#I still have one last (long) story to write before I finish the Ari Trilogy

[pidayforpi]

(Imagine taking a ~15 seconds scene about an obscure character from an obscure episode of an obscure series, and then expanding it to ∞)

[grigori77]

Summer 2019′s Movies - My Top Ten Favourite Films (Part 1)

The Runners-Up:

20.  ANGEL HAS FALLEN – Gerard Butler’s arse-kicking secret service agent returns in this third (and, from the look of it, final) entry in the trilogy started with surprise hit Olympus Has Fallen and its London-set follow-up, and this time HE’S the prey after he’s framed as a would-be assassin of Morgan Freeman’s new US President.  It’s not as memorably meaty as its predecessors, but latest director Ric Roman Waugh (Snitch, Shot Caller) certainly has the action chops to pull off the necessary heavy lifting, and Butler’s great as ever.

19.  STUBER – summer 2019’s most irreverent guilty pleasure is a gleefully non-PC action comedy in which pathetically nerdy Uber driver Stu Prasad (The Big Sick’s Kumail Nanjiani) is effectively hijacked by dangerously myopic renegade LAPD cop Vic Manning (Dave Bautista), who’s looking to take down his “white whale”, murderous drug lord Oka Tedjo (The Raid’s Iko Uwais).  This is one of those hilariously foul-mouthed, gruesomely violent and unapologetically crude romps that does exactly what it says on the tin.

18.  MEN IN BLACK INTERNATIONAL – Friday director F. Gary Gray certainly has the required comedy pedigree to succeed Barry Sonnenfeld on this sort-of sequel/soft reboot, but while it’s certainly as consistently, inventively funny as its predecessors there’s still something missing here.  Thor: Ragnarok duo Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson have still got chemistry to burn, but they’re no substitute for Smith and Jones, although there’s definitely potential for a solid new series here if they can iron out the kinks.  It IS a moderate improvement on MIB 2, though.

17.  BOOKSMART – actress Olivia Wilde makes her directorial debut with this sharp-witted and enjoyably unpredictable coming-of-age comedy that follows straight-A high school graduates Molly (Lady Bird’s Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Last Man Standing and Short Term 12’s Kaitlyn Dever) as they indulge in one crazy night out so they can experience the inappropriate partying chaos they always avoided to get those top grades.  Funny, fascinating and powerfully heartfelt, this is a guaranteed future gem of the genre.

16.  ROCKETMAN – hot off his patch-up directing gig finishing off Bohemian Rhapsody after Bryan Singer jumped ship, Dexter Fletcher tackles the life-story of another musical icon, Elton John, in this far more stylized but also thoroughly memorable “musical fantasy” interpretation of the rise/fall/rise-again of the man born Reginald Dwight.  Kingsman star Taron Egerton delivers the finest performance of his career so far, displaying an impressive lack of vanity as he crafts a warts-and-all portrayal of Elton, while Jamie Bell is equally excellent as his lifelong friend and writing partner Bernie Taupin.

15.  I AM MOTHER – the best of Netflix’ original movie summer offerings is this impressively original and edgy sci-fi thriller based around a killer concept – Mother is a robot (voiced with chillingly seductive duplicity by Rose Byrne) in a hi-tech bunker in the aftermath of some unknown apocalyptic cataclysm, the de-facto parent and sole companion of Daughter (The Lodge’s Clara Rugaard), seemingly the last human in the world, who’s never known anything of the outside, until an unexpected arrival threatens everything.

14.  DETECTIVE PIKACHU – Pokémon returns to the big screen with this brilliant live action feature that beautifully builds on the expansive source material while simultaneously repackaging it nice and fresh for a new generation. Ryan Reynolds is a fiendishly inspired choice to voice the eponymous investigator, who enjoys impressive chemistry with Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’s Justice Smith as the failed Pokémon trainer who is, inexplicably, the only human who can understand him.  You don’t need to be a fan to get this film, either – it’s well-thought-out enough that even newbies can get maximum entertainment out of it.

13.  MIDSOMMAR – Ari Aster, the disturbingly talented writer-director of acclaimed horror gem Hereditary, drops another mind-melting, skin-crawling slowburn treat of pure, unadulterated sustained dread and terrible expectation on an unsuspecting summer audience, although this one certainly proved far more (ahem) seasonal.  Florence Pugh (Lady MacBeth) and Jack Reynor (Strange Angel) are both excellent as the unsuspecting American couple whose visit to a remote Swedish festival exposes them to a twisted cult.

12.  THE STANDOFF AT SPARROW CREEK – debuting writer-director Henry Dunham proves he’s going to be one-to-watch in the future with this insidious little suspense thriller starring James Badge Dale as a former small town cop drawn into a tense internal investigation of the local militia he’s part of after it becomes clear one of its members is responsible for a terrorist attack that’s got the local police up in arms.  A perfectly-pitched lesson in slow-building tension crafted with consummate skill.

11. TOY STORY 4 – marking the feature directorial debut of long-serving Pixar animator/writer Josh Cooley, this is another gold standard entry in the studio’s flagship franchise that also marks a watershed moment for many of its beloved characters.  Woody and Buzz (Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, both on top form) are front and centre once again, but the biggest fun to be had here involves the new faces, particularly Keanu Reeves as hapless Canadian stunt-biker toy Duke Caboom.  This may not be QUITE as essential as what came before, but it’s still a series that continues to play very much to its strengths.

[anonymous-butnotquite]

autumnal asks

I reblogged this last week and I’m finally in the mood to actually do this.

“This” being purge out all the things I’ve never said out loud, feel like I say too much, and just pretty much in between, while listening to  listen to Ari Lennox , SiR, and Snoh Aalegra.

lantern - how did you meet your best friend? What were your first impressions of each other? - I met my best friend through a mutual friend in the 8th grade or right after it, I’m not sure. My first impression was “Wow, this girl has a personality. Not in the “Oh! She’s so funny.” No i mean, this girl has opinions, and their different than mine. Man, she has these views and she has them so much conviction." She is intimidating and I’m not sure if I’m ready for this >.>

Turns out I did, we would wax and we would wane, and now my faith in our relationship is as strong as my belief in the moon always making her way back to us.

frost - if you could give some advice to your younger self, what would you say? - don’t wait, just do it. be selfish, it’s okay to want what you want. you’ll always find a way so don’t be scared to leave. be diligent in your relationships, be that family or friends. you don’t know when they’ll need you or you’ll need that person. let people know you love them. don’t be scared, don’t worry, be young, want, love, but continue to trust your gut, it’s always (99.99999%) right.

maple - is there a hobby / skill that you’ve always wanted to try but never did? - man, ha. Uhm, I guess archery. I’ve loved it since i was 8 and i watch inuyasha with my cousin for the first time on vacation in Applevalley, CA.

harvest - what fictional character do you most identify with? Why? - Ooh, that’s tough.. I feel like I find myself in all the heroines I read about. If I had to choose though, I’d certainly say at this time, Emi from the Red Winter Trilogy by Annette Marie.

*oh shit, slide away by miley cyrus just came on. it’s lit.

fireside - if you had your dream wardrobe, what would it look like? - ooooooh, {((>,<))} such a colorful variety, but only like 50% the other 50% needs to be my neutrals (black, grey, white, and more black.) So I’d have jackets and hoodies upon themselves, LOTS of denim, a pair of overalls, tees, sweaters, crop tops, high-waisted errthang. off the shoulders shirts, blouses whatever. belts -i never have any of these and i have no idea why,- but yeah it be easier to just look at my pinterest board lol

cider - a food that you disliked as a child but now enjoy? - mmm, honey mustard. that’s a condiment i know. truly though, it was a breakthrough.

amber - share an unpopular opinion that you may have. - yeeeeeeekkkkk, i think gender roles are okay as like an outline, but then once you have your kid and he/she starts having opinions you can swap out things or trash it who cares for what your child feels comfortable, and your family supportive.

fog - how well do you think you’d do in a zombie apocalypse scenario? - dawg. i feel like given the right resources, i’d do okay. def steal a truck/suv, grab my crew, and drive out to the country and stay on a farm or some shit.

jack-o-lantern - if you could look like any celebrity, who would you choose? wellll, zendaya. I’ve heard i favor her and i don’t all the way see it but if i really could have those brows and face structure, yeesh. imma be stuck up.

spice - have you ever encountered a house that you believed to be haunted? - my elementary school had this story about the basement being haunted from a custodian killing her. and i was dared to use the restroom down there. i def got the bottom step and straight hustled out that mufucka.

orchard - share one thing that you’d like to happen this autumn. -i’d like to feel connected. that blissed out feeling of the breeze coming over your body on that cool day, but with a person.

crow - which school subject do you wish you had an aptitude for? - wish? hmm, language. had i felt more comfortable i may have went into college for some writing/ communications major from the start.

bonfire - describe your dream house. - too long. but here’s go killing time. dark green, black accents covering the exterior. a beautiful front porch, yes with the swing. gorgeous deck for entertaining, back yard with fence but 3 good and full trees to provide more privacy from the neighbors, toward the back so that way on the deck i can see the sky and moon at night. inside.. a mud room from the 2 car garage at the end of the mud room to the side the laundry room complete with shelves for the washing/drying items and hangers for the the gentles. in the opposite direction you walk into a spacious kitchen. complete with a double over, sitting on top of each other, large cabinets that at as the pantry, cabinets on cabinets on cabinet space. a fun but elegant back splash. the island/breakfast bar. deep double sinks, stretching into the living room just this is getting way to detailed and i’ll finish the rest. but bottom line. great vanities in my bathrooms, 2 upstairs, a half bath down stairs. (yes 2 stories and finished basement which also has a half.) 4 bedrooms master connected to bathroom with huge claw bath. another for the kids (2-3) if no 3rd kid forth room is an office/ we use for reading, writing all dat. you know what this is my dream so regardless of children i will have this. filled with lots of laughter, love, smiles, talks, discussions, advice, and understanding. 

cinnamon - if you had to live in a time period different than the present, which would you choose and where? - man, i would say something crazy like oh with the samurais and shit and then have to remember women have always had it rough everywhere and we still do! and add that on to the fact that i am color? not really bout it. but it women right’s were the same. i would go back the edo period, or when america bounced back from the depression. oh wait i wanna avoid all the WW’s... yeah every time period had their hangups. 

cobweb - (if you’ve graduated) do you miss high school? - nah, i really just miss the responsibilities. they truly weren’t anything. 

cranberry - what’s one physical feature that you get complimented on? my hair.

maize - share the weirdest encounter you’ve had with a stranger on the street. - i’m not sure about strange, that gives it a negative feel to me. but on my 25th birthday i was drunk downtown with my friends and while walking back to the car i heard this guy (the stranger) talking about sauske (from naruto, clearly) was the greatest character in the series, and i just yell out “sauske’s a bitch.” dude took it in stride and was saying how come? and i proceed to have this existential conversation on the street at like 3 am about naruto. NARUTO. it was like a dream come true. but definitely the most random.  

quilt - how do you take your tea (or coffee)? - coffee, a quarter of it needs to be creamer (flavored preferably) with 2 sugars. tea, i am surprisingly starting to put cream in it, like that only 1-2 sugars. without 2-3 sugars. I like my stuff sweet, sue me? 

pumpkin - do you think that humans are inherently good or bad?  -this is tough. i guess since we are born “in sin” we are inherently bad? we’re taught in life what our morals are and what things we shouldn’t do. 

moonlit - are you a neat or messy person? Is your room / house orderly? - eat, neat, neat. if messy it is a organized chaos. my house is orderly now i just got done cleaning before i took a shower and started this. 

flannel - have you ever gone on a bad date? - yesssssssssssssss. yes. yes. he was sooo fine too. like just great looking. still love looking at him on instagram attractive. but he was just so materialistic and judge mental. he still shoots his shot from time to time and i be like... should i? then i’m like nah, he always annoys you when you do. 

cocoa - if you could have any type of hair, what colour and cut would you have?- and it be natural? i love to be a natural red hed. i think they are just bombshells. i know they get the fire crotch jokes growing up but i’m skipping that phase. and cut? i think i would keep a medium borderline bob hair cut. 

ghost - is there someone that you miss having in your life? - i don’t miss anyone that ... wait i miss my penguin girl. but i was going to say that the person i miss in moments like this is someone i’ve haven’t met yet.