#bro...making a movie about violence does not mean making a movie glorifying violence it means showing how fucked up violence is and that it

[definitelynotnia]

so you're telling me that I have to now tolerate sigmafied edits of Ranbir Kapoor in Animal being a chauvinist abuser to his onscreen wife and killing hundreds of people for his "love" for his emotionally absent shitty father?? as if watching sigma edits of Kabir Singh and American Psycho was not enough?

[smokeybrand]

A Problematic Passion

So i just finished watching The Passion of the Christ for the first time and i have thoughts. They are numerous and very unkind. Before i absolutely unload on this f*cking thing, i should make note of the few positives i did recognize. Okay, so the actual acting was pretty adequate. I didn’t have a problem with any of the performances. The direction was serviceable. Mel Gibson knew exactly what and how to tell his version of this story. I’m not mad about that but i do question several narrative choices made in service to that goal. We will get to that. This version of Satan is wildly unnerving. The pale, androgynous, bald, Opposers always wig me out. Uncanny valley and sh*t. The form of a human but, distinctly, not. The first time i saw Pazuzu in Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist, i sh*t my pants. Those alopecia having motherf*ckers be terrifying. In that vein, i generally liked the imagery. Gibson can frame a shot and he’s not lacking in a specific style. Violence. Violence is his style. That’s it. That’s all i really liked. It’s a short list because there ain’t much to like in this god forsaken f*cking slog so now, let’s get into everything i hate in this f*cking movie.

Why the f*ck is it so violent? What is the purpose of this abject sadism?? You’d think I'd be okay with it considering it’s Mel Gibson and i just made a specific note about his love affair with brutality but nah. This bloody carnage is WAY over the top. It’s too much. This isn’t even a strictly film thing. I question the whole motive of The Passion in general. This is a weird Catholic thing where you beat yourself for existing or some sh*t. I don’t understand that and i really don’t understand why they glorify it so much. That sh*t has always been super f*cking weird to me. Beating yourself bloody isn’t getting closer to god. You’re not tormenting yourself into religious epiphany. You're just self-harming because of a whole ass delusion! The entire plot to one of the most disturbing films ever made, the French version of Martyrs, is based around this incredibly f*cked up notion. They flay a women alive so he can see god. That’s what The Passion is and everyone gives it a pass because Jesus. No. No, f*ck that. If Martyrs is horrifying, then so is this! It’s literally the same f*cking plot! Interestingly enough, there is a version of this narrative in a much more entertaining, film that does this brutality sh*t with more restraint, resulting in far more impactful cinematic experience. That movie was made a decade and half before this one and is called The Last Temptation of Christ. It is, objectively, a better movie than this one. I liked that one. I hate this one.

Another thing that really f*cking bothered me was the aggressive antisemitism This movie paints the Jews horribly. I’m not going to sit here and pretend that the Jews are “chosen” or whatever (they’re not) or that they are this lofty race of people who should be revered and never questioned because of it (they’re definitely not) but, f*ck, Gibson REALLY makes it a point to get you hating these motherf*ckers. The way these folks are portrayed as cartoonishly evil is definitely on purpose. Which, in historical context, makes sense. The Passion was written as anti-Jew propaganda. There are accounts of Jesus’ persecution and eventual crucifixion in the Bible, many of which contradict each other and one that was not canonized probably because it completely re-conextualizes the entire story, but the actual Passion, the thing that is re-enacted and the basis of this film, is almost all dramatization It was written about one hundred and fifty years after Jesus was born so there is a lot of time to embellish and inject opinion. Guess what the purveying opinion of the time was? The Passion is intrinsically anti-Semitic That’s why it exists. This movie doesn’t skimp on that sh*t at all. I mean, the hate is palpable. It’s almost as if Gibson, himself, hates the Jews! Wait...

More than anything, though, The Passion of the Christ is f*cking boring. Like, the antisemitism and unrelenting gore is a problem but a lot of films have those and i was able to tolerate them until the end. They might have been exceptionally problematic, but they were entertaining enough to hold my interest. This piece of sh*t does not do that. I was so goddamn bored, man. Nothing kept me engaged. I’ve been on the internet for years so I'm desensitized to the violence and i live in a world with Fox News so even the antisemitism is normal at this point, so there has to be something more to hold my attention. Great character work. Compelling narrative pathos. Creative shot framing. Give me something. The Passion of the Christ has nothing Not one of those things. It’s as basic as you can get when it comes to film making i cannot condone being this desperately unengaged and pretending that I'm not for the sake of Jesus. I do not care about anything forcing itself upon me from this flick. It’s just a blur of racist caricature and bloody struggle. How is this entertaining? How did this movie make so much money? Who came to repeat showings of this bad time? In order for it to make the money it did, people had to see this thing two or three times. Why the f*ck would you go back after the first? It’s f*cking awful! And it’s long! That means it’s horribly paced. You feel every agonizing minute of this basic ass narrative and i cannot fathom why people would be masochistic enough to endure this sh*t more than once. I mean, i can, and i think that’s why i hate this movie so goddamn much.

Everyone who knows me, knows i am not religious in the slightest. That sh*t is a personal experience and personally, it ain't for me. That said, i generally enjoy the narratives in the bible on a surface level. Great parables, strong morals, and dope imagery. The Prince of Egypt is f*cking amazing and is actually one of my favorite films. Deliver Us is a banger and people should talk about it more. I wanted to address that up front. My disdain for religion does not mean i oppose religious narratives. But this movie, though? This piece of sh*t? Bro, it's TERRIBLE! This is a bad film. People gave this thing a pass because it’s a biblical story, because it’s focused specifically on Jesus, but for a motherf*cker like me who is a non-believer, it’s f*cking nonsense. I made it through Aronofsky's Noah (didn't like that one either) but i was circling the drain during my time with The Passion. The only film I've ever quit on and never revisited to finish was National Security. That sh*t was the worst movie I have ever seen and i actually walked out on it. I was on the edge of rage quitting this Holy snuff film the entire run time Once you remove the religious bias and judge it on the merits of cinematic narrative, what's the allure? Why did so many people pay to see this thing multiple times? I don't want to watch it the one time! Compounding my frustration is the fact i had to watch this thing on Tubi which means commercials. There was no way i was going to pay, either dollars or bandwidth, to see this thing. Do you know how goddamn infuriating it is to muddle through a boring ass movie AND have commercial breaks in it?

Watching The Passion of the Christ was hell.

[iknownothingihearnothing]

Sense8 Recap: “Who Am I?”

Alrighty, my first recap back from the dead. And I don’t mean as a vampire.

Sense8 is my new obsession. It’s definitely sci-fi, and I always say “Eh, I don’t really like sci-fi. I prefer stuff more grounded in reality.” Yet, my favorite shows are stuff like Game of Thrones and, of course, my beloved Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. 

I think what really appealed to me about Sense8 was that it isn’t all about pretty white Americans doing pretty white American stuff while being in peril. Don’t get me wrong, the actors are certainly pretty, but they come from all backgrounds, in all different parts of the world. I really dig this Diversity Revolution we’re having nowadays. The television audience is demanding that more types of people are represented and that’s awesome.

Now, I admit that I got into Sense8 originally for one reason. Well, one actor, really:

Hallo, mein Herr! Wie geht’s dir? 

I love Max Riemelt. Like, adore to the point where it should be considered unhealthy but I digress. I have total Max Riemeltitis. See, I love German movies, and Max up there is A Pretty Big Deal in Germany. He’s been working for many years. And I, as a fan, have come to appreciate his body of work...as well as his body.

Eh? Eh?

Hashtag-bad-joke. 

No but seriously. If you wanna check out the guy’s earlier work, watch The Wave, After the Fall, and The German Friend. 

So, I started watching Sense8 for one actor but was drawn in because it’s awesome. All the cast is great in their parts. Yes, they are connected via this psychic thingie but I also enjoy watching their individual lives unfold. Additionally, it helps that our couples have crazy chemistry with each other. 

Especially Kala and Wolfgang. Holy crap! Those two sizzle like pancakes on the griddle.

(This man is a Pancake Artiste and my soulmate.)

I totes ship couples who are undeniably hot for each other but can’t be together ‘cause Reasons. See: the Buffy and Angel UST Factor. 

Good Lord, those two make me wanna kill myself. In a good way. If that’s possible. Y’all B/Aers know what I mean. 

Sense8 explores all the beautiful layers and complexities that make up this insanity that is the human condition. It asks, what does it mean to be human while at the same time making us wonder what the hell is going on. 

Now, on to the episode! We open on Will and Riley, our steadfast Already There couple. Will is tossing and turning. Daryl Hannah Angelica is idling on the staircase, all ghosty because she’s dead and stuff, begging Will for help. Will, for a little refresher, has been trying to help the other sensates with psychic showdowns with Whispers via heroin injections. To double the irony, he’s a cop and has kept his body a temple, yet now he’s a heroin addict. 

In the dream...or is it a memory?...Whispers has a bunch of electrodes attached to his head while he stands next to Angelica and taps stuff into a computer. Some dude, likely a fellow sensate, is strapped to an operating table and seems to be dying. When he wakes up like this--

--Angelica expresses a wee bit o’ trepidation at what they’re doing. Yeah, I’d follow that gut instinct, Angie. 

Whispers, being Mad Evil, holds her hand and kisses her and is all--

I would not trust Whispers to catch me in a Trust Circle. I bet he’d just let me fall to the cold, hard ground. And laugh.

So Zombie Sensate, who kinda looks like Drake, wakes up all Zombied and immediately, under Whispers’ command, it seems, slits some poor schmuck’s throat open.

It’s gross.

Icky!

Angelica says it’s all her fault. Will screams and gasps (I think--Deaf Chick here) and Riley wakes up, soothing him, letting him know that it’s okay and he’s safe. D’aww. Those two are so sweet.

Checking in with Nomi, Amanita, and Mama Caplan, they are tromping through a research facility in San Fran looking for info on genetics. Nomi coyly brings up “homo-sensoriums” with their guide, which are apparently what are Amazing 8 are. So, really, they are, like, a whole new specie of human. That’s nucking futs!

Their guide suggests they go see a Dr. Kolovi at the University of Chicago for more info. She doesn’t agree with his views personally but hey! Who knows, he could be right. People thought Darwin was cracked for his theory of evolution. She tells Nomi a homo-sensorium could walk into her office one day and she’d have no idea. The shit-eating grin Nomi sends her is, well, shit-eating.

Over to Lito, Hernando, and Dani in Mexico City (Isn’t it weird that all the sensates live in *really* populated cities? Mexico City, San Fran, Chitown, London, Berlin, Nairobi, Seoul, Mumbai. No one’s from, like, Bumfuck, Louisiana or Kangaroo Fart, Australia.). Lito and Dani are getting ready for the premiere of Lito’s movie. Remember, he’s been un-closeted ever since Dani’s assdick of an ex leaked her smexy photos. It’s the first real red carpet event Lito’s attended since his outing, and he’s trying to get Hernando to attend. He enlists Dani’s help, and he eventually acquiesces. They kiss--

--while Lito has a mouth full of toothpaste. Look, man. I like a dude with minty breath as much as the next person. In fact, I prefer it. I certainly don’t wanna mack on a guy with breath stinking of Doritos. But there’s such a thing as too fresh, you know what I mean?

Then, as Lito presumably leaves to actually spit out that toothpaste, Hernando wonders if he should be careful what he wished for--being out and proud with his man. 

In Nairobi, Capheus is driving the Van DAMN and it’s interspersed with shots of Lito, Hernando, and Dani getting out of the limo to attend the movie premiere of..I forget what it’s called but the poster features Lito with a nun and a church in the background so you KNOW it’s horridly amazing. Once at the red carpet, a fan gifts Lito with a heart-shaped balloon, which he hesitates to take but does with a thanks. The reporter, Mariana, immediately is on the prowl. She wants to know about those pictures. You know, THOSE pictures. Lito is obviously a bit taken aback and stutters that she went right for the jugular.

Red carpet speak for--

Then she needles him further, demanding to know if he’s denying the allegations and that if he’s a homosexual. Poor Lito asks why that matters and Mariana justifies, “It matters to the fans!” That’s what they all say to get the scoop, innit? 

In Nairobi, Capheus is also being interviewed by a lady who works for the local television station. She wants to know why he is called Van DAMN and he asks her if she’s ever seen Lionheart.

She snipes back that she doesn’t watch movies that glorify violence, ones where the white dude saves the world. 

On the red carpet, Mariana needles Lito a bit further by asking if Hernando is the guy from the photos; she didn’t recognize him with his clothes on. Lito tells her her problem is her lack of understanding and Nomi steps in to point out that labels are the opposite of understanding. 

While at the same time, in Nairobi, the reporter is giving Capheus a hard time about idolizing Jean-Claude because he’s white. Sun steps in to ask what courage has to do with a color of a man’s skin.

Yes! In yo’ faces, Mean Reporter Ladies!

Faced with animosity from both reporters, both Lito and Capheus give a speech about just being a kid growing up watching movies with their moms and aunties but they are not those same people anymore. And when they are asked who they are now, there is a montage of all the awesome stuff that has transpired over the course of the series, and they answer simultaneously that who they are now doesn’t matter because everyone’s their own person. And stuff.

Then they both hug it out in their psychic bro connection thing.

The sensates lucked out. They all truly get along, trust, and respect each other. And we’ll learn over the course of the season that that’s not always the case. I love watching these guys interact, whether it’s coming together to protect one of their own and take down a Bad Guy or just to chill. Lito and Capheus should have more scenes together. 

Zakia, the Nairobi reporter introduces herself as, looks intrigued. Mariana just looks pissed off. 

In the theatre, as Lito on the screen ambles through a cemetery, Lito in his seat tells Hernando a big scene is a-comin’. That big scene is a kiss. Unfortunately, instead of titillating the masses, the crowd just starts laughing. It’s an embarrassing and sad moment for poor Lito and makes me wanna hug him. 

 In Nairobi, Zakia appears, now dressed in street clothes. She wants to apologize for rustling Capheus’ jimmies earlier. He spoke such beautiful words (a lot of them thanks to Lito; Lito is gonna help get him laid) and they moved Zakia. Would Capheus like to join her for a bite to eat?

I love Jela. We could all use a Jela in our lives. Man or woman.

Our next two sensates are our Buffy and Angel of the group. I’m pretty sure there’s no curse involved with these two, however. At least, not that kind of curse. So Kala and Rajan are buying their first house, and Rajan must make a shizload of cashmoney because that is a Cribs-worthy house. Swimming pool and all. It’s so awesome, the whole family stops to take a selfie while they’re exploring so they can brag share their happiness. 

In Berlin, meanwhile, Wolfie and Felix are partying it up in some underground club, getting shitfaced, because that is what they do--that is, other than steal and shoot things. There are quite a bit of club scenes featured in Wolfie’s stories and that’s not just because he’s a badass. I have a few friends in Berlin that tell me you can’t throw a rock in the city these days without hitting the entrance to some illicit club somewhere.

Here’s my favorite German getting more shitfaced.

Entschuldigung...hast du den... *gurgles, smashes through the door*

Some Shady McShade dude comes by their table, introducing himself as Sebastian Fuchs--

*Gigglesnort*. Look, I know. I KNOW, it’s immature and the name means “Fox” in German, okay, I KNOW, and it’s pronounced FOOKS, I KNOW! But...come on, Wachowskis! There are SO many German surnames. Y’all couldn’t think of a better one? A less...non four letter word sounding and looking one? This show is meant for an English-speaking audience, after all. 

I mean, there’s a reason that village in Austria keeps getting its welcome sign stolen by American soldiers stationed overseas, you know. It’s because it says WELCOME TO FUCKING. 

If you can’t read German that says “Please, not so fast”. It’s like they were asking for it. 

Sebastian Fuchs asks Felix if he likes his club. Felix thinks it fucking rocks. Sebastian then decides to just...give it to him. 

Hm. Nothing weird there.

Capheus and Zakia are getting that bite. Zakia wonders how he can be so optimistic. She guesses she’s seen too much bad shit. Capheus counters that her simply being a lady journalist would not have been possible in their grandmas’ day and age. Which is very true. You’ve gotta keep getting up in the morning, he continues, and hope each day will be better than the last. Zakia smiles. 

Back to Will and Riley. Will seems to be having another dreamemory. This time there’s...a house? And there’s Whispers. He’s standing with a lady. Maybe his wife? And kid, riding a horsey?

Yep, she’s his wife. I know because--

Damn. His wife and Angelica. Whispers is a pimp. An evil pimp.

Riley hastily grabs a notepad and asks Will if he managed to get a name. He didn’t but he saw his wife. He’s getting closer. 

Next we have Kala working in her lab when Riley anxiously mind-visits her to tell her that Will is conked out. She mind-rushes to their loft with her supply of medicines to increase his vitamin intake and...science. But, she cautions, this can’t continue for much longer.

All together now--

The poor dude can’t be addicted to heroin for much longer, you say? No shit. 

Nomi, Amanita, and Bug have been trying to do their hacking thang but they cannot seem to crack into the BPO facility in Iceland. Every time they try, they’re very nearly traced and Bug is forced to go apeshit on some innocent laptop. “They’re almost as paranoid as I am!” he exclaims. 

BPO is full of tin foil hatters. 

At the loft, all the sensates are gathered around a still unconscious Will. His chi is low, Sun says. Will has fought hard for them, Capheus adds, but this is a battle he can no longer fight alone. Then Wolfgang steps out of the shadows like a badass and demands Riley not give up on him, as he wouldn’t give up on any of them.

Contrasting with this rather ominous scene is the Rasal family gathered around on the beautiful terrace of their new home in stunning Mumbai. Rajan’s dad has an announcement: he’s gonna run for office. Kala’s father chokes on his wine. Rajan’s mom is supportive but looks skeptical. Kala’s eyes say “oh shit”. 

In Chicago, Nomi and Amanita run to attend a seminar conducted by Prof. Kolovi. In his lecture, he alleges that homo sapiens came along and wiped other species out. So, basically, we’re murderers. Survival of the fittest and all that. Afterwards, they ask him if, as in his book, he believes homo sensorium still exist. He thinks it’s possible or that we inherited some of their traits. Then Neets asks him about a former student of his, a Dr. Matheson. She whips out a photo, and Kolovi recognizes him but he has no idea how to get in touch with the dude. 

On the way out of campus, Neets figures Kolovi could either be an absent-minded professor or a really cunning liar. 

At the loft, Riley is feeding Will this weird Icelandic goop when Whispers shows up. Will seems to have the upper hand on the situation at first, guessing that he is in a facility somewhere in London merely by his suit, the sound of shoes on the floor, the lack of air conditioning, etc. But Whispers quickly retaliates, letting him know that he’s a “fucking amateur”. “They” know that he and Riley are still in Iceland, that they never left. Whispers and his Evil Inc. can hear the birds and the ocean, they know that goop comes from Iceland. It won’t be long before they’ll track down their exact location. Pretty soon they will hear helicopters and Riley will be his. 

That’s when Riley injects the heroin and Whispers goes bye bye. And then shuts the recording of the “birds and sea” off. Leaves the loft. And goes to meet her daddy. In Amsterdam.

They totally fooled Whispers. They’re not in Iceland. 

I love Riley’s dad. I think he should be in every episode, musically narrating everything that’s happening. Of course, since I am Deaf Chick, it’ll mostly be toneless for me but who cares? He is a delight.

See, apparently, Riley has been getting food and meds--Icelandic food and meds, specifically to further the ruse that they’re still in Iceland--from Daddy. He’s been smuggling it all into the Netherlands. But of course, as a spy, he needs to dress the part. 

They’re obviously so happy to see each other and it warms my cold, dead heart. Daddy is on his way to Vienna to perform with the Vienna Philharmonic, because he is that awesome. He also has more goop for Riley. And he worries. 

Still in Chitown, Neets and Nomi go to see this lady Will urged them to drop unannounced to see. She is Sarah’s mother. Sarah, as you may recall, was the kidnap and murder victim young Will saw in his mind last season. 

They ring the doorbell, Mind-Will in tow, Nomi all insecure, telling the woman stutteringly that she’s sorry and this is gonna sound all awks but--

Thankfully, the woman knows already what they’re there for. They’ve seen her daughter, yes? They go inside. The lady brings up her first visitor, a young boy at the time named Will. Her husband didn’t buy it, she said. He thought it was a load of crap and they were being taken for a ride.

The woman, Helen, goes on to add that Will returned when he graduated Cop School, where he confessed to seeing Sarah. Other people besides Will came to share stories of her also. Strangers, she said. Strangers we recognize. Jonas. Angelica. And Dr. Matheson. “Such a nice man.”

Dr. Matheson is Whispers.

Dr. Matheson killed Sarah.

Helen does not have the best judge of character. 

Turns out, they met in the G&T program, of which Sarah was part. Dr. Matheson was her tutor. He walked her home one day and...ugh. Will has not forgotten. Will is going to avenge Sarah’s death.

Cut to Wolfie. He’s watching a tiger pace a cage at the Berlin Zoo in the Tiergarten. Sun appears next to him to ask why the zoo. His mother used to take him there after she and his father fought.

Kay, how adorbs his Little Wolfie?

I want to pinch his little freckled cheeks like my Yiddish Grandma.

That adorable kid will grow up to be Berlin’s biggest badass, who kills his asshole cousin with a rocket launcher. 

Sun muses that cages are hard. Wolfgang counters that waiting is harder. And that;s when Will appears, all sweaty. They know he’s having a dreamvision. Riley, at his side, rushes to tend to him while in his dream, Will explores some sort of fancy office. Riley rushes to alert Kala, who mind-warps to Will to check his vitals and inject him. Then they all descend upon his office. In London.

Will was right.

Nomi uses her hackabilities to track down Whispers. They quickly get leads on his corporate letterhead...

...his boss’s class ring...

..even where the clay dog on his desk is from...

...and that he’s got kids.

Nomi and her crack team find it all within minutes. 

Whispers is busted. And he looks terrified.

Meanwhile, Boss Man is all--

All the while, Nomi is tracking down who this guy is. After a few nos from Will, they’ve got it. He’s Richard Wilson Croome. Whispers/Matheson is astonished at being compromised, spills all his blockers, and scampers out of the office.

In addition, it was kind of cathartic to see Whispers cowtowing and being cowed by Boss Man. He thinks he’s top dog when in reality he’s just a cog in the machine. It’s awesome for the Amazing 8 and us and humbling for His Majesty.

Will concludes the episode by grabbing Whispers by the lapels and biting  THIS fantabulous line: 

“You think you’re hunting us? We’re coming for YOU.”

BAM!

What a great opening! And that last line? Woo, gave me chills, it did. I swear, all these actors are fucking fantastic. And I read they’ve become a sort of family, more so than other ensemble castmates even, because they travel the world together for their show. It’s pretty cool. I can’t wait for more! It’s my new THANG!