#She's probably one of the most feminist feminist to grace comics | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

elizabeth-mitchells · 4 years ago

Text

list 10 different female faves from 10 different fandoms

I was tagged by @lightdescending thank you so much!! i loved reading about your faves <3 so it’s time to pour my heart out for my favorite fictional ladies in the world

1. Elena Alvarez - One Day at a time

Elena is for sure the most relatable character to me! I freak out for days after finding out about her. She’s latina, a lesbian, a feminist, a nerd, so close to her family, dramatic and grumpy, hilarious, and I just love her so much!!! All my favorite odaat episodes are focused on her, I think. The quinces episode still makes me cry like a baby. I relate so much to everything about her, the way she navigates her sexuality, her relationship with her very latina family. and I’m forever bitter the show was cancelled...

2. Dani Clayton - The Haunting of Bly Manor

*terrible british accent* I’ve fallen quite in love with London. And since then she’s lived rent free in my heart!!! I’m obsessed with absolute everything about Dani (and Jamie but I had to pick one). She’s in a constant state of anxiety and still she’s so incredibly brave again and again. She’s impressive, and adorable, and the cutest ghost you’ve ever seen

3. Theo - The Haunting of Hill House

okay this one’s though. because I’m thinking about the book, the old movie, and the Netflix show. In the book I love Nell and her gay awakening more than anything else in the world. But if I include the movie and the show, Nell is just a bit too tragic and a little less gay. So I pick Theo, who brings me so much comfort. She’s fascinating, iconic horror lesbian, and always so much fun? I love her so much

4. Andromache the Scythian - The Old Guard

Do you ever hear Charlize Theron say “I’ve been here before...” and think yep I’m going to devote my life to this character?? Well, I did. Andy is the most, the most, the most incredible character. And criminally underrated and treated not very well by her own fandom but anyway... She’s the oldest person in the world, so old you can’t barely think about it, and still she has a heart so big she can find all of humanity in it!!

now we leave behind characters that changed my soul and move to character that I just love because it’s fun and I’m a lesbian!

5. Tammy - Ocean’s 8

Sarah Paulson!!! She’s Debbie’s ex. She’s cute. She’s hilarious. I love her. “As you know, they’ve never lost a pope.” “The Met Gayla” “Ebay” “You’re becoming a criminal because you’re lonely?” That’s an icon.

6. Helena Bertinelli - Birds of Prey

No I have never read the comics or anything, I just watched the Birds of Prey movie and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is so tall and I’m weak, okay? I have a weakness for tall, socially awkward, deadly, grumpy, unexpectedly funny, undeniably lesbian characters. And Helena fits every mark!

7. Fran - I Care a Lot

Probably not one of my favorite characters ever but definitely one of my favorite characters right now!! Yes, it has a lot to do with Eiza Gonzalez in general and her incredibly chemistry with Rosamund Pike. The crime wives. I love them. I specially love Fran for being so unapologetically in love with a very terrible woman <3

8. Heloise - Portrait of a Lady on Fire

I just love her a lot. Her entire story. Adele Haenel. Her relationship with Marianne. The way she did everything she could to make all the few decisions she was allowed, and just went for what she wanted when she could. She’s fascinating.

9. Grace - Terminator Dark Fate

Okay, yes, technically I only watched the movie veryy recently but... Mackenzie Davis’ arms... incredibly expressive blue eyes, and devotion, and strength, and humor, and absolutely everything about her!!!! Technically I could pick Dani but there’s already a gay Dani on the list, and also another tiny gay latina, but I have a lot of love to give.

10. Therese - Carol/The Price of salt

this was so difficult to choose!!! (shout out to Carmilla and Catra because I almost picked them) but look, watching Carol was lifechanging. and The Price of Salt is incredible and I love Therese from the book soo much more. Not my fault. She’s overdramatic and gay and she brings me comfort!!!

I’m tagging: @lilolilyr @diving-llama @alessandramortt @waxwingsfail @alloutofgoddesses @cryhardanddanceharder @lgeelove

#so i probably didn't have to talk this much but it's done now hgjhdfgjhfd #thanks for tagging me!!!#💗💗#tagged in

7 notes · View notes

thenightling · 5 years ago

Text

LGBTQ pre-2000s terminology context (for people writing period fiction or reading older literature)

Transexual vs. Transgender:

A few weeks ago someone tried to argue with me that a 1990 comic book use of the word Transexual was offensive. I tried to explain that in 1990 this was the correct term. They replied was “It doesn’t matter if it was acceptable back then! It’s still offensive!” But... That’s the point, it was not the offensive term in 1990. It was the ONLY term in 1990.

Okay, a little history. The word “transgender” was only coined in the late 60s and when it was first coined it was by writer Virginia Prince. Viriginia Prince was an early Trans rights activist and she coined it to distinguish between Trans people who do not have surgery (Transgender) vs. those that do (Transexual). That was the original purpose.

Today there is no such distinction, all Trans people identify as Transgender. But the term was rarely used for the first two to three decades of it’s existence. In fact in the 70s into the 90s most Trans people didn’t even know the word transgender, period.

In 1990 Transgender was NOT the correct term for most Trans people. So it’s rather unfair to expect an author to magically know a term most Trans people didn’t even use yet.

Remember, the word meme actually dates back to the 70s. No one expected its present day use and most people in the 80s and 90s would not have known the word. Language is slow to change. And in 1990 transgender simply wasn’t what it is today. Most Trans people didn’t know the word and if they did it was for Virginia Prince’s use, not the modern use.

_______________________________________________

Bisexual and Panasexual:

Panasexual is a very new term. It was coined by Freud, yes, but when he used it, it was not a kind word. It was used to mean sexual attraction to ANYTHING and EVERYTHING, including animals and objects. The modern usage of open to sexual attraction to any person is still very new in the grand scheme of the English language. I’m talking “less than twenty years” new.

Bisexual originally did NOT mean ‘excluding Trans and non-binary” as some people have twisted it to mean. “But… But it has ‘bi’ in it, which means two, That’s binary.”

Back in the 90s we had a joking catchphrase of “I’m bisexual. That means I’ll try anything once.” It wasn’t designed to exclude. The term was only intended to include. Because until bisexual got widespread use there was just homosexual and straight.

The word bisexual is less than a century old. It’s still relatively new. In the 1970s when Bowie told a reporter he was bisexual he had to clarify that it does NOT mean having both male and female reproductive organs. (see the book “David Bowie in his own words” published in 1983).

In the 1990s when Vincent Price’s daughter confronted Roddy McDowell about her father’s sexuality and said “Why didn’t you tell me my father was bisexual?” his response was “We didn’t know the term. How can you deny something if you don’t know the word?”

I used to identify as bisexual. Sometimes I still do. Then it was panasexual. Now I realize I’m probably demi Pan Romantic. I identified as bisexual since the 90s and it’s only recently people have started to use it to mean “only binary attractions.” And I’m so tired of having to explain the history of the word. That’s the only real reason a lot of older bisexuals dropped the term, because we still remember when the word included everything. And for many it still does. We just get tired of explaining it.

__________________________________________

Dyke and it’s debatable reclamation:

Dyke was an offensive term for a lesbian. So was Lesbo but Dyke was worse. For many over the age of twenty there is still a sense of old wounds with the word dyke.

In recent years there has been an effort to reclaim the term but unfortunately a lot of TERFs (Trans exclusionary feminists) also latched onto using dyke with pride. Just look at what comes up right here on Tumblr if you search the terms. Some of them even denounce asexuals as “not counting.”

So I, personally, have mixed feelings about the use of dyke. I can never tell if I’m talking to a lesbian woman just reclaiming an old slur or someone announcing their hatred of Trans woman and ace. And mingle that with the memory of teenagehood insults not yet dulled and I’m just still not comfortable with the term, much as I wish I was.

_______________________________________________________

Other old school LGBTQ terms:

Let me emphasize first these ARE the terms used WITHIN the LGBTQ community. Not used against / at them, but WITHIN.

Friends of Dorothy - Usually members of the armed forces who were in the closet. It meant you were gay. The term’s origin had to do with Judy Garland being an early advocate of LGBTQ rights. Judy played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Somewhere over the Rainbow - Used as an early gay Anthem because of Judly Garland’s status in the LGBTQ community. This is also part of why the pride flag is a rainbow.

Bambi - Feminine lesbian that prefers to cuddle rather than have actual sex.

Butch - Masculine, usually for lesbians. Beard - Wife of a gay man who is still in the closet and using his marriage status as part of his disguise as straight.

Bear - Masculine, hairy, and large gay man. Twink - Feminine and semi-androgynous gay man. Boston marriage (old) - Two women living together as husband and wife, dates back to the nineteenth century. Formerly acceptable: Fag hag - I never liked this one but it was a term for a straight woman who was friends with, or supportive of gay men. You can hear its use in an episode of Will and Grace. It was meant to be reclaimed but it still feels derogatory to me as if you want to shame the allies. Formerly acceptable: Transvestite - No longer favorable. This term was used for people who chose gender nonconforming fashions. Usually a man who dressed as a woman but still identified as a man. Cross-dresser was also once acceptable. But both terms have fallen out of favor. There was a time though that this was the correct term. Transvestite is not to be confused with Transexual (today Transgender). It was specifically in regard to clothing.

Queen - Can be used for flamboyant gay man but mostly short for drag queen and often used for someone who identifies as she / her while in feminine clothing and he / him when not (at average usually preferring the he / him pronouns and treating the queen part as a sometimes aspect of their identity).

King - Reversal of Queen.

Post will be edited as necessary.

#LGBTQ #LGBTQ+

17 notes · View notes

theladyfromplanetx · 6 years ago

Text

Wonder Woman Vs. Captain Marvel: What the Critics Are Saying (and yes, some of them are women)

“The perfectly written, directed, acted and produced Wonder Woman should have been nominated for an Oscar. It paved the way for Captain Marvel to succeed as an art form, at the box office and with a female protagonist in a predominantly male genre. WW casts a shadow so big that any similar film that follows will have to bring its A game to equal it and an A+ game to beat it. Captain Marvel rates a C. It’s distinguished from other MCU movies by its female lead. Otherwise it is way too ordinary and middle of the pack.”

- Dwight Brown

“Perhaps it’s unfair to hold the MCU’s latest feature up alongside the first woman-led film in the rival DC Extended Universe, but a comparison to Wonder Woman (2017) is nonetheless instructive. Where Patty Jenkins’ film expressed its unabashedly female worldview through burning conflicts and graceful characterization, co-directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck seem content to sneak fist-pumping girl-power bromides in between the lines of a generic imperial space-war plot.”

- Andrew Wyatt

“It's no match for Wonder Woman, and that's a shame, because Captain Marvel deserves better.” - Akhil Arora

“Leaping off of the final scene of "Avengers: Infinity War" that gave us all a glimmer of hope, we are immediately made to wonder: Why didn't Nick Fury ever call on Captain Marvel before? When aliens attacked New York, or when a giant robot made an entire country levitate, that wasn't enough "danger" for Captain Marvel to be called on? This doesn't pass the eyeball or the smell test for even the most casual of MCU fans. By all accounts, Fury should have used his magic pager and called on Captain Marvel several movies ago. That truth underlies the whole premise of this movie, making the whole thing just feel...silly.” (I had to add this even though it makes no references to Wonder Woman because it makes you say “ah-ha!”)

- Tom Santili

“It took 21 movies for a solo female superhero film to make it into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Know what else happened over 21 movies? The formula got stale. That Captain Marvel is easily on the weaker end of this sprawling franchise has zero to do with a woman being at its center, it has to do with the center she inhabits feeling unimaginative and repetitive. If Marvel really wanted their first female-led film to have an emotional impact (like, say, Wonder Woman did), they probably shouldn’t have made 20 films that mostly look and feel the same before trying it.”

- Matt Dougherty

“Really, much of the film’s feminism has a hollow, “rah-rah” element that rings as simplistic in a world where Wonder Woman was more overt. Carol’s discovery of her power and besting over the men in her life is good, but it’s a movie that falls back on a 1995 definition of Girl Power, and in 2019 hearkening back to 1995 doesn’t work.

- Kristen Lopez

“Wonder Woman smartly threw Diana into a world of oppressive (and inferior) men, allowing the character to overcome obstacles and succeed in spite of them. Captain Marvel throws Vers into a world of plot holes and “Happy Days” lunch boxes.

- Johnny Oleksinski

“I was bored watching Captain Marvel. I mean, I wasn’t bored like this during the superheroine movie Wonder Woman.” - Matthew Lickona

“Unlike Wonder Woman, which offered a rich, well-thought out backstory and an interesting mythology, Captain Marvel relies on confusing exposition and a scattershot method of universe building that’s not adequate to the task at hand. Wonder Woman had heart and easily forged an emotional connection with audiences; neither is the case here, where the focus is on technical bravura, rat-a-tat-tat pacing, humorous quips, and big “moments.””

- James Berardinelli

“Captain Marvel: Woman, but no wonder.” - Joe Morgenstern

“Instead of treating feminism as a structuring ideology to jump off from – like Wonder Woman so winningly did – Captain Marvel can’t seem to see beyond the idea that Carol is a woman.”

- Radheyan Simonpillai

“And if it came down to a one-on-one between rival franchise uber warriors Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, there is no doubt who would inspire the heavy betting.” - Todd McCarthy

“Two years ago, Wonder Woman proved a female-led superhero movie could reach the highest levels of the genre, with Gal Gadot proving robust and redoubtable, yet also charming and feminine. I spent Captain Marvel waiting for Gadot. What I got was Brie Larson: charmless, humorless, a character so without texture that she might as well be made out of aluminum.”

- Kyle Smith

“Marvel not only finds itself lagging behind DC with its first female super hero, but utterly losing the contest.” - Laura Clifford

“While Larson won a Best Actress Oscar for Room, she’s no Wonder Woman.”

- Susan Granger

“Let’s get the bad news over with quickly: Captain Marvel is no Wonder Woman. Ever since superhero mania took hold of movies, DC Comics has had one, and only one, advantage over Marvel — a great female, feminist superhero. Marvel Comics couldn’t touch that. Marvel still can’t.”

- Mick LaSalle

“To be blunt, it’s insulting that Marvel felt simply making its first leading woman “one tough chick” would be enough to placate female fans. All the male Avengers' origin stories feature character flaws, physical weaknesses, and romantic interests who complicate their missions. Captain Marvel has none of these things. It’s impossible not to compare her to DC’s leading lady, Wonder Woman, who proved so winsome, warm, and witty she alone breathed life into the flailing Justice League franchise. Diana Prince’s Amazonian strength and agility, combined with her traditionally idealized feminine traits like innocence and beauty, create a nicely complex mix. Her chaste romance with self-sacrificing soldier Steve Trevor only compliments her loveliness. Over the course of the story, Steve helps her learn some hard lessons about her own naiveté that ultimately make both of their heroics more meaningful. Captain Marvel, in contrast, has nothing to learn beyond discovering that even those supposed flaws some man-mentor kept yammering at her to restrain are really strengths. Every challenge she faces is because someone with an XY chromosome is trying to box her in. She overcomes them by throwing off her male-forged shackles. So Wonder Woman willingly leaves the Eden-like perfection of Themyscira to grapple with humanity’s capacity for evil and weigh whether their fallenness still makes them worthy of her sacrifices. Captain Marvel returns to Earth on a journey of self-actualization to struggle with the idea that she’s even more awesome than she thinks she is. Which one sounds like a real role model for girls?” - Meghan Basham

“Carol Danvers, could not be any duller compared to Gal Gadot’s goddess-like DC Wonder Woman if she tried.”

- James Vernier

“Captain Marvel’s message feels corporate, ultimately coming across as if Marvel knows they’re playing catch up. It only took DC four movies in four years to make a solo, female-led superhero movie. Marvel’s been doing this for ten years.”

- Kendra James

“But this busy, uneven origin story also feels like too little, too late. Audiences have already been thrilled to the sight of a super-she-ro in 2017’s Wonder Woman. What might have been a cathartic thrill a few years ago now takes the form of a question: What took you guys so long?”

- Ann Hornaday

Then there’s this video.

#Captain Marvel #Wonder Woman #Marvel Comics #DC Comics #film criticism

3 notes · View notes

thesydneyfeminists · 7 years ago

Text

Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette Review

By: Brittany L.

27th June 2018

It’s pride month and the 40th anniversary of the first ever Sydney Mardi Gras, so that means it’s time for some Lesbian Content™. Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette is now streaming on Netflix, and everyone and their mother (literally and figuratively) should watch it. I’m not normally a fan of standup– probably due to the long list of ex-boyfriends who tried to convince me poorly veiled misogyny and racism is the best thing to ever grace the planet. So, when I first saw Nanette advertised, I wasn’t too keen. But when an old friend and mentor of mine shared a ravishing review on Facebook, I decided to give it a try. It’s only a little over an hour long, so not as time consuming as a movie, or even a decent series binge. I figured it would be a good way to detox after finishing my final paper of the semester. I was wrong. Nanette is not a lighthearted show, by any means. In an interview, Gadsby specifically states, “I really wanted the audience to have a bit of a shock … This show was more of a push back against the majority culture of it all”.

That being said, Gadsby is brilliant in her performance. She will have you laughing until you’re sore. In the same breath, she will yank your whole world out from underneath you. Nanette is shocking, confronting and, in many ways, uncomfortable. It will shatter your heart and leave you reeling. Despite, or probably because of, this fact, it is very much worth watching.

To start, I want to give a bit of background on Hannah Gadsby, because context is important, especially for this performance. Gadsby was born and raised in Tasmania, the “bible belt of Australia” as she calls it. Although she’s been a well-known comic in Australia for years, she’s a fresh voice to the rest of the world. Before she started performing comedy, Gadsby studied Art History at ANU, a fact she jokes about throughout Nanette. If you don’t think classical art can possibly be funny, you’re in for a treat. Gadsby makes the art scene both accessible and hilarious. She calls out the entire Western canon and, more specifically, Pablo Picasso, for their deeply rooted sexism and racism. The male gaze and, by extension, female oppression is nothing new for Gadsby. She rightly reminds her viewers women have been trying to speak this truth for years; the #MeToo movement, while critical, is built on the backs of so many silenced women. She also speaks eloquently and knowledgeably about mental illness in art. In an interview for another show she works on, titled Nakedly Nude, Gadsby reiterates “You can’t change the story, but you can change the way you tell it and what you focus on,” she says. “You can’t rewrite history, but you can shake it up”. And shake it up she does. No topic is off limits for Gadsby. She leaps gracefully (and sometimes purposefully not-so-gracefully) between a large range of subjects throughout her show.

A major theme running through Nanette is Gadsby’s coming out story. Gadsby is an outspoken lesbian and built her career off what she calls self-deprecating humor. One of the most gut-wrenching lines in the show is simply, “Do you know what self-deprecation means coming from somebody who exists on the margins? It is not humility; it is humiliation”. Towards the beginning of the show, Gadsby sets up a joke about coming out to her mother. It’s a good joke, mostly because it’s relatable. But as the show progresses, Gadsby calls out the toxic and cyclical paradox of marginalized groups relying on humor as a coping mechanism. In a comedy show, her coming out story must stop at the point of tension. That’s what makes it funny. But she’s been living the rewards and consequences of that story for years now and is ready to move past that point. Jokingly, but also somewhat seriously, she responds, “I identify as tired.” This tiredness is apparent at different points during the show. It’s not the kind of tired that a short nap or even a good night’s rest will cure. Gadsby is tired of the world and she isn’t afraid to let you know about it. And she’s not only tired. Gadsby is angry. She gives voice to the anger so many women around the world are feeling and channeling today. It’s not a blind rage, but a constructive one. No one in Gadsby’s audience is safe from the difficult yet necessary effects of self-reflection.

Gadsby begins Nanette by swearing off comedy. It’s been a noxious atmosphere for her recently, and she believes it’s finally time to let it go. Gadsby then spends a large portion of the show dragging comedy culture through the mud. She realizes the contradictions of her acts, and masterfully allows room for them all. The strength of Nanette lies in its ability to encompass many seemingly conflicting topics. As one critic states, “Nanette oozes emotion, like a raw and weeping wound, but has the strength of a great mind and a canny comedian behind it”. Gadsby’s skills as a comedian give her the freedom to critique comedy while simultaneously relying on it to explode her story into the world. Gadsby refuses to sugar coat her story or package it into an easily digestible form for her audience. She wants us to grapple with all the complexities of her life and, in doing so, our own. The result is magnificent, if heavy on the soul. Nanette is a crucial watch for all women and feminists. Despite the anger and bitterness, the show is ultimately full of hope. Gadsby reminds us how it is possible to work within the structures that bind us while also using them to build something new. To conclude, I want to leave you all with some of Gadsby’s words, which I think ring especially true today. “There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself.”

Sources

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewhusband/2018/06/18/hannah-gadsby-nanette-netflix-interview/#763319ed2512

https://uproxx.com/tv/comedy-after-hannah-gadsby-nanette/2/

https://www.bustle.com/p/who-is-hannah-gadsby-nanette-on-netflix-is-a-must-see-for-comedy-fans-9194901

http://ew.com/tv/2018/05/22/hannah-gadsby-nanette-netflix-special-announcement-exclusive/http://ew.com/tv/2018/05/22/hannah-gadsby-nanette-netflix-special-announcement-exclusive/

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/feb/19/hannah-gadsby-on-the-male-gaze-in-art-stop-watching-women-having-baths-go-away

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/arts/hannah-gadsby-comedy-nanette.html

https://www.thecut.com/2018/06/hannah-gadsbys-nanette-and-the-limits-of-laughter.html

https://dailyreview.com.au/nanette-review-hannah-gadsbys-brilliant-netflix-special-going-set-fire-internet/75701/

https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/comedy/why-hannah-gadsby-is-retiring-from-comedy-after-nanette-20170628-gx0313.html

Image sources:

Hannah Gadsby Nanette (kind of blue tone): http://comedy.com.au/tour/hannah-gadsby-nanette/

Gadsby interview: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jun/27/hannah-gadsbys-nanette-dares-to-dream-of-a-different-future-for-ourselves-and-for-comedyGadsby with art: https://anz.newonnetflix.info/info/80233611/s

#Nanette #hannah gadsby #stand up #comedy #feminist #feminist comedy #australian comedy #lgbt+ representation #review

2 notes · View notes

yeonchi · 5 years ago

Text

Doctor Who Series 12 Review Part 5/10: Fugitive of the Judoon

Air date: 26 January 2020

The Doctor Who fandom is in further meltdown this week as we deal with further bombshells on top of all the bombshells from the series up to this point.

My spoiler-free thought for this episode: “We’re gonna need David Tennant back at this point to explain what is going on.”

At this point, I have caught up with the last three episodes. Weekly posting of reviews will continue from next week. Spoilers continue after the break. Make sure you’ve watched the entire series up to the end of this episode before you continue on.

That big bombshell

Before the series started, we did get confirmation that the Judoon would be returning. That was a pretty good cover for this episode.

This week, we saw the debut of a new Doctor played by Jo Martin. Talk about representation, amirite? Look, in all honesty, I’m not too worried about this being an SJW red flag over this being something that could potentially rattle the status quo of Doctor Who. John Hurt as the War Doctor did do that, but eventually, we came to understand that it was because of three reasons - there was a discrepancy between the Eighth and Ninth Doctors in that there was no regeneration, Christopher Eccleston was unable to return for the 50th Anniversary and Steven Moffat wanted to explore what would happen if the Doctor used up all twelve regenerations.

On a side note, Jo Martin is pretty good as the Doctor. It should also be noted that she is the first black Doctor in the series (maybe not actually the Doctor depending on how this series turns out). What are the chances that this was done for fanservice because people were expecting a more radical choice for the Thirteenth Doctor (as if Jodie Whittaker being female and a feminist wasn’t radical enough)?

Personally, I’ve never been a fan of Chameleon Arch stories. I think that if you (forcibly) conceal yourself as a lesser species despite having superior powers, abilities and knowledge, then it demeans who you really are and makes you look like a bit of a coward. John Smith put it best in The Family of Blood when he was struggling over whether to open the fob watch and become the Doctor again as it meant that this John Smith wouldn’t exist anymore. In the end, he didn’t stand up and insist on staying John Smith, thus making him a coward either way.

So, upon becoming the Doctor again and learning that 13 is also the Doctor, Ruth (we’ll call her this from now on) surmises that the Doctor is from her future, yet the Doctor doesn’t remember being Ruth. Given the design of her TARDIS and her not recognising the sonic screwdriver, I’m surmising that Ruth is based on the classic series Doctors. Let’s take a look at three possible theories I’ve come up with.

Theory 1: Parallel universe/Alternate timeline

This seems to be the most popular and easy-to-explain theory among fans. It would certainly explain the Master’s reappearance and it doesn’t change the status quo too much. However, Chris Chibnall said that Ruth is “definitively the Doctor” (how that sentence even makes sense I don’t know) and that there is no parallel universe involved, which could potentially jeopardise everything.

The Doctor Who Wiki documents many incarnations and alternate versions (including non-canonical versions) of the Doctor other than those we have seen onscreen. However, the fact that Ruth might come from a parallel universe would be too simple unless it’s part of a bigger thing in the story arc. I’m foreseeing a Dimensional Merge thing going on.

(If Peter Cushing actually ends up being acknowledged as canon or an incarnation of the Doctor onscreen, then I’m going to be pissed)

Theory 2: The Valeyard

The Valeyard, a villain from the Sixth Doctor’s Trial of a Time Lord series, was seemingly forgotten until it was mentioned twice in the Moffat era, during The Name of the Doctor and Twice Upon a Time. The Valeyard is apparently an amalgamation of the Doctor’s darker sides from between his twelfth and final incarnations - in terms of the Doctor’s first set of regenerations, it would technically be between the Tenth (post-Journey’s End) and Eleventh Doctors. However, now with the Doctor’s new regeneration cycle, people seemingly like to stretch it out to after the Twelfth Doctor’s era, so anything goes at this point. It would explain Ruth’s darker side during the confrontations with the Judoon and her willingness to bear arms when the Doctor opposed it.

Theory 3: Pre-Hartnell Doctor

This would be the most dangerous theory because it would drastically change the status quo of Doctor Who. During the Moffat era, the show seemed to reinforce the fact that all and only all of the Doctor’s incarnations up to that point were the Doctor. The child we saw in Listen was basically the First Doctor.

The details of the Doctor’s birth and upbringing are very conflicting because different Doctor Who-related media seems to have their own interpretation of it. The 1997 Virgin New Adventures book Lungbarrow details how The Other, one of the original founders of Time Lord society alongside Rassilon and Omega, would reincarnate himself into the loomed Doctor. I don’t like the idea of the Looms, though, so things might be questionable for me if they are canonised. Chris Chibnall has said in an interview around the start of Series 11 that he had not been able to find a copy of Lungbarrow, but chances are that whatever happens will be even more complicated than whatever I’ve theorised.

The return of Captain Jack Harkness

This was another surprise in this episode. As such, this makes Jack the first companion from the revived era, or more specifically, the RTD era, to reappear in the series. Sadly, the return of Jack Harkness may have been fanservice as well as Chibnall also said that he won’t be appearing again in Series 12. If you’re going to have fanservice in order to advance the story, then the fanservice should be more involved in it, like Rose Tyler in Series 4. With the announcement that the Cybermen would return in the Series 12 finale, I would have expected Jack to return then.

So what did Jack warn Graham, Ryan and Yaz about? He had them tell the Doctor to “beware the Lone Cyberman” and not to give it what it wants. He also mentions that an “alliance” sent something back through time and that somehow because of it, the Cyberman empire is in ruins. What this and/or Ruth have to do with the Timeless Child we have no idea yet, but I’ll be sure to keep watching.

Other general thoughts

Since the term was coined in the 2017 Free Comic Book Day comic The Promise, the fob watch portion of the Chameleon Arch has been known as the biodata module. The fire alarm in the lighthouse acted as Ruth’s biodata module; having it in a stationary location does make it harder for it to be noticed, particularly if perception filters are involved.

In the next time trailer for this episode, I thought that Ruth was Grace. And people say all Asians look the same.

Why didn’t the Doctor ask more questions to Ruth if she was confused at whether she was her or not?

Ruth gives the Doctor five points for guessing how she disguised herself on Earth. We haven’t seen the points system for a while now. For those of you keeping track at home, Yaz is on 10 points (S11E5), Ryan has a gold star, which I presume to be 10 points (S11E6) and the Doctor is on 5 points. Way to underestimate.

Following this episode, the next two episodes are also co-written by Chris Chibnall. Whether they will have more details to build onto the story arc is unknown yet.

Summary and verdict

No tokusatsu references in this episode. There was a big SJW red flag, but that was overshadowed by the story arc. Regardless, Ruth and Jack served as mere fanservice to advance the story and I expect to see them again soon.

Once again, I’ve finally caught up on the episodes now, so we will be returning to the normal posting schedule next week. I didn’t complete all the reviews for the last three episodes all in a day - my mind gets tired whenever I’ve done something big.

Rating: 8/10

Mid-series review

Compared to the same period in Series 11, the first half of Series 12 was definitely more dramatic than Series 11. We had a two-parter reintroducing the Master, a story about climate change and an Edison vs. Tesla episode. I thought there weren’t going to be a lot of SJW red flags, but Episode 3 alone proved me wrong. Still, the SJW agenda is less of a problem for me this year than it was last year (though I’m still going to be cautious).

Here are my ratings for the series so far:

Episode 1: 8/10

Episode 2: 8/10

Episode 3: 5/10

Episode 4: 9/10

Episode 5: 8/10

Mid-series total: 38/50 (76%)

Compared to the mid-Series 11 total of 70%, this is probably the better series for me so far. I think the returning characters and story arc really helped.

Stay tuned next week as I review the sixth episode, Praxeus.

#doctor who #doctor who series 12 #thirteenth doctor #doctor who series 12 review #thirteenth doctor review

0 notes

smokeybrandreviews · 6 years ago

Text

Smokey brand Movie Reviews: Just a Girl

So i saw Captain Marvel opening day. I was part of that rush, yes. Cap was one of my most anticipated films of the year for me. She’s actually my fifth favorite Marvel character, second favorite female character. When i heard she was getting a film, i was apprehensive. No one knows who Cap is. They don’t know how powerful she is. Hell, how would that power-set translate to the MCU? When they announced Brie Larson was going to play Carol, i was concerned. Not because Brie is a feminist or man-hater as the less intelligent parts of the internet would like to focus on, but more she didn’t fit the bill for an MCU hero. Larson is an excellent actress, one of my favorite working today. What she ain’t, is charismatic. There’s a different type of energy you need to carry an MCU film and Marvel has done an excellent job of finding people who capture that spirit. Brie has never demonstrated, in any of her roles, an ability to do that. I was super on the fence about this entire situation. I want this film to succeed. I want it to be good. I want Captain Marvel to get he shine she deserves. My fingers were crossed this would be good. And then the less intelligent parts of the internet got to it.

I wrote about this at length in my Captain Controversy post. The thing about Captain Marvel, the thing that i love about her, is the small moments. When she interacts with other characters, she's super on point. In a team dynamic, Carol is amazing. On her own? Not so much. This stems from the fact that the origins of her character are from that whole women lib movement of the 70s. She's a rule 63 of the original Captain Marvel, Mar-Vell. She-Hulk kind of has the same issues but, given proper writing and development, they both shine. Carol, however, has not had the same luck in that department as Jessica and it shows. Throughout the years, as a comic entity, Carol's had, like, three stories that have been dope - all of them occurring in the late 00s until now. Bendis has done a great service in developing Carol into her own, independent, personality and the recent revelations in her new origin, The Life of Captain Marvel, have gone a long way to establishing a future where Captain Marvel can be great. She has a ton of potential to be excellent and I think, as a creator, I am drawn to that aspect of her. Plus, she has had some really dope costumes over the years. Now, I said three good stories because the bulk of Captain Marvel in modern Marvel comics, has, more or less, become a poster child for gender politics and THAT sh*t is whack! That sh*t is why none of the fanboys want to have anything to do with this character. And casting Brie Larson, a very vocal feminist, does not help in any capacity. All of that White Male Outrage has review bombed the f*ck out of this film and I don't think it deserves any of it. I think, removed from all of the butt-hurt Menisists and fragile male egos, there are very real issues with this film. Issues that hinder but never detract. This is why I took so much time before writing this review. I actually wanted to digest what I saw on the screen and try to distance myself from my admitted bias and this weird, sad, unwarranted hate, this flick has been getting. So, with a properly digested understanding of what I saw, here is what I thought about Captain Marvel.

The Good

They changed the opening Marvel title card from MCU events, to all of Stan Lee's cameos and that sh*t hurt, man. They ended it with “Thank You, Stan.” The entire theater lost it. It's been a few months, but that loss still hurts, man. Marvel Comics means a lot to me and Stan is one of the principal architects. Say what you will about the quality of his character, the strength of his work will stand the test of time.

Speaking of Stan Lee cameos, this is easily his second best after the one he had in Spider-Verse. If you're a 90s kid, or someone who grew up during the 90s, you'll know why. It's f*cking brilliant and I loved it. I bet Kevin Smith did, too.

Sam Jackson knocks it out of the park as usual. His Nick Fury has been the linchpin of the MCU since way back in the Iron Man stinger. You see a lot of who he was before all of the responsibility and SHIELD clout, which was mad refreshing. If we loose RDJ, I think we'll be alright if we can keep Sam around for the occasional pop-in.

I think Brie Larson did fantastic in her first stint as Carol. I mean, with the exception of RDJ and Tom Holland, who f*cking knocked it out of the park as Pete, every other MCU hero needed time to grow and figure out HOW to be those characters. We had, what? Three different Hulks before they hit that sweet spot with Ruffalo? It took Hemsworth four movies before he cracked Thor? Hell, Cummerbund had to have two films and an end credits stinger to get Strange right. What I'm saying is, a lot of what cats are dinging Larson for, will work itself out over time. Especially when she gets into the think of it with everyone else in Endgame. Also, a better script and director would go a long way to helping that growth, as well.

The chemistry between Carol and Nick was wonderful. His movie is a buddy cop flick more so than any other in the MCU so far. I think Carol needs that to play off and, in the comics, she usually has Jessica Drew, Spider-Woman, to do a lot of that with. Considering it looks like the MCU is going in another direction with that, which is a shame because that dynamic would be awesome to see onscreen, what we got with Fury and Danvers was great.

This guy Ben Medelshon? How great of an actor is he? Dude is almost always the best part of any film he's in, even if they're trash. Like, he was the best thing but Ready Player One and that movie was a right clusterf*ck. Mendelsohn in this, is just as brilliant as he was in that, pulling off what no other villain in the MCU forced to wear such heavy face make-up has been able to do; Act. Mendelsohn's Talos, even caked with an inch of green paint, was never not charismatic and human. Dude was amazing and it kind of paints the MCU into a corner as to how to make these cats terrorists later which is messed up. I was kind of looking forward to Veranke...

The soundtrack for this thing s probably the best since Black Panther. Personally, being of negro descent, I think THAT soundtrack is the best of the MCU. Kendrick created a goddamn masterpiece, man. But I would imagine the more accessible Awesome Mix vol 1 is more the masses speed and, I agree. That sh*t is awesome. I haven't heard all of Vol 2 so I can't comment on that one but, what we got in Captain Marvel, was absolutely wonderful. There's a scene where No Doubt's Just a girl starts playing and it made me smile. It's a little on the nose but still, a great time.

Goose was awesome. I kind of hate that they changed her name from Chewie to Goose, but I get why. Air Force. Top Gun. Danger Zone. Clever. Flerkens and Feminism, man.

Speaking of, the message this movie sends for little girls is amazing. Wonder Woman had kind of the same effect but I think Captain Marvel is the superior film, overall. That and Carol is literally the nuclear deterrent of the MCU. She is, by far, the most powerful hero on the Avengers roster. For it to be a woman? Fantastic! I've seen so many positive affirmations and uplifting testimonials from women about how this movie made them feel. That sh*t is important, man. I'm all about representation in media so to have such a monumental moment being taken in like it should, in spite of such... immature hostility, was great. When I was walking out of the theater, I saw a little girl absolutely gushing about how cool Captain Marvel was and that sh*t legit made me smile. She's a fan for life and might grow up to be the next great creator who makes some pretty cool stuff because she went to see a movie, about a girl who can do some pretty cool stuff. If that sh*t doesn't make you feel good, you're an asshole and need to get off my page, post-haste.

This movie is f*cking gorgeous. Cap's powers translated to the screen brilliantly and even her Binary mode was something to behold. Like, if we ever get a proper, live action, DBZ, they should take note because watching her go super saiyan was f*cking amazing. It kind of sucks she had no one to go super saiyan against. I'd loved to have seen her go up against Ronan and his hammer but nope. Maybe next time? Even more than that, the de-aging effect of Fury was kind of miraculous. Sam Jackson looked younger than his stint as Jules in Pulp Fiction, which is suppose to be out around that time in the film. I was shocked.

The Meh

The supporting cast in this was a little flaccid. They felt more like meat targets than viable characters in this flick. Everyone touted Gemma Chan's Min'Erva as someone to watch but, nope. She didn't do much but sit on a rock/platform and shoot things from distance. The return of Son of Coal? Nope. Like, 4 minutes of Clark Gregg, which sucked. Annette Bening? One of the greatest actresses to ever grace Hollywood? Pulling double duty as a gender swapped Mar-Vell and The Great Intelligence? Nope. She literally just stood or laid around in every one of her scenes. Lee Pace? Man, this didn't even bother giving Ronan the face makeup. Jude Law was Yon-Rogg was completely underused. I think, though, that everyone except Jackson and Brie were underused.

Kind of in that same vein, the overall character development In this was... underwhelming? You never get a feel for who Carol is. Even when she commits to one personae over another, you don't really care. She's dope, overall, but that's more because of her interactions with Fury than any semblance of self realization on her part. Essentially, the weakest part of this film stems from how the writing let the main character down. This thing doesn't look like there was a lot of Marvel Films edicts to bog it down so there should have be a wealth of free range to develop this character. We did not get any of that. Maybe in future films but this one? Nah.

This thing has no idea what it wants to be, where it wants to go, or how it wants to get there. The tonal whiplash in this movie is crazy jarring. The performances and effects do a great job of distracting you from most of that but, if you're paying attention to the structure of this film, you can see it clearly. There was no path, no consensus, on how to introduce this character and her story. In that regard, this is one of the weakest of the MCU films, for sure.

There are hints of a grander scope in this flick. We saw a bit of Hala. We saw a bit of the Accusers. We learned a bit more about the Kree. The Starforce interactions were awesome. The second we get to earth? All of that out the window. That could be forgiven if what we witnessed on earth was more fleshed-out, more organic, but this was kind of a paint-by-numbers tale. I think that has a lot to do with the direction. Speaking of which...

The Bad

Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck were the wrong people to make this movie. You needed someone with the vision to deliver a massive space opera but focus in on the character struggle and inner conflict of Carol Danvers. You had a great actress to help pull of that vision but the ones trying to guide that performance were out of their depth I think. The pair do a lot of low budget, character driven, indie flicks, and that's fine. Those films have a very specific tone, a very specific line of execution. That type of storytelling does not lend itself to a tent pole MCU film. Sure, Marvel has been great as finding diamonds in the rough to make masterworks out of the mundane (The Russos, James Gunn, Ryan Coogler) but they have also had a lot of misses. Whoever did the first two Thor films, letting Edgar Wright go over creative differences, and now these two cats. I'm not saying they are bad directors but, for this type of film? Horrible choice, I think.

Kind of in that same discussion has to be the mediocrity of the overall writing. The dialogue in some of these interactions was outright awful. Like, anytime Ronan was on screen, I kind of groaned. Anytime Bening had airtime, I rolled my eyes. These excellent actors that I've seen give much better performances in other flicks, had next to nothing to work with in this flick. That can be said about everyone in this movie. I feel like there should have been much more care given to this script considering it's going to be Carol who carries the next Phase of Marvel films.

While I loves the Grrrl power message laced throughout this flick, the way it was delivered seems a little heavy handed at times. That scene where Just A Girl playing? I love that sh*t. But, at the same time, I can see how it could alienate a vast swath of fans. It's ill to me because why shouldn't we celebrate a powerful woman coming into her own? I, personally, don't see anything wrong with it but I'd be considered a cuck by men less than myself and that's who will have an issue with this. Unfortunately, they make up a massive portion of the fanbase who see capeflicks. That being said, even with all of the tirades, tantrums, and review bombs, Cap might break 100 mil, which is great for the franchise and the MCU overall.

There is a real lack of imagination in this movie and I think it goes back to the the choice in directors. I touched on it a little before, but, I mean, you have a galactic space opera, taking place on two planets, with a ludicrously OP, female, protagonist who has amnesia so is an absolute clean slate, and the best you can do is a sun-of-the-mill, fish out of water tale? F*cking really? There are little moments of brilliance here and there but overall, this was underwhelming for 9ne of the most powerful character in Marvel comics.

The Verdict

I really enjoyed Captain Marvel. I thought it was a decent introduction to a character that had, up until very recently, no direction in the lore of the Marvel mythos. This movie has it's issues, for sure, but I think these things can be fixed with a different director, a better script, and much, much, more imagination. I think the biggest issue with this thing is the utter lack of Marvel. It doesn't feel like a Marvel film. It feels like a Marvel film by way of Fox or Sony. This is, more or less, because the character of Captain Marvel is also so wayward. There are a lot of good ideas here and I am convinced Brie Larson can develop into something special, but it's going to take a while. It's going to take someone with a clear vision for spectacle and respect for character. Thor took a while and Taika Waititi to be great. Strange took a while and the Russos to feel organic. Lang took a while but, I mean, Paul Rudd was awesome from the get. He just shines much. Much better when alongside others. I think going forward, if Feige can find that right balance of creativity and vision in the creatives behind the camera, Captain Marvel will be great. As she is now, just like this movie, she's fun but hollow. Marvel hasn't cracked Captain Marvel just yet but when they do, she'll be absolutely Marvelous. Ultimately, I'd say check it out. It's beautiful, entertaining, and Sam Jackson is always awesome. For a weekend distraction, you can do much worse.

0 notes

smokeybrand · 6 years ago

Text

Smokey brand Movie Reviews: Just a Girl

The Good

Goose was awesome. I kind of hate that they changed her name from Chewie to Goose, but I get why. Air Force. Top Gun. Danger Zone. Clever. Flerkens and Feminism, man.

The Meh

The Bad

The Verdict

0 notes

filmdiagnostic · 8 years ago

Text

Their Finest ★★★★☆

Synopsis:

A British film crew attempts to boost morale during World War II by making a propaganda film after the Blitzkrieg. - Written by IMDb Editor

Film Review:

A film about filmmaking in the time of war. Their Finest is a movie that will touch your heart through love and laughter as it is a story about courage and inspiration in times of great need.

During the World War II, a group of filmmakers together with the Ministry of Information attempted to make a film based on two sisters who tried to escape their drunken dad, despite their failure due to their boat’s broken engine. The two sisters took home a story of hope for the many soldiers fighting against the German army. These were the famous English soldiers in Dunkirk. Apparently, according to the papers, the sisters took home soldiers trapped in Dunkirk and saved their lives.

The story may not have been accurate as the sisters never made it to Dunkirk and had to return home. The story was the other truth written by “Mrs.” Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton). Mrs Cole, who is a comic section writer for a newspaper, was summoned by the Ministry of Information for the Film Department, to help shed some wit to the overly sulking films during that time. They needed her writing skills and bring a different perspective to the same dull films that have not boosted the morale of the English soldiers. Tom Buckley (Sam Claflin), a not so charming man and one of two leading film writers in the department was not so optimistic about Mrs Cole at the beginning. However, they eventually got to know each other throughout the filming process- making him warm up to her more. Both ended up liking each other more than as friends and as colleagues. Gemma Arterton was great in her role as Mrs Cole; she was graceful and very captivating. Sam Claflin was brilliant as Tom Buckley; he did the character impressive performances in the film.

Among the main casts of the apparent film in the movie was Ambrose Hilliard (Bill Nighy), who was extraordinary in his role. An excellent comic relief and probably a stand out character throughout the film. He portrayed a narcissistic yet soft-hearted man who denies being old but eventually agrees to play Uncle Frank, the drunken old uncle of the twin sisters.

A unique perspective on war and how the regular people go about their business during that time. The movie also showed the many deaths due to the bombings, will remind us that these things actually happened. And despite that many people died, the rest remain to live in the hope that one day the war will end and there will be peace again.

Not to mention the feministic approach of the film made it fascinating to watch. To see how women back then having significant roles in society. As well as being acknowledged and given importance to, most especially during those times where women were not as independent, is quite extraordinary to see.

A lighter side to a time of darkness makes this film very enjoyable to watch. It delivers a story about hope and shows what life was like during the war for ordinary civilian people. This movie is genuinely touching and romantic as well as hilarious in different levels. Very entertaining and thoughtful!

NZ Release Date: April 13, 2017

#theirfinest #movie #comedy #drama #romance #billnighy #gemma arterton #sam claflin #movieblogger #nzblogger #filmdiagnostic #funny #hilarious #touching #life #war #warmovie #worldwar

35 notes · View notes

dax-cooper · 8 years ago

Text

9 Reasons Deadpool is Surprisingly Feminist (NSFW)

1. Four Excellent Examples of Strong Female Characters.

Vanessa, is a quick-witted sexually adventurous woman attracted to Deadpool for reasons beyond his physical appearance. Angel Dust, literally a strong female character who can go toe-to-toe with Colossus and is not shy about her Lesbian activity. (She recognized Vanessa because she frequents that strip club.) Negasonic Teenage Warhead though meant for the purpose of mocking teenage angst, still a powerful ally in control of herself. Blind Al, a crotchety elderly person that shows how women can be just as disgustingly funny as men. Also she’s not within the typical age range of 18-24 years old, a female demographic over-represented in hollywood. (Seriously, I bet the number of women over the age of 35 in superhero movies is less than the number of times I’ve watched Brony porn. Hint: Less than three…I was kind of curious and I wanted to see what the rage was about…and no shame if you’re into that kind of thing because clearly Deadpool is–which leads me to my next point.)

2. It’s Okay for Men to Like Unicorns.

Yes, feminism means men get equality too! For example a man can possess feminine qualities (graceful, nurturing, emotional) like feminine things (pink, dolls, fashion) and still like vagina, without being called derogatory terms. Besides unicorns are awesome and everybody should like them. They are glittery war machines which look amazing while impaling your enemies. Clearly, they are Deadpool’s favorite mythological creature.

3. “Happy International Women’s Independence Day”

If you’ve seen the movie then you know what I’m talking about. (Spoilers) We all know Deadpool was kind of into it. (See every Deadpool comic ever.) Here’s a hint: lots of women want to try it.

4. Gender Fluidity

Deadpool himself is a gender fluid character. Though the plot of the movie is the classic damsel in distress, it doesn’t mean that he’s locked in with the uterus express for the rest of his life. Deadpool is well known for his wide range of sexual attraction. An example is the end credits sequence in which he shows his attraction for Ed Skrein. When was the last time you saw an action hero consensually taking it from behind?

5. “I pity the guy that pressures her into prom sex.”

Ultimately this is a nod to every female who has had the unfortunate experience of being pressured into sex (It happens more than you think.) But Deadpool is pointing out that Negasonic Teenage Warhead is more than capable of handling herself and pathetic losers should beware. Notice I said ‘losers’ in general because ya know… women will pressure people into having sex as well. (It happens more than you think.)

6. Three Excellent Examples of Emotionally Mature Men.

Wait a minute… does that mean…Deadpool is emotionally mature???? Sure it does, ultimately he’s a guy dealing with terminal cancer who uses a revenge plot and humor to cope. (There are worst ways of coping–like crack.) He never picks on the weak or powerless to feel powerful. At the beginning of the movie he helps out the girl in the skate park and does not expect redeemable sex. On Wade and Vanessa’s first date, when presented with the instant opportunity of engaging in sex he chooses…ski ball. He’s not a man ruled by his sexual desires, like so many men in pop culture are perceived to be. Not to mention, he gives the bad guys an opportunity to walk away. Feminism calls for men to be allowed to show emotions other than rage and sexual ferocity. Deadpool shows a vast array of emotions from joy to despair. Major props to Ryan Reynolds for possessing the acting chops to pull it off.

Colossus is an all-around gentleman. Though practically a walking fortress, still manages to be gentle, considerate and believes in a higher standard of morals. He tries to convince Deadpool to do the ‘hero’ thing, allows Angel to fix her costume during a wardrobe malfunction, and he is disgusted with violence. Men should be allowed to dislike violence just as women should be allowed to like violence.

Weasel is a good example too but barely skates under the wire because he’s a bad friend (Betting on Wade’s death, making fun of his appearance, getting distracted at a strip club during an important moment.) However, he is supportive of Deadpool and Vanessa’s relationship, occasionally encouraging Wade to pursue it. Or even laughing along with Wade while he goes through his darkest times. Perhaps he placed that bet against his friend because he is confident in the fact that, “He never wins at anything,” and therefore Wade is safe from death. He may be a good/bad friend but, more importantly, he’s honest about his actions. Example: “I’d go but I don’t want to.” At the end of the day, honesty counts for a lot.

7. Equal Display of Genitalia

So many times women are the ones naked on screen, which happens in this film. Mostly we get well-endowed breasts and ass, occasionally we get hints of vagina. However, there are so few times men are naked on screen. Penises…Penes?…Penii(I had to google it) are the most underrepresented genitalia in film, probably second to man butt, and then followed by vagina with hair. But in this film we get equal representations of both sets genitals. We get Wade penis and butt as well as breasts, female ass with a dildo attached, and vagina. This film is an equal genitalia employer.

8. Demonstrating the Realistic Problem of Female Costumes.

Angel Dust’s wardrobe malfunction is shedding light on a major problem in superhero films. Superhero female costumes are hella unpractical, more so than male costumes. Realistically, there would be a nip slip in every battle. Everyone one on the planet would have seen Wonder Woman’s melons by now–different comic universe I know. Take it from us well-endowed females…these things need to be strapped down when in motion.

9. Slaughtering the Box Office on Valentine's Day Weekend.

We always expect the big movie on Valentine’s day weekend is the love crazed-women dragging their obedient boyfriends to yet another Katherine Heigl movie (just kidding Katherine you’re lovely). But no…this year it was equally men and women secretly rejoicing that such an awesome movie would be dawning on a weekend that would make date night exciting. The fact that Deadpool broke records at the box office and claimed king of the weekend meant female ticket buyers contributed to the success. (Believe it or not–but women will pay for date night.) Which undoubtedly proves women can enjoy violence and butt jokes just as much as men. And at the end of the day isn’t that what gender equality means? I dream of a world where men and women can laugh at butt jokes together!

#Deadpool #Feminist #Ryan Reynolds #Fanart

874 notes · View notes

chicagopdlover · 7 years ago

Text

27 inspiring examples of vintage posters

These vintage posters prove that we still have plenty to learn from the poster design of decades gone by. The idea of creating posters to advertise products harks back to the 1870s, thanks to the development of the stone lithographic printing process by French artist Jules Chéret. Prior to this, it was only possible to print black and white text. The new process meant brands all over the world could turn their marketing ideas into striking, colourful vintage posters. The new approach shot to popularity, and was soon being used to promote everything from movies to drinks. Here we round up the best vintage posters that have stood the test of time. Click the icon in the top right of each image to enlarge it 01. Sarah Bernhardt Alphonse Mucha had a long-standing professional relationship with Sarah Bernhardt Alphonse Mucha began his artistic career painting theatre sets, before eventually trying his hand at advertising illustration after relocating to Paris in 1887. In 1894, he was visiting a print shop that urgently needed a poster to advertise a new play starring the famous Sarah Bernhardt. Mucha's lithograph design attracted much praise and attention, and Berhardt was so impressed she began a six-year contract with the artist. The above vintage poster was one of many created during this time. 02. Kaffee Hag If you thought decaf was a modern horror, think again Lucian Bernhard was the full design package – graphic designer, type designer, interior designer and artist. He was also the main force behind the Plakatstil ('poster style') design style, which used reductive imagery, flat colour and bold typography to convey a message simply and quickly. His 1914 poster for Kaffee Hag is a brilliant example, instantly selling the notion of decaf as a cup of coffee that won't turn around and bite you with side-effects. 03. Dubonnet Cassandre’s Dubonnet poster was designed to be seen by motorists The advent of the motor car in the early 20th century provided new opportunities for poster designers in the form of roadside advertising hoardings, as well as new challenges: how do you get your idea across to people in fast-moving vehicles? Ukrainian-French painter and poster artist Adolphe Jean-Marie Mouron (known as Cassandre) rose to the challenge with this 1932 poster for Dubonnet, designed to be read and understood from cars whizzing past at high speed. Cassandre also introduced the idea of serial posters; a set of posters placed to be seen in quick succession, in order to convey the full message. 04. Le Chat Noir Le Chat Noir’s iconic poster design has inspired over 100 years of poster design Perhaps one of the most well known vintage posters of all time, this iconic advertisement for the Parisian entertainment establishment Le Chat Noir was created by Swiss-born French Art Nouveau painter and printmaker Théophile Steinlen. It epitomises the Bohemian, Art Nouveau style and cabaret culture of late 19th century Paris that stemmed from the legendary venue, which in its heyday served as an artists' salon, music hall and busy nightclub. Buy a Chat Noir fine art print here 05. Braniff Airways Braniff’s simple poster design injects some fun into air travel Back in 1967, leading Central and South American airline Braniff International Airways underwent an image overhaul, along with new brand colours and aeroplane designs. Following its redesign, the company merged with Panagra Airways and released a series of fun, whimsical posters advertising its destinations. This poster for Argentina features an Argentinian gaucho. A cultural icon, these country people lived off the land north of Patagonia, and were the South American equivalent of the North Western Cowboy. 06. Max Huber Max Huber lent his typographic graphic design style to record covers, music magazines and more Swiss graphic designer Max Huber worked with numerous advertising agencies throughout his prolific career. However, he is perhaps best known for his seminal poster for the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza 1948 Grand Prix. His typographic style relied on grid theory and is committed to a clear, bold and rational aesthetic. Many of Huber's logo designs are still in use today. 07. We Can Do It! This vintage poster has spawned many copycat designs Perhaps one of the most iconic images of the 20th century, American graphic designer J Howard Miller's beloved Rosie the Riveter was designed to boost morale during WW2. This vintage poster is still used today, and has been re-modelled for use on everything from modern feminist texts to tattoos, as well as spawning numerous parodies. Miller's bold illustrative style mirrors the comic books popular at the time and defined an era of advertising. Buy a We Can Do It retro tin sign here 08. Vers Le Mont Blanc A minimalist design with an Art Deco twist These gorgeous travel poster designs were created by artist Geo Dorival in 1928. The minimalist design features a silhouetted countryside, through which a single road leads your eye to the big, beautiful mountain in the French Alps that it's promoting. Dorival created three different versions – day, night and dusk – and all are equally striking. 09. TWA Artist David Klein used bright colours and abstract styles in many of his poster designs for TWA American artist David Klein designed and illustrated dozens of posters for Howard Hughes’ Trans World Airlines (TWA) during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1957, this stunning TWA poster of New York City became part of the permanent collection of the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York. In many of his designs, Klein used bright colours and shapes in an abstract style to depict famous landmarks and scenes of cities around the world. Best known for his influential work in the field of travel advertising, Klein's iconic images are much imitated. 10. Biere Allary Original French advertising by artist Jean d’Ylen Jean d'Ylen created this beautiful vintage poster in 1928. The design draws inspiration from the work of Italian poster art designer Leonetto Cappiello. Much of d'Ylen's work features large, colourful images on a contrasting background – this striking beer poster being a prime example. 11. Rouge Baiser Blindfold Illustrator Rene Gruau was a firm favourite in the haute couture world Renowned fashion illustrator Rene Gruau's artistic career began in the 1920s and continued right until his death in 2004. Gruau created a vast library of chic fashion illustrations, including pieces for Miss Dior, Vogue and Elle. His distinctive aesthetic, with strong lines and stark contrast, made him a favourite in the haute couture world. 12. Harper's One of 75 poster designs that Edward Penfield created for Harper’s magazine It's impossible to talk about American poster design without mentioning Edward Penfield . Often referred to as a master of graphic design, it was during a school exhibition that Penfield's work was first noticed by the art editor of Harper's Magazine. The artist would go on to create no less than 75 posters for the magazine . 13. Austria Kosel’s distinctive travel posters are instantly recognisable Born in 1896, Hermann Kosel studied at Vienna Academy of Fine Arts and began his artistic career as a portrait painter at the age of 24. For a while, his work was focused around creating commercial travel posters for various companies. This one highlights the beauty and culture of Austria. 14. Absinthe Robette This beautiful Art Nouveau print for absinthe was created 1896 In the late 19th century, the popularity of absinthe coincided with the increase of large lithographic advertising posters as a commercial and artistic medium. Some of the greatest artists of that period created vintage posters for the alcoholic beverage, including Belgian poster artist Henri Privat-Livemont, who illustrated this iconic Art Nouveau Absinthe Robette image in 1895. Buy Absinthe Robette as a fine art print now 15. Parapluie-Revel Leonetto Cappiello created nearly 1000 pieces in the early 1900s Poster artist Leonetto Cappiello became a household name in the early 1900s after producing nearly 1000 eye-catching advertisements for various campaigns. Probably his most famous is this beautiful Parapluie-Revel poster. The design features three figures blown about by a storm while the Revel umbrellas stand firm. Buy Parapluie-Revel as a fine art print here Next page: 11 more inspiring vintage posters 16. Monaco 75 This poster was created by artist Michael Turner for the 1975 Monaco Grand Prix This striking vintage poster for the 1975 Monaco Grand Prix was created by talented artist Michael Turner. Turner let his illustration do all the talking, opting for minimal type and a strong image. The vibrant and eye-catching colour palette puts the car centre-stage, accompanied by a beautiful illustration of Monaco in the background. 17. Tomorrowland This Space-Station X-1 silk-screen poster graced the walls of Disneyland in the late 1950s Disneyland has been using silk-screen posters since 1956 to give visitors a taste of the attractions inside. The theme park area that inspired the most brilliant designs was sci-fi-focused Tomorrowland. This Space Station X-1 graced the park's walls in the late 1950s. It promoted a ride that took visitors to view a large painted panorama of the continent via a rotating platform. 18. Normandie Cassandre’s image of ocean liner Normandie has become iconic in 20th century Art Deco design Cassandre created this image to promote travel on the famous ocean liner Normandie. The design has since become an icon of 20th century Art Deco and Modernist poster design. A worm's eye view emphasises the ship's size, as well as creating some drama within the poster. The original design features the name of the ship underneath it, however, a few rare variants can be found with the type replaced with 'New York'. Amazon has a giclee print here . 19. Austin Reed British designer Tom Purvis created many posters for clothing store Austin Reed Regarded by many as one of the finest commercial artists of the 20th century, British artist Tom Purvis created countless poster designs during the 1930s, one of the most famous being his campaign for retailer Austin Reed. The above design was created for the store in Leeds, Yorkshire. 20. Canadian Pacific Railway Peter Ewart created 24 posters during his 17-year working relationship with Canadian Pacific This iconic design was part of a campaign for Canadian Pacific Railway during the 1940s and 50s. The series was created by Canadian artist Peter Ewart , whose commercial career was inspired by the likes of Cassandre and Tom Purvis. Ewart's dynamic designs and illustrations caught the eye of many, and led to a 17-year relationship with Canadian Pacific, during which time the artist designed 24 posters and two serigraphic prints for the company. 21. New York's World Fair Joseph Binder created this stylised version of a better world of tomorrow Austria-born Joseph Binder is the designer behind this beautiful vintage poster for the 1939 New York World's Fair. Titled 'Building the World of Tomorrow', the fair's main purpose was to try to lift the spirits of the US following the peak of the Great Depression, and drive business to New York City. During this period a renewed belief in science and technology provided hope and a much-needed antidote to the general feeling of hopelessness and confusion. Binder's brilliant design offered a stylised version of that better world of tomorrow. 22. Artistide Bruant French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec uses simple outlines and solid blocks of colour Aristide Bruant's was a well-known cabaret singer, comedian, and nightclub owner in late 19th Century Paris. Famous French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created this poster to promote his café-cabaret at the Ambassador's in 1866. Several years later, the design would be flipped to created a new poster promoting a different show by the performer. The eye-catching illustration makes an impact with simple outlines and a pared-back colour palette comprised of solid blocks of colour. 23. A Willette exposition This is just one of hundreds of vintage posters from French artist Jules Chéret Jules Chéret was a French poster illustrator and graphic designer often celebrated as the father of the modern poster. During his career, he created hundreds of posters for cabarets, theatres, well-known brands and expositions, including this one for artist A Willette. Chéret's composition shows careful consideration, drawing the eye to the dominating central figure, and also using prominent hand-lettered titles, areas of glowing colour and a simple background. 24. Orangina Graphic artist Bernard Villemot is known for his humorous poster designs for Orangina This humorous Orangina poster was created by graphic artist Bernard Villemot, who created equally memorable designs for Bally and Perrier. Villemot used simple, elegant lines and bold colours to produce his light-hearted, contemporary designs. Since his death, his iconic images have become increasingly sought-after by vintage poster collectors. 25. La Goulue Toulouse-Lautrec captured the decadence of the Moulin Rouge perfectly This poster design for the Moulin Rouge is another by French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. When the cabaret opened, Toulouse-Lautrec was commissioned to create a series of posters, with this design being one of his most well known. The piece captures Moulin Rouge dancer La Goulue ('the Glutton') in a provocative pose, with the lanky frame of partner Valentin le Desosse silhouetted in the foreground. The scene captures the decadence of the Parisian nightclub perfectly. Buy a print of this poster here 26. Bitter Campari Leonetto Cappiello used bold figures against black backgrounds in many of his campaigns Italian painter and art designer Leonetto Cappiello designed this beautiful Bitter Campari poster in 1921. Cappiello's work caught people's attention immediately, with many of his creations featuring bold figures popping out of black backgrounds – a startling contrast to the posters seen up until that point. He is now often referred to as the father of modern advertising because of his innovation in poster design. 27. Tintin Orange Tintin and Snowy share a refreshing bottle of Orange Soad in this vibrant vintage poster In 1962, illustrator of the Tintin comics, Georges Remi (aka Hergé), collaborated with French graphic artist Raymond Savignac on this vibrant print advertising the Tintin Orange Soda soft drink. This is just one of many striking posters by Savignac – the talented artist also created various designs for Pepsi and Perrier during his career. Related articles: Are movie posters in a design crisis? 4 classic movie poster designs making a comeback 10 killer examples of illustrated ad campaigns

from Christian David Biz https://ift.tt/2JjDb56 via Article Source

#Christian David Biz

0 notes

fashiontrendin-blog · 7 years ago

Text

‘Book Club’ is an Okay Movie and a Truly Great Time

http://fashion-trendin.com/book-club-is-an-okay-movie-and-a-truly-great-time/

‘Book Club’ is an Okay Movie and a Truly Great Time

Photo via Paramount Pictures

Book Club is not a good movie and I enjoyed every ridiculous minute of it. It’s like comfort food, but the boxed-macaroni-and-cheese kind: just good enough to remind you of the real thing. You see every moment of tender romance from a mile away, the main group of ladies is as archetypal as a group of ladies can be, and the movie cuts away to a literal cat when vaginas are mentioned, but it’s still fun as hell.

You would be forgiven for thinking Book Club is a Nancy Meyers film, as it contains many of the key traits of the The Flustered Trials of 60+ Upper-Middle-Class White Women school of cinema: no fewer than four bouquets of flowers on screen at a time, an endless parade of flattering blouses and a finale that ends in a tender “mature” adult romance. It was actually directed by a guy named Bill Holderman.

Starring Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen and Jane Fonda, the movie centers around the titular book club that is thrown into a tizzy when one of the members suggests that they read “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Libidos are revitalized, friendships are challenged and romance blooms, all against the backdrop of a traffic-less L.A. area.

Before I pick this fun-loving romp apart, let me tell you that, a day later, I am still giddy from the whole viewing experience. My friends and I audibly laughed multiple times, as did the two men on either side of us who came solo. It’s delightful. I think the most frustrating thing about the movie, though, is I could never quite track its self-awareness. A lot of the jokes are bad — so bad that I had to assume the writers knew what they were doing. It is aggressively, almost comically white; there are maybe four people of color in the entire thing, and at one point Don Johnson says “true dat.” There are so many friendship clichés packed in that I could almost defend it as ironic. You know how this goes, the script seems to say, this one’s sexy, this one’s kind of clueless, this one’s sarcastic and this one is Diane Keaton.

All that being said, I am confident I will watch this on Amazon Prime in three months.

Written by Bill Holderman and Erin Simms, neither of whom are attractive middle-aged women but I won’t hold that against them, Book Club draws on so many successful formulas you can’t help but hold it up to the light of other, better pieces of pop culture. It begins with a Diane Keaton voiceover about their friend group while the camera pans over a series of fake black and white photos of the women created by someone who lied about being proficient in Adobe Creative Suite. It’s essentially the 2018 version of my other divorcee-focused fave, The First Wives Club. There are jokes about Jane Fonda eating ice cream that I could swear popped up in season 1 of Grace & Frankie. There’s what appears to be some light green screen action throughout, which could be an homage to old Hollywood movies or the result of some budget constraints. Candice Bergen’s character is a variation of Bea Arthur’s Dorothy from The Golden Girls, and Mary Steenburgen is trying her hardest to imagine what it’s like to not be married to Ted Danson.

Please pause for the note I wrote that took up half a page in my notebook: HAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY ANDY GARCIA. Co-starring as a hot pilot who drives a gold convertible, Garcia pursues Keaton with a whole bunch of sensual mumbling. It was nice to see these women presented as just as desirable as their suitors; the idea that Keaton’s character is too old for Garcia’s is not a plot point. It’s only her two demon adult daughters intent on dragging her off to the Buca di Beppo-laden town in Arizona that are standing in the way of her happiness. Bergen’s character isn’t thrown into some existential crisis about her arms when her ex gets engaged to a younger woman; she instead decides to get herself back out there. In fact, she signs up for Bumble while wearing a face mask and holding her glasses upside down in front of her face, which is the relatable intergenerational content I am here for.

Cheekiness aside, the movie misses out on engaging in a frank discussion about older women’s sexuality and the way we as a culture talk about sex. The light BDSM in “50 Shades” — which serves as a punchline for most of Book Club — didn’t seem that revolutionary to me, as someone who spent too much time on Tumblr in 2010. It would have been more interesting if the script had delved into what this modern mini-sexual revolution would have meant for these women, who were presented as being liberal and fun-loving second wave feminists yet were completely taken aback by the book. We also never see anyone do more than kiss which, like, COME ON. It seems like a moot point to talk about diversity and class issues in movies like this, but a contribution to the sexual discourse would have fit in so seamlessly I can’t help be feel disappointed by the lack of it.

But still: I had a great time! It was a really nice escape. All of the leads are fantastic and seem to be having a ton of fun. Diane Keaton wears a hat in a pool! There’s a two-minute bit about boners! Alicia Silverstone is there! Was it worth the $17 dollars I spent and the possibility of getting bed bugs I welcomed to see it in a movie theater? Probably not. But if you find yourself flying from Seattle to Boston or something, I recommend you order a large white wine and allow the ladies of Book Club to keep you company with all their powdered cheesy goodness.

0 notes

bibliophilicmedstudent · 8 years ago

Text

I am so glad to be nominated for the Liebster Award by Jeannie @ The Happy Clam! Thank you so much! Be sure to check out her awesome blog!

What is the Liebster award?

The Liebster Award is all about building out the book blogging community. Specifically, it’s a way to highlight newer blogs that don’t necessarily have a large following yet (less than 200). You get to discover hidden gems of blogs, make new book blog friends and learn more about the bloggers you already follow!

Rules:

Thank the person who nominated you and post a link to their site on your blog

Display the award on your blog

Answer 10 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you

Nominate 5-10 other bloggers for the award

Create a new list of questions for your nominees to answer

List these rules in your post

Inform the people/blogs that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post so they can learn about it

Questions:

1. If you could live in any book universe, which would you pick?

I’ll have to pick the Shadow World by Cassandra Clare! The Mortal Instruments is the first book series that I commit myself into and the one that reignited my passion for reading – so it has to be it. I absolutely love the world building: the brave and graceful Shadowhunters, the (bloody) Clave, the chaotic Down World comprised of Vampires, Werewolves, Faeries and Warlocks. As much as I want to sound modest, I have no doubt I’ll be an excellent Shadowhunter ;)

2. Assemble a team of literary badasses to help you fight off the zombie apocalypse. Who would you choose?

Definitely Aelin Ashryver Galathynius and Rowan Whitethorn from Throne of Glass, Kaz Brekker + Inej Ghafa + Jesper Fahey from Six of Crows, Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn from Lady Midnight, Jace Herondale from The Mortal Instruments, and probably Ronan Lynch – with his sass and all haha.

3. Pick a book or character that most closely resembles you or your life.

BLUE SARGENT from The Raven Cycle!!!!! I am probably in most ways similar to Blue: we are both feminists, opinionated, sarcastic AF and don’t get close to any boys unless necessary. Appearance wise, I’m practically her: black choppy bob, short, compactly built, wear old and second hand clothes (t-shirts, boots and patchy denim everything you name it). I dream of having a squad, having a psychic ability, oh did I mention I am obsessed with nature?

4. What is your favorite movie or TV show adaptation of a book?

Well Riverdale from Archie comics is technically a book right? haha! I AM OBSESSED WITH THE RIVERDALE TV SHOW I HAVE NEVER EVER BEEN THIS OBSESSED WITH ANY SHOWS SO THIS HAS TO BE IT! (Ok, if it still doesn’t count, I’ll go with Harry Potter).

5. If you were to write a book about your life, which author would you want to write it?

Hmmm, I would have to say Cassandra Clare – since she would definitely spice things up in my ordinary life hehe! I also reckon Maggie Stiefvater would do a brilliant job at it! Maybe I’ll find myself a Gansey someday haha.

6. What is your favourite time and place to read?

This depends on the season: If it’s in summer, I like to read after dinner on the living room couch or on my bed. In winter, I like to read during the afternoon or at night on my bed snuggled underneath my blankets.

7. What is your favourite reading time snack?

Coffee, tea, nutri-grain cereal, and rice crackers (seaweed flavour).

8. List 3 facts about yourself that are totally unrelated to books and blogging.

My favourite food is pasta and acai bowls (I can eat either for every meal every day)

I am a huge procrastinator – I probably should be writing an reflective essay right now but ah well.

I can play the piano, guitar, ukulele, flute and harmonica.

9. What is your current and/or dream job?

I’m currently in medical school (a 2nd year student), and (for now) I want to specialise in psychiatry or neurology. It’s my dream job to become a doctor for those in need, I hope to volunteer to third world countries and work for Doctors Without Borders sometime after I’ve graduated as a fully qualified doctor.

10. What is the best book you’ve read this year?

Oh this is a hard one! Can I please pick two? It’s a tied between This is Our Story by Ashley Elston and Frostblood by Elly Blake.

Nominations:

The following are some of awesome the blogs I follow which have less than 200 followers. Be sure to also check them out!

Bree @ Jasper and Spice

Emily @ A Bookish Adventurer

Katie @ Foxy Readers

Kalli @ K The Ravenous Reader

Michaela @ Floralink Books

New Questions for Nominees:

What advice would you give to new book bloggers?

What genre of books do you enjoy most?

What is that one book that made you reflect for a long time?

What has been the most rewarding part about having a book blog?

If possible, which fictional world would you take up permanent residence?

What is that one book/ series that really got you into reading?

Is there a book that you think everyone in the world should read and why?

Favourite reading time and snacks?

Who are your top 5 OTPs?

Finally, what are some of your favourite quotes?

Even if I haven’t tagged you, I’d love to hear your answers to my questions in the comment section! Hope you enjoy reading this and I better get back to study some haematology! Happy reading in the mean time and catch y’all next week!

The Liebster Award I am so glad to be nominated for the Liebster Award by Jeannie @ The Happy Clam…

#Award #Bookish

0 notes