#JUST CALL ME A MONKEY JUST ONE TIME CULT MOMMY

[eefozlab]

i am thinking impure thoughts

Geto advertising for her cult

[thg-rcg-simps]

Dazzling Analyzing & Reporting Ninjutsu

(Pretend this post is not overly late to the Rappa story, I simply coudn't finish it earlier, it also will be somehow lenghy I'm a tiny bit sorry, I just have a lot to talk about)

This pink haired Ninja is simply too cool to not make a seperate post about ^^

[Obvious SPOILERS for the Rappa event/story + TW for discussing Rappa's origin]

We are back in Penacony! (Or should I call it Pinecany?) What a shocker I know, it's not like we've been there for a large chunk of the game while waiting for a new world. But that's beside the point.

While we enter we again expiriance a strange "dream", but this time it's filled with monkeys, ahm I mean Slumbernana monkeys and a pink haired sengoku period vielding weapons neon Ninja girl. We later find out her name is Rappa. We also find out she is a Galaxy Ranger and also working somehow together on this mission with Boothill. However, she's asking us for help before jumping off a roof onto a monkey shaped dream bubble. Which later we find out it's fairly common behaivior for her.

We wake up and have another 'Oh wait that was a Penacony trip again', realization while heading out. Who would be in our crew this time, you might ask? Well of course not Mommy Himeko, she's simply too busy staying on the Express and brewing coffee. Welt stays there too, because 'Ew people' (I can't really blame him there). Or as the game tells, they are off to some convinient conference (sure). So only the "children" check into the hotel, where we learn that Boothill also makes a reaperence and stays there.

At first I wasn't truly sure how to feel about this, because in the main story Boothill was just not hitting it for me. Which was also a big reason why we didn't summon for him back then. I don't know, he certainly has enough trauma for that, but something just rubbed me the wrong way. And I'm super happy to report that they fixed that a lot in this patch. Or maybe fix is the wrong term, they finally make him corherent with his personality and not flip flopping between him being a himbo only there for comedic release and being a serious (traumatised) cowbpoy. This time he has way more personality and weight to his person, and it works amazingly, because he's still funny too.

Oh, we also have to kinda go to school there? For some reason, because none of the three in question qualify as students. One was frozen in an ice block for who knows how long, the other is a glorified stellaron racoon and the third is a semi wanted war criminal with memory problems. I would ask who gave us the pass, but I think being the Penacony shareholders was the main reason nobody questions any of us. And I mean this in the entirety of staying there. Upon visiting said school we learn everybody is just relentlesly obessesed with Slumbernana monkeys and they take over the campus as well as teachers (conveniantley also away for said conference), staff, advisors and life of anybody there. Well beside Mr. Reca, but he's special.

I'm not really focusing on the school that much, because eventually it's not really important or memorable beside some fun interactions. So to break it down easier, the Slumbernanas are a memetic virus taking over the Sweet dream, infecting more and more people in the hopes of turning humans (or what is called human in the HSR sense) to regress back in time (becoming primates) so they would eventually evolve into greater beings. Oh and the mission has a weird obsession with Montana, a representative of the Slumbernana school fanclub and March's friend. Like a weirdly close bond friend. (She's seriously having way too much expose for a NPC)

There is also an official Slumbernana fanclub that much more represents a cult then a club, wanting specifically to use the Dreamflux Realm for their "project" (which most of fans are unaware off, I have to admit). Which is where Boothill's story act plays, along with Robin, trying to understand and hold back the mess those fanatics want to cause. And to help Dreamflux realm the best they can.

The real villian however are the BananAdvisor and Dr. Primative orchastrating everything while not being physically present. It's also worth mentioning that Mr. Reca plays a role in all of it, he's not evil, more a fanatic crazy director, and memokeeper.

(We always joke about that when the Penacony arc was released AO3 was funnily flooded with Dan Heng X Boothill fanfics and later some rare finds with Boothill X Robin and how they barely make (canonly) sense. (Which yes, everybody is allowed to ship anybody of age freely, don't need to make canonly sense, just legal. This in particular is simply a personal opinion because I really don't see the vibe of the first ship). But in the 2.6 patch they really make Boothill X Robin work a lot for us. I really can see the chemistry so it's cute, I like it)

The Dazzling Ninja at first is just goofy and a bit weird, from her own terminus, to her optimism, to her overall behaivor and antics, but we soon find out it's not all neon sings and fun graffiti. While most of the Mission is fairly humouros and lighthearded, because funky looking monkeys, it turns dark quite fast and not just once. In such instances Rappa often appears much sadder and can even speak "normal". She is acually concerned about the Slumbernana infection and urges us to help. It's her life mission to stop Evil Ninja Osaru. It's much much more personal, if she wishes so or not...

She's constanly talking about Master Kucha, the person teching her all about Ninjutsu and Evil Ninja Osaru, as well as Ninja Heros. This being a core to her entire exsistance.

[TW: Rappas Origin (violance, human experiments, blood)]

As we learn from Mr. Reca, her past is not muddled, but shattering. She's immune to the Slumbernana virus because she is allready infected with one, with a Ninjutsu one. And this is because she is no more than an expiriment herself. A failed one in the eyes of the Dr.. Which is funny because she is clearly the best functioning and most intellegent one, which is the purpose of her creation. Her past is not neon, it's being locked up in chambers and expiriancing pain to no mean. It's being a sentient prisoner, a guinea pig. Nothing she could've done would prevent her from expiriance just abuse tarned as something good. Something acceptable.

One of the researchers being in charge of watching her was said Master Kucha, the one man that brought her up, gave a purpose, let her read his only and very cherrished manga series, raised her, watching her grow up, and always being kind to her. Of course that doesn't mean he was any better than other researchers using her as a experiment, but he was by far the best and most humane one, later even realising that what they are doing is just so fucked up, going that far to betray everybody and killing the headmistres and himself in the end, only for Rappa to be able to escape.

I find it intressting that the Galaxy Rangers were behind Dr. Primative much earlier and chasing him. Which was the reason they didn't have any equipment with them in that new place and why Kucha felt so bad so he let Rappa read the mangas in the first place. Of course we are never find out if the lap before that place was any more 'child friendly' to give the best fundation for intelect building, but it would make sense. At least in a child psychology way.

And due to her being only a "lowly" experiment, she's also not having a proper name, being known as A-K-A3 which later when asked to form a name, showed in the end result, Dazzling Ninja AKA Rappa.

For her "final trial" to become a Ninja (Hero) she has to escape the facillity and, well, also murder anybody standing in the way because they are all just helpers of Evil Ninja Osaru. (Maybe has to is the wrong term again, she just does it out of what is right and her will to live) Later she is found by an unknown Galaxy Ranger who at first is cautios but later realised Rappa is not on Dr. Primatives side eventually taking her with her.

I really love how at first Evil Ninja Osaru was just a random made up person to make her endure training and experiments, to give her a purpose, but later eventually turning into a real person without her even knowing. He is and always was the bad guy. This is why she is so accepting of Galaxy Rangers, because she's training to be one of them. Kucha wanted to do the right thing in the end and this is warming.

She also finds a purpose beside only defeting Evil Ninja Osaru, wanting to prevent any evil (ninjas) there is in the galaxy. Which is also a nice touch to her personality.

It does however put into perspective just how long this child was in the hands of those people. While we don't know exactly, we can assume she was 10+ to around 15+ when she escaped.

(Art doesn't belong to me)

[TW over]

So what are our final thoughts on Rappa? It's a truly good writting and being myself I can't help but feel "happy" to have more disabled chracters for representation. Because not only is she deeply traumatised, she is also disabled, the virus preventing her from being "normal"/"healthy". of course this has some benefits but that doesn't mean she isn't. It's also very fun to see how positive and ultimativley badass she can be despide her trauma. Because dealing with trauma can look diffrent for everyone, as much as healing can.

I didn't dwelve to much into Boothill but just let me say, Boothill being regressed (really regressed not just somehow pretending to be able to win) is such a cute idea and we both enjoyed how he told the BananAdvisor that the reason he didn't pick up a gun earlier was not because he wouldn't and was "innocent", but because he simply didn't need to.

(Art doesn't beong to me)

(Also please let Boothill meet sweet Clara, I beg you HoYo)

-TakumiHairGuy & RikkaCatGirl

[ryoryeonggu]

THE UMBRELLAS VS THE ORIGINALS

Seven siblings

Worst parent(s) in the world turning children into monsters

Abused, manipulated and traumatized childhood

Dysfunctional dynamic

A bunch of idiots with a worst/chaotic team up ever

Luther Hargreeves / Elijah Mikaelson

Leader of the family

The strongest one

Protective

Honorable aka "thAT'S mURDER" vs"neeeeeklaussss"

Polite and respectful to the elders

Tries to keep his siblings behave then finally gives up in the end

Only wants to protect his family and decides what's best for them but ends up making all bad decisions

Suits (Black suit / Monkey suit)

Diego Hargreeves / Finn Mikaelson

Hero complex

Mommy boy

Easily manipulated

Wants to save people but his strategies always involve violence and murders

Has no clue of wtf is going on

Made fun of him and called him a fool multiple time by his siblings

DILF

“Batman aim lower” vs “Sherlock Holmes after one too many tequilas”

In love with a crazy bad bitch who would fight anyone but them (Sage/Lila)

Allison Hargreeves / Freya Mikaelson

Big sister who takes no shit from anyone

A powerful bad bitch with "i don't give a sh*t" energy

Lost her child

Cares a lot about her siblings but also so done with their stupidity and endless bickerings

Done with everyone in general

Rolls eyes 90% her screen time and shut people's mouth with her power

Would do anything to get what she wants

Has soft spot for his little sister / smol little brother

Klaus Hargreeves / Kol Mikaelson

No one takes him seriously but ends up having all the answers, everyone pls listen to him

"nowhere to be found" but always shows up when needed

Wildest and wisest

Unique power amongst family (seeing ghosts / witch)

Alcoholic and high all the time

Tells the kidnapper "my family don't give a shit about me" while being tortured

A punching bag

Highest death and coming back from the death counts

Deep quotes / nonsense shit / inappropriate jokes

Sexually active

Lives for dramas and chaos

"Disgusting but consistent" aka a sexy trash

Fun uncle

Looks sociable but actually anti-people ("don't touch me" and you can't say Kol didn't accidentally start a cult too then ran away from his worshippers)

Five Hargreeves / Klaus Mikaelson

Psychotic murder

An aggressive sarcastic dramatic bitch

Master of planning

Disappointed at his incompetent siblings all the time

"is it too late to be unadopted" vs "this family makes me want to murder people" - but actually just wants to be with his family and wants them to stay together

"I'm better than all of you" aka "I'm the hybrid" "I'm the DADDY here"

"LISTEN TO ME YOU IDIOTS/USELESS PUKE BAG" and "if you don't do it I will kill you" aka yelling, insulting and threatening are his love languages

Throwing, kicking and screaming aka the stress relievers (note: the stress level is always high)

Teleports out of nowhere and hovers over people like creeps

Everyone want to kill him (including his own family and his brothers's lovers)

Grumpy boomer and anti-people

Anger issues, paranoia and potentially some personality disorders

A romantic when he's in love

Has soft spot for his little sister / smol little brother

Ben Hargreeves / Henrik Mikaelson

DEAD

Sweetest angel who never did anything wrong in his life

Adored by everyone in the family

The family fell apart after he died

Viktor Hargreeves / Rebekah Mikaelson

The baby of the family

Soft, sensitive and emotional

Looks like a cinnamon roll but actually can kill you

Adored by everyone in the family but also was abused, manipulated and lied to all his/her life

Abandonment issues

Stubborn and naive, but grew to be the mature one

Almost got his/her family killed twice but has precious bonds with all siblings

Desperate for love and finding identity

Kissed boy(s) and girl(s) (terrible taste in men)

Note: Finn and Kol could pretty much switch places to each other since they has a lot of similarities - anger issues, trauma from being locked/abandoned in coffins/ graves, being overlooked, underestimated and treated like a fool, dying and coming back to life repeatedly... Kol is also head over heels for a special power girl who had a vendetta against his brother and tried to kill their family. And he also did have a bit of hero complex, given the fact that he died twice for trying to save someone/the world. But I prefer that way because Kol is the one who matches the chaotic energy of Klaus xD

[abitterlifethroughcinema]

THE SITGES FilmFest 2020 / Happy All Saint’s Day REVIEWS & REPORT, VOL. III: by Lucas Avram Cavazos!

Getting a chance to screen so many horror films just before and as these ‘harvest moon’ holidays push us even closer to Las Fiestas serves as a reminder that this ‘covid19-awareness’ life most of us lead, has not been great for anybody, no less for cinemas, filmmakers, distributors, and the like. It also helps a reviewer like myself see how damn near anything can get a green light if the mood and money is right. Take, for example, the first film I screened this year at the Sitges Film Festival ’20, Black Water:Abyss. Looking like a good idea does not always spill out so astutely on celluloid, and this brave attempt at a sequel to Aussie cult fave Black Water (2007), where a giant croc terrorises a battered group of stranded folks, now serves us a group of spelunkers in search of a gnarly body of water deep within a cave. Note: The Descent this is not, and although there are a few scares and startled moments, a good dose of the drinky-drinky is quite in order to make this one remotely as fun and palatable as the original. ### (release date TBD soon for Spain/Catalunya)

Hosts is at once mesmerising in its brutality before devolving ever so steadily, mid-way through the film, into a maddening tour de force of heinous ways to try and knock a family off. What can certainly be said is that directors Adam Leader and Richard Oakes have done well by bringing the human element and emotional connection to the viewer about the family-at-hand. When a family invites their neighbours over for holiday dinner, what commences is something so brutal yet telling, it is very hard not to be driven into the darkness of the movie in hopes of perhaps seeing the perpetrators meet a grisly end. But, after all of that, much is just left blowing in the wind like an ill-fated song by Kansas... the group, not the US state. ###-1/2

Relic…is this where such a lauded name in Australian stage and screen winds up? YES! And grandmother Edna, played by Robyn Nevin, slays her performance in this creepy if a tad bit lacklustre haunted house film. Also starring Emily Mortimer in an annoyingly stealthy yet oddly unfulfilled role as mother Kay, the film starts slow initially. When grandma disappears without a trace, mother and daughter (Bella Heathcote) team up to find her only to then discover elements of hoarding and intense senility. And then, there is…the other house! While director Natalie Erika James certainly brings a different view to ageing-in-a-horror-movie fare that have dotted the cinematic landscape in recent years like Goodnight Mommy, Paranormal Activity (3) and The Visit to name a few. That said, there is still much to be desired, but despite the formulaic semblance of irritating scenes, we do get a few thrills and decent acting to boot.  ###-1/2 (release date TBD in Spain though some screens do play it in France…if you can travel [inject maniacal laughter here])

Can we say FUN, because this film was perfect oddball fantastical horror-comedy…is that a genre? Starring yet another Stranger Things alum, this time John Reynolds with Sunita Mani as Su, his hilarious and cute girlfriend, Save Yourselves! is, for all intents and purposes, going to become a cult fave by select, prime dorks in years to come…a quasi-playbook for millennial horror-comedy, if you will. Because then we have the killer pouffe-ball. Out of nowhere, what starts to happen is the demise and takeover of the world by alien invaders, apparently in the form of destructive pouffe-ball interlopers. Camp as all hell, with a few thrills and jumps and a barrel of laughs thrown in, this film was a pleasure to watch and slightly begs for a sequel. (Film now streaming on Movistar+ and some RakutenTV outlets, as well) ###-1/2

Vicious Fun takes a dollop of fun and spins it on its axis, taking a sharp knifing to bounty killers by placing them in some therapy-styled comic tale. Minnesota 1983 and Joel (Evan Marsh) has a hankering for his roomie, but she is mos def not on that tip, so a drunken bar encounter then leads to taking part in the aforementioned self help group for killers. Director Cody Callahan and debut writer James Villeneuve paint a self-actualising group of nut cases in a sharp, witty scripted plot and presses PLAY, and we the audience get to sit back at the silliness and gore and take part in the festivities of the socio-psychopathic mind. ###-1/2

Post Mortem takes a little-discussed fact in history and begs some modern day questions, such as What?! and Why? and basically WTF?! After the First World War, it was also notably an age of pandemic, where the 1918 Flu began ravaging the world and the stark notion of Hungarian director Ptere Bergendy’s usage of the occasional bag-mask and the macabre idea of post-death photography with staged corpses to enliven them one last time before burial is stunningly off-putting. So, when Tomas (Viktor Klem) survives the war and makes his way back to his little Hungarian village, he comes across little orphan Anna (wee actress Fruzsina Hais) who, it soon becomes clear, sees dead people…just as Tomas does, and not just because he takes to becoming a post mortem staged photographer. The usage of historical aspects to set a tone, the stark scenery adding its own aplomb and actors who know how to creep an audience out helped this slightly dragging film keep its mystical, ghost-like clasp on me. ###-1/2

The Belgian production Yummy takes its cues from stereotypical zombie-horror comedies and has some fun with it by throwing a monkey wrench into the situation, a wrench called plastic surgery! When a young couple decides to make their way through Eastern Europe so as to get the girlfriend a breast reduction, it just so happens that they are also accompanied by her mother, who is hellbent on a facelift. Belgian director Lars Damoiseaux serves up an experimental-comic piece that dives into zombie-film territory just after arriving at the rhinoplasty clinic. Intensely gratifying for comic thrills and the like, this very Euro-centric zombie piece is one to watch drunk and for laughs. ###-1/2