#just some dune movie humor

[wine4thewin]

Chani, anytime she hears someone refer to Paul Atreides as Lisan al Gaib or Mahdi:

Meanwhile, Lady Jessica & her psychic unborn baby hearing the same thing:

[austinswife]

‘DUNE 3’ AND BABY BUMP — Austin Butler

SYPNOSIS: Austin Butler and his wife, Y/N, have just wrapped filming on Dune 3 together, where they played intense and compelling roles—Austin as the menacing Feyd Rautha, and Y/N as one of his captivating consorts. The two, now parents to their newborn daughter Wren, join The Graham Norton Show alongside Dune producer Barbara Sanderson to discuss their experience making the movie. As they reveal intimate behind-the-scenes moments, including how Y/N filmed while pregnant and concealed her growing bump, the conversation takes a funny and heartfelt turn. Between Austin’s protective instincts on set, the crew’s humorous attempts to safeguard the baby bump, and the secret they kept from their fans, the interview showcases the couple’s love, their chemistry, and the unforgettable memories they made while working together.

WARNING(S): Mentions of pregnancy, humor and lighthearted conversations, discussions of intimate scenes in a playful way, fluff.

𝜗𝜚 ALL FEEDBACKS, IDEAS SUGGESTION — TO AUSTINSWIFE

divider by @/chilumitos

The soft hum of excited chatter filled the studio of The Graham Norton Show as the audience eagerly awaited the next segment. It was a particularly star-studded episode, featuring the much-anticipated stars of Dune 3. As the cameras prepared to roll, Graham himself sat ready at his desk, glancing through his notes and smiling at the mention of the guests he would soon welcome to the stage. He knew this was going to be a fun interview—he could feel it.

“And now,” Graham said with his trademark charm as the show returned from its commercial break, “please give a warm welcome to the stars of Dune 3—Austin Butler, Y/N Y/L/N, and the producer of the Dune series, Barbara Sanderson!”

The applause erupted as Austin, dressed in a sleek, perfectly tailored black suit, walked hand in hand with you, his wife and co-star, Y/N. You radiated elegance in a soft, flowy dress that accentuated your post-pregnancy glow. Behind you, Barbara Sanderson, the producer, strode confidently onto the stage, smiling broadly at the adoring crowd.

Once the three of you were seated on the famous red couch, Graham leaned in, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Well, look at you two! Fresh from the intergalactic battles of Dune 3 and straight into parenthood. Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, Wren Butler!”

The applause filled the room once again as you and Austin exchanged a warm look, his hand gently squeezing yours.

“Thank you so much,” you said, beaming. “She’s been an absolute joy, and we’re really loving being new parents.”

Austin nodded in agreement, his face lighting up at the mention of Wren. “Yeah, it’s been incredible. She’s such a sweet baby.”

Graham leaned forward with that ever-curious expression, already knowing the direction he wanted to take the conversation.

“Now, I have to ask—Dune 3 is quite an intense film. I mean, it’s the culmination of this epic sci-fi saga, and the two of you play some pretty heavy roles. Austin, you’re Feyd Rautha, the ruthless antagonist, and Y/N, you’re one of his darlings. There are some... well, let’s call them intimate scenes between the two of you, aren’t there?”

The audience chuckled as Austin smirked, his hand still resting protectively on your knee. You shared a quick glance with him, both of you clearly in on the joke.

“Oh yeah,” Austin drawled, flashing that signature half-smile of his. “Feyd Rautha doesn’t do subtle.”

Graham laughed and nodded. “No, I don’t think subtle is in his vocabulary. But there’s been a lot of speculation, Y/N, because—correct me if I’m wrong—were you actually pregnant while filming those scenes?”

The room seemed to hold its breath as the question hung in the air, and the audience collectively leaned forward in their seats. You grinned, glancing at Austin for a beat before answering.

“Yes, it’s true—I was pregnant while filming Dune 3,” you admitted, laughing softly as the crowd gasped in surprise. “In fact, I found out early on, but I was lucky because my bump didn’t really show much until I was about eight or nine months pregnant. So by the time we were filming those scenes, I had a tiny bump, but only Austin and the crew knew!”

The audience erupted into laughter and applause, clearly charmed by your candid admission. Graham’s eyes widened, clearly intrigued.

“So let me get this straight—you were filming these intense, steamy scenes with Feyd Rautha while pregnant with Austin’s baby?”

You nodded, laughing even harder. “Yep! I was carrying his baby the whole time during that scene where I’m, well... not wearing much. Talk about method acting!”

Austin, trying to hold back his laughter, chimed in. “Yeah, it was pretty surreal, to be honest. We’d be in the middle of a scene where I’m supposed to be all intense and villainous, and then as soon as they called ‘cut,’ I’d go straight into husband mode—‘Are you okay? Do you need anything? How’s the baby?’”

The audience burst into laughter again as you playfully nudged Austin, smiling affectionately. “He was the most overprotective co-star I’ve ever had,” you teased. “But honestly, it was really sweet. He and the entire crew were so supportive. I felt like I had a whole army of people making sure I was comfortable.”

Barbara Sanderson, the producer, who had been quietly enjoying the banter so far, spoke up with a fond smile. “I think it’s safe to say that once we found out Y/N was pregnant, the entire atmosphere on set shifted. Everyone became so protective of her. I remember one day when we were filming a particularly physical scene, and I swear, at least five people rushed to her side with pillows and blankets the moment we finished shooting.”

Graham’s eyes widened in mock disbelief. “Pillows and blankets on a Dune set? Sounds like a far cry from the sandworms and desert storms of Arrakis!”

You laughed, nodding. “It was so funny! I felt like I was wrapped in bubble wrap half the time. And the funny part is that I felt completely fine—like, I wasn’t really showing much, and I wasn’t feeling sick or anything, but everyone was treating me like I was about to go into labor at any moment.”

Austin grinned, clearly loving the memory. “Yeah, I remember one scene where you had to lie down on this really uncomfortable-looking floor, and before I could even say anything, someone was already there with a pillow, fluffing it up for you. It was like, ‘Alright, guys, she’s tough—she can handle it.’”

Barbara laughed, nodding in agreement. “We did get a little overzealous, I’ll admit. But when your co-star is carrying a baby, you do tend to get a bit overprotective!”

Graham leaned back in his chair, thoroughly entertained. “So, Austin, how was it for you knowing that your co-star—who also happens to be your wife—was pregnant with your child during these scenes? Was it difficult to stay in character?”

Austin scratched the back of his neck, a playful grin crossing his face. “Well, let’s just say it added a whole new layer to things. I mean, there’s Feyd Rautha—this brutal, ambitious character—and then there’s me, Austin, who’s just trying to make sure my wife and our baby are okay. So yeah, it was definitely a bit of a challenge to switch back and forth.”

The audience chuckled at his honesty, and Graham leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “I can only imagine! And I have to ask, did the fans pick up on any of this? Because if your bump wasn’t really showing until later, I imagine it must have been quite the surprise when you finally announced your pregnancy.”

You nodded, a knowing smile on your lips. “Yeah, we managed to keep it pretty low-key. I think most fans didn’t notice anything at all. I wore a lot of loose costumes, and the camera angles were really clever. It wasn’t until after filming wrapped, and we announced Wren’s birth, that people were like, ‘Wait, you were pregnant during all of that?!’”

Graham shook his head in disbelief. “Incredible. And now you’ve got a beautiful daughter. How is Wren doing?”

Austin’s expression softened immediately at the mention of his daughter. “She’s amazing. She’s the happiest little baby, always smiling. We feel really lucky.”

“She’s been a dream,” you added, your voice full of warmth. “And we’re just so grateful for how everything worked out. Filming Dune 3 while pregnant was definitely a unique experience, but now that we have Wren, it all feels even more special.”

Graham smiled, clearly touched by the couple’s love for their daughter. “Well, it sounds like a labor of love—no pun intended.”

The audience laughed again, and Graham leaned in with a teasing glint in his eye. “Before we wrap things up, I have one more question, because the Dune fans will absolutely want to know—were you ever shy filming those intimate scenes with Feyd Rautha, knowing you were pregnant?”

Y/N smirked, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Shy? Not at all! I mean, I was literally pregnant with his baby while filming those scenes. By that point, I was more worried about not tripping over cables on set or staying awake between takes."

The audience erupted in laughter, their amusement filling the room. Austin grinned, his arm draped comfortably behind you as he chuckled.

"Yeah, when you're both trying to stay in character and simultaneously making sure you're not stepping on your wife's dress or her tiny baby bump, 'shyness' kind of takes a backseat."

Graham, always quick to lean into the humor, smiled wide. "It does add a whole new dimension to 'intimate scenes,' doesn’t it?"

Barbara, who had been watching with an amused expression, nodded. "Oh, absolutely. I remember one of the costume designers coming up to me, stressing about how to hide the bump, and I just said, 'Embrace it. If anyone asks, we’ll say it’s all part of the world-building.’"

The audience roared with laughter, and you chimed in, still laughing. "Honestly, the bump was so small that for most of the filming, it was our little secret. But by the end, I think some people on set were like, 'Wait a minute...'"

Austin playfully nudged you, shaking his head. "It’s amazing how you kept it under wraps for so long. By the time your bump did start to show, it was like an Easter egg for the crew. Everyone was tiptoeing around it."

Graham leaned forward, still grinning. "So the fans were completely in the dark until you announced Wren’s birth?"

"Pretty much," you confirmed. "We didn’t want to make a big public announcement during filming. It was such a special time for us, and we really just wanted to keep it between us and our closest friends and family."

Graham nodded, clearly touched. "It sounds like you handled it beautifully. And I think I speak for everyone when I say it’s wonderful to see you two sharing this moment, both in your careers and in your lives together."

The audience applauded again, the warmth in the room palpable. Austin turned to you with a soft smile, his hand gently squeezing yours as he spoke. "It’s been an amazing journey, both in terms of Dune 3 and our life as a family. We feel really lucky."

You smiled back at him, your heart full as you took in the supportive energy of the room. "We do. And honestly, Wren’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect. She arrived right after we finished filming, like she was waiting for her cue."

Graham laughed, clapping his hands together. "A born performer already! Watch out, Hollywood!"

The light-heartedness of the moment allowed everyone to bask in the happiness that radiated from the two of you. Even Barbara, normally so focused and professional, seemed to be swept up in the magic of the interview. "It’s rare to have this kind of chemistry on set," she said thoughtfully. "Austin and Y/N brought so much more to their roles than just acting. There was a real connection, and I think it showed in every scene."

Graham glanced between you and Austin, raising an eyebrow. "Speaking of chemistry, what’s it like acting opposite your husband in a movie like Dune? Is it hard to separate the personal from the professional?"

You laughed lightly, tilting your head toward Austin. "Honestly? Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. There were moments where it was challenging to stay in character, especially when he’d shoot me a look, and I’d know exactly what he was thinking, which usually had nothing to do with the scene."

Austin chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, it definitely keeps things interesting. You’ll be in the middle of this intense, dramatic moment, and then one of us will break character for a split second, and it’s hard not to laugh. But I think, ultimately, working together was really rewarding. We pushed each other in ways I don’t think we would have with anyone else."

Graham smiled warmly, clearly charmed by the dynamic between the two of you. "It sounds like a real partnership, both on and off screen."

"It really is," you said softly. "We’ve always supported each other’s careers, and Dune 3 gave us the chance to take that support to a whole new level. Filming while pregnant, working through those intense scenes together—it’s all made us stronger as a couple and as parents."

Austin nodded, his expression filled with pride. "Yeah, we’ve been through a lot together, and this experience just solidified how much we’ve got each other’s backs."

Graham looked genuinely moved. "That’s beautiful. And now you’ve got Wren, this incredible new chapter in your lives. What’s next for you both? More movies together? More babies?"

The audience laughed, and you couldn’t help but join in. "Well, we’re definitely taking some time off to focus on Wren right now. But who knows? If the right project comes along, we might just team up again. As for more babies..." You glanced at Austin with a playful smile. "We’ll see!"

Austin grinned, raising his eyebrows mischievously. "One day at a time, Graham."

Graham shook his head, laughing. "Well, whatever the future holds, I’m sure it’s going to be amazing. Thank you both so much for sharing your story, and congratulations again on Wren and the success of Dune 3."

As the audience clapped and the lights dimmed for the final moments of the segment, you felt a wave of gratitude wash over you. Sitting there with Austin, reflecting on the incredible journey you’d shared, you couldn’t help but feel that this was just the beginning of something even greater.

As you left the stage, Austin’s arm wrapped around your waist, you exchanged a look that said more than words ever could. From co-stars to husband and wife, from actors to parents, your shared adventure was far from over. Whether on-screen or off, you knew that whatever came next, you’d be facing it together.

And as for Wren? Well, maybe one day, she'd get her own starring role.

part 2? maybe

[backstage-if]

Hey fend I have a bone to pick with you!

I looked at the pintrest boards and although I love Em and Spencer is still and always will be life! (Good job on the boards btw you did well! Yay!! Go you! ♥️)

Also will you consider making a list of the Ros fav movies or fav plays for me plus why they love em... pretty pleasseee 💜

but

HEY! Don't distract me!!!!!

Why are you out here making side characters hot??? Kwan, Saint and Anton have no fucking logical reason to be that attractive. My eyes are ruined now. 🙄😭 thanks for that 😑

Sorry not sorry for making hot side characters 😌 (and you maybe be able to kissy kiss with Anton, who knows what the future holds)

BUT sorry sorry sorry for the delay on the ask.

Here it goes.

C

I think C looves Sci-Fi and fantasy movies, like Star Wars and Interstellar (also, they're definitely watching Dune 2), but I choose Watermelon Woman (1996) for Cassandra and Paris Is Burning (1990) for Callahan. I can imagine them age 14, starting questioning themself, hiding under the covers to watch these in the middle of the night and still considering their fav movie to this day.

For favorite play, right now I would say The America Play by Suzan-Lori Parks, because of its themes about living in your own shoes and also bc they consider it to be challenging.

Neil

I can see Neil saying his favorite movie is something classic like 12 Angry Men (1957) (why is he always telling half-truths?), but actually having a soft spot for The Sixth Sense (1999). I just imagine him putting it on TV the following week of his mother's funeral + after his grandma returned to her house and both of his siblings ending up in the living room watching it with him bc all three of them haven't be able to sleep well.

For a play, it's Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, because 1) he watched it once with his parents (it's also one of his dad's favorite plays, unfortunately), 2) the themes.

Joy

I don't feel like Joy has an actual favorite movie, I think it depends on her humor and changes basically every week bc she loves movie nights with friends and/or with her cat. The most recent one would be Boogie Nights (1997) because of vibes ✨️ and also Julianne Moore.

For play, it's The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. She wrote an analysis on it for college and now believes it's a classic for a reason. Same as movies, Joy's favorites changes for time to time, but this still holds the first place (for years now).

Spencer

Spencer has a lot of movies they consider close to heart, but some recent ones are Garoto/Kid (2015) and Sound of Metal (2019). They are captivated by the acting and the themes (they think a lot about feeling unnable to do what they love and about death, probably more than would be healthy).

I think Spencer likes a lot of plays, but never actually stopped to choose a favorite one. Right now, their answer would probably be Little Shop of Horrors, because of the combo themes + music + pratical effects + they did it once right after they started acting (as ensemble) and have good memories of it.

A

A watches a bunch of movies with their mom when she has free time, so they have multiple favorites to choose from. Right off the bat, Ameera would say Lady Vengeance (2005) and Adarsh would choose Memories of Murder (2003), simply because these are movies they really enjoyed and think about rewatching from time to time (unusual for them, who prefer to discover new movies).

Now, for play it would be Spring Awakening, because no one can convince A not to choose a musical. It's a dream role for them and one of the reasons they decided to quit ballet and choose theater (not as dramatic as it sounds, more like.... it help them realize it seemed interesting and challenging and captivating in a way they didn't feel like ballet did anymore).

[teddybeartoji]

AAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! no you get it dune 2 wasn’t as good as the first one i think sequels rarely live up to the first one!! omg my favorites change alll the time and that includes directors LOL but my current favorite one is satoshi kon!!! he made my all time favorite movie paprika!!! he’s also the director of perfect blue ! im sure you’ve heard of it :3 i sooo so so recommend his movies like millennium actress or paranoia agent or!! of course paprika!! the music in that movie is soooo good! i also really enjoy akira kurosawa’s, tim burton’s, wes anderson’s and of course kubrick’s movies im trying sooooo hard not to fangirl too much i cannot be too much of a nerd LOLOL glasses slipping off my nose doing the um ackshually pose whenever i talk about movies

WHAT ABOUT YOU THOOOOUGH!!! who are your favorite directors

AHHH YOU ARE RIGHT ABT THE SEQUELS NOT MEASURING UP TO THE FIRST ONES but hhhhhhhh i did have pretty big expectations for it too smhhh.. i really did looooove the first one😔😔😔

OMGGGGGGG I HAVE HEARD ABT PERFECT BLUEE!!!!!!!!! i have to admit that i haven't seen it though please don't shoot me.. i'm adding paprika and the others to my watchlist rn too hehehe i'll remember those!!!!!!!!!! and i'll come screaming when i finally happen to watch them too bc we then have to Discuss them>:33333333 ALSO PLSSS NERD OUT WITH MEEEE I LOVE ITTT I WANNA HEAR ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! btw i recently saw wes anderson's isle of dogs at the cinema for the first time and i loved it soo so fucking much i think that actually might be one of my favourites of his now....

out of kubrick's stuff i think i've actually only seen the shining if i'm being honest here,, it's not like i'm not interested in the others i just have a tendency to rewatch a lot of things instead of going for smth new lmao i also love how we both seem to be Film Bros but like.. different types😭😭😭😭 I SAY THAT WITH LOVE BTW

i am a... david fincher film bro lmao fight club is literally my most watched film i love it so so much it's like a comfort film at this point idk don't get me wrong it's not my favourite of his though,, i think my top three would be 1. se7en 2. zodiac 3. the social network!!!!!!!!!!!!! but yeah i just love his works so fucking much they scratch my brain so fucking good..

AND THEN MY OTHER FAVOURITE DIRECTOR IS GUY RITCHIE!!!!!!!! this is such a silly one but i love him okay his sense of humor goes so well with mine,, snatch is one of my favourite films ever it's so good lmao aaaand i do love his later films too i think they're super fucking fun!!!!! the man from uncle has the best fucking score ever and idk i know a lot of ppl didn't like it it is one of my little guilty-not-so-guilty pleasures!!!!!!!!!!

and. continuing on with my film bro streak lmao i do like tarantino quite a lot ngl i absolutely adore inglorious basterds and django and kill bill and reservoir dogs and pulp fiction they're all just so fucking fun too

AAAAAAAAAAAND i also wanna add spielberg just bc i've been thinking abt indiana jones again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIFE-CHANGINGGGGGG i love the indiana jones films so fucking much i've loved them since i was a fucking child but they really are so so good they just don't make films like that anymore.... the lighting the blocking the acting the sweat the clothes the fact that indiana is a fucking loser and not some tough guy aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa idk i could talk abt those films for forever i think..

[mx-t4t0]

that post about how the dune movies are bad because "ohhhgh there's no jokes :(" is stupid btw. like. if you can't sit down to watch a movie without humor that is a you problem. i'm starting to think those people talking about some of y'all being unable to just sit down and just sit through a dark, awful, unpleasant story were right. i'm not saying those have to be your thing but i'm saying grading a movie strictly on whether or not "it was funni :)" is dumb and stupid.

comic relief has become the jingling keys of cinematography for some and it's upsetting. i dont even like the modern dune movies that much it was just that dumb of a take that i'm ranting about it. mcu baby brain is a real thing.

[paradoxcase]

Chapter 20 of Gideon the Ninth

Right, so, let me see if i can summarize what happened here:

Teacher: No! You must absolutely under no circumstances ever do soul siphoning down in this laboratory, because there are terrible evil necromantic monsters down here that will possess you and do Bad Shit!

*24 hours later*

Dulcinea: So this puzzle in the lab that's maybe full of spooky necromantic monsters requires that you soul-siphon your cavalier *eyelash bat* Would you do it for me? *dimple* Pretty please? *lip pout* Palamedes was too chicken to do it *eyelash flutter*

Harrow: Palamedes was here first? I have to do it. I have to beat Palamedes. Are you ok with it, Griddle?

Gideon: Of course I will almost die for you, you just had to ask.

I have serious questions about everyone's motivations, and like, basic ability to do cost-benefit analysis

Although it sounds like from what Harrow said that Dulcinea underestimated how hard this would be when telling her what Palamedes had said about it. Or, Palamedes underestimated when he was telling Dulcinea about it, but I think that's less likely, even if Palamedes actually did say anything to Dulcinea about this at all, and I think there is some chance that Palamedes never actually did that

So... new wild Dulcinea conspiracy theory: Dulcinea is trying to kill Gideon for some reason. I can't think of any reason why, but we also don't know the whole Space Jesus lore yet, and Dulcinea seems to recognize Gideon's eyes from somewhere

On the topic of Space Jesus, "yes I will die for you without question" is, in fact, Very Jesus, which I hate to say, since that's my least favorite thing about Jesus

And the thing that Gideon notices

Not even some comment about Harrow being naked, which, honestly, would have been in-character, I think

I think Harrow might be with me on this latest conspiracy theory, actually

Yeah, I think Harrow is starting to suspect that she is evil now

Also, let's just talk about this Mean Girls reference, for a minute. So far, for the modern memes, if I've been keeping track well enough, we have "I studied the blade", "resting bitch face", "light is the paper-killer", "that's what she said", and now this one. But look. "I studied the blade" and "resting bitch face" are both just objectively funny phrases, they're not like, only funny because they're references to something, that's how they became memes in the first place, someone said the phrase and everyone else said, "yeah, that was pretty funny" and it wasn't a reference and you didn't need pop culture context in order to get it. "That's what she said" is also not a reference to a pop culture event, I'm like 1000% sure that every language in existence probably has a way to say "that's what she said" that has the same social context and implication, that kind of humor is probably pretty universal. And Palamedes wasn't making a joke when he said "light is the paper-killer", you could argue, from an in-universe perspective, that he just happened to phrase it like that for whatever reason, in-universe, there's no reason this has to be a reference to Dune. But this Mean Girls reference is meant to be a joke and is actually not funny on its own unless you know that this is a reference to Mean Girls and remember the particular scene that it came from. And if the epoch that's being used here is just the regular AD epoch that we use and it's now 10000 AD, a movie that came out in 2004 is just not going to be in Gideon's cultural experience. So what in-universe thing is Gideon actually referencing? Why is this funny from an in-universe context? I think if you're going to do stuff like this, you kind of have to go big or go home and do what Homestuck did and actually create a corpus of in-universe references and in-jokes and memes for your characters to refer back to. Otherwise it doesn't work. Actually, this is something I'd love to see from basically all spec-fic: in-universe pop culture, in-universe memes. Pop culture has been around for a very long time, memes are just a subset of jokes and have probably been around forever, I enjoy the memes here but I'd actually rather read about brand new memes that originated in this necromantic space feudalism universe somewhere than old familiar memes from a movie that came out almost 20 years ago. Even on Pluto, Gideon had magazines, surely there are other kinds of slightly higher-brow magazines and books and so forth that could generate all kinds of references and memes. Maybe the book would have to spend a few words to explain some of Gideon's jokes, but I honestly would like to know what people joke about in this cultural context, I think it would do a lot to bring the setting to life

Another side observation is that Dulcinea has another key that they do not have, but does not have the one key they have found already. IIRC, Palamedes and Camilla had multiple keys, and obviously Palamedes does not have the key that they retrieved in this chapter, because even if Dulcinea is lying about talking to him, I do believe he would not do this

Also, Dulcinea mentioned "thalergy" at some point in this chapter, I think saying that Harrow would have to siphon that rather than thanergy. I can't find the root of this word, the best I could come up with was this maybe, which is not like, super helpful? I guess maybe thalergy is like life energy as opposed to thanergy, which is death energy, and Dulcinea could provide thanergy because she is dying but for the thalergy Harrow needs to siphon Gideon, or something?

Please, I'm dying to know the rest of this sentence, of all the things I do not know in this book, this is now the one I want to know the most

[wronganswerforehead]

Dune Part 2: Initial Thoughts.

Watched Dune Part two and I hate to be a contrarian, but it was just OK to me. Below is my non-spoiler take on the movie. Please excuse any grammatical errors, I'm just jotting down my thoughts.

Let's start with the positive! Here's What I enjoyed:

Cinematography and technical aspects. 

We live in a world where bad and downright comical CGI has somehow become the norm. Dune circumvents this with a combination of beautiful practical scenery and effects and technical mastery that I don't think I've seen since the Pirates of the Carribean. It allowed me to be fully immersed in the world, and I truly appreciated that.

The performances of Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, and Austin Butler. 

While I don't think anyone turned in an Oscar worthy performance, I do think that these 4 did really well with the material they were given. Zendaya gave a performance that was both nuanced and in moments quite fierce. Chani’s love, skepticism, and anger were all portrayed wonderfully. I absolutely loved the fluency in which she spoke the Freman language and the chemistry she had with Souheila Yacoub. With that being said, I have some notes lol. Some of the lines were both written and delivered awkwardly, her signature “scowl” became repetitive, and her eyes tended to be kind of dead in some emotional moments. But, I think that with more roles/experience under her belt, Z can become quite the force if she wants to be. Overall, I really enjoyed her performance.

Rebecca played a very believable momma bear and puppet master. She is, in my opinion, an underrated actor. There was never a moment where her performance left me wanting more. 

Javier brought effortless humor to this film. Although I will say, the humor combined with the weird pacing made the religious zealot aspect of his character less believable. It kind of felt like when we got to those parts, he was still joking. 

Austin plays a psychopath really well! No notes lol.

And now, what I didn't enjoy:

Timothee Chalamet

I know this is a very unpopular opinion, and I’ve TRIED to understand the hype, but I just…don’t. With that being said, he was good when it came to playing the “boy” Paul Atreides, but when it came time to be a fierce leader/Messiah, nothing about his portrayal was believable. Everytime he yelled or raised his voice, it completely took me out of the movie, almost to the point of laughing. Also, jumping from Zendaya, Javier Bardem, and Souheila Yacoub speaking the Freman language to Timothee speaking it, was jarring to say the least. Overall, it was an ok performance, but I feel he gets a TON of grace because of CMBYN. And I’ll leave it there.

The Pacing

It was rough, I can’t lie. One second, you're in a fast-paced action sequence, and then the next thing you know, the movie grinds to a halt via jump cut to a different, seemingly unrelated, scene where everybody is whispering.  Also, the quickness in which everyone, including the non-believers, rallied behind Paul contributed to the pacing issue. Everything either happened too fast or too slow and it never really found a balance. This movie jumps around a lot and sometimes it’s sloppily done and confusing.I know that there is a lot that has to be fit into these movies, but I feel like this aspect could’ve been handled better. Ultimately, I think it’s why the movie ended up feeling really long and sometimes repetitive to me.

Lack of Explanations

For starters, I don't like it when movies spoon feed you. BUT, in cases like Dune, where there’s a ton of pre-existing lore, I think it’s necessary to offer some explanation for the audience members who haven’t read the book. Introducing certain themes and items without any explanation whatsoever, will leave a lot of moviegoers confused and feeling like there may be a plot hole. For example, Chani’s blue scarf. If you haven’t read the book, you will have absolutely no idea why it suddenly appears halfway through the movie. You can make guesses based on prior scenes, but you’ll probably be wrong because the real reason is never introduced in the movie.

Overall, it was a decent experience. But to be honest, I don’t think it being placed in the same category as great sequels, such as the Dark knight, is warranted. I think this movie is getting a ton of grace simply because of the names attached to it and the general lack of well made action movies. It’s in the right place at the right time.

Well, that’s it for now. Hope you enjoyed the read!

[lorbanery]

I can't speak to Dune because I've never read it or watched any of the adaptations, but I want to add another point to the "movies/media should have SOME humor in them" Discourse.

Having characters joke around with each other, even in tense moments, even in genres that are about tension, even in Very Serious Pieces of Media, gives your characters a sense of camaraderie. And the type of joking they do can get across to the audience how well they know each other and what their relationship is without saying it (or can back up what they say). If they're actively teasing each other and making in-jokes about shared experiences, it shows/reinforces that they're friends or partners who've known each other for a while, they feel comfortable lightheartedly ribbing each other, and they have a deep well of embarrassing/funny moments to draw from. If they're making more general jokes that aren't about the person, but still referencing shared experiences, they may have known each other for a while, but aren't necessarily friends, maybe they're coworkers or classmates or a regular at a restaurant and their preferred server. If they're making more general jokes without references, they probably only recently met and have had generally positive interactions, or they might be complete strangers who are just trying to break the ice.

Going back to the "friends who have known each other for a long time and are comfortable ribbing each other and have a lot of material" for a moment, specifically in the context of things like horror and dramatic epics like I understand Dune to be? When you have characters who joke around with each other like that, when one or both of those characters stop joking? It can also help prime the audience to understand, "Oh shit, shit's getting real now."

Like, think about Merry and Pippin in Lord of the Rings. Both of them spend a lot of time joking around with each other and the other characters, even when they're on their way to Mordor. Both of them lose the jokes the moment things get dangerous, but are back at it when the tension's released again. In Fellowship, the jokes pretty much stop the moment they get chased into Moria and don't come back until they've come to terms with Gandalf's death enough to move on from Lothlorien. They're back to it until they get attacked by the Uruk-hai, then back to their shared mischievousness again once they once they figure out how to convince Treebeard to rally the Ents and attack Isengard and are fully joking around again by the time Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli catch up with them in the aftermath of the battle.

Then, everything goes to shit. Pippin consistently shows himself to be the kind of person who doesn't quite grasp the potential danger of things and places that he hasn't experienced himself. The combination of that alongside his natural curiosity leads to things like him fiddling with the arrow in the dwarf skeleton that overbalances it into the well it was perched on, alerting the goblins and balrog to their presence. And to him sneaking a peak at the palantir. In the moments after, when Gandalf is readying things to take Pippin with him to Gondor, Merry, who's been able to, if not fully grasp the gravity of what they've been doing, at least trust their companions' assessments, listen to what their saying and read between the lines. And we finally see the seriousness and danger of the situation really sink in for Pippin.

He's seen Sauron, had him in his head, he's not just a vague concept of a Bad Guy off in a part of the world that may not exist for all that it's effected Pippin before leaving the Shire. He's seen how scared Frodo's been, seen the danger he's been in because of the ring, and now there's a possibility that Sauron thinks Pippin has the ring. Even when they left their home, Pippin still had Merry and Frodo and Sam. But then things got too dangerous for Frodo to stay so he left and Sam went with him. Now, things are so dangerous, that Pippin has to leave his very best friend and, after all they've been through, it's hitting him that he might not ever see any of them again.

This is the moment where all the jokes stop. Pippin has moments of joy and happiness and relief and satisfaction. But we never get to see being that mischievous little jokester again. I hesitate to call it character growth, because that phrase usually implies a positive change from immaturity and/or selfishness into a character with more empathy and a sense of responsibility towards other characters. Because I would argue that Pippin already had those traits. He saw that Frodo and Sam were in trouble literally moments after he and Merry ran into them leaving the Shire and he didn't hesitate to help them escape. He fought his best in every battle he found himself in, attempted to avenge Boromir against enemies he knew far overpowered him. The change from the beginning of Fellowship to the end of Return of the King wasn't character growth, it is, and was framed as, a young man forever changed by the horrors he witnessed and experiences, horrors he never could have even imagined before leaving his home, but now weigh in his memories for the rest of his life.

And you get that narrative because of the way the humor is used in Lord of the Rings.

[minetteskvareninova]

Minette Rates Love, Death & Robots, Vol.1

(Because I just watched it so why the fuck not. As spoiler free as possible.)

THREE ROBOTS - A darkly funny little tale with entertaining protagonists, but the twist ending landed with a thud. Sticking to a generic "foolish humans and their wars/enviromental destruction/whatever" would insult my intelligence less. 6/10

BEYOND THE AQUILA RIFT - This is the first one with the video game-esque hyperrealistic animation, which doesn't work for me, and I might in fact take off points for it if I am especially annoyed. I cared more for the characters than in some of the others, but as we'll see, the bar is in hell here. Still worth it for the bang-up twist, even if I am still not sure about the motivations of the... Entity. I'd like to think it is basically benevolent, although I might've missed something because I am a dumbass. 7/10, 6,5/10 if the Entity is in fact evil and I didn't notice.

ICE AGE - I don't have much to say about this one. A cute little story with an interesting twist, even if I rolled my eyes a bit at the T-Rex hunting the ancient hominids, also woolly mammoths did not in fact go extinct in the Neolithic. The Wrangel Island population survived untill 2500-2000 BC, which is, in fact, fucking Bronze Age. If you want to be pedantic, at least get it right. 8/10

SONNIE'S EDGE - Well, "edge" is certainly a word to describe this one... That said, as a story, it was actually quite a banger, not gonna lie. The cyberpunk monster fighting pits are an interesting setting, and though I didn't connect with the characters at first, boy did the twist change my tune. 8/10

WHEN THE YOGHURT TOOK OVER - I don't why, this one just... Worked for me. The animation, the humor, the bizzare story. 10/10

THE SECRET WAR - I am sure someone would have a lot of fun with this very generic shooter. Why do I have to watch all the cutscenes I have no idea. Seriously, this one had more layers of cliche than Dune has layers of secret plots. 2/10 and even that is solely for the decent monster designs and the balalaika scene, a teensy tiny light of genuine humanity in this droll mess.

SUCKER OF SOULS - The animation was worked for me and I liked the cats, but there really wasn't that much cat action here (well, except for that kind of cat action, to the misfortune of us all). This one was the point where I was starting to get pretty sick of the wisecracking tough guys protagonists that mistake banter for genuine connection. From then on I decided to take off points for them. It has just as much edge as Sonnie, but with a much weaker story. This is just every Archeologist Unearths A Monster and Evil Monster Vampire story ever - except for the unintentional comedy of using Romanian as the Ominous Ancient Language and Romanian Cyrillic as the Ominous Ancient Alphabet. It's the ignorant Western equivalent of using Early Medieval "barbaric" scripts for that purpose; hell, even they are more terrifying on account of how absolutely fucking unreadable they are (at least before the Carolignian Miniscule comes and saves us all). Also, they killed the twink. Bastards. 3/10 solely for the animation.

THE WITNESS - I still don't know how to feel about this one. The characters are extremely weak and like 30% is gratuitous nudity, including a Totally Necessary erotic dance, but I loved the twist, so. Also I'd be lying if acted like I am not the target audience for the Totally Necessary scenes. 6/10

SUITS - Okay, I do not care much for the mechs fighting alien bugs genre, but tight-knit farming communities, those I can get behind. Like the characters and their connections were actually kinda dope. Also the ending is open to the interpretation that humans destroyed this planet by terraforming it and the alien bugs are actually just trying to survive by eating the cattle, like some kind of OTT alien version of red foxes. Either way, it's neat, I liked it. 7/10

GOOD HUNTING - This one could make for a genuinely awesome movie if it was a full feature. The animation, the worldbuilding, the themes, the story outline, everything just Works... Unfortunately, this kind of story relies heavily on its characters, and these ones just didn't have much time to develop, and neither do the really heavy themes of colonialism and misogyny this story is trying to tackle. Still, 7/10 for the sheer potential.

THE DUMP - I really don't know what to say about this one. It very clearly set out to be as hateful and disgusting as possible, and... Well, it did a good job, so. What am I going to do, get mad at it for doing exactly what it aimed to do? You might like it if you have a higher tolerance for dark and gross-out humor than me, but for myself? 0/10

SHAPE-SHIFTERS - I don't like American war dramas from the Middle East. This is a generic American war drama from the Middle East. I enjoy urban fantasy worldbuilding. This is an urban fantasy with the lamest fucking worldbuilding I've ever seen. It doesn't even have a lame saving grace a la the balaika scene. 1/10 for not being actively offensive.

FISH NIGHT - The ending could've gone on for like half a minute more, to let us really sit with it, but otherwise? Amazing, no notes. 10/10

HELPING HAND - Another one I don't have much to say about. It wants to be a gnarly little survival tale in a mildly sci-fi setting and it very much accomplishes that. 8/10

ALTERNATE HISTORIES - This one isn't much to talk about, it's an unambitious animated short that is there to just be funny. It wasn't very funny. There were actual serious attempts at Hitler's life more humorous than this. 3/10

LUCKY 13 - I don't care for military sci-fi, and the fact that the whole story hinged on my emotional attachment to a piece of military equipment made me roll my eyes, but I'd lie if I didn't find the main character's fixation on the damn thing mildly endearing by the end. 4/10

BLINDSPOT - I was aggressively disinterested in the main characters. I don't vibe with their character designs and "banter as a substitute for character" problem is at its worst here. The somber ending almost redeemed it, but the short went back on that one too. Also there were way much convoluted sci-fi machinery shenenigans for me to even follow the action scenes. 2/10

ZIMA BLUE - Now we're cooking! This is the kind of high-concept good times I came here for. I didn't entirely vibe with the animation and Zima's backstory is a teensy bit too convoluted for how short this is, but still, this series really ended on a strong note. 9/10

[ao3feed-feydpaul]

Groves calling, just to be with you

Read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/59427223

by labsynthe

A moment in time between earth and below, two lovers share a tent waiting for the rain to pass

Words: 4261, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Dune - All Media Types, Dune (Movies - Villeneuve)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: Paul Atreides, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen

Relationships: Paul Atreides/Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen

Additional Tags: Boys In Love, ocean and outdoors lexicon, groves - Freeform, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Porn with Feelings, Some Plot, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Sloppy Makeouts, Mild Painplay, Breathplay, repost, Light Angst, Angst and Feels, Some Humor, Caladan, No water of life, Unfulfilled Prophecy, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Mushy, Feelings, they are in love your honor, it is actually quite sweet

[lorbanery]

Skimming through the rancid notes on that Dune/humor post and

uh

people understand that when people complain about jumpscares and talk about how they're bad, cheap, and potentially harmful, they mean outside of the context of things like horror movies, right?

I mean maybe they don't, it's been a while since it was a popular thing, so here, let me explain

Back in the 2000's, when link pranks were all the rage (you know, like rickrolling), one of the more popular pranks was linking people to jumpscare videos. These had nothing to with horror movies. They were short videos, less than a minute long usually, that started out boring, usually of a person or animal doing something completely normal and innocuous. The person sharing the link usually included some clickbaity description that would make you pay really close attention to what was happening during the boring part ("CUTEST CAT IN THE WORLD" "MOST PEOPLE CAN'T SPOT IT" "etc). Then, once it had lulled you into a false sense of security thinking you knew what you were watching, the screen would suddenly cut to a scary image, usually with a loud scream or other loud noise at the same time.

Again, they were pranks, the whole point was to startle people. They started getting backlash because they were genuinely upsetting some people.

Not because jumpscares are inherently bad in every single context. Jumpscares are fine in the context of a horror movie where you're expecting to be startled and scared and can either prepare yourself for it or just not go see the movie if you know it's something that might upset and/or trigger you.

But when someone, be they stranger, acquaintance, or friend presents a link to you as a video where something funny, cute, odd, or unusual happens, you are being deliberately denied the chance to do any mental preparation.

So when you see people talking about jumpscares in horror movies as just normal storytelling tools, there is absolutely no reason to assume they're defending jumpscare pranks. Those are two fundamentally different things.

[moonlight-fan2008]

I’m bored so I’m making a list of 2010-2020 things I think the characters of moonlight would like

Part 1 of idk probably gonna do most of the characters (maybe some of the bad guys), this is just meant to be silly.

Beth:

Any recent documentary that talks about Hollywood’s dark side and sheds light on their awful history. (I think she’d be fascinated and appalled but ultimately happy there is news about this)

Instagram (i think she’d rarely post anything but I think she’d like all the pictures people post of different cultures and places and nature and what not)

Just dance (idk what video-golf is and my google search left me confused (it was just regular golfers and whatnot on a regular field) but she liked that so I think she’d like just dance)

TikTok (I think she’d be very stubborn and try to avoid it but if co-workers keep talking about it she might cave and find herself and true crime tok )

The good place (I think it’d be her little comfort show)

True detective

Downtown Abby

Mick:

Outlander (dork that he is I think he’d like it and kind of relate to both Claire and Jamie for different reasons but I think he’d get embarrassed by the sex scenes)

Red dead redemption games

Call of duty games

911 and 911 lone star (he’d act like he’d hate it because it can be overly dramatic (I love it though) but he’d secretly tune in for every episode)

The Rookie (same as above)

History related shows (I.e AMC’s Turn or the Terror)

Drones

Josef:

True Blood (I think he’d be interested in the concept of that universe)

Game of Thrones and house of the dragon (Sex, nudity, and violence all things he loves lol)

Onlyfans (despite being annoyed with online services for escorts I think he may actually enjoy this one but more so for curiosity sake and not to find partners)

Reality shows (I.e Kardashians or Real Housewives)

King’s men movies

Reign (would never admit it though and would come across it purely accidentally)

Succession

American Horror Story

Logan:

Star Wars: Clone Wars movie and series (it came out 2008 but I think just after moonlight ended)

Rouge One

Bad batch

Bobs burgers (I know this is a random one but I feel like this would be up his alley. Idk why)

What We Do In The Shadows (I think it fits with his humor and he’d be poking fun at it)

Red dead redemption games

Call of duty games

Josh:

Dune 1 & 2

Just Dance or just Wii games in general

The Rookie (I think he’d love Wesley’s character)

Stranger Things

Umbrella Academy

Detective Carl:

911 and 911 lone star (he’d act like he’d hate it because it’s wildly inaccurate but he’d secretly tune in for every episode)

The Rookie (same as above)

Social distancing

Contactless payment and delivery

The walking dead (but only until Negan shows up then he stops watching)

That’s all I got right now. This was just a dumb silly thing to pass the time while I wait for calls.

Until next time. Good night sleep tight

[influencermagazineuk]

March Movie Madness: Must-See Films Captivating Audiences in 2024

As winter bids farewell and spring approaches, movie theaters are blooming with diverse and highly anticipated films. March 2024 promises a thrilling cinematic experience for every taste, from adrenaline-pumping action to heartwarming dramas and captivating fantasies. Here are some of the most awaited releases that are sure to set the box office ablaze: For the Sci-Fi Enthusiasts: - Dune: Part Two (March 15th): After the phenomenal success of the first installment, fans eagerly await the conclusion of Paul Atreides' journey in this epic space opera. Expect stunning visuals, political intrigue, and even more sandworms as the battle for Arrakis intensifies. - Spaceman (March 22nd): This captivating sci-fi drama starring Adam Driver follows an astronaut who embarks on a dangerous mission to a distant star system, grappling with isolation, loss, and the complexities of human connection in the vastness of space. For the Action Seekers: - John Wick: Chapter 5 - Excommunicado (Teaser Expected in March): Keanu Reeves returns as the legendary assassin in another action-packed chapter. This time, John Wick faces new enemies and deadly challenges as he seeks vengeance and redemption within the ever-dangerous world of assassins. - Ghostbusters Frozen Empire (March 29th): The iconic Ghostbusters are back, facing a chilling new threat as they battle a monstrous entity connected to a long-forgotten chapter of New York City's history. Expect a blend of nostalgia, humor, and thrilling ghost-busting action. Image: IMDb For the Animation Aficionados: - Kung Fu Panda 4: The Paws of Destiny (March 8th): Po and the Furious Five return in this highly anticipated animated sequel. This time, they face a formidable new villain who threatens the peace of the Valley of Peace, forcing Po to discover a hidden reserve of strength and wisdom. - Imaginary (March 30th): This heartwarming animated adventure tells the story of a young girl who discovers a magical pencil that allows her drawings to come to life. As her imaginary creations become entangled with the real world, she learns valuable lessons about friendship, acceptance, and the power of imagination. For the Thrill Seekers: - Love Lies Bleeding (March 8th): This neo-noir thriller starring Kristen Stewart and Katie O'Brian follows a reclusive gym manager who becomes entangled in a dangerous relationship with an ambitious bodybuilder. As their bond deepens, dark secrets and hidden motivations come to light, leading to a suspenseful and shocking climax. - The Animal Kingdom (March 15th): This psychological thriller explores the dark side of human nature. Set in a dystopian future where humans are hunted for sport, a group of survivors must fight for their lives while questioning the morality of their actions in a world gone mad. Beyond the Blockbusters: - Frida (Amazon Prime Release - March 14th): This biographical drama delves into the life of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, exploring her tumultuous personal life, passionate artistic journey, and unwavering spirit in the face of immense challenges. - 1992 (March 15th): This powerful drama explores the events surrounding the 1992 Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict. Through diverse perspectives, the film sheds light on the social and racial tensions that erupted in the city, sparking important conversations about justice, equality, and the path towards healing. This is just a glimpse into the exciting cinematic landscape of March 2024. With such a diverse range of films catering to various interests, there's something for everyone to enjoy. So, grab your popcorn, dim the lights, and prepare to be transported to new worlds, captivated by compelling stories, and thrilled by the magic of cinema. Read the full article

[alolanroy]

2024 Watch Thread-Part 2

part 1: https://www.tumblr.com/alolanroy/739287467975458816/watch-thread-2024-pt-1

Resident Alien S1: Decent humor and it did a pretty good job of the small town with many interlocking sub-plots vibe. I wouldn't say that it is consistently laugh-out-loud, but you really never know when it'll floor you. I do kind of wish they toned down the attempts at serious drama, because this is a fish-out-of-water alien show, how serious can I take it? 5/10

Helldivers 2 at Launch: It scratches my multiplayer itch. Maybe the trick to making a successful live-service game was to...make it fun? The balancing is just teetering enough to be a blast. I didn't even mind the horrible queueing problems, nonfunctional matchmaking and level breaking bugs once I had half an hour of actual playtime. 8/10

Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger: I'll be honest, in the beginning I was worried we might drop it, but it won me over hard. And I mean maybe my second favorite sentai so far (Donbrothers will remain undefeated for all time). While simplistic, the writing manages to unfurl a web of history, personality and cultural identity. While the choice to film most of it on green screed made it look awful most of the time, the strong writing and acting pulled it through, especially in the later chapters where the reveals kept getting bigger and the characterization swings. Personal favorites are Kaguragi's backstory, which feels out of a proper prestige drama and the two-parter on earth. It saves up its budget and goes ham. 9/10

Forbidden Planet: While I find a lot of this movie repulsive for its 50's-ass gender politics, I choose to say 'wow, cool robot'. I see why Robbie is iconic and was disappointed by how little of him I got. Its tedious pacing makes me appreciate how Star Trek TOS distilled this formula into the blueprint for great TV. (Sidenote: I gotta figure out where this ancient alien megastructure vibe comes from. I feel like a lot of dwemmer related skyrim mods are repeating this without knowing it.) -4/10

Ice Station Zebra: Nice of them to start the plot in the second half after the intermission. For such a basic thriller, they seem to think this was a cinematic event with all of its intermission cards and posturing. Did they think the submarine set was worth half the runtime? I find its red-scare politics kind of pathetic and I've seen more complex thrillers air on Cartoon Network on weekdays. 3/10

Ultraman Geed the Movie: Connect! The Wishes!!: A team of scientists distilled tokusatsu summer movies into a thick paste and molded it into the shape of a tourism ad for Okinawa. The results made me cancel my plans to watch the ultraman movies and doubt if I actually like Geed. 1/10

Skyrim: Midwood Isle: Really impressive stuff here. A good variety of locations and a satisfying main quest. The reveal of a mirror map filled with locations and daedric realms really got me excited. The only downside is that some of the back and forth with the mainland got old and the LOTD patch didn't work. I'm a little surprised this doesn't get talked up more. 8/10

Dune Part II: Incredible watch. Gorgeous visuals and really strong performances all around. Great cinematography and violent sound design really made me FEEL the power (the lackluster theater speakers could barely handle it). I do feel a lot was lost in the cracks though and didn't hit as hard as the first, but boy am I glad I saw it. 8/10

The Mummy Demastered: This is a very good video game. An efficient love letter to metroidvanias (and boy I can see the metroid) with some neat ideas and that Wayforward polish. If you like these sorts of games, what are you doing here? Go play it! The paired-back scale means none of the ideas get old, and none of the backtracking is egregious. But my real favorite spin was the varied and interconnected environments that flowed so well together. 8/10

On a sidenote: this really feels like a mirror into another universe where the Dark Universe actually took off. In a way, it made me more excited for it than the actual movie. It made me wistfully muse about what might have been (committee driven slop movies)

Born to Fight (2004): This movie occupies the same part of my brain as RRR. I'll overlook almost any nationalism if resolves in an hour-long string of white-knuckle Olympic sport action. Genuinely some of the most insane stunts I've seen committed to film. My watch group was hooting and hollering! 8/10

Death Code Ninja: Sometimes Godfrey Ho's chop-shop ninja movies are an ironic good time. This is not one of those times. It couldn't hold any of our interests. -3/10

Blue Submarine No. 6: This owns. It was so continually visually interesting and the art so distinct I didn't even mind the early CG. Sure a few threads might have been underdeveloped, but I admire how much of a non-traditional ending it had. Conclusiveness doesn't have to come from nukes and resolution doesn't have to be on screen. Honestly, good on them for redirecting most of the strange sexual energy to the fish girl, though I don't know how to feel about her role in the end. 8/10

Ninja Knight: Thunder Fox: man this sucked. At least two white guys in ninja outfits killed each other with shotguns at the end. -2/10

Money Plane: Just because it could be a whole lot worse doesn't mean it couldn't have been a whole lot better. Try having your wrestlers have action sequences that let them fight good. -5/10

Chop Socky Chooks: Sometimes we put bad TV on the wheel to see what would happen. Apparently, these things are supposed to be chickens, but without any form of exposition or attempt to set the stage in the first episode, I can't really say. I don't know which is worse, the radiation of vague racism or how aggressively bad this is on 'TV you watched when you are home sick from school' standards. -2/10

Gridman Universe: It's hard to talk about gridman without going on a series of digressions about the purpose of fiction, growth and the Ultraman Fandom. Most of it I would describe as some cute fan service without much meat, and a plot that just kinda happens. But my cynicism melted away in the final act. Man, I love the passion in these designs. 7/10

Werewolf Santa: I felt nothing. 2/10

Undertale Yellow: Perhaps my standards for fangames have gotten a bit high, but I was a little disappointed. There are some good gags, don't get me wrong, but the overall energy kinda drags. I don't think it helps that the boss battles are more transparently endurance tests for the defense minigames. I never felt like I was talking them down, just that I was letting them monologue at me until they let me go. Maybe it pulls some zingers in the last half but I can't bring myself to care. 3/10

American Ultra: This might be Black Panther for stoners, but to me, it is just Max Landis's wish fulfillment. the half hour we stomached felt longer than some seasons of netflix. 3/10

Thankskilling 3: Possibly one of the biggest delights of the year. Extrapolating from Thankskilling 1, I was worried this would be the bad kind of self-aware. Instead, the watch party was floored by the tireless barrage of joyful camp. They cracked the code, just mixed up the bits enough so that another gets old and washed it over with cinematography good enough that it too becomes a joke. I'll give this the rare +/-8 for being legitimately great and entertainingly bad (intentionally)

Viking Seige: First of all I feel lied to. This poster is nonsense. There were no dragons or longboats. Instead, it is a single-set zombie 'thriller' that would have been alright under normal circumstances. Still, the overall momentum isn't really there and the quality of performances is uneven. 4/10

Los Campeones de Justicieros (1971): Luchadors, little people, mad scientists, and non-stop jazz. Especially non-stop jazz when it is least appropriate. -7/10

Spy Kids Armageddon: This isn't nostalgia for the originals speaking, this was just a legitimately inferior product. The design philosophy of making a movie with everything a kid could want but camp for the adults is absent. Netflix original tier. -4/10

Zone of the Enders Dolores, i: The first act had me nearly drop the show. The worldbuilding was sloppy and the character design and environments were totally incongruous with the sci-fi setting this was supposed to be selling. However, when it remembered it was supposed to be a space opera, the show became much more watchable. By the end I was surprised how attached I had become. 7/10. It would've been higher if the beginning wasn't so tough.

Zone of the Enders 2167 Idolo: The story that it has is good, but it sure is in a rush to have it over. What I find interesting is that in many ways this is one of the more complicated mecha designs that Sunrise animated towards the end of the cell era. It makes me a bit sad now knowing how much of a downgrade the early Digipaint sequel is from a visual standpoint. 7/10

Godzilla X Kong The New Empire: THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN! I initially recoiled at the possible return of the podcasting gang, but all returning characters benefit from a more solid group dynamic that avoids the cringe the series hadn't quite shaken. The monster madness is as camp as it comes, but I the cinematography made me feel like I was having a panic attack with all the rotating. 7/10

MacGyver: I bounced right off this. Maybe it gets better in later seasons, but the pilot and the first batch after that were cheesy in a bad way. I don't like Anderson's accent and the vibes are too cartoon-drug-psa-episode. It could barely hold my attention 4/10

Battle Beyond the Stars: Forgot to add this one. I've seen enough 7 samurai 'in space' but the cast was varied enough be counteract the dull male lead with the fun factor. 6/10

Outer Wilds: Few games out there are real originals. And I'm glad to have played as much as I did. I've given the writing major props for making this silly setting feel real and consistent. A personal highlight was landing on the sun cannon station first try without knowing what it was because of my raw uncut skill. However, I don't really feel like definitively scoring on this one since I paused playing it for about a year right before getting to the finishing sequence. I honestly had no idea how to pick things up again. It felt like I ruined it for myself and resorted to watching a playthrough of the end. I'd probably say maybe a 7-8? A few of the environments cross the bridge between exciting to traverse to dull and maze-y wandering.

Lensman (1984): Gorgeous, and occasionally kind of charming, but not enough to overcome the general malaise of the non-starter plot. The vague Heroes-Journey shaped plot doesn't bother to explain what a lensman is or what the titular lens does until the final moments. There wasn't really enough there to not make sense. It almost says something about how resistance can take many shapes, even insignificant ones, but I almost feel like it does so on accident. 5/10

[clapperboardtalk]

IT STAINS THE SANDS RED

It Stains the Sands Red (2016): A Desert Dance with Death (and a Zombie)

Movie Specs:

Title: It Stains the Sands Red

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Year: 2016

Country: Canada

Plot Twist (Spoiler-Free): Picture this: a sun-scorched desert wasteland, a lone stripper named Molly (Brittany Allen) in a beat-up car, and a single, relentless zombie on her tail. Not your typical road trip, right? This ain't your average zombie flick either. Molly and her undead stalker engage in a bizarre cat-and-mouse chase across the dunes, forced to confront not just the apocalypse, but also their own demons. Buckle up for a wild ride of survival, desperation, and maybe even a touch of Stockholm Syndrome (don't worry, I won't spoil the surprises!).

Acting Powerhouse in a One-Woman Show (Almost): With a cast smaller than a zombie's vocabulary, the pressure was on Allen to deliver. And deliver she did! Her portrayal of Molly's grit, vulnerability, and even twisted humor is raw and captivating. You'll feel her sweat in the scorching desert, her fear when the zombie gets too close, and her surprising resilience in the face of the impossible. The supporting cast, though limited, also shines with natural performances that ground the story.

Camera Work: A Scorching Masterpiece: Forget CGI-laden hordes of zombies. This film's beauty lies in its simplicity. The vastness of the desert is captured with breathtaking cinematography, making you feel the oppressive heat and the isolation Molly faces. The camera work isn't just pretty; it's a character itself, subtly reflecting Molly's emotional journey. Plus, the gore, while minimal, is impactful, adding just the right amount of shock value.

My Two Cents (and 5 Stars!): This is a zombie film unlike any other. It's a character study, a thriller, and even a dark comedy rolled into one. The acting is phenomenal, the visuals are stunning, and the story, while unconventional, will leave you thinking long after the credits roll. Sure, it could benefit from a bit more backstory on Molly and some scenes felt a tad strange, but hey, that's what makes it unique! It's a hidden gem in the zombie genre, and I highly recommend it (just don't expect a typical brain-munching fest).

Bonus: What the World Thinks: Critics were generally split, with some praising its originality and others finding it too slow or bizarre. But hey, that's the beauty of film, right? As for the box office, well, let's just say it wasn't a blockbuster. With a budget of a mere $350,000, it raked in just over $3,500. But hey, sometimes the best things come in small packages (and with limited budgets).

Fun Fact: Did you know the film's title was inspired by a line from the classic zombie flick "Dawn of the Dead"? Now you do!

So, there you have it. Go forth, watch "It Stains the Sands Red," and prepare to be surprised by a zombie film that's more than just brains and blood. You might just find yourself dancing with death in the desert alongside Molly. Just remember the sunscreen!

[gchoate17]

I watched 25 movies in 2023 – down from 30 last year. Here they are, ranked in order. 

Cherry

Fantastic story, well told. It covered a lot of ground in a short time and made me believe everything. Despite the bad decision, I never stopped pulling for him. Tom Holland crushed it.

2. Tetris

I love these stories that pull the curtain back on pop culture phenomena. An enthralling sprint from start to finish.

3. I, Tonya

Nice job of showing the other side of the story. I felt some empathy for “the monster.” Also, I wasn’t expecting to laugh, but I laughed multiple times.

4. Dune (2021)

It’s always impressive when someone creates a new world that seems to add up. The story is set, now show me the sequel.

5. White Noise

Intellectual and quirky, but ridiculous, in a good way. But it also feels a little too unhinged. Adam Driver crushes it.

6. The Beanie Bubble

Zach Galifinakis’s best performance? Enough of a true story to give me the satisfaction of learning something while also pointing to the ridiculous nature of American capitalism in the 1990s.

7. On the Rocks

Bill Murray and his character carry it.

8. Barbie

Stylistically, really fun. Concept, fantastic. Kate McKinnon and Michael Cera’s characters are the best part of the movie. It was also nice to see so many actors from Sex Education. Of course, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling were fantastic as well. Overall, the was good, but it certainly didn’t measure up to the hype (and how could it). My only real complaint comes with when they have all been enlightened and they name all of the problems with society, which is a little too on the nose for me. We got it without being told.

9. Narvik

I’ve been into Dutch things lately, and I always like a new perspective on World War II, but I wouldn’t say this one is a can’t-miss.

10. Seven Kings Must Die

SPOILER ALERT: I feel like I couldn't get into the movie because legitimately the only person I was pulling for at the end was Uhtred. King Athelstan was a dumbass who deserved to die. All the kings who got duped into allying with the evil Dane guy made the move I would have made. Moral of the story: War is terrible. But that final shot of the Great Hall was awesome.

11. Parasite

Kind of funny. A little too far-fetched.

12. This is Where I Leave You

Weak story, great actors.

13. Air

I know why they did it, but it was a mistake to make a movie about Air Jordans without Michael Jordan.

14. Blood & Gold

I couldn’t buy that what happened in that small town didn’t alert larger authorities. In that way, it was a lot like Three Kings, but less humorous.

15. Those People

I am writing this review months after I watched the movie and even after watching the trailer, I have no recollection of ever seeing this movie, but in my notes I gave it three stars, so I’m putting it at the end of my three-star movies for the year.

16. Everything Everywhere All at Once

Loved the first half-ish, and the acting was great, but – as is with most action mind-benders – when anything can happen because the filmmakers aren’t bound by the rules of reality, it felt completely out of control by the end.

17. The Covenant

Movies that pretend like you can move about freely in war are out of touch with reality. But I do love a battle-buddy flick.

18. Raymond & Ray

A little absurd, but Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor are always likable.

19. To Leslie

Predictable addiction story. Bad Southern accents.

20. Midsommar

A horror film, but replace the dark aesthetic with light. Immature characters who ignore all the red flags.

21. The Wonder

SPOILER ALERT: Eerie and intriguing, but my investment diminished once the jig was up. I don’t buy that a devout little girl like that would just walk away.

22. Greyhound

SPOILER ALERT: Decent action sequences at sea, but not enough background for any of it to really mean anything. Elizabeth Shue needed to come back, for sure. Otherwise, why have her play the role?

23. Dead for a Dollar

I’m a Christoph Waltz fan, but this one was full of melodrama.

24. The Incident (1967)

None of the characters do what they should and there was no payoff. I did enjoy seeing those actors in the early stages of their career, though.

25. The Menu

I want to know how Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, and John Leguizamo got trapped in this stupid-ass movie.

See previous years’ lists here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017.