Tag Archives: entertainment

“The Long Walk”: The World’s Deadliest Walk-and-Talk

September 27, 2025 By in Movies/Films/Flicks Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Orange, black and white shot of a bunch of guys walking at night, accompanied by military vehicles with bright headlights.

A moonlit stroll with a mounting death toll.

Rare are the harmonic convergences when at least two excellent Stephen King adaptations reach theaters within the same calendar year. I’m still upset everyone slept on the heart-melting sci-fi sweetness of The Life of Chuck (admittedly I’ve skipped The Monkey for now), but I can understand the muted turnout for the survival-horror bloodsport of The Long Walk. If I might understate to a subterranean degree: these past two weeks perhaps weren’t the best time for moviegoers to come out and watch young men be gunned down helplessly before their very eyes.

(Then again, when’s a good time for that anymore?)

Continue reading →

“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”: And They All Lived Even MORE Happily Ever After

September 25, 2025 By in Movies/Films/Flicks Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
The "upstairs" cast of "Downton Abbey" at a racetrack watching horses run offscnree, or perhaps something more interesting.

Our Heroes stunned by an unladylike voice in the next section screaming, “COME ON, DOVER! MOVE YER BLOOMIN’ ARSE!”

Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover: my wife Anne and I are Downton Abbey fans! We’ve seen all six seasons and three movies, most of which she had to annotate for me at length because, as longtime MCC readers know, she’s a history aficionado who can speak on such matters for hours uninterrupted, while I’m a chronic history-deficiency sufferer who needs to be fed very large Vitamin H supplements during and after every period-piece viewing. In exchange, she doesn’t yawn in my face whenever I natter on after every Marvel or DC production about what they changed from the comics.

Continue reading →

Dragon Con 2025 Photos, Part 13 of 13: A Conclusion of Convivial Concatenation

September 20, 2025 By in Comics/Lit, Conventions & Events Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments
Three "Inside Out" cosplayers and me smiling and holding a glowing yellow ball of Joy.

Okay, maybe one more cosplay pic: alternate shot of Envy, Joy and Anger from Inside Out who invited me into Riley’s head.

Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:

In 2019 my wife Anne and I attended our very first Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the longest-running science fiction conventions in America. We once again made the eight-hour drive from Indianapolis and returned for our fourth nonconsecutive Labor Day weekend at that amazing colossal southern spectacle. We can’t conscientiously afford to do D*C every year, but we’ll see how long we can keep up an every-other year schedule before we’re too old or overwhelmed to handle it…

…and it all comes down to this: everything else we did at the show across our 2½ days that didn’t involve cosplay or actors. Comics! Shopping! Panels! Shrines! Et cetera!

Continue reading →

Dragon Con 2025 Photos, Part 12 of 13: The Cosplay Parade Marches Into the West

September 14, 2025 By in Conventions & Events Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Cosplayers of Mojo Jojo, Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup walking with a Dragon Con banner.

Mojo Jojo and the Powerpuff Girls welcome you to the Dragon Con Cosplay Parade!

Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:

In 2019 my wife Anne and I attended our very first Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the longest-running science fiction conventions in America. We once again made the eight-hour drive from Indianapolis and returned for our fourth nonconsecutive Labor Day weekend at that amazing colossal southern spectacle. We can’t conscientiously afford to do D*C every year, but we’ll see how long we can keep up an every-other year schedule before we’re too old or overwhelmed to handle it…

Our belated coverage of Atlanta’s annual Dragon Con Cosplay Parade ends here, unless anyone begs for outtakes! We amateur enthusiasts took way too many photos, but that’s one of our favorite parts of every D*C. We start this chapter with our recurring interactive MCC comic-con feature called “Cosplay Stumpers”. We middle-aged squares know many of the pop-culture universes out there, but not all of them. If you recognize any characters we didn’t, please share with us so the world at large can appreciate them too. Much appreciated!

Continue reading →

Dragon Con 2025 Photos, Part 11: “But Sir,” You Ask, “What About the Cosplay Parade?”

September 14, 2025 By in Conventions & Events Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Cosplayers in cult robes colored purple and orange like the Federal Express logo. Their banner has googly eyes on it.

The Cult of Jon the Fed Ex Guy, est. 2019. It was the first time we ever witnessed the live birth of a D*C in-joke.

Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:

In 2019 my wife Anne and I attended our very first Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the longest-running science fiction conventions in America. We once again made the eight-hour drive from Indianapolis and returned for our fourth nonconsecutive Labor Day weekend at that amazing colossal southern spectacle. We can’t conscientiously afford to do D*C every year, but we’ll see how long we can keep up an every-other year schedule before we’re too old or overwhelmed to handle it…

Our belated coverage of Atlanta’s annual Dragon Con Cosplay Parade continues! We amateur enthusiasts took way too many photos that took me too long to sort in between juggling life aspects offline, away from all this week’s rage-filled historical significance. We’re nearing the end, though! Not far now! Here’s another round of cosplayers! Please let me know if we old folks misidentified any characters. Enjoy still!

Continue reading →

Dragon Con 2025 Photos, Part 10: The Cosplay Parade Is COMING TO GET YOU

September 13, 2025 By in Conventions & Events Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Haunted house cosplayer in all-black quasi-canine monster form.

Werewolf or something similar! Among the creatues from Netherworld Haunted House.

Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:

In 2019 my wife Anne and I attended our very first Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the longest-running science fiction conventions in America. We once again made the eight-hour drive from Indianapolis and returned for our fourth nonconsecutive Labor Day weekend at that amazing colossal southern spectacle. We can’t conscientiously afford to do D*C every year, but we’ll see how long we can keep up an every-other year schedule before we’re too old or overwhelmed to handle it…

Our belated coverage of Atlanta’s annual Dragon Con Cosplay Parade continues! We amateur enthusiasts took way too many photos that took me too long to sort in between juggling other life aspects (my day job, my streaming stories, and so forth). Rather than continuing to fussily sort them into themed galleries (except for this one being mostly horror, but not just horror), let’s plow through the rest and get these out into the world in case any attendees are still Googling themselves two weeks after showtime. Please let me know if we old folks misidentified any characters. Enjoy again!

Continue reading →

Dragon Con 2025 Photos, Part 9: Did We Mention There Was a Cosplay Parade

September 12, 2025 By in Conventions & Events Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
four cosplayers as a bobsledding team walking behind a Jamaica banner

Jamaica’s 1988 Olympic bobsledding team from Cool Runnings!

Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:

In 2019 my wife Anne and I attended our very first Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the longest-running science fiction conventions in America. We once again made the eight-hour drive from Indianapolis and returned for our fourth nonconsecutive Labor Day weekend at that amazing colossal southern spectacle. We can’t conscientiously afford to do D*C every year, but we’ll see how long we can keep up an every-other year schedule before we’re too old or overwhelmed to handle it…

Our belated coverage of Atlanta’s annual Dragon Con Cosplay Parade continues! We amateur enthusiasts took way too many photos that took me too long to sort in between juggling other life aspects (my day job, my streaming stories, and so forth). Rather than continuing to fussily sort them into themed galleries, let’s plow through the rest and get these out into the world in case any attendees are still Googling themselves two weeks after showtime. Please let me know if we old folks misidentified any characters. Enjoy again!

Continue reading →

Dragon Con 2025 Photos, Part 8: More Than Cosplay at the Parade

September 11, 2025 By in Conventions & Events Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Happy Zildjian cymbalist marching in parade with Beagle Boys shirt.

The Seed & Feed Marching Abominable band, once again at Dragon Con!

Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:

In 2019 my wife Anne and I attended our very first Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the longest-running science fiction conventions in America. We once again made the eight-hour drive from Indianapolis and returned for our fourth nonconsecutive Labor Day weekend at that amazing colossal southern spectacle. We can’t conscientiously afford to do D*C every year, but we’ll see how long we can keep up an every-other year schedule before we’re too old or overwhelmed to handle it…

Our belated coverage of Atlanta’s annual Dragon Con Cosplay Parade continues! We amateur enthusiasts took way too many photos that took me too long to sort in between juggling other life aspects (chores! doctors’ appointments! binging The Paper!). Not everyone in the parade was there just to cosplay — some brought other artistic talents to the fore.

Case in point: special guests of the con and the parade!
Continue reading →

Dragon Con 2025 Photos, Part 7: Pimp My Cosplay Parade Rides

September 9, 2025 By in Conventions & Events Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment
Multicolored 1951 Studebaker Commander painted multiple colors, with bubbles painted atop those.

It’s Fozzie’s car from The Muppet Movie! Refurbished by Razorfly Studios.

Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:

In 2019 my wife Anne and I attended our very first Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the longest-running science fiction conventions in America. We once again made the eight-hour drive from Indianapolis and returned for our fourth nonconsecutive Labor Day weekend at that amazing colossal southern spectacle. We can’t conscientiously afford to do D*C every year, but we’ll see how long we can keep up an every-other year schedule before we’re too old or overwhelmed to handle it…

Our belated coverage of Atlanta’s annual Dragon Con Cosplay Parade continues! We amateur enthusiasts took way too many photos that took me too long to sort in between juggling other life aspects (such as a family reunion this weekend). The parade had more than just costumes, though — next batch up is the unused $25,000 Pyramid category “Things People Rode or Drove at the Dragon Con Cosplay Parade”. Well, the ones we haven’t already posted in previous chapters, that is — geek-themed cars! Trucks! Bikes! More! Enjoy!

Continue reading →

Dragon Con 2025 Photos, Part 6: The Cosplay Parade, Marvel and DC Comics Division

September 8, 2025 By in Comics/Lit, Conventions & Events Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Blade cosplayer crouched right in front of us, fake rifle outstretched to his left.

It’s Blade! Star of the upcoming Marvel Zombies animated series and four movies so far!

Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:

In 2019 my wife Anne and I attended our very first Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the longest-running science fiction conventions in America. We once again made the eight-hour drive from Indianapolis and returned for our fourth nonconsecutive Labor Day weekend at that amazing colossal southern spectacle. We can’t conscientiously afford to do D*C every year, but we’ll see how long we can keep up an every-other year schedule before we’re too old or overwhelmed to handle it…

Our belated coverage of Atlanta’s annual Dragon Con Cosplay Parade continues! We amateur enthusiasts took way too many photos that took me too long to sort in between juggling other life aspects (such as a family reunion this weekend). If you or someone you know was in the parade and you’d love to see them, pretty-please let us know! We’ll be happy to search our files and show ’em if we caught ’em. No guarantees, but we’ll oblige if we can. Also, please let me know if any characters have been misidentified. As we get older the number of pop-culture universes keeps multiplying and we can only contain so many of ’em in active memory at once.

Next batch up: the heroes, villains, and supporting casts of the Marvel and DC Universes, virtually the only comics-related characters we captured that morning. Enjoy!

Continue reading →