#and any films I mentioned that have remakes or reboots

[blackandwhlteaesthetlc]

My favorite question in the world! Thank you for tagging me, Gina 🥰

I’ll give you some different genres to work with, anon ❤️

Comedy: Zoolander, Mean Girls, Clueless, But I’m A Cheerleader, 9 to 5

Horror: Scream, Suspiria, Seoul Station, The Exorcist

Romance: Amelie, Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet, Never Been Kissed

Drama: My Girl, Reservoir Dogs, Dog Day Afternoon

Sci-fi: Everything Everywhere All At Once, Alien

Western: Brokeback Mountain, The Power of The Dog

Animated: Spirited Away, A Goofy Movie, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Just to name a few! Feel free to message me if something here isn’t catching your attention 🤓

I’m off for the weekend, it’s raining, and I really want to cuddle up and watch a movie. Problem is i have no movie inspo currently. Would you be so kind and rec me some of your favorites or some you think are an absolute must see? Thanks babes 🫶🏼

Hi sweetheart. I am absolutely the worst person to ask. But luckily, I know that @blackandwhlteaesthetlc is the best person to ask. So hopefully she’s online and she’ll chime in!

Anyone else should feel free, too!

[pinkrosealice]

A non-exhaustive list of art, pieces of media, franchises, authors, and thinkers that I really need my fellow Cultsim/BoH/Secret Histories fans to get into and discuss with me and between themselves.

.

.

(WARNING A LOT OF THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS COME WITH A LIST OF CONTENT WARNINGS AND ARE SOMETIMES CONNECTED TO CONTROVERSIAL ARTISTS AND PUBLIC PERSONS. THIS LIST IS NOT A ENDORSEMENT OF ANY PROBLEMATIC IDEALS OR STATEMENTS MADE BY ANYONE MENTIONED IN THIS LIST AND IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT ANYONE WHO LOOKS INTO ANY OF THE MENTIONED WORKS OF ART DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND THOROUGHLY CHECKS FOR DISTURBING / TRIGGERING CONTENT AT THEIR OWN VOLITION)

.

.

Film Recommendations:

1. Dario Argento's Three Mothers trilogy, especially Suspiria & and especially especially the 2019 remake of Suspiria. Very Dancer DLC-coded, very Sisterhood of the Triple Knot and Thunderskin.

2. The Magic Lantern films of Kenneth Anger, who was a practicing Thelmaite* for many years. Lantern Principal is obviously what comes to mind when you hear of the name of the series and the dreams that were mystical experiences that inspired and were expressed in art, in this case films is very much akin to stuff we see in Cultist Simulator.

(* As shown in later parts of this recommendation list I argue that the games of Weather Factory become even more interesting and artistically impactful if you learn more about late 19th and 20th century occultism and movements like Theosophy and Thelma.)

3. Hereditary and Midsommar are obvious recommendations but even more so I would recommend the original 1970s The Wicker Man. Folk Horror in general is a great source of what the arts of The Bosk would look like in real life. They were definitely worshiping The Low Red Sun on Summer Isle.

4. A Dark Song, a 2016 horror film that actually revolves around the performance of a very famous and important real life occult ritual. I think a lot of the visual imagery in that film can give some inspiration for the kind of Rites our player character in Cultist Simulator is performing.

5. The Lair of The White Worm is a movie loosely based on a Bram Stoker story and is also very much a Gods of Stone overthrown by forces associated with humans raised to Divinity and the powers of the Sun and Apollonian principles type of story. Plus the whole Worm/Wyrms thing going on. I also recommend it because it's one of the more light-hearted and comedic entries on this list and I want some variation in tone. Also its psychedelic visuals compliment a lot of the surrealist elements that are tied to things like the Moth Principal.

6. Black Swan isn't explicitly supernatural but it is very Dancer Coded.

7. The Hellraiser movies, but only the first second, fourth, and the reboot. Leviathan, being associated with pain and pleasure and having the name of a mythical sea monster is probably very similar to whatever the hell The Tide was before The Red Grail vored her. The Cenobites are Long with Grail, Knock, & Forge as their Principals.

8. Pan's Labyrinth, for the Woods and the Bounds appreciators. I also think there is something to be said about the fascist subtext that underlines much of the Edge Principle, especially in The Colonel that can be explored and appreciated in this film and its reckonings with the evils of Spanish fascism.

9. To compliment the recommendation for the Magic Lantern films, also check out the short film The Wormwood Star, you can find it easily on YouTube and it's another piece of art heavily influenced by Thelma and stars Marjorie Cameron who I will talk about more later in this list.

.

.

Game Recommendations:

1. Hollow Knight, it might as well be a story set in the era of the Carapace Cross. Sentient bugs, mighty Wyrms and dream gods with the powers of light but not necessarily moral goodness. Even the Void in Hollow Knight, and it's antagonism to The Radiance is very similar to The Nowhere and it's relationship with the established hierarchies in The Mansus.

2. The Silent Hill games, particularly the entries that revolve around The Order; like 1,3, Origins, and Homecoming. Dream worlds, Sun worship, the Dark Feminine and female psychics/mediums with deep associations with blood, birth and menstruation. Valtiel is totally a Name. Even the fog and mist of Silent Hill is giving The Bounds and it's Forge smoke meets Woods darkness type energy.

3. Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines, it's basically playing a Grail Long.

4. The tabletop games Geist: The Sin Eaters and Wraith: The Oblivion line up really well with the Ghoul / Medium DLC. *

(basically most if not all of the World of Darkness and Chronicles of Darkness tabletop games contain some themes, elements, or bits of World building that should appeal to anyone interested in the games created by Weather Factory)

5. The video games created by Korean studio Project Moon. Lobotomy Corporation has a lot of timers and simulation elements that have many similarities to those found in Cultist Simulator, and as the title implies Liberty of Runia takes place literally in a paranatural library just like Book of Hours even though the game play between the two is very different.

6. Fallen London and it's related media. The reasons why should go without saying. The controversies around AK aside, Echo Bazaar and Secret Histories are blood siblings and I desire more intersection and interaction between the respective fandoms.

7. The Bayonetta games have a surprising amount of real mythological and occult influence in their world building. The Solar Lumens juxtaposed with the Lunar Umbrans definitely has some resonance with Church of The Unconquered Sun and their on again, off again antagonism and allyship with The Sisterhood of The Triple Knot. The Apollonian natured House of the Sun contrasted with the Dionysian Woods & House of the Moo, and the Nowhere being connected to all three but being distinct; is not all together that different from the division of the Bayonetta universe into Inferno, Paradiso, the human world and Purgatorio between all of them.

8. The Shadow Hearts series of JRPGs are a Gothic, urban fantasy, historical fantasy, lovecraftian adventures around late 19th / early 20th century Europe and Asia. It has a lot of comedic elements and its world building and cosmology are not all that similar to the ones in Weather Factory games (barring their shared history as being inspired by Lovecraft). But if you want Lovecraft in video game form without the racism associated with his writings and you found Cultsim/BoH to fill that niche, then I recommend you give these games a try as well.

9. Secret World Legends, a functionally dead MMO but still incredibly fun to play and I think one of the best examples of urban fantasy / soft Lovecraft or post lovecraftian media in existence. Absolutely fantastic & memorable fully voiced NPCs and characters, really intriguing and rich world building and takes on mythology and folklore. Also given that you play as a quasi immortal with a deep association with bees and an ancient techno-organic goddess you're basically a Long.

10. To compliment the Lobotomy Corporation recommendation and the later SCP mention I think it's only natural that I also recommend the urban fantasy games of remedy entertainment like Alan Wake 1 & 2 and Control. Artists channeling / being used by Eldritch Forces in other dimensions and government institutions related to keeping a control on the supernatural are the most obvious similarities to stuff in WF games.

.

.

Visual Artists:

1. Francisco Goya, especially his Black Paintings, his insights into the witchcraft and folkloric traditions of the Basque region and elsewhere in the Iberian peninsula should be very appealing to fans of The Twins and The Thunderskin. Plus all of the Catholic imagery brings to mind The Mother of Ants.

2. Austin Osman Spare, Rosaleen Norton, and Marjorie Cameron. All three of these people were heavily influential occultists and illustrators/painters so their work is definitely a great representative example of the kind of occult art that you are making when you Paint in Cultsim.

3. Salvador Dali is also a relatively obvious, but I think very appropriate all the same recommendation. Surrealism is by and large the big big tonal influence on Secret Histories in my opinion. He also did a tarot deck so that brings in the Lucid Tarot connection

4.Erté, absolutely the kind of art and fashion you would find in Cultist Simulator's 1920's. Art Deco for days but also his works in particular show a more flowy and organic influence that we would more stereotypically associate with the Art Nouveau of decades prior.

.

.

Comic Books:

1. Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing and Grant Morrison's run on Animal Man. DC's Red and Green (plus all the other elemental forces) are a deeply underappreciated and underexplored element of the setting, and I think they have a lot of similarities with the Principles we find in Secret Histories.

2. Related to the above, Alan Moore's Promethea and Grant Morrison's The Invisibles for an exploration of 20th and 21st century occultism. Despite the two authors general distaste for each other, their works are often very complimentary.

3. The Hellboy franchise doesn't have a lot of one-to-one parallels with Cultsim & Co. but they draw from the same artistic influences of gothic fiction, weird fiction, mythology and folklore and the occult. So I feel very strongly that fans of one would and should find the other to be enjoyable. Both fandoms need to be more active on this hell site and though there are a handful of quality hidden gems of fanfiction for both franchises I desperately need more people to be writing & reading fan fiction for both. Plus I do strongly believe that Mike Mignola' s art style would really excel at illustrating characters and settings from Secret Histories. His non Hellboy work is also recommended especially the works that fall under his Outervers setting, like Baltimore and Joe Golem.

4. Although I will admit that I am not up to date on it, and that there has been a considerable amount of discourse around the quality of its storytelling (especially within the past few years) I would recommend the webcomic Gunnerkrigg Court to fellow Cultsim fans. Alchemic imagery, interesting reinterpretations of folklore and a setting and tone that is quintessential British urban fantasy / science fiction, Gunnerkrigg is in my opinion a work that has a lot of appeal for fans of WF's games and stories.

5. Lackadaisy Cats is an awesome Webcomic and animated web series. 1920s/ 30s gangsters and bootleggers in the form of anthropomorphic cats! And absolutely beautiful Art Deco illustrations! What's not to love.........

.

.

Anime & Manga:

1. Any of the anime directed by Ryūtarō Nakamura especially Serial Experiments Lain and Ghost Hound(this one is seriously underrated in my opinion.) Surrealism is the name of the game as I've said earlier.

2. Le Chevalier D'Eon, both it's manga and anime even though the two are very totally different and have divergent takes on a similar premise. Historical fiction that reinterprets 18th century historical events through an occult lens is so very very Secret Histories. Plus both works have interesting explorations of gender and the nature thereof. It helps that as far as we know the French monarchy's Secret Histories equivalent are associated with the Hours, my personal headcanon is that Louis XIV was Lantern Principal aligned, and Louie XVI had Knock as his Principal. Also the manga version of the story has a lot of its magic system based around the Tarot.

3. You can't recommend D'Eon without recommending it's biggest inspiration (apart from Rose of Versailles of course) and that would be Revolutionary Girl Utena. Edge Dyads for days with that one. Utena and Anthy are totally The Twins. And the whole show and it's movie are full of surrealist pseudo occult imagery practically to the bursting.

4. Baccano! , a light novel / anime series that's about a bunch of immortal Mobsters in the 1920s and 30s. I mean that's basically The Exile DLC right there.

5. xxxHolic and Legal Drug / Drug & Drop, by CLAMP. A shop that grants wishes and a pharmacy that handles the paranormal are both the kind of businesses that I could see existing alongside Morland's, Oriflamme's Auction House & The Ecdysis Club. Plus both manga are hella gay and I will push my Weather Factory games are inherently Queer pieces of media agenda till the day I die.

.

.

Theater, Operas, Music and Albums:

1. Jimmy Page's unused soundtrack for Kenneth Anger's Lucifer Raising. Definition of Occult rock and role.

2. Kiki Rockwell, especially her two most recent albums Rituals on the Bank of a Familiar River, and Eldest Daughter of an Eldest Daughter.

3. Stravinsky's Rite of Spring might just be the closest we will ever get in real life to an occult ritual in the form of an entire ballet like we see in Cultist Simulator and Book of Hours. Definitely a skill that could fall under the Wisdoms of Birdsong and The Bosk.

4. On that note, Mozart's Die Zauberflöte is also full of Hermetic Elements, Lunar / Solar antagonism, mystical initiation and ritual deity impersonation. Mozart was a Freemason so the fanfic of him as a Heart Adapt practically writes itself.

.

.

Literally Fiction:

1. The webnovels Pact and Pale by wildbow. A magic system that revolves around incredibly hierarchical relationships between humans and mystical beings, where magic fundamentally requires discarding one's humanity and transforming into some kind of mystical being yourself is very similar to the Adapt to Long pipeline we follow in Cultist Simulator.

2. The Rivers of London series is one that I'm still familiarizing myself with but it's another example of wonderful British urban fantasy (that isn't the wizard books that shall not be named) The fact that the main characters of the series are magic police officers gives it a certain Suppression Bureau appeal.

.

.

Nonfiction- Philosophy and Occult works and Authors:

1. Georges Bataille!!!!!!!! If you only pick one thing from this list to investigate further let it be the philosophical works of this man. His theory of religion as it relates to concepts such as economy, sacrifice, and eroticism you literally completely change how you understand The Hours and The House Without Wall.

2. Aleister Crowley, and any of his students, especially Kenneth Grant. He really is the quintessential modern English occultist, whether or not AK and Lottie intended it, the DNA of his beliefs or those of his Golden Dawn contemporaries, or his students is all over Cultsim and BoH. The Red Grail is like, so blatantly Babalon it's kind of ridiculous.

3. The Book of English Magic by Phillip Carr- Gomm & Richard Heygate, is a good introductory source of information on the history of magical practice and occultism on the British isles.

4. Occult Paris by Tobias Churton is a fascinating insight into some of the mystical practices that were en vogue in Europe just a few decades prior to when Cultist Simulator takes place.

5. Atlas of Cursed Places by Oliver Le Carrer. I could totally see some of the places documented in this book as being locations you could send your Followers to in Cultsim.

6. Please read everything you can that is academically critical about Greek magical Papyri. There are tons of resources for reading translations and analysis of these documents that are some of the most foundational examples of what real historical magical belief and practice actually looked like.

.

.

Web Original Content, Podcasts, YouTube Channels and Tiktok Recommendations:

1. Greedy Peasant over on Instagram and tik tok does fascinating content related to Catholicism, medieval history and art, and other related topics. If you like all of the interesting reinterpretations of Christian religious iconography into sun worship that happens in Book of Hours I highly recommend his content.

2. The last few years have really seen an incredible ecosystem of academic scholarship on religion, mythology, occultism and esoteric philosophy develop on YouTube. Channels like Esoterica, Angela's Symposium, Let's Talk Religion, Religion for Breakfast, Jackson Crawford, The Modern Hermeticist, The Archaeology of Ancient Magic, and others are just overflowing gold mines of accessible and easily digestible but still academically critical and pseudoscience and conspiracy theory free information about mysticism historical occultism and esoteric religion and mythology.

3. There are also a number of great YouTube channels that aren't academically critical but are run by actual practicing witches and occultists and they offer fascinating and interesting insights into these same topics but from a lived more personal perspective which is just as important I think to learn about as the academically critical sources. Great channels include Benbell Wen, Maevius Lynn, Marco Visconti, & Nordic Animism.

4. In terms of fictional internet media, SCP is so broad that there's a lot of stuff that is completely different in appeal from what is enjoyable about Secret Histories, but there's also so much overlap. I need crossover fanfics and fan art more than air!!!!!

5. Lastly this is a fiction podcast so it's a little incongruous with the other nearby recommendations but, I cannot stress enough......... The Mangus Archives and Magnus Protocol!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are a lot of key differences between those two podcasts and Weather Factory games, but there are so many similarities that I have to write an entire three other posts about how similar the settings are and how I want to write a crossover/ fusion fic. I've seen like, one or two pieces of fan art and fanfiction that was related to both series but in my humble opinion it's not nearly enough. I really really really really really need Cultsim fans to talk more about Magnus and I need Magnus listeners to play these games soooooooo badly!!!!!!!!!!

.

.

.

.

.

.

Well that mostly concludes this piece of propaganda for the time being, will probably make another post with further additions in the not so distant future. Feel free to reblog this with any other pieces of media that you think would also be appealing to fans of Cultist Simulator and Book of Hours.

[crownedinkcomix]

As a horror fan who embraces unexpected twists and so-called "subverted expectations" in sequels, reboots, and adaptations, I have no issue with franchises taking risks and evolving. My appreciation for the Halloween series largely stems from its willingness to defy slasher norms, particularly in Halloween 3: Season of the Witch and Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers. Even Rob Zombie’s 2007 remake has grown on me over time, and its controversial sequel remains one I enjoy rewatching for its distinctive vision and exploration of trauma (I would even argue it depicts PTSD more convincingly than Halloween 2018 does).

That said, my criticism of Halloween Ends has nothing to do with its deviations from franchise expectations. The issue lies in its failure to make sense within even the frequently contrived world of slasher franchises. The film’s plot holes and erratic character motivations, which appear to shift at the whim of its four writers, undermine any attempt at depth or seriousness. Additionally, the awkward dialogue detracts from its ambition to function as a dramatic character study. While previous installments may have flaws, most of them are made with the self-awareness that they're just slasher sequels, whereas Halloween Ends expects us to take it seriously. This is further undermined by the forced inclusion of a final showdown between Laurie and Michael at the conclusion when neither are major characters in what is otherwise an attempt at a psychological thriller with slasher elements.

I had hoped a second viewing would allow me to better appreciate its intentions, as has happened with other films in the series. As mentioned, my opinion of Zombie’s Halloween improved over multiple viewings as I began to understand his vision more. Moreover, while I loved Halloween 3 from the start, I do wonder if knowing Michael Myers wasn’t in the film softened what might have been disappointment if I had viewed the film when it had been released. However, Halloween Ends didn’t improve upon rewatching; its pretentiousness and disjointed narrative flaws feel even more pronounced. It combines the clumsy writing of a Friday the 13th sequel with the overreaching pretentiousness attributed to Zombie’s Halloween II.

Halloween Ends might take a swing at something ambitious, but ultimately, it strikes out, leaving me to appreciate its predecessors even more.

[long-cold-winterr]

I watched The Crow 2024 and it was pretty much the disappointment I had expected

*spoilers*

A remake would have never worked given the history of this film. Brandon Lee obviously gave an amazing performance but the tragedy that happened would always seem inappropriate to do a reboot of it.

The film is slowwwwww. The first hour is practically just them messing around before something actually happens. It's much more whimsical and the original. But I would say I did enjoy that there was more blood/gore and violent kills in this.

I do like Bill Skarsgard, and I wouldn't expect them to make his version look like Brandon's. But I don't think the tattoos were really necessary, most of them didn't really seem to make any sense. I wouldn't have minded if they did a large crow wings on him or something but it was excessive.

I don't know much about FKA Twigs but my friend and I were discussing it and he mentioned this was her first ever acting role. Which is painfully obvious. It was just too much of a big lead for her which she couldn't quite carry yet. Also I just couldn't see or feel any sort of chemistry between her and Bill on screen.

[destinyc1020]

What are your thoughts on the rumours that Disney is eyeing Austin to play the lead role in the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie? I think it could be fun and I would love to see what he does with it. But at the same time, I'm 'eh'. Despite it not being a Johnny Depp biopic, I could see people treating it like one. It could be Elvis all over again with the bullying.

While in theory it would probably be cool to see Austin play a pirate in a Pirates of the Caribbean film (NOT playing Jack Sparrow), at the same time, I feel like Johnny Depp IS those Pirates movies, and I just don't think it would be a good idea to do a reboot with a new actor.

Some films really don't need to be remade because they were done so well the first time, ykwim? 🤷🏾‍♀️ Plus, can you just imagine all of the comparisons?? 🤪 So yea... no lol.

We don't have to worry coz those rumors are just that... RUMORS. And Austin already mentioned that he had not even heard of them lol. 😅 He said himself that he wouldn't feel comfortable doing that cuz Johnny did it so well.

Lastly, can I just add?? ⚠️ WARNING: RANT COMING THROUGH ⚠️ I am 🤬 sick of Hollywood and their 🤬 reboots and remakes because they're too 🤬 scared to take risks and come up with films that are ORIGINAL. 🙄😒

Now days, all films seem to be are guaranteed cash grabs and nothing else. 🙄 If the studio doesn't think it will make any money, they will just not even make that type of film. Or, they will release the film to theaters and pull it out after a few weeks of being in existence and slap it on to streaming services.

That's why, love them or hate them, I actually have appreciated seeing some films this year like "Challengers", "The Bikeriders", "The Boys in the Boat", "Next Goal Wins", etc. because they're NOT part of a huge IP/franchise, they're not a reboot, and maybe it was a little risky to put some of these films out there. Ykwim? 🤷🏾‍♀️

Don't get me wrong, I love the huge films too! But in order for the film industry to be sustainable, you really need BOTH types of films imo. 🤷🏾‍♀️

[cavewretch]

nostalgic absurdism, a media (crit?) list

this black eyed peas music video that came out in 2023 is my thesis statement for this entire concept please watch it i could write a whole paper just about this video. the dead eyed stares of every performer. the star wars font. the lyrics dripping in so much party language it hurts. the "i feel so alive" delivered so incredibly lifelessly. the chorus being "dont worry about a thing, because everything's gonna be alright". it's black eyed peas, shakira, and david guetta giving you the shallowest most haunting memory of 2014 you could imagine. it's phenomenal. oh and aliens. shakira suddenly becomes the leader of the alien dance team but now she has blue eyes. the black eyed peas are abducted at the end. please watch it i beg

ok anyway on to the list (ongoing so this post will continue to be updated) (feel free to send suggestions 🫶)

i have two spotify playlists for this that i made a couple years ago. i stopped using spotify last year so they aren't updated but here is RECE$$10N and Pandemic Era - Nostalgic Absurdism .

song special mentions from those playlists:

save by nct127 - the samsung memory card ad campaign sponsored futuristic-with-some-plants-music-video kpop party song

bo burnham's inside (i am not talking about him as the media-criticizer, i am arguing his special is of this era? moment? itself. im putting him here as a critique)

any song that goes viral on tiktok

most musicians that come out of tiktok

any official sped-up version release (not youtube nightcore)

any covid-themed special release (songs with titles like socialdistancing, new normal, lockdown, etc) . i believe that we will win by pitbull which takes the american government's approach of "viruses are an entity capable of morality and this evil enemy is combatable" . other insane songs: you are the champions (queen/adam lambert, for Health Workers), masks, gloves, soap, scrubs (todrick hall, also for Health Workers)

old groups coming together to make new music in the face of "these trying times" aka jonas brothers, big time rush, abba, etc

hear me out. the 2022 minions sequel soundtrack especially turn up the sunshine diana ross/tame impala

non-music:

fashion trends (90s 80s 2000s 2010s)

every remake reboot sequel prequel of the last 10 years (star wars etc)

marvel movies

streaming services for everything

shows/movies being filmed for clipability and vertical phone screens

stranger things

minions meme resurgence (this was happening in 2022 on twitter)

old meme resurgence in general (i saw a troll face one recently) (sure it's done in the post-post-post ironic way but it still has trollface)

d&d resurgence (something something methods of theater/storytelling adapting to the social climate)

playlist updates (since i stopped using spotify)

3d country by geese

ogoin & linguini: tv show (this is brasil specific i don't get all the references myself but it's fun to listen to)

only god was above us by vampire weekend

raw data feel & mountainhead by everything everything

january never dies by balming tiger

two night by tierra whack

gangsta by free nationals, asap rocky, & anderson .paak

mos thoser by food house,

>something something nostalgia as a tool / umberto eco ur-fascism

growing up online a neighbor to this line of thought

[fortressofserenity]

The evilest mouse

Analia Campbell said that Walt Disney made a deal with the Devil to get to where he was before, which means almost everything associated with Disney comes from a poisoned well. One particular smoking gun would be 'Hell's Bells', which is about the Devil and his demons in hell. One would wonder where did Uncle Walt's loyalties actually lie, which if this is true, then it seems the Disney company's ungodly to begin with and worse if somebody made a Faustinian deal to get rich quickly.

So she was given a vision that one of the Disney theme parks is swarming with demons and Satanic/Masonic imagery, one of them being Club 33 not helped by that Uncle Walt himself was part of a Freemasons-affiliated group called DeMolay or something. Perhaps the Disney theme parks are no good, especially if they're set up to spiritually destroy people with. While other theme parks also have this problem to an extent, it's magnified with the Disney parks to the point where so many mishaps happen there.

Some of the most recent include a wife's death from food poisoning, a toddler dead from drowning and possibly more than that, which means these theme parks are pretty cursed. If there are any theme parks that are less loaded than those, if you live in the Philippines you could always go to Enchanted Kingdom and/or Ocean Park instead. They may not have the prestige Disney parks enjoy, but it's like this Bible verse where somebody's given meat but they don't want to eat it as it's consecrated to an idol.

All things are permittable, but not all things are helpful. This applies well to the Disney parks in contrast to the other theme parks, maybe save for Italy's own (which I forgot its name). It's kind of terrible to think that the Frozen songwriters weren't allowed to mention God, even though there are Christians working for Disney. Well, you could be in Disney but not of Disney just as you could be in Babylon; but not of Babylon. That'd being in the world, but also not too tarnished nor influenced by it either.

Disney is kind of harder to resist, especially for younger generations, because it's something we grew up constantly in some way. But because of Walt's deal with the Devil, that it seems Disney's attempt at wholesomeness feels like a facade that's fading away. That's why some of its offerings like Moving, Little Demon and the like are practically the cracks showing up on concrete. No matter how hard Disney tries to be wholesome, its less savoury nature shows through.

Watch out if Disney Plus were to start creating a reboot of the Antichrist orientated series called The Omen, but in telly form and with more of the things Christians hate. The original Omen series was kind of bad, especially with dogs attacking their trainers and stuff. But I feel Disney might be more than willing to produce and air a reboot of the Omen on Disney Plus and Hulu, it can and will do this in the foreseeable future.

Some Christian websites will start talking about this, especially as a prophecy to warn people about what Disney will do in the future. There was a remake of the Omen film before, but this one will be a televised reboot expounding on the themes found in the original. Disney has come close multiple times, but this is something that it will produce itself. It seems the Hell's Bells to Omen pipeline is real for Disney, as if its attempts at wholesomeness are kind of insincere.

Perhaps if the Bible tells us to trust in God and not in people and chariots, then we ought not to trust Disney much if it's going to air something like an Omen television programme or something. Perhaps it's corrupt to begin with, no matter how appealing it is.

[excusethequality]

My 2024 in Film: June

Happy Pride Month watch list, everyone!

They're not all pride movies, obviously, but some of them sure are!

I've gotten so far behind in my listing duties. I'm sorry!

I was briefly toying with the idea of creating a little sideblog for these so as to make them a little easier to peruse, but that's also so much work. Maybe an idea for next year.

Anyways, let's talk about some movies!

* = rewatched

121.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

(2024)

— Action Adventure Prequel Directed by: George Miller

In a post-apocalyptic Australia a young girl is taken from her family by a power hungry warlord. In order to find a way back home she's going to have to become strong enough to beat the best players in this game of blood and gasoline.

As I mentioned earlier in the year: I love Mad Max: Fury Road.

In this world of constant reboots and remakes and sequels, I couldn't help but be worried that this would be nothing more than an attempt to cash in further on the success of the previous movie.

And yet Fury Road is so good that I had to give Miller the benefit of the doubt and went to see this in the theater and trust he'd bring the heat again.

Personally, I found the whole thing to be a bit dull and lacking a thematic direction.

Usually I like Anna Taylor-Joy, but here? There is just not a world where I can believe that Taylor-Joy grows up to be Charlize Theron.

I dunno. Maybe I was just missing what it was laying down. I'll have to give it another watch in a couple years and see.

122.

Boys Don't Cry

(1999)

— Drama Directed by: Kimberly Peirce

A young trans man in rural Nebraska desperately tries to run from his past and start a new life.

This is neither here nor there, but this is just a wildly bad movie to watch right before you go to bed. Don't make the same mistake I did.

I also somehow got this title confused with Girl, Interrupted (1999) and thus wound up going into this one completely blind.

In any case, this is one of those movies where I don't think I have anything to add to the conversation about it. The fact that it's based on a true story, the fact that it's about a trans man but has no trans people involved, the fact that it was the late 90s and these types of stories weren't being told at all...

It is certainly a film that deserves a conversation, but that's a conversation for people who are not me.

123.

Rope

(1948)

— Crime Thriller Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

A gay couple decides to try to prove their smarts by committing the perfect crime and then hosting a dinner party at the scene just to prove they can.

Funnily enough when I asked some of my queer friends for some recommendations of things to watch this month, three different people said Rope.

Clearly I had to see what this was about.

Traditionally I shy away from Hitchcock movies because they are notorious for having some strange element to them that I can't stop focusing on and it drives me mad.

In this one it was the fact that these guys hosted a nice little dinner party for their friends and their friends all suck and go to any lengths to spoil the whole thing.

I get that the hosts were unhinged murderers, but still! The guests don't know that!

Plus friggin' Jimmy Stewart shows up! Y'all know I hate Jimmy Stewart. And yet I keep watching old movies without looking up the details about them, so I keep winding up watching movies with him in them.

That being said it's an interesting film. The whole thing is filmed to look like it was done in a single take, Hitchcock often makes use of really clever shot compositions, and the production history of the movie is wild.

124.

Tangerine

(2015)

— Drama Directed by: Sean Baker

A trans prostitute who just got out of jail goes on a mission across L.A. to find her cheating boyfriend and get to the bottom of what he's been getting up to while she's been away.

I like elements of this one, but there's a lot of directorial/story choices that I don't fully understand. The lead actresses are loads of fun though.

125.

The Watermelon Woman

(1996)

— Comedy Drama Directed by: Cheryl Dunye

A lesbian filmmaker decides to start on a project to make a documentary about her investigation into the life and career of an obscure black actress.

Cheryl Dunye wrote, directed, and starred in this film and she brings a really great energy to every one of those roles.

It's definitely a movie made for the lesbian community and for women of color, and since I am neither of those things, I cannot really say how well it achieves its goals.

All I can say is that I did enjoy it in spite of the fact that I was surely missing a lot of subtext.

126.

Prom Dates

(2024)

— Coming-of-Age Comedy Adventure Directed by: Kim O. Nguyen

After breaking up with their boyfriends, two best friends, and seniors in high school, have one night to try and find new prom dates so they can live out their dreams of a perfect prom.

If ever there was a movie that wanted to make a variant of Booksmart (2019), this is it.

(Booksmart is definitely the superior movie though.)

I really liked Julia Lester and Kenny Ridwan. Their scenes were by far the best. Antonia Gentry does a fine job too, but her character is such a terrible friend that she was driving me up the wall.

127.

Pojkarna

[English title: "Girls Lost"]

(2015)

— Coming-of-Age Fantasy Drama Directed by: Alexandra-Therese Keining

Three best friends in grade school discover a strange flower that temporarily shifts them all into boy bodies. What at first proves to be a fun way to escape from the bullying and difficulties in their lives soon takes a darker turn when one of them becomes addicted to having a body that matches his self image.

Friggin' Sweden comes out swinging in my June pride watches!

Definitely my favorite movie I watched for pride this month.

It has so many levels and I've been thinking about it ever since I watched it.

It had been on my to-watch list for a while ever since I heard of it while looking for movies to add to my Experiments in Gender list. And it definitely counts!

Ugh! What a little gem of a film. Highly recommend giving it a try. It's a fantastic little queer coming-of-age fairy tale.

128.

Hedwig and the Angry Itch

(2001)

— Queer Dramatic Comedy Musical Directed by: John Cameron Mitchell

A gender-queer rock diva from East-Germany tours the U.S. as she seeks justice from the ex-lover who stole her songs.

I was not expecting the songs in this to go as hard as they did. And John Cameron Mitchell's performance as Hedwig is just chalk full of charisma.

129.

(A)sexual

(2011)

— Documentary Directed by: Angela Tucker

A terrible attempt at a documentary about asexuals.

Finally, a queer film this month that I am qualified to talk about!

And I hate it so much!

I truly have no clue who the intended audience was here.

It's a documentary about asexuals that seemingly felt the need to give equal time to showing ignorant allosexuals' viewpoints on asexuality?

And I would never recommend this to someone who was questioning or just looking to understand asexuality better, because it's so all over the place and it would probably confuse them more than help them.

(Not to mention that the whole thing feels painfully date like it was made in 2001 instead of 2011.)

To its credit there are some quality snippets here and there. Watching some of that old footage really makes me appreciate how far we've come as a society in regards to asexuality.

Although it was incredibly stressful to watch the clips from back then. For instance the shots from when a group of asexuals first trying to march in the pride parade? And the horrible way other queer people were treating them? It was really hard to watch.

A big part of why I didn't know I was ace until much later in my life is because of shit like this. The rare times a notion of asexuality was mentioned back then it was just presented as such a specific aro/ace/sex averse type of thing, so I figured it didn't apply to me. And thus I got to grow up thinking I was just broken and doomed.

It was only later that I read more modern ideas about what asexuality actually meant and learning that I wasn't alone meant the world to me.

So seeing something like this coming out in 2011 just really makes me irate. If I started to break down why this film bothered me so much we'd be here all day and I don't think it ever created anything worth that kind of time and energy.

So let me just say that if you happen upon this review and are looking for something to give a really nice and accessible understanding of asexuality, I personally recommend checking out the book The Invisible Orientation by Julie Sondra Decker.

130.

城市獵人

[English title: City Hunter]

(1993)

— Comedy Action Adventure Directed by: Wong Jing

A private investigator finds himself on a cruise ship full of terrorists and wealthy socialites when he accepts a case to bring home the runaway daughter of a wealthy businessman.

This movie is a wild ride.

It's a Chinese adaptation of a Japanese manga and it tries really hard to maintain those comic-book elements.

I wish I had the words to describe this film properly, but it's really one of those crazy kind of things you just need to see to understand.

I feel like if you hear tell of a bizarre 90s Jackie Chan movie adaptation of a comic book, and that intrigues you? Then like me you'll probably get a kick out of it.

If that sounds really weird and not like your kind of thing? Then you are more than likely correct.

Definitely not something that's going to win you over with its plot, score, and cinematography. But it may just win you over with its Jackie Chan, over-the-top everything, and downright unusual nature.

131.

O Ornitólogo

[English title: The Ornithologist]

(2016)

— Drama Adventure Directed by: João Pedro Rodrigues

A Portuguese ornithologist's field expedition goes awry and leaves him stranded. As he attempts to find his way back to civilization his trip increasingly begins to feel like a trial by ordeal.

This was another of the film's that a friend of mine mentioned when I asked for some pride month recommendations.

I'll be the first to admit that religious allegory films are not my forte. And this one's playing in Catholicism's sandbox, and I REALLY don't know much about the nitty gritty stories there.

It's an intriguing one to say the least, but I was definitely getting that distinctive feeling you get when you can tell lots of things are whooshing right over your head.

132.

Slay

(2024)

— Queer Horror Comedy Directed by: Jem Garrard

Things go from bad to worse for a troupe of drag queens who find themselves under attack by vampires while performing a gig they accidentally booked in a rural town.

Happy Summerween!

Normally I try and do more stuff to celebrate the holiday, but this year it was so rainy here so I was forced to stay inside and watch some spooky movies. And I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone by getting a pride watch in there while I was at it.

This being a Tubi original I went in with extremely low expectations. But you know what? I actually had fun.

I don't think I feel the need to ever see it again, but as a mid-afternoon just-for-fun watch? It served.

133.

Godzilla

(1954)

— Creature Feature Directed by: Ishirō Honda

A giant monster born of atomic radiation begins to cause massive destruction across Japan. Now scientists have a moral dilemma: risk the monster taking more lives, or risk developing and unleashing a weapon into the world that would be powerful enough to kill it?

I am not 100% sure, but I am mostly certain that I had never actually seen the original Godzilla. So for Summerween I decided to use the opportunity to cross a classic off my list.

As an American if I were to see this movie and have no context for it, I'd probably say it was a bit middle of the road. The effects are fun, the monster is great, but the whole scientist developing a weapon plot line is rather heavy handed and clunky.

But the more you know about Japanese history the more interesting this film becomes. Even if all you know is that the film is a post-WWII sci-fi response to atomic weapons, that alone really opens this film up and give you a lot of interesting things to dissect in it.

134.

The Tank

(2023)

— Creature Feature Horror Directed by: Scott Walker

A cash-starved family inherits a strange sea-side house. But while trying to fix it up to sell it they learn that the house is hiding a dark secret beneath its foundations.

I figured I'd close Summerween out by trying to find something new that was actually trying to be scary.

Unfortunately for me I chose this which isn't at all scary and frankly kind of a mess.

I've mentioned this before when it comes to genre, but this definitely falls into the category of a film that was trying to make plays out of the Horror genre playbook, but at no point understood how to run them.

And the result is this rather awkward unaffecting mess.

135.

Leprechaun 3

(1995)

— Horror Sequel Directed by: Brian Trenchard-Smith

The leprechaun is loose in Las Vegas! But when a young man taken in by the town's bright lights gets infected with Leprechaun blood he's gonna have to find a way to undo the curse.

Not as good as the first one, but certainly better than the second one.

It's a bit all over the place, but credit where credit is due: it knows what it's about. And what it is about is wild leprechaun situations and people getting monkey-pawed in increasingly memorable ways by their wishes.

Like all the Leprechaun movies though, it's something best watched with a friend.

136.

Leprechaun 4: In Space

(1997)

— Horror Sequel Directed by: Brian Trenchard-Smith

A group of space mercenaries find themselves stuck in an awkward position when a routine operation to restore mining operations on an alien planet soon has them up against an evil magical leprechaun, a haughty alien princess, and a mad scientist.

Somehow the one where they're in space is the least wacky one of them all?

They clearly didn't have much of a budget for this one. Gone is the fun of getting to see the wild methods the leprechaun would come up with to kill the people in his way. Now he's mostly running around the spaceship stabbing people.

Lots of weird choices were made in this one, but unfortunately for us, it's not the good kind of weird.

137.

Leprechaun in the Hood

(2000)

— Horror Sequel Directed by: Rob Spera

A trio of wannabe rappers accidentally release an evil leprechaun from the record producer who had been keeping him imprisoned.

I should probably mention that even at their lowest, the Leprechaun films are always saved from unwatchability by the fact that Warwick Davis running around being a menace is never not enjoyable.

But yeah, still suffering from the same problems it had when they were in space. The kills aren't nearly as fun and silly as they once were and he's often just magicing people to death.

138.

Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood

(2003)

— Horror Sequel Directed by: Steven Ayromlooi

A group of friends run afoul of the leprechaun when they discover his pot of gold underneath the stalled construction site of a youth center.

Surprisingly the best one in quite a while? There's actually a semblance of a story. The kills are much more fun. The jokes are better. Nothing top tier, mind you, but still some silly fun.

139. *

Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde

(1971)

— Horror Directed by: Roy Ward Baker

Dr. Jekyll is convinced that the secret to immortality lies in female hormones. But when he tests his new serum on himself he inadvertently gives birth to the feminine side of his psyche: Sister Hyde. And having had a taste of this new life she's not willing to give it back without a fight.

It hasn't even been a full year since I first saw this movie and I've already seen it 3 times. And if I'm being honest?

I very well might watch it again this year. It's just so good!

Martine Beswick is just unforgettable in her role as Sister Hyde.

This time I watched it with commentary because I wanted to know if the filmmakers were intentionally making it that queer, or if that was just a happy accident.

It seems like they were approaching the story from more of a duality angle. Using the male/female dynamic as a new way of looking at the way the original story looks at good vs evil.

Martine Beswick, however, says that while she originally laughed at the premise the more she thought about it the more it intrigued her. Because, after all, there is no real black and white when it comes to gender and we all have traits from across the spectrum. And she wanted to explore that idea.

Another thing I thought was really interesting is that she worked really closely with her co-star Ralph Bates and they created the character together!

In so many Jekyll and Hyde movies the two actors feel like they're playing completely different characters. So I love that the two of them went at it from the angle of Jekyll and Hyde truly being two sides of the same coin, and they'd work together on their scenes even though only one of them would be on camera at any point.

That's a big part of what makes the film so fascinating: the way it really does seem to show the idea of gender at war with each other inside of this character. And the lengths a person would go to in order to get to truly be themself.

140.

She Gods of Shark Reef

(1958)

— Crime Adventure Directed by: Roger Corman

Two brothers are on the run from the law when they wind up shipwrecked on a remote island inhabited by a group of women who make their money harvesting pearls.

Y'all, there's barely any sharks in this movie.

And no she gods at all!

Also the whole thing has major colonizer vibes. Just a real unfortunate time at the movies.

141. *

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

(1954)

— Rom-Com Musical Directed by: Stanley Donen

A family of 7 backwoods brothers decide it's time to settle down and get married, but they are woefully ignorant about how to properly court women.

Anyone who has known me long enough will have heard me talk about this movie at some point.

And that's because I love it. I saw it as a kid and fell in love with it because it is utterly unhinged. But it's unhinged in an extremely competent way.

Amazing dance numbers, old-school tenchicolor showmanship, a plot that is too wild to ever forget, Jane Powell stealing every scene she can, it has it all!

——————

——————

JUNE Stats

——————

Movies watched this month: 21

Rewatch percentage: 9.5% (2/21)

Favorite new movie of the month: Girls Lost

Least favorite: (A)sexual

——————

Previous months’ posts:

JAN | FEB | MAR p.1 | MAR p.2 | APR | MAY

[pynkhues]

THANKS so much for answering my sisterhood of traveling pants 👖 ✨ask I absolutely love your cast. Your choices are so interesting and fun Lol I love your choice for Lena. I also think Taylor Russell would be really good in that role. Thanks again.💗💗💗💗 W hen I think of movies that really spoke to me as a young girl that definitely is one of them also legally blonde , akeelah and the bee etc and there’s so many more. Is there any movie that you really loved growing up that you would love to see rebooted? And of course would to see your dream cast if you have any. 😊

(x)

You're very welcome, anon! It was a really lovely ask to answer, and unlocked so many good memories as I read Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in highschool not long after it came out.

Taylor Russell would be such a great choice for Lena too, and I think maybe Sophie Wilde? I loved her in Talk to Me, and quite enjoyed her in Tom Jones and feel like she could do a lot in that role.

And man, Legally Blonde was definitely very influential for me (I still haven't seen Akeelah and the Bee unfortunately! I'll need to add it to my holiday watchlist!), and I think Clueless and Bring It On too. A lot of my really influential YA stories though are ones that are Australian, so I'm very concsious most people won't have seen or read them, but if I had to mention one, I'd say Looking for Alibrandi is forever absolutely formative to me as a film.

It still guts me, for ways I won't spoil, haha, but I really recommend it as a coming of age film that deals with all the regular teen issues while also looking at parental abandonment, the cultural confusion of being a child of migrants and losing people you don't expect to (full tw, there is a teen suicide in this film). Plus! It's still funny! And fun, and Pia Miranda is forever an underated actress to me.

I don't think I'd remake it, as I think it's a perfect product of its time, but the author of the book it's based on, Melina Marchetta, also wrote a book called On the Jellicoe Road, which I am constantly tapping my watch for an adaptation of. It was so, so formative to me as both a reader and a writer, and I hate that it's kind of been lost to time? Anyway, let me at least share with you the opening paragraph of that book because I still love it a lot:

My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die. I counted. It happened on the Jellicoe Road. The prettiest road I’d ever seen, where trees made breezy canopies like a tunnel to Shangri-La. We were going to the ocean, hundreds of miles away, because I wanted to see the ocean and my father said that it was about time the four of us made that journey. I remember asking, 'What’s the difference between a trip and a journey?' and my father said, 'Narnie, my love, when we get there, you’ll understand,' and that was the last thing he ever said.

[amildlyspookydeer]

*stomps out onto grass and wags cane in air* you kids and your live action remakes of disney movies!!! ooohhh!!!!

[vexedtonightmares]

hey :) do you mind sharing some more about the skam austin panel today?

yeah for sure!! i’ll put what i remember under the keep reading tab for ppl who wanna hear about it :) i only went to the panel, not the rewatch (bc money lmao) so there are probably some other things they talked about that i missed, but i’m sure there are other ppl on here that can fill you in on any gaps that i miss!

it was valeria (jo), julie (megan), and lakeisha* (shay), and pedro (p jo) on the panel (he was the moderator, the other three did most of the talking), though they did mention other castmates throughout :,) 

*lakeisha was the name they went by on the panel, and in the info before the panel it said they use they/them pronouns, so that’s how i’ll be referring to them throughout this 

all of them started out by talking about what they’re doing currently, julie said she’s dropping out of school because her therapist told her “you as a person matters more than you as a student” which i thought was a great sentiment as well 

lakeisha said they’ve been making a lot of clothes and music (also throughout the whole thing they kept showing us their shoes and they left to pee like halfway through something they were answering one time hfjskaj)

they then talked about their audition processes (val had the most chaotic series of audtions omg i would love to see her audition tapes)

val originally read for either jo or megan, and she had literally just moved there like right before casting and almost didn’t go to her audition

she said that she decided to be the loudest person in the room so that they couldn’t ignore her, and that carried her through most of the rounds of auditioning

she said that at the end she said “if you don’t choose me, which you should choose me, but if you don’t, please choose another latinx actress because you have no idea how much it means to see someone who looks like you on screen”

julie auditioned because she was hoping julie (andem) would bring lisa and tarjei and she basically wanted a free meet and greet djkfshk 

she found out about skam og on tumblr !! she’s one of us 😌 

she thinks julie andem is the coolest person in the world 

they told her that she was pretty much everything they envisioned megan to be, so they cast her fairly early on and then had her partner with the marlon prospects 

giovanni, who eventually played tyler, auditioned for marlon and they kissed during their audition even though they weren’t supposed to

julie went to high school with till who ended up playing marlon and people would always ask her what it was like to get to make out with him and she was just like .... we just working bruh

lakeisha found the ad to audition on instagram and decided why not because it said it was a paid job 

they looked up a bunch of improv games the night before because they had no experience and had no idea what they were doing

in the audition julie asked what the tattoos on their hand meant (and also the one thing lakeisha was excited about being out of contract was that they could get as many tattoos as they wanted without asking for permission)

they all had a lot of love for julie andem and loved working with her

val said that she’d always try to make julie laugh and she said that julie is the reason og and austin are so good, because it’s her story and her vision 

they roasted the shit out of fb too (as they should)

basically fb ghosted them and never renewed the show but also never cancelled it so technically they don’t even know if anyone else could get the rights to reboot the show somewhere else (lakeisha said ‘skam austin onlyfans’ lmao)

i don’t remember which one of them said it but they said fb is like an inconsistent dad lollll

they also think that fb sort of finessed julie/her team because they were under the impression that it would be like og where they had their own website for the show and everything, but then it ended up just being a facebook page

they also filmed promo for season 1 that never ended up being used but they don’t know why 

lakeisha felt super disrespected by the fact that not only did they not get their season, but also the fact that they just dropped the show like it was nothing and none of them even found out that they probably weren’t getting more seasons until they saw that their instagram accounts were gone

everyone was upset about the igs getting deleted too because they put so much work into the content on there for it all to just disappear 

val said “no one tells a story like the one that was about to be told” and everyone agreed

val said that if the show would have continued, jo would have been undocumented and they would have shown her trying to navigate college (not only were we robbed of a jo season, we were robbed of college seasons 😤)

jo x jo were definitely going to be a thing

val said that when they wrapped s2 she was like finally!!! because now they could get into the stories that they really wanted to tell and really knew would make a difference (everyone vehemently agreed)

they were proud of the fact that they’re the most diverse cast and that they don’t just treat the characters of color like sidekicks like the other remakes do

julie talked about how skam france was the only remake to have jonas not accept isak right away when he was coming out and how it was suspicious that he happened to be the only non white jonas and that was the choice they made

val said that druck is the only remake she’s watched but she likes it

they also talked about how, even though it’s great that the cast was so diverse, practically everyone behind the scenes was white

val said that she didn’t really think about it much at the time because she found it hard to speak up since she was very young and inexperienced but looking back she wishes jo’s body wasn’t so fetishized as a latina (she didn’t clarify whether she was talking on a production level or within the fandom, but she talked about costuming so i assumed she meant more on a production level)

they all wished there was more representation off screen as well as on

shay x megan was brought up and julie said that shay was going to have her own love interest (am!even !!!!) come season three, and that it wouldn’t have been megan 

she also said that megan was mostly just confused and like ‘haha i kiss girls when i’m drunk’ but then she also said that megan and shay never had feelings for each other at the same time so 👀 

she was upset that they made megan and marlon get back together at the end of season 2 because she wasn’t a fan of them together, but she said it also makes sense because a lot of teen girls go back to their toxic exes even when they know it’s not good for them

lakeisha said that they hated shay’s acrylic nails because it didn’t make sense to them for her to have them (especially since shay was a musician)

they also said that they’ve been pretty confident and open with their sexuality since they were around 12, and that one time in middle school they dated a boy because he had an xbox and then they were like oh no is this toxic am i using him because he actually has feelings for me?? hdskafja 

they also said that the cfgc music happened because they heard that the boys from og also had a song and at first i was like wtf are they talking about but now i think they meant the penetrator song 💀💀 

julie has a cfgc shirt :,) and they all stole a bunch of clothes and stuff from set, val said she took a bunch of outfits that jo never wore which makes her sad to think about now 

val’s favorite scene to film was the car scene in s1 before the party (she said it was one of the best moments of her life) and julie said she liked that one as well (val said there’s a shot of her looking into the camera and flipping it off but they didn’t include it in the show, i feel robbed)

people asked how it felt for lakeisha to be the first lesbian isak and they said that they didn’t feel like they were, because they didn’t really get the chance :(( but they also said that the idea itself was very intimidating and there was a lot of pressure around it

they also said that they and gio were very very close both on screen and off, they said it wasn’t even like they were an extension of one person, that’s how close they got

there were a lot of improvised scenes, particularly with val, and she also said that incorporating spanish into jo’s dialogue was mostly improvised 

julie, val, and pedro also all talked about how they’re all mexican, and how each of their life experiences vary so much from one another, on the show and off and julie said megan’s upbringing was a lot like hers 

they all also said that they liked the music the show used and a lot of them have emotional attachments to a lot of the songs 

val said she wishes they used more frank ocean and i agree 

they also said they’re not sure if there are bloopers or anything, but they’d love to see them if there are 

i’m trying to think of anything i missed ahhh i feel like they talked about so much but i think i’ve got the key points soooo

that’s all !!! hope this was interesting to ppl who still care about austin like i do :,))

[kennan73888]

Late than ever, PPG script

I wrote this in my DeviantArt during the most heartbreaking and stressful time because of a dump script. The live action PPG script made me unable to sleep and do my work for overthinking. This exist for me to cope.

Many time, reminding myself not to check on the script. I didn't listen to myself because of curiosity, and wasn't too happy reading most part and couldn't go on. Nearly lose my appetite. The script I read is the revision in January 2021. The origin they build for the girls, including Mojo Jojo, isn't entertaining or that unique. Also, they add so much villain in a single pilot in the background. For nostalgia, maybe. The extra characters and name-adding poison my heart, an example of the script's names, using Drake instead Professor Utonium. Who's Drake? Wait, it's the Professor.

Like everyone says and mentions, it's like fanfic. Yeah, it does write itself such as that. A terrible one, actually.

Those reboots and remakes, I would either ignore or avoid them as much as possible. However, there is some good of them out there. Not counting a few years ago or years to come since these writers are getting weirder. Memes they wrote and the trending internet they took from are horrible. It is constantly added while I'm asking myself is there a meaning in it. None! It's meant to attract—to what they believe—people enjoyment because of the views on the internet.

Now, let me take a deep breath. I saw others trying to lift their spirit up by rewrote or redesign the characters. The same goes for the story. Seeing what they did, I felt inspired to reimagine the plot and characters. Especially the characters, which sometimes I want to question their choice of actions.

Invision

Vanilla Characters

Professor Jonathan Utonium His first name was grab from the FusionFall and Snafu, which I accepted as his legit name. The girls, including everyone else, would call him Professor or Professor Utonium like his cartoon self. Sometimes the girls' will says Dad in a tight situation or worrisome state, inspired by the TMNT. Professor Utonium isn't greedy. He loves his daughters and would worry about their well-being. The man who'll try his best to give advice to his daughters.

Blossom I like the idea from the script she's going to college, maybe aiming for a doctorate degree. She, like her sisters, is separated to focus their careers path and visit their childhood home once a month. The trauma she's receiving is out, crossing that part away from the plot for the time being. Blossom is the leader because she accepts as being one. No one or anyone told her to be one. It's her nature to lead her sisters and strategize the fight.

Blossom special power is ice breath, and none of her sisters had it. Also, she can speak mandarin. Growing older, meaning new powers.

Bubbles This is tough. Her occupation is weird in the script. She's either a failing celebrity or a journalist. I'm going with a journalist, even though I'm aiming for the famous status but journalist sound funner. There won't be any TRIGGERING, comparing, or mentioning the original cartoon from this lady's mouth. Also, any other 80s and 90s films. Bubbles is the sweetest and also the scariest out of the team. She carried that personality through adulthood; having that charisma brings success to her career by interviewing people.

Bubbles special power is communicating with squirrel, and speaking multiple language, so far I know is English, Japanese, and Spanish. New powers will come when she gets older.

Buttercup A firefighter, I expected a wrestler as a child but a firefighter. I accepted it. She'll be a badass firefighter, living in a random town, saving people like a civilian. The whole tough and aggressive personality doesn't mean she's lesbian, which isn't right to cheat as being one too. So that'll be gone. Labeling characters isn't my thing because I want people guesses their sexuality. Buttercup wants to live in a small town, experience something else instead of the city. People know her as a strong, willful, and caring person, which they respect.

Buttercup had no special power. Yeah, it's a shame but she could roll her tongue. That's cool. But she'll be fine as she grew, new powers will be shown.

The Mayor Wasn't a big help, banning the Powerpuff Girls from defending Townsville due to a riot. Also got replace, which I erase that replacer whole existence. The Mayor will continue being the Mayor.

Ms. Sara Bellum Never mention of her being the Mayor's secretary, except being Professor Utonium's ex-girlfriend and getting insulted by him. No and never. She's a strong woman and can defend herself because the original show her kicking Sedusa's ass. Ms. Bellum will continue as the secretary.

Narrator He exists, and narrated a decent amount of the Powerpuff Girls life at the beginning.

Not-So-Vanilla Characters

Mojo Jojo He's a chimpanzee, and he won't be splitting into two characters. The only children he had is the Rowdyruff Boys. Mojo Jojo won't be irrelevant in the story.

Rowdyruff Boys These brothers have powers and not some wannabes. Shortly, in my dream, they became a couple with the Powerpuff Girls. They're anti-hero, maybe, because I read a comic that the girls and they worked together to defeat a disco villain. So, their occupation is lying on the anti-hero side, for now. Won't be in the story.

HIM He wasn't in the script, but I'm bringing him in the story.

Ace Not sure if this character is the same from the Gangreen Gang, but it's a shock he's Bubbles cameraman. However, I'll kick him out from the story. In time being.

Fuzzy Lumpkins Mentioning through a montage of him being beaten up for stealing money from the bank. Yeah, Fuzzy won't be too irrelevant in the story.

Extra Characters

Clive I don't care if he continues being Blossom supporting boyfriend in the present. But they'll break-up in the future, maybe something about their path is different, or things won't work out. That cliche stuffs. The script wrote him as a sweet guy, but I can't wait for the writer to add some useless drama. Isn't that great? I'm sarcastic at the last part.

Macy She had no personality, instead of being Buttercup... I don't want to say it. Her fling. Or another word from the script, bi-curious townies. Again, I don't care. She could be an interest Buttercup trying to aim, but we can't predict the future. However, the script on her part was an eye-boggler.

Gina The secretary for the new mayor, but she's gone. Gone. GONE. Good-bye.

Jojo The new mayor, who has a crush on Blossom, and the secret child of Mojo Jojo. The laziest villain ever written. Who cares, since his whole existence is being erased.

Henrietta A little girl being hires by Jojo to mind control the Powerpuff Girls. The script kept stalling that the girls left Townsville, which the plan fails, switching to control the citizens. She, I don't why, like Blossom more than the rest of the girls. Telling directly to Bubbles and Buttercup, it's like she's asking for a beating. I'll add her to the story since she sounds like an extra.

Mine Characters

Casey Bubbles cameraman, who'll replace Ace and is going to retire in a month or two.

Plot

Instead of telling the Powerpuff Girls origin at first, it'll be great to focus on their life as an adult. Blossom working hard to earn her degree. Bubbles, a journalist, finding the most extensive and exciting story people will emerge. Buttercup lives in a small town and being a firefighter. It starts off relatable to how people go through their dailies then, surprise, using their powers. Presenting the Powerpuff Girls, retiring from the heroes job and live almost civil.

—————

Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are chatting through videos. They can't believe they're here and thought as children to be together forever in their conversation. Fighting criminals and monsters, or starting a band from their childish dream. They chuckle a bit while Blossom wonders Townsville state, but Bubbles assure that the city will be fine. HIM were sealed away, and the invention Professor Utonium created had defended Townsville for almost ten years. Criminal ratings are low. Even if their biggest nemesis like Mojo Jojo or Fuzzy Lumpkins is easy to capture. Buttercup agrees, but Blossom wasn't sure as her head began to hurt.

Buttercup was the first to react, asking if she's okay, to which she responded with a nod. Lately, Blossom doesn't understand why her head hurts. Bubbles then assume that maybe she studies too much and should rest. Hearing what the blue powerpuff says made Buttercup straighten the leader, ordering her to head straight to bed without questions. Buttercup insists on it by ending her calls. On the other hand, Bubbles told her not to study too hard and taking care of herself. Ending the call.

—————

In Townsville, Professor Utonium looks through a chart of the earth below the city. The rating is unusual from any of his previous data, so he checked on the camera that spy Monster Isle. Nothing changes from there. Professor Utonium left his lab, going to speak with the Mayor about this.

—————

Clive, Blossom's boyfriend, entered the lounge and brought the textbook Blossom requested. Greeting with kisses. He sits beside her then notices the pale face. In a worry, Clive asked if she's okay. Blossom replied a yes, but became worse when whispers blowing through her ears. A warning she had to fear and the preparation she need to prep. Telling her and her sisters to return to Townsville. Blossom ignores it.

—————

Buttercup and the rest of the crew went on a drill, preparing the water hose and squirt it, treat the routine likes the real deal, and when any mistakes were made, it will need improvement. After all, that’s done. It’s cleaning time. Buttercup was then invited by a colleague for dinner because his wife is making it. She accepts.

They walk along with the house then knock. Greeting them by the door was the colleague’s wife. The rest inside is their children, then there’s an extra person. The colleague introduced this person as his baby sister, and her name is Macy. Macy isn’t too fond of a small town, but she needs a place to crash. Buttercup also mentioned that she lives by herself, offering her home if she needs some alone time. A tiny spark of interest between them.

—————

Shocking news from Bubbles Cameraman, Casey, announcing that he’ll retire within a month. Bubbles and Casey were partners when she first started. Things change, which is what Bubbles hate the most is changes. When the Powerpuff Girls went their separate ways, she hates it but had to get used to it.  In the end, things need move on, so Bubbles congratulate Casey on retirement.

—————

In Mayor Hall, Professor Utonium shows the Mayor his chart by explaining. Below the ground of Townsville are being heated, not the whole area but in seven places. Ms. Bellum is curious, pulling out a map from her phone and ask the location. Professor Utonium show where it is. Six were drawn as a circle, but the seventh was left in the center, without understanding it but knowing that it surrounds Townsville.

Something or someone had an aim at the city. Professor Utonium felt the pressure in this, thinking about his girls then shaking it away. They already having their life and superhero affair are finish. Professor Utonium told the Mayor he’ll look into it.

—————

Professor Utonium went to one of the sites, checking it out, bringing a couple of scientists while others are on other sites.

—————

Let us get a move on because I’ve been writing this for three days and some rest between it. I had other important to do than this. Short summary, Professor Utonium greets the new neighbors and their daughter Henrietta and seeing the girl that’s excited to talk about the Powerpuff Girls and their whereabouts. Professor Utonium apologizes, saying that the girls are don’t live in Townsville and stop being heroes.

Buttercup and Macy became close since their interest is similar. Through their hangout, an accident accrue, Buttercup had to use her power to save Macy and some people. Macy was the only one to witness, which she’s speechless and didn’t take it well. Their friendship ended because Macy was afraid and confused at her not being like everyone else. Buttercup was hurt but understand. However, through that incident, Buttercup discovered an injury on her side. It surprised her because never once did she and her sisters ever receive any wound such a light physical like a bolder.

This is where it began when I imagine this, showing the Powerpuff Girls had gone weak and powers are slowly fading. Inspired from the original cartoon, their weakness, Individuality, explaining them easily defeated when being separated. I, however, add more to this weakness on the Powerpuff Girls by showing the effects are taking a troll on them without each other.

The bad guy, thee villain, is HIM and Henrietta. Henrietta is trying to bring HIM back to the mortal realm, which he was sealed by the Powerpuff Girls. The disguise is Henrietta's parents dead, a walking corpse control by her.

Buttercup was the first to be taken away, then Bubbles, which Blossom foreseen her sisters being kidnapped. I want Blossom to stand up at Macy when searching for her sisters in the town and city that they are living. Not the slap in face type, but the smart mouth that hit you with a good amount of force that gives your senses back.

Fast forward, girls were saved, but Professor Utonium was still in HIM’s hands. They couldn’t rescue him in time when the circle disappeared and having Henrietta being dead. Wanting to save their dad, they reunite in Townsville by continuing to be superhero.

Blossom new power in here is that she see the eyes of others, which meant that she been seeing through HIM eyes. I didn’t wrote that much but telling. Buttercup also have a power that could hear people thoughts, which isn’t new, because she left to live in a small town because of that. Hearing people thoughts hurt her brain, so she needs some silence. As for Bubbles, there’s none at the moment.

Their career and stuff, they’re happy to move everything in Townsville. Buttercup will quit her job while Bubbles and Blossom are transferring. Explain one of their career choices, explaining Blossom because she wants to be like her dad. Buttercup will manage the house until she master to control the mind reading, and I’ll add a humor conversation, that the other two joking Buttercup should garden in time being because she had a green thumb. No? Okay, that’s a terrible joke.

Costume Designing

I wouldn’t be lazy or being too cheap on the costume. If I was made by fitting on the scene, there would be none as an adult until we’re almost at the ending part, showing that Professor Utonium has been making their outfit every single year to fit them. Like a row of costumes from kindergarten to adult, which some haven’t been worn since retiring. People, I heard, like the style from Totally Spies, which sounds excellent by adding their signature color. I um… I love skirts more.

Inspired by every superhero women’s outfit, the bottom half they wore a skirt and long boots. The top will be different by each of them, representing their individualities. Blossom wore a turtleneck, no sleeve that cut from the shoulder. Buttercup wore a long sleeve, but it’s a clove that attaches itself on the sleeve with the thumbs cutting off. Bubbles, I didn’t have that much thought, have the shoulder cut off because I’m imagining Wonder Woman.

That’s it. I would draw, but it’s been a drag writing this for days. I want to finish it up, and the bottom is an extra I wrote when I first started.

Original Story

The Powerpuff Girls' origin was good. The same goes for Mojo Jojo, but it isn't good enough. The live-action, I meant. Like all superheroes, they had their own origin of where they came from and how they became who they are. The TMNT, inspired by them again, had multiple origins from comics to animations and then films. It'll be significant that the Powerpuff Girls' origins were different yet similar.

After reading the script, this idea came to mind, so it began with Professor Utonium went on a hiking trip with his brother, Eugene, and they came upon an abandoned building. Cover in vines and stuff. Eugene is reluctant to enter, but Professor Utonium convinces him to explore the building. They went further and accidentally pressed a button, awakening three containers; B07734, B17707, and B32135. Three little girls, opening their eyes and hug Professor Utonium. He was confused by the girls as their creator, calling him Professor.

Eugene spotted the files on the floor and takes them, reading a few lines in shock. Cautiously, Eugene pulls his brother to the side. The paper was presented to Professor Utonium, explaining the girl’s ability and was built as a weapon during the war. Professor Utonium sees these girls were made for destruction but suggested raising them as normal girls. First things first, naming them as we are known as Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup.

Without the brothers knowing, also activate another open container; M58008. It’s a chimpanzee coming out, not too happy to be woken up while growling from just the sight of Professor Utonium. This place was designed to create human weapons—with the appearance of a child—that the enemy would overlook and lower their guard. M58008 remembers himself as a human and scientist, except his name. However, he’s so infuriating about his death and forces his mind inside a chimpanzee. The man who holds all that responsibility, he remembered it clearly, which is standing there.

There, my version of the Powerpuff Girls origin.

[adhoption]

Twenty years is a really interesting cut-off point to choose. The Curse of the Black Pearl came out in 2003. Fellowship of the Ring and Philosopher's Stone were both 2001. Looking through the list of Oscar nominees, those were the last of the big franchises with notable new scores. Most of today's blockbusters are remakes or reboots or sequel #9 of an original and just use the existing theme, or just use unremarkable background music (as I think that Marvel Symphonic Universe video explained).

We had a glut of iconic franchise themes at once, and then they disappeared. It's even stranger to look back over the nominees and realise that the few soundtracks that have actually stayed with me, like Titanic (1997) and Gladiator (2000), were also from around that time. The past twenty years, huh. What have they taken from us? I wondered if this was just a product of my age, the nostalgia that films from my formative years, but the Oscar nominations would suggest otherwise.

I have excluded those films where I only remember the non-instrumental songs, which feels like a different competition, but I wonder if that's one reason for the decline: have filmmakers started using or commissioning pop or rock songs in place of the classical? Is it noteworthy that these notable mentions were all historical/fantasy films, where a classical theme would suit them best? Do contemporary films lean more into contemporary music?

I think Inception probably wins it, as a truly memorable and iconic score (supposedly having influenced loads of its successors, and I even recognise Time being played after sporting events). I really like Morricone's score for the Hateful Eight as well. As more cringe answers, I actually liked some of the themes from Cloud Atlas and First Class. The Batman also had a catchy original score under the liberal application of Nirvana and Ave Maria.

As a note on the MCU, though, I do think it's hard to lump those films in together. The Guardians films have obviously gone down the jukebox route, as have the more recent Thor films, and the use of existing rock songs in place of a new score doesn't mean they sound awful, it's just a creative choice which can work pretty well. If you watch an early Iron Man or Captain America I do think they sound pretty good and have recognisable repeated motifs, they just don't stick with you after the credits have rolled, which in fairness is also true of most modern action films.

On the other hand, I could hum you the Avengers theme, which isn't dreadful. Ant-Man also has a pretty catchy little number. Black Panther actually shows up in the Oscar winners list, and the sequel had some great original songs which were perfectly tuned to their scenes and as emotive as any orchestral composition. They're a real mixed bag where music is concerned, and whilst there's no Star Wars I can remember them better than the DCEU, Fast & Furious or Avatar films, which are their modern-day competition.

Finally, I wonder if the situation is better for TV. I can almost certainly remember more opening themes from series (repetition helps!), and some of the other pieces from e.g. Ramin Djawadi's Westworld and Game of Thrones soundtracks are excellent. If the film score is dead, could television be the future?

I suppose the obvious follow up question is what’s the most memorable film score from the past twenty years

[jadelotusflower]

June 2021 Roundup

It's been a month of highs and lows. Every year my city holds a cabaret festival, and I've seen some truly amazing acts over the years - including Lea Salonga, Kristin Chenoweth, and Indina Menzel. This year's Artistic Director was the great Alan Cumming, and although due to covid he didn't quite get to curate the program he wanted to, the opening night Gala was still a highlight, as was Alan's DJ set at the pop-up Club Cumming afterwards, where there was much singing at the top of my lungs and dancing to pop anthems and theatre tunes. At one point Alan, dressed in a onesie and perched on the shoulders of a man wearing only sparkly short shorts, was carried around the dance floor while Circle of Life blared. Reader, I was delighted.

I was also able to see his solo show Alan Cumming Is Not Acting His Age, which was hilarious and damn, he can sing!

As for the low, I was meant to fly to Sydney for the weekend to see Hamilton, a trip I have been looking forward to for almost a year, but had to be cancelled because of a covid outbreak and border closures. The tickets have been rescheduled, but I'm still kind of bummed about it (while completely appreciating the need for covid safety, especially when our vaccine rollout has been completely botched by our incompetent, corrupt federal government)

Anyway.

Reading

The Hundred and One Dalmations (Dodie Smith) - With all the bewilderment over Disney's Cruella, I decided to revisit the original novel which I first read as a kid. It's funny, I had very vivid memories of this book, or rather thought I did, particularly the scene where Roger and Anita have dinner at Cruella's house that fixed in my young mind as utterly disturbing with all this devil imagery and the implication Cruella was literally some kind of demon, which must have been either a) my overactive imagination or b) an illustration, because it's not as clear as I thought it was. The strangeness is there (food with too much pepper, Cruella's inability to keep warm, the walls painted blood red) but not the explicit demon imagery I had remembered. There is a part later in the book recounting the history of Hell Hall and the rumors of Cruella's ancestor streaking out of the place conjuring blue lightening, but clearly child me was reading far more into the book than was on the page.

But I still wish they'd gone with this version of Cruella's backstory, because to me an aristocratic, ink-drinking, heat-obsessed, possibly-demon spawn, high camp villain is more interesting and rings far more true than plucky punk against the establishment.

Smith clearly had Facts About Dalmations to share, and she does really craft a wonderful animal-based story that the Disney animated film is largely faithful to. Key differences include: Roger's occupation (he doesn't have to pay tax because he wiped out government debt somehow?!?), Pongo's mate and the puppy's mother is called Missis, Perdita is another dalmation who acts as a kind of doggie wet nurse, Roger and Anita both have Nannies who come to live with them (Nanny Butler and Nanny Cook), Cruella is married to a furrier (who changed his last name to de Vil). Also odd, on her first description Cruella is described as having "dark skin" but later in the novel her "white face" is mentioned, so I'm chalking it up to 50's descriptors not having the same meanings they do today.

The Duke and I (Julia Quinn) - After being just whelmed by the tv series, I wasn't really planning on reading the books, but I saw this on the top picks shelf at the library and damn, the top picks shelf is irresistible. This is very much Daphne's book (and I had known each in the series dealt with the different sibling) so many of the characters and much of the plot of the show is absent, as are some of the more baffling elements of the show like the Diamond of the First Water nonsense, which I always thought was a strange character choice in that it stacks the deck for Daphne when her character arc is better served as somewhat of an underdog (in her third season, the kind of girl who is liked but not adored), and the Prince subplot which was always far too OTT even for soapy regency romance.

It's a breezy, fun read (that scene excepted), even if the misunderstandings are contrived and I'm never going to take "I'll never have kids because I hate my dad" as a credible romantic obstacle deserving of so much angst.

Faeries (Brian Froud and Alan Lee) - A lovingly detailed and illustrated compendium of Faerie and its inhabitants, drawing from a range of European (but primarily Celtic) folklore and mythology. Froud was a conceptual designer on The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, and the link is clear in the art as well as the focus on faeries as mysterious but oftimes sinister beings, where human encounters with them rarely end well. Lee has illustrated several publications of Tolkien's novels, and was a lead concept artists for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, and there is a touch of Middle Earth here as well, or rather the common inspiration of the old world. A useful resource for my novel!

Watching

The Handmaid's Tale (season 4, episodes 4-8) SPOILERS - So when I last wrote about this show in the Roundup, I was complaining it wasn't going anywhere. Well, I'm happy to be wrong because they finally changed things up with June finally escaping to Canada. That part of the plot following the survivors and their trauma has always been far more compelling than Gilead, and so it was a welcome development even if I side-eye some of the choices (none of these characters is seeing an actual licensed therapist why?).

This show has always been difficult to watch given the subject matter, and that has not changed after the shift in power dynamics. I will give the show credit for showing a broad range of trauma responses, from Moira wanting to move on and not let it consume her, to June, a ball of rage and revenge on a downward spiral, to Emily, trying to follow Moira's path but being drawn to June's, to Luke, trying his best but utterly unequipped to deal with what is happening.

But it is very hard to watch June go down this path - raping her husband (I concede the show perhaps didn't intend for it to be rape, but that's what is on screen and framing it as just "taking away Luke's agency" doesn't change that), wishing death on Serena's unborn child, and orchestrating Fred's brutal murder by particulation, then holding her own daughter still covered in his blood and it getting smeared on Nicole's face (an unsubtle metaphor in a series full of unsubtle metaphors).

There are interesting questions being asked of the viewer, and the show (perhaps rightly) not giving any answers. I can certainly appreciate the catharsis of Fred getting what he deserves even if I personally find the manner of it horrifying, but where is the line between justice and revenge, is revenge the only option when justice is denied, when does a trauma release become cyclical violence/abuse - the show is, for now, letting the viewer decide.

Soul (dir. Pete Docter and Kemp Powers) - In a world full of remakes/reboots/sequels, Pixar is perhaps the lone segment under the Disney umbrella committed to original content. However, there does seem to be a Pixar formula at work directed to precision tugging the heart strings, and some of the film feels like well-trod ground. On the other hand, it's hard to criticise the risk of centering a kids film around the existential crisis of a middle aged man, even with the requisite cutesy elements (and of course, the uncomfortable pattern of yet another film where the black lead character spends a great deal of the runtime in non-human form - herein, an amorphous blob or a cat). But the animation is stunning, it successfully did tug my heart strings, and the design of the Great Before and the Jerrys is original and fun.

RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under - Drag Race is somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me, since I generally don't watch reality shows, and this is something I really enjoy even if I'm not invested in the fandom (which like many fandoms can be very yikes). This year it was time for the Australian/New Zealand (Aotearoa) queens to show their stuff, although it's been met with mixed reactions. Covid restrictions didn't allow for guest judges, relegating them to mere cameos via video calls, and its clear that Ru and Michelle really don't quite get all the cultural nuances - Aussie judge Rhys Nicholson was however always delightful. But it wouldn't be Australia without a racism scandal, with the great disappointment of the two queens of colour eliminated first, and one queen having done blackface in the recent past yet making it all the way to the top four.

In the end, the only viable and deserving winner was last Kiwi standing Kita Mean, and it was pure joy to see her get crowned. I do hope they fix the bugs and indeed do another season to better showcase AU/NZ talent.

Writing

A far more productive month - to try and get out of my writing funk I had a goal to try and write every day, even if it was only 100 words. While I didn't quite achieve a consecutive month, I did get a pretty good average, at least got something posted and two others nearly there.

The Lady of the Lake - 2441 words, Chapter 4 posted.

Against the Dying of the Light - 2745 words

Turn Your Face to the Sun - 1752 words.

Here I Go Again - 1144 words

Total words this month: 8082

Total words this year: 35,551

[that-homoerotic-blouse]

How did you feel about the rose mention

My, look at that! An ask!

Well, I don’t think it matters how I feel, to be honest. Mostly because there isn’t much to feel, or much to be said about it. It was stated as a fact and easily brushed off with barely any kind of reaction whatsoever, soo that’s about it.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll probably know that I like to engage in a critical way with the pieces of media I consume. And the way I see this, the way it seemed to me, it looked like an appeal to nostalgia and nothing more, something for the lifelong stans to point at and scream ROSE! Generally I’m not a fan of when films/tv shows do this; it is vaguely tied to spoiler culture, weaponized intertextuality and bringing back old characters for the sake of triggering certain emotional responses (please see the sequels/reboots/remakes of Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Disney films, Marvel or in general just about every crap recently released by Hollywood). Captain Jack in this episode is the best exponent of this; you just have to have a look at the tumblr fandom right now and you’ll find dozens upon dozens of gifs paralleling Jack and the Doctor’s reunion with throwbacks and references to past episodes. Now, I do understand that Doctor Who may be a little bit different when it comes to this: it has a very flexible canon, and bringing back past characters doesn’t necessarily have to be a death sentence, if done properly. I mean, just look at how many times monsters and alien threats have been recycled and made a comeback: Daleks, Cybermen, Weeping Angels, Sontarans… even in the space prison where Thirteen was trapped there were Ood and Sycorax and the Silence! If there’s a piece of media that is used to grabbing from its own diegetic universe, that’s Doctor Who. It’s just that it’s very difficult to consistently and satisfyingly bring back old canon stuff without it overshadowing everything else, or without using it as a substitute for good compelling storytelling. On the bright side, I think Revolution of the Daleks did a good job balancing this (sort of): it was another Dalek story (I could go on a rant about the choice of having yet another Dalek episode, but that’s for another time), and Jack’s role was mostly to help solve the A plot, and his presence didn’t overshadow Graham and Ryan’s goodbye. That’s why the story couldn’t stop to reminisce about Rose or Gwen or anyone else from past seasons. So, if you’re a bit confused or angry as to why the Doctor seemed to show no emotion at the Rose mention, literally don’t blame it on the characters. Think about how the writing was structured and what Chibnall’s intention was when mentioning Rose.

On a final note, I’d just like to say (now that the debate is on again) that personally, before making an episode bringing back River Song or Amy and Rory or paying a visit to Pete’s parallel world, I would very much prefer a story that introduced a new monsters, new characters and new narratives! If your only appeal when writing a tv series is that you’ve brought back stuff other people before you wrote, then I think that leaves something to be desired about your own storytelling quality. And, you know, intertextuality is inevitable at one point or another, but please please realize that making it a huge thing with the sole purpose of attracting old fans and making your story more marketable is a very cheap tactic indeed. You can’t keep a show running on nostalgia only

[big-idiot-wolf-boys]

ok look I keep thinking about the craft legacy and i have to put them somewhere

im gonna put my thoughts in the cut below in case it gets long

This movie seems like a soft reboot, using the same story beats and everything. Did anyone actually want this? I guess the studio didn't realize that The Craft remains popular because coming of age stories and teenage witchcraft practically sells themselves. Instead of creating a story that could sell on it's own merits (which is easily done when the bar is so low as "Coming of age story about witches"), they have to rely on the name power of a movie from the 90's, using callbacks and a hollow feeling "girl-power" theme to draw an audience? It's just disappointing. The Craft was a formative movie in my childhood, and I would've loved to see a true spiritual successor to it, not a soft reboot for modernized audiences. Shit, even a true sequel set after the events of the first movie would have been a better option. Give me a loose connection to the first film, have it set in the same town and the teachers mention a strange group of girls from a few years back. Maybe have Sarah running the occult store. Literally any kind of loose connection to the first film, followed by an actual story of its own would have been so much more interesting than having some Gen Z kids recreating one of the most iconic movies of the 90s, and one of the most formative in my childhood. I know that we all know that studios dont care about their audiences anymore, at this point its all about what name brings the most star power, so a mediocre movie will still get a great box office opening weekend. And yeah, maybe I’m expecting too much from hollywood, but I can’t help but feel disappointed in a film that i know for a fact twelve year old me would have lost their shit over. I can’t help but feel let down, and sad for the generation that doesn’t get their own story of teenaged occult badassery, but a watered down remake of one. I want a little twelve year old queer kid to be able to watch this movie and see themselves in it just like I did when I saw the craft for the first time. Maybe that’ll still happen, I really hope it does actually, but I have a feeling that the target audience of the movie is going to feel pandered to, and fans of the original movie are going to feel alienated and disappointed just like I do today. I don’t want this movie to flop, because I know hollywood would use it as an excuse to turn down other movies with similar beats, even if occult teenage shenanigans is what the audience wants to see. But I also don’t want this movie to be a big success, because then it sends the idea that continuing to make soulless remakes of beloved films in order for a quick paycheck is okay, is something audiences will deal with or worse, something audiences want. We’re already seeing it with Disney (though they actually have had about a 30 year cycle of remaking movies and have for a long time, people just don’t like to acknowledge it when they complain about remake culture, as if it’s something new. It’s not). I don’t want Blumhouse, or Sony, or any other big studio to start picking up on that trend. Sigh. I don’t really know how to conclude my thoughts here, except for..... 2/10, not excited.