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drbobbi · 2 years

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My review of Heartland

I keep hearing a lot of hype about Heartland, since apparently it's about to break a record for number of seasons for a CBC drama. I wondered if maybe I should give it another shot--my stepdaughter just loves it but every time I've tried to get through an episode I eventually have to stop to go watch paint dry instead.

I think there's three things that make a show viewable: it has to be funny, extraordinary in some way, or relatable. So I guess if you're like me and you spend all day listening to peoples both mundane and shocking life dramas, it's relatable but not extraordinary--but by the end of the day I'm good. Obviously this show isn't funny (or wait, is it supposed to be? I did laugh--sardonically--a few times). So unless they throw in some time or space travel it won't be that appealing to me personally. If you find typical life stressors combined with horses fascinating, well I guess they have the magic formula there.

OK let's get into it. Spoilers ahead, so be warned as I'm about to reveal the shocking plot twists. This is my first time watching the show so I don't have all the names yet. Not sure if I'm watching it again yet. The show starts off with Amy (young blonde mom) being asked to do various things and with a quiet resigned sigh, agreeing to them. She is apparently both working with troubled horses and running some sort of kids' horse camp. She is excellent at both and not replaceable. Some dead guy started the kids' camp and it 'has his name on it' so she must help it live on even though the other guy helping her run it is doing a fine job. The show then reminds us in various follow up scenes that this chick is too busy, and spread too thin. Every character including her arch nemesis points this out. Wise grandpa says she has to come to the realization herself. At one point he sagely says that 'our dreams have kept us apart'. I really like how the show makes sure we get the point by repeatedly having every character voice concern this lady is too busy. Several scenes in we've discovered they just refuse to have a subplot; this is it. Or wait--just be patient, once we get the idea that this lady is too busy rammed into our heads they gently introduce some subplots (while still slipping in that Amy is too busy).

Everyone is clearly a victim of their own success in this show; including the chick who is the mayor of the town and she has a prize-winning race horse. She has to keep going to Vancouver for weekends and she brings her teenage daughter who is annoyed that she is being kept away from her friends, even though Vanouver is a fun place that has the seawall and sushi. Surprisingly they didn't mention Gastown. She kept hinting at this awesome sushi restaurant but never revealed which one it was. I'm guessing Miku. At any rate one would hope a Canadian show would not have such a cliche version of Vancouver but I guess not.

Daughter of mayor lady is upset she still needs to share a room with some other girl, which sucks because she has to study, being a 'Grade A student' (who says that?). This is Grandpa's fault (see below).

Cranky gay mayor's assistant (I think his name is Rick) is upset that the mayor (Lou) is going to Vancouver every weekend to eat sushi and watch her horse win races. Maybe he's jealous because let's face it Vancouver is more fun than being around all these rednecks. He 'hints' that he will not always be around to bail her out. Lou frets about this all weekend because he is also indispensable. No people on this show are replaceable at their jobs (except young blonde horse whisperer Amy who we find out later conveniently is replaceable at the job that isn't her 'true passion') and if they leave then everything will fall apart. Like the plumbing for the loft which can only be fixed by Grandpa. Everyone looks and Grandpa meaningfully when mentioning that the plumbing isn't fixed yet and that's why everyone is overcrowding the main house. Maybe they could pay for a plumber; they don't seem to be paying Grandpa any rent.

I'll cut to the chase and tell you that Rick isn't quitting his job; he just needs some 'time off' which after some dramatic pauses and 'suspense' we discover that he and his partner are planning to adopt a baby so he needs a paternity leave. I think this is something meant to show us how 'woke' Heartland now is which is why they tried to create some suspense and mystery around it, which they wouldn't have done if it was just a male and a female procreating. The good news is he seems less cranky when sharing these plans; let's see how he does with sleep deprivation.

This show sure is white. I think the producers are aware of this, so they put in some background actors at the preschool who are not white. There! All fixed. There's more to say about this but I already have a lot to process here. Finally I have an angry raging feminist comment to make. I asked my partner 'what happened to Grandma?' he tells me she was killed off in the first episode. How convenient. So we don't have to look at any women over the age of 35. Come on, even Dallas had Miss Ellie for a while.

I will watch another episode because I want to know if they're going to continue with the 'I'm too busy' theme or move on to a new theme.

Ultimately I can't help but feel this show is aimed at people who don't want to think too hard, or can't. Funny then that it's so successful. Hey if you want a 'country' feel like this which includes some horses maybe watch Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman which assumes a little higher IQ of their average viewer. Maybe the Lone Ranger? Mr. Ed? Mr. Ed doesn't require the horse whisperer though because he just tells you how he's feeling. Can you tell I'm not really a horse person.

If any of this comes across as insensitive, I'm not sorry. If you disagree with me you're wrong. I made the effort to write this so I win.

#heartland cbc #heartland #tvreview #cbc #cbc heartland #tvshows

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yourwannabekpopidol · 3 years

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Project 15

Apprenticeship Program Name: Radio Campbuzz Project Name: RJ for Rangdhonu and script writer for shows Program Date: Fall 2017 – Fall 2018 Program Description: I joined this program when Kashfia Ma’am was the advisor for the program. She assigned me to a RJ position for a weekly show called, “Rangdhonu”. And I had to write the script for the show as well. What I had to do was be a host for the show and the show is about pop culture and entertainment. So we had to talk about any new update on Hollywood and Bollywood. Program Justification: What the show provided was to let the students know about any pop culture and to let them enjoy some entertainment before going back to class. There were other shows but this show made me realize how fun it is to be a RJ. Due to this show, I was even awarded the best RJ in Radio Campbuzz of Spring 2018. Program Name: Rangdhonu. Program Time: Every Wednesday from 12 pm to 1 pm.

Picture 1: This is me before the show of Rangdhonu at the station.

Picture 2: This is the poster that declared that Nabeela apu and I were the host of the show, Rangdhonu, on social media.

Picture 3: This was the award and the certificate of me winning the best RJ.

Script for the 5th Rangdhonu show: Written by: Wangkhem Thonglen

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Sonam Kapoor ties the knot! Celebrity marriages are always the talk of the town, especially when it is the much-awaited wedding of one of Bollywood's most beloved stars, Sonam Kapoor. In an event of grand celebrations, Sonam Kapoor has finally tied the knot last Tuesday, May 8, with her long-time boyfriend Anand Ahuja. For those who don't know, Anand Ahuja is a businessman who has founded his own fashion brand named Bhane. His Delhi-based business has made him quite successful despite his young age, and fans know him well for always being addressed fondly in Sonam's online posts. The couple is active on social media, and has never failed to win hearts through their messages of adoration and love. Radio Cambuzz wishes the couple a happy conjugal life!

SaRa May 12 marked the grand opening of SaRa's first showroom in Mirpur. The fashion house made a huge statement with endorsements from stars like Sara Zaker, Oyshee, Shahtaj, Pritom, Xefer, Azim, Doyel and many others. They were present during the opening, along with the owner S.M Khaled.

RABINDRA FESTIVALS AROUND THE COUNTRY The celebration of 157th birth anniversary of Tagore in Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka. Artistes performed in a programme by Jayita Rabindra Sangeet Shomillon Porishod in Mymensingh. Artistes did a cultural show in Rabindra Mela, Channel i premises, Dhaka. Artistes from Bangladesh and India performed in Rabindra Festival in Shelaidah Kuthibari, Kushtia. Also Sirajganj.

30 years of BAMBA - More than just bands After a break of almost four years, Bangladesh Musical Bands Association, better known as BAMBA, recently arranged a mega concert, 'BAMBA Live Chapter 1', in Dhaka. The turnout was huge, with the spacious hall room of the International Convention Centre, Bashundhara, filled to the brim with fans eager to get a glimpse of their favorite bands and listen to their all-time hits. 11 of the 27 bands under the umbrella of BAMBA, including Warfaze, Miles, Shunno, Aurthohin, Nemesis, Vikings, Feedback, Dalchhut, Maq O' Dhaka, Pentagon and Arbovirus performed at the concert. Star Showbiz recently invited BAMBA to participate at a roundtable discussion at The Daily Star Centre. Hamin Ahmed, President of BAMBA; Sheikh Monirul Alam Tipu, General Secretary; Fuad Naser Babu, Vice President; Maqsoodul Haque (Mac), Executive Committee Member; Mohammad Ali Shumon, Treasurer; and Doza Alan, CEO, SkyTracker Limited, took part in the roundtable discussion. It was facilitated by Star Showbiz Editor Rafi Hossain. The discussion focused on BAMBA's current activities and the way forward in the face of the challenges confronting our music industry.

Link 2

Zoe Saldana on the Hollywood Walk of Fame After smashing success as the alien warrior Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy films and more recently, Avengers: Infinity War, Zoe Saldana is on a path to eternal stardom, literally. She joins the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and her co-actor Chris Pratt, by receiving her very own star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Zoe Saldana took to Instagram to express her gratitude, saying she is blessed and honored to be a part of the history of Hollywood. “May this open more doors for Latinx and all other under-represented community!” she further stated. Zoe Saldana has also appeared in James Cameron's 2009 film Avatar and the recent Star Trek trilogy. Being a constant presence in blockbuster sci-fi and fantasy films, Zoe Saldana is expected to become a top name in this specific genre quite soon. 2018 71st Cannes Film Festival From Tuesday May 8th til Saturday May 19th. Australian actress Cate Blanchett has been named as the President of the Jury. Asghar Farhadi's psychological thriller Everybody Knows, starring Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz and Ricardo Darín, opened the festival and competes in the Main Competition section The Han Solo spinoff Solo: A Star Wars Story touched down Tuesday at the Cannes Film Festival, bringing its cast and a full-sized Chewbacca to the French Riviera extravaganza. Director Ron Howard, wearing a hat that read “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” introduced his cast before the film’s international premiere at Cannes. Sonam Kapoor wows at the red carpet of Cannes Film Festival 2018. Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai Bachchan once again stole the show as she walked the prestigious red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, this time in a stunning ultra-violet, blue and red gown that reflected the metamorphosis of a butterfly. History was made at this year's 71st Cannes Film Festival on Saturday as 82 women, representing the limited number of women filmmakers selected over its more than seven-decade history, made a symbolic walk up the red carpet. The stars, filmmakers and other professionals ascended the steps of the Palais des Festivals at the Cannes Film Festival, protesting for the solidarity of the women in the industry who are struggling for a voice, equal pay, as well as a safer work place. The five female members of this year's Cannes jury-- Cate Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Ava DuVernay, Lea Seydoux and Burundian singer Khadja Nin, along with Jane Fonda, Salma Hayek and Marion Cotillard were among the group of women.

Link 3 Mim Mantasha Superstar in the making Winning the country's biggest pageant is not an ordinary feat. Mim Mantasha has won not just a crown, but also the hearts of millions. Awaiting a new journey, the Lux Channel i Superstar 2018 winner shares her story with The Daily Star. A final year student of Fine Arts at Jahangirnagar University, Mim has always been a creative and curious soul. She was an avid follower of the contest for a long time. This year, she finally took the decision to compete. Taking part in the competition was certainly not a cakewalk. “We went through vigorous training sessions. We did yoga in the mornings,” explains Mim. Before the task rounds, the contestants went through fifteen days of training for ramp walk, acting, dancing, and many other skills. The photo shoots, acting, and improvisation rounds were Mim's favourite tasks in the competition. “I was nervous but in a scene, I got to convince people through my acting that my child was lost. I enjoyed it,” Mim smiles, adding that the competition was an overall memorable experience. Although she is highly enthusiastic about working in the media, she wants to take more preparations before doing so. She is now Lux Bangladesh's brand ambassador and has also won the opportunity to work on television and feature film projects of Impress Telefilm. Before hitting the silver screen, Mim wants to explore the world of television. Being a painter at heart, Mim also wants to continue painting and have her own exhibition in the future. Further to this, she intends to work for children who need special care. “I am in a fortunate position and it is our duty to take care of those in need.” says Mim. With great intentions, we hope Mim Mantasha excels at every step of her future endevours.

Link 4

Avengers Infinity War Review The plot itself is pretty simple. There are six stones that possess mystic powers and he/she who possesses all the stones is by default the most powerful being in the universe. Our Marvel superheroes must forget their own conflicts and join forces against Thanos to restore the fate of the universe and its inhabitants. Of course, watch the movie to know how things pan out. Avengers: Infinity War is the movie of movies, and let me tell you why. Most, if not all, the characters of the MCU are present in this film and bring their own flavour into the mix. Thor is mourning the loss of his home and hammer, Stark feels he needs to take a break from saving the world, Captain America is still out to bring justice the right way, and Hulk has no control over himself. I don't know what formula the Russo brothers have applied in their direction but I watched in awe how all the characters blended to deliver multiple storylines within a movie. Yes, I have also compared this movie to a mega three-hour episode of your daily soap opera. Avengers: Infinity War is the comprehensive Marvel movie; it is the beginning of an end. It lifts you, it hits you, and leaves you with a cliffhanger extraordinaire. See it to believe it and it'll still be unbelievable. By next weekend, Infinity War will top $1.78 billion and could sit around $1.8 billion, ensuring Marvel's year-to-date tally exceeds $3.1 billion by next Sunday.

Deadpool 2 Marketing Right off the bat, you see how Deadpool has scratched out the 20th Century Fox logo and put “TBD,” which is a sly allusion to the ongoing Disney/Fox (and Comcast?) merger drama. The content of the letter is exactly what you might expect from the Merc with a Mouth. Pop culture references, silly puns, bad language, and Ryan Reynolds bashing. Then, at the bottom, instead of the #ThanosDemandsYourSilence, we get #WadeWilsonDemandsYourSisterSorryStupidAutoCorrectSilence. See, you guys, it’s funny! And not at all trying too hard. Kidding aside, the marketing for “Deadpool 2” has been pretty top notch, but perhaps not as great as the first film. Recently, the film premiered a music video for the soundtrack featuring Celine Dion singing an over-the-top ballad while a high-heel-wearing Deadpool does an interpretive dance around the diva. It’s ridiculous and fun. And also, the most recent trailer seems to have struck a chord with fans, who are coming down off their ‘Infinity War’ high.

Link 5

Top 10 Hollywood Box Office Weekend 1. Avengers: Infinity War - $62,078,047 (Total Grossing – $548,090,150) 2. Life of the Party - $17,886,075 (New) 3. Breaking In - $17,630,285 (New) 4. Overboard - $9,864,415 5. A Quiet Place - $6,455,396 (Total Grossing - $169,608,030) 6. I Feel Pretty - $3,805,437 7. Rampage - $3,462,442 (Total Grossing - $89,827,105) 8. Tully - $2,248,945 9. Black Panther - $2,077,207 (Total Grossing - $696,331,818) 10. RBG - $1,188,186

Billboard’s top 10 Hits 1. This Is America – Childish Gambino (New) 2. Nice For What – Drake (Last Week: 1) 3. God’s Plan – Drake 4. Psycho – Post Malone Featuring Ty Dolla $ign (Last Week: 2) 5. Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line 6. The Middle – Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey 7. Look Alive – BlocBoy JB Featuring Drake 8. Never Be The Same – Camila Cabello 9. Perfect – Ed Sheeran (Last Week: 12) 10. No Tears Left To Cry – Ariana Grande Learning and reflections: This program made me realize the inner potential I had to be so extrovert and be a good host. I learned what to do or say after getting stuck during a live session. I have improved my speaking skills and the flow of a RJ host on how to talk and say because they have a different tone when it comes to a live session. I have taken all these skills from this program and I even got selected and did a short commercial video for Spice FM Radio. I also learned how to write a script for a radio show.

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ljones41 · 4 years

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Top Favorite Movies of the Decade (2010-2019)

Below is a list of my top favorite movies of the decade between 2010-2019:

TOP FAVORITE MOVIES OF THE DECADE (2000-2009)

1. "Django Unchained" (2012) - Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed this first-rate film about a slave-turned-bounty hunter, who searches for his enslaved wife in antebellum Mississippi, with the help of his mentor. Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington and Samuel L. Jackson star.

2. "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" (2016) - Zack Synder directed this superb and vastly underrated second installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) about supervillain Lex Luthor's efforts to manipulate veteran vigilante Batman into a pre-emptive battle with Superman, whom Luthor is obsessed with destroying. Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill starred as Bruce Wayne aka Batman and Clark Kent aka Superman.

3. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014) - Chris Evans starred in this superb sequel to his 2011 hit about the Marvel superhero, who finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy regarding S.H.I.E.L.D. and its old nemesis, HYDRA. The movie was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.

4. "Lincoln" (2012) - Steven Spielberg directed this excellent look at President Abraham Lincoln near the end of his presidency. Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones star.

5. "Man of Steel" (2013) - Zack Synder directed this excellent reboot of the Superman mythos, in which the Kryptonian superhero battles a nemesis from his father's past. Henry Cavill starred as Clark Kent aka Superman.

6. "Inception" (2010) - Christopher Nolan wrote and directed one of the most unique films I have seen - which told the story of a thief who uses dream sharing technology to steal and plant corporate secrets. Leonardo DiCaprio starred.

7. "Saving Mr. Banks" (2013) - John Lee Hancock directed this superb and emotional tale about author P.L. Travers and producer Walt Disney's tug-of-war over the development of the 1964 movie, "MARY POPPINS". Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks starred.

8. "Dunkirk" (2017) - Christopher Nolan wrote and directed this acclaimed look at the British Expeditionary Force’s evacuation from Dunkirk, France in 1940. Fionn Whitehead, Tom Hardy and Mark Rylance starred.

9. "Hidden Figures" (2016) - Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe starred in this Oscar nominated biopic about the true story of African-American women who provided NASA with important mathematical data needed to launch the program's first successful space missions. Theodore Melfi directed.

10. "The Great Gatsby" (2013) - Baz Luhrmann co-wrote and directed this splashy yet entertaining adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel about a mysterious millionaire during the early years of the Jazz Age. Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton starred.

11. "True Grit" (2010) - Ethan and Joel Coen wrote and directed this excellent adaptation of Charles Portis' 1968 novel about a fourteen year-old girl's desire for retribution against her father's killer. Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hattie Steinfeld starred.

12. "Gone Girl" (2014) - David Fincher directed this outstanding and colorful adaptation of Gillian Flynn's 2012 novel about whether a man is responsible for the disappearance of his wife or not. Ben Affleck and Oscar nominee Rosamund Pike starred.

13. “Silver Lining Playbook” (2012) - David O. Russell wrote and directed this Oscar-nominated adaptation of Matthew Quick’s 2008 novel, “The Silver Linings Playbook”. Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper and Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence starred.

14. "The Avengers" (2012) - Joss Whedon wrote and directed this excellent blockbuster in which S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury forms a team of superheroes to save Earth from Asgardian villain Loki and alien invaders. The cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Samuel L. Jackson.

15. "Wonder Woman" (2017) - Gal Gadot starred in this excellent movie about the D.C. Comics’ heroine Wonder Woman and her experiences during World War I. Patty Jenkins directed.

16. "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" (2016) - Gareth Edwards directed this excellent stand alone film in the Star Wars saga about a group of Rebels who learn about the Imperial Galaxy's new weapon, the Death Star, and set about stealing the plans. Felicity Jones and Diego Luna starred.

17. "Rush" (2013) - Ron Howard directed this exciting biopic about Formula One drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda . . . and their rivalry during the 1976 racing season. Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl starred as the two rivals.

18. "Solo: A Star Wars Movie" (2018) - This excellent STAR WARS movie set ten years before the Original Trilogy, told the story of the early years of Han Solo as a smuggler and criminal. Directed by Ron Howard, Alden Ehrenreich starred in the title role.

19. "Black Panther" (2018) - Chadwick Boseman starred in this excellent adaptation of the Marvel Comics hero Black Panther aka King T'Challa of Wakanda about the title character's efforts to maintain his position as Wakanda's king, while dealing with a vengeful relation. Directed and co-written by Ryan Coogler, the movie co-starred Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong'o.

20. "Once Upon a Time . . . in Hollywood" (2019) - Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed this excellent tale about a fading actor and his stunt double struggling to regain success in the film industry during the final year of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles. Oscar nominee Leonardo Di Caprio, Oscar winner Brad Pitt and Oscar nominee Margot Robbie starred.

Honorable Mention: "Incredibles 2" (2018) - This first-rate direct sequel to the 2004 hit Disney animated film follows the Parr family as they try to restore public's trust in superheroes, while balancing their family life. They also find themselves combating a new foe who seeks to turn the populace against all superheroes. Directed by Brad Bird, Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter and Samuel L. Jackson provided the voices.

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pixelgrotto · 6 years

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The horrific Resident Evil playthrough, finale

Approximately one year ago I began the somewhat mad quest to shove as much Resident Evil into my brain as quickly as possible. I blazed through thirteen games, a handful of spin-offs, and as much supplementary material I could get my hands on. I chronicled my thoughts each step of the way via posts here, on Twitter and in a massive ResetERA thread where a lot of good people gave me advice on how to proceed with the series. Not all of the stuff I experienced was great (those Paul W.S. Anderson movies come to mind), and sometimes this massive undertaking felt like work, but now that I’ve come to the end, I can say that it was worth it, because it’s quite the feeling to bring yourself from having zero knowledge of something to morphing into a Wiki-reading fiend in just a year. At this time in 2018, I had only the barest notion of what this series was about and who characters like Jill Valentine or Leon Kennedy were. Now, I could probably write a pretty heated Twitter thread about how Jill needs to be brought back to the forefront of the series not just with a remake of Resident Evil 3, but with an entirely new game, because she’s been sidelined for years despite being the central figure in promotional material like the fancy artwork that I’ve posted above! Ahem.

My initial desire to become more familiar with Resident Evil has been part of a larger push in recent years to consume more horror media, mostly because as I get older I find myself increasingly attracted to eerie stories that I was too much of a weenie to dive into when I was younger. Some of it probably has to do with the fact that as an adult I now find stuff like health concerns, existential dread and paying taxes to be more horrifying than things that go bump in the night, but part of it is also because that even as a scaredy cat kid, I was always kinda intrigued by macabre stuff like Resident Evil, even if I couldn’t bring myself to play through the games.

Now that I’ve plowed through the franchise, I wish I could go back and whisper to my younger self that aside from the first game, RE7 and perhaps bits and pieces of both versions of RE2...Resident Evil isn’t all that frightening. The series does have its jump scares and gore, but it quickly crosses genres into the realm of action, and even in its more tense entries, Resident Evil stays dripping with a fine dollop of cheese, either through B-movie dialogue or moments when the main characters wink at the camera and suddenly take a zombie to suplex city. Action, comedy and horror are unusual but frequent bedfellows, I’ve learned, and with RE embodying all three of these genres, translating them to the realm of electronic entertainment via a format emphasizing survival, it’s only appropriate that this is the franchise that has come to serve as the face of spooky thrills in the video game world.

Resident Evil’s also in a very good place at this moment in time. RE2Make has gotten well-deserved praise from just about everyone who’s played it, and after a moment where it looked like Capcom was going to tilt the mattress and upset the delicately placed bedfellows - emphasizing action and over-the-top comedy more than horror - now it appears that the devs have gotten their heads straight and maintained the balance once more. There’s still room for improvement and careful experimentation though. As the series forges ahead into the 2020s, I hope that Capcom doesn’t get drunk off of RE2Make’s success, milking its formula to exhaustion. I want at least another mainline game to utilize the first-person perspective of Resident Evil 7, which worked better than I ever would’ve imagined, and I’d also like to see the Revelations sub-series, which was supposed to focus on stories that took place in between the main games, continue - in spirit if not in name. (A Revelations 3 or similar spin-off with fixed camera angles - perhaps in a mid-tier budget point ‘n click style a la Detention - would be something that I’d love, though Capcom probably will never go in that direction.) Finally, I’d like Resident Evil to remember that it had fabulous female representation in its earlier entries. The later titles have mostly had male protagonists front and center, which directly reinforces the trope that it’s okay for survival horror games to star the “must be protected” ladies, but anything action-orientated should star dudes so that male players can have their power fantasy trip. This can easily be fixed by doing what I said in the first paragraph - bring the queen Jill Valentine back.

Finally, because these sorts of franchise reflections are never complete without a good ol’ fashioned list... Here’s how I’d rank the mainline games, complete with a snappy sentence or two for each.

Resident Evil REmake - Because if I had to recommend just ONE game for someone to get a decent idea of this series’ mechanics and themes, it would be this one.

Resident Evil 4 - It’s survival action instead of survival horror, but when the gameplay’s this good, can you really complain?

Resident Evil 2 - Over 20 years old and still a thrilling experience. The epitome of the fixed camera angle games.

Resident Evil 7 - I was afraid that the change to a first-person perspective would alienate me, but I beat this game in two days and couldn’t put it down.

Resident Evil RE2make - Almost as good as the original, and a great sign of the franchise’s future.

Resident Evil Revelations 2 - Worth playing for the return of Barry Burton and the moving story alone, which is basically about fathers and daughters, loss and acceptance.

Resident Evil 1 - The OG that started it all. A little clunky to play in this day and age, but the magic’s still there.

Resident Evil 6 - The equivalent of an overstuffed exploding cake, RE6 is excessive as hell and sometimes infuriating...but one thing you could never call it is boring.

Resident Evil 5 - A solid series entry about Chris Redfield punching boulders in Africa, this one’s excellent if you play it co-op. Solo, a little less excellent.

Resident Evil Zero - RE probably didn’t need this prequel showing what Rebecca Chambers was doing on the night before she got stuck in Spencer Mansion, but good chemistry between the main characters makes it worth experiencing.

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis - A lot of folks love this one, but IMO it feels less noteworthy than RE2 and RE1, probably because it was originally designed as a spin-off. I rank it low but am eager to see how a RE3make could boost it.

Resident Evil Revelations - Jill Valentine’s in a wetsuit that clings to her booty this whole game and she hangs out with a partner who looks like Russell Crowe. Aside from that, Revelations is fine but kinda forgettable.

Resident Evil: Code Veronica - The only RE that truly annoyed me with backtracking and some cheap bosses, Code Veronica is technically still an okay game. But Steve Burnside is a garbage character.

Thus, we bring the horrific, 2018-2019 Pixel Grotto Resident Evil playthrough to a gentle finish. *Cue relaxing save room theme here.* It’s been fun, ladies and gents. I need to rest up a bit and try some other games that aren’t survival horror for a while. But I like the idea of doing more series playthroughs in the future...

And I think Silent Hill might be a good choice for the next one.

The header artwork is a textless version of the radical Biohazard 20th Anniversary poster that Capcom put out in 2016.

#pixel grotto #now playing #video games #resident evil #biohazard

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allthefilmsiveseenforfree · 5 years

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Shazam!

You and I know each other pretty well by now. I think it’s pretty clear from the contents of this blog that I’m a Marvel girl, through and through, and as such you might expect me to carry some irrational bias against any DC property that comes my way. But I’m here to tell you that any bias I have towards DC films is 1) completely rational and 2) on a case-by-case basis. When I first saw the trailers for Shazam! I wasn’t sure which version of DC I would be getting, but its comedic tone and somewhat tongue-in-cheek treatment of a silly premise (a teen is given the powers of a wizard and turns into super buff Zachary Levi in spandex when he says the wizard’s name) gave me high hopes. So was this more Wonder Woman or Suicide Squad? Well...

Happily, much more the former than the latter! Henry Gayden’s script leans in hard on the humor and the heart, and a tight, well-crafted story with fun and electric performances from the film’s leads means DC has finally cracked their own version of the Marvel formula to great success.

Some thoughts:

This whole opening sequence is a REAL rollercoaster. What a dick of a dad. Also who names their kid Thad? That’s just asking for trouble. And in terms of the “test” to determine if a person is pure of heart...I just find it incredibly hard to believe that any 7-year-old ever is going to be like “Oh no I’m not gonna touch this mystical magic orb” when you’re literally goading him to do it? That’s entrapment!

I love that the wizard is Djimon Honsou - his voice really sounds like it belongs to an eternal and wise being, doesn’t it?

I do have some questions about this wizard business though. Because if they were created to protect against the 7 Deadly Sins...does that mean they get their powers from God? Like, Jesus’ dad? Because - and I know we’re talking about a movie in which a wizard gives a little boy superpowers - that just seems unrealistic.

Nice little Easter egg - director David F. Sandberg also directed Annabelle: Creation, and you can see miss Annabelle herself on the lowest shelf in the pawn shop that Billy locks the cops in.

For a movie with such a silly premise, there’s a lot of extreme emotional peril. The car crash, the kid getting lost, everything with Billy’s search for his mom - for fuck’s sake, there are bullies kicking a disabled kid in the stomach - there’s a lot of trauma bubbling beneath the surface here, and the film is all the richer for it.

Jack Dylan Grazer is absolutely amazing in this. His comedic timing is perfect, and he’s all barely contained need for love and friendship underneath. It’s a great performance, and his chemistry with both 14-year-old and grown-up Billy Batson/Shazam (Asher Angel and Zachary Levi) is fantastic.

I love love LOVE that the hero is the one directly responsible for making his own supervillain nemesis. It’s excellent narrative planning and symmetry, and you just don’t see it in movies enough, especially with all these comic book superheroes around. The last one I can really think of is Age of Ultron, and even that doesn’t feel as thematically rich as it does here.

Of course we have to talk about the foster family. I love this multiracial, multicultural foster family who loves each other and sticks up for each other, god MY HEART.

One of my favorite throw away lines is about peer reviewed studies about superheroes - can you imagine?

The character design of these stone monsters who turn into the actual 7 deadly sins are super intense, but honestly it’s much scarier when Mark Strong is just hanging out and fucking shit up. But the tongue situation with these monsters is uh, a problem.

Note: there is a Very Good Dog in a very pivotal scene!

A superhero who doesn’t know how to use his powers, causes his own disasters, makes people pay him, and acts as a showoff and a bully. This is such a better arc than most hero origin stories, and both Asher Angel and Zachary Levi really dig into this super juicy role in full force. Billy’s a victim of the foster care system and his reluctance to trust or let anyone in, even when he’s literally invincible, is just such excellent storytelling and I really really loved every minute of his character study.

Did I cry? Yes, after the big group Shazam! That shit is gold to my found family-loving heart.

A big villain showdown that was actually interesting, a villain plot that made sense (based entirely on character) and a victory that feels earned - this is just so damn refreshing.

Weirdest end credits scene ever though.

I honestly can’t recommend this film enough. It resonated with me in all the right ways, its laughs are plentiful, and its peril is fucking PERILOUS. Every element works together in the best ways and I honestly can’t wait to see more of this particular corner of the DC universe.

If you liked this review, please consider reblogging or subscribing to my Patreon! For as low as $1, you can access bonus content and movie reviews, or even request that I review any movie of your choice.

#119in2019 #shazam #shazam!#shazam review #zachary levi #dc movies #dceu #asher angel #jack dylan grazer #mark strong #djimon hounsou #movie reviews #film reviews

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shedontknowbutsheknows · 3 years

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My current nemesis at work is whoever designed all the excel budget workbooks we use that are designed in such a way that you can’t use any sort of formulas or take advantage of things excel actually does well (doing the same formula over a large number of similar data groups) so I end up basically remaking every workbook so I can actually do math on them.

Basically they make the workbooks as far from a simple table as humanly possible??

#I can’t succintcly explain how they are designed bc they don’t make any sense #like why use excel if you’re gonna do it like this????

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nflweeklyuk · 3 years

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NFL Week 1 Predictions

Buccaneers 31 Cowboys 27

Spread: Buccaneers -7.5

Opening night! The spread has Bucs by 7.5 but I can see this one being closer than the spread suggests. The Cowboys were electric on offense before Dak went down last year, and the defense improved as the season went on. Expect offensive continuity with the Bucs bringing back all starters on offense, we know that they will put points on the board and I do see them winning this game but I would not be surprised if it is a close run thing.

Texans 13 Jaguars 20

Spread: Jaguars -2.5

This game has little intrigue outside of Trevor Lawrence making his NFL debut after being drafted No 1 Earlier this year. The strength of Jacksonville’s weak team was the running game behind James Robinson last year, with a rookie QB expect the Jags to lean heavily on the run game in this one. Given the Texans offense looks to be completely anemic without Watson at the controls, and the porous D not improving greatly this offseason, I expect a conservative Jags effort to be enough to edge this one in a relatively low scoring contest.

Washington 20 Chargers 23

Spread: Washington -1.5

Tough game to pick. Can Fitzmagic channel early 2020 form in a new system? Can the Chargers o-line handle Chase Young and Montez Sweat? My feeling is that the latter question is the key to the game here. If the perennially shaky Chargers o-line can, then I think the Chargers have more all round talent, and a more consistent quarterback. The FT has a lot to like on offense with Antonio Gibson looking like a great prospect towards the end of last year and Logan Thomas providing a great alternative outlet to the prolific Terry McLaurin. My gut tells me that the Chargers take this one, primarily because I believe it will take the FT offense some time to settle into a rhythm this season

Lions 13 49ers 28

Spread: 49ers -7.5

The 49ers are a very talented squad, and for the first time in a while, a healthy squad. I see them beating the Lions comfortably here but the 49ers should be primed for a playoff run this season. I don’t think the we will be seeing many last gasp Lions comebacks now that Matt Stafford has left, to compete this year the Lions need way more balance between offense and defense as the ceiling is lower for this offense with Goff under center. The 49ers are a step too far for a rebuilding (always?) Lions squad. Expect the 49ers to pound Detroit on the ground, asking little of the QB other than to sink a few George Kittle layups every now and then.

Panthers 23 Jets 17

Spread: Panthers -5.5

The Sam Darnold revenge game! I’m not sold on Darnold as a starter but he has the chance to prove doubters wrong this year, working with a much more rounded offense (McCaffrey, Moore, Anderson etc.) and a D that should be solid if not surprising. That is a stark contrast to his supporting cast in New Jersey. The Jets have their new hope in a talented, but raw, Zach Wilson. The supporting cast is improved but is yet to instil any sense of fear into opponents. Expect struggles for the rookie QB, and therefore the offense early this season, including in this contest. Panthers win and Darnold gets some measure of revenge. It is still the Jets though.

Colts 20 Seahawks 24

Spread: Seahawks -2.5

Early is going to be the best time to play the Colts. Wentz is trending towards starting Sunday which gives the Colts a chance, but without a full preseason it is going to be difficult to hit the ground running. Running is how the Colts can keep this close though. If Jonathan Taylor can pick up where he left off and get some support from Marlon Mack and Nyeim Hines then the Colts can look to control the ball and limit Russell Wilson’s possessions. Wilson however should be able to hit the ground running with his familiar core of pass catchers (Metcalf, Lockett and co) and so should be able to make enough plays against this talented, young, Colts defense to take advantage of any rust/lack of familiarity on display for the Colts.

Falcons 27 Eagles 21

Spread: Falcons -3.0

A matchup of my nemesis teams in recent years. Just when you think the Falcons have found it, they lose a slam dunk. The Eagles present a similar problem. We know that a Matt Ryan, Calvin Ridley led offense will put up points. Throw in a crazy talented Kyle Pitts and this offense should be a challenge for any squad. The worry is that the D shapes up to not be a challenge for any other squad. The Eagles will go however Jaelen Hurts goes, based on last years mixed bag I would expect the Eagles to pinch a few games they shouldn’t, and lose some they should win. I’m going to go with the Falcons here as they should have the continuity on offense to hit their stride early. The Eagles best bet is to let Miles Sanders take over this game.

Bills 24 Steelers 21

Spread: Bills -6.5

If Big Ben can come out the gates at 100% this has the makings of a great game. Can the Steelers get enough pressure on Josh Allen having lost some pass rush in the offseason? What Bills D will we get? Josh Allen in primed for big things this season and I fully expect him to deliver. This is a tough matchup against a pretty good Steelers defensive unit. If Allen has time I think the Bills will win with a measure of comfort. If not then it opens the door for the Steelers offense to find some rhythm and pull off an early upset. Some semblance of a ground game outside of Allen would sure help them in this contest. A large part of me wants to call the upset here…. But continuity often helps early in the season and I think the Bills are the team bringing the most here. Don’t right off Roethlisberger, who has proven his gunslinging nature does not necessarily require lots of practice reps to deliver, hmmmm. No, no, no I’m picking the Bills.

Bengals 24 Vikings 30

Spread: Vikings -3.5

There is a lot to be excited about for Bengals fans; Joe Burrow suiting up again after an excellent start to his rookie year was horribly cut short, Jamar Chase joining Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd to form a very talented trio of wideouts (Chase’s poor preseason aside), Joe Mixon looking to bounce back and benefit from all of the above. The two concerns being the o-line and defense. Poor units which didn’t get much help this offseason, the former potentially limiting all of the positives above.

For the Vikings we know that the offense is going to put up yards and points with all the weapons on that side of the ball. Again the question is whether the D can step up and make enough stops to let the offense carry this team. Right now I think I trust the Vikings offense the most in this matchup and so I will go with them. I expect a few points on the board in this one.

Titans 28 Cardinals 27

Spread: Titans -3.0

The Cardinals were excellent out of the gate last season, only to infuriatingly lose some easier matchups in the weeks after. On his day Kyler Murray can be unplayable, if the injuries of last year are behind him then we should see the best of Murray early again this year which makes this game a tough call. Tennessee are by far the more consistent performers here and, as the spread suggests, are the more sensible pick. The Titans are not known for generating a lot of pressure which might allow them to contain Murray’s devastating runs, meaning he has to beat them with his arm. Something he has not been consistent in doing. On the other side, the Titans will run the ball with Henry and open up play action for Tannehill, Brown and Julio Jones. It’s a tried and tested formula that will net points, can the Cardinals D put up enough stops to let Murray and Hopkins go to work. The score above suggests how much of a coin flip I think this is, but I will go with the more consistent all round team in Tennessee but an Arizona win would be no surprise here.

Patriots 20 Dolphins 17

Spread: Patriots -2.5

I suffer from a not picking against Bill Belichick problem that did not serve me well last year when the Patriots went 7-9. The Patriots look to have set up in full matriculation mode this year, with the additions of Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry expect a lot of long drives with quick, short passes for Mac Jones with a heavy dose of the run game. This is what Patriots teams have thrived on over the years, Mac Jones is not Tom Brady but I expect the team to be proficient in implementing this game plan. With a D that won’t give up many points I fear, as a Dolphins fan, that the Patriots will be back in the thick of the playoff hunt this year. This game plan will nullify some of the strengths of the Dolphins D, namely turnovers, and will likely not give Tua many short fields. I expect a jump in performance from Tua but I don’t thing a Belichick coached D is ideal out of the gate. Miami will be in the playoff hunt again this year but in this matchup I am going to take the Patriots at home.

Saints 20 Packers 31

Spread: Packers -4.5

I fully expect Aaron Rodgers to ball out this year, if anyone translates a chip on their shoulder to performance on the field it is him. This year he may just be carrying the biggest chip of all after the offseason dramas. I took Rodgers over Mahomes and Allen in my fantasy draft so I am fully invested in this narrative. I also got Davante Adams with the 10th pick so I am doubly invested. If the Pack stay healthy on offense then the ceiling is perhaps even higher than last year when they lead the league in scoring. The defense is perennially shaky but makes enough plays to generate possessions for the offense. The Saints sans Drew Brees look to shape up as a different team. Expect even more Alvin Kamara, not a bad thing at all, but also expect shakier QB play. Michael Thomas’ absence for at least 6 weeks leaves the receiving core thin, although Callaway and Smith have shown plenty of promise. I cannot see the Saints hanging with the Packers in this one.

Chiefs 27 Browns 20

Spread: Chiefs -5.5

A great week one matchup here. Mahomes got a lot of playing time in the offseason so expect him to come out sharp in this one. In theory the Browns have all the tools to implement the keep ball and limit possessions type of game that helps to halt prolific offenses. I’m just not sure I buy that with this Chiefs offense. Mahomes and Co have made a mockery of that too many times with quick scoring strikes that negate long drives chewing up the clock. The Browns will run the ball, and likely with success, but they will need more than that to make this game close. I’ll wait to see the Brown’s aerial offense consistently thrive before I will pick them over an AFC powerhouse. The Browns will challenge for the AFC North, and may even be favorites at this point, but I think this Chiefs team, early in the season at Arrowhead will see off the Browns. If this was December in Cleveland that might make things a little more interesting!

Rams 26 Bears 10

Spread: Rams -7.5

Matthew Stafford getting the opportunity to lead a team with plenty of talent on both sides of the ball is just one of those things that should please all people objectively. Someone who’s patience, professionalism and toughness have been shown season after season with a Detroit team who couldn’t give him the support he deserved. The talent is there and I for one am rooting for him. You cannot fault the QB on the other side of this matchup in many of the same ways, but Andy Dalton does not strike fear into the opposition and will be on a very tight leash. The supporting cast with he Bears is not as talented as the Cowboys and I for one am not sure Dalton is the one to make a team greater than the sum of it’s parts. The Rams should run the ball (I assume someone has explained what this looks like to Stafford!) to set up play action and consistently put up points with a balance offense. The Bears D will keep the score down but I don’t see the Bears offense putting up many points at all, let alone enough to make this a contest.

Raiders 17 Ravens 27

Spread: Ravens -4.0

I see a similar season ahead for the Ravens, rack up regular season wins but fail to make it deep in the playoffs. Those wins start racking up in Week 1. The Raiders were below average in stopping the run in 2020 and allowed the second most rushing TDs in the league. That bodes well for a Ravens team that lead the league in rushing while clocking up the third most rushing scores in the league. The Raiders were a top ten aerial offense last year off the back of breakouts from Darren Waller and Nelson Agholor. The former will do his thing again while the latter is over in Foxborough. For me though this game is Raiders strength vs Ravens Strength (top ten D vs the pass in both yards and scoring) while it is Ravens strength in the run game vs Raiders weakness in rush defense. There is plenty of chat about an upset here but I don’t think there is much to overthink here. Nothing I have seen in the offseason has suggested the strengths and weakness of these teams will change.

#nfl #nflweek1 #nflseason #tbvsdal #houvsjax #wasvslac #detvssf #carvsnyj #indvssea #atlvsphi #bufvspit #cinvsmin #tenvsaz #nevsmia #novsgb #kcvscle #larvschi #lvvsbal

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junker-town · 5 years

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20 sports movies we love that will ease your boredom

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It may be hard to find real sports to watch right now, but there is an ABUNDANCE of great fictional sports at your fingertips.

Televised sports are on hiatus for the foreseeable future. It’s a tough (but obviously necessary) blow, considering we’re all stuck inside with little to do, and sports would be the perfect diversion right about now.

Thankfully, there are hundreds, or possibly thousands, of sports-centric movies available to wile away the hours. Some might even be convincing enough to get you to yell at your screen, or feel the inimitable catharsis that comes from watching your team (the good team, obviously) win.

Below are some of the SB Nation staff’s go-to sports flicks, with information about where to stream them included. The majority are also available to rent via Amazon, YouTube, Google Play and the like.

Hot Rod (2007)

Available on Netflix, Prime and Pluto.

Insofar as failing to jump over things with a moped is a sport, Hot Rod is about sports. It’s an extremely dumb, pleasant movie with no stakes whatsoever, and it is my number one.

— Seth Rosenthal

Yes, it’s hilarious — but even more importantly, it has the ability to absorb you before you realize it and not let your mind wander out of its grasp. Distraction grade: 10 out of 10

— Will Buikema

Creed (2015)

Available to rent

Too many Rocky sequels to count, but this one really engages with the mythos around the character and who gets to take part in that myth. Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson are two of Hollywood’s brightest stars, and while it’s frustrating they were not awarded like Sylvester Stallone for their performances, all three are terrific here. Also: unlike the original Rocky, this movie recognizes that boxing includes dodging and blocking as well as punching!

— Pete Volk

Goon (2011)

Available on Netflix.

You could probably analyze Goon for commentary about how we glorify violence in hockey, or you could sit back and enjoy a genuinely hilarious movie. It has everything you want in a hockey film. There’s a dim-witted but lovable bouncer who gets a chance at a hockey career in the minors, and a grumpy Quebecois prodigy with a physicality issue. There’s gratuitous blood and gore, and Liev Schreiber getting into fights, and a hint of bromance. There are even cameos from former NHL players, and one from current Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin in the film’s 2017 sequel, Goon: Last of the Enforcers, which is also on Netflix.

If you don’t mind some exaggerated violence and slapstick comedy (and particularly if that’s what you’re into), I highly recommend it. Plus, the soundtrack slaps.

— Sydney Kuntz

Bend it Like Beckham (2002)

Available on demand with Starz and DirecTV

It’s funny, it’s sweet, and the fact that you’ve definitely seen it before doesn’t mean you shouldn’t watch it again. It made Keira Knightley an international star, and Parminder Nagra picked up the FIFA presidential award. Beyond the film, it represented a crucial moment in David Beckham’s relationship with his country. He’d gone from villain in 1998 after that red card against Argentina, to hero in 2001 after that free kick against Greece. Eight months later this came out, and canonized him as a national treasure.

— Andi Thomas

High Flying Bird (2019)

Available on Netflix

What better to watch during a period without basketball than a movie about basketball personnel that takes place during a time of no basketball? High Flying Bird, shot entirely on iPhone by Steven Soderbergh, follows a top rookie and his ambitious agent during an NBA lockout, as they try and change the owner-heavy economic structure of the NBA.

— Pete Volk

Escape to Victory (1981, also just known as Victory)

Available on demand with Cinemax and DirecTV

Sylvester Stallone is an Allied solider in a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp. So is Michael Caine. In there with them, for some reason, is Pele, Bobby Moore, Ozzy Ardiles, and half of Ipswich Town’s 1981 UEFA Cup winning squad. And wouldn’t you just know it, they have to play an exhibition against a handpicked German side, for reasons of propaganda. Will they escape … to victory?

— Andi Thomas

Goal of the Dead (2014)

Available on Shudder

”Some kind of a riot. They are burning cars.”

”Given the refereeing, no wonder.”

French football superstar Samuel Lorit faces off against his hometown team in a cup game. His formerly adoring fans now all despise him. And then a tainted steroid injection turns pretty much everybody into zombies, straight from the 28 Days Later school of hard-running mouth-frothers. Good blood-soaked fun, if probably a bit too long. But then all films are too long these days. Return of the King won a million Oscars, and that didn’t have a ‘roid-raging zombie kicking a man’s head off his neck and into the goal.

— Andi Thomas

Fighting with My Family (2019)

Available on Prime and Hulu

Maybe the only worthwhile WWE Studios release ever? I’ll await the flame from fans of The Marine 5: Battleground in the comments. What would have otherwise been yet another vanilla sports inspiration story is elevated by a terrific cast, led by newly Oscar-nominated Florence Pugh.

— Pete Volk

The Damned United (2009)

Available to rent

An adaptation of a brilliant but bleak novel about Brian Clough’s doomed spell at Leeds United, the film dispenses with most of the book’s harrowing existential loneliness and discovers a surprisingly soft-hearted buddy story underneath. Michael Sheen disappears uncannily into his role, absolutely nailing Clough’s astringent self-possession, but Colm Meaney almost steals the film as Clough’s nemesis, Don Revie. A reminder that English football, back in the ‘70s, was a strange, drizzly place full of strange, compelling people.

— Andi Thomas

Hoop Dreams (1994)

Available on HBO, Kanopy and DirecTV

One of the best American documentaries. Also one of the best movies about dreams, who crushes them and how they evolve. It is also one of the best movies about race and poverty in America. All in all, this is one of the best movies about the allure and grace of basketball. A phenomenal film!

— Pete Volk

Horse Feathers (1932)

Available via the Internet Archive

I grew up watching the Marx Brothers with my dad, and I would be remiss not to mention this college football-centric classic. Turns out the “amateur” status of college football players was a joke in the 1930s, too!

— Pete Volk

Minding the Gap (2019)

Available on Hulu

Only tangentially about sports, since the group of kids at this documentary’s focus are skateboarders, but this is one of the great modern American documentaries about growing up, difficult friendships and toxic masculinity. Highly, highly recommend.

— Pete Volk

Starship Troopers (1997)

Available on Showtime, CBS All Access, DirecTV and Vudu

There are several reasons Starship Troopers is memorable — the broadly written anti-nationalist commentary! The exploding bugs! The co-ed showers! That one fight scene soundtracked to Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You,” for some reason! — but space football is the only one that fits with our theme. In the future, America’s favorite sport is played in high school gymnasiums on old wrestling mats. There are no special teams or roughness penalties. The ball is Nerf’s rough approximation of a baked potato wrapped in foil.

Johnny Rico, our protagonist, wins and is escorted off the field a hero. Roughly 20 minutes of film later, he’s left to die on an alien planet. Shit’s real, yo.

— Christian D’Andrea

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Rush (2013)

Available on HBO

If you liked Ford V. Ferrari, you’ll probably love this. Retelling the true story of James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda’s intense Formula 1 rivalry, Rush has fantastic racing scenes and benefits from focusing on the wildly different personalities and approaches of the two rivals.

— Pete Volk

A League of Their Own (1992)

Available on Showtime, and very often randomly on cable

It almost feels redundant to list this classic, which you’ve probably already seen once or dozens of times. But if you have seen it, you know it holds up better than most of the feel-good, strings-swelling-styled sports hagiographies of the 1990s. A more-or-less accurate retelling of a vital and often ignored part of American sports history, conveyed via an all-star cast and too many quotable lines to count. The “hard” may be what makes it great, but there’s nothing hard about watching this iconic and genuinely uplifting movie. (I also wrote more about it here.)

—Natalie Weiner

Speed Racer (2008)

Available to rent

One of my favorite movies of all-time, taking many aesthetic cues from anime and seamlessly bringing them into the live-action world with breathtaking visual effects. Speed Racer is visually explosive and a delight for the senses, with a grounded conflict at its core (a family business getting bought out by a heartless corporation). In my opinion, this is sports + movies in their best balance with each other.

— Pete Volk

The Heart of the Game (2005)

Available to rent

A hardscrabble team works diligently to overcome the odds, with a few twists. The movie centers on a girls basketball team from Roosevelt High School, 10 minutes from where I grew up in Seattle, and the star of the team gets pregnant. Bring tissues.

— Natalie Weiner

Uncut Gems (2019)

Available to rent

No movie better captures the anxiety of being a sports fan, or the bad decisions you make because of your fandom. Also sports luminaries Kevin Garnett and Mike Francesa deliver excellent performances. My favorite 2019 release! Louis wrote more about it here.

— Pete Volk

Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006)

Available on Starz and DirecTV

This is the height of me on-my-bullshit, but please allow it: Scott Adkins and Michael Jai White are generational action stars, and this entry in the excellent Undisputed series shows their singular talents at their best. White plays an ex-boxer framed for a crime and sent to prison, where he fights for his freedom in an underground MMA ring. Adkins plays the terrifying Yuri Boyka, the reigning prison champ. This is so up my alley it’s not even funny, and hopefully it’s up yours, too!

— Pete Volk

More Than a Game (2008)

Available on Starz

It’s very easy to take LeBron James for granted. After all, he’s been doing otherworldly things in the NBA for almost two decades now. Sometimes it just seems like he’s always existed, like he’ll just be inevitable forever. At a time when we’re (hopefully temporarily) deprived of watching him play basketball, it’s worth revisiting this great documentary about his origin story. Yes, he overcame seemingly insurmountable odds, but the part that sticks with you is the people around him — those who believed in him completely, and who he has been just as loyal to in return.

— Natalie Weiner

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rocksolute · 7 years

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👶 heh

ted was snoring the night away without a single care, looking like a sloth hanging from a branch on a tree with more than sixty-five percent of his body dangling off the edge of the bed he shared with his first and only flame—- the nancy to his not so vicious sid, elizabeth. he gnashed his teeth unconsciously in his sleep and sighed profoundly as he’s swept away and lost in a dream he could only hope to accomplish in real life. ❛ this show is has been straight fuego, bodacious ladies and gentle-dudes and it is all thanks to you! we seriously could not have done it without you. ❜ wyld stallyns fans’ screams caress his earholes in the dream, they were playing to a full house at the selland arena in fresno and they were opening for their fellow headliner, v.an ha/len. and just as he was about to dive into the song’s solo that would wrap up their portion of the show, the earpiece that protected his ears from upsetting loud noises fell with a soundless ‘clack’ onto the ground.

tossing his jet-black hair out of his eyes, he bends down to pick it up— but before he could snag the item in question, he felt a pair of icicles burning holes into his back. the young musician’s blood ran cold as their adoring fans gasped in unison, looking directly behind him with wide eyes and gaping open mouths. “ theodore, look ou—- ! ” and he quickly turned around. the stadium was as still and as silent as graveyard now except for the static that flooded the stadium and the few notes that were unintentionally played as ted’s fingers just barely grazed his guitar strings. instead of finding his wife who’s sentence was cut short prematurely, he finds him. wyld stallyns’ arch-nemesis and rufus’ old gym teacher, chuck de nomolos who’d traveled a very long distance to destroy what he personally liked to call that ridiculous, insipid band not once…but twice. ❛

what have you done to my friends, you futuristic dickweed? ❜ he demanded angrily, gripping the neck of the guitar in his hands as he swung it like a bat. may not be much compared to the futuristic ray gun his overfed repulsiveness had but it’ll do for now. instead of giving one of his speeches about how much he hated the most excellent society he was forced to live in because of their ‘tasteless, heavy metal’ music—- he let out a scream. a blood curdling scream, it unlike anything he’d ever had the utmost displeasure to hear before. a sound he didn’t think a human was even capable of producing. it was all over the place like, some sort of psychotic free form jazz and ted tried to so desperately block out the noise that flooded the arena.

his dream was quickly altered by a not so scary doze of reality when he realized the source of the noise wasn’t chuck de nomolos but his son. wiping the sweat off his brow, he lets himself drop with a hard ‘thud’ onto the ground. “ my stars! ” he heard his wife cry, throwing the covers off her as she rushed to his aid. “ theodore, are you alright? ” to which, ted replied with a guttural ❛ i’m alright. ❜ he lifted his head off the floor, just enough for her to see his dark, romantic, half lidded eyes behind the bed’s horizon. ❛ do not fret, bodacious wife babe! i’ll take care of it. ❜

the former princess smiled sweetly before she eased back into bed and yanked the covers over her head, she does so much for their band and their family during the day; she needs the rest. ted scrambled to his feet and quietly made his way to william’s crib. ❛ — what made you turn on your siren, little dude? ❜ he checks for a questionable scent, a sigh of relief escaping his lips to see there wasn’t any. ‘ hun-whee. ‘ he’s hungry. ❛ well, let’s go fetch some snack-a-roos, scrappy doo. ❜ the toddler clapped his hands as dad took him in his strong arms and carried him down the hall, chanting ’ snack-ee-roos! snack-ee-rooss! snack-ee-ro—– ! ‘ before ted shushed him a finger to his lips.

❛ use your library voice, dude even if you’ve never been to a library before. ❜ he’ll take him tomorrow morning to watch the puppet show, if he can bring himself to remember even a fraction of what he’s telling him. the smaller version of ted shook his head and pulled on a strand of his father’s nape-length hair. ‘ —- ba-doob! ‘ after flicking the light switch in the kitchen, the young parent put the little one down and let him walk clumsily about. he opened the fridge, squinted his eyes and looked inside. maybe he’ll want some of those yogurt cookies that melt in your mouth.he immediately took those out. when he turned around, he saw william holding up his toy guitar. ‘ bay-len! bay-len! ‘ the tot said, to which his father cried. ❛ you can shred just like e.ddie v/an ha!len? no way! show me. ❜

he offered the small sleeve with cookies to his son, who immediately popped three into his mouth. the younger pressed a bright, orange button on the guitar, making all the lights on it turn on. ted showed genuine interest as he too, munched on some of little bill’s most savory yogurt cookies, holding a pre-chilled bottle of milk in his free hand. his eyes blew up to the size of golf balls as genuine interest is displayed across his face. ❛ outstandingly played! willing to bet you must be the very spit of e.vh himself! do you offer lessons for greenhorns such as myself? ❜

the younger eagerly shook his head before his dad lifted him off the ground, turned off the light and scurried down the hall with his laughter echoing behind him. hugging his toy guitar close to his chest, the child took the cookies and bottle from the older’s hands, taking drinks from the formula between bites till he eventually the walk to their bedroom rocked him to sleep.

❛ time to get some shut-eye, little dude! we have a big day with a most excellent adventure ahead of us. ❜ the taller quietly placed the bottle, wrapper, and toy guitar on the lamp table to his left before carefully placing his now sleeping son back in his crib.he couldn’t help but smile a bit as he looked down at him—- brushing the thick, jet-black hair they shared out of his eyes as he drifted off. ❛ sleep well, little dude.

CAN YOU EVEN ADULT, DUDE? ⚡ NO LONGER ACCEPTING!

#christ this got long asfdkjl #thanks bud !#❛ ⁱⁿᶠᵒʳᵐᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿ ᵃᵍᵉ 📞 ❱❱❱ SAN DIMAS¸ CA. ( ᴇxᴛ. ¹⁹⁹⁴ )#❛ ᵃⁿˢʷᵉʳᵉᵈ ⚡ ❱❱❱ FANMAIL.#ghostlyanon #❛ ˢⁱᵈᵉ ᵃ 📼 ❱❱❱ TRACK 004. ʀᴏᴄᴋ ʀᴇᴠᴏʟᴜᴛɪᴏɴ.

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theziaries · 5 years

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Drakonian Ruminations🦉

To the delighted surprise and wonderment of the music world, a Rap Radar interview with hip-pop titan Drake appeared on the superstar’s YouTube channel - rapidly becoming a social media spectacle and sparking a reign on the aforementioned platform that persists today. Even I, despite my lack of fanatic adulation for the artist, became one of the millions who flocked to view the two-hour episode. Since taped sit-downs with massive celebrities - the Rihannas, Beyoncés, and Kendrick Lamars - have become rarities, I felt the same excitement upon discovering a comprehensive conversation with Drake, who too deserves the “Elusive One” epithet with which he ennobled an anonymous associate that evaded the interview cameras. The session itself, facilitated by music journalists Elliott Wilson and Brian “B. Dot” Miller, was fulfilling - addressing extinct and extant rap animosities, the state of his forthcoming album, classics in his catalogue, and more.

I was impressed by the humility of Drake - the artist of the decade with his perpetual, chart-topping presence - and how he has embraced solitude despite an enthusiastic adoption of and allegiance to “rap life,” or the ceaselessly extravagant and ostentatious existence from which his contemporaries, Lamar and J. Cole, regularly retreat after a release. His aura appears to be more meditative, which might be attributed to maturation or the wine of which he makes mention. Still, he admits that his appetite of aspiration is never quite satisfied regardless of successive achievements. Famishment drives him to the desire of reaching new heights of success. The humble approach also does not overshadow his confidence - which some may have disregarded after a concession that musical insecurity encourages him to request the opinions of friends - and an anecdote highlights the point. Drake recounts his youthful assurance, reminiscing on how he regularly invited a girlfriend on a ride around a prosperous Canadian neighborhood - home to the majestic estate that he currently occupies, and the site of the sit-down, as well as the late Prince’s alleged former residence - and told her he would one day inhabit the mansions they passed.

The analysis of the rapper’s multiple acrimonious relations with other celebrities made for an engrossing section of the interview. When questions about Drake and Meek Mill’s reconciliation after a rap beef (who can forget the ubiquitous uproar engendered by the former’s “You gettin’ bodied by a singin’ n----” taunt?) arose, I felt instantly transported to those pre-”Adidon” days. The most fascinating revelation from that rivalry was tennis champion Serena William’s stunning role in abetting Drake’s rap wrath. Referencing the athlete’s competitiveness, Drake recalled her exhortations to “finish it,” a fun fact that I decided was one of the most epic in rap battle history. He also commented on Pusha T, whose “The Story of Adidon” was, in Drake’s words, a brilliant chess move. The diss track - complete with cover art of his nemesis in blackface - became famous for its divulgence of the OVO executive’s paternity. Though it failed to shatter Drake’s stardom, it certainly sparked a reassessment of his street credibility and an outpouring of memes-seen-around-the-world. Another beef, one with controversial singer Chris Brown, yielded a peaceful resolution and Grammy-nominated Billboard Hot 100 hit. I noticed the problematic nation surrounding their reunion and so did the rapper, who acknowledged the quandary dilemma posed by respecting Rihanna and reconciling with Brown in wake of Brown’s notorious brutalizing of her in 2009.

It has been debated on whether Drake possesses a classic album, and the three parties (the artist and interviewers) responded to the argument with a consensus that he does have one (or two). To the rapper, So Far Gone and Take Care deserve the distinction, though I have to return to the records in order to offer agreement of disagreement. However, there is no way for me to deny the multitude of hits on the latter - the title track, “HYFR,” “Crew Love,” “Make Me Proud,” and “Marvins Room” all constitute it. The classics debate naturally produced an examination of excellent verses, and his inclusion of “Gold Roses” met my utmost approbation. The track, an entreaty for admiration while still alive, has a vintage quality that augments the commendable verses of both Drake and Rick Ross. It is no wonder that “Gold Roses” has gone on to receive a Grammy nomination, which is quite felicitous in the face of Ross’s lugubrious lyric “I was nominated, never won a Grammy / But I understand, they’ll never understand me.” As a lyricism and wordplay enthusiast, what I most appreciated about the discussion of Drake’s best verses was his enduring reverence for “the art of bars” and traditional rap. Because of his classification as a melodic rapper and superior commercial success over traditionalists Lamar and Cole, I had harbored a mild resentment for Drake’s music, but it was comically comforting to detect lamentation in his voice - mellifluous as ever - when he declared traditional rap to be nearly extinct.

I may have never been a huge Drake fan, only casually listening to his music and usually asserting my preference for his rap peers when I encountered veneration for him from an acolyte, but I have come to respect his talent and, as he prided himself on, his comparative lack of controversy. He has incontrovertibly created a sound and formula that musicians follow certainly proved that Toronto could produce viable mainstream acts. I can see Drake’s influence in the younger rap and R&B artists from Canada - the simultaneous virtuosity in rapping and singing of Tory Lanez and the intermittent descents into persistent gloom and ascents into arrogant indifference of The Weeknd - and in the occupants of other musical genres and countries. There is some validity in his boast “Last name Ever, First name Greatest” after all.

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sleepydrarry · 8 years

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"Auror!Harry partnering up with Unspeakable/Ministry worker/consultant etc" ys pls !! :)))) I am interested!!!!! sign me up/count me in etc etc xxxxxx

WITH PLEASURE! This is also for the other people who wanted this i.e. @captaintrashdrarry @not-all-those-who-wonder-r-lost @brightowl @markedplaces @miaunderstress (and whoever I forgot). Here goes!

Auror!Harry partnering with non-Auror!Draco fic recs

• Eternally Consistent by kitsunealyc (44k)Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter assumed they would never be anything but civil enemies, until Potter lands on Malfoy’s doorstep, bleeding, covered in curses, and acting very strangely indeed.(Aaagh this fic is so good I can’t. The romance and love, the wit and sass and flirting. A brilliant Unspeakable!Draco, too. EVERY scene is my favorite!!)

• Settle in my slow-burning heart by Teatrolley (10k)Five years after the war Draco is working a tech developer job in the Auror Office, and it’s all great except this one thing: Harry Potter works there, too. Things only become stranger when Harry starts bringing Draco ugly souvenirs back from his work travels. When Harry then shows up injured in Draco’s flat, Draco considers the possibility that he’s going insane.(The writing style in this one! It kills me every time, I love the characterizations, Harry in particular being adorkable. So passionate, soft, and easy together.)

• The Light More Beautiful by firethesound (81k)Thirteen years after Draco accepts Potter’s help escaping the horror of his sixth year, he returns to England where he makes the unfortunate discovery that Potter is still as obnoxious as ever. And worse, more than a decade overseas hasn’t been enough to dim Draco’s obsession with him.(A++ favorite favorite favorite fic, it is hilarious with these amazing details, the pining is excruciating. Harry is an Auror instructor and Draco invents things.)

• When Hearts Are Freed by oldenuf2nb (23k)When Draco Malfoy’s gallery is robbed and a priceless magical artifact is stolen, he finds himself working with Chief Auror Harry Potter to both recover the fabulous necklace, and to prove he didn’t steal it himself.(I’m so happy with this fic, there’s assertive!Harry and romance and mystery and stolen kisses. The Romanov family jewels!! Such good writing too.)

• Nightcall by femmequixotic and noeon (116k)A hideously mauled corpse is found sprawled across the paving stones of Brick Lane in the East End of London. Inspector Harry Potter–widely believed to be the lead candidate for next Deputy Head Auror–is called in to investigate a possible magical crime. To make matters worse, his occasional lover and former school-nemesis, Viscount Draco Malfoy, now billing himself as a consulting criminologist, shows up at the crime scene to aid in the investigation of the suspicious death. Neither man will go away from the case unchanged, but will their combined forces be enough to fight the tide of danger that is sweeping London in the summer of 1910? And if they plumb the depths of the case, what bones of the past will they uncover?(I love this fic, it is the coolest thing, the case freaks me out and the Drarry in it gives me LIFE. Excellent writing, such passion, such an original setting.)

• The Darkness Before the Dawn by Ren (55k)A mysterious creature is loose in London, stalking and killing people. Auror Harry Potter requests the help of a liaison from the Beast Division and gets saddled with Draco Malfoy. Will they be able to stop the creature before it claims more lives?(YESS THIS ONE. They are so sweet together and they argue so much, Draco is all clever with the formulas, and the case is interesting. Very nice.)

• and Hope to Die by olimakiella (24k)Strategically placed pieces of Wizarding artwork are going missing in the United Kingdom. Only, when the dots are connected to a darker plot, Harry learns that there are classified places in the Ministry that only few people get to see. And just what the hell is the Centre of Magical Intelligence anyway?(Holy crap, I love this fic so much and this author is a fave. I’m so fascinated by all of this! Also, clever!Draco is amazing and Harry is a cinnamon roll.)

• the keys to your kingdom by thistle_verse (7.5k)It was nothing so elegant as fucking, the first time they came together. It was teeth just a little too sharp— against a collarbone, on the right-side curve of a jaw, drawing blood from the plushest part of a bottom lip. It was the doorframe digging into the curve his spine was making of its own volition: closer, harder, more. Two hundred pain receptors per square inch in the human body and it was nothing but background noise in the explosion, the revelation, that was Harry Potter’s body against his.(Hit Wizard!Draco and Auror!Harry flirting over corpses, gorgeous writing as can be noted above, and so much passion–what’s not to love?)

• Crossing Lines by Ren (47k)While investigating a ring of smugglers, the Aurors receive a tip saying that the European Express is being used to move contraband across state lines. To solve the case, Harry has to unmask the smugglers and find the hidden contraband before the luxury train reaches Bulgaria. Draco Malfoy is also on board… but that’s just coincidence, isn’t it?(This is such a cute and fun case fic! I enjoy the mystery, all the piniiing, the oblivious!Harry that is all over the place, and Draco’s sassy comments.)

Bonus:

• The Boy Who Only Lived Twice by lettered (54k)Harry Potter is an Unspeakable. Draco Malfoy is the wizard who shagged him. Adventure! Intrigue! Secret identities, celebrities, spies! It’s all right here, folks.(Unspeakable partners!Drarry because I love this fic and this author. The pining in this, the amazing feels, the pure affection. And the action!)

#drarry #drarry fic rec #harry potter #draco malfoy #auror!harry #my recs #asks #also for everyone who has requested rec lists #THEY WILL HAPPEN #at some point #still working on it promise

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idristardis · 5 years

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NCIS: New Orleans - Thoughts on The End of Season 5

So, I’ve wrapped up the last five episodes of NCIS: New Orleans and wanted to circle back around and finish my assessment of the current season, since I’d outlined my reaction to the first 19 episodes HERE.

This post will delve a bit more deeply into Jackpot, Trust Me, Chaos Theory, and The River Styx - Part I and Part II and then try to give a brief overall season analysis. Though, anyone who has read one of my metas before will know that these things usually end up being longer than planned.

First episode out of the gate is Jackpot - my least favorite of the “Final Five of Season Five.” To me, this episode felt like so much filler after the much more exciting and rich A House Divided. Though that episode was a bit formulaic and the red herrings were pretty easy to spot, it gave us a bit more growth for Sebastian and was pretty well acted. Jackpot, on the other hand, was just an excuse to bring back Elvis Bertrand - a recurring character that I think adds little but annoyance even when used effectively as part of the episode plot. Here, he was just a flat out pain.

The way the character of his “daughter” was written also seemed designed for maximum annoyance, and the actress made her unlikable in the extreme. This episode also added nothing to the overall season plots and just felt like killing time before the final few episodes ramped up the intensity for the season finale.

Trust Me, on the other hand, had several strong elements - the episode showcased Gregorio and hinged on her trusting her gut instincts in solving the primary case, even though the evidence didn’t necessarily support her theory and some of the team doubted her conclusions. The case itself was written in compelling fashion, with a couple of twists I didn’t really expect, and the narrative was well done enough that it made me question at times whether or not Gregorio might’ve been influenced in her take on Dylan Samuels by her past issues with her own ex-husband. The vindication of her suspicions in the end though was very satisfyingly done.

The secondary plot - Ryan Porter insisting on getting involved in the hunt for Appollion via his old intelligence contact - put Pride in an untenable position. Particularly because of Ryan’s declaration that he’d pursue the info with or without Pride’s blessing. Either Pride had to tell Ryan no and risk losing critical information, or agree and risk causing difficulties with Hannah. There was never any question, in my mind at least, that he was going to take the path he did - accept Ryan’s information but on his own terms, which also meant fully looping Hannah in (which Ryan hadn’t wanted). It continues to be complicated for the Porter-Khoury family, but I like that the show isn’t shying away from having them confront and discuss their problems - even if, as in this episode, the discussion isn’t really resolved.

Chaos Theory was an extremely compelling hour. I was really impressed that in both instances when the bombs blew up, the show had me fooled with the timing. I kind of instinctively braced for it, thinking “well, this is when they’d normally set it off for maximum dramatic impact on the viewer,” and then they didn’t...and I relaxed....and then BOOM!! The fact that this happened not just once, but twice, was really quite something. It’s difficult to surprise viewers with much these days, but both of those explosions took me juuuuust enough off guard to make me actually flinch.

The episode itself was a little formulaic, and the motives and methods of the bombers, once uncovered, were a bit expected...but the actual build up to and detonation of both devices was played for maximum tension and impact. The episode was another great showcase for Rob Kerkovich - Sebastian’s journey was the throughline for the episode, and he did a fantastic job. From the anger/incredulity at Neila’s initial refusal to have the surgery that would allow the team to recover critical evidence, to trying to work through the grief over his friend’s death and overcome his concussion to help solve the case, to empathizing with Neila and convincing her to get the surgery after all, he hit just the right note in each scene.

Sadly, this was another episode of an NCIS-show where a female character (this time Sebastian’s friend who worked in the evidence lockup) ended up dying to further a male character’s story - didn’t love that, but Kerkovich handled the material as well as anyone possibly could. I also was pleased that at the end of the episode they made a bit more use of the fact that Gregorio and Sebastian are roommates with her (trying) to take care of him and him being a big baby a bit picky about his soup temperature.

The season finale - which, if the show hadn’t been picked up for next season could’ve functioned excellently as a series finale - had a little bit of everything. The River Styx - Part I and Part II featured just about every regular guest character - Jimmy, Rita, Isler, Laurel - each swooping in at just the right moment to play a critical role. The Angel/Sutter was back for one more round of hallucinatory mind-games with Pride, and the main season-long nemesis - Appollion’s Avery Walker - slotted nicely into the role of villain once again, with an assist coming from the semi-unexpected source of Agent Parker.

The episodes take Pride and LaSalle to South Ossetia, on the hunt for a kidnapped Isler who had in turn been on the track of Walker - though that had turned out to be a trap and Isler and his team had walked into an ambush intended to kill most of them and capture Isler and use him as bait in order to lure Pride away from the U.S. Pride knows he’s likely walking into a trap, but goes anyway and after the attempt to get Isler back from the rogue militia who have taken him goes more than a little bit sideways, Pride himself gets chased through the woods by said militia, coming face to face with a moment that he’d had one of his prophetic dreams about - stumbling into the clearing where (he believes) he will be shot to death.

Only, just when it’s about to happen, Walker saves him - only to pull him into something far worse and far more horrifying. Pride spends most of the remainder of the two episodes high as a kite in a semi-hallucination state on drugs cooked up by Walker’s own personal chemist. Walker’s interrogating him - though not to find out what Pride knows about Appollion. It’s for a more personal piece of information that was hidden in Amelia Parson’s barcode tattoo - namely the location of Walker’s son, who he’d given away in order to protect him. The remainder of the two episodes flip between Pride’s attempts to resist Walker’s drugs and keep the info on the boy to himself, and the team’s efforts to evade and then bring down Parker and find Pride.

Without going into exhaustive detail as to how, because this post is already really long, the team and Pride are successful and they eventually bust him out of Walker’s compound. Walker’s skipped out though and hightailed it to the place where his son was being raised - but Pride had figured it out and had already had the boy moved. After what was, in the end, a slightly cliched villain mini-monologue about his motives, Walker makes a move to engage Pride and Gregorio takes him out from her sniper’s position. Game’s over, team’s intact (though Pride is really banged up). Everyone gets to go home.

Overall, I thought it was a great season closer - the last few minutes, where we get to hear Walker’s motivations, seemed to bring everything to a somewhat speedy and overly convenient/tidy close, but other than that, there was so much that was strong about these two episodes.

The pros:

-They really showed off the team’s ability to work together and play off of each other. Hannah and Gregorio steered everyone through a difficult time, Sebastian got another chance to step up (when he shot the server it was one of the best moments in the entire two-parter - “it was uploading and it wouldn’t stop, so I shot it.” Can he and Eric “I broke the internet” Beale meet in some future crossover ep, pretty please? I know that NOLA and LA haven’t crossed over, but a girl can dream...).

-The ruse with Isler’s “dead” body, designed in order to smoke out Walker’s mole was really well done. Though I did cotton onto it fairly early - Gregorio didn’t seem moved enough that her former mentor/boss supposedly didn’t make it. I thought she would’ve been a bit more upset if he’d really been dead.

-Luka Osman. More of him, please. It just hit me as I type this - he’s NOLA’s answer to Arkady, I think. He can never truly reach Arkady’s heights of snark and banter, but he made a good attempt and I liked him.

-The episode also made good use of Jimmy - I hope he sticks around next season. I would love to see them develop the character more.

The cons:

-The aforementioned slightly rushed feeling to the ending - though, they’d been building up Appollion for so long that almost anything they did would end up being a bit of a letdown. Still, it felt as though this was just over so fast, and Walker’s motivations ended up being about a son we’d never heard about before and who suddenly meant more to him than all of his chaos-dealing, war-mongering, money-plundering ways? Hmmm....yeah, no.

-They didn’t really use LaSalle very well - which was an ongoing gripe I have. They make a point of having him insist on accompanying Pride to South Ossetia because he’d been in that region before, or near it, and had the expertise Pride would need to help navigate the trip - and then, when they’re stopped and questioned by the local police almost as soon as they arrive, he doesn’t have facility with the language, ends up bribing the police (and paying too much), and his whole presence there ends up being played for comedy and as a way to introduce Luka - who I like, but this seemed to undercut LaSalle in a way that’s been happening all season long.

-The most egregious misuse/under-use of a character though has to be ASAC Thompson. I have to think that they were setting him up to be the original tie to Appollion - he had the connections, the access, and suspicious Appollion-related files were found in his office earlier in the season, and Pride hadn’t been read in on the op at that point. It feels to me like Parker was a (serviceable) last minute switch to fill the role of the mole (sorry for the unintentional rhyme!). Reggie Lee’s in, like, three movies coming out next year - maybe he was filming and the schedules wouldn’t align for him to come back to the show. Still...it seems like they dangled something there that didn’t get resolved - and it didn’t seem intentional, rather that they’d just run out of episodes before they could get to fix all the loose threads they’d left.

Things wrapped up fairly neatly in the final episodes and didn’t leave much lingering and needing resolution for season six...but I would like to see:

-More of Jimmy, and him developing a real relationship with Dwayne.

-Better use of LaSalle - MUCH better. (Broken record, I know, I know...).

-Better, more well-rounded storylines for Gregorio and Wade.

-Returns of guest stars like LeVar Burton, Derek Webster (Isler), and others who extend the world of the show in interesting ways...

-...and less of Tom Arnold, please.

-Evolution of the Hannah and Ryan storyline in a way that’s pertinent to the other plots on the show...keeping it complicated and real, but not dragging out the resolution - whatever it may be - way too long.

-More of all that they were doing with Sebastian this year - he’s really come into his own.

-A guest appearance (or ten) for Shalita Grant (pleeeeease!!!!).

Here’s to Season 6!! I’ll be tuning in come fall - hope you all will too!!

#ncis: new orleans #ncis: nola #metaaa #S5 #S5 recap #long post #my thoughts #i really liked this season and thought it was very strong #just a few things stood out as less than stellar #and because the rest was so good #those things were more noticeable #i think

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kristenvalentin-blog · 7 years

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GameSalad Activity From The Month February.

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The Mercedes E300 is my best selection for a high-end sedan if I were actually looking for a vehicle that alleviates my day-to-day commute, but is still delightful to drive on the weekend breaks. The good news is for Rickey Pearce, he understood only where to go to try to find cars and trucks online to create his selection simple.

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thunderella666 · 7 years

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HA!

[Sidenote paragraph which has nothing to do with the main content of the post, but is cathartic to the neurotic writer]

So I just came back from a shopping trip on Oxford Street. I literally just parked my things and myself on my comfy booty chair for a hot minute, when karmic retribution occurred from the depths of my demented by cement nemesis’ lair (ie psychopathic neighbours from downstairs).

They started screaming at each other so loudly and vehemently, that my initial reaction was “F*** !! They heard me fart ! And now they are bickering about who is going to come make me un-fart !!!”

It turns out it wasn’t that. Yeah I know, disappointing right?

Nevertheless, I was very tempted to put on the smuggest annoyed face, sashay down the stairs, tap on my watch (18:51!!), and demand that they argue in silence, because don’t you know, it is the week for stupid requests and I can oblige as well, especially at 18:51!

The actual topic of this post is not farts and psychopaths, but a rather mundane – but oh so satisfying shopping trip and assorted weekend shenanigans. First of all, it is fashion haul time, with bits garnered from a shop called Reserved and from Forever21.

I walked past this shop a few times, but never really made it in until today. And I made up for time lost!

I am loving this jacket and bag both from Reserved. The bag is really cool and was £14.99. Jazzy enough for an evening out but also chilled enough for casual flashiness.

Twisted Biker

This studded biker jacket is £59.99 and fits excellently! It is well worth the price, as I have seen and tried many of these and they usually are either too tacky (like seriously, what kinda street cred do you want me to have with an iron on patch that says ‘cute but psycho’? Some things gotta be kept secret!)

PS: (I will resume photographing my non-dainty self properly once I rid myself of my remaining germs)

Then comes this Thunder Tee, £5.99. This is going to look sweet with a long black tulle skirt methinks?

In case you haven’t noticed, I am obsessed with the jacket! Underneath lives a Lynyrd Skynyrd tee shirt from Forever21 – emblazoned with one of my favourite songs ever : FREEBIRD. The t-shirt is now £7.

Additionally, I got some bits for work which scream : I might be a corporate slave, but you can kiss my shiny metal bits!

Both £14.99 from Reserved.

Other than this happy spendy highlight of today, the rest of the week has been pretty uneventful, as I am still recovering from a silly virus which is spreading across London at the moment and making people do Formula One coughs (me included).

So that is it for today folks, I am going to leave you with a “Twisted Biker Sister” pout that will give meaning to this post title … and hopefully prompt you to listen to some Twisted Sister to remind you ” WE’RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT”!!

Until Next Time 🙂

xxx

⚡ Twisted (Biker) Sister ⚡ HA! HA! HA! So I just came back from a shopping trip on Oxford Street. I literally just parked my things and myself on my comfy booty chair for a hot minute, when karmic retribution occurred from the depths of my demented by cement nemesis' lair (

#Alternative Fashion #Fashion Haul #Forever21 #London Shopping #Reserved #Shopping

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