#boat to hollywood studios

[samsdisneydiary]

From Hollywood to Epcot: A Scenic Voyage on Disney's Friendship Boat

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Marlene Dietrich (Shanghai Express, Witness for the Prosecution, Morocco)—Bisexual icon, super hot when dressed both masculine and feminine, lived up her life in the queer Berlin scene of the 1920s, central to the 'sewing circle' of the secret sapphic actresses of Old Hollywood, refused lucrative offers by the Nazis and helped Jews and others under persecution to escape Nazi Germany, the love of my life

Xia Meng, also known as Hsia Moog or Miranda Yang (Sunrise, Bride Hunter)—For those who are familiar with Hong Kong's early cinema, Xia Meng is THE leading woman of an era, the earliest "silver-screen goddess", "The Great Beauty" and "Audrey Hepburn of the East". Xia Meng starred in 38 films in her 17-year career, and famously had rarely any flops, from her first film at the age of 18 to her last at the age of 35. She was a rare all-round actress in Mandarin-language films, acting, singing, and dancing with an enchanting ease in films of diverse genres, from contemporary drama to period operas. She was regarded as the "crown princess" among the "Three Princesses of the Great Wall", the iconic leading stars of the Great Wall Movie Enterprises, which was Hong Kong's leading left-wing studio in the 1950s-60s. At the time, Hong Kong cinema had only just taken off, but Xia Meng's influence had already spread out to China, Singapore, etc. Overseas Chinese-language magazines and newspapers often featured her on their covers. The famous HK wuxia novelist Jin Yong had such a huge crush on her that he made up a whole fake identity as a nobody-screenwriter to join the Great Wall studio just so he can write scripts for her. He famously said, "No one has really seen how beautiful Xi Shi (one of the renowned Four Beauties of ancient China) is, I think she should be just like Xia Meng to live up to her name." In 1980, she returned to the HK film industry by forming the Bluebird Movie Enterprises. As a producer with a heart for the community, she wanted to make a film on the Vietnam War and the many Vietnam War refugees migrating to Hong Kong. She approached director Ann Hui and produced the debut film Boat People (1982), a globally successful movie and landmark feature for Hong Kong New Wave, which won several awards including the best picture and best director in the second Hong Kong Film Award. Years later, Ann Hui looked back on her collaboration with Xia Meng, "I'm very grateful to her for allowing me to make what is probably the best film I've ever made in my life."

This is round 5 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Xia Meng:

Marlene Dietrich:

ms dietrich....ms dietrich pls.....sit on my face

its marlene dietrich!!!! queer legend, easily the hottest person to ever wear a tuxedo, that hot hot voice, those glamorous glamorous movies…. most famously she starred in a string of movies directed by josef von sternberg throughout the 1930s, beginning with the blue angel which catapulted her to stardom in the role of the cabaret singer lola lola. known for his exquisite eye for lighting, texture, imagery, von sternberg devoted himself over the course of their collaborations to acquiring exceptional skill at photographing dietrich herself in particular, a worthy direction in which to expend effort im sure we can all agree. she collaborated with many other great directors of the era as well, including rouben mamoulian (song of songs), frank borzage (desire), ernst lubitsch (angel), fritz lang (rancho notorious), and billy wilder (witness for the prosecution). the encyclopedia britannica entry im looking at while compiling this propaganda describes her as having an “aura of sophistication and languid sexuality” which✔️💯. born marie magdalene dietrich, she combined her first and middle names to coin the moniker “marlene”. she was a trendsetter in her incorporation of trousers, suits, and menswear into her wardrobe and her androgynous allure was often remarked upon. critic kenneth tynan wrote, “She has sex, but no particular gender. She has the bearing of a man; the characters she plays love power and wear trousers. Her masculinity appeals to women and her sexuality to men.” in the 1920s she enjoyed the vibrant queer nightlife of weimar berlin, visiting gay bars and drag balls, and in hollywood her love affairs with men and women were an open secret. she was an ardent opponent of nazi germany, refusing lucrative contacts offered her to make films there, raising money with billy wilder to help jews and dissidents escape, and undertaking extensive USO tours to entertain soldiers with an act that included her a playing musical saw and doing a mindreading routine she learned from orson welles. starting in the 50s and continuing into the mid-70s she worked largely as a cabaret artist touring the world to large audiences, employing burt bacharach as her musical arranger.

First of all, there are those publicity photos of her in a tux. Second of all, I have never been the same since knowing that she sent copies of those photos to her Berlin lovers signed "Daddy Marlene." Not only is she hot in all circumstances, but she can do everything from earthy to ice queen. Also, she kept getting sexy romantic lead parts in Hollywood after the age of 40, which would be rare even now. She hated Nazis, loved her friends, and had a sapphic social circle in Hollywood. She also had cheekbones that could cut glass and a voice that could melt you.

Her GENDER her looks her voice her everything

“In her films and record-breaking cabaret performances, Miss Dietrich artfully projected cool sophistication, self-mockery and infinite experience. Her sexuality was audacious, her wit was insolent and her manner was ageless. With a world-weary charm and a diaphanous gown showing off her celebrated legs, she was the quintessential cabaret entertainer of Weimar-era Germany.”

The bar scene in Morocco awoke something in me and ultimately changed my gender

"Her manner, the critic Kenneth Tynan wrote, was that of ‘a serpentine lasso whereby her voice casually winds itself around our most vulnerable fantasies.’ Her friend Maurice Chevalier said: ‘Dietrich is something that never existed before and may never exist again.’”

"Songstress, photographer, fashion icon, out bisexual phenom (notoriously stole Lupe Velez and Joan Crawford's men, and Errol Flynn's wife, had a torrid affair with Greta Garbo that ended in a 60-year feud, other notable conquests including Erich Maria Remarque -yes, the guy who wrote All Quiet on the Western Front- Douglas Fairbanks Junior, Claudette Colbert, Mercedes de Acosta, Edith Piaf), anti-Nazi activist. Marlene was a bitch - she had an open marriage for decades and one of her favorite things was making catty commentary about her current lover with her husband, and her relationship with her daughter was painful- but she was also immensely talented, a hard worker, an opponent of fascism and the hottest ice queen in Hollywood for a long time."

"She can sing! She can act! She told the Nazis to fuck off and became a US citizen out of spite! She worked with other German exiles to create a fund to help Jews and German dissidents escape (she donated an entire movie salary, about $450k, to the cause). She looks REALLY GOOD in a suit. If you're not convinced, please listen to her sing "Lili Marlene". Absolutely gorgeous woman with a gorgeous voice."

Gifset link

"Bisexual icon and Nazi-hater. Looks absolutely stunning in the suits she liked to wear. 'I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men'."

"would you not let her walk on you?"

[mydaddywiki]

Forrest Tucker

Physique: Average Build Height: 6’ 4" (1.93 m)

Forrest Meredith Tucker (February 12, 1919 – October 25, 1986; aged 67) was an American actor in both movies and television who appeared in over a hundred film and TV productions. He appeared in films like The Yearling, Sands of Iwo Jima and The Abominable Snowman. Tucker is best remembered for his role of Sergeant Morgan O'Rourke on the television comedy series F Troop. Following the run of F Troop, he made a few more films and appeared often on television in shows like Gunsmoke, Marcus Welby, MD, Ironside, Fantasy Island and Love Boat.

Tall, ruggedly handsome with thick wavy hair and a feature Tucker nicknamed, “The Chief.” A cock that’s comparable to some of the “big guns” of old Hollywood that includes Milton Berle, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Gary Cooper, Charlie Chaplin and Groucho Marx. I haven’t found any info stating size, but it has to be big from of the shots I’ve seen of him.

Born in Plainfield, Indiana, Tucker graduated from Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., in 1938, and, after joining the United States Cavalry, was stationed at Fort Myer in Arlington County, Virginia. Tucker's film career started well despite a perception in most Hollywood studios that blond men were not photogenic. He enlisted in the Army during World War II. After twenty years spent mainly in Westerns and action roles, he returned to his roots, showing versatility as a comedic and stage musical actor.

Tucker was married four times, having a thing for young ladies, fathering three children (one by his first wife and two by his third). Hail to The Chief I say! Apparently, Tucker struggled with a drinking problem that began to affect his performances in the later years of his career. Tucker died of throat cancer at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on October 25, 1986.

RECOMMENDATIONS: F Troop (TV Series 1965–1967) The Crawling Eye (1958) The Abominable Snowman (1957) Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)

[live-laugh-legolas]

So the fellowship is invited to an all expense paid trip to Disney World! Thank you saving the world guys! #its a small middle-earth after all

They have a family suite package with the Disney dining plan, multilightning lane passes ( these replaced fast passes) for free!

Character dining?

Disney Resort hotel of their choices?

rides of their choices ?

Ears of their choices?

Shows/ fireworks/parades????

Character meet and greets??

How do they get there?

Who gets lost in the park?

Disney T-shirts/ Disney bounding?

What's in in their theme park bags?

Who's the theme park mom???????

Over planing/under planing?

Who embraces the Disney magic the most?

Favorite park snacks????

The fellowship at Disney World

Character dining/Meet and greets:

-Sam is so happy

-Legolas is scared

-Please don’t interact with Boromir because he doesn’t know what to do

-All the characters pay attention to Aragorn; like he’s the target of their play

-Gimli tries to get the actors to break

-Frodo chats with the ones who are allowed to talk

-Merry and Pippin quote the movies to the characters which gets old but not to them; really niche things though so the actors might not even know what they are talking about

Rides:

-Pippin loves It’s a Small World

-Aragorn gets motion sick on rollercoasters and any of the 4D experiences; strictly boat rides and designated “I’ll wait for you at the exit” person

-Gimli is mad he is too short for some of the rides

-Merry and Pippin are wearing wedges in their shoes so they can ride (don’t do this; danger danger)

-Frodo loves the 4D rides

-Legolas is an adrenaline junkie; he always sits in the front of rollercoasters and will go one them over and over

-I’m not even positive Gandalf went to the park; he might just be drinking by the pool

Favorite park:

-Aragorn and Frodo love Epcot

-Legolas and Merry like Animal Kingdom

-Sam, Pippin, and Gandalf like the Magic Kingdom

-Boromir and Gimli like Hollywood Studios

Ears?:

-Aragorn won’t wear the ears or any of the hats

-Frodo and Sam have matching classic ears

-Gandalf wears sparkly ones but under his hat as a little “surprise”

-Legolas and Pippin don’t like the feeling of the headbands; gives them headaches

-Gimli doesn’t have any headwear because he refuses to give into any of the overpriced capitalism

-Merry has a Goofy hat

Shows and events:

-Boromir will be pissed if they miss the parade

-The hobbits try to get the characters to copy their movements; Frodo and Sam just wave; Merry and especially Pippin get a bit wild

-Legolas lives for fireworks

-Gandalf thinks he can do better fireworks

-Aragorn is just happy that the hobbits are happy

Walking in the parks:

-Boromir and Gimli argue over the map and both end up lost because they were so distracted that the others just left them

-Merry knows the parks by heart

-Sam claims to know the layout but then gets confused and blames it on “that wasn’t there last time”

-Frodo just follows Aragorn

-Aragorn goes where Frodo wants to go

-Gandalf disappears but then shows up randomly again with a new food item

-Legolas runs ahead to find what they are looking for so he can come back and guide them

-Merry and Pippin are determined to break into the underground tunnels and they recruit Legolas to help

-They do not succeed; maybe if they asked nicely for a tour but no, they wanted to sneak in

“What’s in my bag tag”:

-Boromir has a Fanny pack

-Sam has a practical backpack but Aragorn ends up carrying it

-Sam also has an autograph book and pen at the ready

-Aragorn may have a bag but he ends up not bringing it anymore because he ends up holding my everyone else’s stuff while then go on rides and meet characters

-The hobbits hand their trash to Aragorn

-Legolas never brings anything

-Gimli tries to bring in his own water and food so he doesn’t have to pay the obscene prices; doesn’t work and he’s bitter about it

General thoughts on Disney:

-Gimli hates them and thinks it’s all bullshit propaganda

-The hobbits love the parks so much

-Boromir gets stressed in the parks and tries to plan to do everything in a timely manner

-Gandalf goes to the hidden bars

-Aragorn has a membership card thing or whatever so he doesn’t have to pay for anything because he has points

-Legolas likes the history of the parks

———————————————————————

These are based on my memories of Disney World in Orlando FL. I did no research and that’s why I didn’t include resorts and stuff because I’ve only stayed at two of them

I’m not a big Disney person tbh but I have fond memories of visiting the parks as a kid. It’s a Small World was my favorite.

[certaincollectionlandblog]

A Disney Trip with Mick Schumacher

- I am very much convinced that Mick would greatly enjoy Disney World - He is literally a walking Disney prince - If you had ever gone to Disney before or were a Disney gal he would trust you completely with the planning - Mick's favorite park is probably Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios - I feel like he would get mouse ears or those baseball hats that have the Mickey ears on them heck, maybe even one of those sorcerer Mickey hats - Mick + Dole whips = a love stronger than superglue - He is constantly pulling you around wanting to show you things he sees - "Y/N did you see that little girl dressed as Elsa? I can't wait till we have some of our own" - Mick is the type of man that if he saw a mom struggling to get her stroller onto the Monarail, boat, bus, skyliner, or whatever you know he is going to help - Gets a map in every park even though you tell him he doesn't need one because you know your way around - Loves turning on the TV when y'all get back from the parks for a break or even for the night and just snuggling up with you - He gets recognized while you guys are stopped getting candy apples and you offer to take the picture - "You know that's what I love about you" "What?" "You don't care if I'm with you when fans see me because you're so caring you want them to be happy too and I know I am so lucky to have a girl with the sweetest heart" - You attempt to drink around the world at Epcot and Mick has to carry you back to by the time you reach the France pavilion - "Babe do you think I can eat four churros at once?" - Mick definitely has a mild breeding kink because after all he is a huge family man so let's just say seeing all those families around and you in your happy place he is dragging you back to the hotel many times during the trip - I need to see this man hug Donald Duck, it's a bucket list item - You would be sending his mom all the photos you guys take - He wraps his arms around during the fireworks - You make an off handed comment about wishing they had they new Figment hoodie in your size only to come back to the hotel room later that night to find it waiting for you, you know Mick had something to with it - You love going on the Peoplemover with him and just taking in tomorrowland - Mick isn't huge on PDA, but he loves holding your hand as you drag him through the crowds to get where you're going - He giggles like a kid while riding the Dinosaur ride with you in Animal Kingdom - You bend down for two seconds to tie your shoe lace and somehow he has a mickey bar in his hands already

~Instagram~

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liked by carlossainz55, F1wagsupdates, yourbestfriend, and 416 others

yourinstagram My favorite boy in my favorite place

*disclaimer: all photos are from Pinterest

[deke-rivers-1957]

Fun In Acapulco Review

Elvis Presley never set a single foot in Mexico. And yet he was deemed a persona non grata due to a controversy involving quotes Elvis made that legitimately never happened. Unfortunately, because of this official status disallowing Elvis from entering the country all on site shooting had to be done with a body double. Elvis himself filmed the rest of the movie entirely on a Hollywood studio.

This movie marks the beginning of the rivalry between Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Beatlemania had taken hold in the UK in 1963 with the US quickly following behind it. While their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show wouldn't be until another few months, Elvis' place on top of the pop culture pyramid was being challenge. Does this movie put those fears at ease, or is this an early indication of Elvis' irrelevance? Let's find out.

"Fun in Acapulco" is surprisingly low key and pleasant. It genuinely gives you vibes that you're waking up in Acapulco at a resort by the beach. Then you see Elvis on a boat as a small group of Mexican singers come up and immediately realize none of his scenes will be in Acapulco. Instead, we're stuck with very obvious rear screen projections and Hollywood soundstages throughout the whole movie. There's a small moment of humor when Elvis just yells at the top of his lungs for the Mexican band to be quiet. It's not loud at all but you can tell he had to project to be heard.

Meanwhile we get a very uncomfortable interaction where a heavily implied teenaged girl named Janie is flirting with Mike Windgren. I don't like this plot point especially when we get a male gaze shot of her skirt as she walks away. Again she's heavily implied to be a minor and even in the movie it's seen as being inappropriate for an adult to show interest of any kind. It simply feels unnecessary to include that and doesn't age well at all given what we hear about Hollywood.

Mike goes to a Mexican tavern to meet up with the musicians wearing the ugliest shirt I've seen. Usually the wardrobe does a good job of making amazing outfits, but this is personally a miss. Along the way he meets a young Mexican boy named Raoul in an act of foreshadowing about the relationship they're going to have. "Vino, Dinero Y Amor" and "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" are both ok. This is when you realize the main goal of the movie is to sell a soundtrack. Mike also meets Dolores for the first time and I think this was a great way to establish their character dynamic since you easily believe that she's just looking to have fun while she's in town. It's also incredible how so many people smoked back then, to the point where the whole room looks hazy.

Before they get too involved in their dance, Mike sees Janie at the tavern drinking alcohol. I have no idea what the drinking laws in Acapulco was in 1963, but everyone treats this as being illegal. Janie's dad sees her at the tavern despite having no idea that she'd be there. She blames Mike for bringing her there and buying her the drink and of course gets him fired because that's the most obvious set up in the world. There are so many issues with this scene I won't take the time to explain it all. It's just so pointless to even have this plot point since we literally never see anyone outside of Dolores' camp ever again and only exists because we needed to have some reason to have Mike leave his job to team up with Raoul.

Raoul informs us with something that will never lead to anything important plot wise. Mike would need to have a very specific VISA to work in Mexico. This actually makes sense given that Mr. Harkins isn't a Mexican citizen and therefore didn't require Mike to have a VISA. But since Raoul has an insanely high amount of connections he's able to get Mike a singing job while he fills in for a singer we literally never see in person and is always "out".

The logic of this surprisingly works since it's clear Raoul has genuine connections with numerous businessmen, but I'm just bummed that we never see who the actual singer is since it could've added conflict. You would think that the conflict would involve Mike working without a proper VISA and his rival planning to reveal that fact. But no, it's never brought up in a way that makes you think Mike has to worry about possibly being deported.

Raoul picks up Mike on his bike. As much as it's cute to have them sing "Mexico" Raoul's singing vocals just didn't sound right. I know he's a pre-pubescent boy but at times you just cringe when he hits the high notes. So we get introduced to Moreno but uh oh Mike looks nervous about seeing him jump off a diving board because we need foreshadowing. Mike agrees to work as a lifeguard during the siesta so no laws are being broken. Mike gets on top of one of the diving boards and we surprisingly get a backstory. Mike is a trapeze artist and we see with no dialogue how during a performance he dropped his brother. The silent horror on his face when he saw his brother lying on the floor dead, was so well done by Elvis. It isn't realistic to have everyone react to a trauma by screaming. With Mike he felt instant shame to the point where he had to look away.

That memory was so brutal, Mike of course stepped down from the diving board feeling haunted. The worse thing about the incident is that it could've been avoided. Circuses started using safety nets in the mid 19th century, so the fact that you never saw one indicates overconfidence. Sadly when you're a trapeze artist, there are people who are so confident in what they do, basic safety precautions are neglected. In Mike's brother's case, it sadly costed him his life and Mike now has to live with that guilt. He sends a telegram to his parents and it's obvious that this is a deep trauma that he couldn't recover from at home. This should've been the focus of the whole movie because it's the only thing I feel invested in. The aftermath of someone's death, especially in avoidable circumstances, rarely gets to be the focus and this would've been the perfect way to change that.

Mike sees Moreno and a woman named Margarita Dauphin. Moreno has a lot of issues with Mike being interested in her, and it's genuinely reasonable since they're actually dating. Mike meets Margarita and her father where he works as the head chef. I'm impressed he can cook so well knowing that he's a former Duke. We get a brief history lesson that they came from an unnamed European country (I personally believe it was Hungary since their monarch was abolished in 1946). This basically means that Mike is talking to a Duchess despite no longer having the title.

"El Toro" is a great song with an even better outfit. In a way it really honors the history of bullfighting and the bravery bullfighters have to possess. After his performance, he turns down publicity pictures. As much as it's rude, you understand why he doesn't want the attention. He's still working through his grief and doesn't want word getting out that he's in Acapulco since that would result in people asking him very uncomfortable questions. Mike runs into both Dolores and Margarita. Despite dating Moreno, Margarita is clearly jealous that Dolores has Mike's attention as well. Mike goes to see a man dive, and he's clearly traumatized from looking over the railing. Raoul organizes for Mike to sing a song at the restaurant. "Margarita" while good, is just a drag in terms of the story. Mike tries again to dive, but of course is too scared. He climbs back down and I love that Margarita and Raoul don't make fun of him. They surprisingly handle his trauma with respect.

Mike performs "The Bullfighter Was a Lady" and he looks even better in this scene than "El Toro". This time he's specifically honoring Dolores since she's one of the best in the business. Female bullfighters even to this day are rare because of how dangerous it is. Margarita of course is jealous despite outright being on a date with Moreno. Dolores of course knows this and doesn't care. Because at the end of the day, Dolores isn't doing anything wrong. Margarita is the one who wants to 2 time with Mike.

So the two leave and we get a "serious conversation". Dolores makes it very clear that she has no interest in marriage and only wants to have casual relationships. I love that openness since for the 1960s, a career girl wasn't as well respected. "(There's) No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car" is the clunkiest song ever. You could just cut it and nothing is lost.

"Bossa Nova Baby" is great and there's a reason why it's so iconic. If you slowed down the playback you would see that the average person couldn't replicate this. After his performance, he wants to go see Margarita but notices Dolores is there too. Dolores is tied up with a tourist couple that I wanted to be Mike's parents so bad. Instead we never see them again. It just makes you wonder, what was the point?

In the morning, Raoul asks Mike what club he wants to work for. We see a different filming technique by showing these phone calls in a split screen which I thought was a neat touch. Mike however stalls since he still wants to get with Margarita. He meets with Moreno and Moreno things happen. Moreno meets up with Dolores manager, Jose. Jose reveals that he knows about the Flying Windgrens. Absolutely nothing important will happen because of this. Dolores arranges for a party to be arranged the next day. Margarita of course doesn't like it and makes an offhand remark to her dad that he should poison Dolores. The former Duke though has a dream to have her get married to an American so they can both get VISAs.

This is when the movie drags. Even though he reveals his trauma to Margarita it's just so shallow because the scene quick cuts to Moreno finding the truth. That's also so rushed since as soon as he finds the newspaper article we immediately cut to Dolores' party. This is the only time we see Mike's family and it's such a waste of a good story to not see them interact with Mike in person.

"You Can't Say No in Acapulco" is pretty good for a poolside ballad. In a way it really reflects the sadness Mike feels. We see Moreno dive in preparation for his upcoming cliff dive and to entertain Dolores' guests.

Raoul tells Mike about Margarita's desire to get a VISA, and Moreno tells Dolores about Mike's traumatizing past. Dolores becomes cold for no reason as she acts so disappointed that Mike is a "chicken". Mike despite feeling very hurt just walks away. Raoul meanwhile never leaves his side and it's pretty sweet that he does care about Mike beyond what he could do for him.

The former Duke clears things up with Mike. He explains that it was really his idea to get the VISAs. It was never meant to hurt anyone. He tells Mike that Margarita has gone to see Moreno dive for a famous astronaut.

As he leaves, Moreno somehow knew he would be there and follows him out of the staff's kitchen. He keeps making fun of Mike for being a coward and I have no idea what this is meant to accomplish. Moreno was already a jerk so him knowing this information doesn't change anything. While I can see how it'd be him going too far, the timing is so off. Mike should've confronted him about it as soon as told Dolores.

We see Red West in the background who cameos in a couple scenes and it's amazing that he doesn't interact with Elvis at all since usually Elvis' friends had a line or two when they did cameo. They get into a fight and I have no idea why no one's stopping them. This is essentially a crowded entrance so you would think security would break it up because of the other guests possibly getting hurt from it. Moreno gets badly injured and Mike is able to just walk away with no resistance which would never happen in real life. Unable to see Margarita he goes around the club and hears from Raoul that the dive would otherwise be canceled. I understand a lot of people think this was a cheap way to resolve his PTSD, but given how the 1960s didn't really acknowledge it outside of the military I thought it was a good shot.

The cliff scene is one of the best scenes in the movie. Mike had no obligation to fill in for Moreno, but he did it anyway. This wasn't a rash decision where in an act of heroics he stepped in. He knowingly did it with the full knowledge that it could get him killed. The near silence that comes with watching him ascend even though it's a body double for most of the scene is beautiful. Everyone watching this knows it's a risky thing to do.

Even though I'm not religious, it's very important in Mexican culture. Seeing Raoul cross himself and Mike pay tribute to the shrine on top of the cliff was absolutely necessary. Given the danger involved, it makes total sense to send a prayer. Mike had to do this before he made his jump. Symbolically speaking, he's asking for his brother's spirit to keep him safe and him diving into the water served as his baptism or rebirth. He's no longer consumed with the grief and guilt of his brother's death. He's a new man that's willing to go back to his family with his new love Margarita and his friend/manager Raoul.

"Guadalajara" is a well deserved happy ending. Moreno at least admits he was wrong to call Mike a coward. I guess with him being interested in Dolores, his relationship with Margarita is over. The song itself is good but it does drag a bit. It's almost like they didn't know how to fill in the runtime which is so weird.

Margarita despite somehow getting back with Mike still looked a little jealous when Dolores kissed his cheek. I don't think this couple will last. Mike had more chemistry with Dolores but she out of nowhere turned standoffish. It's all boring and forced to the point where Mike has his best relationship with Raoul who's a 10 year old. I just really wish that Mike's relationship with his family had more focus. The pieces were there. It's just very unfortunate that a man expressing grief wasn't something worth focusing on back then.

I think this is the first time reviewing these movies where I felt bored watching it. As much as I love the diving plot, the romance is a drag. It feels like the writing took a step backwards regarding what makes an Elvis vehicle interesting. Instead of making the romances engaging they're instead so forgettable that it's like they just included it because it's part of a checklist. I will say that it did do a good job highlighting La Quebrada Cliffs by making them integral to Mike's character arc since to this day it's a popular tourist attraction.

Because the diving plot gave me something to feel invested in, with the final dive providing a genuine sense of tension I give it a 7/10. If you're a new Elvis fan this should not be the first one you see since the songs can be very distracting, and nothing is developed enough to keep your attention. Now if you're a seasoned fan is it worth re-watching? Yes. I think you can watch it every now and then, but it's definitely the film equivalent of cotton candy: something you consume and forget relatively fast. Genuinely the first stumble in the road for Elvis' movie career where I didn't feel overly passionate about anything. And for someone in the entertainment industry, that's practically a death sentence.

Tagging: @thelonelyheart @whositmcwhatsit, @hooked-on-elvis, @smokeymountainboy, @atleastpleasetelephone,

@stitchlover0112, @tupelomiss, @vintagepresley, @eapep, @almightybigbrain,

@coltswael, @cieloestrelladoluna, @huhhhhsthings, @arrolyn1114, @peaceloveelvis,

@peskybedtime, @mercsandmonsters, @tacozebra051, @valloos, @ilovequeen978,

@elvisvideos, @presleyhearted, @depressedfairie, @kawaiiwitchy, @swingdownsweetchariot,

@ruggednessworld, @southcarolinawoman, @atrophyingaphrodite, @jrbrandi13, @summer56,

@elvismylove04, @eptodaytommorowforever, @lookingforrainbows, @araiarts, @fharysa,

@lett-them-eatt-cake, @fryb0rg, @wanderlustingtomboy, @slayingjd, @wildhorseinkansas,

@somethingaboutelvis, @jhoneybees, @elvisbooty76, @iloveelvisss, @presleyheart,

@anakinsvault, @illtakeyouhomeagain, @callieselvisobsessed, @50sexyshadesfashionista, @memphisflash,

@arianatheangel-girl, @madslovesmaws, @lucy114505, @presleygarden, @earthbaby-angelboy,

@nicferg068, @xanatenshi, @elvispresley1935, @iloveelvisss, @underthememphissun,

@cccayliexx, @thelonelyheart, @theelvisprincess and @ilovemyrockstarboyfriends.

[robsheridan]

Poster for the unproduced 1984 live-action horror adaptation GARFIELD: FIRST BLOOD.

Following the success of CUJO in 1983, studios were scrambling to find the next hit “killer pet” flick. Notorious grindhouse auteur Ron Sharleton, seeking a big-budget movie deal to fund his struggling production of CANNIBAL QUARTERBACK 2, set his sights on the most unlikely of properties: Jim Davis’ beloved comic strip Garfield. Sharleton, a self-proclaimed fan of Garfield who called the strip “a subversive celebration of misanthropy,” believed an “alternative, adult” spin on the character could thrive in tandem with its kid-friendly cartoons. Describing his rationale in an interview later, Sharleton said: “You have all of these R-rated films that come out and become big hits and the studios want to suck every penny out of one idea, so they sanitize it and repackage it as a cartoon for kids. So I said, why can’t we do the reverse?”

GARFIELD: FIRST BLOOD was pitched as a dark, gritty reimagining in which the titular cat, pushed to the brink on a particularly bad Monday, finally snaps and kills Jon’s dimwitted dog Odie. As he tastes Odie’s blood, Garfield is overcome by how good it felt to put a permanent end to something that annoyed him. He then realizes that everything and everyone annoy him, and his murderous rampage begins.

Describing his take on the character, Sharleton said: “Garfield never really sat right with me as a children’s character. He’s so much darker, more complex. You have this cat who is filled with contempt; he looks at the world around him with radical skepticism and scowls at the prison of tedium mankind calls ‘society,’ and he responds with this very self-indulgent nihilism: Be lazy, be a glutton, don’t participate in anything because it’s all bullshit. Garfield looks at Jon waking up early on a Monday and putting on his tie to go to a job he hates, and he sees a pathetic fool. It’s all such a powerful rejection of the Reagan Wall Street capitalist disease that has poisoned the 80s. ‘Work hard, climb the ladder, buy a boat!’ Garfield says fuck that, stay home, eat lasagna, accept no master. But living as an iconoclast in a conformist world has filled him with all this tension. There’s anger in there, you know? So I wanted to examine what would happen if Garfield was finally pushed over the edge. Where’s the line between a passive nihilist and a violent anarchist?”

Warner Bros execs were intrigued by Sharleton’s pitch (and the lucrative cash cow of the Garfield brand) and funded a short “proof-of-concept” trailer, directed by Sharleton, to convince Garfield creator Jim Davis of the idea. The trailer reportedly went “all-in” on Sharleton’s signature “splattercore” horror, including a scene where Garfield grinds up Liz Wilson alive in a meat grinder and bakes her flesh into a lasagna he then serves to Jon. The presentation to Davis was described as “one of the most disastrously miscalculated meetings in modern Hollywood,” with Davis stopping the trailer midway to ask the room “are you people completely fucking insane?” before storming out.

Reflecting on the meeting years later, an anonymous former Warner exec said “we knew it was a long shot, but we really felt like the only way to sell the concept was to push it as far as possible. In retrospect I think yeah, we did let it go too far. We were so absorbed in it that we didn’t realize how jarring it would be for a guy like Jim Davis to just be thrown into this cold. I think it was a mistake to open with the Nermal blender scene, but we wanted shock, and we thought… I don’t know, everyone was doing a LOT of cocaine back then. Well, everyone except Jim Davis."

-----------

UPDATE: T-shirts and poster prints now available!

NOTE: This alternate reality horror story is part of my NightmAIres narrative art series. NightmAIres are windows into other worlds and alternate histories, conceived/written by me and visualized with synthography and Photoshop.

If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon for frequent exclusive hi-res wallpaper packs, behind-the-scenes features, downloads, events, contests, and an awesome fan community. Direct fan support is what keeps me going as an independent creator, and it means the world to me.

[booksandabeer]

Hey,

I love your blog and I love how much work you put in when someone ask you to recommend fics for them, you’re truly beyond AMAZING! Just getting that out of the way.

And now, can you please tell me your favourite underrated stucky fics. I know this might be too big of an ask because there are SO MANY out there, so just tell me a few if you don’t mind.

Thank you so much ❤️

Hello Stranger!

Thank you for the ask and your very kind words! ❤ It's so nice to hear that people like my rec posts because they really do take a surprisingly large amount of time to put together. Anyway, I'm not complaining & this is a lot of fun for me, so on to the recs!

I struggled a bit with how to define "underrated" and I think everybody has their own ideas of what exactly that means. Also, the Stucky ship has been around for more than a decade (even longer if you count the comics), so creative output and reader interest will fluctuate and ultimately decline over time. A Stucky fic posted after 2019--no matter how insanely good it is--will never do the numbers it would have done in the Golden Age of 2014-2018. So, for the purpose of this list, a fic written in 2016 with 15K hits or less does qualify as underrated, while a fic posted in 2021 with 10-15K would not.

Also, as always, this list is by no means an exhaustive one.

the wrote and the writ by declanlynchsrack | G, 10K

Author's summary: Bucky’s crying before he’s off the boat and he’s the least surprised out of anyone to realize it.

He’s always been a softie, a leaky faucet, and the war hasn’t changed that, so he doesn’t know why the sob that smacks him startles him bad enough that he grips the strap of his bag doubly hard, ready to swing it around like a battering ram, ready to find that cloying, invisible enemy. He’s not being ambushed, on his belly in the muck and camellias, cypress hanging low, moonlight casting an eerie smile upon Lake Como like it’s enjoying the hell out of muffled gunshots and the wet grunt of lifeblood spattering onto the undergrowth.

That’s done. He’s safe.

An AU in which Bucky--minus one arm--comes back from the war and Steve never got to go, and never became Captain America. A scrappy little story that is at once full of emotion and yet completely unsentimental. This story socked me on the jaw, tackled me to the ground, and then sat on me while twisting, twisting, twisting my arm behind my back. It also has one of my favorite descriptions of the SteveBucky dynamic I've ever read: "They’re all roughed up, the two of em, a pair of old marble statues weathered by time and harsh touches, but they know each other’s chinks and foibles and can side-step them with grace while still treating the other about as delicately as they’d handle a sack of potatoes." !!! If you prefer, you can also listen to it here: [Podfic] the wrote and the writ by quietnight

Hollywoodland by romanticalgirl | E, 69K

Author's summary: In 1930s Hollywood, the world is run on the studio system. Stars are told who to date, what to wear, what to say, and how to look pretty doing it. The only way you can really do what you want is if you don't get caught.

Steve's dating Peggy, which works out because she's married to Sam, even though it's not legal. But it's the perfect cover for the fact that Steve's gay. He's managing just fine skirting the system to find companionship, but then he meets James Barnes and life gets a lot more complicated.

If you know anything about me and my love for Golden Age Hollywood, then you won't be surprised that this pushes all of my buttons. This is loosely inspired by the real life relationship of Cary Grant and Randolph Scott (the exact nature of which we will probably never know, but let's just say it was most likely not strictly platonic). Is the world the author created here entirely realistic? No--and it's not intended to be. While it is indeed rooted in many of the horrible realities that queer people and POC have faced in the past (and are still facing today), it's a slightly kinder version of it that allows for a hopeful, if not a strictly happy ending in the traditional sense. A sumptious story with gorgeous art.

make progress together by frankoceansmoonriver | E, 24K

Author's summary: He feels like Steve’s mistress. He feels hollowed out. He feels like a jammed gun still trying to go off. When he’s not with Steve he convinces himself he’s ruining Steve’s life, and though he tries, he’s too selfish to stop. When he’s with Steve, he’d fight God himself to keep it, this tangible perfection that makes him drunk and anchors him in ways he did not know existed.

Or, the one where they both survived the war, Bucky loves Steve now, has loved Steve since he was fifteen, and the year is 1945.

This is a story that I have reread many, many times because it is the perfect wish fulfillment fic for me. It's the slightly unrealistic, or one could also say: optimistic version of what I imagine would have happened had Steve and Bucky both survived the war. That's not to say that this fic doesn't have its very angsty moments, but ultimately, this is a story about love and hope triumphing in the face of adversity, and sometimes you just want to see good things happen to good people. I know some readers may find the formatting and the non-linear structure challenging, but this is a beautiful story and I really urge you all to give it a try!

I'll Light Your Way Home series by BeaArthurPendragon | M-E, 69K, 5 parts

Author's summary: Two lost Vietnam vets find each other in a Hell's Kitchen gay bar one hot September night. This is how they find their way home.

A pattern emerges! Can you tell I'm really into (No Powers) AUs set in the early to mid 20th century? Well, here's another one, but we're actually moving into second half of the century, specifically to 1969, for this one! Bea is quite possibly my favorite Stucky writer and I have recommended her stories many times to anybody who will listen to me. It's debatable whether or not she actually counts as "underrated", I guess, but it is my personal opinion that her fics should have ten times the kudos/comments/hits they do and that she deserves to be up there with the "big names". This story in particular just completely won over my heart with its gorgeous (but not ostentatious) writing, its confident and mature characterizations, and great eye for historical detail. I *cannot* recommend her fics enough. /unabashed fangirl moment over.

The Northern Lights by ThisChairIsMyHomeNow | M, 21K

Author's summary: “I can’t feel my face,” Steve shivers.

“I can’t feel my left arm,” Bucky says, deadpan. Steve barks out a laugh. It’s all white puffs of vapor in the chilly air.

“This the spot?”

“Nah,” Bucky pants, breath ragged from the long ascent up a mountain. “Almost there.”

A post-CW canon-divergent story that the author jokingly describes in their author's note as "gay superhero reluctantly gets therapy in the jungles of Wakanda, then goes on a covert road trip." And yes, maybe I wouldn't put it quite so flippantly myself, but it's not... untrue. And yet there is so much more depth to it. If you like a Bucky who takes back his life, his identity, and his future on his own terms, a Steve who isn't reduced to being his recovery prop but instead gets to shine in all his glorious, intense, stubborn Steve-ness, and a Sam & a Natasha who aren't just window dressing for the SteveandBucky-Show, this is for you! Cap Quartet Road Trip where all four members get their moment to shine--what are you waiting for?

Misplaced Pencils | T, 13K & and our words would take us 'round the world | T, 13K by Somanywords

Author's summary:

Steve and drawing throughout the years. Also Bucky.

&

Bucky is two years old when he learns to talk.

I've spent a good 30 minutes debating with myself which one of these two I should include here, and then I just threw up my hands and said "why not both? Both is good!" So here they are, two beautifully written mid-length full-arc (childhood to sometime past TWS, where they diverge from canon) fics that I love both equally. These are standalone stories and are not set in the same universe, but they do read and feel like companion pieces to each other because both stories are told through the lense of Steve and Bucky's respective artistic sensibilities and how they use their art as a framework to make sense of the world. Misplaced Pencils gives you artist Steve who, from a very young age on, has always tried to understand the world by taking it apart into its visual components & falling back on a fixed set of questions that help him to categorize and compartmentalize the people he encounters and the emotions he feels for them (just like he will later do in other areas of his life). Only that there is of course one person who's always refused to fit neatly into just one of his categories. and our worlds... on the other hand, gives you storyteller Bucky who's constantly talking, singing, writing. Who, in the end, can't help himself but narrate even his own fall and who is later delightfully affronted by his own narrative arc in a "if I had been the one in charge, I would've written it better!" way. Both of these stories are very dear to my heart and they deserve a million more hits.

+ Bonus!

Fics that definitely could/should be on this list but that I've recced before:

You are here by dharmashark

A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall by DisraeliGears

Prisoner One by ancientreader

As Time Goes By by Trouble_With_The_Snap

new topography series by brideofquiet

What I'm Looking For series by TessaBennet

Welcome Home, Son series by BeaArthurPendragon

I'm slowly working my way through my rec asks, so please be patient with me! Next up: Road Trip fics!

[skyler10fic]

In My Room

Daisy and Carol have been cast in the same movie, but with very different levels of fame. As their friendship blooms into mutual pining, they get a bit obsessed and lovesick along the way, but admitting their feelings would carry consequences for them both. This is a teaser for a longer WIP multichapter! Get excited :)

For the end of @ficwip All Ships Ship Week. Prompts: Inspired by a song (Julia Wolf's In My Room), “I’m sorry.” and the free day! I wanted to challenge myself at some point to write in an actual ship/boat as a pun, so that’s my free day choice, along with mutual pining.

Read on Ao3

-----------------

Between shooting scenes for her new movie, Daisy went back to her trailer on the studio lot. In a moment of cringe she hadn’t experienced since bombing her Crazier Rich Asians: the TV Series audition, Daisy typed her own name into an incognito browser tab. She would never admit it to her gorgeous, sexy, crush-turned-coworker-turned-friend Carol, but she was curious to see what Carol would find if she looked her up. There was no way the elite, up-and-coming Oscar darling Carol Danvers had the same level of background knowledge of Daisy Johnson that everyone in the world had about Carol herself. Daisy had a steady career in Hollywood, including as a beloved character from a long-running show; Carol had global stardom. They were getting to a point where the information imbalance was weird, so it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that Carol would try to remedy it. Or maybe Daisy was just obsessing and overthinking again.

The search results were nothing Daisy hadn’t seen, of course, but looking at it now, she tried to imagine what would interest Carol and what would be a turn-off. As she pondered this, she looked up and saw the jacket Carol had left on the sofa in her trailer. It was an accident, of course, but Daisy imagined what it would be like for it to belong there, for Carol to leave things here in her trailer, or even at Daisy’s house on purpose, knowing she’d be back. 

A knock sounded at the trailer door. It was Carol, not an assistant, with her magazine-cover demure smile: “I’m sorry to bother you in our off time, but I think I left my jacket here?” 

“Yeah! Hi! Come on in,” Daisy greeted. She subtly shut her laptop so Carol wouldn’t see her googling herself. Explaining the search was to see what Carol would hypothetically find would be even worse than just coming off like a self-obsessed publicity-slurping narcissist. Luckily, they had no reason to reopen Daisy’s laptop as they chatted, burning away their free time until the next shoot.

—-------- 

Carol couldn’t tell Daisy the real reason she had left the jacket in her trailer. It hadn’t been forgetfulness or hurry, but an excuse to see her again. She dreamt almost nightly now of what it would be like to wake up with Daisy’s clothes on the floor, Daisy in her bed, perhaps a permanent drawer in her bedroom. Even once, she dreamt she was a bride in an empty chapel, hoping it would be Daisy opening the door to walk up the aisle next.

Things took a particularly dark turn one night as she dreamt she died and was watching her own funeral, but the crucial thing her dream self needed to know was if Daisy was there and what she would say. 

Carol woke before dawn, slipped on a long cardigan, and went for a walk in the woods that lined her expansive backyard. She had everything she could have wanted: a career every actress dreams about, a gorgeous house, and finally friends in the industry. But as selfish and juvenile as it felt, she needed one more thing: just a call from Daisy. A call that said everything between them was real, and not only in Carol’s dreams. 

—-----------------

Due to previous scheduling commitments, Carol spent a week in New York on a TV show set, making a cameo that would have audiences cheering, but all she could think about was being away from the film and from Daisy in LA. Luckily, when she was home, the weekend began with a cast reunion of sorts as the film studio arranged a dinner cruise for the main actors and crew. The only condition was that they had to give one-on-one interviews for the behind-the-scenes coverage of the film’s production for promo. 

Daisy emerged from her interview inside the boat’s cabin to see Carol standing on the deck at the front of the boat alone, gazing out at the glow of the city skyline and the silence of the night. 

“Is it weird to say that I missed you this week?” Daisy asked. 

“I hope not,” Carol confessed. “I missed you too.”  

Daisy smiled in satisfaction and turned to face the ocean. She moved to the pointed front and spread her wings out in a poor imitation of the Titanic. “I’m flying, Jack!” 

Carol laughed and took her position holding Daisy’s waist, despite no risk of her falling overboard. When Daisy lowered her arms and turned around, it took a moment for Carol to realize how close they were, that she was staring in awe into Daisy’s dark eyes, that if she just closed the gap between them…

Carol realized this wasn’t a dream and backed away with a jolt. The tension of the serious moment melted back into silliness, and the other actresses joined them with fresh drinks to chat and party the night away. She didn’t miss the way Daisy looked at her at the end of the night, though. There had to be something there between them.

The long-established industry titans told her she had to choose: being closeted with a promised room full of Oscars or being proudly out as Daisy’s partner but with a forgettable career… if those were truly the options on the table, suffice it to say she envied how easy Daisy made it look to leave the closet behind. 

—-------------- 

Daisy had wondered how she could miss a coworker, or even a friend, who had only been gone a week. But she did. Every day. And it got worse. After the dinner cruise, it was all of the time they weren’t together. 

It was too soon now, but one day, Daisy would be brave enough to tell Carol the truth. And maybe it would end up with a tearful rejection and disaster, not to mention a tense working relationship for their movie that could spill out to affect Daisy’s reputation, branding her difficult to work with at a critical step in her career. Or maybe it would end up with Carol’s things in her bedroom from nights of pleasure turned into days of happily ever after romance. 

Could an ending like that be possible in the cutthroat town where so many dreams came to die? Did they have what it took to brave the public eye? And more importantly, could fairy tales come true in Hollywood even with no cameras rolling or script to follow, when it’s your real life? 

[aliensupersyn]

Yorozu, the Atomic Bomb, and Mothra: Why That Connection Helps Understand Sukuna Part 1

Spoilers for the Manga ahead!

Yorozu possessed the cursed technique construction, which allowed her to create pretty much anything. To balance the limitless power of construction, Gege made it so that it required large amounts of cursed energy. The specifics of Yorozu's abilities won't matter here. Instead, I will focus on how she uses her abilities, and why Gege's choices matter for the narrative that is Jujutsu Kaisen. To be frank, Gege choosing to connect Yorozu to insects directly references Mothra, the Mother of Monsters in the Godzilla franchise.

Godzilla exists not only as a cultural phenomenon of a franchise, but also an expression of discontent concerning world events affecting Japan. Scholars have noted that although Godzilla has been so successful for so long, few people have analyzed it as a cultural phenomenon. So, allow me to take a stab, and connect it to JJK. In "Godzilla and Postwar Japan," William M. Tsutsui describes the creation of the first Godzilla film:

The production of Godzilla was a very serious matter and the movie itself was "intended to be very serious fare." The movie was "the brainchild of Toho Studios producer Tanaka Tomoyuki. . . . Tanaka recruited top talent for the picture. . . . Toho Studios invested a lot in Godzilla -- 60 million yen, about three times the budget of the average Japanese film at the time (though far less . . . than Hollywood would have spent on a run-of-the-mill B-movie at the time)."

Tsutsui offers a less detailed, more fiscal focused account of Gojira. Tomoyuki invested a lot of money into this somewhat strange project, the first of its kind in Japan. Hunter L. Newell more immediately connects Godzilla to the atomic bombs and its fallout:

Two creatives, director Ishirō Honda and film producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, saw these horrific national tragedies one after another and, inspired by a wave of American monster films including The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms the year prior and a re-release of 1933’s King Kong, created not just a film steeped in deep relevance and metaphor, but an international cultural phenomenon: 1954’s Gojira. (2)

Nuclear testing, radiation disrupting fish ecosystems and a village's food supply, and the creation of atomic weapons all directly reference America's bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After the initial bombings, radiation poisoning and other factors created destructive ripples throughout Japan and the lives of everything that lives there. In 1954, the Daigo Fukuryū Maru, a small Japanese fishing vessel, was caught in American nuclear testing. The vessel's crew and caught fish were coated in atomic ash. By time the crew returned, most of them passed due to radiation poisoning (Newell 3). The first Godzilla movie created by Tomoyuki uses these allusions to atomic weaponry to demonstrate their destructive power, and how they impact people's lives. Studio Ghibli also has many films centered on the perspective of those suffering under bombings, radiation, and senseless wars, like Grave of the Fireflies, Howl's Moving Castle, and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

Now having the context of the events leading up to it, Newell's description of 1954's Gojira reveals Tomoyuki's overt connections:

After a fishing boat is destroyed and a local village's food supply is decimated, scientists discover Godzilla, a 50 meter tall sea creature awoken and mutated by nuclear testing. Though many attempts to stop him are made, he ultimately rampages through Tokyo and leaves absolute devastation in his wake until he is eventually stopped in Tokyo Bay with the invention of an even deadlier weapon: the oxygen destroyer, a bomb which destroys oxygen atoms and rots away all life caught in its blast. (3)

Gojira, the very first Godzilla film, focuses on allusions to atomic weaponry and their effects on the Japanese population. This series of posts will focus on that connection, its legacy, and how Gege directly pulls from the cultural phenomenon of Godzilla. For the sake of my arguments concerning this topic, I will be referring specifically to Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. The Godzilla movie, All-Out Attack, depicts the King of Monsters doing what he does best: destroying stuff. To stop his reckless destruction, Yuri must free the guardian monsters Mothra and King Ghidorah.

The Queen of Monsters, Mothra, metamorphizes from her larva form into a giant moth-like insect. Mothra has the second most appearances throughout the Godzilla franchise. She sometimes aids Godzilla, but will also just as readily lead the attack against him in defense of others. Mothra has been uniquely popular among women, which influenced the films to make her a reoccurring character. Gege directly ties Yorozu to insects, and her giant form shares similarities with Mothra (the eyes, mouth, and wings). In All-Out Attack, Mothra faces off against Godzilla just as Yorozu does against Sukuna. The two share a conflict-based relationship that revolves around death and destruction. Just as Mothra metamorphizes from her larva, so does Yorozu from the comatose cocoon of Tsumiki, Megumi's sister.

Yorozu acts as a quasi-love interest for Sukuna. Meaning, Gege treats her love as a destructive and flawed one-sided obsession with Sukuna. Concerning her relationship to power, Yorozu's probably the second strongest character from the Heian era that appears in the Culling Game as a player. Yorozu studies and seeks power, so she's naturally drawn to Sukuna. By taking over Tsumiki before Megumi's eyes, she inadvertently aids Sukuna in achieving his goal with the enchain vow. Just as quickly, she challenges Sukuna to a one on one duel. Similar to the stakes in a movie as momentous as Godzilla vs. Mothra, Yorozu shares a special narrative bond to Sukuna. Among those in the Culling Games and from the Heian era, Yorozu sticks out due to her status as one of the leaders of the Fujiwara clan.

Yorozu admired Sukuna during the Heian era, which led to an obsession with him and his power. If she can't have him as a lover, she desires any part of him that she can grasp. Yorozu negotiates to retain his dead body if she defeats Sukuna; she proposes a marriage to him; finally, she demands to be killed with his own power, shrine. As a Mothra reference, Yorozu personifies the complicated relationship the Queen of Monsters shares with the King. Gege's Mothra focused on the personified romance between two monsters. Yorozu and Sukuna both share similar destructive tastes and remain apathetic towards others to achieve their goals. Yet, the two never truly ally with one another. Their goals simply happen to cross over, to Yuji and Megumi's dismay.

Tsumiki exists as the literal larva that Mothra famously metamorphizes from in order to take her true form. Yorozu as an allusion to Mothra supports the connections between Sukuna and Godzilla. In Part 2, I will have more room to focus more specifically on the connection Sukuna shares with Godzilla, and the narrative payoff between those two, Yorozu, and Mothra. Eventually, the breakdown of all the previously mentioned characters will lead to the importance of Higuruma vs Sukuna and Gege's criticisms of Japanese bureaucracy.

Notes:

That wraps up part 1 of this series! I hope you guys enjoyed this little history lesson on Godzilla lol.

I did not think I would depend on noting so much of Gojira's history.

Check out the overview for this Godzilla x JJK series here.

[the-starlight-papers]

I was really big into kingdom keepers in middle school and random unhinged stuff that happened keeps just hitting me like a sack of bricks.

For those who aren’t aware, the premise of the first book in the series is “the Disney villains are real and doing evil, but they can only be seen by Disney characters. So we’re going to make holograms of some kids to be used as guides in the park during the day, but when the kids go to sleep at night, they wake up as their holograms in the park.”

The rest is under a readmore bc I had a lot to ramble about.

There’s a ton of stuff that randomly gets retconned after the first book. The notable one is that basically everyone (hologram or not) can see the Disney characters running around, which is funny because it basically destroys the whole premise of the series.

They also randomly switch the character who is good with computers around the second or third book. The new guy who’s good with computer’s first name is literally Dell.

The plot of the books are kinda hard to follow, since there is kind of a focus on going to as many different Disney attractions as possible.

The first book has a pretty coherent plot. The main plot is that the Disney Villains are trying to like. Escape the parks or something, and the kids have to follow hidden clues from Walt Disney to power up the wards. There’s a side plot where the main character Finn’s friend from school (and love interest) Amanda, is secretly helping them in a “knows more than she lets on” way because her sister Jess had been kidnapped and was being mind controlled by Maleficent.

In the second book, Jess gets kidnapped AGAIN, and they have to run around animal kingdom to try and find her. The twist is they can’t go to sleep because if they do their holograms will be captured by the villains, and they have no way to Return to their bodies without the magical garage door opener. They also use Pictochat on the Nintendo DS to communicate.

In the third book, their wise old guy mentor Wayne goes missing. Also the villains are up to something in Epcot. Good thing they turned Jess and Amanda (who BTW are not actually sisters, and are both runaways with superpowers called Fairlies (short for Fairly Human) that are hiding from the government) into holograms so they can help. Too bad their magical garage door opener got stuck in lost and found, so they can’t wake back up. Also the villan’s whole plan was to make it so the seatbelts couldn’t unlock and hold the guests hostage.

The fourth book is basically “I thought we were done but now we need to go to Hollywood studios”. Philby, the computer guy, has probably committed multiple felonies at some point due to hacking into Disney’s systems to make it so they stop waking up as holograms in the parks manages to mess up his one job and now they’re randomly getting stuck in the parks again. Also people (including one of the other main characters and Finn’s mom) can get possessed by the evil villains, indicated by their eyes turning green. The villan’s plan this time is to take out the power plant for the parks.

The fifth book is Disney cruise. I’m gonna be honest this is where they start to get really nonsensical. They’ve introduced hologram model 2.0 which has some visual improvements for like. Their actual purpose, but mostly are beneficial for the main characters because now they’re mostly intangible (except for on their hands and feet) which is a big benefit on the “hey you’re a normal kid running around at night AND you glow in the dark” since they can’t be punched as easily anymore.

Book 6 is “we’re still on the fucking boat”. Again, idk what we’re doing here besides trying to stop the evil guys from doing something evil. The book culminates with an evil ritual where one of Finn’s friends from school dies graphically.

Book 7 is basically oh fuck, someone died. This is serious now. And the way I mean this is serious is that I mean “oh this whole operation is controlled by the US military.” Because you know the second that they heard “oh we’ve made a way to make people mostly invulnerable” and they immediately went “ah we can use this for combat.” Someone made a hologram of Finn’s dead friend that also is just a search engine to try and help him cope. Idk who thought that was a good idea. There’s some really weird sections in this book where characters get like. Stuck half tangible in a wall and it’s described in a lot of detail. Anyways this is the original Disneyland book and idk what happens besides Mickey shows up in a dramatic reveal because he had been like sealed away to stop the villains from harnessing his power. The old guy, Wayne, gets stabbed and dies. I think they saved everyone? Woo? We all have depression now.

The return: oh you thought we were done with this series. You thought wrong. There’s another trilogy and a spin-off book. The kids (they’re all like 18 at this point or something) go back in time to stop the villans from ever becoming real or something. They team up with no longer an old guy Wade to set up the clues that they used to save the parks back in book one. Also btw they went back in time as holograms, and then got stuck as 2D black and white images until Wayne was able to invent both color television and holograms in the span of like three days. The other issue here is that since they went back as holograms, their actual bodies are stuck in comas. Good thing they have Jess and Amanda to deal with their parents and try and keep them from like. Dying of dehydration. There’s a whole subplot here with a Fairlie who can read minds who has to try and read a US senator or something??? I don’t even know at this point.

Anyways that’s the plot of this series

The actual books have so much focus on the actual mechanics of “ok you’re half hologram now what”.

If they go somewhere that doesn’t have good projector access, they’ll just not be visible there. Places with projector shadow include: on rides with lots of scaffolding, in certain weird corners, near trees. Places without projector shadow include: random offices, hallways, ect. At some point the authors went ok this is annoying as hell and now any random camera can project holograms. which. Sure.

Certain characters can go “all clear” where they become 100% hologram. This is usually accomplished by letting your mind go blank since light doesn’t have thoughts. The main character Finn can go all-clear even in his human body if he tries really hard.

There’s a couple interesting questions raised here such as “what happens if you go all clear while the power’s out and no holograms are being projected?” and “what happens if you get stuck in all clear?” These questions are never answered or touched on again.

Also a significant portion of the plot rides on the goddamn magic garage door opener. It’s referred to as the fob. In the first book there’s multiple. After the first book this is retconned saying that if two returns get activated too soon to each other their minds could get stuck in limbo (basically they’d die). Large chunks of plot are focused on “we need to move the fob between parks” or “we lost the fob” or “the villains stole the fob” or “Philby has to hack into Disney’s servers to Return us since the villains stole the fob” or “Philby’s cat shut down his monitoring program and now I’m stuck here until he gets home from school to return me manually”

They apparently rewrote the first three books (imo the only good ones) in 2020???? I mean I guess it makes since because the books were outdated when I read them and the majority of my Disney knowledge is from when my family went there in 2014. Which at that point was 10 years after the first book released.

Starting in book 6, they added an online website where people could vote on new plot points, and submit character dialogue. This mostly just added a bunch of random asterisks and made it really distracting to read the books.

I also just learned there’s ANNOTHER GODDANM SEQUEL TRILOGY with the main characters kids. I’m tempted to read this and find out if being a hologram can be passed down genetically.

I don’t know where I was going with this whole ramblings but anyways. I hope you learned something about this book series that heavily impacted my childhood. I promise I’m not a Disney nut I just like weird fiction books.

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Alla Nazimova (A Doll's House, Camille, Salomé)—She was a proud lesbian, she was a director, she was artsy and experimental, she was instrumental in the rise to fame of Rudolph Valentino, she had the worlds biggest strap on energy

Xia Meng, also known as Hsia Moog or Miranda Yang (Sunrise, Bride Hunter)—For those who are familiar with Hong Kong's early cinema, Xia Meng is THE leading woman of an era, the earliest "silver-screen goddess", "The Great Beauty" and "Audrey Hepburn of the East". Xia Meng starred in 38 films in her 17-year career, and famously had rarely any flops, from her first film at the age of 18 to her last at the age of 35. She was a rare all-round actress in Mandarin-language films, acting, singing, and dancing with an enchanting ease in films of diverse genres, from contemporary drama to period operas. She was regarded as the "crown princess" among the "Three Princesses of the Great Wall", the iconic leading stars of the Great Wall Movie Enterprises, which was Hong Kong's leading left-wing studio in the 1950s-60s. At the time, Hong Kong cinema had only just taken off, but Xia Meng's influence had already spread out to China, Singapore, etc. Overseas Chinese-language magazines and newspapers often featured her on their covers. The famous HK wuxia novelist Jin Yong had such a huge crush on her that he made up a whole fake identity as a nobody-screenwriter to join the Great Wall studio just so he can write scripts for her. He famously said, "No one has really seen how beautiful Xi Shi (one of the renowned Four Beauties of ancient China) is, I think she should be just like Xia Meng to live up to her name." In 1980, she returned to the HK film industry by forming the Bluebird Movie Enterprises. As a producer with a heart for the community, she wanted to make a film on the Vietnam War and the many Vietnam War refugees migrating to Hong Kong. She approached director Ann Hui and produced the debut film Boat People (1982), a globally successful movie and landmark feature for Hong Kong New Wave, which won several awards including the best picture and best director in the second Hong Kong Film Award. Years later, Ann Hui looked back on her collaboration with Xia Meng, "I'm very grateful to her for allowing me to make what is probably the best film I've ever made in my life."

This is round 3 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Alla Nazimova:

HOT as hell. GAY as hell. TALENTED as hell. Producer, director, writer, actress. A silent era superstar who is credited with having coined the term "sewing circle" as a code-word for gatherings of lesbian and bisexual women. Has been called "the founding mother of Sapphic Hollywood" and was the owner/operator of the Garden of Alla Hotel in West Hollywood, which she bought in 1919 and sold in 1928 after deciding she wanted to go back to Broadway. In addition to starring opposite Valentino in Camille, she also had an affair with BOTH of his wives (Jean Acker and Natacha Rambova). In her day, she was one of the most influential women in the business.

"Nazimova was primarily a star during the silent film era, and her career in film started when she was almost forty. She was openly bisexual, and was engaged in two lavender marriages during her life while she carried on relationships with women (including at least one, and possibly two, of Rudolph Valentino's wives). She was brilliant and an autodidact - when she first moved to the United States from Ukraine, she spoke no English, but taught herself "in about five months" and went on to work as a screenwriter (among other things). Her predilections lay in art film, and she's credited with starring in / producing / directing one of the first American art films, the adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play Salome (1923). She has an elegant and commanding presence in all of her films, and is an absolute sensation to watch in motion."

Gif link, another gif link

A great actress who also produced a great deal of her films, Nazimova is absolutely mesmerizing to watch. She was also bi and coined the phrase "sewing circle" for sapphic celebrities.

Xia Meng:

[disneytva]

Disney Television Animation X Walt Disney Imagineering Collaboration "San Fransokyo Square" Sets Opening Date, Confirms Big Hero 6 The Series Easter Eggs

After being promised at the recent D23 Expo, we are now getting an update from Walt Disney Imagineering, revealing that San Fransokyo Square is arriving at Disney California Adventure, August 31, 2023 as part of the 100 Years of Wonder at the Disneyland Resort.

The area will have some elements debuting in the month and a half as a lead-up.

During a PR Preview provided by Laughing Place, it was confirmed that the area will be featured with easter eggs from the various iterations of the Big Hero 6 story, including the Disney Television Animation's Big Hero 6 : The Series and Walt Disney Animation Studios Baymax! provided by both studios.

Starting in mid-July, you’ll be able to sample new San Fransokyo selections at Lucky Fortune Cookery, and the Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería will officially open. In the weeks following, additional dining options, unique shopping and more will be introduced as the transformation of this thriving seaside plaza continues through its official debut on August 31st.

When the transformation is completed, locations across the area – from the Cappuccino Cart outside the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge to The Bakery Tour – will be decked out in street art and colorful banners celebrating the Big Hero 6 team after their victory over Yokai.

The diverse array of flavorful fare in San Fransokyo Square will include current favorites and new creations inspired by Asian cuisine, as well as the Big Hero 6 themselves. Aunt Cass Café, the second bakery café operated by Hiro’s loving aunt, will serve dishes, soups in freshly-baked Boudin sourdough bread bowls and more inspired by Japanese cuisine. On the outside of this quick service restaurant, you’ll find a mural of Aunt Cass’ lucky pet cat, Mochi.

An old fishing net tannery across from the café is being converted to Rita’s Turbine Blenders, a giant drink dispenser offering delicious margaritas and icy beverages. This refreshment stand is owned and named after the repair technician who maintains the floating wind turbine, resembling a giant koi fish, that sits atop the structure.

Guests will also be able to meet with Baymax, who will talk for the very first time!

"San Fransokyo Square" is the lastest Disney Television Animation X Walt Disney Imagineering collaboration between "Mickey And Minnie's Runaway Railway" at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Toontown, "Aqua-Mouse" at Disney Wish from Disney Cruise Line, Passholder Magnets for Disney Springs and Disneyland with animations from "The Wonderful World Of Mickey Mouse", redesings from Paul Rudish and Asia Ellington for "Orange Bird","Dumbo" and "Figment", "DuckTales World Showcase Adventure" and providing redesings and decoring for the "Toontown" refreshment with "Goofy’s How-To-Play Yard","Donald's Boat",Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster,"The EngineEar Souvenirs Shop" featuring various Disney Afternoon characters and locations.

[disneyparksattractionstournament]

Disney Parks Animatronic Tournament: Bracket B/Tier 2 Round 2

RX-24/REX: Star Tours - Disneyland, Hollywood Studios Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris

Propaganda:

"He's just a little guy! He's so sweet! It's his first flight!!! He's voiced by peewee herman you can't get better than him and i think Disney should not have replaced him :(""Even though he's not the most advanced animatronic, and is "simply" just a robot, he has a fn design is super expressive and a great character for the original version of Star Tours. I think his eye visor and three arms give him a better range of emotion compared to C-3PO (no shade to him, of course)."

(go to 5:30 for animatronic)

Aladar: Discovery River Boats - Animal Kingdom Disney World(formerly)

https://x.com/Yester_World/status/1305375321173233665?s=20

[kairithemang0]

what's your favourite disney park

yknow, Hollywood studios is really up there for me now. I think after they added Galaxy’s Edge it really made it a go to park for me. But if we were to just go off of vibes? Magic Kingdom. There’s nothing more cozy to me. The music, the way all the lands meld together, the smells (I fucking LOVE the smell of main street, the confectionery specifically??? OHHHH ITS AMAZING)!! There’s this one little area where you can watch the river boat and I always try to just sit there for a while, it’s just really nice

No one is ever over here, it’s one of my favorite places in the park. If there’s ever a parade and you need to get through that area in frontier land/liberty square go through here. It’s also just a really nice spot. One of my favorite parts in all the parks tbh, there’s just something about it idk man

[sylv-e-on]

It was Hollywood Studios apparently lol, got there by boat with my sister and nephews :3

T'was fun, didn't experience too much pain since I was able to get a thing to ride lol

Currently chilling at my sister's hotel before my parents sister and brother in law go to celebrate my mother's birthday at some place, she wants crab so yeah lmao

Been a good day ^^