#also 'the phenomenal look of Astrid' i'm--

[fallingthruspace]

Saw Beetlejuice Beetlejuice earlier today & here are my thoughts:

Overall I loved the movie and had a lot of fun. I was laughing pretty much the entire time and it was great seeing these characters I love so much on screen together again🖤💚

🚨Major spoilers under the cut!🚨

- Lydia having one of those paranormal investigation/ghost hunting shows was actually hilarious, especially when they brought out the night vision

- LOOOVED seeing all the different types of dead people in the netherworld, the makeup & special effects were phenomenal

- Even when all we saw of Rory was a few scenes in the trailers I already didn't like him. Watching the actual movie made me hate his slimy ass even more & watching him get eaten by a sandworm was satisfying

- Bob did not deserve that #justiceforbob

-I think it was a mistake to have both the Delores & Jeremy plotlines. Squeezing both into the movie left them feeling rushed & underdeveloped, whereas if we just had one there would have been room to really flesh it out. Monica Belluci was severely underutilized & the ending ended up feeling kind of anticlimatic. But that's really my only gripe with the film.

- While not exactly a gripe, I really wish Beetlejuice had more scenes with Lydia & Astrid. Watching those three play off each other would have been fun.

- Also kind of disappointed that Beej & Lydia didn't actually get married this time, but with the film having what looked to me like an open ending maybe there will be a chance for them if/when Beetlejuice 3 happens? I think it would be absolutely hilarious for Lydia to realize she's actually falling for Beetlejuice & having one of those "oh....oh NO" moments😆 (and Beej being smug as HELL when he finds out of course)

- I am SO GLAD they brought back Danny Elfman to do the music

- Soul Train was great, as well as the use of McArthur Park

- I can't decide if the movie was actually rushed or if I was having so much fun it just felt that way. I would have gladly watched another 30-40 minutes of this film with no complaints

- The little reference to the Maitland's in the model during the opening credits was a blink & you miss it scene but still really cool

There's probably something else I'm forgetting but all in all I'd give the movie 4.5 out of 5 stars. Definitely would recommend & I'm hoping to see it one more time before it leaves theaters

[thessalian]

Astrid vs Favours for Friends

On the road

Astrid: And we're sure your devil came this way?

Wyll: Absolutely. Just ... oh. That looks bad.

Astrid: Oh. Oh dear. He looks bad.

Badly Mauled Dwarf: You ... Pure ... servants of the Absolute... *dies*

Astrid: Um ... Shadowheart, I don't think words of healing are going to cut it for this.

Dwarf's Companions: Command us! What do we do now?

Astrid: Maybe ... don't stand around to get mauled by owlbears?

Dwarf's Companions: As you say! *exit, stage Somewhere Else*

Gale: This is getting stranger by the--Astrid, what are you doing?!?

Astrid: *digging parasite out of dead dwarf ocular socket* Something incredibly gross and that I really don't want to be doing but guess what? BRAIN-WORM DOESN'T FUCKING CARE!

Shadowheart; Gale; Wyll: Owowowow!

Astrid: Oh. I did the voice again, didn't I. Sorry. Look, just ... can we move on from this? This is really gross.

Gale: ...I hope she's going to be alright. She's not the sort that deals well with ... that ... sort of thing.

Shadowheart: I spy the perfect solution. *taps Astrid on the shoulder* There's a dog over there that looks in desperate need of comfort...

Astrid: ...........Puppy! *nyoom*

Gale; Wyll: .....................

Shadowheart: Shar doesn't bless stupid clerics.

A little further on, in a fort sort of half full of paladins of Tyr

Anders: Some devil-woman did this! I want her head!

Wyll: Karlach. Typical. Point the way.

Anders: I ... was going to offer you this sword if you bring back her head, so--

Astrid: It's ... sort of not necessary? We were going to do this anyway? Because ... you know, reasons? Also I don't think any of us can heft that thing since we made the githyanki go bye-bye.

Shadowheart: More like "githyanki go splat-spurt", but as you like.

Anders: If you bring me her head I am giving you this sword and you are not arguing with me about it.

Astrid: How about I just point you to the body so you have some piece of mind, and you keep your big stabby thing?

Anders: *glares*

Astrid: Okay, okay! Yeesh.

And, a little ways down the river

Astrid: ...She's got one of these parasites too? Were they having some kind of sale?

Wyll: Wait. I'm not sure she's strictly speaking a ... devil, as I understand them, from what I'm seeing in her head. But--

Astrid: Look, I don't know what's going on or what set you to killing her in the first place, but ... remember about sixty metres of carnage spread hell-for-breakfast across the road, and the bridge, and the inn?

Karlach: ...Fuck.

Stabnation: *ensues*

Later, at camp

Minora: Hello there!

Astrid: Um ... who invited the literal demon? I mean, phenomenal entrance, but ... you know, if you'd let me know you were coming, I would have set out another plate.

Wyll: ...Astrid, this is Minora, my ... my patron. Minora, this is Astrid, the apparent leader of this merry band of misfits.

Minora: Anyway, puppy, I just wanted to thank you for taking care of that silly little tiefling for me--

Wyll: So she really was a-- But you said it was just--!

Astrid: Wyll. Chill. Gnolls are kind of nasty but they are not finger painting materials. Though you could have just told me you're a warlock.

Wyll: I guess I thought ... well, if you knew where I got my powers, it'd be ... well...

Astrid: Wyll. Sweetie. I got my powers through the incredible power of swear words. We all have some weird.

Minora: ...Look, just take the shiny armour, remember the pact still stands, and I'll be in touch.

Astrid: *shouting down the literall hole to hell* Please call first, with a list of dietary requirements! We don't do souls, though; sorry!

Wyll: You are taking this remarkably well.

Astrid: Mind flayer tadpole. *taps temple* In head. Everything else is just icing on the Weird Cake.

Camp again, after a particularly hard day

Everybody: *apparently sleeping peacefully*

Astarion: *creeeeeeeps up to Astrid*

Astrid: *eyes still closed* Consent is a thing, Astarion...

Astarion: Oh. Shit. No, it's not what you think!

Astrid: I think you were going to suck my blood, is what I think.

Astarion: ...Oh. So it is what you think. How did you--?

Astrid: The "being in sun, crossing running water, crossing thresholds without an invitation" thing threw me for awhile, but remember, I got within head-butting distance of those teeth. Also I saw one of your meals - exsanguinated boar was not the ugliest thing I saw out there today, by the way. So ... I figured I guess you're trying to feed on me because you don't want to eat redcaps, or swamp rats like your master might have made you--

Astarion: ...Wait. You just dug that out of my head.

Astrid: Sorry, but ... even if I don't like using the various little niggles this parasite seems to be giving me ... you and I both know you were going to lie to me.

Astarion: Look, my master made me eat vermin, yes, but no, ordinarily I'd be fine to hunt! Just I left it too long and am too weak to hunt properly ... and also yes, you're right, anything I'd eat from here would probably poison me.

Astrid: Well, you could have asked first.

Astarion: I mean, yes, but honestly, you would have said no, and--

Astrid: *raises eyebrows*

Astarion: Wait. You ... wouldn't ... have said no?

Astrid: You remember that whole thing where everyone complains about my being an altruist? But yeah, that's why I started with 'consent is a thing, Astarion'. We need ground rules and a safe word but I don't want you to starve.

Astarion: ...Hot dog.

Astrid: Also because it keeps your fangs off Scratch.

The next morning

Wyll: You let him WHAT?!?

Gale: My sentiments precisely.

Shadowheart: I mean ... probably better this way, because we'd all just stake him, but ... if you kill her--

Astarion: I know, I know, smear across the landscape. Not that it'd be noticeable in this swamp anyway, but I take your point. I won't overstay my welcome in that regard.

Astrid: Oof. Yeah, that can't be a too-often thing. I'm glad that the success of most of what I cast is down to them resisting, not me having to aim anything...

Shadowheart: *glares at Astarion* I've got your back with Guidance cantrips. But ... how about we take on that hag after you've had a rest and some red meat? Replenish what you've lost, hmm?

Astarion: Aww, but you heard her. Most of hers is about resisting, and I would love to kill something right now.

Gale: Fine. But she gets to perch in the shadows slinging arrows ... or insults, whatever takes her fancy, and you get to be right in something's face!

Astarion: *griiiiiiins*

Gale: While I wish Astrid had said something sooner, I have to wonder why we didn't see this sooner. I mean, look at him!

Astrid: ...Gale? You ... should really pay more attention to the reading material I hand you...

Gale: Wait. What? *digs through expanded book collection* ..."Dhampir For Dummies"?

Astrid: Well, I wasn't going to actually out him; that's rude! Making sure you had all the information needed to connect the dots, though? That's common sense.

Gale: You've known her ... slightly longer than I have. Is this just ... how she is?

Shadowheart: Yes.

Astarion: Look, if you really want honesty, just consider that her blood is delicious, and if she dies? I don't get it anymore. If you can't believe anything good about me, how about believing that I will always, eternally act in my own self-interest, and that means protecting the leader and face-person who also happens to have truly ambrosial blood, hmm? If you need help imagining that, please understand that her safe word is "knickerweasels".

Gale: ...We should go after that hag. I think Astarion needs to recognise what he's in for if he presses his luck.

Wyll: Oh... you mean when she threw two redcaps about five metres with Thunderwave by clapping her hands together and shouting ... what was it, "yeet"?

Astrid: ...It worked with goblins. Redcaps are similarly aerodynamic.

Astarion: Oh I have to see this let's go kill something!

Gale: Right. So cheerfulness is a blood-borne pathogen. Good to know.

[ingravinoveritas]

I need to vent lol: I cannot stand the thought of Anna being in Michael's next Christmas movie on Sky! Why must they put her in everything he does? Why does she behave like the little gold-digger the haters think she is?? Ughh she can't even act ffs! Anna girl, get your own life and your own career. Stop hogging Michael's.

Hi, Anon! Well, as I’ve said before, folks are always welcome to vent/rant on my blog, so I’m glad you feel comfortable doing so.

Regarding Last Train to Christmas, my theory--both when the movie was first announced and still now, as a new trailer has emerged--is that it’s a peace offering, of sorts. That Michael couldn’t (or wouldn’t) get AL a part in the second season of Good Omens, so here she is in a bit part in this direct-to-Sky holiday cheesefest instead.

What I find really interesting is, well...two things, actually. One is that when Michael initially tweeted about the movie last month, it stayed as his pinned tweet for a little less than two weeks, before he changed it to something else. The second thing is the tweets both he and AL wrote just a few days ago, promoting the new trailer. Here’s a screenshot of said tweets side-by-side:

In at least two tweets now promoting the movie, AL has tagged/mentioned Michael, and Michael has mentioned...his hair. Which is all well and good, mind you, because I had a feeling that one of his favorite parts of doing this movie was getting to wear a bunch of wigs and look like a hot mess. (Perhaps revenge for David having 520647 hairstyles as Crowley in GO while Michael had like...one. Haha.) But it is a curious thing that he’s never said a word about AL being in it, and that we perhaps wouldn’t have known if it weren’t for her QTing the initial tweet. 

Also, I don’t know if you’ve gotten to see, Anon, but according to IMDb and a first look picture that AL posted today, her character’s name in the movie is Astrid. So she’s playing a Swedish girl with blonde hair, which...I’m sure the BAFTAs will be coming any day now? Nevermind that you can actually see her acting in that picture (and her focusing on Michael instead of being in the scene or in the moment), along with that one facial expression she really seems to enjoy making. That is Oscar gold, right there. The thing is, if you watch the trailer above, AL doesn’t even seem to be in it (if I’ve missed her, though, someone please do let me know!). So I’m just confused by what her role is supposed to be in this, and it seems like posting that publicity still with Michael is her attempt at hyping up her role to make it look bigger than it is.

But again, I honestly don’t care that much about AL being in the Christmas movie if it keeps her out of GO 2. I know people have differing opinions on that, but for my part, I want her (and Georgia) nowhere near the second season of Good Omens (for various reasons). So if this is what it takes, I am all for it...