#Richmond ReView

[trentcrimminallybeautiful]

i think the diamond dogs should play improv games just bc it would amuse me, an ex theater kid, specifically

[theereina]

The review @episodes-ff just left me! How sweet! You made me blush. Comparing me to Terry is wild! I ain't even do nothing. What you so mad for?

No matter what. Love ya, pookie. You're the first person to make me my own meme.🫶🏽🤞🏽

P.S. Your assumptions are wild!

[in-the-stacks]

Presenting If I Could Keep You Little by Marianne Richmond. Reviewed by Kate's Page Turners for In the Stacks.

https://www.inthestacks.tv/2024/06/kates-page-turners-if-i-could-keep-you-little

[runawaycarouselhorse]

………. I'm glad you're aware of that, sir, but then why not give her any… I get that it's appropriate to the time period, but man, the amount of "oh, this kid wasn't beaten/spanked enough, that's why they're a brat" with kids who are traumatized/lost parents/are not getting their emotional needs met is wild... at least it's Maple Town, so it ends neatly and happily with a life lesson learned (including for the parents, because man, his favouritism of his son over his daughter is harsh!)

It's sad Judy has to prove herself worthy of her father's praise, but I'm glad that even before that, Patty calls him out and explains that Judy's antics (wearing the dress, bringing his favourite (sugary, messy...) snack into his work area... were all because she just wanted him to notice her. ;_;

[thebowerypresents]

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Unleash Three-Hour Show on Forest Hills Stadium on Friday Night

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Forest Hills Stadium – August 16, 2024

Prior to the Paris Olympics, if someone had mentioned Australia and Raygun in the same sentence, you’d have been forgiven for assuming it the reference was to a song or album by the madly prolific (and sci-fi adjacent) Australian rock outfit King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. While that country’s reputation still recovers from the breakdancer who couldn’t dance, those assembled at Forest Hills Stadium on Friday turned their attention to the Australian rock band that can, and does, do it all. Their three-hour set — the first of two weekend appearances at the venue — kicked off with the live debut of the blues-heavy “Field of Vision,” off the recently released Flight b741, the six-piece’s 26th(!) LP.

The group’s music covers a wide array of genres, and their shaggy fans of all ages were as comfortable in tie-dyes as they were in the mosh pits erupting throughout the night, first for a speedy, ear-splitting rendition of “Gamma Knife.” Fitting for the season, those mosh pits were shaped like hurricanes, with bodies increasingly moving faster toward the center, except for the inevitable one or two standing still in the eye of the storm. Friday’s show gave the band as much room as they needed to display all facets of Gizzardom. 

“Mr. Beat,” a sing-along, evolved into a jam that could be played out into infinity. With the sun still shining, the music was firmly on the boogie end of the spectrum with an equally playful rendition of the harmonica-heavy, aptly titled “Boogieman Sam.” But as day turned into night with a red sun setting into Manhattan’s hazy skies, the set turned toward the sextet’s heavier jams of the brown-acid variety. 

First came the stellar four-song string of Gizzy mind-palace classics, “I’m in Your Mind,” “I’m Not in Your Mind,” “Cellophane” and “I'm in Your Mind Fuzz.” “God is real. God is a black hole,” announced someone from the stage as they kicked off the speed-metal “Self-Immolate,” complete with an extended, slow-burning drum solo from the inimitable Michael Cavanagh. The tune itself immolated amongst a barraging backdrop of animated, burning flames. Their songs off 2019’s Infest the Rats’ Nest remain the high-water mark for intensity and rocking the fuck out, and it was a bold and impressive feat to tear through that material at the midpoint of a three-hour set, leaving it with their human drummer still intact. 

“Gila Monster” was another fan favorite, off last year’s sprawlingly titled PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation. The fans enthusiastically intoning, “Gila, Gila, Gila” felt powerful enough to summon some kind of monster from somewhere in the city, assisted by vocal effects and chants that could’ve rattled out from the depths of a didgeridoo. 

The band welcomed a fan named Gabby to sing a vocal intro to “Nuclear Fusion” that Ambrose Kenny-Smith dubbed “fucking haunting.” Just as impressive as their never-ending discography, King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard play wildly different sets each night, an audacious feat on its own but especially so when playing three-hour shows.

Somewhere along the way, Friday’s set reached the all gas, no brakes mark and never let up, finishing with “Rattlesnake” and “K.G.L.W.” Welcome to the city that never sleeps to the world’s most prolific band. —Dan Rickershauser | @D4nRicks

(King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard play the Stage at Suffolk Downs tonight.)

(King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard play Thompson’s Point in Portland, Maine, tomorrow.)

(King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard play the Dell Music Center in Philadelphia on 8/27.)

(King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard play Brown’s Island in Richmond. Va., on 8/28.)

Photos courtesy of Silvia Saponaro | @Silvia_Saponaro

[therealmrpositive]

Mulligan (2023-)

In today’s review I think we could all do with a do-over. As I attempt a #positive review of the 2023 animated comedy, Mulligan #NatFaxon #ChrissyTeigen #TinaFey #SamRichardson #DanaCarvey #PhilLaMarr #DanielRadcliffe #KevinMichaelRichardson #AyoEdebiri #RonnyChieng #ToksOlagundoye #WeirdAlYankovic #Questlove #AndySamberg #TedDanson #MariaThayer #RachelDratch #WillArnett #KyleSelig #JeffRichmond

Our society isn’t perfect, sure, but it might be the best we’ve got, but the path to this imperfect society has been long and hard-fought, and so will its future. That still doesn’t stop us from dreaming about starting again, writing the wrong and building a society that works, regardless of the cost or talent. In 2023, one cartoon would ask what would happen if the world had to do a…

[rickchung]

Mean Girls (dirs. Samantha Jayne & Arturo Perez Jr.).

[The film] remains topical and referential by updating its coming-of-age themes for contemporary audiences. Its surreal musical sequence only further heightens the film's playful cattiness. It really zips through its story with an economical breadth. There are also just enough new elements and material to make this musical version feel fresh while still including all the familiar hallmarks of the original, including trying to make "fetch" happen twenty years later.

[lightthewaybackhome]

I just finished this book and plan to restart it next week and do a much deeper dive. But all I can say is that you need to read this book. If you are at all concerned about our culture, homes, children, and men, read this book. Husbands and fathers read this book. Wives and mothers read this book. Everyone drop everything and read this book.

Young men are puttin' themselves six feet in the ground

'Cause all this damn country does is keep on kickin' them down

And it's not just young men, but young women also.

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

Mean Girls (12A): Noisy Remake Strikes of Trying Too Hard to be Fetch.

#OneMannsMovies #filmreview of "Mean Girls" (2024). #MeanGirls. Uneven and frenetic remake that doesn't bear comparison with the classic original. 3/5.

A One Mann’s Movies Film Review of “Mean Girls” (2024). Mark Water’s “Mean Girls” is 20 years old and was a classic of its time. That starred Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams in the roles of Cady Heron and Regina George. It became a firm teen favourite that a generation (my daughters included) fondly look back on. Despite all its frantic efforts to please, I really can’t see this Mean Girls…

[milliondollarbaby87]

Fight Club (1999) Review

When an insomniac officer worker decides his life must change he just happens to meet Tyler Durden a soap maker and together they form an underground fight club that becomes so much more. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ *25th Anniversary Cinema screening at Cineworld* Continue reading Fight Club (1999) Review

[jessread-s]

✩🪡🐈Review:

This historical romance is absolute perfection!

Since his return from the war, the Duke of Ashbury is in need wife. Enter Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress. When she conveniently appears in his library wearing his former fiancé’s wedding gown demanding payment, he decides she’ll do. 

I loved watching Emma and Ash’s marriage of convenience slowly turn into something real! In the beginning, Ash was determined to keep them apart by creating rules so that they wouldn’t fall in love. I knew from their first interaction, however, that his plans would fall apart because their chemistry is undeniable! Emma is stubborn and sees right through the walls that Ash puts up. Their intelligent, humorous personalities spark a connection between them that only strengthens as they help each other embrace their insecurities. 

I was pleasantly surprised by how comedic this book is! Emma and Ash’s banter was incredibly entertaining and made me laugh out loud at times. If you’re looking for a historical romance that is reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast with both steam and humor, then this is your book! I was hooked from the first page and am convinced it was written for me! 

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

[voughthq]

Ted Lasso season 3 review: A successful hat trick

#TedLasso season 3 review is up! It brings other characters to the forefront, showcasing the talent they have in this series as well as adding new characters that bring a fresh, yet hilarious, breath of life into the series.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5. AFC Richmond faces ridicule as media predictions peg them as last in the Premier League. With Nate (Nick Mohammed) hailed as the “wonder kid,” and working for Richmond nemesis Rupert (Anthony Head) at West Ham, the two teams could not be more different. Roy (Brett Goldstein) steps up as assistant coach alongside Beard (Brendan Hunt) while Ted (Jason Sudeikis)…

[a-member-of-minuteswithmandm]

(This is gonna sound crazy but I feel like YouTube shadow banned our last video? It's about Ted Lasso and it's literally our worst performing video ever so if you wanna help some sisters out - please watch and like/subscribe/comment on our video.......no idea why it's doing so poorly 🙁)

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Audio: JOVM Mainstay Sophie Colette Shares Breezy and Upbeat Anthem

New Audio: JOVM Mainstay Sophie Colette Shares Breezy and Upbeat Anthem @sophiecolettemusic @DegrawSound

Currently based in Richmond, VA, singer/songwriter, keyboardist. indie pop artist and JOVM mainstay Sophie Colette initially moved to New York to pursue fashion design. But she pivoted to music after being scouted at a high school reunion by The Party Faithful‘s bassist. As the story goes, about a month or so later, Colette was contributing vocals, keys and synths for The Party Faithful, playing…

[objectivelyimpermanent]

Batman: Year One (1988) by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli

My Batman reading order begins. Mind that this is as much a test as anything. Also, I have already read The Long Halloween as a sneak peak, but I swear that otherwise I'm a DC comics virgin. Batman: Year One by Frank Miller contains Batman (1940-2011) #404-407, which were printed first in comic serial 1996-1997, and which started out the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity on the New Earth. They contain the revamped origin story for Batman. I have acquired the 1988 TPB recoloured edition by Richmond Lewis. This is the volume most often recommended for a few reasons: 1) Richmond Lewis was the colourist also for the original serial, so the collected edition was an opportunity for the original colourist to spruce up the comic with a wider variety of colour than was possible in 4-colour newsprint comics. She is also married to David Mazzucchelli, who was responsible for the linework, so the artistic vision was really kept in-house. 2) This volume is much cheaper than other options that include the recoloured pages, such as the hardcover Absolute Batman: Year One. 3) This volume is also generally fairly cheap, especially if you're not overly attached to mint or brand new copies. My extremely well-preserved 1st edition cost less than £10 on Ebay.

Frank Miller often is credited (or accused) for the grittiness and cynicism of modern Batman and Batman comics--his approximately contemporaneous 1986 Elseworlds limited miniseries The Dark Knight Returns was a major influence on Snyder's grimdark DCEU movies, and he's known generally for sucking out all the ideological sincerity, compassion, and ironic absurdity from Batman. In the 1988 introduction to Batman: Year One, Frank Miller declares, "For me, Batman was never funny." However, that's not precisely borne out in the Batman: Year One comic. In Batman: Year One, Batman might be objectively terrifying to most of his fellow Gothamites, but to his audience he's meta-narratively hilarious. For example, the comedy of errors that is Bruce Wayne's first vigilante-preparation outing. Batman (1940-2011) #404: 25-year-old Bruce Wayne ventures out into the East End of Gotham on 11 March, shortly after his return from abroad. He doesn't yet have the Bat costume, or the specific idea of Batman. Instead, he pastes on some make-up for a recon mission in preparation for his debut as an as-yet-unnamed vigilante. In the process, the following sequence of events occurs:

He vows not to use violence on this recon-only mission

He immediately picks a fight with a street pimp

He gets stabbed and then beaten up by a few sex workers

He gets attacked by a pre-Catwoman Selina Kyle

He punches Selina Kyle in the face

He gets shot by a cop

He gets arrested

He beats up the two cops who arrested him and totals the police car

He gets back into his Bruce Wayne Porsche whilst in his undercover makeup and leaking blood from several holes, a car so recognisable that Jim Gordon, a new transfer cop from Chicago, recognises it on sight

He nearly drives Jim Gordon off the road in such a way that Gordon has no choice but to conclude that he's on cocaine

He gets home and collapses on the floor and then has to call Alfred to come and stitch him up.

Of course, this is great. It's violent, but it's very funny. It's a shitshow. Batman has absolutely no fucking idea what he's doing. It's hilarious alongside its objective textual violence, this sequence alone including: implied underage sex work, a stabbing, police corruption and violence, a bullet wound, several battery assaults, and an explosive car accident. The irony of this happening on what Bruce Wayne vowed to be a non-violent recon mission is arresting, and that's besides Wayne here acting as a slapstick comic as everyone gets their licks in on the man who has sworn to clean up the streets of the whole city.

On top of this, the Batman investigation team headed by Lt. Jim Gordon and Det./Sgt. Essen has two first suspects for the Bat vigilante: Harvey Dent (on account of motive and physical profile) and Bruce Wayne (on account of extremely public motive and massive amounts of money). Bruce Wayne is really not very good at this whole vigilante thing.

Possibly the funniest thing to come out this plotline comes from the scene where Lt. Jim Gordon goes to question Harvey Dent in his office regarding his alibis for the dozens of assaults committed recently by Batman. Harvey Dent calmly refutes Gordon's accusations and sends him off. And then we get this panel:

where it is shown that Harvey Dent had been hiding Batman under his desk during the whole questioning. [Batman (1940-2011) #405 | B:YO p. 41] That isn't to say that Batman isn't scary at all. There are some generally creepy-seeming scenes, such as when he breaks in to the Commissioner's house whilst he's having a dinner party with the mob, cuts the power, and then gives an ominous speech in Batman (1940-2011) #405. And later, Batman does become more competent. To escape a SWAT killbox in Batman (1940-2011) #406, Batman uses an experimental infrasonic broadcast device to summon a horde of bats. They bite the SWAT on the arse. I'm sure it was very scary, but also it's very funny. The hilarity isn't kept entirely meta-textual. Although Batman is textually scary, he is also textually mocked. As Batman grimly does mostly-naked, one-armed push-ups on the floor of his sitting room whilst reviewing a stake-out recording and muttering about Carmine Falcone, Alfred provides commentary from an armchair whilst reading the newspaper: "Master Bruce--I've just come across a fascinating piece in the Times. Concerns the effects of lack of sleep among the marginally sane...'marked increase in paranoia'...hmm...'tendency towards aberrant, even violent behavior'...Off again, sir? Shall I fetch your tights?" [Batman (1940-2011) #407 | B:YO pp. 87-88]

There's also the hilarious implication that Lt. Jim Gordon was basically John McClane in his youth. In Batman (1940-2011) #404, Lt. James Gordon transfers in from Chicago to Gotham City, which has a Reputation for crime; during his intake interview, he feels the need to apologise to Commissioner Loeb for the "mistakes" he's made that have turned up on his record—mistakes that the corrupt Commissioner waves off and about which he seems quite pleased. Gordon also spends the entire miniseries doing things like punching a schizophrenic man who has three hostages and a gun to his head. beating up a corrupt coworker and hogtying him naked in the snow, maliciously complying with non-interference orders, ratting out corrupt cops in a district comprised only of corrupt cops, punching people, shooting people, and stealing a motorcycle to rescue his newborn son who has been kidnapped by a mobster. From this, I can only conclude that Jim Gordon was a maverick cowboy cop in Chicago that (voluntarily or not) was put out to pasture after too many marks on his record and/or his wife getting pregnant.

In conclusion, whilst I'm sure that Frank Miller likely did contribute to the edgification of Batman, his claim that "Batman was never funny" isn't an author's mandate against the humour inherent in the character and the franchise—at least as can be seen in Batman: Year One. I would suggest that Batman only started to become such a serious downer when the influence of the Elseworlds miniseries The Dark Knight Returns began to seep into the canon, but I would have to check back on that.

Additional notes:

Carmine Falcone and his nephew Johnny Vito attempt to fend off Catwoman from a break-in whilst dressed only in towels. This is quite funny. [Batman (1940-2011) #407 | B:YO p. 87]

Whilst trapped in the SWAT killbox, Batman saves a cat from the SWAT team and then beats up the SWAT officer who attempted to shoot the cat. This implies that indeed Bruce Wayne's adoption addiction is heritable; Damian Wayne has only contracted the initial stages, as depicted here. [Batman (1940-2011) #406]

It is implied that Jim Gordon may know who Batman is by the end of the comic; Bruce Wayne saves Jim Gordon's newborn son James after he is thrown from a bridge by Johnny Vito, and he does so without wearing a mask, and then he looks Jim Gordon straight in the face. At the time, Gordon says: "You know, I'm practically blind without my glasses. Sirens coming. You'd better go." It's unclear how true this is. [Batman (1940-2011) #407 | B:YO p. 95]

[stepintimechimneysweeps-blog]

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