#Black Panther is one of my favorite movies you don't understand-

[spooksthescribe]

very sorry Dee....

gonna vote for T'Challa

Bracket C Round 1 Matchup 2

Propaganda is allowed and highly encouraged

May the best catboy win!

[bookishdaze]

Noa and Mae as Romeo and Juliet in the Next Planet of the Apes Movie?

Here's why a potential "love story" between Mae and Noa, whether explicit or simply implied, may not be such a terrible idea.

Why? Because Shakespeare told me so, that's why.

"When in doubt, it's from Shakespeare....or the Bible." At least according to a book I had to read for high school, lol.

The biblical references in Caesar's trilogy have been pointed out multiple times already, and these movies have also been described as Shakespearean tragedies. So I thought, 'ok, what kind of Shakespearean tragedy will we have this time around?'

I'm first gonna start off with Hamlet in the Caesar trilogy. I'm also gonna mention other popular movies that are based on Shakespeare's plays. Not necessarily because it's concrete proof that this is what will happen in future POTA movies. This is me simply picking up certain storytelling beats and patterns I've noticed in some of my favorite movies.

It's not 100% the same, but there are some similarities. Also, this isn't anything new. Many have pointed this out before, but I love talking about this stuff!

The Lion King, Black Panther, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes are loosely based on Hamlet. A king or rightful heir is killed. Usually by an evil uncle, cousin, or family member. For some reason this always results in them falling off a very high cliff.

Everyone thinks they're dead, the evil relative takes power, and everything kinda sucks. There is not enough food in the Pride Lands under Scar's rule. Killmonger burns the heart-shaped herbs. Koba leads the apes to war against the humans.

The rightful ruler spends time in exile, recovering from their wounds and trauma. They might even get a visit or have a recollection of their dead father.

Then the rightful ruler comes back from the dead, challenges the usurper, and regains their rightful place upon the throne.

Now lets take a look at their sequels.

The Lion King 2 and Wakanda Forever share some similarities. They both follow another one of Shakespeare's popular plays, Romeo and Juliet.

Like the Montagues and Capulets, we have two rival kingdoms in both movies. We got the Pridelanders and the Outsiders. We also got the Wakandans and Talokanils.

The two heirs/rulers from both kingdoms meet. They hate and don't trust each other at first, but then they start to have compassion for the other. In Kiara and Kovu's case, they fall in love. Namor and Shuri don't fall in love, but after Namor shows her his underwater kingdom and what he has to protect, she softens and begins to understand him more. (They even got the whole Hades and Persephone thing going on, who are a couple in Greek mythology, by the way).

There are losses on both sides. Kovu's brother was killed while going after Simba. One of Namor's people was killed when Shuri was rescued by Nakia, and Shuri's mother, Queen Ramonda, died after Namor's attack on Wakanda. (Starts nervously eyeing Anaya here...)

These losses make things worse, by the way.

In the end, both pairs are able to bring the fighting between their people to a stop. The Outsiders are welcomed into Simba's pride. The Wakandans and Talokanils stop fighting after seeing their leaders return together.

In the end, they realize that they're the same. That they can't let hate and fear of the other side cloud their judgement.

Kiara tells her father, "A wise king once told me we are one....Look at them. They are us. What differences do you see?"

Shuri tells Namor while she spares his life, "Vengeance has consumed us. We cannot let it consume our people."

And I think this goes well with one of the core themes of these POTA movies. The apes are a mirror to humanity. We the audience are seeing us through them, and the characters in the movies themselves must come to the realization that they're the same.

Like when Caesar tells his son, "I always think ape better than human. I see now how much like them we are."

Maybe something similar like this will happen with Noa and Mae and whatever fight will happen between apes and humans. While I'm all for a good romance, it may end up being more like Namor and Shuri's case. There's something there. The tropes are present, but they don't fall in love. (At least not yet. Please Ryan Coogler, give me Nashuri endgame in Black Panther 3, hehe).

This is just a theory, by the way. This doesn't have to happen, but I just think it'd be neat. There would be differences though. What those differences would be, idk, but whatever happens in the next one, I can't wait!

"But but.... aren't you forgetting something?"

What's that?

"Don't they...ya know...both die at the end?"

Besides, they don't have to die. Things can be a little more hopeful for our two heroes 🙈

[alpaca-clouds]

Do Adults Remember Being Kids? Or: Adults that do not understand kids make bad kids media

A few days ago I had a discussion with one of those male crybabies in their 40s, who are very butt-hurt about media not always being made for them. But that discussion kinda got out of hand, with more and more people chiming in. And this got me to wonder: "Uhm, do people not remember being kids?"

For context. Someone posted the scene from Thor: Love and Thunder, in which Thor shares his power with the Asgardian kids. The person posted that was like: "Can we all agree that this was the worst scene in the MCU?" And one of my moots quote-tweeted this with: "Yeah, how dares the movie made for children include a power fantasy for children?" At which quite a few nerds got angry with them for daring to suggest that those movies, they love-hate so much, are for kids.

And they went like: "So you are saying that Winter Soldier is for kids?" Which I personally found hilarious. While normally I watch most movies in the evening, for time reasons back in the day I watched Winter Soldier in the afternoon in a full cinema one day after release. And my then roommate and I were the oldest people in the cinema who were not parents that afternoon.

Because yes. There is a reason why Disney makes a point of making all the movies (other than Deadpool & Wolverine) PG13 rated. Which means that 13yos can watch the movie alone, and kids younger than 13 can watch it together with their kids. There is a reason why there are a lot of kids toys for those movies. Because it is for kids.

Now, to be fair, I argued all those things, and one of these professional crybabies ended up agreeing with me after a while. So, I guess that could have gone worse.

However, I also tweeted about it myself and one of my followers also noted another topic where this shows: Folks claiming that Shonen anime are like totally for adults, while... you know... while the official core demographic is "boys between 8 and 14 years".

That is a lot of preemble, I know. But... Uhm, yeah, I don't know how to say this:

Children are absolutely able to deal with dark themes!

They love them in fact. Because they are kids, and they like cool stuff.

Will they get everything about those things? Nope. But is it for them and will they love it? Yeah.

I mean, I remember a lot of those shows I loved as a kid. The reason Digimon Tamers was my favorite Digimon season from the moment it came out, was that it was the first season that took me as a kid serious. It is still a kids show, but it allowed for themes like death and depression. It allowed also for adult characters to exist and to be important in the show, which gave it a more realistic vibe, wihtout ever destroying the power fantasy for kids.

Or another show that was fairly popular back then in Japan: Ojamajo Doremi. A show with a core demographic of girls between 4 and 12 years of age. And this show deals with death, suicidal thoughts, bullying, sickness, children dying of sickness, war and so many other shows. But... You know, look at this show and try and tell me it is not for kids:

I am sorry folks, but kids can deal with those topics, as long as it is not too graphic and are explained properly within the show.

And to get back to the MCU movies: I am sorry, none of them is actually all that adult. It being a thriller does not make it "adult". I mean, fuck, the MCU does for the most part not deal with death as a topic. Because nobody bloody dies and stays dead. Those movies are very, very kid-friendly. It is the equivalent of taking action figures and smashing them together.

Sure, in some of the movies there are topics that kids might not inherently grasp (like the parenting themes in the Guardians movies and the historical context for Black Panther). But those are in only a few movies - and you can still explain them to the kids!

[callmearcturus]

aw yeah lets do this

S-Tier, AKA the Legitimately Good Tier:

HAWKEYE: Maybe my favorite MCU thing I have ever watched.

+ If you let Jeremy Renner actually act and give him a script, he's fucking great. + Kate Bishop is a perfect mess and I love her, I love she's young and excitable but also takes things seriously, she feels like she's a work in progress, I love her. + MAYA. Holy shit the gravity well of this character, how her presence dictates any scene she is in. Truly stellar. + This entire miniseries is like an extended apology for Hawkeye in every other appearance. "Sorry we dropped the ball with this character so consistently, we will bring the A game here." + The importance of disability. I'm among the ppl who was upset that Hawkeye's disability was dropped, so the way it is centered over and over and over in this, how its practical, how it's funny, how it's sad, how it gives us the most devastatingly emotional scene in all of the MCU yes I am talking about the phone call scene, finally. Fucking finally. + Florence fucking Pugh and her entire charm offensive. + The car chase scene.

- The first episode is unfortunately REALLY slow. - Nah that's all I got. I love this one.

THOR: RAGNAROK

+ "Asgard isn't a place, it's a people" is maybe the most poignant message any MCU film has ever managed. + Literally the funniest movie, but also basically a repair job of character building for everyone in it. + The camerawork in this one makes me so happy. + Tom Hiddleston is given so much to do and he's there with heels on, spectacular. + The giant turret/pegging visual pun, god bless. + Cate Blanchett can kill me.

- uuuuuuuuh. It's not as good as Hawkeye. Yeah.

GOTG Vol 2

+ Sorry but I am a GOTG Truther, I really do think its the one storyline in the MCU that is allowed to get away with really fucking intense character drama because it's not considered "main line." There is a reason ppl rioted when they tried to remove Gunn, and I'm with them. + The only good thing Chris Pratt has done since Parks and Rec. + The way this storyline centers on death and grief is devastating. + Rocket Racoon is the best character in the MCU and we all know it.

- I think the initial treatment of Mantis is REALLY rough even though in the end I think it works, but that's a hell of a hump to get over.

A-TIER, AKA the Great for a MCU Flick Tier:

BLACK PANTHER

+ My biggest problem with the MCU is the creative desert of its set and costume design, the way it feels like nothing is given time to breathe in the creative process. BP is the antithesis of that. I would watch a four hour documentary just on the visual design of this movie, from the architecture to the costumes to the make-up, everything. I don't want to hear from the director or writers, I want to hear four hours of just the craftspeople talking about their work. It's monumental. + Best Villain in the MCU, bar none. + Only MCU film to move me to actual tears in the movie theatre.

- I loved this movie! For the life of me I could not tell you the plot. I understand the plot of every Mission Impossible film but I don't know the plot of this movie. - If this movie was allowed to cut, like, 20 minutes of action and replace it with more character drama, it'd be the best MCU film.

IRON MAN 3

+ The MCU Movie That Pulls Exactly Zero Punches About Being About Mental Health And PTSD Holy Shit + Rhodey and Pepper get so much to do and I like an ensemble piece so much + Shane Black is in love with RDJ and I'm so happy for him + Pepper gets to be a lil monsterfied and that's hot

- Doesn't have Sam Rockwell. - The plot is kinda fully secondary to the character work, which imo is fine, but yanno.

GOTG Vol 1

+ All the stuff I said about GOTG Vol 1

- It's not Vol 2, which benefits from having all the bedrock foundation built by this movie to spring from.

B-TIER, AKA It's Fine I Guess:

IRON MAN 1

It's good! It invented the wheel! Part of it are fucking agonizingly painful to watch in 2023 but it also has more heart than 80% of the franchise so.

IN A CAVE. WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS.

LOKI

Okay it feels shitty of me to judge this one on its technical faults bc apparently it was shot during the pandemic and that causes a lot of the issues with the camerawork, the awkward editing, and just how Weird everything was put together. But also it's REALLY stilted and awkward, which butts up against the good script and the better acting, so IDK man.

Owen Wilson is amazing. Even my mother thought the way they canonized Loki being bi was a cop-out. And the final twist pissed me off. I hope Season 2 is better.

THOR 1

I DUNNO WHAT TO TELL YOU, BUT KENNETH BRANAGH UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT.

DR STRANGE AND THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS

This movie is a mess but once i figured out it was trying to be The MCU Does Gothic Horror, I was a lot more on board. It has all the flaws of the original Dr Strange and is hard to visually follow like most MCU films, but also has America Chavez, who I adore.

IRON MAN 2

It has Sam Rockwell, I don't give a fuck.

C-TIER, AKA I wish I cared but I do not 8C

DR STRANGE

I dunno I like the actual character of Strange weirdly, I like what a complete fucking asshole he is, I like his god complex and how he reacts to his disability as a surgeon. On the other hand what the fuck is Tilda Swinton doing here, this is just awful. My biggest issue with this film is that it didn't have to be this terrible but every decision made about it feels so fucking thoughtless and myopic.

WANDAVISION

yanno. i cannot even explain why i fell off this so hard. Like, this one Had Me all the way up to and including the Agatha reveal, but like the final episodes after that reveal somehow left me completely cold and uncaring. it's genuinely weird.

D-TIER, AKA Oh my god no thank you

AVENGERS

I hate the writing. Like, I haaaaate the writing. I feel like the only likeable relationship in this is Tony and Bruce, and that does not carry this movie. The quip-driven writing, the way the need for a joke supercedes naturalistic voices and dialogue making sense, it pisses me off. I hate the writing. Heartless movie.

BLACK WIDOW

oh my god i'm actively angry at this movie okay because for the first 20 minutes, I was like "wait, is this going to be a real movie," because it felt smaller, the action felt more realistic, that fight between the Widow and Yelena in the beginning felt like it could have been out of MI: Fallout, and the other fight between Natasha and Yelena in the safehouse was also good, I really thought for a few moments that this could be Good

and then it just took a hard right into The MCU Tries And Fails To Make MI: Fallout (They Even Stole The Mask Gag, What The Fuck Was That) and not only was I disappointed, I was like retroactively pissed for the 20 minutes when I had hope in my heart. If not for David Harbour's character, I would have just left in the middle of this movie.

AVENGERS: ENDGAME

Its not at bad as Infinity War! Nebula and Rocket carried this movie on their fucking backs. But what do I know, I liked Renner's mohawk of sadness.

F-Tier, AKA Fuck This Movie

INFINITY WAR

Fuck this movie with a rusted steel dildo, fuck this entire fucking movie, I despise it. The writing is so actively fucking terrible I want to fistfight whoever is responsible. I fucking hate the attempts to humanize Thanos over how sad he is about the daughter he abused and then murdered, boo fucking hoo, I hate the joylessness of the superhero combinations, I hate the quip-driven writing, I hate this movie with a burning passion. This might be one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Soulless and destitute.

[eldrichthingy]

9, 13, and 28!!

Hello!! Thank you so much for sending me an ask and killing my boredom, I really appreciate it 🥺👉🏾👈🏾 💕 I love you sm!! And I hope you're having a wonderful time of the day!

9 - happy song?

Uhh.. it's really hard for me to actually determine what the "happy" here means and my brain is really confused, but! If it's about upbeat songs (but with interesting lyrics and meaning, skjjs) it's definitely Choke — IDKHBTF (IT'S SO AGGRESSIVE I LOVE IT AND THE WAY IT SOUNDS WITH THIS INSTRUMENTAL????)!! Or Obsessed with you — The Orion Experience

If it's about meaning.. idk?? Maybe Фотограф - Электрофорез?? Or! Frank Sinatra's almost whole discography, but especially his Christmas songs??

13 - memory?

I think... I have a lot of memories I could call my favorite, and one of the most powerful memories of my whole life is the moment when my family got a dog. To put in really shortly: I was an extremely depressed teen that just moved to different country due to my grandma's illness & had a really horrible time trying to fit in. The moment is when me & my mom were having a train to countryside, I guess you could say?.. to go to that specific dog shelter and adopt a really precious puppy our family already loved. It was early winter morning when we got on a train and everything was covered with snow; it was like.. nearly -30 Celsius outside? It was truly magical. When we got there, it was very cold and sunny. The moment when we first met the puppy... I just- I feel like she choose us? She wasn't scared at all and it seemed like she almost.. recognized us? We were literally playing in a snow when we got out. It was a moment when my loneliness was officially over and I had an understanding that I'm not alone and that there's a reason to stay. When we were taking train back, we just- my mom was so fascinated with her. And so was I. We wasn't thinking about anything else because the happiness was truly overwhelming :') just hysterically laughing & crying from happiness and periodically looking at the window, seeing forests train was passing through. By the way, that's why the name of our dog is Снежинка (snowflake)!! Now I really miss her. She lives with my parents, a 5 or so hours away from me and I really, really miss my parent's home. I visit them once a few months and honestly... I just really miss our dog. She'll be seven years this October :') I'm just.. very anxious and scared of public places & trains & train stations especially (thanks OCD), which is the reason why it's so difficult for me to visit them.

I'm so sorry for lack of emotion in that description, but it's just- really personal and my memory of that time is extremely triggering to me and very personal. I feel like crying afterwards honestly- I just miss her so much.

28 - superhero?

PLEASE DON'T LAUGH AT ME. PLEASE. I know!! I just.. I don't consume media related to superheroes theme or something like that? I've never watched a single Marvel movie skjjs I APOLOGIZE 😭😭 And more into villains honesly. But! I think it's Black Panther?? I never watched a movie or read comics, its just from my impression from media- maybe... Miles Morales (Spiderman)???? GWEN?? I'm very confused with this because I never watched any of those, I just- I'm just loving the lore explaining videos & random content about it on my dash :')

[somethingshifted]

if celebrity harvest did exist. what do you think it would look like? do you think it would a impact in 2003 or do you think it would of flopped?

hello! this is tough to answer since the only info i know about it are recounts surrounding its cancellation and i wasn't aware of gorillaz ongoings in 2003 due to being. six years old. i know there's a podcast with cass browne where the BTS of the movie was explained more (they had 300+ page script wtf), but the audio quality was too difficult to understand, so if there's a transcript i'd love to see that. otherwise, i'm going off citations from the wiki, especially this interview between jamie hewlett and gorillaz-unofficial. and it's under a readmore because - LONG.

before you read this behemoth my answer sums up to yes it would flop. they were planning on working with dreamworks. solely based on that i think it's better off never happening, and if it was made, it could have alienated their core audience/pre-existing fans since the characters would have to be so heavily watered down that the only thing left would be toilet humor an a bleeped out naughty word. i'm sure some dreamworks animations get deep but gorillaz had that specifically r18 and often unsavory-to-the-public imagery that would not fly in theaters, especially in a climate where animation in the west is very much geared towards kids and families. it was planned to air in late 2003. what animated movies were out? finding nemo.... brother bear....

i don't think gorillaz was or is too deep or scary for a younger audience to have fun with, but i'm not sure how to word it. jokes made in magazines for avid fans eyes would not fly on a big screen, is all i'm saying. bashing the idea of celebrity worship is pretty generally accepted and a staple in a lot of fiction. bashing celebs using the voice of 2D in an objectifying way and murdoc in a derogatory way would fall under way more scrutiny in a movie than random ass interviews. is it allowed as much these days? murdoc does a whole lot less bashing of people in interviews, markedly after the band went on hiatus. there's other roadblocks considering gorillaz written/story content. in the interview i linked above, jamie mentions dreamworks balking at the mention of cannibals so anything murdoc was up to would never even happen. imagine a 2003 version of murdoc who's been sanded down like our peepaw murdoc 20 years later.

even outside of him on a more serious note, a decade later: in humanz era/phase 4 they had KKK mockups (kool klown klan) marching about the concert venue to start the tour. given the blatant context of humanz surrounding america's election cycle and riots and the surge of anti-black racism, i don't have as big of a knee jerk reaction to it as say, "2000's murdoc nazi jokes and racist riffs because he's an edgy satanist" even if i still raise my eyebrow to who greenlit that KKK stuff since they performed in that garb at one point...? not to mention the vague astheticism of the black panthers with the band during that era, basically using their imagery and not actively speaking on the topic. i understand the album did that work, and i love humanz as an album and that cycle contains some of my favorite artpieces, but i still had issues. now, picture gorillaz's propensity to have shocking imagery, with their humor in 2003, and... one can only wonder what they'd do.

from the tidbits of plot that have been spoken about, that is a possible "yes" answer to "will it flop". doing poorly as a PRODUCT is pretty much guaranteed as is a lot of gorillaz ventures, but for fans it would basically be a gift from the heavens. would a movie about a cartoon band set in our Earth do banger, ideas wise if fully funded? i think so... vaguely. school of rock was a 2003 (live-action) release so it could have rode in the back of people's minds. (let met take an aside to let you know disney planted fish facts in their children's channel for up to a year, to gear up interest in fish for the future release of finding nemo, the way marketing manipulates people's subconscious is insane) school of rock held the record of highest grossing "music-themed comedy" until pitch-perfect. while gorillaz is serious, they're also still funny, so that's a hopeful edge to the question of if celebrity harvest would do ok. that's also hinging on if they're allowed to keep their humor which um. uhh...

humor aside, lets get into the more serious story factor, character wise. it would be edgy, not any other way to sum it up. celebrity harvest was meant to contain fully realized backstory for russel which contained his mental break and suicide note/attempt, which is quite dark of a topic. which *i* would like to see more of. whether it would be handled properly i can't ever be sure on, since seeing a handful of impactful sentences is different than an hour or so long movie where they're tasked with not only introducing the band, but endearing the uninitiated to their struggles, and ending it satisfactorily. gorillaz does have a history of making what i consider unsavory comments on mental health via the characters. yes they (namely 2D and more importantly, murdoc) are dicks and lads which is the explanation, but not necessarily an excuse. would there be time for nuance, would they take suicide seriously, would murdoc's harm towards 2D be less of a slapatick joke and more considered abuse a-la plastic beach's more somber tone, would noodle being japanese be handled in an ehhh way like it was when she had a sleeper cell activate that taught her english which she already knew, would they make as many disability jokes which were the norm back then? a big fat IDK. i do lean on the side of trusting them if it were in movie format and not riffs in a magazine to make a reader laugh at the edge. in this hypothetical. but IDK.

you know how criticisms floating around for certain phases would lambast the focus of plot (of people)/lore(of the fantastical) to focus on being a band? i would expect a mix of both sides from fans. celebrity harvest seemed to be fully focused on gorillaz breaking apart but coming back together again while riffing on celeb culture, what 2D was up to with his friends and murdoc's whack ass death metal band and etc. del would be a major-ish character (and not in ghost form which is wow). they were slaying a zombie celeb horde. there would have been an album written for it. i do think it would satisfy people like me as i do love the mix between 'people playing instruments' and 'cartoons in a whack world like ours'. but, i do fucking love angst (despite my fanart being all schmoopy) and others enjoy the character writing for the more lighthearted stuff.

my two cents on the monetary aspect which is central to the floppage meter. it's been on my mind after Lady Emily's video on plastic beach's long list of failures, which was spawned from a failed venture itself afterall. damon and jamie have a history of biting off more than they can chew whether it lead to success or not. having to fund not only animating a movie, but music, promotional art, voice actors doing work OUTSIDE of the movie to drum up interest, a new album, advertising, paying to house people, so on and so forth that i still am not fully aware of, it takes a lot of effort and $$$ that your average animated movie never has to worry about. the reason gorillaz runs after the likes of dreamworks and netflix is because those companies invest in ideas. they'll give you the money- as long as they trust a solid return, aka obvious success, a hit. and to get that success, even outside the production of a movie alone, would be insanely difficult. getting high on charts doesn't translate to movie ticket sales either. basically, they just have too many ideas and that's why the movie isn't happening and IMO will never happen unless they were privately funded by someone insanely generous and open to creative freedom. companies do not want to do all that effort to not be making hella profit and that's why popular shows do not rock the boat. they LOVE cutting corners. damon and jamie have a laundry list of doing the opposite of cutting corners, from elaborate tours of 90+ performers that didn't sell out venues, to the insane ambitious idea of carousel, to animation burnout, to mountains of scrapped ideas, and etc. and in 2003 they were the definition of rocking the boat which is basically company-repellant. is this history of overzealousness a reason why some of the recent stuff has been handled with less care? that's just my speculation(cope). but after hearing netflix canned gorillaz in 2022 i default to that. another project planned with guns a blazin' and a script being realized, swirling down the drain...

it's hard to talk about the impact (to fans? the world?) outside of me if it existed, because i was only 6 when it was 2003. and also somewhat restricted from western culture despite living in the USA. i can still confidently guess it would be considered a cult classic, for fans, people who enjoy adult-minded animation, or just people who like something different and new in the movie world. since that was a huge draw for gorillaz for so long, that they're different. and they still are, because can you genuinely point to a virtual band doing it with the same impact as gorillaz, like gorillaz, or even close? i personally can't. adding a movie to the roster of shit they've accomplished would have definitely found them more popularity, but it would be more apparent years in the future, which would not return money spent on creating it immediately. that's kind of how cult classics go, which is why they're considered underground instead of being a regular old smash-hit classic. a lot of them end up being projects that never gained proper recognition when it was made compared to current days. i can really imagine celebrity harvest inspiring years and ages of discussion though simply by being another piece of a virtual band's history. whether it's on the more serious side of animation, or the message they were going for, or the nature of multimedia projects that gorillaz creates.

tl;dr

yes if celebrity harvest existed, i think it would have flopped, it would probably be edgy to the average movie-goer, not made enough money to balance the cost of creating it, and it would only pick up more fame as time went on and people got hooked back by nostalgia (like me). i am fully ready to eat several hats if a gorillaz movie did happen one day but, as you can tell i'm still not keen on the idea... sorry for being that sort of fan. oh but i'd still watch the hell out of it if it existed and eat up every iota of talk surrounding it. sorry for being that OTHER type of fan. I contain multitudes

[slashtakemylife]

I think I'm just realizing I've been so deeply shellshocked by Endgame... It has literally taken me 4 years to finally, finally start mourning it

I just... Please if there's anyone out there willing to talk to me because how can I tell anyone in my close circle I'm mourning a MOVIE

And not just that, I'm mourning it 4 years later

I guess it really is the stages of grief and I've lived in denial for 4 years because I simply just couldn't bring myself to believe a franchise that I have absolutely adored and poured all my love and trust... Kicked me back like that... And after giving me a movie that was everything I could've asked like... I just don't know how to say it and I'm sorry I'm using tumblr as a personal journal but I simply have to put it down for words.

Endgame for me was everything.

It reunited storylines, characters and even made dumb internet jokes canon

That's America's ass

I can still cry of joy and laugh at so many scenes I still remember softly so to admit it's actually garbage... Would mean I'd have to admit nearly 10 years of dedication have gone down the drain and everything I loved is now gone and my trust was severely used.

I'm broken

And for me personally it really just boils down to one fcking character

Sure I've seen talk about other characters but my main favorite, my all time beloved my just everything

Steve

Steve steve oh god I can't take it, I can see why they did what they did, they do have real life restrictions like the actors' contracts and the fact is a movie and just their plain open "white male writers" but... It's my Steve, I've been rooting for him and emotionally attached myself to him so bad

I still remember the fxking joy I had watching every movie, the absolute sheer glee when I was gifted an avengers vase because it had been everything to me

Steve's ending broke me and not just as a stucky shipper but a steve fan and a bucky fan and yes I absolutely knew stucky WOULD NEVER be canon like trust me I knew, never asked for it to be true, didn't even engage with the hashtag GiveCapABoyfriend but I at least expected them to end together as in friendship as in finally journeying together this new world after the main threat was finally over, their fight for each other finally welding results.

Now I have to live with Steve's BULLSHIT ending that not only breaks their own premise on time travel, it also breaks the foundation that is Steve, breaks everything that's been building up straight up from his introduction and literally the third fxking movie in this mega cinematic universe

And ofc since this is a connected cinematic universe of fcking course they have to rub it in my face.

I see you the falcon and the winter soldier and partially loki since he is directly from their disastrous time heist.

I'm starting to understand why I can't enjoy this anymore and only marginally have with production that have minimal contact with the source

Aka Eternals, Black Panther (although this mostly because of Namor and maya cultura and I am mexican so) and Shang Shi, I do get a punch in the gut like in Eternals and Shang Shi like everything goes back to normal as if fcking half the population did not just left and magically all went back and just everything was back to normal and just occasionally mentioned?

Bitch we couldn't stop talking about covid and has been the main topic for as long as it happened and it took years for it to truly just be a passing topic and these mf be like oh shame well carrying on

There's not a single movie I look forward to watching and I'm still debating on seeing the marvels and if I did it would just be out of curiosity but honestly now that I'm letting out my tears... I don't want to, i never liked how Carol has been handled, mind you, not her, I love her but her character has been severely butchered since her introduction and also at this point I don't even know what they are building and also now I'm not even sure I care.

I dread the next cap movie and thunderbolts because I know I'm going to see them wh0re out Bucky until his last breath as if he hadn't just being dumped by his best friend and only connection to the past, sure he can make new friends, Sam is but it's not the same you know?

I don't know what to do with myself and I have to keep it together and pretend I'm a functioning adult just doing their 9 to 6 as if my head isn't splitting in half

[forzasedici]

i love it that you reblogged the “get to know the blogger” post bc i saw you reblog a lot of “le belle et la bete” gifs and was curious about your general taste/favourite films 👁️👁️

this is going to be so long i'm sorry but i just love talking about it so let's start!

i'm going to highlight some of the movies from my favourites list on letterboxd aka the movies that butter my bun:

— Skyfall (2012) and 1917 (2019) both directed by Sam Mendes are honestly great movies with Skyfall for me being the best Bond movie and 1917 as one of the best war movies. What made 1917 one of my favourites was the watching it at cinema experience plus the reveal in the end is just *chef's kiss*

— Tarantino movies. Like that's it. I know a lot of ppl don't like him but for me he's one of the best writers and sure has his problems but you cannot deny his work is great. Inglorious Basterds for me take the cake as his best movie with Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill: Part I being up there as well. One of his underrated movies is definitely Jackie Brown which I've loved.

— Period dramas. Another one of my fave genres. Emma. (2020) being one of my favourite movies. Emma (2009) is also a great adaptation albeit it is a series. Pride and Prejudice (2005) and (1995) are great as well. Little Women has recently grown on me way more and remains my favourite Greta Gerwig movie. Another underrated movie for me is Ophelia which as the title says focuses more on Ophelia from the play Hamlet. It's really well done and I've enjoyed watching it.

— This one is also a period drama but it is a bollywood movie so I wanted to highlight it. Jodhaa Akbar is a MUST watch such a good movie it's insane like I'm sorry you have a sword fight sequence between two lovers and you have won me over.

— Let's get franchises out of the way. Obviously Marvel movies are some of my favourites with Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Thor: Ragnarok which are in my top 3. Both Black Panther movies and Spider-man: No Way Home are taking honourable mentions. For their series my favourite has been Moon Knight. (Sony gets their cookies for Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse and obviously Venom because come on now eddie and venom are otp y'all don't get it like i do)

— Next big franchise is Star Wars. Original trilogy: Empire Strikes Back. Prequel trilogy: Revenge of the Sith (I'm an Anakin girlie unfortunately) and Sequel trilogy: The Last Jedi (Rian Johnson supremacy). Series: Obi-wan Kenobi (i cried). Honourable mention to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (i also cried).

— Since I mentioned Rian Johnson let's expand on that because the man just gets movies and everyone should watch Looper and Knives Out!!

— Denis Villeneuve. MY MAN!!!! Arrival and Dune *chef's kiss* if you can bear longer movies also Blade Runner 2049 but it isn't one of my favorites exactly because it was long and boring. And since probably someone will say the same for Dune at least Dune has you looking at Oscar Isaac and Timothee Chalamet sure they look miserable but that's when men look the best.

— Spy movies? like idk how to call this but let me list them all. Anna (2019) they succeeded where The Red Sparrow failed like if you're looking for anything similar to Black Widow Anna is the one I would recommend a thousand times. The Nice Guys and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. great comedies I just love them. It's not really a spy but assassin I guess but John Wick franchise is the shit and the best movie is obviously John Wick 2.

— Another director that has me is unfortunately Christopher Nolan. Can I get more basic than that? I do admit his faults and that's sound mixing is fucking awful, I don't understand his movies while I am watching them most of the time and this man cannot write a female character for the life of him BUT 🎶 shapes and colours 🎶. His ideas are what draw me in and it's just visual masterpieces doesn't matter if I can't hear the dialogue if it looks good am I right?

— Smashing musicals and animation together because this is already becoming too long. Singin' In The Rain and The Sound of Music are a MUST watch and also I'm a Phantom of the Opera girlie so if you're going to watch anything watch the 25th anniversary version. I am also unfortunately a Hamilton girlie and the damage to my life caused by that damn musical is irreparable. For animation musical Hercules, The Emperor's New Groove, Anastasia, The Lion King and Tangled and purely animation Howl's Moving Castle, Lilo and Stitch, The Incredibles and Inside Out.

— Now it's time for a quick fire: Ford v Ferrari and Rush are two best movies for my motorsport girlies, Gone Girl and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire for my book girlies, Death at a Funeral and Hot Fuzz for the british comedy girlies, i'm also unfortunately a Titanic girlie probably the movie i've watched most in my life, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS!!! A. MUST. WATCH. Monty Python movies are great if you ignore some of the outdated jokes. Jackie is one of my favorites just because it's one of Natalie's Portman's best performances and that's also including Black Swan but both movies are also visually stunning.

— The Death of Stalin is one of the best comedies as well. Ready Player One is one of my weirder favourites since many ppl see it as an average movie but i'd recommend it to anyone (literally can't believe it's my favourite Spielberg movie 😭😭). Also add to the video game genre Tron: Legacy because I will also recommend that movie to anyone. The Grand Budapest Hotel is also a must watch like if anyone made the world go through a pink paint shortage before Barbie did then it's this movie and finally The Batman (2022). Let's end on a battinson note just because.

— Crazy to think I haven't even mentioned all of my favourites but I guess this is kinda the jist of it all. Basically my taste is anything as long as I like it I guess jsbsjsbsjs. (I forgot to mention the horror genre but that's just because I don't really have a favourite movie like if I had to say anything it would be The Conjuring movies.)

— As for Le Belle Et La Bête it's one of my new favourites and honestly got me into a french cinema mood so I'll probably find more favourites there. One of my goals has always been to watch more foreign movies but not many have entered my favourites club unfortunately. Also fuck disney live-action remakes (except you cinderella (2015)).

get to know the blogger

[artistslashperfectionist]

About me

Just like many artists, well I'm a self-proclaimed one....getting to know them is one possibility to understand their influences and their passion and what inspires them and what they love to do and what are their personality is like. It took me three years to plan this, but finally I am able to do it right now. So if you look at everything I like, you would know what influences me because of my preferences.

Name: Ronald II Sarabia (But please call me Momoy; I don't feel like a Ronald)

Nicknames: Momoy,Moy, Moy-Moy, Momy (Not mommy !), Momoy-ka,M, MM, Ehm, Ehm-Ehm,Big-Ehm, Big Moe, Moe-M, Moms, Momm (Not mom !),Big M, Blueming, M-High, Aim, Moxzy, Yom, Yomom, Y-Mz

Date of birth: October 28, 1996 (People think I'm very young)

Hobbies: Painting, drawing, taking pictures, collecting figurines and Funko, watching TV

Favorite restaurant: Mang Inasal

Favorite food: Chicken inasal

Favorite dessert: Dairy Queen Blizzard

Favorite ice cream: Cookies and cream

Favorite drink: Bear Brand (Yes, I love milk, and cannot live without drinking one everyday !)

Favorite candy: Milky Way

Favorite music genre: Kpop

Favorite Kpop group(s): Twice, Blackpink, Loona, f(x)

Favorite English (language) song: Get Out of This House by Shawn Colvin (My day is not complete without listening to this song)

Favorite Filipino (language) song: Mahal Kita Pero by Janella Salvador (Sorry to all those I loved back in the day..... :()

Favorite movie(s): Weathering With You, Forrest Gump, Back To The Future trilogy

Favorite TV show(s) : Loud House, Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory, Spy x Family, The Quintessential Quintuplets, Shake It Up!, Heroes, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Superman and Lois, Citrus

Favorite game: Injustice

Favorite book: The 39 Clues

Favorite manga: Citrus

Favorite artist(s): Devin Elle Kurtz, Aeonix, Kim Smith, Sergio Bumatay III, Alex Ross, Chris Savino, Geoff Johns

Favorite classical artist(s): Andy Warhol, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, Leonid Afremov, Eugene Delacroix, Mary Cassatt, Paul Gaugin

Favorite DC superheroes: Batman and Wonder Woman

Favorite Marvel superheroes: Captain America and Black Panther

Favorite anime guy: Gray Fullbuster (They say I am like him)

Favorite anime girl: Itsuki Nakano

Waifu: Tohru Honda

Crush: Chou Tzuyu from Twice

Favorite quote: "If you're lucky enough to be different, don't ever change." - Taylor Swift

Favorite bible quote: Ephesians 2:8-10 (It has my favorite word)

Favorite number: 2

Embarrassing moment: I kept staring at a female passenger of a jeepney who seems to be my good friend back in high school when I was in second year college, and it turned out to be, well, it is actually her, except why is she riding the same jeepney route I take on the way home ? Good thing, I never asked if it's really her.

Drunk moment: I only take beer or alcohol on special occassions and on holidays, but I already smell like Red Horse beer, but not totally drunk, but I managed to climb up a stool to see a live band in a bar that we had a Christmas party back in first year college in 2015.

If there is one thing I can wish for: It would be time travel being possible, so I can see what I did when I was being teased by some schoolmates in elementary :))

[thisisbeyond]

Beyond the Story

　　In 2001, Hong Kong director Wanting Cheung, perhaps out of curiosity, turned her camera on the rock youth in Shucun, a suburb of Beijing, and made a "rock movie" called "Beijing Music and Road". In fact, why did she sacrifice the near for the distant? Beyond is the good material around you.

　　The word "乐与路" that many people don't understand is an extension of "乐与路", which is the Hong Kong transliteration of Rock & Roll. But, is Beyond considered a real rock band, or is there rock music in Hong Kong?

　　People who have this kind of doubt will take European and American rock music as their standard. In front of it, Chinese rock music really pales in comparison. Beyond is not the most technically outstanding rock band, and even they prefer ordinary pop music. However, the Beatles are also simple and beautiful, which does not hinder their greatness. The bloodiness, undying heroism and idealism in Beyond's music are the essence of rock and roll. In their music, the great Great Wall is written as a broken wall, and the focus is on those innocent lives thousands of years ago; "The last sacrifice of war is children." The song "Amani" sung in Kenyan is a tribute to war. Accusation... Huang Jiaju's crying voice is a registered trademark of Beyond. It is different from today's pretentious voice. His hoarse singing carries contempt for power, sorrow for people's livelihood, and no distinction between truth and falsehood, right and wrong. The upside-down world needs a clear black and white. Boys born in the 1970s have all seen the video of Beyond's sweaty concert, where they would cross their hands to form a flying dove of peace - that was Wong Ka-kui's classic gesture when singing "Amani". In the era before Cui Jian, Black Panther, and band beaters, Beyond was the most friendly rock music for civilians.

In his last interview before his death, Wong Ka Kui said: "The biggest gain in the past 10 years is that some music fans know how to pick up the guitar and play music, know what drums are, what guitar is... It doesn't matter whether Beyond exists in the future, because we have sown the seeds The seeds began to sprout." To this day, some young people in Hong Kong still sing Beyond's songs to the stage when they form their own bands. Nicholas Tse and Lin Yilian will also sing "Glory Days" at their concerts.

　　For the Beyond band, they have been swinging between rock and business. The best-selling music may not be their favorite, and the many efforts in music may not get the greatest response. "When I first formed the band, I had a lot of fantasies and longings. I imagined that I would have my own recording studio, or even my own building or company in the future - but in the end, I only got a band room-like recording studio. This is a very difficult road to follow. ." Huang Jiaqiang said.

　　Joy and anger are also the music path of Beyond band for 20 years.

　　glory days

　　(1983-1993)

　　"Forgive me for my unruly, indulgent love of freedom in this life, even if I fall down one day." At 4:15 pm on June 30, 1993, 31-year-old Huang Jiaju fell in Japan and fell into a coma for 6 days and fell permanently. That day, that year, became the dividing line between the band Beyond’s 20 years.

　　The 10th year of Shangshuo lasted until 1983. In the popular "band" trend in Hong Kong, several boys, Wong Ka-kui, Yip Sai Wing and Wu Lin, in order to win the competition in one fell swoop, or perhaps to transcend themselves forever, they named their temporary band Beyond.

　　In the next two years, Wong Ka-kui's younger brother Wong Ka-keung and Wong Guanzhong, who designed posters for the band, joined one after another. Beyond's songs were included in the rock compilation album, and they held the "Forever Waiting" concert at their own expense, becoming the leader of Hong Kong's underground bands.

　　In 1986, when the concept of DIY had not yet been born, the Beyond band released its first album "Goodbye Ideal" with astonishing courage. The production, distribution and even the cover design were all handled by themselves. The emergence of Beyond was recognized by the mainstream music industry. It shocked the world and won a contract with a record company.

　　Going from the underground to the ground does not mean that it is finished. During the periods of "Forever Waiting", "Arab Dancing Girl" and "Modern Stage", Beyond was still lingering on the edge of the stage, waiting, until the double platinum-selling album "Secret Police" in 1988. "Earth" from the album was Beyond's first hit song and ranked among the top ten hits of the year, while "Like You" was one of the most radio-played songs in 1988. In the autumn of this year, the band was invited to perform two times at the Capital Stadium in Beijing. However, they were not very popular among Beijingers who could not understand Cantonese. Only half of the audience was left at the end of the show, and the most enthusiastic scene at the venue actually occurred when Huang Jiaju When singing Cui Jian's "Nothing". In the same year, early member Liu Zhiyuan left the group, and the four-in-one Beyond became a permanent member.

　　Songs such as "Really Love You" and "Days Gone" continued to gain ground for Beyond in 1989. They appeared in Johnnie To's movie "Lucky Star" and transformed from a simple band into an idol group. . In the early 1990s, Beyond was already Hong Kong's top band, combining the popularity of a mainstream band with the creative freedom of an underground band. 1990's "Glory Days" was a tribute to Mandela, and "The Face Party" pointed the finger at the bizarre entertainment industry. In this year, they released their first Mandarin album "The Earth", targeting Taiwan and the mainland, and its influence spread to Southeast Asia.

　　In 1991, Beyond finally got its wish and appeared in the Hong Kong Red Rocks Arena and starred in the inspirational movie "Don't Bully the Young and the Poor" (co-starred with Faye Wong, who was also a member of Xinyibao Records at the time), and "Beyond+Grasshopper", "Beyond Summer Vacation" and other obvious TV programs that leveraged the band's popularity to gain ratings also began to be popular. The company's image of "youth idol big boys" designed for the four boys reached its peak this year. At the same time, their seventh album "Hesitation" was accused of being the most commercial With a record, some people began to wonder, "Did we abandon Beyond, or did Beyond abandon us?"

　　A passionate rock musician is involved in the strange circle of youth idols. Behind his unlimited glory is a gray track, and business operations bring about split personality. Huang Guanzhong joked many years later: "Beyond won numerous awards back then. The climax of each award ceremony was not on the stage, but in the band room in the back seat on the second floor. Countless times we carried a video camera to film a certain channel." "Best Group" award, as soon as the camera turned, someone took a softball bat and swung it hard, and the exquisite rubber base burst into two quarters, and then the whole audience cheered. This is the only way to vent, and there are only a few short moments. Minutes, let us regain our self-esteem!

　　The radical behavior reflects Beyond's unwillingness to give in. They are unwilling to be just a pop rock band. Becoming an international band has always been Beyond's distant dream. "Beyond knows very well what kind of music the Hong Kong market needs. We can only lower the level as much as possible, so the ideal of breaking out of Asia is very slim." Huang Jiaqiang said. It is precisely because of this that they ended their long-term cooperation with New Art Treasure in 1992 and went to Japan to develop, almost disappearing from the Hong Kong music scene. "Our hometown cannot let go of our ideals." This phrase in "Paradise" was the cry of anger back then.

　　Beyond's dissatisfaction was not quickly healed in Japan, and initially there were big differences in music with the Japanese producers. Even so, in the first year, Beyond still delivered the "Continue the Revolution" album that was different from the past. Huang Jiaju's singing in the song "Peasant" became cold and deep, and the Japanese electronic music master Kitaro's arrangement for "The Great Wall" The music also gives this band without keyboards an ethereal and vast artistic conception.

　　"Joy and Fury" is the last record of the four-in-one Beyond. After many years of not daring to say loudly that they were musicians, Beyond broke out loudly in 1993, 10 years after forming the band. What they love is "Joy and Fury" is rock music. They were also actively preparing to hold a large-scale 10th anniversary concert at the end of the year.

　　On June 24, 1993, an accident occurred during the recording of a game show on Fuji TV in Tokyo. The Chinese music scene lost a music "revolutionary" and an era because of this program that had nothing to do with music. The four-person Beyond was written into history, and "Broad Sea and Sky" was the swan song of that year.

　　threesome

　　(1993-2003)

　　"Three monks have no water to drink" is the coldest description of Beyond after Wong Ka Kui's death, but the objective fact is that in the next 10 years, they almost did not sing any popular works. Lyricist Liu Zhuohui, who has collaborated with Beyond for a long time, said: "The music of the three of them is more self-contained, more like a Western band. They don't just sell one or two songs, but they sell the sound of a band."

　　The Doors recently regrouped, and some people mocked the veteran rock band without Jim Morrison as "the Doors." Indeed, an excellent lead singer is usually the soul of the band, just like Wong Ka Kui to Beyond. Will his departure also prevent the Beyond band from transcending themselves?

　　In the early years of Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, the creative soul of the band, left the band due to drug problems. As a result, under the leadership of Roger Waters, the band later produced two rock music masterpieces, "Dark Side Of the Moon" and "The Wall"; Joy ​​Division's After Ian Curtis hanged himself, the remaining members reorganized New Order and also became important figures in instigating the Electro-Dance trend. We always hope that the same thing will happen to Beyond.

　　The death of Huang Jiaju made the three members feel like "we can't start before everyone is here" for a long time. To this day, they still put an empty microphone in every performance. There is a song called "We Don't Wanna Make It Without You" (We Don't Want to Play Without You) in the first album of the trio's period, "Back Seat on the Second Floor", and this sad sentence is repeated throughout the song.

　　After a year's rest, Beyond was back on the road in 1994. Anger and sadness are the keynotes of "Back Seat on the Second Floor". Wong Ka-keung, who replaced his brother as the lead singer, also intentionally or unintentionally imitated Wong Ka-kui's singing voice. Just like New Order's debut album "Movement", which still has a strong shadow of Joy Division, this is a transitional work that cannot escape the shadow of past stereotypes and sadness. After another rough "Sound", the trio of Beyond began to make new sounds in "Beyond is Wonderful" and "Please Let Go".

　　The album "Please Let Go", released in 1997, passionately describes the complex mentality of Hong Kong people in the context of the transfer of power. "Big Time" opens with a clear meaning and is full of confusion; "Please Let Go" is about the hard-to-leave mood before returning. This song won the Best Rock Song Award at the Metro Music Awards that year, and they also won the Best Rock Song of the Year. Favorite Band Award for the group and several other stations. In addition, the album also includes "Echo" written to the Hong Kong Deaf Welfare Promotion Association and "Who Named Me" written to the International Fund for Animal Welfare. They are still the Beyond who takes society as their own responsibility.

　　In the following years, Beyond successively released 5 EP records, and the pace finally seemed to be in a hurry. Wong Ka-keung said: "Although everything in Hong Kong is very advanced and developed, many places are regressing. People will not calmly appreciate the effort you put into every record. To survive in Hong Kong, if you hope to release an album every few years and be able to sell it, It's impossible for a long time." Throughout the 1990s, the idol music scene that "used waste as treasure" became more and more solid. Until the indefinite hiatus was announced, Beyond was still the only well-known band in Hong Kong. Signed to Rolling Stone Records, they once pinned their hopes on the Taiwanese music scene, but most of their Mandarin albums such as "Love and Life" received a mediocre response.

　　At the end of 1999, Beyond released the "Good Time" EP record. In the same year, their concert results were not satisfactory, and the band announced its temporary disbandment and independent development. Of course, whether a band has hits or not is not the only criterion for measuring the quality of a band, but Beyond, a trio, is in an awkward position. They are burdened by the achievements of the Wong Ka-Kui era, but at the same time they want to have more experiments in music. Wong Ka-keung said: "If Ka Kui was still with us, there would never be so much pressure, because his role in the band is like a chef in the kitchen, and we are the chefs responsible for the cooking process. There is no family Beyond is like U2 without Bono." In addition, the patience and tolerance of the music industry are no longer what they used to be. The choice of Beyond is somewhat of a helpless move.

　　This year, the three sons of Beyond reunited to release a new EP album "Together". The "20 Years of Anti-Japanese War" concert in early May was an unprecedented success, and three more performances were held in June. Beyond became a hot spot for several major record companies to compete for. Although this result is slightly ironic, it is consistent with their Appealing power is not unrelated to years of persistence. Ten years of life and death are uncertain. On the 10th anniversary of his death, Huang Jiaju, who is under the pressure of despair, should also smile when he sees the band's achievements today.

　　continue the revolution

　　——Solo years

　　There are too many bands coming out under the scary banner of revolution. However, after a year or two they fend for themselves without even the test of time. Do a group of men who have been rocking for 20 years still doubt the thoroughness of their revolution?

　　In 1998, when Beyond was 15 years old, a Hong Kong music magazine asked them to talk about their feelings. Huang Guanzhong said: "It's not that I plan to finish it after 15 years. 15 is just a neater number than 16." This can probably be read as the revolutionary slogan of these men. The belief of "Always be free and always sing my songs" has been integrated into the blood. Whether it is solo or creating for other singers, these brilliance are still the glory of Beyond.

　　Huang Guanzhong

　　Since the three separated, the former guitarist's development achievements have been the most eye-catching.

　　Wong Guanzhong set up his own recording studio and signed a contract with Universal Music. In 2001, he was the first to release his solo album "Paul Wong". His avant-garde style was staggering. The album still contains anger and agitation that have not diminished with time. Among them, "Hong Kong Must Have" and "Hong Kong Must Have" "Good Night Hong Kong" is a continuation of the social consciousness that was deeply rooted in the Beyond era. "I record my feelings about this era, rather than recording anything about this society. Although the final result is to record this society, I am actually recording myself."

　　The subsequent albums "Black and White" and "Same Root" were released one after another, both in terms of styling and songs. Their unbeatable masculine aura is clearly distinguishable from many records of minor romances, and his guitar skills and creative talents are also increasing day by day. Mature and rich, and showing signs of development towards jazz.

　　In addition to personal development, Huang Guanzhong also formed the band "Khan" with drummer Gong Shuoliang, guitarist Dino and LMF bassist Jimmy, and is committed to supporting new generation bands such as LMF. Mainland musician Zhang Yadong once wrote a song for Huang Guanzhong's first solo album. In his opinion, Huang Guanzhong's current music is much better than that of Beyond.

　　other works--

　　Nicholas Tse's "Everyone Is Stupid", Andy Hui's "Don't Let Me Drink Too Much", Karen Mok's "Oh My God", Chen Xiaodong's "Black Tie"

　　Jordan Chan's "Psycho", Stephen Chow's "Amazing", Lin Haifeng's "Diary of a Madman"/"Good Dog"

　　Wong Ka-keung

　　During the Beyond period, his younger brother Huang Jiaqiang was a silent and lovely bass player who created masterpieces such as "Cold Rainy Night". After his solo career, he set up his own recording studio at home to focus on expanding his personal space.

　　In October 2002, Huang Jiaqiang released his solo album "Be Right Back", in which he laughed, cursed, and criticized current ills. The record has both pop potential and a distinctive personal style, and is more gentle than Huang Guanzhong. "Panic Disorder", "The Letter Is There", and the collaboration with Lu Qiaoyin to perform the work "Guardian Angel" written for Faye Wong, all have good reputations.

　　other works--

　　Eason Chan's "Love Has No Control", Karen Mok's "The Believer", Leo Ku's "Intentional"/"Memory Highway", Li Huimin's "Love Breaks"/"In fact", Faye Wong's "Guardian Angel"/"Perfunctory", Jordan Chan "Good Decision", Kelly Chen "We will meet one day"

　　Ye Shirong

　　After leaving Beyond, drummer Ye Sai Wing signed a contract with EOL Records, but the company failed to honor the contract. As a result, the song "Scam" appeared on his first album "Beautiful Time Machine" released in August 2001. , although he composed nearly 40 songs, Yip Sai Wing only carefully selected 5 for publication. This record, for which he wrote, composed, and sang, was completed in the "back seat on the second floor" that brought countless brilliance to Beyond. The "back seat on the second floor" is the property of the Ye family and has been used as a rehearsal for the Beyond band for many years. ,Studio. In addition to his personal development, he also often makes guest appearances in some emerging bands. In 2002, he suffered the blow of his fiancée's unexpected death. After learning from his pain, he will produce more profound and moving works.

　　other works--

　　"The End of the World, a Cold Strange Land" by Lu Qiaoyin

　　2003.5.3 Let’s encourage each other tonight

　　Passed the ticket check, passed the security, passed the health inspection, and finally entered the Coliseum. The triangular stage echoes the harmony of only three people tonight, making up for the regret of missing one person. After a month of being deserted, it was now packed to capacity. I'm here, and I still have my mask. Are you welcome?

　　At 8 o'clock, the audience surrounded the front, rear, left and right positions. A carefree face, shaking colorful fluorescent sticks, laughing happily. What's surprising is why they...are all so young? Shouldn't I be the youngest? Are they all fans of Beyond? Don’t you know that those Beyond who still look like they are 20 years old are all middle-aged angry men in their late 40s?

　　Sitting in the front row not far from Miss Zhu Yin, seeing a group of reporters surrounding her and the spotlights flashing, everyone felt a little dizzy. Fortunately, the music suddenly started playing. Surrounded by heavy electronic music and screams, I entered another time and space. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to our show... A deep voice called out the band members one by one in English, and the last one called out crazily: In Loving Memory: Wong Kar-kui (黄家狐). The water is boiling.

　　Ye Shirong stands tall in the middle, holding a drum stick and has blond hair; Huang Jiaqiang and Huang Guanzhong each stand at a corner of the stage, wearing black battle clothes and dazzling red hair. The blank space is the center of the front desk.

　　There was a moment of silence, the melancholy blue light was revealed, and the guitar strings jumped immediately: "Today, I watched the snow drifting by in the cold night...", a heart drifted away in the joy: it was the summer of 1993, in the past On the winding road in Clearwater Bay, the same tune played on the radio. The shadows of the trees on both sides continue to recede, the blue sky and blue sea are blowing in the breeze, Beyond, the broken wings, the days that have passed, I am not yet 20, and I am as tall as the teenagers next to me. The speeding car and the depressed mood are my green years.

　　Like most people of the same age, what they are happy about is not the Beyond in front of them, but the horse of that day. Since he left, nothing has moved me. Maybe our requirements are too high, maybe Beyond is also feeling pressured by past achievements and it is difficult to surpass them. Their myth was inadvertently brought to an end 10 years ago. I tried hard, but only ended up in despair. Probably all I can remember is the 1994 "Second Floor Back Seat" album. What's left? A Paul (Huang Guanzhong)'s celebrity girlfriend (Zhu Yin)? Shirong's fiancée who died mysteriously? Or was it Jia Qiang who won an over-age newcomer award last year? In 1999, Beyond announced an indefinite hiatus, and the three of them developed their own careers. Four years later, the band reunited for their 20th anniversary and held another concert, which led to speculation that they came here to make money. It was also because of this mentality that I didn’t have high expectations for the concert. I also heard that in order to recreate the heartwarming scene of the four Beyond brothers on the stage, they would use electronic projection of Ka Kui's image on the stage. I kept feeling uneasy. It seemed that the Beatles had to electronically synthesize John Lennon's voice. Recording an album is like working hard.

　　I saw a blurry image on the stage. "Ka Kui" was wearing a red suit, playing with the strings in front of the microphone. He was standing in the center of the stage. Paul and Ka Keung were leaning on both sides of him. Sai Wing seemed a little far away from him. Behind and above. Under the dim light, it is unreal, as untouchable as a dream. When Shirong sang, "Jia Kui left early, he is young and never grows old, and the gray track is worn into a bloody road", I vaguely felt that the voice was hoarse, and my eyes were filled with mist.

　　During the break during the concert, the members talked about their feelings with everyone. Paul said that playing music is not to drive a sports car, buy a house, and make a lot of money. He just asked everyone to remember that there is a rock band called Beyond; Sai Wing would like to thank Ka Kui, Cynthia (passed away) His girlfriend) supports him in heaven to continue to move forward bravely for music; Ka-keung believes that the environment does not allow rock music to exist in Hong Kong, and it is difficult for the band to survive because there are so many fans who will never leave. It sounds so high-sounding that it almost sounds like a line, but it is true. It is not an exaggeration to say that Beyond's last 10 years have been like a war of resistance. Just by being sincere to music, knowing that it cannot be done, and leading this revolution, Beyond is worthy of our sweat and shouts.

　　The 120-second long thunder drum call for encore (encore) is crazy. Looking around, it seemed like everyone knew where they were coming from. Sure enough, the small stage slowly rose behind him, and the three people sitting in less than a hundred feet became the focus of the camera again. Because the stage was suspended in mid-air, only those who stood high could see it clearly. After a night of madness, we no longer had any worries. We all stood on the stools - even though those were just temporary folding stools. Music takes over the soul and controls the body. I was greedy for every note floating in the air, chewing every lyric, forgetting the distance from other audiences, filming together, and singing together - "The wind and frost can't blow out the fire, no matter how much bitterness it passes..."

　　There were no guests, no tricks, but the 3-hour continuous music was meticulous. War drums thundered when it was exciting, and rain hit the sycamore trees when it was low. Looking at it, Beyond’s music is not only for our generation who grew up with him, but also for the new generation. How can good music make people feel outdated? As long as the singer never loses his innocence. Although fans from all over the world have passed tonight and returned to unrelated worlds, they would not recognize each other when they met. Just because we spent a night together tonight when the world is in chaos and inflammation is spreading, let's encourage each other freely! 

0 notes

[robzombies-hotwife]

I kind of hate the argument that "Marvel films don't have to be good, they're just fun to watch!" because they're really... not? I've seen A LOT of the MCU and almost none of them have made me feel any emotion besides "bored." Endgame+ MCU is a clock-watching experiment and the torture of sitting through the flat and cold characters, terrible scripts, emotionally manipulative bland music stuffed in every scene, excessive cgi, and nonsensical plots that only serve to advertise the next empty, emotionless spectacle. "Look it's Bloophahoo!" I don't give a fuck, recognition/nostalgia/reference applause is not the same thing as writing something good.

"Watch these 30 terrible 2+ hour movies and six terrible TV shows to vaguely understand and give recognition applause to the next terrible one!" uh, fuck no? I'm not gonna do that? I have one precious life on this earth and I'm not gonna spend it watching "shiny toy, pretty colors!" garbage that doesn't engage me at all.

I am not pretentious or anti-superhero. My favorite film series is the Ocean's series (a genuinely funny but not very intellectual action/heist series with an ensemble cast that has great chemistry) and I genuinely love The Boys, The Suicide Squad, ZS Justice League, Watchmen, X-Men: First Class, BNHA, and many other comics and superhero media. Of the MCU, I personally enjoyed Thor, Thor: Ragnarok, and Black Panther, films that had something else to them (a seed of conviction or actual ideas) besides the corporate formula. The difference between that media and the general MCU is that the MCU is an emotional/mental void peppered by cgi explosions without an ounce of humanity or emotion to connect to.

I'm also not saying "everyone stop watching Marvel right now because they suck and you have bad taste," but really ask yourself: am I watching these movies because I'm actually having fun or am I watching them to keep up with the endless cultural slog of MCU properties in hopes it will *eventually* pay off?

[super-chaitea]

i've been thinking, which is never really a good thing, but this has been in my mind for literal hours.

i like the way marvel has been doing its series and recent movies.

i really, really like it.

and this is the part where it gets long and rambly and not well-articulated, so stick around if you want that:

marvel is a big franchise, but it's one that you really have to commit to being a part of as they release more and more movies, shows, and comics. maybe it was easy to get into after the first avengers, or even when age of ultron came out, because there was less content to pick up from the MCU - probably 4 or 5 movies (the iron man movies, thor, maybe the incredible hulk, captain America). and it was easy to get into because the content was easy to grasp as a superhero movie. if you had read the comics, good for you, but you didn't necessarily need to be a huge comic know-how to understand and grasp what was happening.

phase 1 was not my personal favorite phase, but it's genuinely great because it establishes the universe, the concept (superheroes and avengers), and, of course, our characters. the plots follow your basic superhero arc - hero with an angsty backstory vs. epic boss villain. it's basic, but it's brilliant, because it focuses on a relatively small group of people so that the cast and story can grow from there.

phase 2 is really where my point starts to actually come into fruition because this is maybe one of my favorite phases. the thing is, marvel totally could have kept on following the normal superhero stories, but it doesn't really do that. sure, it has the same structure with like the angsty backstory and epic boss battle, but what really matters is that, in this phase, marvel starts touching on different genres. and this. this is what i absolutely love about these movies. (i'd also like to add that i don't know if this is what happens in the comics, since the most i know with any comic knowledge is about hawkeye - yes i know it's weird, and no, i don't know why. idk if lee frames ant-man in the original comics in the same light as the movies do, and i don't know if any of the movies do any of the comic characterization justice, and that's my disclaimer for anything i say related to the marvel comics).

ant-man is a superhero movie, of course, but it's also framed as a heist movie. guardians of the galaxy is reminiscent of star wars and old western movies combined. winter soldier is darker than the first avenger, and it's almost like a spy movie. there are more twists and turns, and more to understand in new settings with new casts. it's different. and that's great.

phase 3 is really similar, and there's a lot of variety with these movies. spiderman can be seen as a coming-of-age movie, captain marvel doesn't even take place in the same timeframe (besides fury), and there's just. so much more branching out, so much more for everyone. as a lover of heist and comedy movies, i love ant-man, but a lover of more mystic and magical movies can find a favorite in dr. strange. thor: ragnarok and guardians of the galaxy are more sci-fi than the others, and black panther is. well. black panther is just an amazing movie in itself. it's definitely different, but not genre-wise, which is really the point i'm trying to make with these examples. at this point, it would feel daunting trying to get into marvel, but it's also allowed the marvel fanbase to grow because there are movies that cater to everyone's tastes and preferences.

and i'm not huge into DC, so i don't watch a ton of those movies, but this is something that i think makes DC less popular and their movies generally....worse (for lack of better wording). they had the basic superhero structure at the beginning... and then they completely stuck with it. wonder woman is such an amazing movie because it's framed in the way a war movie is (look at wonder woman and 1917, the colors and tone of both movies are really similar, and they're both really good movies). but it's the only movie i can recall that actually does this - the structure of all the others i've watched are just so similar. it's not that they're bad, they're just repetitious and i can't really imagine binging DC movies in the same way i can binge marvel.

this brings me to my final, and original, point: i love the new marvel shows. yes, i know marvel has done shows in the past like agents of shield and agent carter (which i also love, but for different reasons) and that whole franchise with iron fist and jessica jones and daredevil and luke cage - i am aware these exist. but i digress.

the new marvel shows in phase 4 (the ones that are actually canon to the MCU) are so great because, well, i said it already. they're all so different. i'm going to break them down one by one:

as of right now wandavision is absolutely my favorite. i love the way they characterize wanda and go into flashbacks and do the big reveals - but besides being well-made, it's different. just like the phase 2 and 3 movies, it offers variety. wanda is such a serious character in the movies - and for good reason with her backstory and trauma - but the show delves into her more light-hearted side. the first episodes are just so domestic as compared to what we previously knew of wanda, and there's just so much more happening than you would find in a 2 hour movie (which is probably why it's a series). it's more emotional than the movies, and really dives into the topic of grief and the cost of victory, which is as much as I'll say right now to avoid spoilers.

falcon and the winter soldier is also wonderful and great and wonderful. it does the same, and kind of the opposite, of wandavision, which i will explain. we know sam as a light-hearted character, which is a STARK contrast to the actual tone of the show. it's so dark and covers different themes than you would expect - but it's perfect. it shows us more of bucky and how he's recovering from his own trauma, and it covers the more big scheme affects of thanos (wanda's story was much more personal) and also other national issues (like the really big one that sam is a black guy taking up the mantle of the blond, white captain America, which isn't ignored, by the way). once, again, for the sake of avoiding spoilers, i'm going to stop there. the point is: lighter character, darker themes, bigger and previously unthought-of issues.

loki; it's good. great, even. and it's completely unexpected. i've already gone on and on and on about these series, but that's the important part: it's unexpected. you don't really expect loki to travel through time and space and become some weird time-rogue, but it happens. it's so different from what we come to expect with the thor movies, and, as far as i remember, doesn't even touch on norse mythology in the way the thor movies do. it's purely about loki as a character, not a god or villain, and it's so refreshing.

(since i haven't watched what if i'm skipping it for now, but) lastly, hawkeye. i haven't watched the first episodes yet, but i'm so, so, so excited to see a characterization of one of the main avengers that's completely different from what we already know. hawkeye is such a weird character in the MCU, because he's a main character, but he's never really...there. we know nothing about him from the movies alone except that he's some sort of dark, rugged assassin-type guy with a family. which, from what i actually know about him from the comics, doesn't really fit (let me just say i haven't read the comics, but i've read about them and seen pictures of panels, which is more than what i've seen of other marvel comics). the series is really shaping up to be so different from the hawkeye we see featured in the movies, and i'm really really really excited for it.

but anyway.

that's my marvel analysis? thanks for coming to my ted talk i guess.

[p---leia]

Ancient Writer of dreams and nightmares: I am 71 (-one month), and have been writing (making up tales) since I was three. I can still remember my Pawpaw whittling a pencil for me, and Mawmaw tearing a piece of brown grocery bag for me to write on. They weren't 'poor', but writing paper wasn't to be wasted on a 'kid' just for fun. I carefully scripted my first short story.

Of course my 'letters' looked more like ancient Hanguel, so I had to read it to my "captured" audience. I really don't remember the story, but as my grandparents had a yard full of chickens and my dog, Mutt, liked to chase them (because of this we 'both' got into trouble -- because I always joined the chase) I most probably wrote about that.

My Pawpaw was a story-teller. For several years I thought there really was a baby found in the wilds of the African jungle and raised by the great apes. I thought he was the luckiest babe, EVER!

Then I found Pawpaw's books about three years after he died. I was eleven when he died, and felt that my best friend had abandoned me. But when I found those books I realized just where Tarzan actually came from and went to. I read everyone of those books and got the complete picture. THEN..

Well, Pawpaw also told stories of Daniel Boone and Davey Crocket...before I saw them on Disney. Then, of course, I went to school and learned what I already knew. Pawpaw was an excellent story-teller and never mixed up his facts, time-lines, or characters.

Growing up under his influence had a lot to do with how I developed as a story-teller. At family gatherings when I meet cousins I haven't seen in decades, they STILL remember me and the stories that I used to tell them. My children and grandchildren have grown up with me re-telling Pawpaw's old stories, and sharing many that I made up on the spot.

But I think what I read in my early years developed my writing style.

I was just turned eight when I read my first Shakespeare, MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. He was my first favorite author. Then I was forced to read Romeo and Juliet. I was disgusted by the fact that TRAGEDY was made famous as a ROMANCE! Even at the innocent (then) age of fourteen, I was disgusted with the idea that it was considered romantic for 'anyone', let alone 'teenagers' to commit suicide over unrequited love.

My sister (now 68) and I recently discussed this play. Because she had a 'forbidden' teenage love, she said that she related to the story (even though she had never read it). GASP! It was required reading in ninth grade!

I remember our dad breaking up my sister and her boyfriend, who was really cool. He was a hard working farm boy who had saved his money to buy a motorcycle. AND his own car. But he wasn't good enough for my sister. smh

I always thought her story would make a great LifeTime movie. But I'm not touching it. She would 'skin me' for sharing with the world her broken heart. And if I added the stuff that sells today, she'd scalp me for lying. Not a win situation at all. So, I will write notes in my "Random Jottings Journal" for future decendants who might grow into writers or story-tellers.

By the way, the title "RANDOM JOTTINGS" came from a sci-fi book that I read as a kid in the fifties. I don't remember the author, although I'm pretty sure it 'might' be from a Heinlein juvenile book. But I've never found a reference to any sci-fi books using that term. SO!!! If anyone recognizes "RANDOM JOTTINGS", which was a note book that a professor/scientist/genius used to keep his 'thoughts', PLEASE share the author's name and the title of the book!!! Thank You.

In the meantime, I referenced Shakespeare. James Oliver Curwood wrote about Kazan, the Wolf Dog, and later Baree, Son of Kazan. From those two books, read when I was eleven, I searched for and found other books about Canada. Later there was Walter Farley, author of the Black Stallion, and the Island Stallion series. I think I met my FIRST friendly alien in the Island Stallion Races.

Of course, Edgar Rice Burroughs taught me much false history about the jungles of Africa, as well as the Moon and Mars. But I loved every 'read-under-the-covers-with a-flashlight' minute! I believe he was a contemporary of Zane Grey, because he wrote a few non-jungle and non-space stories, too. Which led me to Zane Grey.

Having read both of their biographies at a young age, I learned about the hardships of being a writer. I should say 'the hardships of a struggling writer'. I have never had a problem writing. Since I write for 'fun' and not 'profit', the few short stories I've had published were by local press, and a State magazine.

No, my struggles have centered around graduating high school, and completing college, stuggling to satisfy my husband, a 'Mr. Spock in the Flesh' personality, and later raising two children without benefit of parental support or child support. But we survived in the middle of laughter and many tears. And my made up stories about children lost in the woods who were rescued by a great friendly bear, or wolf. Or dog. And sometimes by a great Black Panther - a by product of one of my Pawpaw's 'local historical tales'.

I understand that publishers detest stories that begin with "It was a dark and stormy night.." But let me tell you, some of the BEST bedtime stories occur on stormy nights when the power has gone out, and it's too hot for candles or lanterns. That shadow that stands darkest in the corner and seems to be moving towards the bed is actually grandma come to check on the kids, and stands quiet so not to disturb the kids if they're already asleep. But since they are awake, and they see her 'shadow', she becomes the old crone who lives in the castle dungeon, and has slipped her chains to visit with the 'wee folk'. But there are no fairies out on such a blustery night, so the old crone comes to visit with the 'wee bairn', who fall all over themselves to get out of bed and sit around her to hear her stories of 'long ago' and other 'dark and stormy nights'. Again -- unpublished, because publishers don't like ... LOL

Of course there's always On-Line publishing. But that involves more work than actual writing.

Back to the writrs who influenced my writing:

While I enjoy a good Western, an adventurous space trek, or time travel, I also enjoy the occasional Historical Romance. Georgette Heyer was my first! I still re-read her amazing books. Of course there's Jane Austen.

There are a myriad of modern writers that I have read over the last five decades. Heinlen, Asimov, Norton, Bradley, McCaffrey, Moon, Stirling, Krentz/Castle/Quick, and Moening, just to name a few of the ones whose books I have in my personal library.

Those older authors did affect my writing style to develope as I read their stories. The later authors helped me to move into the late 20th century. But I'm not so sure that I like the 21st century so much. It's all about being politically 'correct'. If you aren't ashamed of your gender, your race, your country, your religion, your culture, your family, your history, then you are prejudiced. That's just too much guilt to have to live with.

I'm still dealing with my mom's death from ten years ago. I was her care-giver for five years. Her doctor had given her nine months. I still worry if I did enough for her in those last years.

And though my children are grown with their own families, I worry that I wasn't a good enough parent. And I worthy as a grandmother? How was I as an older sister? I was responsible as a moral guide when our parents were at work. Was I a good neighbor? A good support in our Church? And Hollywood wants me to feel guilt about something I can't change?!!

I'm an old woman who still likes being a woman and enjoys liking men. I'm not just white. I'm also mixed with a bit of Native American, and even a drop of -- OMG!!! --- Black. snicker.

That's a serious joke, because as a kid I had a recuring nightmare that I was a black man being judged by a group of people in white hoods I was hanged amidst their fiery torches. I always thought those white hoods represented the Catholic Church, because at that young age I didn't know about the Ku Klux Klan. Even though I grew up in the South, my family was not involved with that group of out-lawrey. Thank God!

Still, I'm supposed to feel shame? For something not even my family supported.

I've always believed there's a hint of Fae in my DNA. Because I love dancing in the light of the full moon, and flying with the owls who perch outside my bedroom window and call to invite me to follow the moon's shadow. If I am part Fae, I know it came from my mother's people. They were Irish mixed with Alabama Indians who believed in the Nunnehi aka Immortal, and the Yunwi Tsunsdi, aka Little People.

ALSO, while there's no DNA proof of ancestry, I've always been a 'closet Chinese'.

In the Fifties, when WW2 was still fresh, and we were involved with the 'Korean Conflict', and at odds with China, I would sneak around the radio, turn down the volume, and tune into 'that wierd channel' that sometimes played Opera, or Chinese music. Ahhh. I would close my eyes and wander through the few visuals I'd found in books, or the occasional movie. (before color tv)

A year or two ago I was totally depressed and disgusted with American TV. Hollywood has become so political, so wierd. Their programming is no longer for entertainment, but to 'educate, enlighten, or to inform'. zzzzz

Then I found KDrama!!!!! Korean TV. Japanese Tv. squeal!!! Chinese TV.

The rom/coms are sweet and 'pure'. Okay. I'm realistic. This is not a reflection of real life on any planet. But the innocence of the early 1950s programs is there. Similar to Disney's 'Summer Magic'. I'm happy with those dramas that remind me of thati nnocence. I have found a few dramas that shared more than I cared for, and I do enjoy an occasional 'romp'. But I've always preferred the Lady and Gentleman characters.

And watching these programs have reminded me of those fairy tales and legends from my childhood that had been sprinkled with the Occasional Oriental myth, legend, and children's tale.

Then I remembered my FIRST historical legend. "The White Stag" by Kate Seredy, is the tale of Atilla the Hun!

I recently found a copy of that book and am waiting for a quiet time, when the power is out and there's nothing to do. Then I will use one of the many flashlights I bought for a huge hurricane, and relax on the sofa beneath an open window and read this legend once again. I live in Florida. The odds of this happening increases as the summer progresses. I can't wait to learn if my memory of this tale of Atilla the Hun remained true, or has been distorted in the last half of a century.

Most of the tales that I write involve space adventures, the occasioanl ghost, and encounters with fairies, the evil ones, not the romantic ideal fairy. smh

I've never been very good with romance or comedy. But thanks to the recent influence of the Asian productions, I have re-formatted one of my dark adventures and turned it into a rom/com.

I love a good joke, but very seldom get the point or see the humor. And I can NEVER remember the punch line if I try to share a joke. My family have said they will write on my tombstone --

"I don't remember the punchline ... but it was funny."

But as I write humorous lines or events I find myself laughing. Or crying at sad events. And I am all 'giggly' when I write what is supposed to be innocent romance between a young and shy couple. But I have never felt that my own reactions were a true guide to how the story might come across to a 'reader'.

As it happens, I have two sisters younger than I am. My middle sister is bored easily and immediately redirects our conversation to something about 'her'. Okay. I understand. She is lonely, needy, and maybe a bit selfish? Not judging. She's the 'middle child' and that's her excuse. ROFL..

But the youngest sister is my greatest fan who declares that I am an awesome writer. "I love you, sister, dear."

So she visited me last week and patiently listened as I read the first chapter. She listened quietly, and I wondered if I had 'read her to sleep'. sigh. Boring books are often the best sleeping pill. Then I heard her laugh.

Squeals/Dancing/hooting/flying around the room in ecstasy!!

Okay! At least one person has laughed. And she's not that easily 'tickled'.

So, I will always carry on and write. But now I feel that at least I might be following a path strewn with "Black-Eyed-Susans, honeybees, butterflies, and bunnies".

I don't know if anyone will read this, or will enjoy it. I hope so. While sharing bits of my youth, my worries, and my concern about certain ones of my 'stories', I actually had ideas for developing 'new' stories.

I am always amazed when writers say they are 'blocked'. I have only to open my eyes to see a world around me that no one else can envision. I listen to a song, and I'm in a different world, time, planet. A gift from Pawpaw, and Mother's DNA.

It is my oldest granddaughter's birthday this month, and I don't know what to give her for her birthday. But when she was younger, she always asked me to tell her a story. I think that I will pull out one of my OLD/ANCIENT tales that I wrote when her dad was her age and make it into a book for her.

p---leia aka Mamma KayeLee

7/19/2020

[youranemicvampire]

My Top 15 favorite movies/series I’ve watched in 2018

I’m not a professional movie critic or something, I just love to share it with y’all and hope you get something from it.

If in the past years, I was hooked in Japanese movies and only watched certain genres, this year, I decided to explore and feed myself with these gems.

1. PK (2014)

A comedic-philosophical movie. The alien concept is such a genius and a creative way to do it. EYE-OPENER. Do 👏🏼 not 👏🏼 miss 👏🏼 this 👏🏼 out.

2. Pad man (2018)

A real-life story of a man who is dedicated to making a napkin. Reading the plot, It is quite ridiculous, but watched it for fun anyway and It turned out to be filled with Life lessons, Political and cultural discoveries. The world should learn from Indian directors!

3. How to get away with murder (Season 1-4)

Don't judge me for just watching it this year. People have recommended it before, but idk I thought It'll be just like another American crime thriller. But I regret it! It is awesome. I'm still watching it actually. The story's very complicated, I love the main cast and their messy lives (like real-life lawyers and law students) and it's something you would finish all night. My family's obsessed with this.

4. Loving Vincent (2017)

Don’t miss this film if you’re an artist! Animated manual paintings of artists in Van Gogh’s style? A perfect way to make a Biopic! It will not only impress you but somehow understand his life. Warning: This film might be depressing.

5. Mary Shelley (2017)

Watched it because I was really curious who’s the genius behind my favorite movie adaptation (Frankenstein). And admired her even mooooore. One of the earliest feminists! 

6. Frankenstein (2015)

It is actually a film viewing for our Philosophy class. Not a fan of sci-fi, but became a fan of Frankenstein because of it. This is the most unique Frankenstein film they’ve made. It was set in a modern era.

7. Witch’s court (2017)

Koreans really make good crime/law dramas! TBH, the main plot was actually a cliché and predictable (if you watch a lot of Kdramas about crime), but the cases were interesting and gave me insights on how victims feel and experience as they're about sexual-related cases. 

8. Queen of Katwe (2016)

The movie depicts how realities and dreams overlap. It’s frustrating and inspiring at the same time. 

9. Marshall (2017)

You should know Thurgood Marshall. He defended black people from crime accusations based on race. They should make a series on this! This movie is not enough to show how cool He is.

10. Belle (2013)

Inspired by a painting and life story of a biracial daughter of a British admiral. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is freaking pretty btw! Don’t sleep on her. I would love to see her be a princess in a movie someday.

11. Frida (2002)

SALMA HAYEK IS PERFECT. I don’t know what I like more, The movie or her acting. I was impressed the whole time like how can someone be so perfect for a biopic. Like ‘Loving Vincent’, They made me feel what she felt.

12. Hidden Figures (2016)

Life of 3 of the greatest brains in NASA. Very empowering! t is when there was still racial segregation in America.

13. Get out (2017)

I really don’t know what to feel about this movie. Weirdly-creepy. A unique way to make a thriller. Fresh!

14. The hows of us (2018)

NOT A KATHNIEL FAN (Just to clear things up lol). I had no plans to watch, but My brother and his girlfriend treated me to the cinema so why not. Didn’t expect it would be goooood. One of the best mainstream Pinoy movies I’ve watched. Very realistic 👌

15. Momikeshite Fuyu (2018)

Still watching Japanese series and movies! And this stood out. I hesitated at first and almost drop after 1st episode, but it turned out to be weirdly funny (Jap. Humor u know) and heart-warming. I got a lot of sympathy for the lead.

Honorable mentions:

Victor Frankenstein (2015)

Newsies (1992)

12 years a slave (2014)

Amadeus (1984)

Black Panther (2018)

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Idiocracy (2006)

Malcom X (1992)

Mandela Long Walk to Freedom (2013)

Moonwalkers (2015)

Ray (2004)

Game night (2018)

Hotel Transylvania 3 (2018)

Memoirs of a murderer (2017)

Tokyo DOGS (2009)

Border (2014)

Ima kara Anata wo Kyouhaku Shimasu (2017)

The greatest showman (2017)

Spotlight (2015)

More recommendations:

2020

2019

2017

[elisalromagnoli]

Thank you! @tea-understands for tagging me!!

rules: tag 5 people you want to get to know better

Relationship Status: well damn. Let's start in the deep end why don't we. In love.

Favorite Colour: purple 😊

Lipstick or Chapstick: I. Am. Addicted. To lipstick. Oops. 💋

Last Song I Listened To: Omnia Sol. I sang it for my last choir concert in highschool and I've been reminiscing to music that actually suite my vocal range (high soprano). Can't sing much outside of traditional choral music, it doesn't suit my voice very well and it's uncomfortable.

Last Movie I Watched: Free Solo. This one was probably the best of the feature length doc oscar noms for execution but RBG is still my fave for story.

Top Three Bands: oh gosh this is hard. Twenty One Pilots (haven't listened to them much in a while but still definitely up there), Oh Wonder (kind of a duo - doesn't that count?🧐), AJR.

If i'd been asked this three years ago 🙈😂

Book I’m Currently Reading: Becoming - Michelle Obama

Top Three Shows: NCIS, Downton Abbey, Westworld - I guess, idk, i have a list of favorite movies but not shows

Three Characters: Shuri (black panther), Miles Morales (spiderman into the spiderverse), Mary Jackson (hidden figures), Gibbs (NCIS) 😉🤫

Tagged:

@the-dark-academic @fan-art-ic @immawritethat @incandescent-creativity @writerofwriting

[emisirrelevant]

My MCU Phase 4 MOVIE Ranking 

Since MCU Phase 4 has come to a close, and I just watched Black Panther Wakanda Forever, I am going to give my ranking- did anyone need this? No. But I'm the one voluntarily choosing to state my opinions online.

DISCLAIMERS: not ranking the shows, just the movies- maybe I'll do a separate post for the shows?

I thought about it but I will be mentioning spoilers. I didn't know how else to rank them without using evidence from the films to back up my justifications.

The movies aren't in position of best-worst or anything like that, they are only just listed in the order they were released.

Okay, let's get into it.

Black Widow:

7/10, or maybe even 8/10 for me. Overall, I personally thought it was decent. I know there were a LOT of people who gave it negative reviews. I remember seeing so many bad things about it from people when it came out. But honestly, is it the worst thing Marvel has made? Imo, no. I won't get into the nitty gritty, or the Taskmaster stuff, but I liked getting to see Natasha again- even though we know this was before she died. And Florence Pugh as Yelena stole the show for me. Black Widow is (was?) also one of my favorite Avengers, so I personally have a soft spot in my heart.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings:

8/10 or maybe 8.5/10 for me. I am hesitant to push it toward a 9/10. Here's why and let me explain. I am aware that some people are THIRSTY for Tony Leung. I don't understand that, however it's your life, not mine. BUT I will say he did a damn good job being a complex character. I don't like him for giving Shang Chi trauma, but I think he did good being morally gray. Even though I got frustrated as F sometimes with his character. Shang Chi I actually liked. His dynamic with Katy? Great. I like Awkwafina tbh. Xu Xialing being the badass sister? Iconic. Although I hope she doesn't turn evil based off that post credit scene (another reason why I'm hesitant to give it a 9/10- I just want her to be good okay? Can't have TOO many morally complex people) The cinematography was great. Finally, as someone who is Asian (specifically Chinese0 but I was adopted) the Asian representation was decent. You know, it wasn't anything super mold breaking but for big names like Disney and Marvel, I give a nod.

Eternals:

3/10 or 4/10 at MOST. I honestly don't even remember most of this movie. I didn't even really have many expectations going into it, but.. yeah let's just say it was not my favorite. I didn't really like Sersi and Icarus together. I honestly felt like their characters were boring tbh. Druig and Makkari though? That's the REAL ship. And representation for the deaf! It's a start! Also, I will be crying eternally over Gilgamesh dying. The one thing about the plot that mainly interested me was Dane Whitman. I admit I am interested in seeing how the Black Knight storyline will be explored further. Other than that, Eternals was not really a memorable MCU film for me.

Spiderman No Way Home:

A solid 8/10. I think we can all agree this one was the MOST hyped up movie from Phase 4. Like ever. The hype was so real. I LIVED through it all. What a world to live in. Everyone was avoiding spoilers left and right. Anyway. I DID like the film overall since it continued the storyline of Peter's identity being discovered, and a bit of Dr. Strange's storyline. Obviously, the cameo from Tobey and Andrew was great to see. Although I admit I did not grow up watching Tobey and Andrew's versions of Spiderman, I felt the kind of "magic" experience of seeing the original folks back on screen permeate through me. HOWEVER. The only reason I cannot score this one any higher is because I didn't like the ending. I haven't really seen much and it has been a while, but do others hate the ending? What is the universal opinion? I may just look it up on a Reddit thread later. Anyway, I personally didn't like that ending. Why would you do the memory wipe trope??? I mean, was that actually the ONLY solution to Peter nearly tearing apart the space time continuum and fabric of the universe??? So Ned and MJ are just gonna have to continue on. I can't think about it too much or I may get emo actually. To end it on a good note, it was cool seeing the old villains from the universe as well.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness:

7/10. Yeah. I had to think for a second. But 7/10 feels right for this one. It wasn't really my favorite, but I didn't think it was the worst. And oh god, there seems to be a LOT of controversy around this one. By controversy, I also just mean basically mixed opinions. From what I've seen/heard, people either really hate this one or they're like, alright. It's mid. Also, for a movie that has Doctor Strange in the title, I sure did see the entire world talking mostly about Wanda. I don't know. It feels like this movie was just chaotic? Specifically in terms of the storyline, I mean. Like, I thought it was interesting that this was the movie they decided on to introduce America Chavez into the MCU. I think it could have been easier for people to follow maybe just one major character? So the focus isn't constantly shifting? Maybe that's just me. Also, is Stephen just destined to be alone now? Idk about the comics because I don't really read those, but like, I guess he's never ending up with Christine in any universe. Is the Darkhold like actually destroyed for real? What the fuck is the storyline now?? I've seen/heard rumors of the next movie actually being Dimension of Darkness (hence the post credit scene) but like what would the plot be? Again, I don't read the comics so idk if they touch on that, but yeah Doctor Strange's timeline/story and character arc is just one of the weirdest in the MCU for me I guess.

Thor Love and Thunder:

8/10. Yes, I WILL defend this movie. Despite it being another Phase 4 movie which got crapped on, I liked it. If Thor Love and Thunder has 100 fans, I am one of them. If Thor Love and Thunder has 10 fans, I am one of them. If Thor Love and Thunder has only 1 fan, I am that fan. You get the gist. I think people were just so shocked for once that it wasn't their usual type of superhero movie. First of all, what does that even mean. Just let people enjoy their silly little movies, damn. I will admit, was it the strongest plot? Meh. But I did enjoy the dialogue a lot. I liked seeing Thor, Jane, and Valkyrie again. If you can't even think of Korg without getting offended, then you can just leave. Also, Christian Bale did an amazing job at being a villain. I will give him that. I will say that was one of the highlights of this movie probably tbh. I was so shook. As someone who watched Newsies, I was just like "he was Jack Kelly and now he's this" LOL.

Okay. And I know- most of know by now that Jane died, and some people didn't like that- yeah, I was sad too- but I thought it made sense for her character. Like I said, I'll play the defender. Also, because I thought it was impactful about how it paralleled Gorr and Love's relationship. And it was a metaphor for her going to Valhalla. She died in her OWN battle. But yeah, the storyline now with Thor will be interesting. I wonder what his next adventure will be. And if there's people out there still pressed about this movie, I'll just say I don't think Taiki Waititi cares.

Black Panther Wakanda Forever:

8.5/10. I just recently watched this one and I am still processing it. So I may not have as many fully formed thoughts on this movie compared to the others, but if I were to give keywords, I would say impactful and emotional. I went on Instagram and Twitter and there seems to be a majority of people who liked it. However, the main negatives I saw were issues with Shuri or Riri. Which is a whole discussion within itself. Also the storyline and length. I understand people thinking it dragged on. I went with one of my friends to watch the movie and she told me afterwards it felt a bit long to her. I can get that. But I WOULD argue with you on the cinematography. I thought that visually the film was great. The underwater scenes were fine with me. The costuming as well. I thought it did fine honoring Chadwick Boseman. To those who say it wasn't enough for them though, I just have to ask, ok, what would you have done instead? Like, yeah I saw some people saying Riri shouldn't have been introduced in the movie, and Shuri should have just stayed a scientist. So what would YOU make the storyline? And that's all I have to say on that. Aside from that, the soundtrack was great though. Overall, I think this film was one of the best for me of Phase 4. And it was a beautiful way to end it.