#arizona dream movie

[cinematic-collections]

Arizona Dream: Explore Kusturica's surrealism.

Opening Scene:

As the sun sets over the barren Arizona desert, the camera pans across the vast expanse of cacti and tumbleweeds. An enchanting yet eerie melody fills the air, and we are immediately drawn into a world where reality blurs with fantasy.

Plot Twist:

Arizona Dream is not your ordinary movie; it's a psychedelic rollercoaster ride through the surreal minds of its characters. As we follow the protagonist, Axel Blackmar (played by Johnny Depp), we find ourselves unsure of what's real and what's merely a product of his imagination.

The Quirky Characters:

In this desert dreamscape, the characters are as eccentric as they come. An unusual father-daughter duo, Leo (played by Dennis Hopper) and Grace (played by Faye Dunaway), mesmerize us with their bizarre antics and seemingly illogical beliefs. Together, they bring an otherworldly charm to the movie that keeps us guessing their true intentions.

Interstellar Encounters:

In a mind-bending twist, aliens enter the scene, casually sipping tequila and discussing the meaning of life. Their random appearances add an extra layer of absurdity to the story, leaving the audience to wonder if we've entered a parallel universe where anything is possible.

Visual Extravaganza:

Emir Kusturica, the visionary director, ensures every frame is a feast for the eyes. The cinematography mesmerizes us, capturing the stunning Arizona landscapes juxtaposed with the offbeat characters' idiosyncrasies. The movie's visual flair takes us on a surreal trip, leaving us unsure whether we're watching a film or living a dream.

Musical Enchantment:

With a soundtrack curated by the legendary Goran Bregović, the movie becomes an unforgettable auditory experience. The mix of Balkan and Gypsy music brings an intoxicating energy to every scene, making us feel like we're dancing with the characters on this quirky journey.

Themes That Haunt:

Beneath the whimsy, Arizona Dream explores profound themes of escapism, the human desire for freedom, and the relentless pursuit of happiness. The movie's surrealism acts as a mirror, reflecting our own struggles to find meaning in a world where logic sometimes falls short.

Unexpected Ponderings:

This unconventional movie urges us to question the boundaries of our own realities. Are dreams simply a figment of imagination, or do they hold a deeper truth about our desires and fears?

Final Verdict:

Arizona Dream is an extraordinary voyage into the recesses of the human mind. It defies traditional storytelling and embraces the enigmatic allure of dreams. Though it may leave us with more questions than answers, this film reminds us that sometimes, it's the journey itself that matters, not the destination. So, buckle up and prepare for an eccentric, mind-expanding adventure through the heart of Arizona Dream

[missingsvnday]

Basically experiencing the stages of grief about the Eras Tour movie because at first I was so excited to go see it but then I immediately realized the only people I want to see it with live on the other side of the country 😭

[nateconnolly]

WHAT DO ALL OF THESE BOOKS HAVE IN COMMON?

ANSWER UNDER THE CUT

All of them have been banned, or access to them has been restricted, in a prison in America within the last ten years.

In many states, prisons have broad and vague guidelines for book restrictions -- N.J. Admin. Code § 10A:18-4.9 grants prisons the right to ban a book if it "Lacks, as a whole, serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value". In Arizona, "inmates are not permitted to send, receive, or present... Publications that depict nudity," and explicitly states that classical art is not an exception (DO 914: 8.2.1 and 8.2.1.1).

I volunteer at a nonprofit that sends free books to prisoners. From personal experience, I know there are sweeping book restrictions such as "no dictionaries," "no coloring books," or "no manga". While these books are not always strictly banned, inmates are frequently underpaid, or forced to labor without pay. That means many inmates cannot afford to purchase books, and rely on nonprofits for access.

Book bans in public libraries and schools are unconscionable, but they are usually not effective at restricting access. A high school student can usually still see an image of Michelangelo's David even if they cannot learn about it in class. In prison, a book ban on nudity can permanently prevent inmates from accessing great works of art, the shared heritage of humankind.

DONATE TO THE INSIDE BOOKS PROGRAM IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. THEY SEND FREE BOOKS TO PEOPLE IN PRISONS.

Sources:

Found on Marshall Project

1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (banned in California according to Marshall Project

Basic Fundamentals of Modern Tattoo (Illinois)

No role playing games. A Practical Guide to Dragons. Abolish Prison Slavery. “A Multi Denominational Wicca Bible. (Montana)

101 Things to Do With Mac and Cheese (New Jersey)

“But, Didn’t You Kill Malcolm?” and “A Field Guide to Lucid Dreaming” (North Carolina)

“100 Years of Chevrolet” “1000 Dot to Dot Animals” (Oregon)

“San Francisco Bay Newspaper” “Making Everyday Electronics Work” (Rhode Island)

“Marvel Encyclopedia” (South Carolina)

“A Brief History of Manga” (Texas)

“1001 Photographs You Must See in Your Lifetime” (Virginia)

“A Question of Freedom” Reginald Dwayne Betts (Wisconsin)

The Tennessean

A prison in Tennessee restricts access to The Quran, The Torah, The Bhagavad Gita, and books about Norse mythology. (The ban did not apply to the Bible.)

Personal Experience

I am not willing to dox myself, so I cannot name the nonprofit where I volunteer. However, I swear that I have seen book bans on manga, how-to-draw guides, coloring books, electronics books, dictionaries, and composition notebooks.

[hollow-head]

What are your favourite fanfics, please?

I tried to limit myself. I grabbed these from my bookmarks so I’m sure there’s some I left out. General gallimaufry of lengths, ratings, and balance of angst and humor.

The Sandford Flower Show by Mussimm this one really deserves a read after season 2. they solve a mystery about another demon and angel’s relationship. declarations of love end poorly. the writing is soo good

Pray for Us, Icarus by Atalan i’ll never get over this one. surely everyone’s read this!

Lead me to the banquet hall by obstinatrix & wishwellingtons crowley’s thing about food In Pleasure's Clothes by obstinatrix & wishwellingtons aziraphale is jealous absolutely amazing narrative voice in these, hilarious fics.

dearly departed by attheborder crowley gets discorped. yasti the hentai demon may still be the best oc it's a new craze by attheborder they start a podcast

Apples Are Not the Only Fruit by indieninja92 crowley gives aziraphale a gift among many others from this author

such surpassing brightness by bibliocratic the whole history of western art

Your Mirror by equestrianstatue their relationship/arrangement over time

A Visit to the Pet Shop by TheOldAquarian (short) as the title says In Mixed Company, or the Corporate Retreat of Heaven and Hellby TheOldAquarian (long) they go to florida for business. i’m from florida. i like imagining them drinking fruity cocktails.

The Gift by rfsmiley (short) a proposal All Seasons by rfsmiley (long) Crowley’s experience during the creation of the Church of England

To Space and the Stars by maniacalmole how to get to alpha centauri Lol B) by maniacalmole they text each other

Happy by Caricari crowley’s bucket list.

Glory by entanglednow (short) trueform anonymous hookups Flowers from Hell by entanglednow (long) crowley sorta clones himself into a really interesting non human oc ——too many entanglednow fics i love

Birds of a Feather by idiopathicsmile angel mating rituals

Luminosity by bethagain there was only one bed, G rated

another grain of indigent salt for the sea by prolix they go to arizona. i’ve been to arizona. i like imagining them in arizona.

The Longest Night by charlottemadison bodyswap walking lessons

With a thousand sweet hisses, I'll cover you by yolkinthejump cozy

worked up by paintedvanilla movie script fever dream

[journalofanoldsoul]

Couple Dynamics 💕 (Venus Composite Chart) - Part 2

Venus in Libra

"La La Land" (2016): This romantic musical film captures the beauty of love, artistic expression, and the pursuit of dreams. It reflects the harmony, balance, and appreciation of aesthetics associated with Venus in Libra.

Will and Grace from "Will & Grace": Will and Grace's enduring friendship and unique bond in the TV show "Will & Grace" exemplify the harmony, cooperation, and emphasis on partnership associated with Venus in Libra. Despite their differences, they navigate their lives with a shared understanding and a deep respect for each other's opinions. Their connection is marked by a strong sense of fairness, compromise, and a commitment to maintaining a balanced and supportive relationship.

Arizona and Callie from "Grey's Anatomy": Arizona and Callie's relationship in the TV show "Grey's Anatomy" exemplifies the harmony, diplomacy, and focus on partnership that is often associated with Venus in Libra. They navigate the challenges of their professional and personal lives with grace, seeking balance and fairness in their interactions. Their romance is marked by a strong sense of compromise, cooperation, and a deep desire for a harmonious and equal partnership.

Venus in Scorpio

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004): This thought-provoking film explores the depths of love, memory, and emotional transformation. It delves into the intense and transformative aspects of love, which align with Venus in Scorpio.

Edward and Bella from "Twilight": Edward and Bella's relationship in the "Twilight" series embodies the intense, passionate, and sometimes obsessive nature of Venus in Scorpio. Their bond is marked by a deep connection and a willingness to undergo personal transformation for love.

Therese and Carol from "Carol": Therese and Carol's intense and transformative relationship in the movie "Carol" reflects the depth, passion, and emotional intimacy of Venus in Scorpio. Their connection takes them on a journey of self-discovery and profound connection.

Venus in Sagittarius

"Before Sunrise" (1995): This movie tells the story of two strangers who meet on a train and spend a passionate night together, contemplating life and love. It embodies the adventurous, free-spirited, and philosophical nature of Venus in Sagittarius.

Carrie and Aidan from "Sex and the City": Carrie and Aidan's relationship in the TV show "Sex and the City" represents the contrasting dynamics of commitment and freedom that can arise with Venus in Sagittarius. Their love story involves exploration, travel, and the pursuit of personal growth.

Emma and Adele from "Blue Is the Warmest Color": Emma and Adele's adventurous and free-spirited relationship in the movie "Blue Is the Warmest Color" embodies the exploration, intellectual stimulation, and open-mindedness associated with Venus in Sagittarius. Their love story is marked by a passionate and expansive connection.

Venus in Capricorn

"Pride & Prejudice" (2005): This period drama depicts a slow-burning love story that evolves over time. It reflects the qualities of loyalty, ambition, and commitment associated with Venus in Capricorn.

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy from "Pride & Prejudice": Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's relationship in "Pride & Prejudice" showcases the growth, maturity, and transformation that can occur in a love story influenced by Venus in Capricorn. Their journey involves overcoming obstacles and societal expectations.

Shane and Carmen from "The L Word": Shane and Carmen's relationship in the TV show "The L Word" embodies the dedication, ambition, and pursuit of stability associated with Venus in Capricorn. As they navigate their personal and professional lives, they strive for success and security while maintaining a deep emotional connection. Their partnership is marked by loyalty, responsibility, and a shared commitment to building a solid foundation for their love.

Venus in Aquarius

"Loving Annabelle" (2006): This film tells the story of a forbidden romance between a teacher and her student, challenging societal norms and expectations. The relationship reflects the non-conformist, progressive, and intellectually stimulating nature of Venus in Aquarius.

Phoebe and Mike from "Friends": Phoebe and Mike's relationship in the TV show "Friends" exemplifies the non-traditional, free-spirited, and unconventional aspects of Venus in Aquarius. Their love story is marked by individuality, friendship, and acceptance.

Marianne and Héloïse from "Portrait of a Lady on Fire": Marianne and Héloïse's unconventional and intellectually stimulating relationship in the movie "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" embodies the uniqueness, freedom, and friendship associated with Venus in Aquarius. Their connection challenges societal norms and celebrates individuality.

Venus in Pisces

"The Shape of Water" (2017): This visually stunning film delves into a unique and enchanting love story between a woman and an amphibious creature. It represents the romantic, compassionate, and idealistic nature of Venus in Pisces.

Romeo and Juliet from "Romeo + Juliet": The tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet in the film "Romeo + Juliet" embodies the intense, passionate, and idealistic qualities of Venus in Pisces. Their love is all-encompassing, transcending societal barriers.

Clarke and Lexa from "The 100": The relationship between Clarke and Lexa in the TV show "The 100" also represents the dreamy, compassionate, and spiritually connected qualities of Venus in Pisces. Their love story transcends boundaries and showcases a deep emotional bond, characterized by empathy, sacrifice, and a profound understanding of each other's souls.

These recommendations and couple choices are based on the archetypal qualities associated with each Venus sign. While they may not represent an exhaustive list, they serve as examples to illustrate how the energies and themes of each Venus sign can manifest in romantic movies and famous couples. It's important to remember that astrology is a complex and nuanced system, and individual interpretations can vary.

I hope you have enjoyed this selection.

Stay tune for more astro posts…

xoxo J.

[blacktofade]

thinking about gem impulse skizz dubcon somno (that one series of them + the gemtho fic have set me off so much i am losing my mind)

Oh anon, you caught me at the right time (after a long day and two margaritas lmfao), cause boy am I thinking about this!!!! Dropping my thoughts under a cut because nasty and long.

This is gonna be so disjointed because I want to immediately write a full fic of this, but I will never have enough time so this will have to do. But anyway, I am very much thinking about CNC maybe even full on noncon where it's Gem visiting them in Arizona. Maybe Impulse cooks them dinner and they plan on having a few drinks and watching a movie.

Gem's on the chaise of the couch next to them, Prim curled up beside her, and Impulse laughs and nudges at Skizz because they only make it 20 minutes into the movie before her body starts drooping like she's fighting sleep.

And he has no idea that Skizz has slipped her something.

But Skizz doesn't say anything until after the movie, and he just looks at Gem, where she's fully asleep now, and goes, "We should put her to bed, huh?"

And Impulse watches him gently lift Gem and carry her back out to the guest house. And there's no one around to see two middle aged men sneaking away with a tiny unconscious woman.

When Skizz sets Gem down on her bed, he immediately starts to undress her, and Impulse is all, "Wait wait, what are you doing?" And Skizz goes "You expect her to get a good night's sleep in that outfit?" as though it's in any way rational.

I really like the idea of Impulse being SUPER weak to peer pressure and basically cracking at the first hint from Skizz. Like, he doesn't know how to argue against Skizz because Skizz makes it seem like he's the one being unreasonable. Makes it seem like Gem's going to wake up mad that Impulse didn't tug her little denim shorts off to make her comfortable.

And maybe Gem isn't wearing a bra under her crop top and Skizz glances over at Impulse to check his reaction, and Impulse is looking away, face bright red, but after a second, his gaze slides back toward her like he can't help himself.

And when Skizz gets Gem's shorts off, she's wearing these innocent looking little white briefs and a horrible part of Impulse's brain thinks about how he'd like to see how see-thru they go if he gets his mouth on them.

Maybe Skizz plays with the waistband of her panties and finally admits, "She asked me to do this. I slipped her a little something during dinner."

And Impulse has to decide if he believes him. Because maybe he can tell from Skizz's tone that he isn't telling him the full truth. But Skizz looks at him and says, "Don't you trust me?" and what the heck is Impulse meant to do?

Maybe Skizz pulls the gusset of her panties aside, just to give Impulse a little peek. And Gem's kinda wet, enough that Impulse can convince himself that she did ask for it.

Which means he doesn't fight Skizz when Skizz carefully eases Gem's underwear off, and he draws in a shuddering breath when Skizz nudges Gem's thigh apart so they can both get a full look at her.

And Skizz spreads her with his fingers and asks, "She looks like a virgin, huh?" And Impulse knows that's not a thing, but he gets what Skizz means. She looks untouched.

Skizz slips his middle finger into her, pumping gently and he shakes his head, saying, "Dude, you gotta feel this."

And it's only natural for Impulse to reach out and when Skizz pulls his hand back, he gets a finger into Gem instead, just to find out how warm she is inside, how easy she is.

But Skizz ends up holding her legs open as Impulse gets his mouth on her, finally gets a taste, and he keeps talking about how Gem's probably having the best dreams right now, how Impulse is giving her exactly what she wants.

And Impulse stops caring if it's true and he's so breathless when he asks, "Can I fuck her?"

And Skizz starts nodding before he's even done asking and says, "Yeah, let's get her in a better position.

Which ends up being Skizz on the bed, leaning back into the pillows, Gem cradled in his lap with his hands tucked behind her knees, opening her up for Impulse, who doesn't waste any time before getting his shorts and underwear down just enough to free his cock.

It doesn't even occur to him that he should wear a condom. He's so used to not having to with his wife, who got her tubes tied after their third kid.

But he slides in deep, moaning Gem's name even though she can't hear it.

GOD maybe Gem comes to for a moment, and she groans in confusion, automatically trying to push Impulse away, but Skizz pulls her hands back and kisses at her jaw, making soothing sounds.

"Don't worry," he says. "He's taking care of you. We both are."

And Gem makes all these beautiful tired noises before she eventually passes out again and Impulse starts fucking her a little harder cause he's so close.

And Skizz says shit like, "Yeah, that's it. God listen to how wet she is. You did that to her, dude. I bet you could make her come."

And it's like an earworm in Impulse's brain, cause now he wants that so badly he feels insane. So even though Gem's absolute dead weight against Skizz, Impulse gets his hand down to play with her clit, trying everything he knows to make her feel good.

And just when he's losing hope, that she's too far gone, too deeply asleep, she shifts, grunting, breathing getting heavier as she tightens around him rhythmically. He knows without a doubt he's managed to make her come, and it's that thought that has him shoving deep inside of her and letting go.

He plays with her a little after. When he pulls out. He likes seeing his cum drip out of her, likes seeing that she's a little open after he's fucked her.

Skizz looks down, smiling. "Was that good? Was she nice and tight for you?"

Maybe riding the high, Impulse asks, "Are you gonna have a turn?"

But what Skizz wants is to jerk off on her face. So he gets her on her back again and straddles her chest and she looks so tiny beneath him. But he loses control so quickly and he wets her lips with his cum, easing his fingers into her mouth to make sure she passively swallows some.

And Skizz is insistent that they clean her up after. He says it's because no one likes to sleep while they're still sticky after sex. But there's a voice in the back of Impulse's head saying they're covering their tracks. They're making sure Gem never finds out what they've done to her.

Before they go, Skizz kisses her cheek and then they let her sleep. And in the morning, over coffee, Skizz asks if she slept okay. And Gem nods and laughs and says, "I don't know what's in that mattress, but I slept like the dead. I don't even remember falling asleep."

And Impulse's stomach rolls uneasily.

YUM FUCKING YUM!!!

Anyway, thanks for coming to my tedtalk and thanks for letting me get this out of my system.

[englishstrawbie]

sorry to bug again but if you get a chance I would love a 95 w/Arizona saying this to callie and callie responding with 42. i just feel like Arizona always has the big romantic speech so I would love to hear Callie say smt like that

Hey, thank you for your two prompts. 😊 I chose to fill this one and it took me right back into my Calzona feels! I hope you like it.

>>>>>>>>>>

It is a little after seven o’clock in the evening when they touch down at JFK, although their bodies are still on West Coast time. Sofia is curled up asleep in the window seat, unbothered by the bumpy descent. The chaos of packing, the emotions that came with saying goodbye to her friends, and the excitement of seeing her Mama again – not to mention today’s wedding chaos – had taken its toll on her, and she had passed out a little after their meal.

It had left Arizona alone with her thoughts for most of the five-hour flight. She hadn’t been able to concentrate on the movie playing on the small screen in front of her, although she had left it running with her headphones on so that she was not disturbed.

She has been feeling wistful all day, her head full of the memory of her own wedding day seven years ago. It brings a smile to her face even now as she remembers the vision of Callie walking down the aisle with Mark, of the vows they exchanged and the first dance they shared. Everything felt light and joyful in that moment. Even though there had been so many moments since that felt heavy and dark, her wedding day has never been tainted. It has always been one of her favourite memories.

Moving to New York is for Sofia, but Arizona feels like the move is opening up a part of her that she has kept locked away since she signed her divorce papers. A part of her that she hid from Eliza and a part of her she was too afraid to show Carina.

The part that has always belonged to Callie. She wonders if it still does.

“Hey sweetie, we’re here,” Arizona says, rousing her daughter.

As they wait to disembark, a message from Callie pops up on her phone, letting her know that her plan to meet them at the airport has been interrupted by a last-minute surgery. Arizona shoots her a message to let her know they have arrived but promising to see her later. After all, Arizona will be staying in the spare room for a couple of weeks until she moves into her own place a few blocks away. She had tried to insist that she stay in a hotel, but both Callie and Sofia had been adamant.

After collecting their luggage, they jump into a cab. Traffic delays their journey and the sun is starting to set when they arrive in the Upper West Side. They have Sofia’s key to let them inside and they settle into their rooms, before Sofia crashes out.

“Mommy?” Sofia says as Arizona turns off the light in her bedroom. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

“Me too,” Arizona says with a smile. “Sweet dreams, baby girl.”

It feels strange to be by herself in Callie’s apartment. There are family photos scattered around the surfaces: of Sofia at every age of her life so far, of Mark, even one with Arizona in it – the three of them, taken Sofia’s second birthday. None of Penny, she notes, and she wonders if that relationship really is over.

The evening is warm and Arizona pours herself a glass of wine before heading out onto the small balcony, making herself comfortable on one of the cushioned seats. She pulls out her phone. There are no more updates from Callie, and she scrolls through their messages until she finds the one from earlier today.

I can’t wait to see you!

The feeling is reciprocated, Arizona’s heart fluttering with a nervous excitement at the thought of seeing her ex-wife again. She thinks about the advice that April and Richard gave her earlier that day: to stay open to possibilities; about how the hurt of their past doesn’t have to define their future.

If they have a future. It is not like she knows what Callie is thinking or what is behind the texts she sends. That is a question for another day, she tells herself. For now, the wine is making her drowsy, the day catching up with her as her eyes start to droop, and she is lulled into a light sleep.

“Hey.”

A firm hand on her shoulder wakes Arizona a couple of hours later. It takes her a minute to remember where she is, blinking a few times before she looks up to see Callie standing beside her.

“Hey,” Arizona says with a tired smile.

“I’m sorry I’m home so late,” Callie says, sitting in the chair next to her. “How was the wedding?”

Arizona hums. “Let’s just say it didn’t go as planned.” She chuckles when she sees Callie’s eyebrows raise. “I’ll let Sofia tell you all about it in the morning. I promised her you’d go into her room when you got home.”

“I already have,” Callie says.

Her face lights up in the way it always has when she talks about her daughter and there it is again – that flutter in Arizona’s heart. She tries to push it aside.

“Did your surgery go okay?”

Callie rolls her eyes. “Another tourist who thought they could roller-skate around Central Park, even though they’ve never worn a pair of skates in their life.”

Arizona smiles, although she can’t stifle her yawn. “Sorry,” she says bashfully.

“You didn’t have to wait up for me, you know,” Callie says.

“I wanted to,” Arizona says, then blushes at what she has said. “I mean…”

She doesn’t really know what she means. Callie shoots her a look that she can’t quite read. Maybe it is the shadows or maybe she just needs some reassurance that what she is feeling isn’t one-sided.

“What happened with Penny?”

The question hangs in the silence between them for a moment.

“It didn’t work,” Callie says eventually. “I tried, but… I think I missed what we had so much that I was trying to recreate it somehow. I know what you and I had wasn’t perfect, but I missed it. I missed the joy and the warmth and the love. And I wanted that back, so I convinced myself that Penny was the one. But she wasn’t…”

She stops suddenly and Arizona can’t help but wonder if her next word was ‘you’.

“I’m sorry,” is all she says.

Callie looks over at her. “You are?”

Arizona meets her gaze and her heart flutters again.  

“I just want you to be happy, even if…” She hesitates, taking a long, slow breath. “Even if your happiness doesn’t include me, I just want you happy.”

Callie lets out a small laugh. “That’s the thing,” she says. “I don’t know if I can be happy without you. I’ve tried, but it turns out you’re pretty hard to forget.” She smiles. “It turns out… you’re the only person I’ve ever actually wanted to spend the rest of my life with.”

Arizona’s heart thumps in her chest and she wonders if Callie can hear it too in the stillness of the summer evening. She reaches out her hand and watches as Callie takes it.

“Well,” Arizona says slowly, “maybe you and I can go on a date sometime?”

She looks over at Callie nervously, but she isn’t left waiting for an answer for long.

“I’d really like that,” Callie says.

Arizona smiles as she squeezes Callie’s hand, her head rolling back against the chair so that she can look out at the city in below them. With that one simple question, her heart flutters with the knowledge that they are both open to the possibility of finding love with each other again.  

[bruinsbabydaddyy]

Desert Sunsets

He was nervous, Like sweating from every pore nervous. But of course, you wouldn't have noticed that between the steep climbing and the Arizona sun, you could only focus on surviving this beast of a hike you for some reason agreed to go on. You wouldn't have if he wasn't so weirdly adamant about going. Usually, when you tell him you don't wanna exercise with him he just sighs and walks away. But not this time, this time he practically begged, and played every card he had including a movie night of whatever you wanted and multiple promised coffee runs. What made things even worse was you weren't even in the cool air of Toronto you had grown accustomed to in the multiple years of living with Auston.

 but you were back in AZ and usually, you did okay with the summer heat when you had AC in the comfort of your Scottsdale apartment even with the sun setting it was still scorching, but on the plus side apparently, Auston couldn't take the heat either and had lost his shirt about a mile and a half ago and that was the only motivation you needed to keep your head up, as you were approaching what you were praying to be the top he looked back at you and you noticed something in his eyes, a kind of fear like he was waiting for you to run for the hills and not look back but you couldn't, you wouldn't dream of it these past few years had been the best of your life, you would walk to the ends of the earth if he asked you too. A shaky voice broke your thoughts “babe come up here for a sec” “give me a second felix is really into this bush” as you pull the doodle to your side and make your way up the little pathway the view hits you,various shades of pink an orange fill the desert sky and all of the thoughts leave your head “is this what heaven feels like” is all you can seem to get out.

you hear a chuckle behind you as you take out your phone to capture the moment,it felt like eternity as you were trying to get that perfect picture that you'd completely end up forgetting to post in the end but what broke you away from that screen was the shaky breath coming from the man behind you and as you turn around you immediately felt yourself tearing up and from the looks of Austons face he was about to as well 

“honey I owe everything I am today to you,you have got me through some of my hardest days and made my best a thousand times better,You have stuck by my side and single handedly been my biggest support system when i was trying to navigate through a whole new life in Toronto,you have been the best mom to felix and I know your gonna be an even better one to our kids one day. Hell you dropped everything to move across the country with me and I know I'll never be able to repay you for everything you've done for me and our relationship but I'd like to spend the rest of my life trying if you'll let me” by this point you fully sobbing and he's even slipped a few tears. “I would love to” you manage to choke out in between sobs that are slowly turning into laughs as you see his face relax and the stress in his eyes fade to a love you've only seen in movies and Taylor swift songs. He pulls you into the tightest embrace he can muster and he holds you in front of the desert sunset

[hughesmedicine]

just a bunch of swifties 5

decided to do this before the next one(which was my original plan!) also in this the kings and ducks are playing each other so

trevor zegras x !hughes reader

surprising the boys with era tickets fic/insta edit!

hopefully the fic is okay, still not confident in my writing!

jabosml(masterlists)

the guys we’re currently at their games which was playing in the background while I waited for the queue to move forward, my knee was bouncing up and down while I looked over at the game seeing z score. I smiled and turned back to the computer seeing that the queue moved forward with 300 people being in front of me, I sighed leaning back into the couch but then I realized my drink was empty so I got up going into the kitchen opening the fridge, grabbing the new drink and quickly went back to my seat noticing that I’m 3 people away from being let in and that the game went into overtime. I quickly sat down grabbing out my card information and it let me in, I quickly typed in everything and picked the seats I wanted and sent it through I put my hands together and closed my eyes trying to stay calm. A few minutes later I opened my eyes and I saw I got the tickets and trevor made the final goal winning the game, I cheered for both smiling. I texted z knowing he would it check it later

y/n: hey babe, bring alex back with you after the game!

I got a response about 10 minutes later saying he would and that they’re swinging by somewhere for food, I sent him my order and moved the laptop to the side. Just going on my phone scrolling on whatever app I have. I heard the guys enter about 30 minutes after coming into the living room all plopping down on the couch and trevor handed me the food. “Thanks babe but I got good news for you all” I said setting my food on the table. “Oh yeah what is it y/n/n?” Alex said looking at me as jamie and trevor did too. “I got us tickets to the eras tour!” I said smiling again. “wait wait wait are you serious?? Please tell me this isn’t some fucked up prank for your failed YouTube career.” Alex said crossing his arms. “Failed YouTube career?” Trevor asked confused. “alex you promised you wouldn’t tell anybody but yes I’m serious.” I said pulling up the website saying we got tickets. The boys quickly pulled me into a hug squishing me in the middle and thanking me over and over again. “Okay can you guys let me go, I can’t fucken breathe.” I said trying to get out. “oh right sorry.” They all said letting me go. “I got them for the second night so we’ll have to book a flight to Arizona.” I said taking a bite out of my food. “okay that’s fine, so flight at 4 am?” trevor said. “Yep that works” I said cuddling into his side and putting on a movie for all of us to watch.

yourusername

liked by taylorswift, trevorzegras, jamie.drysdale and others.

yourusername: can’t wait to meet you again bestie!

tagged: taylorswift

load more comments..

taylorswift: omg so excited to take pictures with you!<33

| trevorzegras: I’ll never get use to you two being friends.

| yourusername: you better, I’m bringing her around more and no fainting when I do!

| trevorzegras: you know I can’t control it.

trevorzegras: I’m gonna be sick, I can’t believe we’re actually going

| jamie.drysdale: I still think I’m dreaming.

| _alextorcotte: no same.

| yourusername: believe it boys

_quinnhughes: omg sis congrats on getting the tickets!

| yourusername: thanks quinny

jackhughes: so this is what the money I sent you was for??

| yourusername: yes thanks for sending the money!

| jackhughes: you could have used trevors money!

| yourusername: but its more fun taking your money plus I didn’t want trevor to look at his charges on his phone so that’s why

| jackhughes: okay fair but have fun!

lhughes_06: so does this mean I get to go too?

| yourusername: yes moosey, I also got quinn and jack tickets too! | jackhughes: i basically bought my own ticket but I’m so excited to go woo!

| yourusername: stop faking enthusiasm.

| jackhughes: I’m not

| yourusername: shocking

| _quinnhughes: I’m actually excited to go! Best friend gave me the idea for this!

[stimtickle]

* NOES 3: Dream Warriors - 3/1/87

* Angel Heart - 3/6/87

* Lethal Weapon - 3/6/87

* Evil Dead 2 - 3/13/87

* Street Smart - 3/20/87

* Raising Arizona - 4/10/87

* The Untouchables - 6/3/87

* The Believers - 6/10/87

* Predator - 6/12/87

* The Witches of Eastwick - 6/12/87

* Spaceballs - 6/24/87

* Innerspace - 7/1/87

* Adventures in Babysitting - 7/3/87

* Full Metal Jacket - 7/10/87

* RoboCop - 7/17/87

* La Bamba - 7/24/87

* The Lost Boys - 7/31/87

* The Monster Squad - 8/14/87

* The Whales of August - 8/19/87

* Fatal Attraction - 9/18/87

* Hellraiser - 9/18/87

* Near Dark - 10/2/87

* The Princess Bride - 10/9/87

* House of Games - 10/14/87

* Barfly - 10/16/87

* Prince of Darkness - 10/23/87

* The Hidden - 10/30/87

* Less Than Zero - 11/6/87

* The Running Man - 11/13/87

* Planes, Trains & Automobiles - 11/25/87

* Wall Street - 12/11/87

* Throw Mamma From The Train - 12/11/87

* Eddie Murphy: Raw - 12/18/87

* Empire of the Sun - 12/25/87

When I was growing up 1939 was popularly remembered (back then) as a great year for movies and it was…but it was no 1987. For the last ten or so years, 1999 has been celebrated as a great year for movies (American Beauty, The Matrix, Boys Don’t Cry, Fight Club, The Insider, Three Kings. Being John Malkovich, The Blair Witch Project, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Office Space, Deep Blue Sea, etc.) and it was, but it was no 1987.

Admittedly 1999 was a year of heightened consciousness for movies. Frustration with the status quo was palpable and the movies definitely reflected that. Pre-millennial tensions blended with existential angst to bring about a refreshing alchemy of spiritual reclamation. But still…it was no 1987.

I was thirteen going into my fourteenth year and 1987 was very formative for me. The sheer amount of modern classics released that year is mind-blowing to me still to this day. We were simply spoiled for choice. The best NOES sequel was amazing, to be quickly followed by Angel Heart and Evil Dead 2!! Read the list, it was an astonishing time for the movies.

And July of 1987 is still hands-down the best July for movies ever. Full Metal Jacket this week, fucking jaw-dropping Robocop the next. La Bamba the next, followed by The Lost Boys. HOLY SHIT!

*With Hellraiser, Near Dark, The Princess Bride, Barfly, House of Games, etc. October was pretty freaking awesome too.

1987 is the year I relish most when I think about contemporary movie classics. Compared to 1999, some of these titles might appear somewhat shallow, but I’d say look again. There is a lot of intense sociological depth to a lot of these films…but it’s not the overriding point they’re trying to make. Entertainment was thoughtful, but not in your face.

A new level of storytelling intensity was reached that year. A stunning year for genre films.

Never again will it ever be that incredible.

*While I did see them, I didn’t really care about Moonstruck, Beverly Hills Cop 2, Mannequin, or Dirty Dancing…but they certainly had their fans too.

Much Love, T. Stickle

*FYI: Bad Taste, Street Trash, and of course Robocop all conspired to open me up to the beautifully gross & demented joys of Splattertoons. Yet another reason why 1987 is so dear to me. 😝

[wenellyb]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel that people who say stuff like this are straight up lying? Or is there some important piece of information I'm missing?

It's unbelievable to me that some people would like that non-canon ships like Stucky or any other non-canon ships paved the way for representation in modern media. Unbelievable.

Destiel, maybe, because of how big the fandom is/was but even Supernatural and even Destiel started out small and got popular because of the fandom and the ship(s).

I feel like people who saying they started shipping non-canon couples because their wasn't any LGBT representation in the media at the time aren't being genuine. I say that because before joining Tumblr, I didn't even know shipping non-canon couples was a thing (I had heard of Destiel, but it was more of a concept to me, even though I unironically watched SPN).

I feel that was they mean is that there wasn't any representation in popular shows or maybe they mean they weren't enough main characters. But otherwise there was!!!

These are just the one I can think of on the top of my head, but there are much more and there is en more if you go outside of the US. And these are just the shows.

If we add the movies... well!!!

You want romance with a Happy Ending?

You want Murder Mystery?

You want Drama?

There are so many many more and, yes these weren't blockbusters but it's not "no représentation and Stucky and Destiel were the only options"

Grey's Anatomy started out at the exact same time as Supernatural and now has over a dozen canon LGBT characters and half of them are/were main characters (Callie, Arizona, Amelia, Teddy, Yasuda, Helm)

When I joined Tumblr, I never even for a minute thought shipping was about representation or activism because there were so many shows and movies I knew but they were barely talked about on here.

Not criticizing ships by any means but I feel like people are trying to pretend that shipping is something it isn't.

In my humble opinion, non-canon ships were never about representation. Shipping was just shipping

I wasn't on Tumblr at the time, but I was on Youtube (old school) and to me, the people who were doing edits of the canon ships, in shows and movies were the real heroes.

Some people might say : "but those characters are side characters or weren't in major blockbusters/popular shows".

But fandoms could have decided to make them more popular if they wanted. Because believe it or not, Supernatural was a niche show at the beginning and I don't think it would have been as popular or gotten as many seasons without the shippers. They chose to make the non-canon couple (at the time) popular. So the fans could have done the same with shows that have canon LGBT characters But they didn't, they focused on non-canon couples.

I have no problem with shipping non-canon couples at all, I do it too, but I'm really surprised by people who want to make it seem like it's some kind of activism... It's not.

And I know there wasn't enough representation that's true, but why focus your energy on shows with absolutely no canon LGBT characters and pretend it's activism??

You guys could have had Noah's arc or Hit the Floor renewed and you focused your energy on Marvel characters.

And some people will say they ship Destiel anyway because they want fantasy and paranormal... Well does nobody remember Dante's Cove? Was it a fever dream😂? I admit the writing was bad, but have you seen the writing in Supernatural (I say this as a SPN fan)???

And I know some people will say they ship Marvel characters because they have a bigger audience and there were no canon Queer characters in blockbusters, but I feel like that a lie too because when there were indeed Queer characters in those blockbusters, they were ignored as well. Like in the Eternals.

Fandoms can be so powerful when they want to...they can make or break a movie, so acting like the focus on non canon couples was the only option surprises me.

Shipping is just about shipping. It's a hobby.

Stucky or any non-canon Marvel ship isn't "History", it's just a ship.

Last exemple: Let's take a look at 2 popular couples from the same franchise: 9-1-1 and 911: Lone Star. Only one of the couples in canon, but Can you Guess which one is more popular on Ao3 and on Tumblr ?

The non-canon couple!

Almost 3 Times as much fics for Buddie than TK x Carlos who are an actualcouple and even got married!

Shipping non-canon couples isn't about representation but about finding a story to fantasize about, which isn't bad itself but it's bad when you pretend shipping is something it isn't?

TL:DR: Shipping non-canon couples isn't activism imo.

I would be happy to hear tour thoughts because as I said, I only joined Tumblr later so I don't have all the info.

[drugs-and-daddyissues]

Gonna go on a Johnny Depp movie watch marathon during October, either rewatching or watching for the first time, but here's my order if you wanna watch along with me! <3 You ofc don't need to watch all of these, but these are my goals, you can also skip ahead if you finish all the movies from a week. Bonuses also included (which are basically my rewatches, with the exception of A Nightmare On Elm Street, since I've already watched it but it's not a bonus)

Week 1 (1980s):

A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

Private Resort (1985)

Slow Burn (1986)

Bonus: 21 Jump Street (1987-1990)

Week 2 (1990s):

Arizona Dream (1993)

Benny & Joon (1993)

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

Ed Wood (1994)

Don Juan DeMarco (1994)

Nick Of Time (1995)

The Astronaut's Wife (1999)

Bonuses: Edward Scissorhands (1990), Crybaby (1990), Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Week 3 (2000s):

The Man Who Cried (2000)

From Hell (2001)

Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003)

Secret Window (2004)

Finding Neverland (2004)

Bonuses: POTC: Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003), Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005), Corpse Bride (2005), Sweeney Todd (2007)

Week 4 (2010s):

Alice In Wonderland (2010)

The Tourist (2010)

Dark Shadows (2012)

Transcendence (2014)

Alice Through The Looking Glass (2016)

Murder On The Orient Express (2017)

The Professor (2018)

Bonus: Into The Woods (2014)

Week 5 (2020s):

Jeanne Du Barry (2023)

Bonuses: Catch up on any movies you missed from the previous weeks, or watch some on your own watchlist <3

[cameoamalthea]

Dumb Post about Senator Mark Kelly

Usually I make Dumb Posts about animals, BUT Election 2024 is important and Harris is going to pick her VP soon so I want you to know about Mark Kelly.

The coolest, most meme-worthy politician ever, through shear awesomeness

Mark Kelly is the result of a cloning project to create the coolest VP candidate ever

Ok - that's not true, he's just an identical twin whose brother is also an astronaut (and yes, he's an astronaut, but that's not all)

SCIENTIST, PILOT, WAR HERO

He received a Bachelor of Science in marine engineering and nautical science from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, graduating with highest honors in 1986. In 1994, he received a Master of Science in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.

As a Navy Aviator he flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm.

Kelly has received two Defense Superior Service Medals; one Legion of Merit; two Distinguished Flying Crosses; four Air Medals (two individual/two strike flight) with Combat "V"; two Navy Commendation Medals, (one with combat "V"); one Navy Achievement Medal; two Southwest Asia Service Medals; one Navy Expeditionary Medal; two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons; a NASA Distinguished Service Medal; and an Overseas Service Ribbon.

Distinguished Flying Crosses are a BIG DEAL. You pretty much only get those for doing something's that’s worth making into a movie scene and he has TWO!

ASTRONAUT

Mark Kelly has logged over 54 days in space.

His Twin brother spent a YEAR IN SPACE (that's his brother on the cover - probably - but you get the idea that he also looked cool as an astronaut - and if you're wondering why he wasn't in space for a year, I'll get to that but the cool thing is cause he was retired while his brother was in space for a year he was the control in a twin study on the effects of being in space for a year)

That's probably also his brother, it's hard to google pictures when you have two identical twin brothers in space.

That's also Mark's twin brother Scott, because Mark smuggled a whole ass Gorilla Costume onto the International Space Station so his brother could go on a Gorilla rampage as a prank.

OK here he is

That's Mark Kelly!

My point is he's an astronaut, he's been to space, and the reason he left all that behind will bring you to tears and make you love him.

He's Mr. Gabby Giffords

Gabby Giffords served as a Congresswoman from Tucson, Arizona. When Giffords was sworn in on January 3, 2007, she was the third woman in Arizona's history to be elected to serve in the U.S. Congress and was a Democrat elected in a very Republican district.

When I met her she was very Mom Shaped. She took care of the community and cared about her constituents. To the point that she would fly to Arizona from Washington DC to do events where she would just be out on a street corner where you could go talk to her.

On January 8, 2011, at a “Congress On Your Corner” constituent event in Tucson, Gabby was shot in the head by a gunman who killed six people and injured 12 others. 

At the time Mark Kelly was Cammander of the STS-134 he penultimate mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program and the 25th and last spaceflight of Space Shuttle Endeavour.

He stayed by his Wife's side for a month, when it was clear she was making progress in her recovery he announced on February 4, 2011, that he would remain commander of the mission. This would be his final mission.

He sent a love song to his wife from the International Space Station in the form of dedicating a song:

On June 21, 2011, Kelly announced that he would leave NASA's astronaut corps and the U.S. Navy effective October 1, to be with his wife and support her through her recovery:

Kelly became an outspoken advocate for gun control following the attempted assassination of his wife.

Still he dreamed of returning to space and worked out to keep his body mission ready.

"Kelly eventually compares everything to his time with NASA. As commander, he managed a small team of astronauts and worked within a sprawling bureaucracy. Every day pointed toward the same goal. There were checkpoints and to-do lists. The mission offered a clear dividing line between success and failure.

“It’s a very well-defined criteria of success,” Kelly said"

In 2020 he began a new mission serving as Senator for Arizona. A Moderate, he won twice in a swing state and would like draw some Republican voters who don't love Donald Trump over to the Harris ticket, should she choose him as VP.

[autisticempathydaemon]

I wasn't sure if this is where I answer for the redacted match up but I hope it is!^^

feel free to take your time and I hope you enjoy reading this stuff...^^

What song are you fixated on at the moment? What lyric or verse, and why?: you've seen the butcher by deftones because I really love deftones as a whole and I really love the intro and I don't know why but the song really reminds me of the Shaw pack.

Do you love gargantuan Youtube video essays, and if so, which is your favorite and why?: Actually no because I have close to zero patience and I just never really liked them.

Tell me about your childhood imaginary friend. : I didn't have any.

What is your go-to way to fall asleep?: my watch later tab on YouTube. An hour of mincraft music followed by every redacted sleep aid.

If you had to change your name, what would it be, and why? (In tandem, if you have changed your name, why did you pick that one?): I changed my name to toby because it fits the personality I like other people to see me as and the good parts of me. And a lot of people who inspire me are named toby in some form.

What is your favorite of Redacted’s audios, and why?: honestly it changes quite frequently but it usually rotates between the D.A.M.N. crew (Gavin and lasko mostly), Sam, and Porter.

What Redacted boy holds no appeal to you, and why? Like, not the one you hate but the one who you don’t get the hype for. (I won’t judge, I promise.): Elliot and Aaron because Elliots just kind of boring to me and Aaron is just David without the fuzzy.

Tell me about that one book/movie/tv show you know all the words to.: stranger things but only season 3

Which Redacted boy are you platonically attracted to? Like- forget dating, which dude do you want to be your best friend?: ollie or Elliot

Do you have a go-to thing you ramble about when you’re tired, and if so, what is it? (For example, my boyfriend knows I’m ready to sleep when I start talking about space.): sentimental stuff like how I met someone or how I've changed over the last few years

Tell me your go-to gas station and drink combo.: Arizona tea (fruit punch one cuz I'm a fruit cake), Dr. Pepper, or mountain dew

Tell me about your favorite playlist at the moment.: redacted wise: Gavin bc he was the first playlist I ever fully watched and I love my Bae

Music wise: my everything playlist called stuffs that I made 4 years ago.

What’s your guilty pleasure media, and why?: the crave series by Tracy Wolff. It's very similar to a lot of redacted and its vampire shit.

And whatever else you think tells me about who you are!: I love deftones and Korn. Garfield4life. Lasko is Bae. I found Redacted through the guy confession audio the day it came out. I used to think Damien and lasko were gonna get together because I saw the Damien and Huxley confession cover and had a dream where it was lasko and convinced myself it was real untill I got to that point in the D.A.M.N crew playlist. :]

Hmm, this one was difficult for me. Though you gave me information, I found it hard to glean who you are with that information /nm With that in mind, I think Asher is perfect for you!

I get the vibe that you might not be the type to volunteer a lot when talking about yourself? Asher would be a good match for you in that he’d either be really skilled at easing that info out of you naturally, given his personable and emotionally intelligent nature, or not feeling the need to push or prod, learning about you at your own pace. I also like that you describe yourself as having little patience as that’s how I think of Asher too- at least, until it counts. It’s good for a pair to have similar temperaments, you know?

One of my favorite things about your life with Asher is how much he’d indulge your love of Garfield. Asher Talbot is that boyfriend who goes scours eBay for the things you like no matter what that may be, no matter the cost; he is hounding those auctions like- well, like a wolf. He’s the same way with concert tickets- you know he’s making sure you get the best seats for the next Deftones show, even if he has to save for months. It’s not even his type of music necessarily, as a canon FOB stan, but he listens to their discography for a whole month before the concert to get hyped with you. He’s just like that~

Song:

Maybe we could be/ Sweet eternity/ Are you the one?/ Are you the one?/ Dreaming, I'm sleep/ Are you the one?/ Pray my soul to keep/ Comfort seems unreal/ The opposite of how I feel/ Before I come undone/ Are you the one?

This song came up when I started a Spotify Radio for “You’ve Seen the Butcher”, and I think it suits y’all! One, I always make sure to pick a love song cause matchmaking and romance. Two, it’s got a bounciness to it! It’s fun to listen to; I can easily imagine Asher bopping around at midnight, hopped up on RedBull, while he fixes y’all a snack.

Runner-up:

Vincent is your main runner-up because I think he’d have such a fun time goofin on you about your guilty pleasure books. He’s a vampire; that’s just his right, you know? Milo is your other runner-up because I am imagining Aggro feuding with the little Garfield effigies around your house, and it’s a delightful, silly image.

Read this post and send me an ask if you’d like a match-up of your own! 💌

[cherrylng]

MUSE X MOVIE [STYLE Series #004 - Muse (August 2010)]

A love story between a vampire and a human, the Twilight series is having a huge ripple effect! The key to this film, which triggered the explosion of Muse's popularity in the US, is the author's ‘love for Muse’. Text by Naoto Mori

"I'd like to thank the talented musicians who inspired me, especially Muse, from whose songs the sentiments, scenes, and synopsis of this novel were born. Without their extraordinary talent, this novel would not exist."

These are the words of Stephenie Meyer, the American author of the Twilight series, the international bestselling teen romance novels about vampire boys and human girls (from the acknowledgements to the second novel in the series, New Moon). She is an avowed fanatic of Muse and is now a cheerleader for the cultural quota. Originally a housewife in Arizona, when she suddenly wrote her debut novel at the age of 30, she was inspired by the dreams she had and the songs of Muse and other popular rock bands. Their music functioned as a literal ‘muse’ (Greek goddess of the arts). Meyer herself wrote in her acknowledgements for the final film in the series, Breaking Dawn:

"Thank you, my beloved band. Muse is really an appropriate name, as you have been an important inspiration for this saga!"

For example, in Japan, Chika Umino's manga Hachimitsu to Clover was based on two albums, Hachimitsu by Spitz and Clover by Suga Shikao, and Meyer seems to have drawn inspiration for the colour and atmosphere of her world from the songs of Muse. On her official website, she presents a ‘playlist’ of songs that have specifically inspired her. You have to go directly to the site for more details, but some excerpts include ‘Time is Running Out’ from the first film in the series. In the second film, there's ‘Hyper Music’ and ‘Apocalypse Please’. The third album, Eclipse, has six songs, including ‘The Small Print’, ‘New Born’ and ‘Hysteria’, and is particularly Muse-intensive! The final album includes a cover of ‘Can't Take My Eyes Off You’ (Frankie Valli's 1967 hit), which is not included on the album. Incidentally, other bands that stand out are Coldplay, Travis, Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance…… and so on.

This playlist could be called an album of images of Twilight by the author Meyer, but Muse also participated in the soundtrack of the film adaptation series that started in 2008. The first film, Twilight, featured the song ‘Supermassive Black Hole’. At this point, Muse was still using pre-existing songs, but for the second film, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Muse provided a ‘New Moon Remix’ of ‘I Belong to You’. For the third film, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, they wrote a new song, ‘Neutron Star Collision (Love is Forever)’, which became the first single from the soundtrack. Finally, Meyer and Muse had an official collaboration through the film!

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is directed by David Slade (a Brit, of course), who has been working on music clips for Muse for some time. He was chosen to direct the Twilight series, which shares a common motif with the Sam Raimi-produced vampire horror film 30 Days of Night, which was a No.1 hit in the US. The Muse-Meyer-Slade connection, then, is completely predestined. In this sense, the film version of Eclipse, which brought their creative meeting to fruition, may be called a monumental film.

Slade's clip for Bliss, shot long before his directorial debut, had the feel of a sci-fi short film starring Matthew Bellamy, but the Muse clips shot by other directors are also filled with a magnificent and fantastical sense of beauty. Muse's sound world must have a tremendous power to evoke images for creators of film and literature. For example, the clip for ‘New Born’ was also directed by Slade, and the song was used so memorably in the ending of the 2003 French splatter horror film ‘Haute Tension/High Tension’ that it was the talk of the town among film buffs at the time.

Now, it's time for a delusional analysis. Why is Meyer so firmly attracted to Muse? What is the connection between Twilight, their music, and their creations?

The following quote from Meyer may help to decipher this. In an interview published on the official website of the Japanese edition of Twilight by Village Books, she was asked, "Do you read other vampire novels?" She replied: "No, I've actually never read any vampire novels. (It's the same) with films."

Yes, Twilight can be categorised as a gothic horror genre, but it is not a heavyweight, authentic one. It is based on a Romeo and Juliet-type boy-meets-girl story, to which the vampire legend has been introduced as a sweet European taste. The ideal balance of romantic and gothic flavours is the sound world created by Muse in Meyer's mind.

In line with the Twilight story, Meyer is the American ‘normal girl’ heroine Bella and Muse is the ‘ideal prince’ Edward from a foreign country (England). Their music and characters (mainly Matthew) provide the ‘eternal maidens’, symbolised by Meyer, with a kind of royal shoujo manga fantasy, just as Queen did in the 1970s.

One last little tidbit, by the way. Here's an interesting remark from Robert Pattinson, the pretty boy actor who plays Edward in the film. He wants Gus Van Sant, the director behind ‘My Own Private Idaho’ and ‘Elephant’, to direct the final film, ‘Breaking Dawn’. Sullen!!! Well, the style of the series so far will be too artistic to stand out, but it's likely to produce a standout masterpiece. I'd love to see it!

In the first film, ‘Twilight’, ‘Supermassive Black Hole’ is played during a baseball game between vampire Edward, played by Robert Pattinson, and his family. Vampires, who never age, fly up and down the mountain.

For the second film, ‘New Moon/Twilight Saga’, Muse provided the ‘New Moon Mix’ of ‘I Belong to You’. Unfortunately, it is only used in the film for a short time, when Bella is seen off by her father and gets into the car, so check it out carefully!

At the suggestion of director Catherine Hardwicke, Ms Stephenie Meyer, the author of the original novel, also makes a cameo appearance in Twilight! She plays a customer at the diner where Bella goes with her father and orders a vegetarian sandwich. She is only in the film for a brief moment, so check it out!

The original series of four books, Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, which sold explosively. Acknowledgements by Stephenie Meyer can be found here. The original Japanese translation is available from Village Books, translated by Ami Obara.

‘Lords of Dogtown’ Sony Pictures Entertainment

Directed and executive produced by Catherine Hardwicke, director of Twilight: First Love, this is the true story of the ‘Z-Boys’ who revolutionised skateboarding in the 1970s in Venice Beach, aka Dogtown, on the west coast of the USA. The film stars Emile Hirsch and also features the late Heath Ledger.

‘The Golden Compass’ Happinet

The first solo fantasy film from Chris Weitz, director of New Moon, tells the story of Lyra, a 12-year-old girl who, after the disappearance of her best friend and uncle, sets off on a journey with a compass that shows her the truth and her alter ego dæmon. Based on a fantasy novel by British children's author Philip Pullman.

‘Hard Candy’ Geneon Entertainment

In this first feature from David Slade (Eclipse), 32-year-old photographer Jeff brings home Haley, a 14-year-old girl he met on a dating website, only to have her punish him for it. This thriller was inspired by the Japanese ‘oyaji-hunting’. Slade's fresh sense of imagery is on full display.

‘30 Days Of Night’ Pony Canyon

Vampire action film directed by David Slade, which debuted at No. 1 in the US. The film depicts an epic battle between a group of vampires who attack a town where the sun doesn't rise for 30 days, and a young sheriff played by Josh Hartnett. Based on a comic book by Steve Niles (written) & John Templesmith (illustrated).

‘High Tension’ Asmik

An extremely brutal, bloody splatter movie from the director of French horror hopeful Alexandre Azizi comes HIGH TENSION. When a schoolgirl leaves the city to visit her best friend's family home, she sees a chainsaw-wielding killer slaughtering the family and stands up to save her best friend, but what follows has surprising consequences……

‘My Own Private Idaho’ Kadokawa Pictures

One of Gus Van Sant's best-known films, in which Mike, a narcoleptic played by the late River Phoenix, and Scott, a man of wealth played by Keanu Reeves, who both make a living as male prostitutes, embark on a journey in search of their identities. His latest film, Restless (2011), also stars Japan's Ryo Kase.

‘Hyper Music’ A simple piece of work, with dynamic camerawork capturing the aggressive performance scenes of the three musicians. I sigh at the power of how they disappear at full speed towards the end.

‘Feeling Good’ Taken on set at the same time as ‘Hyper Music’, which became both A-sides.The contrast between the monstrously distorted faces of the people and the performance amidst the dancing flower petals is typical of Slade.

‘Bliss’ A spectacular piece in which Chris and Dom watch Matthew fall through a hole in a huge structure, like a future space station, to nowhere. Truly a Muse!

‘New Born’ This is one of Slade's best efforts, made on a tight budget and in a tight time frame. Filmed in Prague, the scenes of the three performing under the control of the girl's psychic powers are powerful.

Translator's Notes: I never watched the movies but I have read all of the Twilight books. I was a teenager back then who voraciously read through any books just out of that need to get through the boring tedium of school. It was an okay-ish read for the first 3 books, up until I finally reached Breaking Dawn. And honestly? The last book would've been better off never having that subplot about Jacob and Esme. Even teenage Cherry read that whole subplot and went "WTF????" It was just that memorably messed up and I don't even know how the film cast even powered through that part of the story.

Also, I wasn't surprised by My Chemical Romance being part of Meyer's playlist. What I didn't expect was that Coldplay was included as well. So... I guess if Meyer had liked Coldplay far more, who she dedicated the books to and the story itself would've carried very, very different contexts and plots????

[redcloud]

55 years and a few days ago, a 15-year-old Catholic girl gave birth in Arizona to a baby boy. She handed him over to her aunt and uncle, and returned to Canada, with her pregnancy now a family secret. The adoption was not spoken of to the boy until over 30 years later, when his adoptive parents had both passed away. The boy was me, of course.

The couple had had a miscarriage two years earlier. My father doted on me, but he died of cancer when I was two. I have no memories of him other than old home movies, now long lost, and stories my mother told. She clearly adored him, and I learned to idolize him without ever really knowing that much about him. I idealized him. But I credit those feelings with shaping who I am as a father to my son. I wanted to be for him all that I had never had.

My mother slipped into alcoholism, and I suffered complex trauma from it. When she passed away 24 years ago to the day as I post this, I mourned more for the loss of the relationship with my half-brother (from her previous marriage) than I did for her. He was the one who told me the family secret, then cut himself off from the rest of the family, myself included.

I tell myself, "It wasn't as bad as others had it." (But I hear a lot of trauma survivors say that.) I wasn't beaten. I wasn't materially deprived. She was different when drinking than when not, though, and I didn't know that was what was going on until I was 14. By then I had already internalized that the words "I love you" coming from her did not mean safety or comfort or anything worth trusting, really.

Which brings me to this: When I was 17, I had a dream and woke up thinking I was going to die at 24. In the dream it was around Valentine's Day because, of course, symbolism: I felt I wasn't lovable. I had enough self esteem that I couldn't accept 24, so I thought surely it must have been 34 instead. I went through years and years feeling like I'd never live past 34. When I did, I started to think I wouldn't make it past 42, then 44, then 54.

Again, a thing I've heard is that people who grow up with trauma like that, where they don't feel loved, or loved enough, often feel like they're going to die young. I did not hear this until I was well past 34. It is oddly comforting that I am not the only one. I've done a fair bit of therapy along the way. EMDR for PTSD was surprisingly helpful. But the middle of February is coming, and it's still fraught.