Sumter Scene
THE SUMTER ITEM
DECEMBER 4 – DECEMBER 10, 2021
7
‘Welcome to Earth’ spotlights the subtle awesomeness of nature on Disney+ BY JAY BOBBIN
It may have the title “Welcome to Earth,” but the new Disney+ documentary series might well be subtitled, “Phenomena in Nature You Never Considered.” Because it’s that eye-opening. Premiering Wednesday, Dec. 8, on the streaming service, the series from National Geographic follows host Will Smith as he embarks on an awe-inspiring journey to reveal the secrets behind some of the most extraordinary and unexplained events in nature. So in the six episodes, viewers will learn how swarms of hundreds of thousands of birds or honeybees can move as a single unit without any apparent communication; how smell, the most powerful of the senses, leads sea turtles back to an island in the South Pacific to lay eggs; and how deserts move slowly beyond human perception.
Smith, who had previously worked on the NatGeo series “One Strange Rock,” acts as the eyes and the ears of the viewer here, taking in the action as it unfolds before him and speaking wide-eyed in narration and to the camera. “He doesn’t pretend to be a scientist or a volcanologist or an expert in anything,” explains Jane Root, an executive producer of the series for her production company Nutopia. “(His
View from the Couch
BY JAY BOBBIN
music and lyrics are by the awardwinning team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land”), who made some changes to the song lineup for this version, and Steven Levenson adapted his own book of the play for the script. ››› (PG13: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray, Digital and On Demand)
attitude is,) ‘I’m the person who’s there seeing what you can see about the planet.’ And the thing he also talks about (is) what you can see about the planet on the other side of fear. He says his grandmother always said to him that the best things in life are (discovered) once you get through being scared of them.” Fear certainly played a role in the opening episode “The Silent Roar,” in which Smith, explorer Erik Weihenmayer and the crew went to Tanna Island in the South Pacific near Vanuatu to film and listen to the active volcano of Mount Yasur rumble. But the group actually got more than they expected when it erupted, spewing forth lava and boulders. Needless to say, it was one of those life experiences that all who witnessed it will never forget. “Some of the boulders were the size of, you know, small cars and they’re kind of just exploding out of the ground,” Root says. “And you see Will joking about it, like ‘I’m wearing this helmet but that’s not really going to help, is it?’ “We had probably at the top of that volcano like 12 different safety people and every safety precaution we could take but this is still really challenging stuff to film,” she continues. “You know, there’s still a sense of, ‘Wow! Am I actually here while this is going on? That’s incredible.’ And the noise and the intensity of it, I think that’s why we put that episode first because it’s one of those moments where we just appreciate the awesomeness of it.” ‘
AS Adult situations P Profanity
“Roger Rabbit” short subjects that were made after this film became one of the box-office blockbusters of 1988. ›››› (PG: AS, V)
“THE KARATE KID COLLECTION”
Ralph Macchio had a fairly solid acting resume, encompassing television’s “Eight is Enough” and the movie “The Outsiders,” A long-prized merging of livebefore he started the franchise action and animation makes its that made him a genuine star. way to the 4K Ultra HD format, This set offers his three films in as this Robert Zemeckis-directed the series in 4K Ultra HD for the Disney-Amblin classic (and first time as he plays Daniel, a technical wonder) takes a shabby newcomer to a California town 1940s private eye (played by Bob where the only way to deal with Hoskins) into Toontown, where those bullying him is to learn “DEAR EVAN he investigates the murder of martial arts and meet them on HANSEN” a corporate titan ... allegedly their own turf. His mentor is his by cartoon star Roger Rabbit apartment building’s handyman, The Tony Award-winning stage (voiced by Charles Fleischer, who Mr. Miyagi (an excellent Noriyuki musical – which is about to also contributes several other “Pat” Morita, who earned an return to Broadway – is brought character voices here), whose Oscar nomination for the first to film, with Ben Platt (whose alluring wife Jessica (speaking father Marc is one of the picture’s voice of Kathleen Turner, singing movie). Elisabeth Shue plays Daniel’s school crush in the producers) reprising the title role voice of Amy Irving) supposedly of a student desperate to find his had been dallying with the victim. original movie, and co-stars William Zabka and Martin Kove place in contemporary society ... Christopher Lloyd – who also have accompanied Macchio into prompting his therapist to advise worked with Zemeckis on the the current streaming series that him to write letters to himself “Back to the Future” series – that address his anxieties. He portrays the appropriately named serves as a sequel to the films, doesn’t foresee the results of that villain Judge Doom, with Stubby “Cobra Kai.” Among new special exercise, which ultimately have Kaye and Joanna Cassidy also in features are deleted scenes from the first two pictures. (Though impacts on many other people as the human cast. Cartoon-voice there also was “The Next Karate well. The fine cast also includes veterans Mel Blanc, June Foray Julianne Moore, Amy Adams, and (as Betty Boop) Mae Questel Kid” with Morita and Hilary Swank, that isn’t included here.) Kaitlyn Dever, Amandla Stenberg, also are heard. The bonus Colton Ryan and Danny Pino. The features include the several ››› (PG: AS, P, V)
“WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT”
The public speaks again by voting on People’s Choice Awards BY JAY BOBBIN
The people have chosen
The (TV) show of 2021: “The Bachelor”; “Cobra Kai”; “Grey’s
again, and their choices are
Anatomy”; “Law & Order:
about to be known.
Special Victims Unit”; “Loki”;
For many years, the People’s Choice Awards traditionally were the first entertainment
“Saturday Night Live”; “This Is Us”; “WandaVision” The female TV star of
honors given out during any
2021: Angela Bassett, “9-
calendar year. Times have
1-1”; Elizabeth Olsen, “Wan-
changed, though, and so has
daVision”; Ellen Pompeo,
the timing: Now, those awards
“Grey’s Anatomy”; Kathryn
help to close out the year since
Hahn, “WandaVision”; Mandy
moving to E! Entertainment
Moore, “This Is Us”; Mariska
Television, which will simulcast
Hargitay, “Law & Order: Special
the special with NBC when it’s
Victims Unit”; Queen Latifah,
presented Tuesday, Dec. 7.
“The Equalizer”; Yara Shahidi,
Kenan Thompson – who’s been doing double duty for
“grown-ish” The male TV star of 2021:
NBC, starring in “Kenan” while
Anthony Mackie, “The Falcon
continuing as a “Saturday
and the Winter Soldier”; Chase
Night Live” cast member – will
Stokes, “Outer Banks”; Dwayne
host the show from the Barker
Johnson, “Young Rock”; Jason
Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.
Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”; Kenan
He has his first-ever People’s
Thompson, “Saturday Night
Choice Award nominations this
Live”; Norman Reedus, “The
year, for comedy TV star and
Walking Dead”; Sterling K.
male TV star (both for “SNL”).
Brown, “This Is Us”; Tom Hid-
Fan voting for award winners on social media ended
dleston, “Loki” The movie of 2021: “Black
in mid- November for the 40
Widow”; “Coming 2 America”;
categories covering movies,
“Dune”; “F9: The Fast Saga”;
television, music and pop
“No Time to Die”; “Shang-Chi
culture. For an idea of those
and the Legend of the Ten
in the running, here are the
Rings”; “The Tomorrow
finalists in several of the con-
War”; “Venom: Let There Be
tests.
Carnage”
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“HAROLD AND MAUDE” In its 50th-anniversary year, one of the most unconventional romances in movie history gets a newly remastered Blu-ray edition (as part of the “Paramount Presents” series) as Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon depict a genuine May-December romance in the title roles of director Hal Ashby’s comedy. Harold is a young man obsessed with death, and his unexpected relationship with senior citizen Maude teaches him many valuable lessons, arguably the most valuable ones being about living life to its fullest. Written by Colin Higgins (“Nine to Five”), the film also features Vivian Pickles, Cyril Cusack, Ellen Geer, Charles Tyner and Tom Skerritt. Yusuf/ Cat Stevens, who provided the film’s songs, talks about his work in the picture in a new documentary that’s included here ... as is an audio commentary by filmmakers Cameron Crowe and Larry Karaszewski. The striking cinematography was done by John Alonzo. ›››› (PG: AS, P)
“CALL THE MIDWIFE: SEASON TEN” The setting is the mid-1960s as creator and executive producer Heidi Thomas’ popular British drama series, a PBS staple in America, marks a decade of
GV Graphic Violence
existence. The strengthening of the women’s-rights movement is a major theme as Nonnatus House gains several new midwives, but Sister Julienne’s (Jenny Agutter) attention also is on financial troubles that could affect the site’s effectiveness in helping residents of London’s East End. Cases also prove to be challenging for other staff members including Dr. Turner (Stephen McGann, who is married to series mentor Thomas). Judy Parfitt, Helen George and Linda Bassett also continue as cast regulars. McGann wrote a recently published retrospective book to correspond with the show’s 10th anniversary. ››› (Not rated: AS)
Coming Home Soon “MALIGNANT” (Nov. 30) “HEAVEN CAN WAIT” (Blu-ray) (Nov. 30) “REDS” (Blu-ray) (Nov. 30) “SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS” (Nov. 30) “HAROLD AND MAUDE” (Bluray) (Dec. 7) “WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT” (4K Ultra HD) (Dec. 7)
