#amm: oct23

[aggressivelyarospec]

‘Aro Movies Monday’: Master List ⇝ September / October 2023

[Completed 31/10/23]

❧ Romance-Free

Blazing Saddles (1974) — Movie [Link]

Bigtop Burger (2021) — Webseries [Link]

Dredd (2012) — Movies [Link]

They Cloned Tyrone (2023) — Movie [Link]

Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974) — TV Show [Link]

Big Game (2014) — Movie [Link]

On Your Mark (1995) — Short Film [Link]

The Baytown Outlaws (2012) — Movie [Link]

The Shallows (2016) — Movie [Link]

Thirteen Lives (2022) — Movie [Link]

See For Me (2021) — Movie [Link]

Mermaid Down (2019) — Movie [Link]

Child’s Play (1988) — Movie [Link]

If it Bleeds (2020) — Book [Link]

Chomp (2012) — Book [Link]

Pinnochio (2022) — Movie [Link]

Spirited Away (2001) — Movie [Link]

The Magician’s Elephant (2023) — Movie [Link]

Yojimbo (1961) — Movie [Link]

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) — TV Show [Link]

Stephen King's Short Stories (1993) — Book [Link]

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) — Movie [Link]

The Trollenberg Terror (1958) — Movie [Link]

❧ Aro-Friendly

Loose in the Heel, Tight in the Toe (2021) — Book [Link]

Sherlock Holmes (1887) — Book [Link]

The Chase (2017) — Movie [Link]

Willy’s Wonderland (2021) — Movie [Link]

Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022) — TV Show [Link]

Dan Vs. (2011) — Webseries [Link]

Ready Or Not (2019) — Movie [Link]

The Fortune Cookie (1966) — Movie [Link]

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988) — Webseries [Link]

It (1990) — Movie [Link]

Maximum Overdrive (1986) — Movie [Link]

The Wall (1982) — Movie [Link]

❧ Aro-Negative

Peter Pan (2003) — Movie [Link]

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[aggressivelyarospec]

For AMM: Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988-present) is pretty aro-friendly. The whole series is based around hanging out with a found family and watching bad movies together. While a lot of the films they watch can be pretty aro-unfriendly, the jokes that the cast make at the films (especially with any film romances) makes them much more bearable and hilarious. 5/5 show

Additional Information: TV-PG | Comedy, Sci-Fi Trailer:  

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[aggressivelyarospec]

Also, Maximum Overdrive (1986) is fairly aro-friendly and goofy as all get out. There's a newlywed couple in the main cast but that's never really focused on and romance isn't really brought up. Just keeps the focus on the silly killer trucks 3/5

Additional Information: R | Horror, Action, Comedy Trailer:  

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[aggressivelyarospec]

classicmoonlight submitted:

“Yojimbo” (1961)

Excellent Japanese samurai film. The main character is a nameless rōnin samurai who wanders the countryside. By chance he happens upon a small town where two competing crime organizations have been battling it out for some time. The samurai decides to stay and get rid of these yakuza for the sake of the remaining good townsfolk.

No romance in it. Two of the yakuza members are married, though their relationship was likely arranged and is treated more as a business deal. If you missed one line of their dialogue you probably couldn’t even tell that they were supposed to be married at all.

A really good film that had a huge influence on the Western genre (in fact it has been remade several times as American Westerns, though these aren’t as good).

Additional Information: PG | Action, Drama, Suspense Trailer:

[aggressivelyarospec]

cherrytea556 submitted: Pinnochio (2022) and Spirited Away (2001)

This is an adaptation of the well known story, pinnochio. It takes a dark yet heartwarming spin with no romance at all, mainly focusing on the family relationship between gepetto and pinnochio. Their’s also Spirited Away which doesnt have any romance (at least to me) and while love does get mentioned between Chirio and Haku by the other characters but their relationship doesn’t get into romance territory so I think its more of platonic love, which is honestly pretty cool. Their both great films with amazing stories and free to watch on netflix.

Additional Information for Pinnochio; PG | Fantasy/Musical

Additional Information for Spirited Away; PG | Fantasy/Adventure

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[aggressivelyarospec]

centipedesdilemma submitted: romance-free book rec

“Chomp” by Carl Hiaasen (2012)

One of the few books written for a YA audience that has no romance between the two teen main characters.

A really good book that examines how animals are treated in the film industry, from both the perspective of two professional animal wranglers and the nature tv show they are hired to assist with. Both hilarious and educational, with a solid friendship developing between Lance and Lucille (aka Wahoo and Tuna).

Although this is labeled YA it is just as entertaining for adults to read as well - Hiaasen just wrote it ‘cleaner’ than his other works so that younger people could read something by him if they wanted.

There are a few moments where people assume that Lance and Lucille are dating, but it is pretty clear it is platonic in reality. Lance’s parents are married, though his mother goes on a (temporary) overseas assignment at the books beginning and thus isn’t in most of it. Lance’s family has a nice dynamic with each other though, so their scenes together are fun to read.

Additional Information: Mystery, Adventure Trailer: N/A

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[aggressivelyarospec]

catfriend submitted: Short Story suggestion

“If it Bleeds” by Stephen King

One of my favorite novellas by Stephen King. The story can be found in his collection of the same name, and is about detective Holly Gibney who starts suspecting there is something odd about the tv reporter covering a recent bombing. A great mystery with the supernatural element slowly but surely coming into play, leading to a tense battle of wits.

This is a good story for both King fans and people who haven’t read any of his works but would like to.

No romance. Trigger warning here due to Holly’s emotionally abusive mother, whom has a brief scene since this is set close to a holiday. However, it is made clear that Holly has a close friendship with Jerome and Barbara, considering them (and their parents) to be her real family.

Additional Information: Horror, Thriller, Crime Trailer: N/A

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[aggressivelyarospec]

thanksbutno submitted:

“See For Me” (2021)

Thriller about blind woman who gets caught up in a home invasion while on a petsitting job. No romance, and the cat does not get hurt - or even really noticed - by the robbers.

Additional Information: PG-13 | Crime, Drama, Mystery Trailer:

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[aggressivelyarospec]

Happy Halloween's eve! For AMM: It (1990) seemed fairly aro-friendly. The focus of the whole thing is mainly on the power of friendship throughout the years. There's a minor love triangle throughout the series but it's really downplayed compared to the book and is fairly easy to ignore as it doesn't really impact the story. Other than that, some of the characters are married as adults but the story doesn't really focus on anything romantic. 4/5

Additional Information: TV-14 | Horror, Drama, Mystery Trailer:  

Happy Halloween's eve! Added.

[aggressivelyarospec]

centipedesdilemma submitted:

“Child’s Play” (1988)

Not sure if this film has already been submitted; if it has you can just delete this post.

A classic slasher/supernatural film with no romance. Fun to watch around halloween. I haven’t seen anything else in this franchise and just enjoy this film as a stand-alone.

P.S. If you’re not into horror films but still curious about this film the CinemaSnob did a fun review of it and a few of the sequels

Additional Information: R | Horror, Suspense Trailer:

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[aggressivelyarospec]

que submitted:

“Mermaid Down” (2019)

A surprisingly good movie. It works better if you start the film after the main character is sent to the asylum - this turns it into a nice gothic mystery where you’re not sure if she used to be a mermaid, but you’re rooting for her and the others to get away.

The asylum itself actually has nice people on the staff, but it is those corrupt few that make it a bad place to be.

There is no romance, some nice bonds between characters developing.

Warning for some gore in the beginning (another reason I skipped to where she is already at the asylum).

Additional Information: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery Trailer:

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[aggressivelyarospec]

quicksilver submitted:

“Dan Vs.” (2011-2013)

A fun series where Dan tries to get revenge against the various things life throws at him - vandalized car, rude tourists, traffic…ninjas, supervillains, etc.

The reason I’m adding it here is Dan’s friendship with Chris. It is very clear that Dan is worried that Chris’ recent marriage to Elise will hurt/change their friendship. There are also moments shown where Chris is trying to balance Elise and Dan, while Dan and Elise eventually do develop a sort of friendship (one of the nicest moments between them is in Dan Vs. George Washington).

There are three episodes where it is implied that Dan has a romantic interest in someone (The Barber, Burgerphile, The Wedding) but those can be easily skipped.

It should also be noted that Dan, while a fun character to watch, is definitely not supposed to be a role model or anything. This is a silly show where about two-thirds of the things Dan gets mad at are relatable (and so it can be cathartic to watch him get revenge), and happens to show an aspect of friendship that most shows don’t talk about (that things might change after one person in the friendship gets married).

It is also possible to see Dan as demiromantic, especially in the episode Dan Vs. Reality TV. Dan feels a connection to a woman he has been talking to online due to their shared interests, and after finding out it was a prank from a 'reality' prank show goes after revenge from the shows director.

Later when Dan is tricked into a reality dating show he just spends the whole time trying to escape (this was the most relatable/hilarious part, him being forced into a weird dating game and just having none of it)

Additional Information: TV-PG | Animation, Adventure, Comedy Trailer:

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[aggressivelyarospec]

Quinn submitted:

“Thirteen Lives” (2022)

Biographical survival film based on the Tham Luang cave rescue. Really well made. Feels like a theatrical film while still being respectful to the real-life people involved. No romance at all, just people working together to help the tapped people.

Additional Information: PG-13 | Action, Adventure, Biography Trailer: 

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[aggressivelyarospec]

Check all your favorite  movies or TV shows and share with us those you identify with from an  arospec perspective or the ones you think the community should avoid.

Send them our way and remember to add this info in order to get them included in the list:

Name

Release year

Does it contain romance? How important is it to the story?

How many stars do you rate it with from 1 to 5? (optional)

A short commentary about it (optional)

You can now visit the master list tag and follow our rec lists!

Important note: You can send your recommendations through our inbox or submit page. We only include those that come with the required info, so make sure you don’t forget it!

[aggressivelyarospec]

Anonymous submitted:

“The Trollenberg Terror” (1958)

Classic sci-fi film that is surprisingly good. I actually saw a parody of this film first in an episode of Freakazoid, which made watching this film an interesting experience of deja vu until finally realizing where I knew it from.

No romance, despite it seeming for a while that Dr. Brooks would end up with one of the female leads.

Fun sci-fi mystery that Stephen King himself said scared him as a child and has paid homage to in at least one of his books. The practical effects are very well done, and I can definitely see why it creeped him out on the first viewing.

Also one of the films riffed on MST3K - remember, they riff ‘good’ films too :)

Additional Information: Not rated | Horror, Sci-Fi Trailer:  

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[aggressivelyarospec]

isaacinspace submitted:

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005)

An amazing film adaptation of Roald Dahl’ original book. The visuals are stunning and incredibly book-accurate, the performances are fun, and Johnny Depp gives a very memorable performance as Willy Wonka.

Charlies parents are married but aren’t in it much - the focus is Willy Wonka and his factory. No romance.

Highly recommend a watch: Tim Burton + Johnny Depp = amazing

This film is much more accurate than the 1971 version, which honestly isn’t as good. Although the great Gene Wilder gave an amazing performance as Willy Wonka, the rest of the film really doesn’t measure up. In fact, the 2005 version of the character Willy Wonka did their best to have Johnny Depp give a very different performance in order to not step on Gene Wilders toes - having a unique but still book-accurate version of the character which in no way could be mixed up with Wilder.

Additional Information: PG | Comedy, Adventure, Family Trailer:  

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