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if-you-fan-a-fire · 11 months ago

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BOOKS I READ IN 2023 Here's what I read in 2023. What has now become an annual tradition of sorts!

An unusual year in reading for me. The first half of the year was very slow, and I mostly finished two long books I've been trying to finish for years by William Morris and Robert Musil. Then the PSAC strike, and more time to read. After that, I made a reading plan and stuck to it, trying to read every day at least a chapter of a book on the list. I also ended up re-reading several books this year - transcribing notes at first, I ended up going over the entire book a second time. I also tried to take extensive notes on every new book. I also snuck a few theses I read onto the list - it feels weird not to include a several hundred page work I went over with a fine-toothed comb. Mostly academic books, germane to my own research and writing, but some strong forays into topics I don't normally think about much. Plus some genuinely good 'amateur' history, too.

Re-reads are marked by a plus sign and my most enjoyable or interesting reads are marked with an asterisk.

First Row:

Jesper Vaczy Kragh, Lobotomy Nation: The History of Psychosurgery and Psychiatry in Denmark (2021)

William Morris, The Well at the World's End (1896, Ballantine edition 1975)

Robert Musil, translated by Sophie Wilkins, The Man Without Qualities (1930, Picador edition 2017)*

Gavin Walker, ed., The Red Years: Theory, Politics, and Aesthetics in the Japanese ’68 (2020)*

Garrett Felber, Those Who Know Don't Say: The Nation of Islam, the Black Freedom Movement, and the Carceral State (2020) *

Robin Jarvis Brownlie, A Fatherly Eye: Indian Agents, Government Power, and Aboriginal Resistance in Ontario, 1918-1939 (2003)

Second Row:

Steve Hewitt, Riding to the Rescue: The Transformation of the RCMP in Alberta and Saskatchewan, 1914-1939 (2006)

Maeve McMahon, The Persistent Prison?: Rethinking Decarceration and Penal Reform (1989)+

Rebecca McLennan, The Crisis of Imprisonment: Protest, Politics, and the Making of the American Penal State, 1776–1941 (2007)+

Anne Guérin, Prisonniers en révolte: Quotidien carcéral, mutineries et politique pénitentiaire en France (2013)+

Anson Rabinbach, The Eclipse of the Utopias of Labor (2018)

Scott Thompson & Gary Genosko, Punched Drunk: Alcohol, Surveillance and the LCBO, 1927-1975 (2009)

Third Row:

Erin Durham, "In Pursuit of Reform, Whether Convict or Free: Prison Labor Reform in Maryland in the early Twentieth Century." (2018 thesis)

Chester Himes, Yesterday Will Make You Cry (1998)*

Harvey Swados, Standing Fast: A Novel (1971, 2013 Open Road edition)

Charles Upchurch, "Beyond the Law": The Politics of Ending the Death Penalty for Sodomy in Britain (2021)

Barry Godfrey, David J. Cox & Helen Johnston, Penal Servitude: Convicts and Long-Term Imprisonment, 1853–1948 (2022)

W.J. Forsythe, Penal Discipline, Reformatory Projects And The English Prison Commission, 1895-1939 (1991)

Fourth Row:

Neal A. Palmer, To the Dark Cells: Prisoner Resistance and Protest in Nineteenth-Century Britain (2008)

Frances H. Simon, Prisoners' Work and Vocational Training (1999)

Meera Nanda, Science In Saffron: Skeptical Essays On History of Science (2016)*

Gene Wolfe, The Book of the New Sun (four volumes, 1980-1983, Folio Society edition 2021)+

David J. Rothman, Conscience and Convenience: The Asylum and Its Alternatives in Progressive America (2002)+

Kathryn Cooper, "The Infamous Convict Museum Ship Success : an Archaeological Investigation of Material Culture and Identity Formation Processes." (2014 thesis)

Fifth row:

Barry M. Gough, Gunboat Frontier: British Maritime Authority and Northwest Coast Indians, 1846-1890 (1984)

Edward Jones-Imhotep, The Unreliable Nation: Hostile Nature and Technological Failure in the Cold War (2017)*

Larry A. Glassford, Reaction and Reform: The Politics of the Conservative Party under R.B. Bennett, 1927-1938 (1992)

Don Nerbas, Dominion of Capital: The Politics of Big Business and the Crisis of the Canadian Bourgeoisie, 1914-1947 (2013)

James Naylor, The Fate of Labour Socialism: The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Dream of a Working-Class Future (2016)

Michael Martin, The Red Patch: Political imprisonment in Hull, Quebec during World War 2 (2007)

Sixth Row:

Ruán O'Donnell, Special Category: The IRA in English Prisons, Vol. 1: 1968-1978 (2012)*

Ruán O'Donnell, Special Category: The IRA in English Prisons, Vol. 2: 1978-1985 (2015)*

Cheryl D. Hicks, Talk with You Like a Woman: African American Women, Justice, and Reform in New York, 1890-1935 (2010)*

Clarence Jefferson Hall, A Prison in the Woods: Environment and Incarceration in New York's North Country (2020)

Scott Thompson, "Consequences of Categorization: National Registration, Surveillance and Social Control in Wartime Canada, 1939-1946." (2013 thesis)

H.V. Nelles, The Politics of Development: Forests, Mines, and Hydro-Electric Power in Ontario, 1849-1941 (2005)+

Seventh row:

Chief Thomas Fiddler & James R. Stevens, Killing the Shamen (1985)

Ashley Johnson Bavery, Bootlegged Aliens: Immigration Politics on America's Northern Border (2020)

Patrick Brode, Dying for a Drink: How a Prohibition Preacher Got Away with Murder (2018)

Hamish Maxwell-Stewart & Michael Quinlan, Unfree Workers: Insubordination and Resistance in Convict Australia, 1788-1860 (2022)*

Victor Serge, translated by Ralph Manheim, Last Times (1946, 2022 NYRB edition)

Christopher Cauldwell, Studies in a Dying Culture (1938)

#books #reading #books 2023 #year end list #2023 reading list #canadian history #prison history #academic quote #academic research #academic books #australian history #british history

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redwiccanrobin · 1 year ago

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//favorite movies (pt. 1)//

. Mary & Max dir. Adam Elliott

. The Lighthouse dir. Robert Eggers

. If Beale Street Could Talk dir. Barry Jenkins

. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse dir. Rodney Rothman, Peter Ramsey, Bob Persichetti

. Jamie Marks is Dead dir. Carter Smith

Part 2

#Hailz reccomends movies #movies #favorite movies #mary and max #the lighthouse #if beale street could talk #stand by me #spiderman into the spiderverse #jamie marks is dead

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maryvivianpearce · 2 years ago

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🪴 fave new to me films of March 2023 🪴

in no particular order: Triangle of Sadness dir. Ruben Ostlund (2022) / The Velvet Vampire dir. Stephanie Rothman (1971) / The Woman in the Window dir. Fritz Lang (1944) / The Headless Woman dir. Lucrecia Martel (2008) / Alma’s Rainbow dir. Ayoka Chenzira (1994) / The Death of Stalin dir. Armando Ianucci (2017) / Enter the Dragon dir. Robert Clouse (1973) / Off the Charts: The Song-Poem Story dir. Jamie Meltzer (2003) / Hi, Mom! dir. Brian de Palma (1970)

#mine #diary #movie poster #i’m loving all the different colors rocking together #too tired to tag all that right now doing it later

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81scorp · 4 months ago

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Constructive criticism: Dragonball Evolution

Ah yes, Dragonball Evolution.

Back in 1984 Mangaka Akira Toriyama created Dragon Ball, a manga inspired by the classical 16th-century Chinese novel: Journey to the west, which became a big hit.

Many years later, in the 2000s, Hollywood realized that not just western superherocomics can be turned into movies and milked for money. And so, 20th Century Fox (as they were called before Disney devoured them) bought the movierights to Dragon Ball and tried to make a live-action movie out of it. The film began development in 2002.

Stephen Chow was approached to direct the film, and although he said he was deeply interested because he is a fan of Dragon Ball, Chow declined the chance to direct. Instead, he accepted a role as a producer via his company Star Overseas. Chow`s reason for his decision is that he believes that he should only direct stories he had created. Robert Rodriguez, Mark A.Z. Dippé and Zack Snyder were offered to direct but passed. 20th Century Fox then went on to send the script to writer/director James Wong who accepted. Ben Ramsey, the movie`s writer, wrote the first draft which was deemed too expensive to shoot, and in the end, he wrote about five different drafts of the script following notes from the studio. James Wong wrote the last draft, again according to notes from the studio, but decided to remain uncredited as the co-screenwriter. James Marsters, who was cast as the movie`s villain Piccolo, was a big fan of the manga. Justin Chatwin, who was cast as Son Goku, prepared for his role by reading several volumes of the manga and even the novel it was based on.

When the movie finally came out it was... not good. It wasn`t very faithful to the source material. But if you ignore the sourcematerial (like the movie did) it wasn`t good even standing on it`s own. Characters and plot were both pretty bland and the CGI didn`t look very good. You could tell that this was rushed and made on an unnecessarily low budget.

This movie was made when Tom Rothman was one of the big guys at 20th Century Fox, infamous for micromanaging and rushing movies. Remember, this was the same studio that gave us X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Before the film's release, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama suggested fans treat it as an alternate universe version of his work. In a 2013 interview with Asahi Shimbun, Toriyama revealed that he had felt the script did not "capture the world or the characteristics" of his series and was "bland" and not interesting, so he cautioned and gave suggestions for changes. But the Hollywood producers did not heed his advice, "And just as I thought, the result was a movie I cannot call Dragon Ball."

So... if I had a wish-granting dragon that would allow me to travel back in time and change this movie... what would I have changed?

Son Goku

Nothing against Justin Chatwin, but like I said in my CC of Shyamalan`s Last Airbender; In a time where there are so few roles for asian actors to play, why cast a white actor to play a character who`s name clearly screams "I`m asian! I`m asian!"?

Also: I`d make his personality more like how it was in the Manga: a naive guy who loves food, fighting and improving his fighting skills.

Plot

It starts with a short little man (Prins Pilaf) and his helpers (Shu, an anthropomorphic dog in a ninja outfit and Mai, a black-haired, human woman) finding an ancient teapot, hidden in a wall in a temple. After this we get a little exposition in the form of old, Japanese paintings and a voice-over.

The narrator tells us that according to the old legends there are seven mystical orbs known as "Dragon Balls" in the world. When assembled, they could be used to summon Shenron, a mighty dragon who would grant one wish to the one who summoned him. After the wish is granted, the Dragon Balls are scattered again across the world and become inert for one year.

There once was a powerful devil known as Piccolo who wanted to use the Dragon Balls to take over the world. He fought and lost to a great fighter who used a secret technique to imprison him in a teapot (like the one we saw earlier). And so, the world was saved... at least for a while.

The present: We see a house, about 40 feet away from the house there`s a giant footprint, it looks like it has been there for a few years. In the backyard of this house we see a teenage Son Goku (16 or 17 years old) practicing martial arts. Then he does some other stuff like chopping wood with his bare hands and cooking and eating food. He tells a crystalball with four stars in it: "My first day at school tomorrow granpa. Wish me luck." He goes to sleep.

Next day: Goku, being homeschooled by his granpa his entire life, is a fish out of water. The ugly furbelt that he has around his waist isn`t helping either.

Two bullies harass a meek little guy. Chi-Chi, a girl walking the hallway with her best friend sees them and wants to stop them. Her friend tells her: "No Chi-Chi! Remember what the principal said, if you get in one more fight you`ll be expelled!"

Chi-Chi considers this for a second... then decides to help the little guy anyway, she refuses to stand by when someone is being bullied. Fortunately she doesn`t have do anything because the bullies get distracted by a new guy with crazy, untamed hair, an ugly belt made out of fur who looks completely lost; it`s Son Goku. The bullies try to mess with Goku but he beats them up with zero effort. Later, Goku and Chi-Chi meet in the school cafeteria. They talk a little and Chi-Chi offers to help Goku with his studies so he won`t fall behind. Montage: Chi-Chi helps Goku with his studies, they practice martial arts together and other stuff. Goku reveals to Chi-Chi that the ugly furbelt he keeps wearing is actually his tail, this is why he`s been home-schooled for most of his life. He tells her that once, when he was little, another kid pulled his tail and it weakened him, so the tail is basically his achilles heel. That`s why he has it around his waist so that people can`t easily grab it.

Later in the evening, elsewhere: A girl with her hair dyed blue, about Son Goku`s age, appears to be looking for something. She has some kind of hand-held radar. She wears some kind of utility belt around her waist and stands next to a car.

Saturday: Goku decides to go fishing and meets the girl with blue hair, her name is Bulma and she tells him that she`s looking for something that could lead to a breakthrough in the field of renewable energy. Goku invites her to his house where she finds that he has a Dragon Ball. She pulls out her own two Dragon Balls and holds them close to Goku`s. The closer the Dragon Balls are to each other the stronger the energy that they emit get. Bulma believes that if she can get all Dragon Balls together she can tap them for a source of unlimited energy. And if it turns out that the old legends about a wish-granting dragon being true then heck, she could just wish for an unlimited energy source. Goku is unwilling to part with the only memory he has of his grandpa but Bulma makes a deal with him, he can join her in her search for the other Dragon Balls, and as soon as she has gotten what she wants he`ll get his four star Dragon Ball back. It`s a deal.

Goku: "Wait, is there any full moon tonight?"

Bulma (checks her digital calender): "No. Why?"

Goku: "Bad things happen when there`s a full moon"

Bulma: "Like what?"

Goku: "That giant footprint outside my backyard. It was caused by a giant monster who appeared when there was a full moon. It stepped on my grandpa and... crushed him."

Bulma: "...Oh."

They go outside. Bulma takes out a capsule from her utility belt, pushes a button on it and drops it on the ground. The tiny capsule turns into a car, Goku is amazed. They get in and drive away. They meet Chi-Chi, Goku tells her everything, Chi-Chi is intrigued and joins them. Road Trip!

Elsewhere, a rural town: People are doing their things, hanging up laundry, old ladies are gossiping, children are playing. One of the kids sees something in the sky; an airship. A Red Ribbon Army airship to be precise! (In this version the Red Ribbon Army works for Pilaf.) Piccolo, an old, green, bald, pointy-eared man with antennaes on his forehead is on board this airship. He senses that this town is hiding a Dragon Ball. He raises his hand, charges it with energy and fires. A quarter of the town is destroyed, people run in panic. Piccolo is disappointed in himself, back when he was in his prime a blast like that would have been enough to destroy the entire town.

Prince Pilaf: "Don`t worry, when we have all the Dragon Balls you can wish yourself young again, and then help me take over the world."

Piccolo: "Yes... Of course."

(Piccolo has no intention of helping Pilaf, as soon as he has gotten his full strength back he`ll throw out Pilaf like yesterday`s garbage and take over the world himself.) Piccolo fires more energy blasts at the town, he hates to leave a work half-done.

Act 2: Elsewhere, in the middle of nowhere: Bulma stops the car, she, Goku and Chi-Chi get out and stretch their legs. There is a Dragon Ball not far from where they are. They enter a cave, inside the cave is a temple. We get something similar to the beginning of Raiders of the lost ark and they get their next Dragon Ball.

Bulma takes out a capsule that turns into a futuristic house. They will set up camp here for the night. Little do they know that they are being watched... by Yamcha, a thief, and his shapeshifting, Pokémon-like cat sidekick named Pool. Goku goes to hunt for food, Bulma thinks he`s an idiot since they already have food with them, but Goku is not much for that prepackaged microwave stuff, with it`s tiny little portions and prefers to do it his way. When he is gone Yamcha and Pool sees this as a perfect opportunity to strike. They sneak in and try to steal as much as possible but are discovered by Bulma and Chi-Chi who defend themselves. Yamcha and Pool gets the upper hand but then Goku comes back with a wild boar the size of a car and beats them. Yamcha and Pool flee. Goku, Chi-Chi and Bulma hear the sound of someone clapping their hands, it comes from an old, bald, bearded man wearing clothes with turtle motif. Bulma thinks he looks familiar. The old man saw them fighting and is impressed by Goku`s fighting style and wonders who taught him. Goku tells him that it was his grandpa, Son Gohan. The old man recognizes that name, he was his old classmate back when he studied martial arts. He wonders what his old classmate is doing these days and is a little saddened to hear that he`s dead. The old man offers to teach Son Goku and reveals that his name is Master Roshi. Bulma recognizes that name!

Bulma: "You`re that peeping tom! You spied on women in the bath house a few years ago!"

Master Roshi: "That... that wasn`t me! You... must be thinking about... a completely different person! Who is definetly not me!"

A little later Goku eats his boar and shares it with Master Roshi who shares some stories with him. He tells him that when he was young he studied under the great Master Mutaito, who in turn studied under Master Korin. He shows Goku a "cool trick" that he learned from his old master: an energy projection attack called the Kamehameha. Goku really wants to learn that technique. Bulma and Chi-Chi refuses to let Roshi sleep in the same house as them. Roshi is OK with that and takes out his own capsule that turns into an RV.

Next day: A little montage of the gang travelling and Master Roshi helping Goku to improve his fighting skills. Goku tries several times to do a Kamehameha but fails, Roshi tells him to be patient, it takes time. All this time they are being followed by Yamcha and Pool.

They reach the town that Piccolo destroyed earlier. Yamcha is devastated, his uncle lived there! He joins Goku`s gang, now they have a common enemy.

Their journey continues. Goku and Yamcha trains under Master Roshi. Goku keeps trying to do a Kamehameha, he is doing slightly better now. After hours of focusing he manages, for a fraction of a second, to create a tiny little spark. Yamcha and Bulma bonds a little.

The gang reaches a temple carved out a mountain. Master Roshi has a bad feeling about this, he believes something bad will happen. Mai, Shu and several soldiers from the Red Ribbon Army show up. Fightscene. (Bulma is not a martial artist like the others, but she has guns though.) Piccolo emerges from the temple opening holding a Dragon Ball in his hand. Master Roshi recognizes him. He`s the devil that his old Master Mutaito sealed away years ago! (We get a little flashback: Roshi and Son Gohan were in their mid-twenties when it happened. The technique that defeated Piccolo took so much strength out of Mutaito that it cost him his life.) Yamcha, filled with anger, attacks Piccolo and is swatted way as if he was a fly. Goku attacks Piccolo, their fight lasts longer than ten seconds but Goku is defeated, Roshi fights fights Piccolo but is also defeated. Chi-Chi and Bulma knows that they are outmatched. Mai takes their Dragon Balls, the Dragon Radar and all of Bulma`s capsules. Piccolo plans to kill them but Bulma uses a smoke bomb. Chi-Chi takes the Dragon Balls back from Mai, Goku gets up and picks up Roshi and Yamcha. Bulma gets an idea: run towards the temple! They run. Mai takes back the Dragon Balls from Chi-Chi. Inside the temple entrance Roshi gather what`s left of his strength to fire a Kamehameha that makes the entrance collapse. They are now trapped inside. Piccolo finds their plan foolish, nothing awaits them there except a slow death. He could have finished them off quickly. But he can`t stay to do so, he has used up too much power, doesn`t have time to wait and he has their Dragon Balls, so there`s no reason for him to stay. He leaves, Mai and the Red Ribbon Army soldiers follow him. Goku`s gang wait a while to recover their strength and for Yamcha to regain consciousness. Master Roshi uses a kamehameha to clear the debris, after a few blasts they`re finally out. It`s night... and there`s a full moon. Goku sees the moon and starts to change. He transforms into a giant weregorilla with a tail and starts going berserk. Bulma sees the giant footprint that the monster leaves, it looks just like the one in Goku`s backyard. She puts two and two together; the monster that killed Goku`s grandpa... was Goku himself! Chi-Chi remembers what Goku said to her a few days ago, about his tail being his achilles heel. She tells the others that they have cut of his tail! Pool turns into a sword that Yamcha uses to cut the tail off. Goku turns back to his old self. He is exhausted, both physically and mentally, he sees the giant footprint in the ground. He puts two and two together... and faints.

The next day: Goku remains unconscious. Roshi knows what they should do, he takes them to a wooded area where there`s a very, very, VERY hightower. Pool turns himself into a big monkey and climbs the tower with his hands and feet while holding Goku`s unconscious body with his tail. The others climb after him.

Master Roshi: "I`m getting too old for this."

At the top of the tower there`s a round, almost saucer-like building. Inside the building they meet a short, chubby, talking cat carrying a big staff. It takes them a few seconds to realize that THIS is Master Korin. If Roshi is a (dirty minded) Obi-Wan Kenobi Korin is like Yoda. The gang is tired, exhausted and hungry, Korin gives them Senzu beans that restores their stamina, vitality and gives them full nourishment. He performs a telepathic mind-meld with Son Goku. He goes deep into his subconscious and helps him get over the shock and guilt of accidentally killing his own grandpa. (It`s kinda like that episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender with the guru.) Goku finally wakes up, he is hungry.

How are they gonna find and stop Piccolo? They have no Dragon Radar or means of transportation. Korin helps them by giving them a small cloud called Flying Nimbus that can transport them. It`s a very sensitive cloud though, it only allows Goku and Chi-Chi to ride it. Korin also knows where Piccolo is and points them in the right direction. Goku and Chi-Chi flies away on the Flying Nimbus, Pool transforms himself into a big bird that Roshi, Bulma and Yamcha can ride as he flies after the Nimbus.

Act 3: Mai finds the last Dragon Ball at the bottom of the ocean and gives it to Piccolo. Now he has all seven!

Prince Pilaf: "Now you can help me take over the world!"

Piccolo: "About that... I lied."

Piccolo plans to throw Pilaf overboard but Mai and Shu stands between him and Pilaf.

Mai: "If you want Pilaf..."

Shu: "... You`re gonna have to go through us!"

Piccolo: (shrugs) "OK."

He casually tosses all three of them overboard like they were yesterday`s garbage. They land in the ocean and survive. Piccolo gives a meaningful look to the soldiers around him. They gulp and understand that they are now under new management and quickly adapt to that fact. Piccolo takes the Dragon Balls, jumps off the ship and lands on the ground. He summons the mighty Shenron and speaks his wish. Shenron makes him young again. Piccolo gets ready to destroy Shenron but Goku arrives in the nick of time and interrupts him. Shenron disappears, the Dragon Balls fly up in the air and scatter. Piccolo and Goku fight. The Red Ribbon soldiers try to assist Piccolo but Chi-Chi fights them to prevent them from doing so. Unfortunately the soldiers outnumber her, but fortunately Roshi shows up and evens the odds. Pool drops Bulma and Yamcha off on the ship. Bulma runs through the ship looking for her utility belt, Yamcha fights off any guards who try to stop her. Goku keeps fighting Piccolo. Bulma finds her utility belt, takes a capsule that turns into a rocket launcher and fires it at Piccolo. It doesn`t do much damage. Piccolo fires an energy blast at her but Goku jumps in front of her and takes the hit. Goku gets up, musters all his strength and for a moment, it is as if his grandfather is there with him in spirit to give him extra strength. Goku fires a POWERFUL kamehameha at Piccolo.

Piccolo is (seemingly) obliterated and Goku collapses from exhaustion. He wakes up and we get to the movie`s denouement. Since the Dragon Balls have been used and are now inert for a year there isn`t any big, important, adventurous stuff left for the gang to do for a while. Bulma and Yamcha have grown close and plan to go on a date, Roshi leaves in his RV and Chi-Chi suggests to Goku that the two of them should go on a date. As long as their date is in a restaurant Goku is all for it. He and Chi-Chi fly away on the Nimbus.

THE END

Mid-Credit scene: One year later: Bulma, searching the bottom of the ocean in a Mini-Submarine finds Goku`s Dragon Ball with the four stars.

Post-Credit scene: A flashback/dream sequence: Piccolo, standing in a palace above the clouds meets a doppleganger of himself, wearing a white robe with a blue collar. On his robe he has a red colored kanji that means "God". The doppleganger bids him farewell. Piccolo wakes up, injured but alive.

Now, I could stop here... but I wanna pitch the sequels too.

Dragon Ball 2

Nine years have passed. Bulma`s dream of unlimited global energy has become a reality. Goku now has a seven year old son named Son Gohan. Master Roshi has taken in three new students: Krillin, Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu. Three aliens called Saiyans visit Earth with plans to take over it, their names are Vegeta, Nappa and Raditz, they look human except they all have tails... Just like Goku used to have! Goku is a Saiyan! Piccolo`s doppleganger reveals himself to Goku and the gang (and is now much older than Piccolo himself). He reveals that he is Kami, the guardian of Earth, he is originally from a planet called Namek. It was he who created the Dragon Balls and that he and Piccolo were once one. If he or Piccolo dies the Dragon Balls will cease to function. Kami also reveals that it is possible to wish a person back from the dead, but a person can only be resurrected once, you only get one chance, not infinite chances. Speaking of Piccolo, he starts to work with the heroes now that they have a common enemy, but he insists it`s only temporary. Anyway, the gang fights the aliens. Piccolo dies in the battle as does Nappa and Raditz. Vegeta survives and leaves Earth in his escape pod.

Dragon Ball 3

Goku and the gang travels to Namek, saves a bunch of Namekians, Vegeta switches sides and Piccolo comes back to life. Goku goes super Saiyan, fights and defeats Frieza.

Dragon Ball 4

A young man from the future, (named Trunks) shows up and warns Goku and the gang about a monster named Cell who will threaten the world in one year. The gang prepare themselves for Cell, but they were not prepared for the three androids (16, 17 and 18) who would show up before Cell. They fight the androids, Vegeta learns how to go Super saiyan, Cell shows up, absorbs the androids and become stronger because of it. The gang fights Cell, and manages to pull android 18 out of him. They fight and defeat Cell.

Dragon Ball 5

Goku and the gang fights a Monster/Demon named Buu.

Aand that`s how I would do it. Not great but hopefully something that Akira Toriyama would be OK with.

It is of course very easy for me to write these because I have the luxury of hindsight. And I didn`t have Tom Rothman standing over me, micromanaging the movie to death and pressuring me to get it made before a deadline.

Why do I write these?

For several reasons. I`m nitpicky. Sometimes the movies I criticize aren`t bad, I just like my own ideas better. Sometimes the movies I critize are bad. I care about good storytelling and it`s a fun excerize in creativity and script doctoring.

But also because I have a lot of of free time.

----------------------------------------------------

Written stuff: 60

Started writing this 2024-07-13

I`ve had this on my to-do list for a while now. After I heard of Akira Toriyamas passing I felt that now is the time for me to start writing this, but then for some reason I did my little CC/movie pitch of Spider-Man in the MCU instead. This was originally gonna be my Written stuff number 59.

Comments are appreciated.

Other movies on my Constructive Criticism list that you can look forward to

Supergirl (1984) Jonah Hex (2010) The Spirit (2008) The Dark Knight trilogy

And as usual: English is not my first language, so if my writing doesn`t seem to flow naturally, you know why.

You can find me on artstation. Also: My sister has a patreon if you`re interested.

#editorial #constructive criticism #dragon ball #81scorp

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ulkaralakbarova · 4 months ago

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The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre

When a helpful family invites two lost couples in for a good ol’ down-home massacre, the prom night teens find themselves all dressed up… with no place to escape. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Jenny: Renée Zellweger Vilmer: Matthew McConaughey Leatherface: Robert Jacks Darla: Tonie Perensky W.E.: Joe Stevens Heather: Lisa Marie Newmyer Sean: John Harrison Barry: Tyler Shea Cone Rothman: James…

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singledarkshade · 7 months ago

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So What Does That Mean

Chapter Two

(Chapter One can be found here)

Jack stood just outside the door to the office watching Jackson while he interviewed Robert Rothman, the head of the archaeology department. Maddie was at the camera watching the two men as they spoke. The problem with this interview was the two men were old friends so, every so often, they started talking off on a tangent.

“Daniel,” Maddie interrupted each time, “Stay on topic.”

With a nod Daniel moved the conversation back for another ten minutes or so before the cycle began again. Finally Maddie called an end to the discussion and she turned off the camera. The young woman sighed as the two men ignored her and started talking properly.

“Is that the norm?” Jack asked coming over to her.

Maddie shrugged, “Daniel’s a genius. He hears something that interests him and heads off in that direction. I’ve learned to keep him focussed.”

“Well, I wanted to see how things were going,” Jack told her.

Maddie smiled as she started disassembling the camera equipment, “The past week has gone well. The interviews we’ve done have been really interesting and once they’re edited properly they’ll be great.”

“Edited?” Jack asked worriedly.

Maddie chuckled, “To make sure we stay on topic and you don’t have to listen to Daniel go wandering away from what he’s meant to be talking about. Trust me I’ve spent a good amount of time going through recordings. General Hammond will see the full show before it airs.”

“I was hoping to talk to the good doctor,” Jack told her changing the topic.

Maddie glanced at Daniel who was still talking oblivious to the fact Jack was even there, “Good luck with that.”

“Then maybe you can help,” Jack told her before sighing, “My kid loves the show and thinks Jackson is amazing,”

“But you go through the Stargate,” she frowned confused.

Jack waved away her comment, “I was hoping to be labelled father of the year by arranging for Jackson to talk at his school or something.”

“He would love that,” Maddie told him with a smile, “One of the things Daniel adores is sharing knowledge, especially to kids who want to learn. Give me the details and I’ll arrange it.”

“Thanks.”

The next few days went well and Daniel was surprised to find a school visit on his agenda.

“Maddie?”

“Yeah?” she asked without looking up from her laptop.

“Why am I going to a school this afternoon?” he asked, “This wasn’t on our schedule a few days ago.”

Maddie glanced up at him, “You should look at it more often.”

Daniel frowned at her.

“Colonel O’Neill asked that you speak at his son’s school,” Maddie explained, “I thought since it was a free afternoon it would be a good thing. Good for the show, and it gets you points with the guy in charge of your safety when you go through.”

Daniel rolled his eyes at her, “I haven’t got anything prepared.”

“Here,” she handed him several pieces of paper, “It’s your standard talk and they’re kids. They’ll ask the standard questions plus you will have the leader of SG1 with you.”

Daniel grimaced, “I would prefer you ask me first.”

Maddie rolled her eyes, “If I waited to ask you everything when you’re talking with some of your peers, we’d get nothing done.”

Jack watched Daniel as he stood on the stage in front of the kids who were all so excited to have him there.

“Thanks everyone,” Daniel grinned holding up his hands for silence, “It’s a pleasure to be here and talk to you about the Stargate. It is even more amazing for me because I am here with a very special guest,” he paused and shrugged, “Well special for me because you guys probably know him since he is the father of one of the students here. Colonel Jack O’Neill of SG1 is here with me.”

A little surprised Jack paused for a moment before giving a quick wave when everyone turned to him.

“Okay, let’s start at the beginning,” Daniel said as the lights dimmed and he started the presentation.

Jack glanced over to Maddie sitting at his side, “He’s really good at this.”

“He loves his subject,” Maddie said with a fond smile, “And loves sharing knowledge with people.”

“Colonel,” Daniel’s voice made him turn back to the stage, “Can you join me?”

Feeling Maddie pat his arm Jack made his way up to join the man holding the attention of over a hundred kids. Daniel smiled at him and handed him a blank square of white card before turning back to the audience.

“Charlie, since your dad is the one who set this up why don’t you join him and can I have six other volunteers?” Daniel asked the Principal teacher.

Jack watched as Daniel lined up the six kids handing them each a card while Charlie stood with him taking the blank card when Daniel motioned him to pass it to his son.

“Okay,” Daniel turned back to the audience, “We have six symbols here. Can anyone tell me what they’re for?”

“A Stargate address,” the girl Daniel pointed to answered.

Daniel nodded, “That’s right and does anyone know why there are six symbols?”

Jack grinned when Daniel got the answer he was looking for then went on to explain fully the need for the six symbols as well as the requirement for the seventh. Daniel spoke about the planets through the gate, the transplantation of humans from Earth to other worlds where cultures he’d studied still existed and then he turned to Jack asking questions about travelling through the Stargate. It was informative but also a lot of fun and Jack was surprised to see the younger man who came across as serious and reserved bouncing about the stage enthusiasm pouring out of him.

At the end of the talk when the kids filed out the assembly hall Jack turned to the other man who was getting in the way of Maddie while she was taking down the projector.

“Thanks for that, Doctor Jackson,” Jack told him sincerely, “The kids were enthralled.”

Daniel grinned at him, “And you’re father of the year?”

Jack shrugged, “Means I can get away with not buying the kid the really expensive gifts at Christmas.”

Laughter echoed around the now empty hall before they took their equipment back to Jack’s jeep.

*********************************************

Daniel climbed into the jeep beside O’Neill with Maddie and Charlie in the back seat, he’d told the Colonel they’d get a cab back to the mountain but was told to just get into the car.

“Daddy,” Charlie spoke up, “Can Dr Jackson have dinner with us?”

Daniel was about to say it wasn’t necessary when O’Neill nodded.

“Your mom is waiting for us,” O’Neill grinned at the kid before shrugging at Daniel’s surprised look, “Maddie and I thought it would be a break from the food at the base.”

Daniel looked back at his assistant who rolled her eyes at him, “I have eaten in the commissary so many times the past few days I’ve got marines offering to send doctors to check I’m not ill.”

“My wife Sara has already made dinner,” O’Neill told him, “So I will be insulted if you try to get out of this.”

Daniel chuckled slightly and nodded, “Thank you, Colonel.” “And you may as well call me Jack.”

Jack’s house was in a nice neighbourhood with a neat front lawn and it looked comfortable from the outside. The moment Jack parked Charlie was climbing out and running into the house yelling for his mother to let her know they had guests. The rest of the group slid out of the jeep and walked a little more leisurely into the house where Jack’s wife, Sara, had dinner waiting for them.

“That was delicious,” Maddie said as she and Sara sat in the lounge leaving the men to clean the dishes, “Thank you for inviting us. I don’t know about Daniel but I really needed a home cooked meal.”

Sara chuckled, “You’re more than welcome. Jack mentioned you’ve both been locked in there for almost a week and a half without venturing out.”

“I unfortunately work for a workaholic,” Maddie shrugged with a smile, “He knows he’s only got so long here so he’s making the most of it.”

Sara leaned back with her tea, “So next week, what are your plans?”

“I’m going to work on what we’ve already filmed,” she explained, “And sort through schedules for the lectures we’ve been asked for. I won’t be bored, I can promise you that.”

“Well, you’re more than welcome to join me for dinner at least one night,” Sara told her, “And I have a spa voucher that needs used if you want to join me?”

Maddie grinned at her, “That would be fantastic, though I do warn you that if I come across any journalists, I will be lying through my teeth to them.”

“Does that happen often?”

“There are a few muck-rakers,” Maddie replied with a grimace, “Those who seem to want to make Daniel out to be something other than the nice guy he is. You remember the time they trotted out his grandfather?”

Sara nodded, “Yes. That was horrible.”

“His only living relative is in an asylum,” Maddie frowned, “That must mean he’s crazy. Daniel and Joe had to hold me back at one point.”

“You’re very protective of your boss?” Sara noted.

“My mom basically adopted him,” Maddie shrugged before laughing, “Which trust me he loves.”At Sara’s confused look Maddie clarified, “My mom owns a specialised cake shop.”

Sara laughed, “He’s lucky to have you.”

“And he knows it.”

Daniel smiled as he studied the stars through the telescope on Jack’s roof, “This is fantastic. Being able to see the stars like this.”

“Yeah,” Jack chuckled, “Charlie and I come up here all the time. He loves the stars.”

“I’m guessing it’s getting to be with his dad he loves,” Daniel said softly, wincing when Jack turned to him, “Sorry, I didn’t think I said that out loud.”

Jack shrugged, “You’re right though and I dread the day he doesn’t want to hang out with me.”

“Send him to me and I’ll let him know what a gift having his dad around is,” Daniel told him, wincing again, “Sorry.”

“Your history is pretty well known,” Jack pulled a soda out from the cooler at his side and offered it to him.

Daniel grimaced as he took the bottle, “Which completely sucks as it sort of defines how everyone sees me. I’m the poor little orphan who grew up with a crazy grandfather who didn’t want him, I was kicked out of academia for theories that have now been proven true and I’m looking for someone to take care of me.”

“Do you know what I say to that?” Jack asked continuing before the other man could reply, “Screw ‘em.”

“What?”

“You don’t have to be what they want,” Jack told him, “You’re a smart guy. Be who you want to be.”

Daniel nodded, “Thanks.”

Chapter Three

#stargate sg1 #fic #daniel jackson #jack o'neill #charlie o'neill #sara o'neill #friendship #Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting #alternate universe

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cinquecolonnemagazine · 9 months ago

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Beatles: un arrivo un nuovo film... anzi quattro

In arrivo un nuovo film sui Beatles... anzi quattro. Il produttore, regista premio Oscar, infatti, racconterà le storie originali di tutti i Fab Four, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison e Ringo Star con le musiche originali. Chi sarà l'autore di questa impresa epocale? Sam Mendes: il regista di "American beauty", "Skyfall", "1917" (per citarne solo alcuni). I film sui Beatles: il progetto Non sappiamo ancora quando la quadrilogia sui Beatles uscirà; sappiamo però che i preparativi procedono speditamente tanto che si starebbero cercando già gli sceneggiatori. Sappiamo, inoltre, che il progetto è arrivato sulla scrivania della Sony lo scorso Natale. Sembra che l'entusiasmo di Sam Mendes abbia letteralmente conquistato il Ceo di Sony Picture Entertainment Tom Rothman e la presidente Elizabeth Gabler. Fiduciosi nel progetto hanno fatto alla Apple Corps Ltd. un'offerta davvero interessante. Non è tutto: Mendes è riuscito a ottenere per la prima volta nella storia non solo i diritti musicali ma anche i pieni diritti sulla storia da portare sul grande schermo. E' evidente che il progetto sia piaciuto non solo a Paul McCartney e Ringo Star, i due componenti del gruppo ancora vivi, ma anche gli eredi di John Lennon (il figlio Sean) e George Harrison (la figlia Olivia). Mendes avrà dunque pieni poteri sulle storie: da quanto sappiamo saranno quattro film sui rispettivi componenti della band di Liverpool raccontate in una sorta di connessione tra loro. I Beatles sul grande... Il primo film sui Beatles risale al 1968: "Yellow Submarine". Un cartoon onirico in stile pop art ispirato al celebre brano della band ripropone la storia dei malefici Biechi Blu. Creature ostili alla bellezza, ai fiori e alla musica, sono pronti ad attaccare il paese felice di Pepelandia. Sarà la musica dei Beatles, giunti a bordo di un sottomarino giallo, a ristabilire l'ordine e la pace. Nel 1978 uscì il film d'esordio di Robert Zemeckis, "1964: allarme a New York arrivano i Beatles!". Una pellicola che non ebbe grande successo di botteghino e raccontava, con ironia, non tanto la storia dei Fab Four quanto la cosiddetta beatlemania attraverso la storia di quattro amici del New Jersey che decidono di andare a vedere i Beatles in concerto dal vivo a New York. Ci riusciranno dopo mille avventure. I Beatles sono stati, infatti, un fenomeno sociale oltre che musicale e il film rappresenta una foto della generazione dell'epoca. L'anno seguente esce "La nascita dei Beatles", il primo vero biopic sulla band condotto in modo tradizionale. Il regista, Richard Maquand, racconta gli esordi dei Fab Four e, uscito dopo un decennio senza la musica dei quattro di Liverpool, appare un po' come un desiderio nostalgico di tornare a vederli suonare insieme. I quattro di Liverpool non apprezzarono il prodotto. Uno dei pregi del film, però, è l'aver ricordato la figura di Stuart Sutcliffe, che fu bassista del gruppo dal 1960 al 1961, morì a 21 anni per emorragia cerebrale e che un po' tutti abbiamo dimenticato. Stuart Sutcliffe è il perno intorno al quale ruota anche il film "Backseat - tutti hanno bisogno di amore" uscito nel 1994. La pellicola racconta, per lo più, la relazione di Stuart con Astrid Kirchherr. La fotografa tedesca ritrasse i Beatles in foto in bianco e nero durante i loro concerti in Germania diventate storiche. Sembra che la Kirchlherr sia stata anche l'ideatrice dell'iconico taglio di capelli della band anche se lei stessa rifiuta tale attribuzione. ... e piccolo schermo Il documentario più riuscito sui Beatles è senza dubbio "The Beatles: Eight Days a Week" diretto da Ron Howard. Raccontando la band di Liverpool dal 1962 al 1966 attraverso i loro tour mondiali, Howard ha raccontato il cambiamento prodotto nella società dell'epoca dai quattro. Il regista raccoglie il racconto degli stessi protagonisti fatto di ansie, gioie, gloria e dolore. Raccoglie, poi, la testimonianza di personaggi noti tra i quali Whoopi Goldberg, Sigourney Weaver, Eddie Izzard ed Elvis Costello che quella beatlemania l'hanno vissuta sulla loro pelle. Un'autentica girandola di emozioni che ha anche altri pregi, come quello dell'utilizzo delle tecnologie digitali grazie alle quali filmati dell'epoca sono stati inseriti con una qualità video impeccabile mentre le foto anch'esse dell'epoca prendono letteralmente vita. Pur dopo tanti anni dalla fine della loro carriera musicale, i Beatles sono immortali. L'ultima operazione discografica che ha reso possibile la pubblicazione di un brano inedito di John Lennon grazie all'utilizzo dell'intelligenza artificiale ne è un segno. Sam Mendes è anch'egli una garanzia e siamo sicuri che all'uscita delle pellicole avremo nuove fortissime emozioni. In copertina foto di Christiane Wilden da Pixabay Read the full article

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