#feels bad man. i want to be able to visualize shit. evil evil evil unfair

[the-knife-consumer]

Ngl not being able to visualize shit in my mind feels like imm missing out on a bunch

[revchainsaw]

Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Prayers and Salutations Cult Members! I am your mysterious minister Reverend Chainsaw and this is another nights revival service at the Cult Film Tent Revival. I bring you a special word tonight. Tonight's word is about a person who roamed the earth, in a time where people were backward and warlike. A leader emerged into a kingdom full of eschatological expectation. This leader came preaching peace, and was killed for the sins of the world, but was resurrected. In that resurrection a new hope was brought to the planet, and true healing through the power of love in the face of violence is made possible. I am talking of course about Princess Nausicaa from the Valley of the Wind.

The Message

Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is the film that put studio Ghibli and Hayoa Miyazaki on the map. No animated feature this grandiose and epic had been achieved by 1984, as much as Disney may beg to differ. The tale may be simple, and it may feel super 80s to us today, but Nausicaa is a masterpiece, and the fact that Howl's Moving Castle is brought up alongside Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away more often than Nausicaa is a farce and a tragedy.

The film takes place on a fantastic planet that seems to have suffered the ravages of an apocalyptic war. A war that involved gigantic warriors with powers so devastating they about made the entire planet inhospitable if not uninhabitable; save for a few areas. The fall out of this ancient war has left the earth in a state of repair, where the natural processes of a planet healing has creating giant toxic jungles.

Beyond these jungles lie two imperialistic factions, they seem almost to be city-states but it's not terribly clear. The Kingdom of Tolmekia, a militaristic proto-fascist society of almost Spartan sensibilities. Tolmekia is governed by the ambitious and cynical Princess Kushana, But I like to call her Furiosa. Just like Furiosa, Kushana is physically missing parts of herself, a visual metaphor for her metaphysical lacking and the parts of her humanity she has cut away. Kushana's world view is one of fear, a fear that can only be quelled by waging a genocidal campaign against her enemies.

Speaking of enemies, the Athens to Tolmekias Sparta would be the Pejite Kingdom. The Pejites might like to view themselves as simply responding to Tolmekian aggression, but the narrative of the film, and the story told quite visibly on the body of Kushana, is quite different. The Pejites are just as bloodthirsty if not more palettable in their approach, but like the Tolmekians, they believe only their own lives have any value. And thus, in this theatre of war, a Giant Warrior from the ages before is unearthed by the Pejite Kingdom, Stolen by the Tolmekians, before the forces of nature themselves, seem to conspire to drop the Giant Warriors "egg" right into the Valley of the Wind.

The Valley of the Wind is populated like the world of Avatar the Last Airbender, that is mostly of children and the elderly. The people of the Valley have been able to remain untouched by the ravages of war and the toxic jungles of the damaged world primarily due to geographic luck that's explained in minor exposition in the film. They are ruled by a King, and they are all deeply enamored by their beloved Princess Nausicaa.

Nausicaa is a gentle soul. She is kind to animals, she is empathetic, unreasonably patient, and bears pain and grief inflicted on her out of cruelty with a saintly understanding. She really is a thinly veiled Christ figure, scratch that. There is no veil. But she's also my favorite Christ figure. She does not preach a message, as much as she tries to save everyone from their own short sighted goals. She is not perfect, she does lash out and do some fantasy sword fight murder, but she regrets her actions so deeply that it seems to have played a part in motivating her to become even more compassionate and patient with the evils of the world.

Nausicaa discovers yet another plot by the Pejites, who are afraid of the possibility of the Tolmekians awakening the Giant Warrior, to use animal cruelty to enrage a group of almost invincible giant insects known as the Ohm. By luring the Ohm into the Valley of the Wind where the Tolmekians have become an occupying force, they hope to completely wipe out everything that threatens them. The Tolmekians DO awaken the Giant Warrior and pure pandemonium ensues. Nausicaa manages to save the Baby Ohm and calm the rage of the bloodthirsty Ohm swarm, and to defeat the warlike tendencies of both the Pejites and the Tolmekians. All the while fulfilling a prophecy fortold about a messianic savior figure called the Man in Blue.

Now that you have heard the Gospel of Nausicaa, please stand to receive The Benediction.

Best Character: Half a Person

Now that I've spent the better part of this review gushing about our Lord and savior Nausicaa. I have to admit, she's at times a bit too perfect, a bit too saccharin. Even her flaw, or her one weakness and her failing to be perfect, just adds to the perfection. I can't even say she never makes mistakes cuz she made one, and that's infuriating. It's even more infuriating that I still think she's a great character. Normally this kind of thing really kills a hero. Most Chosen Ones are the most boring and least likeable characters in their narratives. I don't know how Nausicaa avoids this trap, but she does. I'll have to do some meditating on that.

However, just like in your typical Chosen One fantasy narrative, the hero is a lot less fun than the villain. I'm going to say the best character in Nausicaa is Kushana. I want to be like Nausicaa, but I don't understand her. She's almost alien, even though we learn all about her. Kushana is mysterious, secretive, and enigmatic, yet I understand her. She barely has an arc, she doesn't really change. She's cold and cynical to the bone, but I don't need to see much of her situation to completely understand why she is the way she is. I usually hate totalitarian bad guys, but Kushana I like. Sue Me.

Also fun fact, did you that Nausicaa means 'Sinker of Ships'. That's kinda fun.

Best Scene: Spoiled for Choice

I'm going to be lazy and say take your pick. There is really not a bad seen in this movie. If the action isn't going, then there's intriguing dialogue. If there's no dialogue then you may be about to get hit with a forceful burst of whimsy. There's horror, there's swordfights and aerial dogfights. The only thing in Nausicaa I don't like to see, is the bloody tortured Ohm Baby. It's like a god damned Sarah Mclachlan commercial.

Best Creature: Foxy Shazam!

The Ohm are so simplistic yet so detailed. The number of eyes is alien, but the way they are used is expertly expressive. Who'd think you could get me to love what basically amounts to a silverfish with the intensity that I love a kitten. How did Miyazaki pull an Okja with a creature that should be haunting our dreams? I don't know.

And what about the Giant Warrior! If you are an Evangelion fan then you probably already know that Hideaki Anno designed and animated the melting goopy biomechanical beast. Surely a sight that would make both H.R. Giger and Clive Barker giddy with excitement. Just the image of the silhouettes marching amidst the desolation of the old world is burned into my brain.

So which of these is the best creature from Ghibli's first outing? It's fucking Teto. It was always gonna be Teto you idiot. Just look at Teto, he's adorable. He's too cute to exist. I'm so alone. I need a pet.

Best Character Design: Tolmekian Regalia

I originally included this category to talk some about Kushana, however, at that time I also thought I was going to say Nausicaa was the best character. I thought hard about deleting it, but I think it's a different category and you can't accuse me of playing favorites because my favorite character is clearly Teto. Just to keep it simple. It's the two costume shift from full military regalia in white and gold, to the one metal arm, warrior princess get up. It's a great costume and a great look. Get on this shit cosplay nerds. It's great for Cons in Canada, you have to think about layers, and you can't keep going as Mr. Plow. It's lazy.

Best Excuse to Talk About Patrick Stewart's Character: Lord Yupa

I just realized that I was about to write this whole review without talking about Lord Yupa. Lord Yupa is a sword saint and all around badass I think a lot of entertainment, especially in the west is lacking bad ass old men. Lord Yupa particularly shines in the early half of the film as a warrior and as a wise council to Nausicaa. If she's Jesus then Yupa is John the Baptist. He is also voiced by the elegant and eloquent Patrick Stewart. He also comes with 2 chocobos!

Worst Character: For Whom Asbel Tolls

This might also be the worst actor category as well. Actual Cannibal (haha meme) and actual monster (haha real life) Shia Labeouf doesn't so much act in the role as he read the lines and it was recorded. The good news it doesn't effect the film too much because Asbel is completely forgettable. He is a catalyst to some of the action, but besides that I don't really care for him.

Worst Aspect: To Be Fair ...

It would be unfair to completely ignore anything negative about Nausicaa. I have already mentioned in many places that there are some pretty corny, or pretty predictable tropes to this movie. But what I can't capture in words is exactly why it feels fresh when it's done in this movie. I suppose that's what makes it good. It's just so good that it's weak points are lifted up by it's strengths. Some people may bored of Nausicaa's unyielding goodness, or that she very rarely chooses to take action as much as she chases and pleads with her surroundings, but I mean, she does pay for that eventually. It's a fantasy story and it hits a lot of timeless themes that have been hit in stories for as long as human beings have been telling stories. Some people may feel that it doesn't do enough to stand out.

Summary

I have defined the S tier for myself as "near perfect and personal favorite" films. I like to think that Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is near perfect. Some may say that it looks like it might just be a personal favorite. In the case of Nausicaa, I'm having a very hard time telling the difference. I think it would be overly simple to claim that Nausicaa is just an ancient archetypal heroes journey with an 80s anime coat of paint. I think it's doing quite a few new and interesting things with that formula, those things are just playing out all around that narrative as opposed to being at it's center. For a first full length outing by the studio, you can really see Miyazaki's heart and the values he holds close to. I'll repeat myself so that we are completely clear on the matter. I think Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is a near perfect movie.

Overall Grade: S

[nellie-elizabeth]

Supernatural: Game Night (14x17)

Well, shit.

Cons:

Let's start with a small thing - the special effect for Lucifer isn't really doing it for me. I guess I appreciate that they're making a unique choice, but to me, that black morass of evil with the glowing red eyes is not Lucifer. It's not the Lucifer that we've come to know as a villain over the years in this show. I actually don't have that big of a problem with bringing him back into the show. Since we know Season Fifteen is the end of the road for Supernatural, the only appropriate end-game villain is Lucifer. But the way they're visualizing his return doesn't match for me the energy and essence of who the character is.

I really like it when a Winchester gets hurt and the other one is all worried and scared, obviously. But I do have to lodge a complaint about how contrived the fights in this show can be sometimes. Sam and Dean have been hit in the head so many times it's insane, and usually they're banged up enough to make them disoriented in a fight, but there does not appear to be any lasting effects. Now, because the plot needs Sam and Dean to be out for the count while Jack deals with Nick, suddenly Sam has a head injury and he's actually dying. I wish they could find a way to be a bit less obvious about it!

Pros:

Let's start with Cas' subplot. He and Anael are on the hunt for a way to contact God. Cas wants to talk to God to help Jack get his soul back, but ultimately they're unsuccessful. In terms of plot development, this little side-adventure doesn't add much of anything. Cas has an idea, but it goes nowhere. However, I actually really loved what they did here. Cas genuinely wants to help Jack, yes, but there's also the fact that he's in denial, and I think Anael picked up on the truth brilliantly. Cas knows deep down that Jack is walking around without a soul, but he doesn't want to admit how badly things are going. It makes sense. Everyone is tense, and nobody wants bad news. We all know how much Cas dreads disappointing the Winchesters.

Anael is a somewhat underutilized character, but I think Danneel Ackles does a great job with the material she's given. Specifically, she seems to understand how to play jaded, without being predictably pessimistic. She took her disenchantment with God and Heaven and turned it in to a spark of hope and helpfulness. Sure, she's a bit of a nihilist, but she'll use the power she has to help people when she can. And if she wants some material reward for that, then... well... so would I. I like exploring a character who has more than the average number of flaws, but who doesn't tip over into "anti-hero" territory either. Also, I like that Anael tries to deflect Cas' cheesiness about how we're not really alone, but Cas just sincerely confirms that they still have each other. The kinship between the angels has always fascinated me, so it was fun to see a bit of that explored here.

Then we've got the main plot. It's simple enough - Nick is on a mission to reunite with Lucifer, so he goes after Donatello to lure the Winchesters. It's all part of a plan to get some of Jack's blood, which is needed for his ritual. Along the way, we see that Jack is acting strangely, Sam is boiling with rage over Nick's behavior, Mary is being a mom to everyone, and Dean is just trying to hold it together. In the end, Nick gets the drop on Sam and badly injures him, and he also manages to summon Lucifer. Jack and Mary show up in time to stop Nick, but Jack goes way too far, using his powers to kill Nick horrifically. Jack is able to save Sam, but when Mary tries to talk to Jack about his behavior, Jack freaks out and loses control of his powers, ending the episode on something of a cliffhanger... did Jack just kill Mary?!

So, there's lots to unpack here. When the episode started and Mary was trying to be helpful to Jack, and then later had a nice chat with Dean, I got a little worried about her fate. Then, later, Mary also had a moment where she told Sam how proud of him she was, and I started to get really worried. I know we're not 100% certain that Mary is dead, but obviously Jack did something to her, and I'm actually really impressed with the dark turn the story is taking in this regard. We needed to see something to show that Jack has lost sight of himself. When Sam was soulless, things really hit rock bottom for us, the viewers, when Sam let Dean get bitten by a vampire when he could have intervened. Here, we see Jack doing plenty of immoral things, but we're not going to be completely convinced that he's lost his soul until he hurts someone who's completely innocent. That's not Nick, and that's not a snake, or his friend that he hurt on accident. But hurting Mary? Lashing out at her after everything they've been through? That's a pretty clear sign of how bad things have gotten.

I'm not convinced this show has ever quite known what to do with Mary Winchester, but if this is indeed the end for her character, it was a good way to go out. Obviously tragic, and unfair, but after struggling to adjust to her life back on earth, she spent her final hours being nothing but warm and encouraging and loving to her family, including Jack. Yikes, I'm really nervous about the fallout from this... as I think I should be...

So, Nick. Lucifer. As I said above, I actually don't have a big problem with Lucifer coming back. I think it's fascinating to see the parallel between Cas seeking God, and Nick seeking Lucifer, in this moment. God doesn't come through, at least not in an immediate, concrete way. Lucifer does. Lucifer appears directly. But that doesn't mean that he cares more for his followers. It means he's more selfish, more insidious. I'm excited to see what they do with Lucifer in the final season of this show, now that we know the end is arriving. But I'll be super upset if anyone other than Mark Pellegrino plays Lucifer at the end. The biggest "oh, shit" moment of the episode for me is when Nick asks to see Jack, and he calls him "my son." I genuinely got chills. We get all these little hints that Nick is so connected to Lucifer that the boundaries between them are hazy, and it's an incredibly compelling way to bring back Lucifer. Obviously a show like this ends up repeating itself a lot, but this is a cool and unique way to address a villain's impending return.

Sam's anger at Nick is so fascinating to me. Part of it feels like displaced rage for Lucifer, as would make sense. Nick is the face of Lucifer to Sam, so trauma is obviously playing a big role here. But I think it's a little bit more than that. Nick is a parallel to Sam himself. Both of them are vessels of Lucifer. Both of them have experienced the undivided attention of the Devil, and Sam sees in Nick the failure that he very well might have become. I love the way Jared is playing Sam's anger here, barely repressed, barely contained, but just a bit irrational. Sam knows it, but that doesn't mean he can stop it.

Oh man, Sam lying there with his head bleeding, trying to say goodbye to Dean... I don't care how many times they do scenes like this, it's always going to just gut me. Dean is trying to keep a positive spin on things, but you can just see that he's unraveling. The way his voice cracks when he's telling his mom that it's really bad, and the way he shushes Sam when Sam tries to say something to him... I think the best moment was when Jack heals Sam, and Dean just stands up and turns away to collect himself, overcome with relief, finally allowing himself to feel the full impact of what almost happened. I love me some angst.

I think I'll stop there for now. Just a few more episodes left of this season. You know, it hasn't fully sunk in for me that Season Fifteen will be the end, but I think it'll hit me the moment "Carry On Wayward Son" starts playing, and I realize that we'll only get one more finale after this...

9/10