Impala Dreams

Photo courtesy of Everything Else Photography

Everyone has that one thing that reminds them of their favorite show or movie, whether it be something about their favorite character, a song, or a vehicle. So let's focus on the vehicles that people love, shall we? The Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo, the General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard, Kitt from Knight Rider--there are so many. But for me it's a certain 1967 Chevy Impala, affectionately known as "Baby" by the Winchester Brothers of Supernatural. The car has been a staple of the show since its inception in 2005 and has quickly found its way into the hearts of the cast, crew, and fans alike. It's definitely a dream car, to the extent that I have looked up '67 Impalas for sale online. I know someone in Las Vegas who owns one, and have seen others put on display at conventions by their proud owners. I've developed the same affection for this car as they have, with the small exception of me not having a "Baby" to call my own. Since that's not going to be a realistic goal any time in the near future, I would settle for a temporary solution for now. 

So imagine that exact type of solution presents itself. You rent your favorite car for a road-bound getaway, seated behind the wheel of a vehicle straight out of your dreams. A vehicle you rented from a company, similar to renting a car from an airport. One such company is setting about the task of making that a reality. Turo, a car rental company based out of San Francisco, is in the business of renting out pop culture inspired vehicles from TV shows and movies. Not only that, but they offer all sorts of vehicles (listed by their owners) for rent, from family cars to luxury sedans. Fancy a cruise around town in the Ford Escape Aviato from Silicon Valley? Do you want to roll in style in a Mercedes C-Class or a BMW 3 Series? Well, then Turo is your destination for fulfilling your transportation-themed guilty pleasure.

Photo courtesy of Everything Else Photography

Naturally, a company like that would peak my interest. If they ever landed a '67 Impala, I'd whip my credit card out so fast, my wrist would have whiplash. The possibilities that could be achieved through renting a car like that, would certainly result in nothing less than a road trip of epic proportions, regardless of where you went. But, what kind of story teller would I be, if I just left it at that? If I didn't at least share some possible destinations?

Many Supernatural fans (myself included) would tell you how much shared affection there is between them and the brothers over this car. Also, the jealousy felt when Dean and Sam get to criss-cross the country inside one of the coolest muscle cars on TV today. The Impala is their home on wheels, their lifeline to other places, their ever-reliable symbol of family, strength, and resilience. Small towns and big cities, paved highways and dirt roads, the Impala has seen its fair share during the show's 11 year run. I crave my own road trip behind the wheel of a 385 horse-power Turbo-Jet 427 engine, with sunlight gleaming off the mirror-like Tuxedo Black paint--hunting down adventure rather than demons and monsters.

It isn't hard to decide where I would go, if given the chance to drive that car. A car like that has plenty of space to allow you to stock up on supplies for any length of trip. Be it a few days or a couple weeks. I would aim for the gorgeous picturesque routes first. I've always wanted to go to Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, and travel cross-country along what used to be the iconic Route 66. This is the type of car that would turn heads away from the gorgeous views of the Pacific Highway. It would draw attention from all the tourists at the Grand Canyon. I would want to show off the beaming headlights rolling down the glittering Vegas Strip. Spend a sleepless night in Seattle, star-gazing on top of the hood. The possibilities are endless.

Photo courtesy of Everything Else Photography

The hard part, who would I take with me? As much as I would like to take everyone with me to experience the awesomeness that is the Impala, it's not exactly a tour bus. You're looking at probably 5 people in the car at once. Even if your passengers are cool with getting super chummy and all up in each other's personal spaces, the back seat could really only hold three adults semi-comfortably. Add the driver (who picks the music), and your passenger riding shotgun (who shuts their cakehole, because the driver picks the music), you have a full car load of five adults ready to seek adventure in their favorite car. It would have to be fellow fans of the car, with whom you share your road trip, only they would accept you swooning over a car nearly 50 years old. A car once again made popular by a TV show, known for its heart-throb leading men. But the car is a beauty all on its own, and as sexy as the day she rolled off the assembly line. I have quite a few friends that understand that about this car, and they would have first dibs at filling those three to four open seats.

Photo courtesy of Everything Else Photography

Now much like the show, I would not exclude family from taking a cruise with me. I would hope that they too would be excited. You don't have to be a fan of the show, or a major gear head to be able to appreciate a car like this.

Photo courtesy of Everything Else Photography

It is, after all, a badass, sexy, muscle car. A blast from the past. They just don't make them like this anymore. From its shiny metal grill, to its leather interior, large size trunk, and four doors convenient for any family. This car has so much going for it. Chevy did make a two-door version, but it just isn't the same. For one, you wouldn't be able to fit as many grown adults into the sports version. The coupe also just doesn't have the same gravitas as the larger sedan, a gravitas which would make the modern sorry excuse for an Impala feel ashamed. The Impala of yesteryear is the perfect blend, a muscle car made to endure the long haul of the open road and the wear and tear of everyday family use. It is a gender neutral vehicle that makes anyone look cool.

Now, you may have noticed the gorgeous Impala photographs used in this very post. All of these photos were provided courtesy of Eric from Everything Else Photography and shared with his permission. If you would like to see more from this particular Impala (owned by the photographer himself), or other amazing photography work, please check out his website.

So what else is there left to say about my obsession...I mean...fondness for the '67 Chevy Impala? Nothing really. Hey Turo, help a girl out?

Photo courtesy of Everything Else Photography

A Strange Review

I went to go see Doctor Strange on opening day. I had a half day off from work and went home to pick up my mom, who was already off. We headed to the mall, had something to eat and caught a 4:00 pm 3-D showing. Now, before I even get into my non-spoiler review of the movie, I have to start by saying how much I recommend this movie be seen in 3-D. If you've seen any of the previews, you know that this movie has some very Inception-esque style scenes. Scenes which are perfectly suited to pull you right into the middle of the experience in a 3-D rendered film. It had been recommended by a podcast I listen to. So, thank you Bill (Wicked Theory Podcast); I'm so glad that I paid the extra money. As many may know, 3-D showings are usually several dollars more than a regular ticket and, in this case, the movie was completely worth it.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but knew, based on the previews, that this was not going to be like the other Marvel films that had come before. It had the makings of a great movie. The cast alone had me excited to see the film, ever since the rumor that Benedict Cumberbatch was the lead as Doctor Steven Strange was confirmed true. It was fantastic to see a fan-casting come to fruition and with such a brilliant actor. Being a big fan of Cumberbatch since his BBC Sherlock days, I just had to write something about the big announcement.

Now, about ten months later, my hopes for the film have not been let down. But it's not just Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, War Horse, 12 Years A Slave, Star Trek Into Darkness), the movie is packed full of talent. Chiwetel Ejiofor was cast as Mordo, know from a wide variety of films: 12 Years A Slave, The Martian, American Gangster, Kinky Boots, Serenity, and Love Actually. The beautiful Rachel McAdams, known from the Nicholas Sparks novel turned film, The Notebook, as well as the Sherlock Holmes film franchise and True Detective, was Dr. Christine Palmer. A British actor with a long list of acting credits (movie and TV), such as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Kickass 2, Prometheus, The Martian, and Marco Polo--Benedict Wong was Wong. Now, speaking of a long list of varied acting work, the ever talented Mads Mikkelsen was Kaecilius. A Danish-born actor, Mikkelsen is known for: King Arthur, Casino Royale, Valhalla Rising, Clash of the Titans, Hannibal, and Star Wars Rogue One. Last, but certainly not least, an actress of the stage and film, Tilda Swinton was The Ancient One. Swinton, another British actor with a varied list of credits, is more popularly known for such films as: The Beach, Constantine, Chronicles of Narnia, Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Trainwreck. With a cast of such magnitude and international esteem, how could anything but greatness be expected from this film?

As I mentioned before, this will be a spoiler free review of the movie; but in case people are not aware of what this movie is about, I'll provide a brief summary. The story of Doctor Strange centers around a wealthy and successful neurosurgeon, Steven Strange. Imagine Tony Stark with a scalpel, except a little less wealthy, and with a cocky confidence rather than arrogance. Things are going very well for our handsome surgeon until one fateful night, driving in his Lamborghini, he gets into a devastating car crash. The car crash severely damages his hands, ending his career and life as he knew it. He burns through his money attempting to fix his hands, until finally winding up in Nepal on the search for a mysterious and spiritual healing process in a place called Karmar-Taj. While there, he learns that magic is real and he can learn to harness it...if he can put his own selfish needs aside. This is a story of self-discovery, with magic and Marvel super-hero awesomeness thrown in. What's not to like about that?

So what did I think about Doctor Strange? I'm glad you asked. It had a charm and humor that was unexpected. There were several moments where the theater was filled with laughter for a variety of reasons: something someone did, said, or didn't say. It wasn't roll-on-the-floor-laughing funny, but a subtle, sarcastic and snarky type of funny that I can appreciate. This film triggers more emotions than just happiness; you feel Steven's internal turmoil and desperation after his accident and his shock and awe at Karmar-Taj. In addition, you experience trepidation, nervousness, and excitement. 3-D lends itself well to being able to get viewers lost in the film. You often feel like you're right there standing with the characters, listening in to their conversations and witnessing the events happen--an invisible spectator. This helps you relate far better to the situations and emotions these characters are going through.

Of course, not all movies are suited for 3-D, but that's not this film. The special effects were amazing and beautiful. They were intricate and, yet, seamless while also being....just really freaking cool. Even though the effects hint at similar effects used by another film, they were still unique to this movie and seemed more advanced.

Not only were the effects fantastic, but the sound effects and music were great as well. While we sat through the credits, waiting for the second extra scene (yes there are two, one after the first bit of credits and the other at the very end), we were excited to see that the post-production for the film's sound was handled by Skywalker Sound. Now that I've actually been to visit Skywalker Ranch (mentioned in my recent travel blog about my visit to Napa, CA), I've been paying closer attention to the sound design/production portion of a movie's credits. Knowing someone who works at Skywalker Ranch and having seen their work in the fascinating sound stages and mixing rooms, I have a new appreciation for the work that goes into this one piece of making a movie.

So, have I managed to convince you to go see this movie? You don't even have to go see it in 3-D, if that's not your thing. I know some people who can't tolerate 3-D movies. I may have recommended that you should see this movie in 3-D but that doesn't mean the regular screening is any less of a movie. The unique yet familiar story line is still there, the acting is still superb and I would definitely go back to see the movie for a second time at a regular screening. But I digress...

If I have not yet convinced you, allow me to throw some numbers at you. During the movie's opening weekend, it made over $85 million in the domestic (US) box office alone, which is over half of its $165 million production budget. Add in the worldwide box office results, the movie has made a total of over $325 million so far, more than double its production budget. This is based off data pulled from boxofficemojo.com. Those are some impressive results for a movie, especially when I'm sure most people are not familiar with the Doctor Strange character or his comics. I know I wasn't, but I did my research when the movie was first announced. I was intrigued and then the cast sold it for me.

I hope this review, in its limited detail (so I won’t accidentally blab spoilers out of sheer excitement), managed to intrigue you enough to give Doctor Strange a shot. Trust me when I say, you won't regret it.

Phoenix FanFest 2016

Just over two weeks ago, I once again volunteered for Phoenix FanFest. This is the smaller convention associated with Phoenix Comicon, held in the later part of the year. We ran for two days this year, Saturday and Sunday, and wound up at the downtown convention center instead of the football stadium from previous years. Another new thing for FanFest this year was the addition of wrestling stars from the WWE. So, there was an interesting new mix of fans wandering around but also a good amount of crossover. This is a quick recap of that weekend.

I was again working in the celebrity photo booth as volunteer staff. We spent Friday evening on refresher training for all volunteers and running a stress test on the camera and computer equipment. Then it was off to the races on Saturday. I arrived prior to the hall opening and assisted with last minute checks and preparation to make sure everything was ready for our first photo op that morning. As the rest of the staff trickled in, some of us went for a quick tour of the vendor hall to scope things out and get a lay of the land so to speak. Just before the doors opened, we found ourselves at the Con Man booth, home to merchandise from the Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk comicon-themed show. For FanFest staff, the booth was selling autographed lanyards from Alan Tudyk for $5. Not wanting to pass up a deal, we rushed back to the photo booth to grab cash and quickly rid the nice man of six of his lanyards. This was just as the hall was opening and we made our way back to our area as the attendees converged on the vendor hall.

The vendor hall not only contain all the vendors and the celebrity photo booth, but was also where all the celebrity's autograph tables and the big costuming groups were. Unlike Phoenix Comicon where everything is spread between four floors and a hotel, FanFest was easily contained on just the third floor of the convention center--except for some panels on the second floor and registration in one room on the first floor. There was still some amount of walking (mostly between the parking garage and the convention center), but with vendors and food much closer, it wound up being more a case of standing. My feet were sore by the end, but not as bad as they could have been, had I not switched from my chucks to tennis shoes the second day. The food left something to be desired, but it was free with our food vouchers, so I can't really complain there.

Our first photo op for the day was the duo of Brett Dalton and Elizabeth Henstridge from Agents of Shield. They were both so great with their fans and funny. We cycled through the duo photos and then split into solo photos with Brett Dalton first, followed by Elizabeth Henstridge. Going into the noon hour, we had Tim Rose of Star Wars fame (Admiral Akbar), followed by Tahmoh Penikett from Supernatural and Battlestar Galactica. Rounding out the hour was the duo photo with David Harbour and Millie Bobbie Brown from the hit Netflix show, Stranger Things. The rest of the afternoon was dedicated to the photos with WWE Superstars: John Cena, the Bella Twins and Daniel Bryan. In addition, we had solo photos with the Stranger Things cast, and a couple "old school" wrestlers: Jake "The Snake" Roberts and The Honky Tonk Man. Once the photo booth had shut down, we cleaned and reset everything for the next day. We then surprised ourselves by leaving the convention center before the vendor hall closed and having dinner as a group at a normal dinner time. It's small things like this that really make FanFest such a relaxed event compared to the bigger show. I'm not complaining about the busier larger show though, I wouldn't trade Phoenix Comicon for any other convention in the US, I love our hometown convention.

So, Sunday rolled around, with an even lighter schedule than the preceding day. The WWE stars had only been there on Saturday, along with Millie Bobby Brown. We started the day with a late morning shoot, 11:00am, with Tim Rose. Lunch time was spent running photos with David Harbour and Jake "The Snake" Roberts and the afternoon was rounded out by Brett Dalton and Tahmoh Penikett. That was it, the booth closed at around 2:00pm and was nearly completely broken down and packed up by 4:00pm. But not before we took our team photo. We were then free to wander the vendor hall for the rest of the time. I shopped, chatted with a comic book guest I knew, and wandered down every single aisle. I finished in about 45 minutes and headed home.

It was a short and simple couple of days, but I enjoyed it. I was happy to get some great photos and spend time with a great group of people. Now, bring on Phoenix Comicon 2017!