don’t understand talent relations.”
+++++
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
Welcome back fellow Christians and music enthusiasts. In this latest edition of my Christian Music Appreciation (CMA) series, we will take a close look at another Hillsong worship song that was greatly performed by pastor Darlene Zschech during her time with them. That song is titled Shout of the King.
Shout of the King was released as part of the 2002 album Blessed by Hillsong Music. The song’s words and music were done by Ned Davies. The album itself was a strong seller peaking at #4 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
Now that the details have been laid down, we can take a close look at Shout of the King starting with its lyrics and followed by an examination of the holiness of the lyrics in connection with the Holy Bible…
Lyrics
Verse 1
I give You praise for You deserve it
I give You praise for what You’ve done
I give You praise for You are able
I give You praise ’til I overcome
–
Verse 2
I give You praise when the sun is shining
I give You praise in the dark of night
I give You praise when the battle rages
I give You praise ’til it works out right
–
Chorus
The shout of the King is among us
God lives here in our praises
The shout of the King is among us
Praise Him
Praise Him
Praise Him in everything
–
Bridge
Heaven opens as we sing Your praise
Angels join us as we praise Your name
–
End Tag:
Praise Him
Praise Him
Praise Him
Praise Him in everything
As you can clearly see, the word praise is often present throughout the lyrics from Verse all the way to the end. There are many expressions of the words praise as the song went on. Praise related to why the Lord deserves it all, praise in times of challenges or good times, praise for the name of the Lord and so on. The Holy Bible itself has lots of scriptures about praising God and here are some I found for you all.
Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His might firmament! Praise Him for His might acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
Psalm 150:1-6 (NKJV)
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.
2 Samuel 22:50 (NKJV)
“He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.”
Deuteronomy 10:21 (NKJV)
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:24 (NKJV)
At this point, we can start examining parts of the lyrics and search for their relevance to the Holy Bible starting with: I give You praise for You deserve it, I give You praise for what You’ve done, I give You praise for You are able, I give You praise ’til I overcome.
As it is already made clear in the Holy Bible, we would never have existed without God. He is the definitive creator of all life, the worlds, the universe and all the universes we have yet to discover. We Christians are mandated to praise Him, give thanks to Him and help Him spread His Word in this divided world we live in surrounded by many souls that are lost and unsaved. This is the truth that Satan does not want you to realize which explains why he uses tools to separate people from God like Communism, Marxism, political correctness, terrorism, anarchy, homosexuality, sexual immorality, feminism, idolatry, wokeness, covetousness, traditions, rituals, liberalism, abortion, social division, social justice (distorted justice), secularism, religion, atheism, socialism, racism, immorality and more. In other words, the enemy will do anything to prevent people from realizing their relationship with the Lord and stop them from praising Him. Satan does not want you to know that God is deserving, God’s creations and achievements can never be matched, God is able for He is omnipotent, and we His children who know the truth will keep praising Him not only while living in the flesh but eternally when we join Him in Heaven. By being faithful and edified under the Lord, we the children of God can easily resist Satan and make him walk away from us completely rejected and defeated Learn from the following scriptures below…
You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.
Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)
In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both of which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him, we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:7-12 (NKJV)
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only shall you serve.”
Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Matthew 4:10-11 (NKJV)
As seen in the above scriptures, God’s authority is unquestionable and untainted. In fact, His authority stands very tall permanently for He is just, loving, caring and fully moral as our source and creator. God is the Heavenly Father and Satan knows that when we are with the Lord, he will never be able to bring us down. Satan hates it when we know the truth of God’s Word and are edified under Him. Satan hates it when we follow Lord Jesus who Himself defeated the enemy more than once, and each victory proved to be significant forever. Lord Jesus redeemed humanity which sealed Satan’s permanent status as a loser and reversed the fall of humanity that Adam caused. The Lord is worthy of all our praise. Satan deserves nothing at all.
Next lines from the lyrics to analyze are as follows: The shout of the King is among us, God lives here in our praises. When the Lord talks to us, we should really listen. When He shouts, we definitely should focus on Him and respond accordingly. Learn from the holy scriptures below…
God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
Psalm 47:5-6 (NKJV)
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NKJV)
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”
Revelation 12:10 (NKJV)
The LORD shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.
Isaiah 42:13 (NKJV)
So there you have it! Shout of the King is indeed a very holy song with an uncompromising focus on praising our Lord. Its lyrics really connect with the Holy Bible a lot. Musically, Shout of the King is one of the more energetic songs I saw Darlene Zschech led when she was still with Hillsong’s musicians. The drums, the electric guitars and the trumpets used combined with the great vocals by Hillsong in performances led by Zschech really made the song very upbeat from start to finish. So energetic and holy it is, Shout of the Lord is ideal to play to really stir up Christians attending Sunday worship services or a special worship event. This song is highly recommended!
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Sharing this Christian piece means spreading the good news of the Lord to others. It can help you save the unsaved and the lost souls out there.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, comic book collectors and fans of Wonder Woman! I should say that this is the most unusual comic book I have reviewed so far due to its main presentation of varied artworks featuring the Queen of all Superheroes herself – Wonder Woman!
For the newcomers reading this, there were several comic books back in the 1990s that did not really tell stories but showcased artworks of varied superheroes done by several artists. Such publications were in the form of swimsuit specials, apparently inspired by Sports Illustrated’s own publications. There were WildStorm Swimsuit Special #1, Ballistic Studios Swimsuit Special #1, Homage Studios Swimsuit Special #1, Lady Death Swimsuit Special #1 and the Avengelyne/Glory: Swimsuit Special #1 to name some.
The 1990s saw a rise of eroticism in superhero comic books. Not even the Wonder Woman monthly series of that time was spared from the trend. There was a time when DC Comics hired Mike Deodato to illustrate a number of Wonder Woman comic books in the mid-1990s which resulted a more eroticized look of Diana/Wonder Woman and her fellow Amazons. John Byrne took over after Deodato and his stint was not an improvement.
While the 1990s was a weak decade of Wonder Woman comics for me personally, not all was doom and gloom. Around twenty years before Gal Gadotdebuted on the big screen as the cinematic Wonder Woman, DC Comics published an art gallery of the Queen of Superheroes in the form of a comic book.
With the details established, here is a look back at Wonder Woman Gallery, published by DC Comics in 1996 featuring the works of multiple artists.
The cover.
What it is
Wonder Woman Gallery is a showcase of thirty-two artworks done by George Perez, Stuart Immonen, Mike Wieringo and Richard Case, Brent Anderson, Howard Porter and John Dell, Jim Balent (misspelled as Jim Balant), Amanda Conner, Chuck Wojtkiewicz and Will Blyberg, Howard Chaykin, Steve Lightle and 22 others.
As this is an art gallery, there is clearly no story to tell. It is all artwork showcasing the different talents of the artists (and the inkers who helped them) on presenting Wonder Woman (note: the only exception here is a solo image of the forgettable WW replacement Artemis).
This artistic contribution by Phil Jimenez looks great.
Jill Thompson’s inspired take on Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman by Howard Porter and John Dell.
Wonder Woman by Ivan Reis and Barbara Kaalberg.
Quality
As this is an art showcase, the overall quality of the collected art here varies. Such a collection of different art styles will appeal to Wonder Woman fans depending on how they like their favorite superhero presented visually.
In my honest opinion, I always love the art style done by George Perez on Wonder Woman, her fellow Amazons, the supporting characters and more. His presentation here is flawless and timeless. What surprised me here in this collection is the contribution of Phil Jimenez whose quality and art style seem inspired by George Perez’s Wonder Woman legacy. As many of us know already, Jimenez later went on to become one of the top illustrators of DC Comics in the 2000s and his work here is nice to look.
There were a few artworks that showed Wonder Woman with a very cartoony look. Among them is the Wonder Woman piece done in the very distinct style of Sergio Aragones. Some art pieces here showed WW with a bizarre look and then there were a few others whose take on the Queen of Superheroes turned out good.
Conclusion
This work by George Perez is my favorite in this collection.
I can say that Wonder Woman Gallery (1996) is a published work that Wonder Woman fans will enjoy for as long as they are willing to accept images of their favorite superhero with styles ranging from realistic to cartoony, obscure and simple. Art styles aside, there is a lot here that fans will marvel at again and again, while art enthusiasts (who are not necessarily fans of the Queen of Superheroes) could find something eye-catching here.
If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Wonder Woman Gallery (1996), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the comic book costs $40.
Overall, Wonder Woman Gallery (1996) is recommended.
+++++
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
