#Berry Reviews

[chalkrub]

art trade stuff for @sharkflan ! love these thangs

[lipstickboyboy]

Saltburn 2023 Movie Posters

[olessan]

I'm halfway through c3e113 and was wondering if Robbie might've been getting a bit bored since Cerkonos hasn't been getting as many chances to react or act compared with Vox Machina's energy...

... but it seems he's been planning how to maximise Cerk's 9 charisma himbo charm

[noirgasmweetheart]

I have crossed oceans of high-frucose corn syrup to find out what Peter Lorre tastes like.

And the answer is....like lighter, foamier Lucky Charms drenched in sugar, with a feint hint of artificial blueberry flavor.

I'd have bought a smaller box to try it, but it only comes in one size.

Funny enough, I just happened to have a ghostly blue bowl right on hand! But be aware that this picture is misleading; the marshmallows are few and far between. I had to pick some more out of the box and add them to the bowl.

Crunched up, the cereal makes a passable topping for ice cream. But still a bit too foamy and sugary for me. And yes, that's Blue Moon ice cream under those Boo-Berry crumbs.

Long story short, I'm starting to understand why the other monsters react so negatively to Boo peddling this crap to them. Although I doubt their cereal is any better.

I will definitely save that box though. I'm working on a YouTube series where I'll be reviewing noir movies, and this box will make a great background piece for the Peter Lorre movie reviews! (Except "M.")

[librarisxng]

ATEEZ SMALL PERFUME REVIEW: LUSH — THE COMFORTER

disclaimer: this is not meant to be a serious perfume review, this is something fun for me to do as I love perfume. each and every one of us have different tastes and preferences when it comes to fragrances. what works for me might not work for you, vice versa. I’ll try my best to describe the scents but I will always suggest for you to go and smell them yourself before purchase. if you want to try these perfumes, please test or get a sample before committing to the bottle. picture credits to all owners.

ateez member: seonghwa

fragrance family: aromatic fruity

notes:

cassis, cypress, bergamot

my scent experience:

juicy, sweet and berry-like. if you don’t know what cassis is, it’s french for blackcurrant and blackcurrants in perfume are so good. I love that blackcurrants are sweet but not too sweet of a scent that it doesn’t make you feel sick. I love how juicy and delicious this smells and the bergamot makes it bright and fun. this is the body spray version of their best-selling bubble bar so if you are familiar with that product, you would like this.

the projection for this body spray is so intense, you only need two sprays to smell good. any more than that, it’s overpowering and can give you a migraine — thankfully I’ve learnt this the easy way from a Lush employee. the longevity however isn’t that great, it would last approximately 2 hours on me but considering it’s a body spray, I wasn’t expecting it to last forever.

additional notes from me:

the way Seonghwa and I have the same taste in perfume? did not expect that but that means he’s got excellent taste in fragrances at least in my opinion. I bought this in store right before the pandemic so this was the scent I was wearing during lockdown lmao. it’s been quite a while since I’ve finished my bottle but I still think about it from time to time. I’ll probably buy a bottle when I visit Lush as I’ve heard stories of the body sprays leaking in transit. I just checked online and they also sell this scent as a soap bar so that’s pretty cool.

who would I recommend this to?

anyone who loves the scent of blackcurrants and/or enjoys the comforter bubble bar.

those who love fruity scents.

anyone who wants to try out Lush body sprays.

if you’ve made it to the end, thank you for reading this review! writing small reviews for fragrances that Seonghwa uses was a breeze. the real challenge is writing for the rest of the members especially Wooyoung he has too many. hopefully this doesn’t flop and I’ll try my best to write more reviews soon.

review written by librarisxng 2024

[mywifeleftme]

363: R.E.M. // Murmur

Murmur R.E.M. 1983, IRS

Some Short, Disconnected Statements on the Matter of Murmur

1. Insert the following into Waring blender

The Velvet Underground, Pylon, the Byrds, Gang of Four, Patti Smith, the Feelies, Joy Division, the Method Actors, Big Star, the dB’s, the Monkees. Press “Blend” button. (I’ve never owned a blender; I don’t know what the buttons say.)

2. Easy formula for a great band

Having one temperamental genius songwriter guy sounds kind of hard to maintain. Have you considered simply getting four people who are really excellent and distinctive at the respective things they do (at least three of them great singers), who all write well, get along, lack substance abuse issues, have good taste, and modest egos? Why don’t more bands do this?

3. Notes on the early discourse

A lot of the things people wrote back in the early ‘80s to champion this band were dumb as hell. R.E.M. weren’t good because they didn’t use keyboards or synths; pop music didn’t need to be returned to its "honest" folk-rock roots; giving them a thumbs up for not wearing flashy clothes and makeup is dork behaviour.

They were good because they made weird music that derived organically from their time (early ‘80s), place (a college town in the South), and selves (bright, independent, adventurous, sincere, ¼ gay).

Anyone who listened to Chronic Town or Murmur, with their post-punky murk and lyrical references to Laocoön and Marat, and thought to themselves, “As yes, the second coming of Roger McGuinn, this will put those effete new wavers to flight,” was an idiot.

4. Veteran of the psychic war

Somewhere around age 22, R.E.M. took over the mantle Metallica had held as My Favourite Band in the World Forever and Ever, and I proceeded to be almost as annoying about them as I had been Hetfield and the boys. I posted a lot about them; rigged “best music” polls on random message boards I didn’t even post on in their favour; cornered people at parties; crowbarred them into playlists; grumpily chose to dislike bands I saw as stealing their shine; etc. etc. Some (some) of this is maybe cute in retrospect, but really: don’t be like this about music. If you love a band this much, learn how to play their songs on an instrument; write a few poems; paint something. Worst case: review them.

5. Learning nothing, 2024

6. Athens: Lyrics & Enunciation

The matter of what exactly Stipe was singing on the early R.E.M. records was a subject of intense speculation, and eventually, parody. Some of the mystery’s in the mixing, some’s in his Georgian accent, and some’s in his enunciation (never quite as mushy as people claimed, but not exactly Ella Fitzgerald either). But most of it’s in the arbitrary decisions he makes with regard to syntax that cause even accurate transcriptions to seem implausible. Stipe is probably a little bit autistic, which goes some way to explaining the impressionistic intuitiveness of his words, and also went to art school, which fetishizes that sort of thing, but he was always shy of people seeing the words to something like “Sitting Still” on the page because he thought he might be exposed as a nincompoop. “Up to par and Katie bars / The kitchen side, but not me in / Sitting top of the big hill / Waste of time sitting still,” goes the chorus, according to at least one gnostic sect, but the important passage is the one everyone agrees on, when the stream of impassioned babble releases into a howled “I can hear you / Can you hear me?”

Later on, when he would sing more clearly over airy arrangements, with the lyrics neatly printed in the booklet, he’d occasionally try one of those old sound-over-sense moves and embarrass himself (“Leaving New York was never my proud” still rankles). But Murmur’s eternal elusiveness is in the way fragments of sense catch your ear from out of its sleeptalk glossolalia:

“The pilgrimage has gained momentum” “Conversation fear” “Lighted, lighted / Laughing in tune” “Hear the howl of the rope / A question” “A perfect circle of acquaintances and friends / Drink another, coin a phrase” “Shaking through / Opportune” “Take oasis” “Heaven assumes / Shoulders high in the room” “Did we miss anything?”

7. Permission to be arbitrary

I remember sitting in the basement of my college house with my old hometown buddy Brad (mostly a metal/classic rock guy), playing him “Shaking Through” and explaining one of the things I love about old R.E.M. is that it’s great music to yell to. I don’t know how much he really got it, but we were drunk and it’s a catchy song, so we howled and made keening, wordless, Stipean noises along with it and the next few until one of my roommates came and asked us to keep it down.

Also: one theory for why cats purr when they’re injured is that the vibrations somehow reduce pain and encourage healing. From many experiences humming these songs while wrapped up in headphones and bedsheets in the middle of a day that’s passing like a kidney stone, I can confirm.

8. Note on the modern discourse: Influence?

Black Francis, Kurt Cobain, Bob Mould, Steve Malkmus, Bob Pollard, and Thom Yorke loved R.E.M. So did, to his own apparent consternation, Metallica’s Cliff Burton. Still, you sit down with someone and listen to those musicians with the goal of showing them the R.E.M. influence (don’t do this, why would you do this?) and it’s honestly pretty oblique. Most of the bands who directly aped aspects of R.E.M.'s early sound were at best pleasantly minor (see Captured Tracks’ Strum & Thrum comp), and the ones who seemed to be listening most closely to their ‘90s efforts were not who you want.

Their ultimate influence was probably simply showing what an art-first, indie-adjacent rock band could accomplish by sticking to their guns and bending the system to their desires instead of being bent by it. They were like a Velvet Underground for the college rock era, except everyone talented who heard them was inspired to start a band that didn’t sound much like them. They always used their spotlight to introduce people to other bands and, when they really got huge, they modeled how to deal with success. There don’t seem to be many R.E.M. stories, Peter Buck’s airplane incident aside, about them being anything other than kind. That’s a fundamentally less exciting type of influence than most other “great” bands have. But I do think it’s kinda cool they were the wise old heads for an entire national movement of alternative music.

8b.

Of course, it still bugs me people don’t think they’re cool. Murmur at least, should be considered cool. And Reckoning, mostly. Chronic Town for sure. Some of Fables. Am I crazy for saying some of Monster and New Adventures even? I’ll stop. I’ll go on.

9(-9). The music

They were a pop band, they were an art band; they sounded like children, and like craggy old men buried in kudzu weed; natural and pretentious; date-stamped and timeless. Decide yourself. Happy 41st birthday Murmur.

363/365

[filmfanaticfables1990]

X2: X-Men United- A Deep Dive Into Mutant Unity And Acceptance

Released in 2003, X2: X-Men United is often regarded as one of the best superhero sequels ever made. It takes the foundation laid by the first film and builds upon it with a more complex storyline, richer character development, and themes that resonate deeply with audiences. At its core, X2 explores the struggle for acceptance and the power of unity in the face of adversity.

The Fight For Acceptance

One of the most poignant themes in X2 is the mutants' fight for acceptance in a world that fears and misunderstands them. This struggle mirrors real-world issues of discrimination and prejudice. Characters like Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) and Bobby Drake/Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) embody the pain of being different and the yearning for acceptance. Nightcrawler's faith and gentle nature contrast with his demonic appearance, challenging viewers to look beyond the surface and recognize the humanity within.

Unity In Diversity

X2 brings together characters with different backgrounds, powers, and motivations, showing that strength lies in diversity. The alliance between the X-Men and their adversary, Magneto (Ian McKellen), underscores this point. Despite their conflicting ideologies, they unite against a common enemy—William Stryker (Brian Cox), who represents intolerance and fear. This collaboration highlights the importance of coming together despite differences to achieve a greater good.

The Complexity Of Heroes And Villains

The film delves into the complexities of its characters, painting them in shades of grey rather than black and white. Magneto, while often the antagonist, is portrayed with a depth that allows audiences to understand his perspective. His actions stem from a history of persecution, making him a tragic figure rather than a one-dimensional villain. Similarly, the X-Men are not flawless heroes but individuals grappling with their own demons and vulnerabilities. This nuanced portrayal adds richness to the narrative and invites viewers to empathize with all characters, regardless of their alignments.

Evolution And Identity

X2 also explores the theme of evolution, both in terms of mutant abilities and personal growth. Characters like Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) undergo significant transformations, foreshadowing her eventual rise as the Phoenix. The film uses mutation as a metaphor for change and the process of coming into one's own identity. It encourages viewers to embrace growth and transformation, even when it is challenging and uncertain.

Conclusion

X2: X-Men United is more than just a superhero movie; it is a powerful commentary on acceptance, unity, and the human condition. Its themes of diversity, empathy, and personal growth are as relevant today as they were at the time of its release. As we navigate our own complex world, the lessons from X2 remind us to look beyond our differences, unite for common causes, and embrace the evolution of our identities.

[noemyreads]

the berry pickers - amanda peters [⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]

“Anger is exhausting. Holding on to it will drain the life out of you.”

pt-br review: substack

[bob-the-movie-man-film-reviews]

The Wild Robot (U): An Animated Treat For Kids and Adults Alike.

Uncover the touching tale of 'The Wild Robot' as Roz, a robot seeking her purpose, takes on the responsibility of raising a gosling in a future shaped by Global Warming.

A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Wild Robot” (2024). Again proving that Disney/Pixar is not the only game in town, Dreamworks Animation brings us “The Wild Robot”. I must admit that the trailer really didn’t do much for me. But the actual film is really delivered with some panache. Bob the Movie Man Rating: “The Wild Robot” Plot Summary: It’s a post-Global-Warming future (the Golden Gate…

[royalhenoil]

My daily berry harvest this time of year.

I highly, highly recommend growing berries if your climate is suited to it. They are cheaper, tastier, and more nutritious than supermarket berries, and they are not that hard to grow. They are easier than most vegetables.

I thought I would give a review of the four berry varieties shown here:

• Blueberry 'Sunshine Blue': This is an ornamental blueberry. It stays small, has very pretty leaves and flowers, is mostly evergreen, and is self-fertile (most blueberry varieties are not). However, it is not as productive or as tasty as non-ornamental blueberry bushes, though it will still taste much better than anything you buy in the supermarket.

• White alpine strawberry: Alpine strawberries are fun to grow. They are very tidy, pretty plants and do not send runners everywhere. There are many different varieties, all of which make very small, cute fruit. They are famously very sweet and tasty. However, I think white alpine strawberries (which have a slight pineapple-like flavor) are not as tasty as the red ones. The big benefit of the white berries is that birds don't seem to notice them, so you don't have to use any bird deterrents to get lots of berries.

• Blackberry 'Chester': This is a thornless blackberry. I highly recommend only growing thornless or near-thornless caneberries (blackberries, raspberries, youngberries, loganberries, etc.) because they make picking fruit and garden maintenance so much easier. 'Chester' is an extremely vigorous and productive plant, and the fruit tastes better than both supermarket blackberries and wild blackberries.

• Strawberry 'Cambridge Rival': This is the yummiest strawberry I have ever tasted! It is not as productive as some strawberry varieties, and the fruit is on the small side, but it easily more than makes up for it in flavor. (Warning: If you try one, it may ruin other strawberries for you.)

[centuries-of-thoughts]

A While-Reading Review:

The Secret Life of Groceries

By Benjamin Lorr

Part 1

At the 1956 International Food Congress in Rome […]the USDA set up an “American way exhibit.” It featured the first fully stocked supermarket outside of the United States. This was a modest staging, designed more for easy assembly and dismantling. It held a mere 2,500 brands, a few packaged meats in a lone refrigerated case, and a small selection of prepared food. When the exhibit opened, and crowds finally entered, the Italian women went berserk. One notable enthusiast began running up and down the aisles shouting, “It must be heaven…There are mountains of food!” Press reports described others as standing “stunned,” “goggle eyed,” “bewildered,” and “shrieking with surprise and envy.”

This was not media hype. Pope Pius XII himself weighed in, announcing his blessing from the Holy See. (Page 36)

I’ve never knew how much the grocery store is such an American thing. It could’ve only flourished and happen in America, originally. It as a normal way of life solidified before World War II, and by the 1950’s it became a social fact, just how you shop for food. This oversimplified summary is full of examples: 7/11’s start in the 1920’s, the rise of Piggly Wiggly’s (with It’s GameStop meme shorting story), and building a store so big it covers an entire square foot. While the world lost its minds over a very little mock grocery store in 1956, we were already living in Costco size stores.

So how did we get here? What in our mind causes the supermarket? It doesn’t answer it, if anything, its whole argument relies off of your familiarity with the American and the introduction of Joe Coulombe, the Trader Joe.

How Joe survived the corporate super market area of the 1956’s is nothing more than the true rebirth of American entrepreneurism. No truly, look up his theory papers: he combined the design philosophy of the Boeing 747 (newly released), targeting educated, but poor, GI Bill college students, and purchasing as self-expression. This was revolutionary in the sense that he had enough disposable, advent-grade, intellect that read the symbolism of America and pointed it towards his stores. He did everything, EVERYTHING, himself. He read laws to undermine industry norms and created new trends and cravings. He took risks and every tenth experiment hit, but it is nothing like our Trader Joe’s, he sold it and is run by someone else now.

This is a fantastic introduction into the mirror that is the American mind that became engrossed in the image and likeness of the supermarket. When you hear of the haphazardness, the care, and the expense that created our modern grocery stores, it is truly only down hill from here.

[b3crew]

REVIEW | "Acro Trip" | B3crew.com

The concept of failure for success plays strongly in Acro Trip, and it results in some big laughs and plenty of sympathy for our villains.

[agentnico]

The Wild Robot (2024) review

Oof, this review might annoy some people.

Plot: Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named Roz must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, Roz soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling.

Right, so I’ve seen everyone raving about this new DreamWorks animation, from Rotten Tomatoes to IMDb to Letterboxd to my wife… everyone is loving Wild Robot! There is indeed lots to like here. Following Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’s success (and well deserved success at that!!), DreamWorks again uses that frenetic 2D/3D blend of animation that gives the whole experience a real picturesque quality, especially with some shots having that brush effect that feel as if they were painted. This is a gorgeous looking movie, and add to that Kris Bowers’ motherloading banger of a music score, this thing is a technical marvel.

Narratively though this didn’t click with me for some reason. I may be a Scrooge, but I felt the story was rushed and I could not connect with any of the characters. Voice acting left a lot to be desired too. With big names in the ensemble including the likes of Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry, Catherine O’Hara and Mark Hamill to name a few, none of them really struck a cord with me. Kit Connor as the little gosling was the closest due to having that child-like innocence that allowed you naturally to care for the poor orphaned fellow to succeed in finding himself and all that usual character development jazz, but again, I felt really detached from the whole experience. The story seemed all to basic, and as much as the parenthood factor is supposed to be endearing and sweet, again it was so rushed in the beginning of the movie due to the script wanting to speed through to dealing with the human and robot-centric world. Also Pedro Pascal’s fox 🦊 adds nothing to the plot. He just kind of joins in, which by the way what was his motivation in wanting to help the robot and gosling in the first place? Feel like I missed something, but he really quickly changes his tune from wanting to munch on the gosling for lunch to “oh let’s help the poor sod grow up”.

Again, I fully accept I’m in the minority of opinion on this one, and I’m not down with the cool kids for not appreciating The Wild Robot, but I say it as how I see it - this thing seems really overrated. My wife loved it though, so I must just hate love.

Overall score: 5/10

[moviereviewsector]

Never Let Go (2024) Official Trailer – Halle Berry

This movie is about a mother (Halle Berry) and her two sons, Samuel (Anthony B. Jenkins) & Nolan (Percy Daggs IV)who are living in the woods. The mother has instructed the two sons to never let go of the rope that is attached to the house, insinuating that the woods are filled with "The Evil."

I found it hard to know what exactly is real in this movie. It seemed to me that Halle Berry's character was mentally ill until certain events happen. She was absolutely out of her mind from the beginning of the movie until certain events took place.

I like when halle berry plays crazy people for some reason. She does a very good job of it. Looking like a woman fully in distressed. She is very believable. Halle's county accent adds a creepiness to the movie.

Why would she kill herself to protect her kids? You have one brother who believes and the other brother who doesn't. One brother keeps hope, and the brother doesn't.

I think that this movie is we'll go down as a horrific classic. I would give this movie a strong eight.

Cast

Halle Berry (Momma)

Anthony B. Jenkins (Samuel)

Stephanie Lavigne (The Evil)

William Catlett (Father)

Percy Daggs IV (Nolan)

Matthew Kevin Anderson (The Stranger)

Christin Park (Paramedic)

Mila Morgan (Young Girl)

Georges Gracieuse (Old Man)

Cadence Compton (Young Girl)

[chasingshadowsblog]

Review: Aisha - A Place of Greater Safety

Title: Aisha Directed by: Frank Berry Written by: Frank Berry Starring: Letitia Wright, Josh O'Connor Year: 2022

To say that Aisha is a quiet film might lead some people to understate its power. It is in silences, supressed anger and self-control that both Aisha the film and Aisha the woman exude the strength and fire of their character.

Aisha is a film about a Nigerian woman living under direct provision in Ireland, a state of living that offers little in the way of personal autonomy or civil rights. Under these conditions Aisha is constantly forced to jump through bureaucratic hoops in order to be recognised as someone who legitimately needs the state's protection and, on one occasion, to simply get her post in the morning. Aisha, along with the other asylum seekers, is treated at times like a prisoner with allotted visiting hours and at other times like a petulant child whose rights around the house are revoked for bad behaviour. Obstacles appear in less blatant ways as well, as Aisha must talk to a reviewer with a translator in the room, perhaps not understanding or being understood as clearly as she needs to be, and is later reluctant to recount her trauma for a board of reviewers, making her seem reticent and unsure of herself and surely affecting the outcome of her application. Through it all, Letitia Wright gives a commanding and intensely restrained performance, always allowing the viewer to see the rage, frustration and sadness simmering underneath her veneer of self-control.

Matching Aisha's silence with his own quiet earnestness is Conor, a new security guard at Aisha's accommodation centre and an unlikely new friend. Talks with Conor on the bus into town or silences kept with him in the canteen at night over dinner offer Aisha some much-needed respite from her reality. Reality, however, is never too far from her mind and stops her fully embracing the relationship they would like with each other. As Aisha is flung from one obstacle to the next, the film is grounded in this relationship, as Conor becomes the only person Aisha can express her exhaustion to, if not her life's story. O'Connor gives a beautifully quiet and tender performance in the role, but, Conor himself is wanting in the depth Aisha has. Outside of some snippets of his past, there is little we know about Conor and while their interest in each other is sweet and understandable, his willingness to be with Aisha at the drop of a hat is almost too good to be true, especially when her living circumstances grow less and less accessible. This is a minor quibble in an all-around powerful film and, at the end of the day, the story is about Aisha and its final scene, short and ambiguous, let's us clearly know that no matter what happens she won't stop moving forwards at a powerful pace.

Other bits:

Letitia Wright and Josh O'Connor are really fantastic in this film, their performances are both so quiet but stick with you days and weeks after the film is over

I don't know if the scene in which Aisha is doing the women's make-up is unscripted but, either way, it was beautiful and brilliantly executed by all of the women

with everything going on in Aisha's life it felt strange to root for her romance with Conor, but then it becomes just one more basic right that is being denied Aisha by her circumstances - the ability to fall in love or even just go out with someone isn't something she can have in her life right now

I love the scene where Aisha teaches Conor some phrases while they're waiting for the bus, it's so charming and lovely

Shout out to director of photography Tom Comerford and costume designer Kathy Strachan, between both the film had a very neat, simple and streamlined look that I found very pleasing to watch

anyway, go watch Aisha it's beautiful

[tcmparty]

Review: Charlie Chaplin vs. America is both shocking and familiar

Watching TCM recently, I saw a clip of Gloria DeHaven reminiscing about visiting Charlie Chaplin at his home when she was quite young. At first, she couldn’t connect the handsome guy who answered the door with the Little Tramp. She concluded, “I guess I had a crush on two different men.” Certainly, this recognition of the dichotomy between Chaplin and his most famous creation resonated with me.…