Not Just a Girl

Began a gloomy morning with breakfast and The Nutcracker. I've watched the 1977 Mikhail Baryshnikov version almost every holiday season in one form or another since college. Stockton University (then College)'s media center had a copy of the video, and I used to traditionally watch it right before leaving for Christmas break. I found the video again about a decade ago, then picked up the DVD a few years back at the Collingswood Book Festival. Needless to say, this one throws far more focus on Clara (Gelsey Kirkland) and her Nutcracker Prince, including giving the Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier's dances in the end to them.

Tried a new recipe while watching the ballet. Got "Skullduggery Squares" out of a Halloween check stand cookbook I got from a freebie basket at the Oaklyn Library. You mix up what amounts to pumpkin pie filling, sprinkle yellow cake mix over it, and slice butter over that. Not bad, when I finally had the time to bake it all. Kind of a pumpkin cake pudding square. In fact, when I make this at times other than Halloween, I'll call them Pumpkin Cake Squares.

Threw on a quick Disney short while getting ready for work. Mickey and the gang enjoy a day "On Ice." Mickey shows off for Minnie on skates, while Goofy has an unusual method for ice fishing. Donald teases Pluto by putting skates on him, but the dog gets the last laugh when the wind blows Donald dangerously close to a waterfall and Mickey has to rescue him.

Work was mostly pretty quiet. It rained lightly all morning and was just ending when I arrived. Alternated between gathering carts, shelving candy, and sweeping the entire day. By the time it was starting to get busier, I was on my way out.

Went straight into writing when I got in. Donald waits by the railing the whole week to see his mermaid "goddess" again, but she never appears. They finally arrive on-shore a week later with no idea of how to find the merfolk and the princess. Donald wanders onto shore with Bill the wolf and his sandy paws...and he's delighted with what he finds there...

Ended the night with leftover chicken and sweet Hawaiian biscuits and roasted Brussels Sprouts for dinner. Finally got around to watching Captain Marvel while I ate. Vers (Brie Larson) is the member of an elite squadron of aliens who defend the Kree Empire. Her mentor Yon-Vogg (Jude Law) is always telling her to hold back her emotions, which proves to be useful when she's captured by the Krees' mortal enemy, the Scrulls.

She escapes and ends up in Los Angeles, where she seeks the crystal that contains her memories. She also attracts the attention of agents Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), who try to arrest her, only to be attacked by a Scrull disguised as Coulson. With the help of Fury and his boss Keller (Ben Mendalsson), she manages to get into a military installation and find the office of her old teacher Dr. Wendy Dawson (Annette Benning). Dawson created a device that could end the war between the Kree and the Skrulls. But all is not what it seems, and that includes Vers herself. With the help of her friend Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) and her daughter Monica (Akira Akbar), Vers remembers that her real name is Carol Danvers...and that she really doesn't need to prove what kind of a hero she is to anybody.

I really loved this one. Critics tended to compare it unfavorably to earlier Marvel films when it was released this spring, but I think it's a lot of fun. Larson is an awesome Carol Danvers, and Rambeau may be even more enjoyable as her sensible buddy. It was nice to see a younger Coulson and Fury (the latter with both eyes), too. I also liked Benning and Law as two very different mentors who want different things from Carol and her powers.

Is it derivative of other comic book heroes? Yeah, probably. Do I care? Not really. Supposedly, there's a sequel in the works - I hope they develop it fast. If you're a Marvel fan and are looking for sci-fi movie with a strong heroine, I'd fly a plane on over to check this one out.