#French adventure short film

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

[babsworlds]

WE LISTEN AND WE DON’T JUDGE.

pairing. Pedro Pascal x younger! fem! reader

synopsis. you and Pedro do the we listen and we don’t judge trend.

warnings. mention of age gap (late 20s/late 40s), short fic.

babs’ notes. guys ik this trend isn’t trend anymore but i just had to write it

EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN’T WANT TO ADMIT IT, you were a chronically online person. You weren’t particularly proud of it, but the constant stream of trends on TikTok was enough to keep you entertained for hours.

You loved to post mini vlogs and grwms videos on TikTok. It was fun to do, and the bonus money it brought in was a welcome perk. The creative process of filming, editing, and sharing snippets of your life with the world brought you a sense of joy and fulfillment.

On the other hand, Pedro was content with simply posting stories on Instagram. Being an older man, his Instagram was a bit chaotic, yet endearingly so. He mostly posted pictures with you, capturing beautiful moments and showcasing your love and adventures together.

So when you saw the TikTok trend We Listen and We Don’t Judge, where partners share little, harmless secrets, you just knew you had to do it with Pedro.

To your surprise, it didn’t take much to convince him; he was always up for these kinds of fun. What took longer was explaining the trend to him, but somehow, you managed to get through it.

You pressed record, and both of you said in unison, “We Listen and we don’t judge.” You couldn't help but notice Pedro's adorable expression on the phone screen; he looked so happy to be there.

“Okay, I’ll start,” you said, turning to look at your boyfriend. You took a moment to think of what to say first. “I can hear you when you’re singing in the shower, and it sounds terrible,” you said, trying hard to hold back your laughter.

Pedro narrowed his eyes at you, a mix of mock indignation and amusement crossing his face. Deep down, he knew there was a bit of truth in your words. “We listen and we don’t judge,” you both repeated in sync, and now it was his turn.

Pedro took a deep breath and grinned. “When we first met, I thought you are a bit of brat,” he admitted.

Your mouth dropped open in shock. You hadn’t expected him to be that blunt. But, as the trend dictated, you couldn’t judge. You managed to keep your expression neutral, despite your surprise.

Pedro chuckled, noticing your reaction. “I know, it sounds horrible, but that’s what I thought at first,” he said, his tone softer.

You ignored him with an eye roll, “We listen and we don’t judge.”

“Sometimes you get me so upset when you forget something,” you confessed, scanning his expression on the phone screen. “But I always remind myself you’re just an old man,” you chuckled, looking at him.

Pedro took this secret well and just shrugged. “That was obvious, I am an old man,” he said with a smile.

“We listen and we don’t judge,”

Pedro's eyes gleamed with mischief as he leaned in closer to the camera. “Your Spanish is bad... like really bad,” he said with a smile, clearly enjoying the playful banter. It really sounded like he came just for the hate, but you smiled, ready to dish it back.

“Well, your French isn’t good either,” you retorted, raising an eyebrow.

“We listen and we don’t judge,”

“I hate when you fart and blame it on me,” you said, the words barely escaping your mouth before you both burst into laughter. Pedro's eyes widened in shock, his laughter bubbling up uncontrollably.

“Jesus Christ Y/n, you can’t say shit like that to people,” Pedro exclaimed with laugh, trying to calm himself down. He had expected many things, but not this.

Your laughter was infectious, and Pedro couldn't help but join in, his body shaking with mirth. “Well, it's true!” you said, still giggling. “You do it all the time.”

Pedro wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, still chuckling. “Alright, alright. But we listen and we don’t judge, remember?”

You both repeated, “We listen and we don’t judge,” in unison, still grinning from ear to ear.

"When I was filming Gladiator, some lady asked me if you're my daughter," Pedro chuckled, referring to your age difference. The memory seemed to amuse him greatly, and the twinkle in his eyes made it clear he found the situation hilarious.

You gave him a knowing stare. "We listen and we don't judge," you said, the words almost automatic now.

"I love when you wear glasses, it turns me on so bad," you said with a smirk, your voice dropping a notch. It was a bold confession, one that you knew would get a rise out of him. You couldn't help but think about your PR manager, already dreading the phone call you'd probably get after posting this video.

Pedro's smirk matched yours, his eyes filled with a mix of confidence and affection. "Knew that," he said confidently, his gaze locking with yours. His playful tone, combined with the way he looked at you, sent a shiver down your spine.

Of course, you did have to cut out some parts because Pedro could be a dirty bastard and truly had no filter. His unfiltered remarks were hilarious but perhaps a bit too much for the fans and especially your PR managers.

[gilbertscurls]

the disaster date — matt sturniolo

Matt had been nervous before, sure. He’d gone through plenty of nerve-wracking moments in his life—filming in front of millions of people, meeting celebrities, even dealing with his brothers’ chaotic antics on a daily basis.

But this?

This was different.

This was a first date. With you.

And he was freaking out.

He had no idea why he thought he could handle this. He wasn’t a first-date kind of guy. He wasn’t smooth or effortlessly charming like Nick, and he definitely wasn’t naturally charismatic like Chris. No, Matt was the guy who overthought everything, who second-guessed his outfit five times before even leaving the house, who had googled “how to not be awkward on a date��� just last night.

And now, standing at your door, his heart nearly burst out of his chest when you finally stepped out.

His brain short-circuited immediately.

You looked—

He cleared his throat, trying to find his voice. "I... wow," he managed to say. "You look... you look incredible."

And he meant it.

Because holy crap, you did.

You smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. "Thanks, Matt."

But Matt wasn’t even listening anymore because—

Don’t stare at her body, don’t stare at her body... crap, I’m staring at her body.

His face burned as he snapped his gaze up, praying you didn’t notice. He needed to get it together. Immediately.

"Uh, shall we?" he said, extending his arm awkwardly like some kind of 18th-century gentleman.

You giggled but took it anyway. "We shall."

Step one of the date: Pick her up. ✅ (Barely.)

The Restaurant Mishap

Matt should’ve known things were going too smoothly.

You had gotten to the restaurant without any problems. No wrong turns, no getting lost—he was killing it.

And then the waiter handed him the menu.

The very fancy menu.

In French.

Matt squinted at it, panic creeping into his brain. He didn’t speak French. He barely passed Spanish in high school, and that was mostly because Nick helped him cheat on vocabulary quizzes.

“Do you know what you’re getting?” you asked, casually scanning your own menu.

No. No, he absolutely did not.

He tried to play it cool, nodding like he totally understood what Boeuf Bourguignon was. "Yeah, totally. I mean... what even is food, right? It's all just... cooked stuff."

You blinked. "Are you okay?"

"Yup! Fine. So fine. The finest."

Matt, shut up.

He made the executive decision to point at something random when the waiter came back. Whatever he ordered, it couldn’t be that bad.

Right?

Wrong.

Because twenty minutes later, the waiter placed a plate in front of him, and Matt found himself staring at—

Escargot.

Which, for the record, was snails.

He felt his soul leave his body.

"Are you gonna try it?" you asked, clearly holding back laughter.

Matt straightened up, determined not to lose his dignity. "Of course. I’m an adventurous guy." He picked up his fork, stabbed one of the snails, and—

Oh god.

It was slimy.

So, so slimy.

Still, he forced himself to bring it to his mouth. Do it for her. Be the cool, cultured guy.

He took a bite.

And immediately regretted every decision that had led him to this moment.

It tasted like rubber and sadness.

"So?" you prompted, grinning.

Matt swallowed (barely). "Mmm. So good. Love me some... snail."

You laughed, and even though he was in culinary hell, the sound made it almost worth it.

Almost.

Step two of the date: Don’t embarrass yourself. ❌ (Mission failed.)

The Goodbye (AKA Matt’s Last Chance to Redeem Himself)

Despite the absolute disaster that was dinner, you still seemed to be having a good time.

You talked the whole way back, laughing at his terrible jokes, your hand casually resting on his arm like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And Matt?

Matt was gone.

Completely, utterly, hopelessly gone for you.

Which was why, when he walked you up to your door, he knew this was his chance to not screw things up.

"Tonight was fun," you said softly.

Matt nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Yeah. Even though I may or may not have eaten a snail against my will."

You giggled. "Hey, that was your fault for not reading the menu."

"Technically, it was my fault for pretending to understand French," he admitted.

You smiled, tilting your head. "I like that about you, though."

Matt blinked. "That I’m an idiot?"

"No," you said, rolling your eyes. "That you don’t take yourself too seriously. You’re easy to be around."

His heart did a full gymnastics routine.

This was it.

The moment.

The kiss moment.

But before he could do anything smooth, something very not smooth happened—

You leaned in slightly, and in his panic, Matt stepped back.

Too far back.

Right into the potted plant behind him.

He tripped, flailing wildly, and barely caught himself before completely wiping out on your porch.

Silence.

Then—

"Oh my god, are you okay?" you asked, trying (and failing) not to laugh.

Matt groaned, covering his face. "No. I’m never recovering from this."

You shook your head, still giggling. "Come here, dummy."

And then—

You kissed him.

Soft. Gentle. Just a little teasing, but still enough to make his brain fully shut down.

When you pulled away, Matt just stood there, eyes wide, completely frozen.

You smirked. "I’ll text you?"

He nodded way too quickly. "Y-yeah. Totally. That’d be... cool. Super cool."

You gave him one last smile before disappearing inside.

Matt stared at your door for a full five seconds.

Then he fist-pumped the air like a middle schooler.

Step three of the date: Get a second one. ✅ (Mission accomplished.)

tag list: @stuwniolo, @sturnobsessedwh0re, @matts-myloverboy, @imjusthereforthesturniolosmut, @lizzymacdonald06, @asherrisrandom, @sturniolowhore69, @faith5drpepper, @emely9274, @psychologyloverfr, @lovetaylorrussellgrr, @conspiracy-ash, @helpimateenagerinlove, @ghostlythinggoingaround, @sturmatt, @chris-hallelujah, @goingtojohnkramershouseee, @wurlibydominicfike, @straw8berry, @shadowthesim, @courta13, @frankdelreyy

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Metafiction

Metafiction - a self-conscious literary style in which the narrator or characters are aware that they are part of a work of fiction.

Often most closely associated with postmodern prose, it involves a departure from standard narrative conventions, in which a self-aware narrator infuses their perspective into the text to create a fictional work that comments on fiction.

This kind of fictional writing can appear in novels, short stories, plays, video games, film, and television.

Characteristics of Metafiction

Breaking the fourth wall: Breaking this boundary between writer and reader blurs the lines between real life and fiction. Metafiction often directly addresses the reader, openly questioning the narrator’s own story.

Self-reflexive: Authors use self-reflexivity, or self-consciousness, to reflect on their own artistic processes, drawing the audience’s attention away from the story and allowing them to question the content of the text itself.

Experimental: Metafiction is often experimental in nature, fusing a number of different techniques together to create an unconventional narrative. Metafiction can also experiment with the role of the narrator and their relationship to the fictional characters in the story.

The main purpose of metafiction is to highlight the dichotomy between the real world and the fictional world of a novel.

Metafiction can be used to parody literary genre conventions, subvert expectations, reveal truths, or offer a view of the human condition.

Often used in postmodernist fiction to comment on the world that our character inhabits, metafiction helps give a work of text more significance by providing an outward, exploratory look of a self-contained world.

Examples of Metafiction in Literature

The Canterbury Tales (1387): Geoffrey Chaucer’s classic anthology of interconnected stories that parody the conventional elements of fiction. Chaucer blends linguistic styles and rhetorical devices to craft a collection of stories within the overall story, regularly breaking the fourth wall to address the audience directly and apologize for any offense the narrative may cause.

Don Quixote (1605): Miguel de Cervantes Don Quixote is essentially a book about books. In the prologue, Cervantes breaks the fourth wall by commenting on his process of writing the book, in which he urges the reader to make up their own mind about the written text. The ensuing novel discusses the adventures of the protagonist, Don Quixote, who has gone mad from reading too many chivalric romance stories.

Giles Goat-Boy (1966): John Barth’s fourth novel is a prime example of the metafiction characteristic of postmodernism, featuring several fictional disclaimers in the beginning and end, arguing that the book was not written by the author and was instead given to the author on a tape or written by a computer.

The French Lieutenant's Woman (1969): Written by John Fowles, The French Lieutenant’s Woman is a historiographic metafiction novel about a love story between a gentleman and a governess in the Victorian era. The book features a narrator who becomes part of the story and offers several different ways to end the story.

Slaughterhouse Five (1969): In Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut includes his own voice as a character in this non-linear narrative. The main character has been “unstuck in time,” oscillating between the present and the past with no control over his movement, emphasizing the senseless nature of war.

Gravity’s Rainbow (1973): This story by Thomas Pynchon is the poster child of postmodern literature, using a complex, fragmented structure to cover various subjects such as culture, science, social science, profanity, and literary propriety. In this particular narrative, Pynchon questions history and how it gets created, and also how it affects both society and the individual.

Source ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[dailylooneys]

Happy 80th Birthday to Pepe Le Pew

The world famous French skunk Pepe Le Pew now hits the big eight zero!

Created by director Chuck Jones and writer Mike Maltese, Pepe was inspired and based on famous womanizers of the 1930s and '40s, such as Clark Gable and Charles Boyer (with Pepe's name directly taken from Boyer's Pepe Le Monko (1937)), Pepe became an exaggeration of this characteristic.

Like many LT characters, Pepe started in as a prototype character named "Stinky" in Odor-able Kitty (1945), faking his French accent and revealed by the end that he is married and has kids.

Afterwards a couple more experimental shorts, such as Scent-imental Over (1947) and Odor of the Day (1948) (the only Pepe short directed by Arthur Davis), he would develop into the character that we know today. His most iconic for being oblivious to the fact that his odor is turns the "skunks" off. His relentless optimism, overtly romantic advances and overconfidence is part of what makes his character humorous and charming.

An interesting story to note is that while Jones adored the character and would continue his series well-after Mike Maltese left in 1953 during Warner Bros. Cartoons studio's brief shut down during the rise of the then-new and revolutionary 3-D in film, Maltese stated that wasn't too crazy about Pepe, according to Mark Evanier (animation historian and head writer of Garfield & Friends).

With the change in attitudes as times went on, along with Speedy Gonzales, Pepe has slowly garnered controversy in later years for being perceived as "problematic" and perpetuating assault. Interestingly, even as early as the 1990s, in Tiny Toon Adventures, this became one of the main reasons why Pepe's female counterpart, Fifi La Fume, is indeed a female, and why Pepe doesn't chase after Penelope that much in later Looney Tune productions or why Pepe is rarely seen in much merchandise. Though, despite this, Pepe still has his legion of fans to support him to this day, which resulted in his comeback after WB's brief decision to discontinue the character.

[ricciardosheart]

Starry Serenade on the Riviera - cl16

pairings: Charles Leclerc X female (gf! reader)

Charles, with a sparkle in his eyes, entered their home holding a bouquet of (Y/N)'s favorite flowers. The room seemed to brighten as he approached her, a playful grin dancing on his lips. "Hey there, beautiful," he whispered, presenting the flowers.

The Mediterranean sunbathed Monaco in a warm embrace as (Y/N) nestled into the comforts of their shared home. The gentle hum of the waves drifted through the open windows, providing a harmonious soundtrack to her peaceful afternoon. Little did she know, Charles Leclerc, the Formula 1 sensation and her adoring boyfriend, was orchestrating a surprise that would transform this ordinary day into an enchanting tale.

A gasp of delight escaped (Y/N)'s lips as she accepted the bouquet. "Charles! What's all this?"

"I thought we could use a little break," he revealed, his voice laced with excitement. "How about a special date on a yacht?"

Her eyes widened with anticipation. "A yacht? Seriously?"

Charles nodded, the mischievous glint in his eyes intensifying. "I thought we could spend the day cruising along the French Riviera, just you and me."

A radiant smile adorned (Y/N)'s face. "That sounds amazing!"

The next scene unfolded on the deck of a sleek yacht, elegantly cutting through the azure waters of the Mediterranean. The sun played hide-and-seek with the clouds, casting a golden glow that danced on the waves. The couple stepped aboard, greeted warmly by the captain, who saluted Charles with a knowing smile.

The yacht set sail, leaving the coastline of Monaco behind. Charles and (Y/N) found themselves alone, surrounded by the vast expanse of the sea. The air was imbued with a sense of adventure and romance as the yacht gracefully sailed along the French Riviera.

On the deck, a table awaited them, adorned with fine linens, silverware, and crystal glasses. A private chef, part of Charles's meticulous plan, stood ready to craft a culinary masterpiece. The couple indulged in a feast of fresh seafood, delicate flavors dancing on their palates, while the sea breeze carried the scent of the ocean.

As the day unfolded, the sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold. Charles and (Y/N) settled into plush lounge chairs on the yacht's deck, wrapped in blankets against the cooling breeze. The sky transformed into a breathtaking canvas of colors, a testament to nature's artistry.

Charles, ever the thoughtful planner, produced a tablet for a private movie screening. The yacht became their own floating cinema, surrounded by the tranquil sounds of the sea. Laughter and the soft murmur of waves intertwined as they enjoyed their favorite film, the screen competing with the mesmerizing spectacle of the sunset.

The atmosphere was nothing short of magical as the yacht sailed through the twilight waters. The couple, lost in the beauty of the moment, reveled in the serenity of the French Riviera at dusk.

With the movie credits rolling, Charles suggested a change of scenery. "How about lying down to enjoy the stars?" he proposed, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. They found a cozy spot on the yacht's deck, blankets pulled tight around them, and looked up at the night sky.

The stars above sparkled like diamonds, casting a celestial glow over the couple. Charles pointed out constellations, weaving stories in the night sky. (Y/N)'s heart swelled with gratitude for the extraordinary day and the extraordinary man beside her.

"I've never experienced anything like this," she confessed, her eyes reflecting the luminous beauty around them.

Charles, his gaze fixed on the twinkling stars, replied, "There's nothing more special than sharing moments like these with you."

Under the cosmic embrace of the French Riviera's night, Charles and (Y/N) lay hand in hand, creating memories that transcended time. The yacht sailed on, leaving a trail of stardust on the Mediterranean, etching their love story into the fabric of the universe.

[alicerovai]

I don’t know how many of you here are familiar with Disney ducks - maybe some of you know I’ve been drawing them as human beings for a while - but I *have* to share this absolute GEM with you all ‘cause this is a trailer for a fucking MOVIE based on my own character designs CAN YOU BELIEVE IT BECAUSE I STILL CANT. My french friends are doing an AMAZING job and we’re SO near to see it ready to be lunched!!! They’re now launching a crowdfunding to find the money to FINISH it and OMG please just watch this trailer IM IN LOVE WITH IT!!! 😭😭💕💕

Link to the crowdfunding here if you want to support it: https://www.kisskissbankbank.com/en/projects/retour-a-la-case-memoire-le-live-action-sur-picsou-donald-cie 👇👇👇

[voltaspistol]

Hey everyone, it's your friendly neighborhood gold star mental patient here with secondhand therapist advice.

For those of us with a lot of anxiety who tend to get "stuck" trying to take in ALL of the information because your brain is desperately looking for the "AHA!" moment that will make the brain gremlins go away?

That information ain't out there as of the evening of November 6th.

At least not yet.

And if your brain is operating in crisis mode, you will be tempted to say and do things that might hamper rather than help.

Now might be a good time to look through your game and movie backlog to find a title that will help you "come up for air", so to speak. Something that will allow your brain to stop making cortisol & adrenaline, because right now? Your ego is basically doing that I Love Lucy bit where she works in a chocolate factory. That shit is not good for your brain, not good for your body, not good for whatever we have left that passes for a soul.

It doesn't free you from the obligation of getting involved in your community.

It just gives your brain some time to process some things in the back of your mind while your conscious mind takes a break. Here's some suggestions to start: ✅ Lord of the Rings (Not the recent show, the ones from the early 2000s) - The obvious choice which I think a lot of people will be gravitating towards on their own. ✅ Tank Girl (Movie, 1995)- If you need your story of overthrowing tyranny to be filled with swear words, sexual innuendo, and high levels of camp along with a decent 90s soundtrack, this might get you pumped enough to organize. ✅ Amelie (Movie, 2001) - A comfort watch if you feel alone and isolated. If you are too scared or too shy to run headlong into a formal political action group, this french film documents how small, creative acts of kindness and justice can make the world just a little bit better. It will renew your faith in humanity a bit. ✅ Disco Elysium (video game 2019) - A sprawling choose-your-own adventure set in a post-war capitalist dystopia alternate reality. Soothing for those of us who have made apology tours after losing our shit, illuminating for those of us who struggle with intrusive thoughts, and compelling for everyone who likes those stories where reality and unreality are a bit wobbly and elements of the fantastical seep through in unexpected ways. It doesn't have much to do with current events, but maybe that's what you need right now. ✅ Hades (game, 2020) - A game all about being stuck in hell, and fighting to get out, and although you get help from allies along the way, you're the one who has to do the dirty work. If you need some lessons on resilience and a compelling story besides with lots of interesting characters (including non-cis romance options!) and you want to get revenge on an oppressive father figure, try it on for size. ✅ Superliminal (2020) - If you need a high-end creative physics-based puzzle game that is light on story and operates on dream logic that relies heavily on linear perception just to distract you? This one is short but will have you distracted long enough to let your brain breathe a bit. ✅ The Room (2014) - For low-end systems and mobile devices, this is basically an elaborate digital puzzlebox, like one of those fancy desks with lots of hidden drawers. Atmospheric but not scary.

Also, don't discount the obvious ones: Cat videos, re-watching beloved old shows, guilty pleasure music etc.

You are not helping anyone, not even yourself, by doomscrolling until something goes --SNAP!-- in your brain.

Come up for air, give your brain metabolize the nasties, and THEN you will be able to strategize. Though for obvious reasons, now is not a good time to go back to old addictions like World of Warcraft. The idea is to take a break, NOT to drown in old waters. This list is not comprehensive, obviously, please add your own in reblogs

[kustas]

Do you have reccs for "ugly" art (manga, comics, movie, etc.)? Thanks for the Tekkon recs btw I really liked it

That really depends on your own personal media landscape and what your definition of "ugly" is! As a random example, I've seen many people call ONE's art ugly because of the wobbly linework when I think it's lovely. Ugly could also mean something a bit shocking/crass in its themes. Etc, etc... I'm going to go with the definition of "something that's a bit jarring to look at or go through" here :)

Disclaimer: a lot of these tackle sensitive topics, sometimes for fun and not always tastefully. If there's themes you really can't handle in media, do your research before looking into them.

Manga

I keep recommending yes because it rules but Dorohedoro and its scratchy messy art and gore galore. talking about the manga exclusively here the anime is too polished for my taste

God's Child (Kami no Kodomo): tbh this one is for the art only I hated the writing. very gruesome & unique looking short story

I hesitate to recommend this one because it's edgy as hell but I shan't lie I had a lot of fun with Hellsing. it's "bad" in the same areas as something like berserk but unlike that one it does not take itself seriously

if you liked Tekkon i strongly suggest trying out more stuff by its author (saying this with immense biais). the most ugly/messy thing i've read of his, which isn't a lot because i find his work very delicate, is No. 5 which i would less describe as "good" than "very compelling to me". i also recommend this wonderful essay tearing it down

Comics (non JP)

FLEEP: a short story about a man who wakes up in a phone cabin seemingly encased in concrete. one of the comics i always recommend for its length and storytelling. (link leads to the artist's website where you can read it for free!)

The Astonishing Exploits Of Lucien Brindavoine: a young artist gets drafted in the first world war and goes through a series of almost supernatural adventures. beyond the adventure book aspect, a harsh criticism of nationalism/patriotism that's still awfully relevant

Animation

Ruben Brandt: Collector: a psychiatrist suffers from strange art related nightmares ruining his life. his clients, a bunch of high profile criminals, decide to help him fight off his demons by organizing one long vacation where they steal every painting involved. extremely unique visually, a fun heist movie with thriller elements.

Junk Head: goofy post apocalyptic movie about a man on a quest to save, who keeps losing sight his goal because cartoony violence episodes have his head tumble into new lows, literally. this is, perhaps, one of my favorite animated films ever, it's earnest and fun and lovingly crafted. very unique of a watch

The Apostle: freshly escaped from prison, a thief is on a mission to find treasure hidden by his old cellmate, and finds himself stuck in an ancient village who's strange looking elderly inhabitants are way too insistent on his stay. classic spooky folktale with its millennial curses and foreboding warnings, it's also a nice peek into the culture of Galicia and old world medieval weirdass catholicism. you can buy a DVD on their website

MKFZ: dumb as hell high adrenaline animated B movie with excellent animation. there's a plot about alien living undercover in fantasy california but you don't watch this kind of film for the plot. fair warning this is adapted from a french comic so of course, it's crass and racist

Blow to the Head - Lightning bolt: awesome music video (YT link)(warning for flashing/strobing lights if you're sensitive to that!)

Canon Fodder: from the Memories omnibus film. little slice of the life of a fantasy war obsessed industrial nation

with its new movie on the horizon, it's a great time to get into Mononoke, despite traditionally pretty visuals its got a unique style and gets pretty offputting

Live action cinema

7:35 in the morning: short film about the fear in improvised musical numbers where you don't expect any. it's on youtube in bad quality

The Draughtsman's Contract: an artist is hired by a Lady to draw several vistas of her house, in exchange for money, good drawing condition, and the Lady. follows a good hour of cunts in powdery wigs being awful to each other for their own gain. if you're into dark humor it's a good test, otherwise it has a really satisfying murder mystery to follow too.

Three Kings: during the gulf war, a group of US soldiers decide to steal Hussein's gold for themselves under the mighty standard of kuwait's loot repatriation. extremely caustic take on good ol murican international politics. i was shocked at how far it goes and it's express, low budget treatment which i did not expect from a hollywood film. the movie tires itself fast and becomes less good in its second half but the it's opening acts are interesting

Delicatessen: a sliver of humanity survives in an old timey stone building in the middle of nothingness on top of a functional butcher's shop. gossip follows the arrival of a new roommate. how does one even maintain a butchery in a no man's land? weird film with a unique(ly goofy) take on the post apocalyptic genre

Other

For traditional artists, I like the works of Beksinski (<3), Schiele, Giger. For modern artists Oleg Vdovenko (heavy gore warning for that one), Jeff Simpson

I'm less a fan of the MV and live performances they got infamous for than their music proper but I really like the band Cardiacs, who's judged by many of my friends to be extremely hard to get into lol.

[christian-oc-tournament]

Please vote based on the picture AND the description!

Andre Caron [Swashbucklers of the Magic Kingdom @apieters] - Disney OC

Andre Caron is a swashbuckling young man from the French District of the Magic Kingdom (The Magic Kingdom is basically the world of "The House of Mouse"--all the Disney movies are just that--movies--and the characters have lives outside their movies, although those movies tend to be "fantastic retellings of real-life events" and there is something magical about those Storybooks from the older films...). He is the best friend of the swashbuckling tyrannosaur Chris Carnovo, and together the two of them are the fight choreographers of most of the Disney movies we all know and love ("Peter Pan" was their big break). As a kid, Andre always wanted to be a Knight of the Magic Kingdom, one of the highest honors for valor that could only be won by risking one's life in service of the Royalty of the Magic Kingdom or in the service of a sufficiently large number of people. As an adult, Andre is prone to brooding and melancholy, haunted by his memories of the great civil war known as the Reign of Terror and its leader, Tristan L'Hermite the Black Knight. He is often emotionally cold or short-tempered, prone to biting sarcasm and even fits of rage, yet when the chips are down he will always follow his best friend, Chris Carnovo, off on his galivanting adventures. The two of them complement each others' weaknesses with their strengths. If Chris is impetuous and rash in his zeal to go on an adventure and help his friends, Andre is more strategic and usually has a contingency plan to get his friend and himself out of trouble. Chris, in turn, is Andre's emotional rock, tempering the young man's irritability and sometimes even calling forth the battered remains of Andre's instincts to be a Knight. Andre is ultimately driven by a deep sense of chivalric loyalty to certain people. Chris is one. His childhood friend, Princess Cinderella, is another. The cathedral of Notre Dame and those who dwell within (the Archdeacon and Quasimodo) hold a special place in his heart as a devout Catholic. But perhaps his greatest sense of loyalty is reserved for Queen Sarabi and her family. At the very end of the Reign of Terror, Sarabi--then pregnant with Simba--was about to be killed by Tristan L'Hermite on the steps of the altar of Notre Dame cathedral, when Andre saved her life. The two of them were the only witnesses to the death of Tristan L'Hermite and the end of the Reign of Terror, and on that night Andre swore an oath of loyalty to Queen Sarabi, to her unborn cub Simba, and his lineage. That oath will drive much of his actions in the events of the present day...

Anwedd [Songs of the Fallen @ethanjhake]

A lonely ghost trapped between life and death, she’s been haunting Ryphl, the only person able to see her, since he was discharged from the Children's War.

[termiteterraceclub]

Happy 80th birthday to the most famous romantic French skunk in all of cartoons, Pepé Le Pew. As part of the major marquee #LooneyTunes characters, Pepé is considered unique. Constantly chasing for love, Pepé is defined by his affectionate yet oblivious personality.

Chuck Jones originally created Pepé back in 1944. He based him off of European actor Charles Boyer from his performance in “Algiers” (1938) (that's part of his joke), his own colleague Tedd Pierce, and loosely off of himself except Pepé has the romantic confidence Chuck lacked as a young boy.

He evolved from his early appearances... “Odor-able Kitty" (named Henry and his accent is fake), “Scent-imental Over You” (named Stinky), “Odor of the Day” (Arthur Davis' only use in a slapstick role), into a fully fledged Oscar winning cartoon set to the sights and sounds of Paris and Europe.

“For Scent-imental Reasons”, Pepé Le Pew’s Oscar winning cartoon, fully establishes the formula of his classic shorts. With the help of Michael Maltese, Pepé mistakes a female tuxedo cat, canonically named Penelope, for a skunk due because of a white stripe. to make Pepé Le Pew come to life.

Mel Blanc's mimicked Charles Boyer’s love-making voice. And there are also some bits of Maurice Chevalier. Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese crafted his exaggerated routine and charm as satire on Hollywood romance movies and the romantic Frenchman for comedic effect. It's his odor that is the problem.

His pursuits often fail but he shows persistence. Pepé’s amusing dialogue spoofing of Boyer, the phony French-English sight gags, and Pepé’s hopping on all fours. There are a few times the formula is flipped when Pepé's smell is neutralized and Penelope romantically pursues him back.

Abe Levitow’s short "Really Scent" subverts the formula. Penelope, Fabrette, is born with a skunk stripe, both of them fall in love except Pepé’s stench drives her away. He finds out what pew means and it breaks his heart. Both make the effort to change and the opposite happens.

Pepé has made 17 classic appearances (including a cameo in a Sylvester & Tweety cartoon) and “Louvre Come Back to Me!” was his last released in 1962.

Since the 1970s, Pepé Le Pew has usually been referenced in cameos, commercials and merchandise (including material that reimagines Pepé and Penelope's relationship to a mutual romance). It's also rare when he gets a starring role once in a while.

To fit with modern times, writers at Warner Bros. aimed to make his French charm more of a focal point with appearances in Baby Looney Tunes (who loves gardening), The Looney Tunes Show (as a wedding planner), Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run (perfume mogul), and New Looney Tunes (as a suave spy).

Tom Ruegger and the writing team of Tiny Toon Adventures created Fifi La Fume as a way to minor changes while being a variation of Pepé Le Pew. If it weren't for Pepé, we wouldn't have Fifi.

The character had been snubbed from recent projects out of caution including Space Jam: A New Legacy and Tiny Toons Looniversity due to changing sensibilities and trends. There was even a feature-length film putting Pepé Le Pew in a rom-com heist that was also scrapped.

This does not mean WB is retiring Pepé altogether. He is misunderstood as he is considered a time capsule of Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. There is hope that he'll be used again with the right people and new concepts in the future. As long as fans love him, Pepé lives on. Vive l’amour!

(After the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, they appear to be loosening things up. Pepé's recent appearances in Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem as Gendarme Pepé and in Joker: Folie á Deux for example show that WB hasn't washed their hands off from him. Give or take a few years until they settle on a new concept.)

In conclusion, happy 80th birthday to Pepé Le Pew. And to the voice actors that got to voice him, thank you for making Mel Blanc proud. And to those who watch reruns of his shorts, buy his merch, read his comics, and sharing your love of him through fanart... Merci. Pepé will be honored and evolve!

[frozen10fanzine]

Frozen Through the Years

Yearly Spotlight: 2022

Written by @secretsofthestorymakers

In 2022, some further expansion of the Frozen franchise came through other Disney properties.

Frozen characters were included in the story of Disney Mirrorverse, an alternate universe/crossover role playing game featuring many Disney and Pixar characters. In July, the Disney Wish cruise ship sailed for the first time, featuring Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure. This immersive character dining experience brings guests into the world of Frozen with a royal dinner to celebrate Anna and Kristoff’s engagement.

In books, 2022 brought new editions of both La Bibliothéque Rose series and the Histoires d’Arendelle books, two series of fairly short stories written in French. In July, Polar Nights - a chapter book set after Frozen II - was released. It explores the story of one particular myth in Arendelle and what happens when the past comes back to haunt Elsa and Anna.

As it had been several years since the release of Frozen II, and as the 10th anniversary of the original film was approaching, fans wondered what could be next for the franchise.

Stay Tuned for More

👆🏻 Click above if you want to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Frozen. The due date is April 12, 2024.

We look forward to seeing your memories ❄️

[boghermit]

Pointing Out the Historical Inaccuracies (and Some Accuracies) of Ridley Scott's Napoleon 🤓

The only interesting parts of this film are the costumes, and maybe one or two music tracks. The rest of the movie is just awful. The story can hardly be called a story. It's just miscellaneous boring scenes duct taped together. None of the characters are developed beyond a single trait, if that. A period this broad shouldn't have been crammed into a movie this short. I honestly wouldn't have disliked the historical inaccuracy so much if it had been sacrificed for the sake of a good narrative, but this is bad. Even if you don't know about the era enough to nitpick it, I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone.

TL;DR go watch Waterloo or The Duelists instead.

Accurate Historical Details

There were some minor details that made me perk up like, "Ah, yes! It did happen like that!" The rest of the movie is so inaccurate that these details stuck out.

Napoleon tugged on peoples' ears as a sign of affection. You see this in the movie with Tallyrand and Josephine. He also did this a lot with his soldiers, which we don't see in the film. In fact, he doesn't interact with his soldiers much at all in the film.

The French fired a 101-cannon salute after Napoleon's first son was born.

Napoleon famously bumbled at the Coup of 18 Brumoire, and his brother Lucien had to step in to direct the French grenadiers.

It's contested whether or not Robespierre actually shot himself in the jaw, but I think at this point it's mostly accepted as truth? In any case, someone screwed up his jaw before he was arrested.

The British loved publishing political cartoons about Napoleon, including cartoons of him being cucked.

Joséphine did actually meet Tsar Alexander shortly before her death. I didn't know about this one and was happy to learn something new.

The depictions of line and square formations were okay.

Historical Inaccuracies

This is, in spite of its budget, one of most historically inaccurate pieces of media I've seen on the era, and on top of that it isn't even good.

There is so much historical context omitted from this film that I feel like anyone who doesn't have an interest in the time period will have NO idea what's going on. You are never really given the how and why of history other than "the Europeans are fighting and also Napoleon is there."

The overall characterization of Napoleon is just bizarre. Napoleon was smart, egotistical, ambitious, hot-tempered, and had a magnetic charisma and human charm that inspired a kind of blind loyalty in his soldiers. This is why he was so successful - and so dangerous. Napoleon never feels threatening or sinister in this film. He's just kind of there, slouching and sweating and mumbling under his breath as history unfolds. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure does a better job of depicting Napoleon than whatever the hell is going on here.

Napoleon was not present at the beheading of Marie-Antoinette.

He didn't have his horse shot out from under him at Toulon, and he didn't send gore-spattered cannonballs to his mother, as far as I know.

The movie casts a younger actress to play Joséphine de Beauharnais, but Joséphine was actually older than Napoleon.

I'm pretty sure that Napoleon didn't find and return the sword of Joséphine's ex-husband, although there is a legend stating that he attempted to confiscate it and was persuaded by Joséphine's son to return it.

The French army never shot their cannons at the Pyramids in Egypt. They also didn't loot the Pyramids, although they participated in a lot of heinous looting elsewhere.

Napoleon didn't leave Egypt because he found out he was being cucked by his wife - he'd already known about that for some time. He left Egypt because the campaign was failing and because the political situation in France was becoming untenable.

Jacques-Louis David attended the coronation of Napoleon, but didn't start his studies for the painting during the coronation itself. (At least as far as I know.)

The lake scene during the Battle of Austerlitz is a bit of a legend, but probably not true. The gigantic lake was more likely a series of shallow ponds, if it existed at all.

Napoleon did not lead cavalry charges, and he sure as shit didn't lead cavalry charges at the Battles of Borodino or Waterloo. In fact, Napoleon infamously sat a safe distance away while watching the bloody Battle of Borodino unfold.

Napoleon was not exiled following the Russian campaign. He was exiled after the War of the Sixth Coalition, in 1814.

Joséphine died in 1814, when Napoleon was still at Elba, not in 1815.

Trench warfare and scoped muskets were not used at the Battle of Waterloo.

Napoleon never met the Duke of Wellington.

That's uh. The cut version of my complaints.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Friday, September 13th

XANDER: No, it's just... this Malcolm guy? What's his deal? I mean, tell me you're not slightly wigged. BUFFY: Okay, slightly. I mean, just not knowing what he's really like. XANDER: Or who he really is. I mean, sure he says he's a high school student, but I can say I'm a high school student. BUFFY: You are. XANDER: Okay, but I can also say that I'm an elderly Dutch woman. Get me? I mean, who's to say I'm not if I'm in the elderly Dutch chat room?

~~I, Robot... You, Jane~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

cherry lipgloss by sapphistically (Buffy/reader, not rated)

Oblation by The_Crazy_Knight (Buffy/Giles, E)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion, Chapter 341 by madimpossibledreamer (Ensemble, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure crossover, T)

Don't Swerve, Chapter 9 by thisyearsgrrl (Buffy/Faith, E)

My (love) Kill, Chapter 3 by witchywriter3 (Buffy/Spike, G)

Book Stew! Chapter 5 by MGAllan (Michael (from Gingerbread)/Lance (from The Pack), G)

After Life, Chapter 5 by Alwaysandforevermylove (Buffy/Faith, E)

A-Z of Sex, Chapter 1 by KatyAmberAuthor (Buffy/Giles, E)

Soul Mate Magic, Chapter Three by emma-m-black (Giles/OC, 18+)

Out of this World, love..., Chapters 7-8 by Miss Kitty (PG-13, in French)

The Neighbor's Point of View, Chapter 130 by the_big_bad (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Little Light, Chapter 7 by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Way Beyond Chaos, Chapter 1 by Girlytek (Buffy/Spike, R)

Wallflower, Chapter 24 (complete!) by Girlytek (Buffy/Spike, R)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Manip: MerMade For You by Claire (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Lego: my custom Lego Buffy the Vampire Slayer by buzzlymuzz

Artwork: Collage #160 by thedecadentraven (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Collage: Spike by thedecadentraven (worksafe)

Gifset: Buffy/Cordelia by lovebvffys (worksafe)

Fanvid: Andrew Wells | Puppet Boy [slight flash warning] by homoeroticvillain

Fanvid: Spike/Buffy - The Albatross by DarkEleni

Fanvid: Andrew Wells | Puppet Boy [slight flash warning] by homoeroticvillain

Fanvid: Don't Stop Me Now [BTVS Season 6 BLOOPER REEL] by Aurora Edits

Fanvid: Buffyverse by juliaroxs241

Fanvid: willow and tara | i know the end by editsbysarahx

Fanvid: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 Opening Credits (Charmed Style) by Rotten Lemonade

Fanvid: Buffy and Spike - Are You That Somebody By Aaliyah by Naki-a Littlejohn

Fanvid: Buffy and Spike - Bang Bang By Ariana Grande by Naki-a Littlejohn

Vidlet: hello kitty | buffy summers | mep part by DreamingWithDragons

Vidlet: Buffy summers || legends never die || by CaptainSwann

Vidlet (untitled) by cupcakexmeow (Buffy/Spike, Buffy/Angel)

Music: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER THEME SONG / ‪by JETT Fighter Drumming‬ (age 12 )

Acting: Anya's Monologue by Skyler Brown

Song: Something to Sing About - Singing - by Sparkly Rainbow Kaz

Song: Rest In Peace - Spike - Once More, With Feeling - Buffy - Singing by Sparkly Rainbow Kaz

[Reviews & Recaps]

Video: Top Grumps - Buffy The Vampire Slayer by Nerdy Up North

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4: Episode 7 - The Initiative by The Cheshire Kiwi

Video: Our Love of Buffy The Vampire Slayer PART 1 by It Crept From The 80s

Video: Buffy 2.15 Phases by Jen Katz and Ryan Something

Video: Buffy Vs Charmed | An Observation of Unnecessary Comparison by They Call Me MR. G

Video: Buffy S02E22 "Becoming (Part 2)" Spoiler Review by LGRN - Entertainment

Video: Sleeper-Slayer Sunday by Jane Talks Buffy

Podcast: Showtime S7 E11 Buffy and the Art of Story by Lisa M. Lilly

Podcast: BwB 609 - Point Insertion [Smashed] by Beer With Buffy

Podcast: Tales of Music and Film Season 8 Episode 8 Buffy The Vampire Slayer Take Two by Tales of Music and Film Hosted By Christian Taylor

Podcast: Tales of Music and Film Season 8 Episode 9 Angel by Tales of Music and Film Hosted By Christian Taylor

Podcast: The Quintessential Buffy The Vampire Slayer by Sure Look Sure Listen Podcast

[Search & Recs]

Fic search: Actor spike fic lost by YummyCookies333

Vid rec: Anya Jenkins | Why? [Character Study.] by HostilePoet17 recced by IceStorm22

Fic rec: The Devil's Elegy (Buffy/Angel, M) by coalitiongirl recced by I Will Remember You Marathon

Fic recs: favourite Spuffy recs by userttpd

Vid rec: Charles Gunn - The Loss and Recuperation of the Self by Honeycutt Videos recced by umbralsong

[Community Announcements]

Buffybot and Gilesbot, sitting in a tree… by Buffyverse Kinkmeme

[Fandom Discussions]

Buffy saying “I just wish my mom was here” really falls flat by canary-prince

Rewatch thoughts and questions [Shells, Underneath] continued by multiple posters

Two comics artists who've worked with Joss have died this week by Skippcomet

What happened to the parents in Buffy? continued by multiple posters

Podcast : "Alyson Hannigan Reveals Her #1 Hidden Theory About Me" by Klaus Kartoffel

Spikes justification for not reuniting with Buffy from the episode Harms Way by wtffu006

If I were her relatives, I’d request a refund from the funeral home by Jade_Pratt953

Anyone else believe that the police/coroner/hospitals knew about the undead Americans? by CountChocoula

What is your favourite single scene in the Buffyverse… by tommywest_123

Which ep would you choose [to watch for 24 hours straight]? by No-Jaguar8044

On S2 - watching for the first time and loving it! Will it continue with this quality? by RedRxbin

So I watched a theatre show called Buffy Revamped by CaptainZir0

Your Own Buffy The Vampire Slayer Episode Concept? by Big-Restaurant-2766

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

Video: Buffy The Vampire Slayer | Full Q&A | For The Love Of Fantasy (London) 2024 by Monopoly Events

Video: Anthony Stewart Head interview, Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Regis and Kathy Lee (with Tom Arnold) by Cleverkio

Video: Episode 364: Interview With Julie Benz by Don't Go Out There Podcast

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Join the editor team :)

[pastamansta]

A List of Stop-Motion Feature-Length Films You Probably Haven't Tried.

If you’re anything like me, stop-motion animation is something that you’re sick of hearing about, because it’s always the same fucking recommendations. I took the time to browse over Wikipedia’s “List of stop-motion films” and do what I could to create a list of stop-motion feature-length films that might be worth a watch and that you haven’t constantly heard animation brats cream themselves over. Obviously, this list is not perfect, it’s mostly based off of the films I was able to find generally high reviews for on Letterboxd, but this list will contain nothing from Aardman, nothing from Laika, nothing from Wes Anderson, Tim Burton, or Henry Selick, but will contain at least a handful of things you haven't heard constant chatter about. These films are also fully stop-motion, so nothing from Ray Harryhausen or Jan Švankmajer either. Oh, and no shorts or television, obviously.

I will go ahead and put the following eight as films that aren't as frequently referenced in "best stop-motion films of all time" articles, but will find their ways into conversations about stop-motion without much difficulty;

René Laloux's "Fantastic Planet" (1973)

Will Vinton's "The Adventures of Mark Twain" (1985)

Adam Elliot's "Mary and Max" (2009)

Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson "Anomalisa" (2015)

Claude Barras's "My Life as a Zucchini" (2016) [French]

Phil Tippett's "Mad God" (2021)

Dean Fleischer Camp's "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On" (2021)

Guillermo del Toro's "Pinocchio" (2022)

If you haven't seen those eight, I'd take care of that first. Now, we hit other stuff.

Lotte Reiniger's "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" (1926) [German]

Wladyslaw Starewicz & Irene Starewicz "The Tale of the Fox" (1937) [French]

Ivo Caprino's "The Pinchcliffe Grand Prix" (1975) [Norwegian]

Piotr Kamler's "Chronopolis" (1982) [French]

Chris Taylor & Mark Hall's "The Wind in the Willows" (1983)

Dave Borthwick's "The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb" (1993)

Stanislav M. Sokolov & Derek W. Hayes's "The Miracle Maker" (2000)

Christiane Cegavske's "Blood Tea and Red String" (2006)

Jan Balej's "One Night in One City" (2007) [Czech]

Stéphane Aubier & Vincent Patar's "A Town Called Panic" (2009) [French]

Fernando Cortizo's "The Apostle" (2012) [Spanish]

Chris Sullivan's "Consuming Spirits" (2012)

Paul Cowan & Amer Shomali "The Wanted 18" (2014)

Jan Balej's "Little from the Fish Shop" (2015) [Czech]

Takahide Hori's "Junk Head" (2017) [Japanese]

Michael Mort's "Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires" (2018)

Cristóbal León & Joaquín Cociña's "The Wolf House" (2018) [Spanish]

Paloma Baeza Niki, Lindroth von Bahr, Emma De Swaef, & Marc James Roels's "The House" (2022)

That's what I've got for the time being. If you can recommend a feature-length, majority stop-motion film that's not Aardman, Laika, Wes, Burton, or Selick, I'd be more than happy to look it over and see about adding it to the list. Enjoy.

[suchamiracle-does-exist]

Dear @faisonsunreve thanks for the tag. This was definitely a time taking task but so much fun to do. A true time travel to your watching history. To my surprise there are three French films and three Tom Hanks films included. 😄

A few comments about certain choices.

Favorite film of all time: The Thief of Bagdad (1940): The jewel of the film is Conrad Veidt’s insane Jaffar dressed up with the turban.

Best script: Some Like It Hot (1959): The story about two antihero musicians trying to make a living and avoiding gangsters by dressing as women and joining a female band and traveling to Miami is still unique to watch.

Favorite poster: The Empire Strikes Back (1980): Memories from the childhood. Darth Vader’s perhaps a little too epic posture promises you an emotional adventure and that promise will be fulfilled.

"I’ll watch it some day": Napoléon (1927): @missholson and I were introduced to this 6-hour biopic of Napoleon and we were stunned by the shots of the twenty-minute triptych sequence, where widescreen panorama is made by projecting multiple-image montages simultaneously on three screens. Blu-ray is waiting on the shelf.

Big personal impact: Elvis (2022): I wasn’t prepared for the narrative where female gaze and male vulnerability are allowed and validated.

You like, but everyone hates: Angels & Demons (2009): Don’t know today’s reception but when it was released the film was heavily criticized by the critics and the audience. I like both this and The Da Vinci Code (2006), but having more convincing characters, plot and hold for the entirety makes it better than the first one.

Underrated: The Ninth Gate (1999): Polanski is a very contradictory director for his sexual abuse charges, therefore it feels shameful to admit liking his films or considering his films to be valued. Many find Gate as a dull thriller. The film doesn’t rely on jump scares or gore but the mystery around the occult books and the things you can’t see. 

"Why do I like this?": Bachelor Party (1984): This is my favourite question of them all. I discussed with @faisonsunreve about on what basis you should answer this and does it reveal your true movie taste. The 80’s crazy comedy is a silly and out-dated genre and that is why the films of this era fascinate me. Bachelor Party is full of lame humor and over-the-top characters. Yet the storyline is versatile and entertaining. Young Tom Hanks embodies the past. 

Great soundtrack: La Cage aux Folles (1978): Ennio Morricone has said first he has to understand the film, the images, the story and the director’s intentions before starting to compose. I would like to know his study for Folles, because the soundtrack has such a humorous, characteristic and warm sound. 

That cinematography: Furiant (2015): I was balancing between Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) and La double vie de Véronique (1991), but this short film stands out with the way the rural landscapes, the dimly lit rooms and the unspoken moments are visualized (and edited) by the producer, director, writer, cinematographer and editor Ondřej Hudeček.

Criminally overlooked: Angélique film series (1964-68): Yes, you could put almost any Conrad Veidt film here, however I chose this. I have been fond of Angélique films since I was a child. These spectacles tell the story of Angélique in the time of King Louis XIV of France. Romance, adventure, scheming with breathtaking soundtrack and costume design, beautiful Michèle Mercier in the leading role and the flashy way of speaking French offer us an exquisite interpretation from the 60’s. 

Favorite active director: Peter Strickland: I have seen only The Duke of Burgundy (2014) and Flux Gourmet (2022), nevertheless his style of using the aesthetics of Italian genre films and the intimacy he creates is just heartwarming.

Anyone who wants to make their own version, please do and let me know. 📼📀📦🔦