#a group of adults and I showed them the way to the cinema

[whump-it-like-its-hot]

Okay but the feeling when you do something, and someone tells you to stop, but you keep doing it and then in the end someone appreciates the thing you kept doin and you just

thank you random person I will love you forever

[joeburrowshaircurl]

A Lovely Night

summary: You meet Joe for the first time at the movies. Set during the off season of 2024 after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl against the 49ers.

paring: Joe Burrow x shy anxious reader

warnings: fluff, anxious thoughts, social anxiety.

words: 1,502

a/n: sat down and cranked this out all at once. I don't know if I like it. Eyes hurt from proofreading multiple times so apologies if I missed something. For now this the only part. But it could have potential to be multiple parts depending if people like it or not? Maybe? Happy reading y'all!

Solo movie dates had become your thing, but it hadn't always been this way. There had been a time when you had struggled to leave the house for work. Sometimes those days still happened, but for the most part, you were proud of yourself for your newfound sense of freedom. It had taken a lot to get to this point. Watching movies and acting out movies with your friends had always been one of your favorite things to do growing up. As an adult, Saturday Night became a designated 'movie night' as a way to de-stress from the week. Whether it was at home, or at the cinema, depended on what was playing.

The one positive about Covid had been the shift to being able to get tickets online and pick your seat ahead of time so you could get your snacks, and head to your seat to look at your phone without anyone bothering you until the movie started. Or so you thought.

The first time you had seen the handsome tall man was in March during a showing of Dune: Part 2. He'd shown up with two other men after the lights dimmed for the preview trailers and you hated when people showed up late. It was pet peeve as yours, your anxiety often caused you to arrive at least 15 minutes early anywhere you went.

You tried your best to not watch the group as they made their way to their seats, which was in the same row as yours, but a few seats away. You caught glimpses of their faces, the tall one putting his hand up in apology before he sat down. You gave a polite smile before you looked away. Giving a small annoyed huff through your nose, you decided to take a small handful of popcorn and focus on the trailers until the movie started.

You had mentally prepared for the 2 hour and 46 minute run time of the movie, but as the credits rolled and you looked at your watch, you were shocked to see how much time had gone by already. You had been gripped by the movie from start to finish and as you stretched, you noticed the three men were gone which confused you. You hadn't noticed them leave. Did they leave early? Why did they come see Dune if they didn't like Sci-Fi? You brushed it from your mind, figuring you'd never see them again. Especially not the tall one.

The next time you went on a solo date to the movies was only a month later in April. Bill Skarsgård was one of your favorite actors and the movie also happened to release near your birthday so you had decided to see it. Yes you were spending your birthday weekend alone but at this point in your life, you had gotten used to it. You were planning on being a spinster for the rest of your life.

As you made your way to your seat, you had to go by a guy who had his hood up. Thankfully the aisle was large enough where you didn't have to get too close to him, but he was man spreading and had his phone in front of his face. You were more focused on not hitting his foot then tripping and spilling your popcorn everywhere. "G6...G6..."

You had been repeating your seat number quietly to yourself once you had to put your phone in your pocket to carry your drink and popcorn. You always got the same seat in the very back if you could, it was easier to remember. The last thing you wanted to do was sit in someone's spot and embarrass yourself. Little did you know, the man was grinnng as he heard you.

Once you were sitting and set your popcorn bucket carefully on your lap, you triple checked you were in the right seat on the app and breathed a sigh of relief as you get comfortable.

"You okay over there?" You heard a voice to your right.

You looked over, your cheeks turning pink. He looked familiar.....

Then it hit you that it was the same guy who had arrived during the trailers last month when you had gone to the movies to see Dune Part 2. But his friends weren't with him this time.

"Oh, yes." You smiled at the man, meeting his eyes before quickly looking down and away and back at your phone. Great, now he was going to think you are crazy. You glanced over at him to see him looking at his phone. Then you looked around the theatre. There wasn't many people here yet. He was early for once.

"A-are you excited for the movie?" Your heart was pounding as you tried to make small talk. Had he even heard you? It was a bad habit of yours to mumble when you were nervous.

He set his phone down when he heard you and looked over at you. "Ehhh not excited, but it's something to do, gets me out of the house." He smiled at you. You were struck by his smile, his teeth were so white. Suddenly you were self conscious of your smile. "You?"

It took a second for you to process that he was keeping the conversation going. "Me? Oh a little bit. I'm a Skarsgård fan, I promise I won't giggle too much. I just find him an excellent actor. I'm just doing something fun for my birthday." It had slipped out before you knew it. The last thing you wanted was sympathy. What was so bad about spending time alone? Nothing, you thought.

Your heart sank as you noticed the frown appear almost instantly on his face. "You are spending your birthday alone? Your friends aren't taking you out? That's no good. Well happy birthday." He smiled again, and you felt your cheeks get warm.

"Thank you. My birthday isn't today but it is the birthday weekend, as they say. I don't have many friends here besides my co workers." You weren't even sure if you could count co workers as friends as you were strict about keeping work separate from your personal life. "I haven't been in Cincinnati long."

His eyebrows raised slightly. "Oh really? Where did you move from?"

"Boston." Should you be telling a stranger this? Probably should have said a different city.

"Ahh beantown." he grinned and you wanted to roll your eyes.

"Yes, but locals don't call it that." But you'd like it slide, he was cute.

"Oh I'm sorry. I'm Joe by the way. He was only a few seats away from you and reached over to extend his hand out so you could shake it. You moved your popcorn off your lap to the free seat next to you so you could reach out and shake his hand back. His grip wasn't too strong which you appreciated it, but it was still strong, he was respectful.

"I'm-" The lights dimmed and that quieted you before you could introduce yourself. The first trailer started quickly and you and Joe settled into your seats to watch the screen. But a dim light to your right caught your attention as you saw Joe texting. It was a thing that often happened during movies now, which ground your gears. But Joe didn't text long thankfully and you saw him putting his phone in his pocket out of the corner of your eye.

The lights brightened in the theatre as the movie was over and Joe looked over at you. "What did you think?" He asked as he stood up. It was then you realized how tall he was. You were quite short compared to him.

"It was funnier than I expected it to be for a revenge movie." You said as you got up and gathered your things. It was late and you wanted to get home to eat the cupcake you had bought yourself as a birthday treat.

"I felt the same, not sure how well it will do at the box office though."

You couldn't help but smile, it was refreshing meeting someone who also also appeared to have a deep passion for movies.

Joe walked side by side with you out of the theatre and into the evening air. "I'm meeting my friends Tee and Ja'Marr for dinner, you can come if you like so you aren't spending your birthday alone. Just throwing it out there. I can give you the directions to the place. They came with me when I first saw you at Dune 2."

He remembered! You were floored. Should you be creeped out? No you had made eye contact at Dune and you hadn't seen him again before tonight so he couldn't be stalking you.

You released a breath you hadn't realized you had been holding. You hadn't liked the thought of being in a strangers car so suddenly, you were relived that you could take your own car and escape when you wanted to. New friends couldn't hurt in this new city either. It was time to get even more out of your shell.

"Sure, I'd like that, thank you." You smiled before you handed your phone over so he could find it on the maps app for you.

...little did you know, he was also putting his number in your phone.

[yourfavoritewriter69]

Unhealthy Obsession

a/n hi everyone im grace I’ve been wanting to write a Charlie Walker fan fic for a while I just haven’t had the time or energy this is a female x charlie walker fan fic btw I will be putting trigger warnings and editing them on every part also im very dyslexic so if there are grammar mistakes I apologize in advance but I'm hoping to get part two out within the next week or two in future parts there will be smut but I hope you enjoy :)

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Part One: Welcome home.

Tw: masturbation, underage drug use, mention of abuse and adult language.

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You are looking out the window in the passenger seat of your aunt's car. You are moving back to Woodsboro you lived there until the end of fifth grade. Your parents decided to move you out of state which sucked because you hated Arizona the weather and the people you are so happy to be moving back to your home town even with the circumstances.

your parents had recently passed due to a car accident. In all honesty, you weren’t as hurt as you should be. They were never good to you when you weren't being yelled at you were being hit by your father he tended to lose his temper you thought this was the universe's way of giving you an out and they got the karma they deserved. You were lost in thought when your aunt snapped you out of it.

“hey hey, y/n are you okay? we are 15 minutes out honey”

“yeah I'm okay just deep in thought,” you said with an assuring smile you have always loved your aunt her name is Luna you always thought her name was so beautiful. She knew a lot of how your parents treated you but she didn’t know all of it. You just talked most of the ride home. Until you guys pulled onto a familiar street as you drove by you quickly noticed a boy who had long curly hair he had big blue eyes he was walking with another boy assuming one of his friends but you weren’t paying attention to him your eyes were on the curly haired boy.

You guys locked eyes and it seemed like time had slowed but the next thing you knew the moment was over and you guys pulled into the driveway. You brought some boxes upstairs and your aunt showed you to your room. You analyzed the room it was cute but boring you would fix that when you unpack all your stuff. The next day your aunt had invited your old friend Kirby over for lunch.

you were kinda excited to see an old friend just you were so tired because you were tossing and turning all night and you couldn't stop thinking about that boy. Kirby and you were sitting in your room.

“I'm so sorry about your parents y/n,” she says as you take a deep breath and look over at her “Thank you, Kirby, but it's okay I'm okay” She slightly smiles at you but she notices how quiet you are, and she asks what’s wrong you responded “ everything’s okay I just can’t get this boy out of my head. We passed by him on the drive here he was walking with his friend on our street he had long curly hair and big blue eyes. I wasn’t paying attention to him to what the friend looked like but I can’t get this boy out of my head.”

Kirby looks kind of surprised and then giggles a little bit and says. “oh my god that’s Charlie Walker me and him we have been friends for a while he asked me to join Cinema club. This weird group club thing for nerds that like movies but I’m thinking about joining I’ve already been to one meeting. He’s always had a thing for me but I’ve never wanted to pursue it but I don’t know. He’s looking kind of fine this year”

this made you feel a bit jealous and caused anger to grow inside of you. You didn’t show it on the outside you didn't make Kirby feel any sort of way you know she didn’t mean it as an attack on you in any sort of way maybe she just didn’t notice that you meant you couldn’t get him out of his head out of your head because there’s just something about this boy that you loved and you needed more of. 

you responded to Kirby “That's cool, so Cinema club would that be something worth joining?” you said in an excited tone “In all honesty maybe. I’m gonna go to my second meeting tomorrow. Are you already enrolled at the high school?” she smiled. “ I am I’m starting tomorrow, but I’m terrified. I’ve always hated public school. But maybe it’ll go well knowing I already have one friend. you spent a few more hours with Kirby. before she left she offered you a ride to school. You said yes of course. You were laying in your bed staring at the ceiling you thought about how jealous you were because Kirby might like this boy. But you stopped yourself thinking it was dumb like you have never even talked to him.

You rolled over on your stomach grabbed your phone and checked the time it was 9:45 you thought you should get some sleep but you weren't tired. You decided to grab a spare joint and lighter you keep In your bag. You were anxious about starting school tomorrow so why not call your nerves?

You rolled over on your stomach grabbed your phone and checked the time it was 9:45 you thought you should get some sleep but you weren't tired. You decided to grab a spare joint and lighter you keep In your bag. You were anxious about starting school tomorrow so why not call your nerves?

you opened your window and sat next to the window you had a bay window so you could just chill there. You lighted the joint and took a few hits. Blowing the smoke out the window you had already put a towel at the bottom of your bedroom door to stop the smell from escaping your room. You looked up and noticed a curly hair boy in his window sitting at his desk. It was Charlie he looked up and smiled he waved at you and you did the same. You had already smoked more than half the joint so you were gone and you lost your balance and fell backward onto the floor you were so embarrassed but at the same time you couldn't help but start laughing you got up and sat back down noticing Charlie practically dying of laughter at his desk.

Even though you were still embarrassed, you couldn’t help but laugh before you close your window and the curtains you waved at Charlie again and he did the same you were laying in bed still not tired and you felt a sense of arousal. When you thought about him, kissing you and touching you.

You got up and went over to the box opened it, got out a purple vibrator, and made sure to lock your door. You lay down, slipping off your pajama shorts, and then your underwear, and you slip to hand between your folds gently making circles on your clit. You Whimpered his name at the thought of having Charlie between your legs making you feel like you were in heaven you didn’t just want him you needed him.

You tried to keep quiet, but you moan his name as you slid the vibrator inside you pumping it in and out you find yourself coming to a High as you still were making circles on your clit, you reached your climax, while still thinking about Charlie you moan his name as you came you stopped and tried to catch your breath, your chest rising up and down you clean yourself up and put the vibrator away.

You laid back down you had gone to sleep thinking about this boy and hoping you would get the chance to actually talk to him tomorrow and maybe see if he would invite you to the Cinema club.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Suella Braverman

Published: Mar 4, 2023

There has been understandable alarm throughout the country about recent events at Kettlethorpe High School in Wakefield. I share it. West Yorkshire police recorded a non-crime hate incident after a boy dropped a copy of the Quran, which appeared to have been scuffed. The mother of the boy has said he is autistic. Appallingly, he has received death threats and there has been considerable unrest.

I have already indicated my deep concern about this case and the way it has been handled, but it raises a number of broader issues.

The education sector and police have a duty to prioritise the physical safety of children over the hurt feelings of adults. Schools answer to pupils and parents. They do not have to answer to self-appointed community activists. I will work with the Department for Education to issue new guidance spelling this out.

Instead, a disturbing video showed a meeting — which looked more like a sharia law trial, inappropriately held at a mosque instead of a neutral setting, whereby the mother of one boy was made to account for his behaviour in front of an all-male crowd.

We do not have blasphemy laws in Great Britain, and must not be complicit in the attempts to impose them on this country. There is no right not to be offended. There is no legal obligation to be reverent towards any religion. The lodestar of our democracy is freedom of speech. Nobody can demand respect for their belief system, even if it is a religion. People are legally entitled to reject — and to leave — any religion. There is no apostasy law in this country. The act of accusing someone of apostasy or blasphemy is effectively inciting violence upon that person.

Everyone who lives here has to accept this country’s pluralism and freedom of speech and belief. One person’s freedom to, for example, convert from Islam to Christianity is the same freedom that allows a Muslim to say that Jesus was a prophet but not God Incarnate.

This freedom is absolute. It doesn’t vary case by case. It can’t be disapplied at a local level. And no one living in this country can legitimately claim that this doesn’t apply to them because they belong to a different tradition.

All of this is typically understood. If I told a socialist they should politely endorse my sincerely held conservative beliefs, he or she would laugh in my face — and rightly so. Roman Catholics readily understand that people are going to criticise the Pope or mock the concept of transubstantiation.

Yet things are going in the wrong direction. We see that in the monstrous way that JK Rowling and others have been treated for daring to challenge radical gender ideology. And there is a particular issue with attitudes towards Islam.

The overwhelming majority of Muslims are tolerant, peaceful and embrace our values. But some Muslims and non-Muslims alike — as well as Islamist extremists — believe that Islam should enjoy a special status, protected from disrespect.

There is a long, ignoble history of that, which goes back at least as far as the furore over The Satanic Verses. It is rooted in a view — actually a bigoted one — that Muslims are uniquely incapable of controlling themselves if they feel provoked. And it has excused agitators using fear to force people to bend to their demands.

In June last year, a cinema chain cancelled all UK screenings of The Lady of Heaven after threatening behaviour by groups of Muslim men outside cinemas. A teacher from Batley who showed his students a Charlie Hebdo cartoon of Muhammad is still living in hiding, following angry protests outside the school and online threats from local community leaders.

The way to ensure community cohesion and peace is not to cave into bullies, nor to demand that people aren’t “unnecessarily offensive”. The right approach is to defend our pluralist, free society very robustly indeed.

I am not happy with the way non-crime hate incidents are recorded and I will soon be announcing new guidance for police.

Timidity does not make us safer; it weakens us. A fear of being seen as “Islamophobic” led to the grooming gangs scandal. It led the Prevent counterterrorism programme to fail to recognise the scale of the threat of Islamist extremism, to deny the individual culpability of extremists, and actively to co-operate with extremist groups. It fails to protect people from the mob.

Enough. It is high time for leaders — real leaders, not self-appointed hot-heads — to stand up for our free society. It is this country’s sacred promise to everyone who lives here, whatever their background. Every organisation that answers to me as home secretary will be in no doubt of where I stand.

Suella Braverman is home secretary

[ Via: https://archive.ph/FuCXE ]

[wearethekingdom]

okay so I know we’ve caught up a bit but honestly, I feel like I don’t know much about how things have been with you lately and I feel bad low key :( because I’d really like to know about your life! so, what’s new with you? Doesn’t have to be anything big, but just, how’s life been lately? Are you on summer break? (I don’t know how things work outside of America </3) Have you seen any new movies or read any books or played any video games lately? This is an invitation to info dump about literally anything that interested you lately too btw :3

Omg hey bro so how you fix the problem is by messaging me /lh like if you just wanna talk about your and my life then you can message me asking and stuff, I have a friend on here and we literally just chat about our lives for like 4 hours at a time

ummmm so I went to sleep away camp or whatever ygs call it in the US for 3 weeks, its an Irish spoken one so you know I ate that up, volunteered for the youth club camp and lost a child at a theme park while doing so (we found him, he was fine) and got some horse riding back in cuz I missed out on like 5 weeks of training lol

With movies I haven't watched a whole lot cuz I've literally had like. No time. I'm seeing the Kneecap movie tomorrow with my bf which I'm very excited about and I'm gonna see I Saw The TV Glow on Monday with some friends even though it's showing kind of late at the cinema (7:45pm), tbh I'm going in completely blind with but people say it's good so I'm simply just going to watch it. I've also rewatched alot of matt damon movies because why wouldn't I? I'm still his number one fan, currently watching The Martian as we speak which I've never actually watched before, kind of disturbing but it's okay because again, it's matt damon!

What I said all those months ago about my partner will need to fight for me when it comes to matt damon? I still hold to it. Guess who my bf looks like 😐 you will never guess its totally unpredictable 😐

I have readdd The Twelfth Day of July by Joan Lingard, it's a book about this guy and girl and the guy is a cath and the girl is a protestant and how they hate eachother and its really good, I love it a lot. I also read all of Diane Olivers short stories while at irish camp, they're really good and I totally reccomend her stuff, I think you would like some of her more scary short stories, a lot of her stuff is unpublished though cuz she was died at age 22 and she really needs more recognition, like when I looked up her most famous story I couldn't even find her other stuff at all.

Games I played Alan Wake about this guy (who is an author) who goes on holiday to this island and his wife goes missing so Alan has to investigate it while this story that he doesn't even remember writing becomes a reality, there's a second one I just haven't played it yet. I played The Quarry about a group of young adult camp counsellors who have to stay one day extra before they get to go home but there's creepy stuff on the property that wants to kill them and it's so good my fave character is my profile picture, we love Dylan Lenivy.

THENNN I played A Way Out with my brother set in the same prison as Shawshank Redemption, these 2 criminals set a plan to escape prison and get their revenge on the guy who murdered one of the mens brothers and well the other one kind of gives away the whole story so I won't go into detail on that one but it's depressing, it's a little disturbing and you get attached to Leo and Vincent the main guys.

Ive just been chilling this last month before school starts again and hanging out with my friends, I was going to go to NI for a while but there's protests and people setting streets on fire so I'm not going anywhere near there for now.

But yeah that's my life, you should totally reblog this with your telling of your life I would love to hear about it!!!

[nix-whythisfilm]

Movies to watch this Holiday Month

Films that somehow seemed to capture the spirit of a home

Abominable (2019)

A film by the Dreamworks Animation company, this movie is wholesome and much more. The story starts with a girl from an Asian household, little and quite rebellious. With nearly nothing comforting her in any way, we quickly see her working hard for something that she wants to save up for. At the same time, we see a creature, quite furry and obscure hiding in places and then coming to her roof, where she has a shrine for her father's belongings. What then ensues is a beautiful relationship between a girl and an incredible being.

With no idea of what the film would be about, this movie was enchanting and tear-jerking in a comforting way. The graphics are incredible with the music syncing beautifully with it all. A film that would appeal to children as well as people of all ages, this can be watched any day to spend time together. Mild spoiler, the song by Coldplay in this film feels absolutely beyond the world.

The Sky is Pink (2019)

Another favourite, this was incredible in the new generation of Bollywood films. With quite a bit of adult language and some sensitive topics being discussed in the film, it is a little delicate to watch it with little children. But otherwise, the film is based on the real-life of Aisha Chaudhary, diagnosed with health issues in her infancy, where we see her live her life and talk about love quite like she did as a motivational speaker. While it is easy for us to dismiss a person's lifestyle identifying them as sick or disabled, this little girl shows us how perspectives can be turned around to do anything you want.

With a touch of reality shrouded with cinematic entertainment, this film is a serious must-watch for anyone. The bonding this family has is everything anyone would wish for with little moments throughout the film that heals the soul. And with the actual brother of the protagonist having contributed his music for this film, it is entertaining and gives any individual something to ponder about.

Pan (2015)

We all know the story of Peterpan and Tinkerbell whisking Wendy to the Nevernever Land, away from the orphanage she was in. This film shows us the tale of Peter becoming a part of the Nevernever land, something outlandish and grimmer than imagined. This film shows us Peter picked from the orphanage by people trafficking people into a magical place where Blackbeard is ruling the land. Making new friends and looking for a mother who he never thought he would find, this film is full of beautiful graphics and an amazing storyline.

Having brought many things into the storyline compared to the original story, this film was not as received well by the cinema, and so became an underrated gem. With Hugh Jackman in a significant role, this tale is splendid for all audiences and a really good family watch. With fantasy creatures all over the story and endearing characters, it is a memorable watch.

Over the Moon (2020)

Featuring the story of a young girl who lost her mother due to an illness, this little girl sets out to build a rocket to go to the moon to meet a mystical goddess. With an unusual plot that doesn't make sense without the cultural background, this film is set in a Chinese household where they make mooncakes for a living. A loving father who adored her, FeiFei was still adamant and steadfast in finding the Moon Goddess to prove that she was, indeed, real. With so many challenges in her way with only her mind and will against it all, this story amazes anyone who has a conscience.

Sceptical to watching a random movie on an OTT platform, I thoroughly did not expect it to be sensitive and thought-provoking to people of all age groups. The film so delicately addresses depression, coping mechanisms and many more things that are still shamed in today's world. A tale of mythical fantasy and childish joy, this film appeals to children and anyone who enjoys a good animated film.

Naanu Nanna Kanasu (2010)

Put together over two decades ago, this Kannada film is beyond time and language barriers. A story about a father learning to deal with his daughter getting married to a man of another culture, it is entertaining and brings relevance to the tale. With Prakash Raj leading as the father, this film is hilarious and speaks of a story perceivable by anyone. A father's daughter as a child, now a grown woman making decisions beyond his imagination, this story shows us a tale that is universal amongst all parents.

Prakash Raj, known for his impeccable acting and quality performance, in this film brings out so many facets of his skills. A father through and through, his character questions her decisions, his worth in her life, and the seriousness of this entire situation. Set in a traditional house in Karnataka, this wedding about to happen is an experience to watch.

Hichki (2018)

A story of a woman stubborn in her ambition to be a teacher, it entails a tale of quirky students being mentored by a teacher with Tourette's syndrome. The world is against her for her ambition in being a teacher and is constantly being mansplained by everyone who interviews her, Rani Mukerjee has done an excellent job as Nina Mathur. Finding a role in an elite school she went attended as a student, this film takes us on a ride till the end.

A school with an obsession with elitism and high marks, and students being admitted with a change in educational policy, this school challenges the students of a different community to keep up with the world. With a narrative that is common to every student of this era and any teacher, this film is familiar and fun to watch at any time of the day. A wholesome story to connect with, this film was eccentric and unorthodox while setting standards.

777 Charlie (2022)

Another gem from the Kannada industry, this film is beyond any age restrictions and appealing to all. It is a story of a man and a dog getting attached beyond reason, and then experiencing a whole new world because of each other. A depressed man living day to day with no direction in his life and a young pup having travelled across cities only to settle outside his home to eat his leftover idlies. With a story that seems cliche and yet unique, this film takes us on a journey beyond our homes and our scepticism on how we can choose to love.

With the film still trending across television channels and OTT platforms, this film is available to watch over any weekend with friends or family. While I was excited that it was a Rakshith Shetty film, known for his style of acting and next-door boy charm, I was hesitant with anticipation to go on the emotional rollercoaster. And the film delivered it wondrously. With the stubborn pup being hell-bent on getting his affections and him being naturally dismissive of affection itself, this duo is enough to make any grown man cry.

Shaandaar (2015)

Not having run that well during its initial release, I believe this film became a cult classic with only selective crowds finding the appeal in its direction and narration. I would call it mildly underrated, even with many significant Bollywood actors due to the narration being highly romanticised, which is appealing to any imaginative individual. An orphan girl adopted into an extremely wealthy family, initially dismissed for her quirks, she develops close bonds with her sibling and her father. Fast forward to the present, the sibling is getting married when somehow Alia meets a man who is constantly competing with her father to prove himself.

With a quirky flair to the dialogues and imagined animation popping every few minutes, I find the film immensely visual and with a unique story. While the dynamic is common, something atypical is Alia Bhatt's character being an insomniac. Much like in fairytales her father would have promised to find her a guy who would make her sleep. While it is cliche, she ironically finds Shahid Kapoor's character is also an insomniac. It is a good watch for a mixed audience and makes for an entertaining time.

Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu (2016)

Ananth Nag and Rakshith Shetty are the leads for the film, which is a story of a workaholic son who is constantly mindless towards his father suffering from Alzheimer's. Having not expected much, with a film title that made no sense, this film is a highly enlightening watch. Between his work calls and regular visits, he loses his father right in front of his house. With no idea on where he could have gone, the son sets out to find him along with his father's daughter. As a mild spoiler, the title comes to light when it is the description used to find his father.

Starring numerous actors of high calibre, this film brings us a story from South India that feels extremely homely and cosy. With the visuals having been crafted very delicately to match each aesthetic, and the narration takes us on a journey on the person Ananth Nag's character was, this film makes us ponder on numerous things while also keeping us entirely engrossed and engaged.

English Vinglish (2012)

Made precisely a decade ago, this film was screened internationally and all over India. It stars Sridevi as the protagonist, a small-time caterer and a housewife in urban India. While her children went to a catholic school and her educated husband worked every day, it was common for them to dismiss her lack of knowledge and skills in English. As the story brings us a wedding scenario where she has to travel to New York to her niece's place, she is terrified of the prospect that she does not know how to communicate in English. This film shows us a perspective that most of us have overlooked easily and brings in a narrative that takes much courage and shows us the strength of this Indian woman.

Having read numerous articles regarding this film and written about it in a college essay, it was this film that woke me in several ways we patronize mothers and women in our household. While it isn't easy to admit, many of us dismiss the knowledge and experience that comes with a woman taking care of a home, much like the protagonist. The dialogues break our hearts, especially her perspective of the treatment pinches us in hidden ways. Gauri Shinde directed this film in dedication to her mother who was also a housewife with no knowledge of English. All in all, this movie is for all audiences, especially children so that they can be illuminated through this.

Instant Family (2018)

The story starts with a classic white couple having a wonderful marriage, travelling places and exploring hobbies. Until they finally acknowledge they have something missing in their lives. But instead of opting for a child of their own, they explore adoption or foster options where they choose Lizzy, who comes as a package with her two younger siblings. With barely any clue on how to be a parent, they welcome three children into their lives and home. But we all know that changes come with challenges. And hence starts their struggle to learn how to be a family.

This film, humorous by nature, has many notable details that make it unique while also challenging our perception of what a family should be. While we may initially laugh at how they all struggle to cope, we also see them being patient with each other and bonding over simple things that seem superficial sometimes. While the kids have moved from foster home to foster home and are inept at handling themselves, they struggle to let an adult take care of them. And while the couple thought it would be easy to manage children with their childhood memories to guide them, they slowly understand the perspective of the children that they brought home. It is insightful to watch this at any age and entertaining to any audience.

Night at the Museum (2006)

With a normal enough name as the film title, this film was brilliant and educated me in many ways when I was a child. The movie starts with a divorced father trying to find a stable job to meet his son regularly, who happens to chance upon the Museum of Natural History in need of a nightguard. With a simple job and three shoes to fill, he takes this job seriously with no idea of what would come next. Larry is terrified and astonished on the first night to discover that the museum comes to life every night to have its moments and breathe.

While the idea is refreshing, we see parts of history that are given a unique voice in this film, and it is also thoroughly entertaining and a classic for fantasy fiction lovers. Being nearly as old as my sibling, this film was a classic repeater on my favourite English movies channel on television. They screened it every week, and what's more, we watched it every time for how layered the story was. While the plot is simple, the story in itself is brilliant for the year it was made and the CGI that brought the imagination to life. With a fresh perspective on history and classic humour, this film is a splendid watch for anyone who likes a good time.

Vaah! Life Ho to aisi (2005)

Available to watch for free on Youtube and on Amazon Prime, this film is a throwback to two decades ago when values were different and so was the universal modern. The story starts with Adi being a part of a big family with his brother's kids to look after along with his older sibling and mother. Working alone for the household, he meets a girl that he quickly falls in love with and they decide to get married. All is going well when suddenly he dies in an accident and is then collected by a very modern-looking Yamraj, a lookalike of Sanjay Dutt. With his family in financial and fraud trouble, he is granted to help them out as long as he promises to come back. What then ensues is for the audience to discover and enjoy.

The film is obviously old with a perspective that today's kids need to watch. Showing us Shahid Kapor early in his career, this movie has an innocence that is not very common in today's world of infodump and knowledge is power. Having watched this film long ago, it was a kids' favourite back then and is entertaining for anyone. While some things might not be the same today, kids always enjoy a good film if it matches their pace and is fun.

[puppy-phum]

✨the tag game✨

thank you so much for tagging me @leonpob​ ♥ a perfect way to avoid my responsibilities haha

THREE SHIPS 🚢 i have a whole army of ships but the current ones i feel strongly about are puentalay, waikorn (waitalay????), and waantul. i place more importance on ships when they wake up my writer mind and insist on me writing them, so i also have a huge group of pairings i enjoy just seeing around (current fave trio would probably be palmnuengdiao, chopperben, and jimwen)

FIRST SHIP 🚢 my first bl ship - that i could consider a proper ship on my own standards - was probably kornknock from together with me. the first non-canon ship from any media ever was most likely either dom/brian from fast & furious or maybe luka/yuki from the manga series betrayal knows my name (uragiri boku no namae wa shitteiru) - who i guess can be considered canon tho, at least in the manga? the anime series didn’t get that far. (it was one of the first animes i ever watched and is still very dear to me)

LAST SONG 🎧 am currently listening to music on shuffle from the playlist that just contains everything i’ve liked from 2016 onwards so am just going to mention the song i most recently put on my current obsessions playlist which is:

Catch - Epik High ft Hwa Sa (from their new ep Strawberry)

LAST MOVIE 🍿 also the BTS Yet To Come in Cinemas ♥ it was a blast! 

CURRENTLY READING 📖 mostly fics but i also have matt haig’s the comfort book to read. was planning on taking myself on a date on valentine’s day and go to a nice café to eat something sweet and to read some of that ♥ am hoping it won’t make me cry in public tho

CURRENTLY WATCHING 👀 the list has recently grown shorter with the shows that finished airing (Between Us, 10YT, the other Midnight Series shows) but it’s still long! am currently following these dramas as the new episodes air:

Moonlight Chicken Never Let Me Go GAP The Series (am one ep behind tho) HIStory 5: Love in the Future A League of Nobleman

and otherwise am watching The Blood of Youth rn. am probably finishing that this weekend... and then am hopefully starting My School President and either Who Rules The World or When We Meet (both cdramas). 

CURRENTLY CONSUMING 👄 the blood of youth episodes and chocolate. it is always chocolate. that is my only comfort while i try surviving work and studies lol 

CURRENTLY CRAVING 🫦 instead of any food - bc i ate just now - i’d say a holiday trip to thailand. i’ve been to thailand before but not to that many places there and it would be nice to travel more around the country. i’d also love to appreciate the culture better now that i’m an adult and not only focusing on playing at the pool lol. and i would, of course, also love to go see my boys there haha 

ONWARD TAGS 🏷️ sending this to these wonderful ppl: @i-am-just-a-kiddo @wanderlust-in-my-soul @seanwhites @dimpledpran @stormyoceans @ardentlytess @nongnaos @thanawins @pannakorn @liyazaki ♥ i hope you’re all having an amazing weekend!

[lazaruspiss]

Justice League x RW/BY: Super Heroes and Huntsmen (Part One)

gonna be honest i kinda keep forgetting that this movie exists. the animation and music is very... rw/by. for better or for worse. corny quippy one liners. it's very corny. adding a cut bc this'll probably get a bit rambly.

AHHH THE FLASHBACK IS A STILL FRAME. the first thing to make me laugh wasnt even a joke it was the single still frame flashback. well. there was a slight zoom?

it's trying to be funny so bad its trying so hard. the serious dialogue is corny but could be worse. overall its better than the crossover comics? making the DC characters teenagers seems pointless.

oh god the dialogue is so hammy. the fists are hammed. weiss good and weiss dad bad yes i noticed. christ im only 8 minutes in. physically recoiling at some of the jokes. like its nothing jokes its nothinggg.

IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE BRUCE? he's been on screen for like 10 seconds and he already sounds and acts like "wealthy teenage tiktok star tries to pander to the less ~economically privileged~" and god it keeps going it hasnt even been a minute yet. did they make them teenagers bc otherwise bruce wouldve run off and found some little boy to help him solve everything without the help of anyone else. is that why. bc honestly yeah adult bruce is hard to write into a team setting.

bruce continues to be embarrassing but also. im learning that the still image flashbacks are just a thing thats gonna happen in this movie. style wise its very much a rw/by movie, so its just probably not gonna hit for me. its the kind of show i watched in middle school and grew out of by 8th grade. even then, my interest kind of started and ended with the character design and the basic world building elements. emphasis on basic, trying to understand the more in depth aspects is a bit of a waste of time.

oh and im still at the 10 minute mark. "ive already gone through all the other dc x rw/by content" i thought, "might as well watch the movies" i thought.

i think theyre trying to write bruce doing a smart detective thing? unfortunately rw/by is very bad at writing people doing smart things. 1) cant stand bruces voice in this 2) god hes so annoying and this whole scene is embarrassing to watch.

GAHH. THE SAME FLASHBACK FRAME CLARK HAD BUT ZOOMED OUT THIS TIME. true cinema. and i think theyre alluding to time travel as well as dimension travel, so even the rw/by girls get to have weird "we're not where we should be" flashbacks.

diana manhandles the small boy, fun. it also rife with required reading bc if you arent fully dedicated to keeping track of all rw/by lore then fuck you. these movies dont seem to require much DC knowledge but they cram in a lot of references to rw/by lore that i only know from video essays put out by ex-fans.

hey guys did u remember that yang is lesbian. pretty cool right? right?? this movie is going by so slow.

MARI IS THAT YOU?? and jess... girls u deserve a better movie. oh vic got braids? nice. also that joke was nothing. all the jokes are nothing.

the best jokes so far have been. the ones about how convoluted and hard to get into rw/by is. because of course. sigh. i do think the DC characters are better utilized and integrated than they were in the comics at least. seeing mari and jess get animated is really cool, and overall i like the redesigns. a few of the characters have commented on suddenly being deaged but mari's acknowledgement of it is the first to feel like a natural line of dialogue rather than exposition.

montage of bruce learning to use his bat powers so that they can get that out of the way before he joins the rest of the group. separate things that were already discussed being re-discussed so that we can have a "everyone talks at once scene". they. what. huh? they had a normal conversation that landed on "lets split into groups since theres enough of us to reasonably do that. then they have an argument which ends at the exact same conclusion.

are they really gonna have a "yang thinks diana is hot and blake gets jealous" plot line? really? and another love triangle. cy tries to ask nora to explain this worlds weapons, noras boyfriend(?) gets mad and then cy gets mad back and ends up being the one everyone gets upset with. it feels a bit. just. super uncomfortable. cy wasnt flirting he was just. talking to nora.

oh thank god that bit is over. now back to jess! possibly the most interesting character here. her design is probably my least favorite of the bunch tho, just because it feel a bit... too anime? it reminds me too much of my danganronpa phase, lol.

jaune doing plot device things. jess introspection. its not the most interesting thing but its better than uh. whatever happened with cy earlier. sorry im still thinking about that. i think they were just going for hormonal and temperamental teenager moment but it uh. came off weird.

plot twist everything was uh. void. ptsd monster things. the plots about to get convoluted isnt it.

diana is pretty decently fleshed out in this one. and it looks like they didnt lean into the diana being hot as a source of relationship conflict that much aside from a few jokes, thank god.

for fucks sake shut up jaune i dont care about your dead girlfriend.

back to the monster fighting group, dear god theyre doing one of those. 2 guys fight over girl who goes "umm i can take care of myself >:(". GOD SHUT UP. FUCK. ITS A JEALOUS LOVE TRIANGLE PLOT. please let this die sooner rather than later.

bruce describes everything that was just established. bruce is emo. weiss tries to be nice. then back to jess and jaune. "i didnt realize how much i miss this place" yeah well i sure dont miss it. oh pyrra, however your name is spelled, you were the only character death that meant anything. now if only they didnt degrade her story into being all about jaune even in death.

have weiss and bruce just been on the computer this whole time. at least they eventually get a fight scene. lesbians to the rescue time. stuff and things. i still dont care and jaune. fuckin. creator self insert ass. he was originally comic relief/audience surrogate but turned into way too much of a main character. god jess deserves her own movie.

weiss please stop trying to recruit him this is just embarrassing. is this gonna be a whole thing? bruce deciding between earth and remnant? and god you cant put anime style gags in the middle of a serious scene. oh god theyre making bruce insecure about not having powers like the rest of the league. man who could've seen that coming. christ theres still 20 minutes left. FUCK AND A WHOLE SECOND MOVIE.

jess remains the coolest bitch in this movie. god why couldnt it be a jess green lantern movie.

lesbians on motorcycles, blah blah fight scene. oh god we're pretending batman is cool. fake flash? wheres real barry then :/ christ. they think this is a cool twist. tho possessed barry is pretty fun. god the actual canon explanation for making them teens was bc kilg%re figured the hormones would make them easier to fuck with.

obligatory "even teens can be leaders" speech. the determination of humanity or whatever.

HAAA BRUCE AND BARRY MORSE CODE COMMUNICATION. ok thats cute.

so smth smth final battle but theres a mysterious second bad guy so that they still have content for a second movie. i like how they show vixen's powers, that parts fun. jess does main character thing and kills big bad. bruces conflict about going home is resolved. cy goes and makes amends with nora and guy who likes nora, despite guy who likes nora being the one to cause all the conflict in the first place. they make the go home portals. set up for next movie.

[thekatea]

Duty After School: Part 1

Watched: 07.04.2023

Exaggerated portrayal of how we failed the youth.

Starting from the message, that for me was completely overshadowed by the pure entertainment that the killing aliens brought. What this show tries to present is how we as society created a false sense of security, purpose and goals for the teens - a path that is supposed to guarantee success and happiness. That path being higher education. The extent these teens were willing to go to get just a few more points that will help them get into a university - it showed how they truly believed that’s the only way to live a fulfilling life, to have it easier as an adult. The empty promises, the use of the pressure teens feel about their future was used to manipulate them to make dangerous choices and control their behavior. Exaggerated in the drama, but sadly truly happening in real life.

While the teens willing to risk their safety for a few points is believable, the fact teens were able to survive and fight better than train military was not. Did this completely lackluster and stupid take on the army annoyed me? Not really. They clearly showcased how delivering solid entertainment was the biggest goal and they aced it in that aspect. You just have to turn off a few neurons in your brain as you watch.

As long as you won’t question every unrealistic aspect, you will have a blast! The show is great at creating tension and keeping the viewer entertained with great pacing both in overall story, but also the episodes themselves. It had great comedic moments, good action sequences, solid character development, friendship and bonding, and some truly touching and heartbreaking scenes.

Did a lot of people die? Yes. Not enough from the main cast if you ask me. And not the right ones… Not gonna lie, the show got my blood boiling a few times when some of the most frustrating and annoying characters kept surviving against all odds. I also wish a few more students would die to make the stakes a bit more real. This is the luckiest group of teens I have ever seen and at some point I stopped being worried about them dying, because it seemed like they would be able to survive even with a nuclear bomb being dropped directly on their heads.

In terms of acting, what can I say? I am not worried about the future of Korean cinema. With this large cast of great young actors who can deliver a versatile performance, the future of movies and dramas is in good hands.

Production value was phenomenal. I love the design of the aliens, I love how they look, how they move, even the sounds they make. For some strange reason I always thought that if aliens exist they may look like fancy sea creatures, and this is exactly how the spheres look like. I have no complaints about the filming, editing, sound effects, lighting, set design. I only wish the female characters tied their hair, that was a bit so unrealistic even I could not ignore.

Overall, what a fun and exciting watch. With such a large cast they still managed to make all the characters memorable. The level of entertainment and engaging characters (be it for their awesomeness or how annoying they were) allowed me to ignore any possible flaws and just enjoy they ride. I cannot wait to see the second season.

[ursbearhug]

I hate when people ask me for to-watch recommendation, decide to ignore me, and have the caucacity to come back for the exact same request.

Go and watch "Craig of the Creek" you fucking coward.

"But it's for kids!". Yo mama is for kids, you fucking ignorant. You're right, your marvelDC cinema is sooo adult. That's why 90% of the market is overrun by toys - who are primary targeted - for kids. Puhlease. You wouldn't know nuance if it slapped you in the face you absolute trashbag.

"But it's stupid!". You're stupid. Get burnt and get the fuck outta my face you fucking pleb.

Sometimes, I think people who will dismay children's media from the get go as silly or childish, are the same people who think The Best Offer (or La migliore offerta, for my non existent Italian followers) is really deep and meaningful. Like, just because you put a lot of extravagant shots and fancy orchestra music into the movie doesn't make it exquisite. It just makes it expensive to shot.

If it barks, it's a dog; and if it is enjoyable, it's worth seeing.

I'd be more forgiving if somebody watched an episode or two and decided it ain't it (you have weird taste and I wouldn't trust you to pick anything ever again, but you're entitled to your own opinion. Even if it's completely and utterly wrong). Of course children media will be a little juvenile. It's meant for kids. I'm so sorry kids having fun are too slow and boring for you but there are a lot of good messeges in a lot of these episodes. And I'm wondering who's really the stuck up here if you can't take it for what it is; entertaining and witty show for the youngest.

I'm not in place to comment on everything, but Craig of the Creek really has some meaningful depth and commentary in it. My favourite, of course, being how kids explore their romantic feelings; that more often than not, happen to be somewhere on queer spectrum. I was in the exactly same age as Kelsey when I was exploring mine. How kids and their shared imagination brings to life so many adventures. How kids build their own little groups and how these groups can befriend and interact with each other. Some of them come from not-so-great family background and can be somehow assholish every now and then, but then showing they're not just mindless monsters. A lot of the characters are PoC. We get to see how their different cultures affect the way they bond or befriend. There is a lot of eccentricities (which is one of my favourite) and uniqueness in a lot of them. Cringe culture is dead and their living their best lives doing something they find truly enjoyable!

If you take anything from this post please, go watch Craig of the Creek. Also gay sex or whatever.

[therobotmonster]

The majority of my choices can be read in the way they're categorized, depending on how far one chooses to stretch. The point is that all of them take willfully ignoring the context of the show and the audience to accomplish that.

A few examples:

Cosgrove isn't a cop in any way that matters. He's a grumpy father figure and comedic straight man that gives Freakazoid tips and/or distracts him from the job at hand.

Similarly, WHOOP, OWCA, Global Justice, whoever was issuing orders to Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, and their like aren't in any way real espionage analogues, they're low-tier superheroes fighting G-rated James Bond villains. The nature of the team is just flavor text, an excuse for them to have wacky gadgets, a lot of resources, and free reign to travel to cool set pieces.

The "militias" are all just superhero teams with an emphasis on cool vehicles and laser guns instead of cool vehicles and capes.

He-Man affects the kind of aesthetics that would make you expect toxic masculinity, whereas in actuality he's gentle, friendly and moral to a nearly Mr. Rogersian level. Never threw a single punch at a living foe, had an episode where a literal demon (called that specifically) rejects evil because Orko taught him the power of friendship. Made by the LGBT-friendliest animation studio in the world at the time.

The Powerpuff Girls brutalize foes, even ones already defeated (Mr. Mime), and generally run the town in every meaningful way. Every complaint about the Paw Patrol applies to the Powerpuff Girls, except PPG used brutally violent overreaction as a regular joke, and Paw Patrol just dressed the dog that directs traffic in blue.

The Get Along Gang are narcs, not fascists. They're just the kind of goody-two-shoes suckups that were annoying to other kids. Angelica isn't a fascist, she's a bratty older sibling figure. Sodor has some stark elements but is mostly just the consequence of giving inanimate objects personas but still having them do the job of those objects.

None of the monarchies shown operate as actual monarchies do, inflict the kinds of horrors actual monarchies do, etc. The Little Prince is literally alone on his planet, his title is meaningless. In the She-Ra verse, being a Princess is basically being an X-Man.

Smurf village is a patriarchy only in the sense that the oldest dude is village elder. C'mon guys.

The thing is these shows are wrapped in a level of allegory that most adults are blind to. They aren't about what they're about, they're about the kids watching them.

The good guys are cooperative, friendly kids, the bad guys are bratty, mean kids and bullies. The authority figures are teachers and parents, the conflicts boil down to the kinds of clashes you have over board game rules or who gets to use the swings. They're just dressed up in a bombastic, fun candy coating.

And that's true of the Paw Patrol. It has as much to do with cops as D&D has to do with Satanism. The helpful traffic-direction pup just happens to wear cop colors because visual symbology. They're puppies who help out when things happen that are bad. You know, the helpers...

This kind of simplistic, go-for-the-gotcha in-group signaling "deconstruction" is stupid and toxic. It's just Leftie Cinema Sins, or worse, the satanic panic in a "I Heart Recycling" T-shirt.

I'd be less concerned about the dog-show, and more concerned about what kind of dude you're agreeing with. (link is to another branch of the thread)

[yesterdanereviews]

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Film review #562

Director: James Cameron

SYNOPSIS: Humans have returned to the planet Pandora in an attempt to colonise the planet in the face of a dying earth. The native Na’vi race attempt to fight back, led by Jake Sully, but seeing that he and his family have become the target and putting their entire people at risk, Jake decides to leave with his family and find somewhere new to live. They find a tribe who live by the ocean who offer them sanctuary, and the family must learn their ways. However, Colonel Miles Quaritch, who was seemingly killed at the end of the previous film, backed up his memories and has been reborn into an avatar Na’vi, with the aim of getting revenge...

THOUGHTS/ANALYSIS: Avatar: The Way of Water is a 2022 film and a sequel to the 2009 film Avatar. In my review of Avatar, I made it quite clear that I had no love for any part of the film; I would easily put it in the top five of the worst films I have watched. So needless to say, I had very low expectations for this film, and my judgment is obviously biased on it from the outset. The story opens up with Jake Sully, the protagonist of the first film, narrating how after humans were forced to leave the planet by the native Na’Vi population, several years later, they just...come back because they feel like it, which seems to make the accomplishment of the first film seem somewhat worthless. Anyway, the humans pick up where they left off, and the Na’vi, led by Jake Sully, become guerrilla fighters disrupting the human expansion. Eventually, Jake becomes the target himself, and to keep the tribe and everyone safe, he relocates his family elsewhere, to seek sanctuary with another group of Na’vi. Well, that’s his logic anyway, but one: it seems obvious that he will be pursued wherever he goes. And two: the humans wouldn’t just stop their expansion just because Jake disappears. So anyway, Jake and his family come across the Metkayina, a tribe of Na’vi who live by the ocean, and ask for sanctuary there, which they are given. What follows is...basically the same plot from the first film: outsiders (Jake and his family) must learn the ways of the natives, and eventually end up leading them in the fight against invaders. When you boil the story down, it is just the exact same thing again, but in water (and even then, it’s whole philosophy about the ocean being the beginning and end of life etc. hardly gives you a new perspective on it). Fortunately, it is less of a “white saviour” affair where the outsiders come in and break all the rules and become their hero, but there’s definitely some of that still in there. It’s hardly uncommon for sequels to follow the same premise as their predecessors, but this film really needed to focus on worldbuilding and showing something new about the world the franchise is trying to create, and it just doesn’t. The majority of the plot is driven by a very simple setup repeated over and over again: the kids go wandering off where they shouldn’t, they get into trouble, and Jake and the adults have to bail them out. This happens again, and again, with each of Jake’s kids seemingly taking it in turn to go wandering into danger before being rescued. The film is accompanied by narration sparingly by Sully at random points, which gives the impression that the narration is only happening when the film can’t figure out a way to show what is going on itself.

The issue which compounds the issues of this film is that it runs over three hours long: the wafer-thin story is stretched well beyond it’s limit, and it doesn’t offer anything to justify this runtime. James Cameron defended the runtime by saying that people stream multiple episodes at a time, so a three-hour film is perfectly justifiable nowadays, but a film and TV series are different formats, and a film needs to be in some ways a standalone experience. This is not the film that is going to re-define cinema.

Sully is more or less the same person he was in the first film, but he’s also got a family now, so there’s all that added on top as well. Being the head of the resistance against the invading humans, he also treats his sons like his subordinates, having them address him as “sir.” This is not only a very typical father-son relationship we’ve seen before countless times, but also it doesn’t seem very natural: the humans arrived one year before the start of the film proper, so are we to assume that he treated his kids like this before the humans arrived, or he just became like this during the last twelve months of their lives? Other than that, Sully’s main role is to just rescue his kids after they get into danger, and to tell them off. Sully’s wife, Neytiri, is barely a character in this: from being the co-lead in the previous film who taught Sully the Na’vi way of life, here she barely does anything, and hardly has a character other than just being a Mother: she is an utter waste of a character: she has no story arc, no development, nothing. Their kids have somewhat of their own personalities, but they’re nothing special, and their character development goes nowhere. For example, when the family meet the new tribe, one of Sully’s sons, Lo’ak, clearly has an immediate attraction to one of the tribe members, as shown in the very typical slow-motion, bug-eyed cuts between the two, telegraphing very clearly what is going to happen. However, the film barely follows through on this, giving us one ambiguous scene with them. The film does this quite a lot: establishing that a very typical story arc is about to happen, but just leaving it half-finished, so you get the worst of both worlds: a predictable storyline telegraphed a mile off, but also never actually doing what it sets out to do. Another of Sully’s children, Kiri, who is actually Grace’s avatar’s child from the first film, is set up to have some sort of connection with the planet’s life force or something, but the film never does anything with it, and in the film’s finale it lets her save the family or something by letting her control some little creatures or something...it is just completely unexplained or unexplored, and not even in a purposely ambiguous way: the way it is revealed in the finale just feels like a cop-out to the danger set up there.

One of the most incomprehensible decisions the film makes for me is to bring back Colonel Miles Quaritch, the antagonist of the first film. For reference, he was the stereotypically cartoonish character in the first film: a Texan military veteran who acts like everything is a battle, and turns the planet into a warzone so he can reap its resources (the obviously named “unobtanium”). When he died at the end of the first film, it completed his arc, and also gave the opportunity to give the film a new villain, something more complex and interesting. But no: they just bring him back by having a “back up” of his memories etc. uploaded into an avatar, repeating the same premise as the first film. There is an attempt to try to develop his character: by making his grudge against Sully the main focus, and him, as an avatar, try to adapt to using his new body on the planet more effectively. But this is also developed poorly, and doesn’t really add anything to his character, and he’s still just the very typical, cartoon-ish villain he always was. Even giving him a son to try and form a bond with is just ill-conceived and all over the place. The film also again cops out of killing him at the end, and apparently he will remain as the main antagonist through the other sequels. It just seems like a missed opportunity to bring back one of the most unoriginal characters from the first film whose story was resolved instead of trying to do something new. The rest of the humans are also fairly boring and one-dimensional: General Frances Ardmore is in charge of the new human expansion, as apparently earth is now dying, and they want to colonise Pandora (it is never explained further than this). After the first hour, her character disappears and is never seen again. The “whaling” captain is also just another typical villain without much interesting going on. The whole “hunting” arc is also very overblown, with a very long scene explaining in detail how the humans hunt the whale-like creatures, and the film just stops for a good ten minutes while it explains how these imaginary creatures are hunted for no reason. Obviously it’s meant to be a mirror for how whales are actually hunted, but this repeats the problem of the first film of being very literal with its metaphors: where giant bulldozers knocked down giant trees as a not-so-subtle reference to environmental destruction. It turns out that the whale-like creatures are hunted for a little bit of brain matter that apparently stops human aging. Sounds interesting, but is never elaborated or referenced again. I get that the film is not about humans or the state of human society, but driving the plot with the Earth dying and actual immortality could really do with a bit more elaboration.

Released thirteen years after the original film, The Way of Water had a lot of time to get things right, and also had to develop a new manner of filmmaking to capture the underwater performances. The visuals look decent for the most part, but there’s hardly anything original or interesting that made me think “Wow, that’s new and exciting.” the setting is obviously inspired by South-east Asia and Oceania, but it doesn’t really build something new with that inspiration. The animation is smooth for the most part, but during the more fast-paced scenes, the movements do look a bit off. Also in these scenes, the focus between the background and foreground characters is quite disjointed, and takes the characters out of their setting a little. Either way, the visuals and effects really aren’t of any interest to me as a movie-watcher: maybe if they have a distinctive aesthetic or style they are trying to develop, but this film doesn’t: as mentioned, it doesn’t build anything new on top of it’s real-world inspirations.

Overall, in case you couldn’t guess, Avatar: The Way of Water does little, for me, to improve or innovate on its predecessor. The story is threadbare and relies on the same set up of the kids getting into trouble and Jake having to rescue them over and over, alongside recycling the basic premise of the first film, just with water instead of a forest. The characters are pretty dull, including resurrecting one of the most bland characters in the antagonist, to relegating one of the main characters to nothing with Neytiri. All of this is made worse by an excessive runtime of three hours that I cannot see as justified. Maybe if you’re a fan of the first one, you’ll like this too, as it does continue the story, and gives you more of the same, perhaps too much, by resurrecting characters that didn’t need to come back. Otherwise, I have to put this on the same level of it’s predecessor as an uninspiring, long-winded, and unoriginal affair that generates no interest, vision or entertainment for me as a viewer.

[anonymousewrites]

Of Two Worlds (Book 1) Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight: Cinema Horrors

            One whole month of grueling training had passed. (Y/N) certainly felt stronger. And she had spent many a sleepless night meditating. She had never looked in a mirror when she felt the strange surge of power. There was a part of her that was afraid of what she might see. Now, Gojo was sending her and Itadori on a mission. She was the only first-year who knew Itadori was alive, so she was being sent on the assignment with him.

            “I won’t be able to lead you this time,” said Gojo, “But don’t worry. I’ve called in a friend you can trust.”

            (Y/N) perked up. Gojo opened a door, revealing exactly who (Y/N) hoped it was.

            “This is Nanami Kento, the ex-salaryman jujutsu sorcerer!” cheered Gojo, wrapping an arm around the man in question.

            (Y/N)’s eyes brightened. She got along well with Nanami. They were surprisingly close. Well, most others found it surprising. In reality, their friendship was quite predictable. Both were very honest and kept emotions close to their chest. Neither felt out of place in the presence of the other. (Y/N) wasn’t sure how Nanami felt, but she knew she respected him greatly. He was logical and decided that since she showed no signs of unusual aggressiveness like curses, she was pretty safe. And, he was the only adult to ever view her as a child. Most kids would feel underestimated if an adult thought of them as just kids, but (Y/N) had rarely felt the care of an adult. True, she had been with her parents until four, but she barely remembered it. And Gojo was an adult in her life, but he was a teacher who loved pushing his students as far as possible. Nanami treated (Y/N) like the kid she never got to be. Allowed her to be a child and herself around him without fear of being seen as an experiment or monster. She felt protected around him, though she doubted he actually meant to protect her. He was too logical for that. However, Gojo teased them constantly about how they were an emotionless father-daughter pair (which was basically true). (Y/N) denied it because she didn’t really remember what such a bond was supposed to be, but Nanami denied it only at face level. After all, he did call her by her first name. He rarely did that.

            “Please don’t call me that,” said Nanami. “Hello, (Y/N)-kun.” He bowed to her.

            “Hello, Nanami,” said (Y/N). She bowed back.

            “Plenty of jujutsu sorcerers are oddballs, but since he worked for a company, he’s got a good head on his shoulders,” said Gojo, “He’s a first-grade sorcerer, too.”

            “I’m sure no one would want to hear you saying that about them,” said Nanami, pushing up his glasses.

            “Ex-salaryman? Why didn’t you become a jujutsu sorcerer from the start?” asked Itadori.

            “We should greet each other first,” said Nanami formally, “Nice to meet you, Itadori-kun.” He bowed to the pink-haired boy.

            “Oh, yes, nice to meet you, too,” said Itadori, bowing.

            “I studied at Jujutsu Tech, and one thing I learned…is that jujutsu sorcerers are shit!” declared Nanami.

            “Huh?” Itadori blanked.

            “Then I worked at your typical company, and one thing I learned…is that work is shit!” said Nanami forcefully.

            “Really?!” cried Itadori incredulously.

            “If both are equally shit, I’ll take the one I’m more suited to,” said Nanami, “That’s the only reason I came back.”

            (Y/N) nodded in understanding.

            “That’s dark,” whispered Itadori.

            “Right?” agreed Gojo.

            “Itadori-kun, please don’t believe I’m of the same mindset as Gojo-san,” said Nanami, “I do trust and have faith in him, but I do not respect him!”

            Gojo made a comically betrayed face.

            “I hate the way higher-ups do things, but I do believe in rules and regulations.” He looked at the group before him. “This conversation is dragging on. In short, I don’t recognize you as a sorcerer, either. Even if you do carry the bomb we know as Sukuna, please make an effort to prove that you are useful.”

            “And (Y/N)?” teased Gojo.

            Nanami pointedly glared at Gojo before pushing up his sunglasses again. “Proves herself a rational mind time and again.”

            I’m not actually that useful yet. Hopefully…now I’ve improved, thought (Y/N). However, she was pleased at Nanami’s compliment. She strived for his approval more than even Gojo’s. He was the one adult who she really looked up to.

            “Aw, two peas in a pod you are!” Gojo hugged both of them tightly why they pushed him away.

            “Hey! I’ll become strong!” declared Itadori, “I have to be…or else I won’t be able to choose how I die. I’ll make you recognize me, even without that advice.” He saluted and winked. “Just give me a bit more time.”

            “Say that to the higher-ups, not me,” said Nanami.

            Itadori sweat-dropped. “Oh, right.”

            “Frankly, I don’t care!” declared Nanami.

            “Okay, I get it!” said Itadori despondently.

l

            (Y/N), Itadori, and Nanami stood under umbrellas outside a small cinema. A police barricade blocked off civilians from entering. Apparently, three disfigured corpses had been found after a movie showing. It had quickly been determined that no regular human could cause such injuries and cause of death.

            “It’s a gruesome sight,” warned Nanami, “Are you ready to witness it, Itadori-kun, (Y/N)-kun?”

            (Y/N) nodded while Itadori’s face became serious. They entered the building and closed their umbrellas. Inside the auditorium, blood spatter covered the seats where the bodies had been. They had been removed from the building, but the stench and stains remained.

            “Can you see it, Itadori-kun?” questioned Nanami. Itadori’s blank face answered his question. The businesslike sorcerer pointed. “This is the residual taint of cursed energy.”

            “No, I can’t see anything. (L/N), can you?” asked Itadori.

            (Y/N) nodded and pointed to the nearby exit. “They go out there.” She could see the footprints leading out.

            “Itadori-kun, it’s because you’re not trying to see them,” explained Nanami, “We typically see curses as if it’s perfectly natural to. When a cursed technique is used, it leaves traces behind. That’s what residuals are. But residuals are much fainter than cursed spirits. So focus your vision and look closely.”

            Itadori narrowed his eyes and leaned in. “Oh! I can see them!” he said excitedly.

            “Of course you can,” said Nanami, “A proper sorcerer can sense them before seeing them. Have you improved on that, (Y/N)-kun?”

            “I sense a second before,” said (Y/N). Not great, but an improvement.

            Nanami nodded. They all walked into the hallway, following the residuals.

            “Couldn’t you give us a little more praise or something?” asked Itadori.

            “I don’t praise or disparage anyone,” said Nanami plainly, “I adhere to facts and judge on that basis. That’s who I am.”

            “That explains why you and (L/N) get along,” mumbled Itadori.

            (Y/N) had to admit he was right. She and Nanami both operated on less emotions than most people.

            “There was a time when I mistakenly believed society operated in the same way, but enough about that,” said Nanami. “Let’s follow them.”

            “Yeah! Let’s go all-out!” said Itadori.

            “No, where moderate effort will suffice, use moderate effort,” advised Nanami. “Let’s go.”

            The footprints led upstairs.

            “There wasn’t anything on the surveillance cameras, right?” questioned Itadori.

            “Right,” confirmed (Y/N).

            “There was only one young man aside from the victims,” said Nanami.

            “Then a cursed spirit was behind it?” asked Itadori.

            “Well, most likely,” said Nanami.

            They walked out onto a small roof and opened their umbrellas as rain poured down around them.

            Nanami continued, “There’s a small chance the young man could have done it, but identifying him is the police’s—.” He stopped and looked at a small alcove to the side.

            “Lu, lu, lu, lunchbox!”

            (Y/N) tensed. It was a curse, or at least, she assumed it was the by the look and energy. Something felt off about it, but (Y/N) couldn’t pinpoint the feeling.

            Itadori threw down his umbrella and held up his fists for a fight.

            “Stop.” Nanami held out a hand in front of him. “I’ll take care of this one. You two handle the others.” He closed his umbrella.

            (Y/N) followed his lead and leaned it against the wall. She turned with Itadori to face two other curses that looked back at them. (Y/N) summoned her boomerangs.

            “Good detergent!”

            “Homework answers!”

            “If you decide that you can’t beat them, please call me,” said Nanami.

            “Aren’t you taking us a bit too lightly here?” Itadori sighed.

            “It’s not a matter of underestimating you or not,” said the blonde sorcerer, “I am an adult, and you are a child. I have a duty to prioritize your life over my own.” He walked towards the lunchbox curse.

            (Y/N)’s heart swelled at the blunt statement. To Itadori it was an insult to his pride, but to (Y/N)…getting to be a child was refreshing. She was forced to grow up to fast. Nanami allowed her to feel safe with an adult. She was determined to make him proud, even if he didn’t show it. (Y/N) looked to the homework curse.

            “I’d rather you underestimate me than treat me like a kid,” muttered Itadori, crouching and readying to fight the detergent curse.

            “You’ve both faced several life-or-death situations. But that does not make you an adult.” Nanami took his weapon out of his suitcoat. “Finding more fallen-out hairs on your pillow, watching your favorite stuffed bread disappear from the convenience store…The accumulation of those little despairs is what makes a person an adult.” He began to fight his opponent, explaining his technique along the way.

            (Y/N) already understood it, so she focused on her own battle. She threw one boomerang, distracting the curse. Then, she ran in and cut off an arm. This brought it’s focus back to (Y/N), but that didn’t matter. It hit her against a wall, but while it did so, the original boomerang circled back and cleaved off one leg. It toppled to the ground because of its lack of balance.

            (Y/N) brightened. She had worked for hours to improve her knowledge of angles and timing to pull of a two-level distraction tactic like that. However, her pride was slightly diminished because the curse cowering in front of her was very weak. Either way, (Y/N) had to finish exorcising it.

            “Itadori-kun, (Y/N)-kun! Don’t finish them off yet!” ordered Nanami suddenly.

            (Y/N) and Itadori paused, their techniques stopping at the same time.

            “Have a look at this.” Nanami held out his phone which displayed the arm he severed wearing a watch. “I took a picture of my opponent.”

            Wait…(Y/N) frowned. That shouldn’t be possible.

            “Huh? I thought cursed spirits didn’t show up in photos,” said Itadori, confused.

            “Please listen calmly,” said Nanami, “What we’ve been fighting…they’re human.”

            (Y/N) felt her heart drop.

l

            “They’re human,” confirmed Ieri over the phone.

            (Y/N) and Itadori sat in a small, cozy room with Nanami. They listened to what Ieri discovered from her examination.

            (Y/N)’s mind kept straying, however. She felt like a true monster, a true curse, for killing a human. Especially one that had been tortured so much to be so confused and angry. She felt horrible and disgusted in herself. She could still feel the flecks on blood that had gotten on her hands. Human blood. (Y/N) had instantly tried to scrub it off her hands, but it still felt like it was there. She knew she’d eventually end up in a fight where she’d have to kill a human, curse users were a threat, but to have it with the twisted mind and body of a human? It was tough for a teenager’s psyche.

            “No, I guess I should call them former humans. They’re the same as the three from the theater,” she explained, “The structure of their bodies was forcibly altered by a cursed technique.”

            “If that was all, I would have noticed from the start,” said Nanami, “The three we fought were full of cursed energy, like cursed spirits.” He sat down, but not before tucking the blanket (Y/N) had hidden herself in tighter.

            “You’ll have to ask the culprit about their cursed technique to explain that,” said Ieri, “Though there is evidence that their brainstems were tampered with, most likely to create a state of confusion and impaired consciousness. If they can tamper with the brain, it might be possible for them to modify someone to be able to use cursed energy. The relationship between the brain and cursed energy is still a black box to us. Oh, right, are (L/N) and Itadori still listening?”

            (Y/N) managed to lift her head from where she was resting it between her knees.

            “Oh, yeah,” said Itadori quietly.

            “To sum it up, these guys died of shock from having their bodies modified,” explained Ieri, “You didn’t kill them. So don’t get the wrong idea about that.”

            Those words brought some relief to (Y/N)’s tormented mind. She still felt gross, but now it was also because of whoever had done this was disgusting, not simply horror at her own actions. (Y/N) sighed in meager relief, but her eyes remained dark and sullen.

            “Right,” murmured Itadori despondently.

            Nanami ended the call.

            “Either way, the death of these three weighs on me just as heavily,” said Itadori.

            “Yeah,” whispered (Y/N).

            “That said, this thing…has disgusting taste.” Itadori was angry at whoever was behind the situation.

            Nanami regarded the two teenagers carefully. He sighed. “The residuals were a bluff, likely meant to lure us in. Our foe is quite skilled. It looks like this will take more than moderate effort. So let’s go all-out.”

            “Yeah!” growled Itadori.

            (Y/N) balled her hands into fists. All-out…Bring it on.

l

Eight years old…

“What do you want, Gojo-san?”

            “I need a babysitter while I’m on a mission, Nanami! And Ieri won’t help me, and Ijichi is busy!” whined Gojo.

            “Don’t involve me,” said Nanami, crossing his arms. He turned to leave.

            “Too late!” chirped Gojo. He picked up (Y/N) and practically shoved her into Nanami’s arms. “Be good for Nanami, (Y/N)! Bye!”

            “Now, wait—.”

            Too late, Gojo was gone.

            Nanami looked down at the child in his arms and raised an eyebrow. (Y/N) blinked up at him. He quickly set her down on her own two feet. Her put his hands on his hips and regarded her carefully.

            “What’s your name?” he asked.

            “(L/N) (Y/N).”

            Ah, the half-curse child I heard about. From the way people talked about her, I thought she’d be more aggressive. Typical irrational people. “Alright, (L/N)-kun. I’m Nanami. I’m going to go read the paper, please behave yourself.” With those words, Nanami walked over to the couch and sat down, pulling out his newspaper.

            A few minutes passed, and someone tapped his knee. When he folded back the paper, it was (Y/N).

            “Yes?” He raised an eyebrow.

            “I need another player,” said (Y/N), “for my game.”

            Nanami sighed. “I don’t know how to play your games.”

            “Chess,” said (Y/N). She pointed to the floor behind her where a chess board was set up.

            “You like chess?” asked Nanami.

            “Yes,” said (Y/N). She looked up at him. “Please play.”

            “Alright,” sighed Nanami, giving in, “We can play a match.”

l

            “I’m back!” sang Gojo, slamming the door closed.

            “Be quiet,” muttered Nanami.

            “You’re always so grouchy, Nanami!” chirped Gojo, walking into the room. He stopped and dramatically let his jaw drop.

            The chessboard was back in its box and tucked neatly away in the corner. Nanami sat on the couch, holding a sleeping (Y/N) in his arms. His suit-jacket was wrapped around her like a blanket.

            “Awwww!” Gojo couldn’t help but take photo after photo. “I knew you two would get along! You’re so unreadable and emotionless! A perfect match!”

            “Delete those,” ordered Nanami blankly. However, he didn’t deny that he and (Y/N) got along, nor did he let her go. In fact, he looked down at her fondly.

[dawnanddorisqna]

Have either of you heard about the recent dealings with HBOMax? And if so what are your thoughts about it?

Thank you so much for this question. Anything animation is my favorite topic so this may become a rant. but here we go.

I think everyone in the industry has heard of what's happened. It's devastating and disrespectful. Warner Bros. has a special place in animation history with legacy characters and a collection of classics. They helped move the medium forward and at one point celebrated their place in film by creating an entire network dedicated to new shows, looney tunes, Hanna Barbera and more. They also helped introduce a generation to anime.

Unfortunately, as Warner changed leadership from one company to another, the focus became more on how to make the most income and for whatever reason money people don't see animation as something that can earn. History proves this idea wrong, especially with most animated films typically performing well in theaters, but in the industry animation is always seen as something only for kids. Something that doesn't need to be noticed. Something that people "graduate" from watching. This is old thinking and the new people in charge of Warner have shown almost aggressively that they can only think this way and want to move things way back (saying women don't like genre or written stories? @#$% You!!).

They think these characters can be erased and that no one will care because as they see it the only people saying anything are kids and will grow out of it. It's a cruel and disrespectful way to run a company. It's also, unfortunately, the way most places see this medium. To want to tell an adult leaning story in animation will still garner comments from execs of "Well you don't want to scare away kids" or "Kids don't want heavy stories, don't say anything about grief" "This is too dark" "just make it a comedy" and more. After all that they want live action celebrities attached because "How else will we get adults to watch this?" Imagine spending years perfecting your voice, only to be dubbed over with Chris Pratt because people know his face. (It's not like his face is on the #%$% Poster!). There are films that tell unique stories and don't follow the studio exec kid's gloves requirement. But I guarantee that these films and shows were an absolute struggle to get made, and once they were the studios usually work hard to bury them. (Tron Uprising, Infinity Train)

We always said "Animation is Cinema" and that's true. It's an artform that's now in nearly every film. But that term means nothing if you're still going to treat animation the same way. If you're still going to add fart jokes, only aim it at kids and feel like the only adults watching are parents and you still need to trick them into seeing it. I hear this phrase said so much, but now it feels like it's simply crossed into buzzwords territory to help trick some audience members into giving the studio money. Warner Bros. at one point was one of the studios that seemed like they wanted to treat animation like a real artform. It looks like now they don't even want to remember it exists.

But it's not all doom and gloom. There are people working outside the studio system to actually create some amazing work (Hazbin Hotel for example). Artists want to create. To tell stories and connect to people in ways that studios are too afraid to do. When you find an artist or a group working to tell these stories, I'd ask that you help them by telling as many people as you can about their work, reblogging it on the interwebs, and donating to them when you can.

I think the fans can really help in giving this medium the respect that places like Warner Bros. Discovery refuses to.

Thank you for the question,

Sincerely,

Doris

[newtonsheffield]

There is absolutely no way Edmund Sharma hasn't been traumatized by walking in on his parents... I don't know if you've already written this but could we please see a time when it happened?? Thank you so much for answering all our crazy asks! - we just can't get enough

Oh he's definitely walked in on them having sex. Definitely.

Anthony and Kate might be in their thirties and they might have a teenage son, but they missed a lot of time together, so they're right back into super horny teenage mode, and you know it. And perhaps they weren't always the most careful initially about where things happened

In hindsight, it had been a terrible idea. Edwina had taken Edmund out for the afternoon, she'd wanted to spend some time with him before school started back, so they'd gone to the cinema, and Matt had said he had something new to show Edmund at the museum and maybe it was selfish, but Kate had enjoyed laying on the couch with Anthony, her face tucked into his neck, feeling the comforting rise and fall of his chest under her as they lay together.

"I'm really glad Neddy has such a big family now." She'd whispered, playing with the edge of Anthony's shirt as he frowned.

"You said he was shy, but that's kind of hard for me to imagine, now."

Her chest ached, when she thought about how many times she'd gone to pick him up from school and seen him, alone outside, as the other kids congregated in groups, talking animatedly, Edmund was in the corner, reading a book quietly.

"He just... He was quiet, he still can be with people he doesn't know but I think your family is really helping. They all love him so much and I'm grateful."

Anthony sat up a little tilting her chin towards him, "He's our son, and he's family. There's nothing to be grateful for, it's what family does."

It was stupid, to let herself be pulled into it, here on the couch, to let Anthony pull off her sweater, his grin like a small boy at Christmas as he tugged off her jeans, but she'd pulled his clothes off as well and let herself be pulled into his orbit in s a clash of teeth and tongues and wandering hands as their hips ground together, his hands tight on her thighs, wrapped up together until-

"I just saw the best-Oh my god!" Edmund had burst through the living room door, excited to tell them about his afternoon, his face falling open in horror as Edwina rounded the corner, followed by Matt who clapped his hands over Edmund's eyes in surprise.

Anthony let out a loud Fuck! and in his panic pushed Kate firmly off him, letting her fall to their living room floor with a sharp thud!

Humiliation seeping into the very fibre of her being, Kate ignored her sister's guffaw of laughter, sliding the throw blanket off the nearby armchair.

"Edmund, honey, we were just um-"

"No! I don't think we need to talk about it!" Edmund turned on heel sprinting upstairs clearly mortified.

Edwina cackled, "Well Well Well, Anthony, barely a father three months and you're already traumatising your child. And Katharine, for shame."

"Hey Kate." Matt finally managed to squeak out, his eyes pointedly staring at the ceiling. "Anthony."

Anthony's ears were burning red, "Um... does he know about-" He made a crude gesture while Edwina guffawed again.

Kate rolled her eyes, "Yes, Anthony, he's a thirteen year old boy. I took that conversation off your plate a few years ago. You're doing the next one by the way. Edmund asked me if adults only have sex for babies or if it just feels good. I had not idea what to say."

Anthony looked relieved, "Okay, so this might not be so bad."

"He just caught me riding you on his favourite sofa, Anthony, I think it's bad. Edwina stop laughing!"

Edwina was nearly purple, tears rolling down her face, gasping for breath, "I'm going, I'm going."

Her laughter following her down the hall as she left.

In the end they got a new couch, and had to put up with Edmund announcing his intent to enter the room very loudly for the next few months.

"Edmund is coming into the room!"

"Everyone's fully dressed in here, Mate!"

[redwhitebuddie]

homophobia within the 911 fandom

so i was on twitter today looking at 911/buddie content and to my disappointment, i basically just saw a lot of homophobia. now i am aware that some people are against buddie and that inherently is not bad, but some people were using that as a way to be blatantly homophobic. i saw a lot of people saying "there is already enough gay people in the show" or "the gay fans are delusional for seeing gay buck or eddie" and alot of "they should just be happy with the representation they already have, why do they need more?"

these comments and opinions are innately homophobic, whether the poster realizes it or not. the idea that the queer community of 911, or really any show, has enough representation is acting as if there is a quota or ratio that needs to be met where the lgbtqiap+ community will just be like 'alright we are satisfied no more queer characters needed here.' THATS NOT HOW QUEER PEOPLE EXIST. if there are more than two queer couples in one friend group or community, the other queer people don't just fade to existence or stop being friends with them because there is already enough queer people.

also in 911, there is representation for gay men and lesbian women and while i am grateful for what we get, that is two identities out of the long list of identities in the lgbtqiap+ community. (using fanons here) if buck were to be pan or bi and eddie be gay or queer or demisexual, it would give some much needed representation not just for those queer communities but also the idea that not everyone grows up knowing their sexuality. so many adults work through repression and internalized homophobia to find their true selves well into adulthood. seeing that representation on screen would create normalization of the vast stories of the lgbtqiap+ community. i know a lot of people would love to see a show as big as 911 show a "coming to terms with their sexuality" storyline from one of the characters.

if i am being nit picky, out of the actual main cast, we only have two gay characters (hen and michael). hen and michael have been in 65 episodes, but karen (hens wife) has only been in 26 episodes and david (michaels boyfriends) has only been in 10 episodes. also, josh has only been in 28 episodes.

one last thing. film has been a huge part of society since the 1890s, but until the 1970s, there was barely a handful of films that openly showed queer people. even then, the characters were usually either killed or made fun of during the film. until the 1990s, there was little to no positive representation of queer people in cinema or television. so telling queer people that having a handful of queer characters in a show is enough, is kind of a slap in the face considering that we were robbed of even being represented on screen until 30 years ago.

representation for queer folks in cinema can always be better than it has been (even within 911 there are many issues with the characters we have: cheating storylines which make me very mad because it continues the narrative that queer people are less monogamous than straight people but that is a conversation for another day).

representation means so much to young and older queer people. we should never feel like we have to exist in small numbers for our existence to be justified or acknowledged by straight people.