#land of bad trailer 2024

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

2024 movies I’ve seen, crudely summarized:

The Substance —> The Barbie movie but with the charm of The Fly

Twisters —> Hallmark Channel movie but with the budget of a Marvel movie

Trap —> M. Night Shyamalan directed a music video for his daughter, then slapped together a story to try to pass it off as a movie

Transformers One —> Transformers: First Class

Deadpool & Wolverine —> Ryan Reynolds fanboys over the Marvel universe for two hours

Longlegs —> Silence of the Lambs, but instead of Hannibal Lecter, it’s Nicolas Cage being normal

MaXXXine —> evil La La Land

Speak No Evil —> Andrew Tate as a horror movie villain

Inside Out 2 —> “damn, that’s me onscreen fr fr” the movie

Megalopolis —> The Room 2

Civil War —> “we’re making some kind of a political statement” the movie

A Quiet Place: Day One —> a drama about a terminally ill movie living her life to the fullest in her last days…oh, and there’s aliens I guess

Bad Boys: Ride or Die —> cops going through mid-life crisis: the movie

Monkey Man —> The Raid 3

In a Violent Nature —> Jason Voorhees nature documentary ASMR

Cuckoo —> the trailer sold the movie —> something scary is supposed to be happening, I guess

Road House —> UFC commercial

Night Swim —> “goofy ahh monster ruins the entire atmosphere” the movie

Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver —> boring Warhammer 40K crossover fanfic with Seven Samurai and Star Wars

Alien: Romulus —> It’s totally a different Alien story, bro. Very original and new. —> it’s just the first Alien but slightly changed —> should’ve seen this coming because the director did the same thing with Evil Dead

[gunsatthaphan]

~ Monthly BL Breakdown: September 2024 ~ 

🎃 Happy October!!! 👻

Disclaimer: ALL shows can be streamed here or here, as well as on Youtube and other platforms. For more info on where to watch what, check out this post! 

New breakdowns are coming at the end of every month - feel free to add stuff! -> previous breakdowns

What came out this month? (green = seen/currently watching)

🌟 Live in Love - September 1st (Thailand)

🌟 Meet Unexpectedly - September 1st (China)

🌟 Happy of the End - September 3rd (Japan)

🌟 Kidnap - September 6th (Thailand) ✅

🌟 The Hidden Moon - September 7th (Thailand)

🌟 Jack and Joker - September 9th (Thailand)

🌟 Takara's Treasure Special Episode - September 9th (Japan)

🌟 Love Sick 2024 - September 14th (Thailand)

🌟 Bad Guy My Boss - September 15th (Thailand)

🌟 Love is Like Poison - September 17th (Japan)

🌟 Smells Like Green Spirit - September 19th (Japan)

🌟 Juicy Lips Juicy Heart - September 19th (Thailand)

🌟 Club Friday Season 16: Domestic Incident - September 20th (Thailand)

🌟 Make Up, Make Me Grow Up! - September 25th (Thailand)

🌟 Teenager Judge - September 28th (Vietnam)

Monthly Likes / Dislikes

👎🏻 the last few months in bl land have been the dryest in years lmao it's been a while since I've really been captured by anything. I dropped a few shows this month, some of which are well received by the public but I just can't get into them. The ones that recently ended were not satisfactory either and the only ones I'm enjoying out of the currently airing roster are not bls lol. The anticipation for THK is what keeps me going but even with that we have no guarantee for quality lol. I'm just really craving something good because this year has been pretty sad lol. recommendations are welcome.

New series & movie announcements

🎥 My Stubborn (starring Yoon Phusanu) - Date TBA (Thailand)

🎥 Fight For You - Date TBA (Taiwan)

🎥 My Damn Business - Date TBA (South Korea)

🎥 Impression of Youth - Date TBA (Taiwan)

🎥 See Your Love - Date TBA (Taiwan)

🎥 Minors - Date TBA (Japan)

Other news from the BL world

❗️ The Thai BL Last Twilight won the award for Best Asian LGBT program at this year's Content Asia Awards, as well as Series of the Year at the Maya TV Awards 2024.

❗️ This year's MChoice & Mint Awards were held on September 7th. The following BL actors/productions won:

Pooh Krittin (Pit Babe) - Rookie of the Year

We Are - Entertainment Program of the Year

The cast of 4 Minutes - Breakthrough Cast of the Year

❗️ This year's Asian Academy Creative Awards were held on September 25th. The following BL actors/productions won:

Last Twilight - Best Direction, Best Screenplay & Best Sound

Only Friends - Best Editing & Best Promo/Trailer

Re-Move On by Gemini & Fourth - Best Theme Song

Ping Krittanun - Best Actor in a Supporting Role (The Rebound)

❗️ MaxNat have announced that they will be reprising their roles as Sun and Nuea from the show Y-Destiny (2021) in a series of 10 episodes à 15-20 minutes. The show is set to air in early 2025, further details are unknown.

❗️ Domundi announced a second season for their reality show DMD Friendship with the title DMD Friendship: It Takes Two. A new generation of 7 trainees are competing for the lead role(s) in Domundi's next BL. The contestants will stay in a house where they compete in a series of missions while working on their chemistries in the search for a partner they are compatible with. The show will premiere on October 6th.

Upcoming series & movies for October:

👉🏻 Fourever You - October 3rd (Thailand)

👉🏻 Uncle Unknown - October 4th (Taiwan)

👉🏻 Every You, Every Me - October 6th (Thailand)

👉🏻 DMD Friendship: It Takes Two (reality show) - October 6th (Thailand)

👉🏻 Eccentric Romance - October 10th (South Korea)

👉🏻 Love in the Big City - October 21st (South Korea)

👉🏻 See You (movie) - October 25th (Taiwan)

👉🏻 Perfect Propose: Dream Edition - October 25th (Japan)

👉🏻 Stealing From My CEO - October TBA (China)

[romance-of-three-memes]

It's been over 6 years since Dynasty Warriors 9 came out, and 6 years since we've had a new main series entry. We're not getting another main series entry at least as of yet, we're getting Dynasty Warriors Origins, which was revealed in Sony's 2024 State of Play show, which has been remarked to have been an utterly mediocre event (much like this entire generation of tRIpLe A video games). The first trailer is here:

So, what do I think of all this? My overall sentiment can be summed up as follows:

Fuck man, I dunno.

Dynasty Warriors means a lot to me. It means so, so much to me. It's shaped a lot of aspects of my life, my taste in video games, music, characters, and costume design, my academic interests and aspirations, etc. I learned Chinese in college and studied abroad in Beijing largely because Dynasty Warriors stoked that interest in me from a young age. So yeah, I *really* love this series. I *really* am not sure what my life would look like if it hadn't been part of it. And I *really* hate what's become of it.

I want to be excited. I want to be optimistic. But at the same time, I don't, because man, does getting your hopes up only to have them dashed hurt. Nothing last forever, and after the sorry affair that was Dynasty Warriors 9 (the strongest defense I've heard for it was 'it's wasn't as bad as people say' it wasn't AS bad. Yeesh), it's made me wonder if there's really much of anywhere left for the series to go that's interesting.

The formula itself, the 1 vs 1,000 gameplay, has long been ported to other IPs such as Zelda, Fire Emblem, and Berserk, and a lot of them have been great (holy shit I love the original Hyrule Warriors). This proves that the gameplay concept can continue to evolve and be engaging. But Dynasty Warriors as a narrative device for that concept has been pretty played out, and it's not like this is a new observation, anyone who's played more than one or two Warriors games would probably be able to tell you the same thing.

Given the differing gameplay with the whole nameless hero bit and the title it's probably more like (another) spin-off than a main sequel, and that may very well be because the devs don't have much of anywhere else to go with the main series, which may be for the best. I'd rather let something go quietly into the night than watch as it shambles on like a reanimated corpse, although I'd rather it ended on a better note than Dynasty Warriors 9. Something that particularly bothers me is the wording of some of the ad blurbs, like on Koei-Tecmo's official twitter account announcing the game: 'In addition, for the first time in a Dynasty Warriors title, the storyline will be told through the eyes of a “nameless hero.” Play through the historical tale of war as chaos erupts throughout the Three Kingdoms, showcasing the vast lands of China and its most ruthless generals like never before!’

That's *technically* true, but in a very legalese way. This isn't the first time the Warriors series has had an original character with no historical or cultural background being 'the main character' of the game. Dynasty Warriors 4 and most of the Empires games have the option for you to create a player character and play through the game with them, and Samurai Warriors Chronicles is the same deal, albeit that's even more like the premise of Dynasty Warriors Origins because you play as an OC going through the late Sengoku Era. And man, the evolution of the character creation over the years has been pretty amazing. It makes me wonder if this 'nameless hero' is going to be customizable other than changing their weapon (which was showcased in the trailer). I'm going to be really honest, unless that character ends up being extremely compelling and well-written, I'm going to be very put off if we can't customize them, or if there's only a small degree of customization. In Samurai Warriors Chronicles 3 I can make a player character who’s a woman that’s taller than virtually every male character, isn’t stick thin, can wield any other character’s weapon or her own unique weapon, and I can put her in cool armor that isn’t pointlessly sexualized, and I can give her different voices who all give the character different personalities in their lines and delivery, and I give her the overconfident, ruthless voice actress. If you take that degree of customizability away from me after having given it to me on a handheld system from the previous generation, I will lose a ton of interest, Dynasty Warriors Origins.

Another thing that maybe isn't quite as major but still gets me is the announcement tweet on Koei-Tecmo's official twitter account that goes 'Fueled by exhilarating 1 vs. 1,000 action and the rush of massive armies, DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS delivers an unrivaled sense of realism to the battlefield'. Realism. In Dynasty Warriors. A game series where you play as characters with superhuman abilities and are at a peak physical condition that most people could never hope to achieve. Realism? You think I want realism? You think *anyone* plays this series for realism? One of the best parts of Dynasty Warriors is how flashy and campy it is, and how unabashed it is about that (or how it used to be, anyway). Dynasty Warriors has never, ever been about realism and feels more like chasing trends, since realism has been a buzzword in the video game community for years now (albeit it's quieted down within the past few years, thankfully).

Still, this is just a very basic first trailer. Could it be great? Yeah, I'd love for it to be. But do I think it will be? Most of what little evidence we've been given so far makes me lean towards 'no'. That doesn't mean I necessarily think it'll be terrible, but I also don't really think it will be great.

As much of a cynical, joyless bastard as I can be, I don't get anything out of saying all this. I usually love being right, but not about this. Man would I *love* to be wrong about this. I really, really would. Also, I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade or try to convince them that they shouldn't be excited or should expect the worst case scenario, I'm just throwing my opinion out there. Maybe once we see more my expectations will take a turn for the better.

So I guess I'll end this with the sentiment I began with: Fuck man, I dunno.

[thirteens-pocket-watch]

I've decided to compile all the small pieces of information about future episodes that RTD has given in his Letter from the Showrunner segments in DWM. I've only included things that can tell us something about the episode, so stuff like Bad Wolf investigating if using a certain title is permitted hasn't been included here. I've included the issue each point was given in and I will obviously update after future issues

(Last updated 01.02.25)

Upcoming Episodes

Series 15/Season 2

Episode 1

- Scene One features none of the regular cast (600)

- RTD says "Belinda Chandra arrives in the Doctor's world with a massive SLAM!" (609)

- An acronym for its title is TRR (611)

Episode 2

- The episode features a guest star who's been in the show before but in a different role (600)

- There is a guest star playing a character named Reginald Pye (609)

Episode 3

- RTD mentions that Ncuti Gatwa is rehearsing with a Special Guest Star for their 13th episode. I assumed he was referring to his 13th episode with Gatwa and didn't count the anniversary specials (597)

- RTD says "Brrr. I'm just saying...brrr. Scary!" (609)

Episode 4

Episode 6

- RTD calls it "a brand new slant on a Doctor Who story" (609)

Episode 5

- There is a "unique and terrifying shop" in this episode (613)

- RTD says "But wait till you see Sabine, and Cora and Kid". I personally can't tell if these are characters, actors or something else (609)

Episode 7

- RTD mentions a text message from Verada Sethu and says "(my reaction to Season 2, episode 7, Sc. 48 as her character faces... oh, you'll see!). I'd just said, what great rushes" (605)

- It is the first part of a two part finale (609)

- It contains "a brilliant guest star and revelations galore" (609)

- The episode contains the following words: violets, owl, threshold, poppy, slip, Chinese and Persephone (611)

Episode 8

- The header for Scene 10 is INT. CUTAWAY, METAL DOOR 2 (611)

Extra

- RTD also says "wait till you find out what's behind that metal door! Not to mention Doors 1 and 3. Scream!" (611)

- The finale contains a "mysterious Palace" (613)

- An unspecified episode contains the words garden, firmament and diploma (592)

- An unspecified episode contains the words radiation, moth and skiffle (597)

- The sets include a hotel, a chamber and a hospital (597)

- More sets are listed, including the UNIT OPs room, the Sundays' flat, "a set so real we could rent it out as its actual self" and an "absolute labyrinth of a set" (potentially an actual labyrinth based on a previous comment from director Makalla McPherson) (601)

- RTD confirmed that the 2025 season will not contain an episode celebrating 20 years of New Who (602)

- On the 8th March 2024, RTD claimed they were "shooting a scene that will live forever in Doctor Who history" (602)

- The "climax" of season 2 contains the words tinderbox, Croydon and threshold (603)

- RTD says "oh, I wish you could see that guest star" about the aforementioned episode (603)

- A "great guest star" is once more alluded to when RTD brings up Phil Collinson doing ADR with them in July (607)

- The director that the above mentioned ADR is being recorded for is Amanda Brotchie (607)

- RTD mentions a "particular shot of London (...) for FX work" and and "important drone shoot in a major city, thousands of miles away" for s2 (607)

- A weapon from the Ninth Doctor era returns during the season (611)

- RTD continues to tease about guest stars, claiming we will see some in a Season 2 teaser trailer over Christmas (611)

- One guest star has apparently dropped some clues that no one has picked up on yet (611)

- RTD says "Tables don't do that" with no context beyond "Four words-a-puzzling" (611)

The War Between the Land and the Sea

- One of the season's characters is "a complex beast". They are referred to as RAD as a shorthand (611)

- There's a set called the Robo-chamber where Belinda Chandra faces some "shocking revelations" (613)

- The Time Hotel foyer set was transformed into a wartime hospital in the North Zone (613)

- The last shot of the trailer is "just one shot in the middle of the most astonishing sequence"

- The cartoon man seen in the trailer is voiced by "an old friend of the show", presumably the previously appearing guest star that has been teased prior

- The season as a whole is described as "bigger and madder and darker, taking wilder swings than ever"

- RTD also gives this list of things present in Season 2: "monsters and friends and old faces and legacy and lore and myth and pantheons and beasts and quarries and spaceships and cameos and robots and rebels and shocks and songs and lasers and Mrs Flood."

Previous Episodes

- A fin went missing during filming. Whether this is a prop, part of a costume or something else isn't specified (611)

- The set that RTD claims is "the heart of the show" is the biggest set for this era of the Whoniverse so far and had 200 extras in it at one point (613)

2023 Specials

The Star Beast

- Contains the words westerly, pelican and dreams (584)

- Page seven contains the line "Oh, Nerys and her big mouth!" (585)

- The reconstructed opening scene made from fan recordings of filming contains lines that were cut from the final version of the episode (595)

Wild Blue Yonder

- Contains the words wild, Southampton, vegetable, Flux, bean and starlight (585)

Extra

- RTD refers to a "terrifying scene with Sue" and two celebrity historical figures in the upcoming specials (596)

- None of the specials will air on the 1st, 17th or 23rd of November (596)

Series 14/Season 1

Space Babies (Episode 1)

- Contains the words roar, Glastonbury and conquistador (589)

- The title was said aloud in Star Trek: Picard 3 (590/591)

- Scene 11 is headed as INT. CONTROL ROOM and the stage directions say "THE DOCTOR and RUBY walk in to find a cool, sleek, metal CONTROL ROOM, full of CONSOLES" (598)

The Devil's Chord (Episode 2)

- Scene 10 is set INT. CANTEEN. DAY (585)

- Contains the words Liverpool, legions and non-diagetic (586)

- The title of the episode was revealed (598)

73 Yards (Episode 4)

- Had the line "I once went to the top of the Shard" cut from the script (589)

Rogue (Episode 6)

- Page 10 contains the line "I am ruined" and it is said by a character named Emily (598)

- When talking about watching the final mix of this episode, RTD threw in the quote "Live vivisection!" (602)

The Legend of Ruby Sunday (Episode 7)

- First line of the script is INT. COFFEE BAR, USA - DAY, 1947 (584)

- RTD said he recomends midnight viewing for this episode because "it's shocking, frankly, and there might be screaming!" (603)

Empire of Death (Episode 8)

- Contains the words kingdom, gold and Tigella (592)

- Contains the words terror, dust, pizza, Einstein, death and opera (598)

- One of the above words is also in the title (598)

Extra

- An unspecified episode had the word "sixpence" in the title before the plot about said sixpence was cut (591)

- There is a crucial scene, designated 27B, in an unspecified episode with an as-yet unannounced guest star (593)

- The aforementioned scene contains the debris of a fallen statue with an 8 foot tall head as part of the set (593)

- The last scene to be filmed for series 14 was a scene in the TARDIS in the "middle bit of the finale" (whether this is episode 7 or 8 is not specified) and the Doctor slides to the ground at some point during the scene (594)

- RTD says the following about the upcoming season: "Will we ever see Mondo Caroon? Where exactly is Bertie Lester? And how many people does it take to fly an asteroid hopper?" (603)

[landgraabbed]

hi Cat, can you share your thoughts/criticisms of DATV? i think the game is gonna flop.

hey nonners, idk. this is a complicated question. i mean, game's not even out yet so it's unfair to pass judgment on it. i can only judge bioware's approach to pre-release marketing. and i got a lot of thoughts on that.

honestly i think it will be a perfectly serviceable game and technically it will run well (i mean, it has been steam deck verified which tells me that performance was a big concern for devs). i don't think quality has much bearing on the love people can have for a game. and vice-versa. the people who are hyped to oblivion and want to preorder will like it. the people who hate it bc it has poc and queer and disabled characters will still hate it. people who analyze the game's mechanics and writing will dissect the game and be predisposed to finding things they dislike. over time opinions will mellow out and we'll see how the veilguard will be remembered.

i can't trust bioware to make an rpg that i will want to play after their last failures. different people will differ on where the string of failures started. from a quality standpoint my line is dragon age 2. me3 to me failed to deliver on the promise of the first 2 me games save for shining exceptions like the citadel dlc and javik. from a numbers standpoint the last successful game was inquisition which won goty in 2014 due to a serious lack of competition mostly, especially since witcher 3 was pushed back to 2015 (which pains me personally as that put it directly in bloodborne's path to goty in that year). thing is bioware seems to be doing all they can to avoid a flop. veilguard is bioware's hail mary after a string of failures. they are ditching the ea app to capture as many people as possible. the combat has fully careened into action, and although they keep telling us these will be the best companions ever, really, guys, the gameplay is more and more focused on the protagonist alone. the crpg roots of the series are getting cut down to attract a broader audience. perhaps at the cost of ostracizing some like me who enjoy the party-based, party-building mechanics like me.

how well this will go i don't know. on one hand i think bioware has been historically bad at showing the full scope to new and returning players. empress celene has been haunting the edges of the world since origins. the full grasp of her character is locked behind books. afaik some companions have been introduced already in supplemental materials. this sort of move didn't go well for ff15. on the other i think this game missed its window. the gaming landscape of today isn't the same as it was in 2014, and in 2014 the skyrim at home open world design was already outdated. i've been hearing about the crpg renaissance since 2016. i accompanied it. it remained a niche part of gaming until it didn't: baldur's gate 3 released last year to audience and critical acclaim. going forward i expect mainstream rpgs to take cues from bg3. and the mission based almost extraction shooter-esque design that veilguard seems to have might not land as well in 2024 as it would have in 2020.

eta: or it could go well, idk. morrowind and final fantasy were bethesda's and squaresoft's hail maries and saved those studios.

right now the marketing has missed the mark on me. it is patronizing and seemingly needs to punch down the previous da games to prop this one up. it concerns me that the game may be releasing in 2 months (as per jeff grubb) and we quite frankly haven't seen shit. just bioware telling us that trust me, these companions are deep. trust me, the combat is good. trust me, the city built on slave labor is totally the coolest one you've seen. everyone copies fromsoftware but they don't seem to learn to drop a trailer and shut up until they got more things of substance to show. and this isn't just a bioware issue.

[scarletofhufflepuff]

Ranking of “The Crow” Movies

I want to preface by saying I’m not a film critic. I just wanted to make a post about The Crow, after watching the original 1994 film and most of its sequels, for fun. Especially since I’ve never seen the original film till just 3 or 4 days ago after hearing about the 2024 “remake” coming out sometime in the last week.

Also I’ve noticed I have the ability to find enjoyment in movies others yell hatred towards. Not all the time, there are movies I don’t like. Still something I’ve noticed.

I will be ranking them from what I most enjoyed watching to what I least didn’t.

The Crow(1994)

The Crow: Salvation(2000)

The Crow: City of Angels(1996)

The Crow: Wicked Prayer(2005)

I will admit, I haven’t been able to watch Wicked Prayer yet. But based on what I saw in the trailer… I doubt of its chances of moving up in my personal rankings of these movies.

————

Putting a divider here so you don’t have to be unnecessarily be subjected to my ramblings. If you’re curious on my thoughts on City of Angels and Salvation, feel free to continue. Just know that, again, I’m not a film critic. I just ramble about the things I liked vs what I didn’t. :P

Now I know the sequels are hated on, I get it. Especially with the unnecessary nudity. I can ignore the nudity since they thankfully don’t focus on them too much… but honestly I felt the camera were on those girls a few seconds longer than needed. In any case, ignoring those facts, I found some merit of enjoyment in the stories of the sequels(except for Wicked Prayer due to previously stated reasons).

For Salvation, the story itself wasn’t that bad to me. Guy feels pain for not only the death of his gf but also the anguish of being accused of the murder when he himself is innocent. The way Alex acts as the Crow is fun to watch as well. A little awkward at times but not bad over all. Some of the scenes in the movie were a bit over the top, felt like the way were added just to make the movie seem cool. Like the fact there was a helicopter THAT low in that one chase scene?? Like is that even possible irl?? It caught me off guard honestly. Also I’m not sure how to feel about the film makers having it so kill the crow(the bird not Alex) not being a permanent damage to Alex’s abilities. I get they were trying to do something different but it just… well as I said, I’m not sure how I feel about it. It seems off overall.

For City of Angels, most of my issues were honestly with the nudity. Can be ignored but still sticks out to me on the screen when I’m just trying to focus on what’s going on in the story. Another issue I have is the sudden romance between Ash and Sarah. Like is it just me or do they seem to fall for each other just for the sake of doing so? Like come on Sarah, just because you dreamt of Ash’s death only to see him alive doesn’t mean you can kiss him. The dude is trying to avenge his murdered son, leave the man be! At least tell him about what you know of crows bringing the dead back to the land of the living to write the wrongs of their death. That way he has an understanding of what’s happened to him.

As for the original 1994 film, I honestly don’t have much to say. It was a little weird for me in the beginning but I honestly loved the film over all. The way Eric laughs off getting shot in the hand by Funboy much to Funboy’s confusion is such a delight to watch.

All my issues aside, I’m actually willing to watch these sequels again if I ever feel in the mood. Salvation more so than City of Angels, probably.

————

If you actually read all of this, what the heck are you doing?? No but seriously I’m curious why anyone would listen to my ramblings Lol. Also if you’re reading this and haven’t watched the original 1994 film; GO DO THAT! It’s awesome.

[themosleyreview]

The Mosley Review: Best Films of 2024

2024 was one hell of a year for film! We saw the upswing in quality of the horror genre, the second part of a complete story set in the sands of another world and the first part of beloved musical come to life. I truly loved that the world of the stunt industry got the love it deserved for they are the true artist of cinema. Most years when I put my list together, I tend have an average of 10. Then again, its my list of what I loved so in the end, its up to me if I want to add that many each year. This year there were only 8 films that I loved the most and would consider owning on 4K Disc. As always, just click the title of each film to read the full reviews. So without further ado, here's my list of the best films of 2024!

First up...

Bad Boys: Ride or Die: It is a miracle that this franchise still is running strong without Michael Bay and its better for it. Not many franchises have the guts nor the right direction to reinvent themselves mid stream without straying too far away from what made it great in the first place. That's what these films have done so well and everytime, they keep getting more exciting and hilarious. The chemistry between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence is always at the heart of these film and they continued hot streak here. They are getting older and I loved that they fully embrace it. The action was invigorating and even though not all the comedy landed, it still was a blast. There is one character in the film that finally got the respect he deserved and it was the showstopping scene of the film. I can't get enough of the Bad Boys franchise and if there's one more on the way, give it to me, but if they want to stop here, its a great ending.

Deadpool & Wolverine: If wish fulfillment was a movie, then this is it. Not only was this film based on a long lasting idea and joke, but it was the convergence of 2 of the greatest Marvel characters and it went exactly the way you expected. The constant quiping and innuendos of Deadpool balanced against the many insanely violent and annoyed retorts from Wolverine was the strength of this film. It was a bloody match made in heaven and from beginning to end as we finally get to see the comic book accurate costume of Wolverine on full display. Hugh Jackman continued to shine as the best Logan we've ever had so far and especially in a montage that was another love letter to the character's lineage. This film was also a somber thank you and goodbye to the Fox/Marvel universe of films and a special thank you to the one character that got us to this point in history. What a introduction to a new addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Abigail: Now here's something that was a bit of a surprise. The premise is straight forward and the trailer almost ruined all the blood soaked twist and turns. The directing team behind Radio Silence have really carved out their niche corner of energetic and fun horror. Their take on the Daughter of Dracula tale was updated to modern day tech and it worked so beautifully. With a cast of talented actors like this, it can be easy to short change a few for the sake of the story. Luckily that didn't happen here. Melissa Barrera has solidified her status as this generation's Scream Queen and Dan Stevens is the Scream King. Alisha Weir was amazing with her playful and devilish smile as the titular character. Even though she's a blood sucking monster, she gave the character such personality and at one point, a soul. This film was just a pure bloody delight.

The Fall Guy: Like I said before, the was for the real heroes of the film industry as they take the heaviest falls and serious bumps for the lead stars that aren't Jackie Chan or Tom Cruise. It was a crime that this film didn't get the love it deserved box office wise. This was not only a loving look into the stunt world, but it was a heartfelt love story that also had a murder mystery vibe to it too. The banter between Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling in a particular scene involving fire, was the highlight of the film. It was an inventive way to capture the moment we've all seen where two former lovers reunite and air out their pain to one another. Aaron Taylor-Johnson was having a ball as well and really played up the Hollywood cliche of actors being overly self centered. The action sequences alone were the best practical set pieces I've seen in a long time. Gawd I loved this movie.

Nosferatu: Bram Stoker's Dracula was the defining novel that truly made you understand the psychology of a tortured soul that is cursed to live forever consuming blood. There was a romantic nature to it that brought his humanity back for a bit. Many have taken that story and adapted it into similar stories derived from that masterpiece. This film, like the 1922 version, gave us an even more iconic take on the legend. This version was handled with such care and mastery in its cinematography, lighting and sound design. It was a nightmarish dream that was unrelenting in its nature and was a true vampire horror story that took the genre back to its more gothic and operatic roots. Lily-Rose Depp delivers a unforgettable breakout performance that is both emotional and physically astounding. Nicolas Hoult knows how to deliver the innocence of a young and hard working man that becomes tormented by visions and a true demon sucking away at his vitality. Bill Skarsgård was truly unrecognizable and creepy as the titular creature also named Count Orlock. His voice and movement was inhuman and I loved every second that he was on screen. Robert Eggers is a true visionary and now his films have become an event to not be missed.

Wicked: Part 1: This was one of those shows as a thespian that is on the list of must see on stage. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened for me yet. It will, but for now, this cinematic experience was everything I have been missing in film musicals. I have missed the grandiose scale of not only impressive musical numbers, but the jaw dropping set design and costumes. This was truly the definition of how to bring back the seemingly lost art of musical filmmaking, but that's not the only thing achieved here. The transfer from stage to screen is immaculate in my humble opinion. I felt I was watching the power of the stage working together with the transformative nature of cinema and it was pure magic. Ariana Grande surprised me as I'm not as familiar with her acting career as I am her singing career. She was hilarious as Galinda and I loved that in the opening scene, before we go back in time, there is a heaviness on her heart. The rest of the time she was just a delight to witness. Cynthia Erivo is a powerhouse in her own right and as Elphaba, she brings that same strength to the character and her voice in not only her redefining rendition of Defying Gravity, but the The King and I. Johnathan Bailey as Fiyero was the MVP of the film for me though. His performance and the entire set design of Dancing Through Life was mind blowing.

Dune: Part Two: After the amazing first part of this epic story, I couldn't wait to see the next half. There aren't many book to film adaptations that have gotten the visual care and epic treatment the story demands. This film continued to receive the same care the first part did and oh my what a satisfying and stunning film. I haven't been so inraptured by a universe that was so vast and yet so intimate in its portrayal. What I loved so much is the fact that each character has many layers and the hero of the film is flawed in knowing his fate and how it will effect the universe. Timothee Chalamet was great and became a badass as Paul Atreides in my eyes. The man is a reluctant hero that knows the weight of his decisions and had no choice, but to accept it. I loved that aspect of the character as it is rarely handled with this much class. Austin Butler was unflinching and menacing as Feyd-Rautha. He was the biggest standout for me and he was almost alien in his approach to the animalistic nature of the character. What a cast and what an adventure.

Now comes the moment you've been waiting for the most. My choice for the best film of the year is unexpected by most and probably lower on other people's list. The best film of 2024 is........

Saturday Night: As a youth, I grew up in the late 80's and all through out the 90's era of the greatest comedy sketch show on television. Chris Farely, Mike Myers, Molly Shannon, Will Farrell, Cheri Oteri and many more were among the line up of talent I came to know and love. The Blues Brothers, Coneheads, and Tommy Boy were always playing in my home. As I got older, I ventured back to the early days of the Saturday Night Live and began hearing all the stories about how it began. It was a real chaotic mess that should not have worked and some how, here we are 50 years later. As a fellow stage performer, I know exactly that feeling of anxiety, worry of forgetting lines, getting the timing right for costume changes and having the props in the right places. This film captures all of that and on a corporate nature as the network wants to know if their investment will pay off. Many legends were to appear on that historic broadcast and the cast brought to life that fateful night and the personalities of the every comedian. Gabriel LaBelle was amazing and endearing as Lorne Michaels. The amount of stress and on your feet thinking flowing through him was staggering and Gabriel did it perfectly. Dylan O'Brien was perfection as he captured not only the cadence of Dan Aykroyd's speech pattern, but also his gift of gab, his walk and attention to detail. Cory Michael Smith blew me away as Chevy Chase. He capture his charisma, comedic timing and sarcastic attitude. This was a fun, stressful and expertly filmed love letter to the fans of SNL and the legacy of the show. DO. NOT. MISS. THIS. ONE!

And that's it ladies and gentleman. That is my list of the best films of 2024. There were alot of other films I enjoyed that almost made the list, but I either ran out of time or I just missed their theatrical run entirely. Here's to 2025 and I hope it produces yet another list of this caliber or better. Thanks for reading!

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Jess Piper at The View from Rural Missouri:

In a classroom, on tribal land, I learned to complete and turn in my homework on time. I was in 4th grade, and usually one of the best students, but for whatever reason, one day… I forgot my homework. I really did love the school. I have written about the no-questions-asked cafeteria policy and how I was able to eat every day without the shame of charging when I didn’t have money or not eating if I had charged too often. The Cherokee Nation fed every kid and I am forever grateful. But my math homework. You should know that I am very bad at math. It never was my strong suit, but I always completed my homework, even in a chaotic home. I must have left it at home that day.

My 4th grade teacher had grown irritated at us for not finishing homework and this day must have pushed her to the limit. I can remember at least three of us without our homework that day. My teacher grabbed her paddle and herded all three of us into the hallway. She told us she was going to “light us on fire,” which meant we were about to get swats from her wooden paddle. I was a rule follower for most of my life. The Jess you know today bears little resemblance to the girl and woman I was in my younger days. I have been paddled exactly twice in my life. I will never forget them — forever singed into my memory. My dad spanked me once and then never again. I was four and my babysitter always seemed to be pregnant or nursing. She was also always out of patience. She watched me and my three-year old sister every day in the summer. It was Mississippi in the late 70s.

One day, the sitter gave us our lunch on the back porch and then proceeded to lock us outside for several hours. She lived in a trailer with a slider off the kitchen. We knocked and knocked and could see her inside the living room watching TV and folding laundry. She acted like she couldn’t see or hear us. She let us back in before my dad came to pick us up. When Daddy arrived, he looked at me and asked me why I was so red — I have a very fair complexion and any exercise or time in the sun still turns my cheeks bright red. I told him the babysitter locked us out all afternoon. He looked at her. She denied it. She also told my dad I lied a lot, and we were only in the backyard for a few minutes before he arrived. On the way home, Daddy told me he was going to spank me for lying. He did indeed spank me and sent me to bed crying. That was the first time I realized my dad wasn’t a god…he was just a man. Fallible. [...]

Corporal punishment is legal to this very day in Missouri schools. Teachers and Administrators can dole out swats to children as young as five. Giving students swats is legal in too many states: As of 2024, corporal punishment is legal in 17 states and practiced in 14. An additional six other states have not expressly prohibited it. I “witnessed” swats as a first-year teacher. I was an 8th Grade Reading teacher at the time and my classroom was directly across from the Principal’s office. He administered a lot of swats. Too many swats. My administrator came into my classroom during my prep period one day. He told me he needed me for just a minute. I obliged and walked into his office and saw a 7th grade boy sitting in a chair. The boy had racked up five tardies and could choose ISS or swats. The boy chose the swats.

The Principal told me I was a witness to the swats. Oh my god — I wanted to witness no such thing. I did not want to see this happen, but I also didn’t want to be in trouble as a first-year teacher. The Principal told the boy to pull up his shirt to make sure the swats landed on his rear rather than on his back or legs…the boy was also instructed to lean over and place his hands on the desk. The Principal “warmed him up” with a light tap on the boy’s rear. Then my administrator delivered three of the hardest swats I have ever seen in my life. I am positive the paddling could be heard in the hallway. With the first swat, tears sprang from the boy’s eyes. The second swat had the boy give out a little yelp. And the third had the boy jump in pain. When it was over, the boy rubbed his behind and wiped his eyes and walked out. I had never been a witness before and that would be the last time. I was horrified. I walked back to my room and fought back tears. I knew the boy’s homelife — he was tardy because he missed the bus too often. He didn’t have an alarm and his mom didn’t get up until noon. He took the swats rather than the ISS because it was a quicker punishment and he was accustomed to being hit. Damn it. “Nationwide, Black students and students with disabilities are twice as likely to receive corporal punishment in school as white students without disabilities. Boys are four times more likely to be hit than girls. The majority of students who received corporal punishment were in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas.” I have lobbied my Representatives to end corporal punishment in Missouri public schools. If you happen to be in a state with this practice, I hope you will contact your State Rep and Senator to ask them to ban the practice as well.

Corporal punishment should be banned in every state and district in the nation. No child should be hit in school. Especially by adults they trust.

Jess Piper is right: “Corporal punishment should be banned in every state and district in the nation.”

Corporal punishment produces instant obedience out of fear with long-term harmful side effects.

[liamhsource]

HD. New official movie trailer for Land Of Bad starring Liam Hemsworth, Russell Crowe, Luke Hemsworth, Ricky Whittle and Milo Ventimiglia. Only in theaters February 16, 2024.

[atlasnolanarchive]

RAPID FIRE.

Faceclaim: Barry Keoghan.

Name: Atlas Nolas.

Pronouns & Gender: He/Him, Cis Man.

Birthday: 05/30/1995.

Occupation: Attendant @ Starship Arcade.

Neighborhood: Celestial Drive

How long have they been in Starlight Oaks? 9 years.

Three positive traits: Free-spirited, loyal, spontaneous.

Three negative traits: Aimless, distractible, envious.

tw drugs, child neglect

OVERVIEW.

-- First born child to a mother who probably should never have been a mother, something Nina Nolan would admit herself if she could ever be tied down long enough for an honest conversation on that.

-- Atlas had to practically raise himself and his sister from a young age. Though their mother was technically present, she had spells of going missing for days on and leaving them alone in various motel rooms in Orlando that they called him until having to move on to the next one.

-- Despite the nurturing skills she lacked, his mother was the type who loved a party and was always one of the last ones left shutting the bar down, something that's rubbed off on Atlas.

-- It was an expectation that both he and his sister had to pitch in whenever they could to keep a roof over their heads (and their mother's bad habits funded) which is how Atlas started to shoplift at a young age. Small things at first because he was scared of getting caught, but he gradually grew bolder and bolder about the things he would lift.

-- He has numerous arrests and past charges as a minor and as an adult for theft.

-- Education was never made much of a priority, and it was rare for him to actually attend a full month of school consecutively. Due to this, Atlas never finished high school. After ending up in the system as a pre-teen once child services intervened after another of Nina's vanishing acts, the constant moves heightened the disinterest he had already had about learning as a kid and by sixteen he had dropped out altogether.

-- He made a pact with his sister before they were separated and placed in different homes that when they both turned eighteen they would meet up in Washington and reunite.

-- He first first landed in a trailer park outside of town when he arrived to Starlight Oaks, staying in a trailer there before eventually being able to move into a house on Celestial Drive that's needed the same set of repairs since he first moved in seven years ago (they're still to be done).

-- He's worked various jobs to keep himself afloat, a lot of which have ended up in him being fired for poor attendance or bad behaviour.

-- Loves to throw loud and raucous house parties at his, which has gotten him into trouble with some of his neighbors over the years.

-- Currently, he's passing his time as an attendant at the Arcade. It's his longest steady employment to date (8 months as of Jan. 2024)

SORTA FUN FACTS.

His desire to move to Washington was due to a postcard he received as a child from his 'dad'. It depicted Washington on the front and on the back it just said 'I'm proud of you son - Dad'. He received it when he was six after it was slipped under the door of the motel he was staying in in Orlando. He has no idea currently that the postcard wasn't from his father but rather the motel's caretaker, Jack, who felt bad for how often the young boy would talk about the dad he had never met.

For the longest time he thought At Last by Etta James was actually a song called Atlas. To this day, if it plays on the radio he still sings Atlas instead.

His karaoke song of choice is Gloria by Laura Branigan. It's his mom's favorite song and one of the few he knows all the words to.

Has various tattoos on his body, half of which are from when he was drunk and let someone draw on him at one of his house parties before getting it yatted permanently.

Is wary of wealthy people.

He's never been on an airplane in his life.

Has never been to Disney World despite spending the first 11 years of his life in close proximity to it.

CURRENT CONNECTIONS.

close friend / other half of a whole moron of @sunbcthe

constantly shot down by @sasikamatthews

arcade idiots / friend of @kaiisms

one time air-hockey nemesis turned unlikely besties with @miikcs

getting to know / will be positively influenced by @cosmicallyhadlee

party aquaintances with @rosesraleigh

SPECIFIC WANTED CONNECTIONS.

ppl who attend his messy houseparties KJHGSH doesn't have to be just celestial drive residents! pretty much an open door policy at casa del nolan.

co-workers at the arcade!!

wealthy ppl who kill time there that he can side-eye 👀

friends / ride or dies

frenemies/friends who only fuck with each other when they're drunk and/or partying but on a normal day its like nah fuck you KJSHGH

neighbors from celestial drive (can be positive or negative!)

someone he's in a toxic situationship with (always fighting and falling out then rekindling and can never figure out what they are so its just a messy cycle) plotting required!

connects he knows through his sister

former co-workers / former bosses (he's def bounced around a ton of minimum wage jobs while in SO so timeline is fluid and can be figured out!)

people who he's shoplifted stuff for (if he thinks he can get it and get away with it, he'll lift something by request and sell it to the person for half the price)

people he's gotten into fights with (he can be hotheaded and doesn't think things through when he's drinking)

ppl he gets high with (pretty game for anything but rarely goes harder than coke)

someone with their life together who can take him under their wing a little and help him figure out a path that isn't just him spinning out day in and day out

hookups, fwb, usual jazz.

GENERIC WANTED CONNECTIONS.

connections wise he’s pretty much an open book right now, but some baseline ideas that can be springboarded off are:

friendly.

a best friend / ride or dies / close friends / childhood friends from florida / pseudo-siblings / friends / drunk friends / positive influences / new friends / people who were also in care in florida / former co-workers.

romantic

flirtationship / friends with benefits / one time hook ups / tinder matches / unrequited crush (can be either way) / exes on good terms.

antagonistic.

enemies / former (best) friends / exes on bad terms / frenemies / rivals / negative influence / people who don’t fuck with him.

[rjzimmerman]

Trailer for the documentary, Bad River. Description from its producer, the National Wildlife Federation:

Bad River, a documentary film set for release on March 15, 2024, delves into the real-life David-and-Goliath battle over the Line 5 Pipeline between the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Enbridge, a massive pipeline company. The film highlights the Bad River Band's fight to protect their land from potential environmental catastrophe caused by the pipeline, which traverses their reservation and sits, exposed, near an eroding part of the Bad River. Despite the Band's legal efforts and the clear risks posed by the pipeline's deteriorating condition, the struggle persists in both legal and political arenas.

I'm seeing that you can watch the full documentary on Xfinity for consumer home use only and and on Vimeo.

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

I’ll possibly write up a more detailed review of “Trap” (2024) later, but I can summarize what my main problem was. It felt like watching a story that was constantly on the verge of being interesting. But right before the story gets going, something happens that kills the momentum. So the end result is a really boring, momentum-less story that goes on way too long.

It was like M. Night Shyamalan was afraid of the story getting too gruesome. They set up this guy potentially getting killed, the situation is resolved off-screen. Lady Raven gets kidnapped, she easily escapes a few minutes later. Cooper is going to kill someone close to him, he instead eats dinner and then a few minutes later, gets arrested. There’s just no tension here, which is bad since the trailers and the premise of the story all made it seem like the story was going to be intense.

What also killed the momentum was the surprisingly bad writing. It’s like Shyamalan forgot how to set up a mystery. There are these moments that are supposed to be like “gotcha” moments, but they never land since they’re not properly built up. For example, Cooper discovering that his wife drugged his pie with the sleeping pills from his bag. You think it’d be an epic twist, but it doesn’t land since we only saw the bag once, never knew what was inside the bag, and we weren’t even aware that the wife had access to the bag. The reveal doesn’t work because there’s nothing for the audience to reach that conclusion.

But I think the worst example of this problem - and possibly the worst scene in the movie - is when Lady Raven tries using Cooper’s psych profile against him. Basically, she’s trying to appeal to his good side by pretending she’s his mom. You think this would be a big moment, but it fails since we barely get any information about the mom, about Cooper’s motivations and background, and we didn’t know Lady Raven even knew about his psych profile.

So all in all, because the writing was subpar and the tension was nonexistent, the movie felt like a slog. No joke, I felt like going to sleep during the final act, it was that dull.

Grade: 3/10

(Side note: Also, the direction was off-putting. Too many unnecessary close-ups, the actors’ line deliveries felt wrong, the concert scenes with Lady Raven went on too long, and so on)

[munchbell45]

yahiko and yamato for the character ask game :D !!

I'm not good at the song association thing, so I will skip that one. Sorry. IDK, I tend to listen to instrumental stuff, and I don't always think "OMG, this is so Skleeby from Splungo's Adventure" when I listen to music.

I will say that i sometimes picture (in my mind) angsty AMVs or animations of Nagato and Konan (post-Yahiko's death) set to Anemoia by Oliver Buckland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0guReRtGWI&pp=ygUHYW5lbW9pYQ%3D%3D

Though that may be because the song was used in a really cool video game trailer.

Yahiko

Favourite thing about them?

I love his sincere desire to change the world for the better, as well as his love of others and hope for a better future. Of course, it's not just hope but also a DRIVE to make the world better. He just seems like such a sweet, hardworking dude, and if he was real I would love to know him.

Least favourite thing about them?

The fact that we don't get to see more of him. TBF, he died well before the start of Naruto, so we only see him through memories (and that one weird Infinite Tsukuyomi filler story, but I digress.) I want to see how he'd interact with MORE canon characters, I want to see MORE of the original Akatsuki, and I want to know MORE about the Hidden Rain Village.

I'd love a spin-off miniseries about the Hidden Rain Village.

Favourite line?

I'm not always the best at memorizing lines, but I'll go with this one, where he sets out to go on a mission to scout out an area.

"This land is crying, as usual. It continues to endure much pain. In the past, I hated this land that was crying all the time. But now... I want to save it... I truly feel that way. It's too much like the crybaby I used to be for me to leave it alone."

brOTP?

Obviously he is besties with Konan and Yahiko, they have a truly inseparable bond. I also imagine that he was close with each and every member of the original Akatsuki.

Sadly, there are only a few characters we see him interact with in canon, and many of them are minor.

In a happier timeline where nothing bad happened and the Hidden Leaf was magically not corrupt at all, I could see him being friends with Naruto.

OTP?

Nagato/Yahiko/Konan. They have a deep bond, forged through their collective efforts to endure many hardships. To me, it's as if they are destined to be together and to always develop a deep, intimate care and affection for each other. Even if they were to reincarnate, they'd find each other once more.

nOTP?

Yahiko/Obito, Jiraiya/Yahiko (IDK if anyone ships that, LOL,) Zetsu/Yahiko, Madara/Yahiko (Is that a thing?)

Random headcanon?

He learned how to do a lot of basic repairs, so that if the shack got beaten up, he could fix it. I could also see him loving children.

Unpopular opinion?

My man's underrated. I feel like most people tend to either forget about him or just think of him as the guy that became the Deva Path. I mean... I get why, but I wish he was more popular. How can you not love him?

Favourite picture of them?

Two options. I hope these load in.

A: This panel (I am typing this on my computer and GIMP is being a bitch, so no crop.)

B: (My PFP as of 2/5/2024)

Yamato

I am very neutral on him, so my apologies for some lame-ass answers. Also, i felt like I spent a lot of time writing my opinions on Yahiko.

Favourite thing about them?

His abilities were neat, as one of the few who could use Wood Style. i also respect how he tried his best to keep Team 7 in check and (later on) help rebuild the Hidden Leaf after Pain destroyed it.

Least favourite thing about them?

The fact that he was sidelined for most of the War Arc, serving little use outside of buffing up Zetsus. IDK, that was kind of disappointing.

Oh, I also feel weird about the fact that he's supposed to watch Orochimaru in Boruto. Like, if we treat the anime backstory as canon, dude should be traumatized by Orochimaru.

Favourite line?

That one where he threatens to use "draconic measures" on Team 7 when they keep arguing and fighting each other, I guess.

brOTP?

Kakashi once they are both adults. Sai after he is free from Dan's control, since they could relate to each other a lot (especially if you treat his anime backstory as canon.)

I could see maybe see him befriending Anko as well.

OTP?

KakaYama?

Maybe Yamato/Shizune. Yamato/Anko would either be cool or would suck.

nOTP?

Yamato/Orochimaru, Yamato/Kabuto

Random headcanon?

After the War Arc, he hangs out with Asuka, Kurenai, Guy, and Kakashi. They all reminisce about being teachers and vent to each other about weird crap that happens on the job.

Unpopular opinion?

Um... I thought the ANBU Kakashi filler arc (and Yamato's role in it) was overrated.

Dude needs more development, but that's probably the opposite of an unpopular opinion.

Favourite picture of them?

I hope this one loads in. I've been taking way too long writing this.

[satoshi-mochida]

Crypt Custodian announced for PC – a Metroidvania about cleaning up the afterlife

Gematsu Source

Islets developer Kyle Thompson has announced Crypt Custodian, a Metrodivania game about cleaning up the afterlife. It will launch for PC via Steam in 2024.

Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:

About

Crypt Custodian is a charming Metroidvania / Zelda-like about cleaning up the afterlife.

You play as Pluto—a mischievous cat who has just died, and landed in the afterlife’s palace. After a brief and disastrous meeting with the Afterlife Guardian- Kendra, you are banished from the palace and sentenced to clean… forever!

Explore the vast grounds that surround the palace, battle beasts with your trusty broom, and gain new abilities to expand your map. Solve puzzles, discover secrets, and… organize an ambush to break back into the palace!

Key Features

A Charming Cast Of Characters – Meet and befriend all the other bad ghosts who live outside the palace. Learn how they died, and what caused them to face eternal banishment! And then head on over to the local haunt- The Sinner’s Inn- to chat with the ghosts you meet, and upgrade your gear.

Tons of Upgrades – Complete puzzles, battle epic bosses, and clean your way through ruined dungeons in order to collect new upgrades and abilities. Customize your play style by mix-and-matching your upgrades, and use the abilities you collect to expand your world.

A Lively Interconnected World – Traverse a vast landscape with secrets hiding at every corner. Form your own path and discover the afterlife’s many secrets at your own pace.

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.

Announce Trailer

[bu1410]

''Mr. Plant has owed me a shoe since July 5, 1971." - Chapter IV.a - March 5th, 2024

Some photos of Iraq I've taken on 1983. We can recognize Baghdad, - Nassiryah - Ur - Euphrates river.

IRAQ 1983 In January 1983 I was then informed that my new destination would be Nasiryah, Iraq. I left for Rome, and then in Fiumicino - late in the afternoon - I boarded an old Boing 707 of IRAQI Airways, the only company still serving Baghdad: the war with Iran was underway, and the international airlines had suspended flights to Iraq. Baghdad airport was only open at night, so we landed with the lights off, and when we began the descent towards the landing strip we were ordered to darken the windows. Having completed the customs and immigration procedures quite quickly (considering the fact of being in an Arab country and in a state of war) I went out into the deserted hall, where I easily saw the sign with my name hoisted by a local driver. He took me to a hotel on Sadoun street, in a ghostly Baghdad: all the lights were off, very few vehicles were circulating, security forces checkpoints at every intersection.

DEPARTURE FOR NASSIRYAH The next day the Project Manager – a tall, lanky Italian, with an unkempt beard – came to pick me up at the hotel. He told me to pack my bags, we would leave for Nassiryah immediately by car, since domestic flights were suspended due to the war. Our destination was 380 km away from Baghdad, and the highway was damaged by the continuous passage of military vehicles heading South, to the border with Iran. Just outside Baghdad, we passed alongside a high earth barrier, a couple of kilometers long: inside, it was explained to me, the Tammuz nuclear plant, destroyed by an Israeli air force incursion in June 1981. The journey was monotonous, and we only stopped once to refuel and eat shawarma. We arrived in Nasiryah in the late afternoon, and immediately checked into one of the two villas that VOLANI had rented for the expats. Here, towards the evening, I met my Italian colleagues: around ten people in total, which would soon be reduced to 5 given that the project was in the finishing phase.

THE PROJECT In essence it involved the rehabilitation of a plant for the production of electrical cables. When I arrived, in January 1983, the work was almost finished. All that was missing was the installation of a heavy overhead crane in the main warehouse, the completion of the new electrical system, the covering and infilling of some buildings. In consideration of the recent departures, and the fact that there were only 5 expatriates left, it was decided by the Management in Baghdad that we would leave one of the two rented villas, and concentrate on just one. I received the instruction from the Project Manager to rent couples of trailers locally, load the furniture and air conditioners owned by the Company present in villa No. 2, and ship everything to the warehouse in Baghdad. Having rented the trailers (far from a simple matter in a country in a state of war), they were accompanied to the villa and dismantling and loading operation began. I was at construction site, it was already a hot afternoon even though it was only the beginning of March, when I saw in distance a guy dressed in a Western style, jacket, white shirt and black tie. He was chatting with a local worker, who was nodding in my direction. When they got close, the guy – clearly a policeman – asked me:

Are you the boss here?

Yes – I replied – what do you need?

Come with me – he said in a tone that allowed no replies. I followed him in my pick up until we arrived in the parking lot of a low building, steel bars on the windows. The policeman motioned for me to follow him. We entered the building, there were cops everywhere, and photographs of bad guys sticked to the walls, with writings in Arabic indicating how much money the police would pay if information was given leading to their capture. I was taken to the office of the Commander, Mr. Abdul Karim Al Jalaani. The office was enormous, the Commander sat behind a large mahogany desk installed on a riser. I was made to sit on an Arab sofa, at the other end of the room, I was perhaps fifteen meters away from Major Al Jalaani. He looked at myself like you look at an insect, and then he said to me in English:

Are you the one who gave the order to vacate my villa that I rented there?

I organized the transport - I said - but the order left from Baghdad.

Good - he replied - I stopped the transport, come back here as soon as possible with your managers, the ones who gave you the order to vacate the house without my permission. Major's assistant, who had remained near the door, motioned for me to follow him. I went out into the street, breathing a sigh of relief: I had just entered and exited the headquarters of the so-called ''Mukabarat'' or Saddam Hussein's Secret Service, and I was still alive and in a good shapel! I went to the villa, and saw the trailers parked on the corner of the street - the watchman came to meet me:

Sir - he told me - we were loading the furniture, when a car with some policemen arrived - they stopped us and then asked what we were doing - I said that we were loading our furniture to send it to Baghdad - they ordered us to stop and they said:

''If one of these trucks dares to move we will arrest everyone''

Understood Sir?? We couldn't disobey, Sir – these people don't joke!

I understand, I understand, don't worry.

I went to the Central Post Office, I absolutely had to call the Baghdad office. In the old post office, a building with broken glass, dirty and with peeling walls, there was no one except the employees. I was able to get through the Baghdad office pretty quickly. I explained to the PM what had happened - he tried to reassure me, and I told him that I wasn't worried at all.

Be sure - he said - tomorrow evening I will be in Nassiryah and we'll solve the problem.'' And so it was: in the evening the Project Manager arrived at the villa, accompanied by the head of our security service, a tall and large Iraqi, who had been a comrade in arms of the Major of Nassiryah Mukabarat. The next morning at 10.00 we were in the mega office of Major Al Jalaani. The meeting between the former comrades was warm: kisses on the cheeks, hugs, pats on the back, questions about the health of the family members, and then more hugs and then questions about the health of the family members all over again……Then we sat down on the usual sofa at 15 meters from the Major's desk, while the two old friends went on talking about old times, they exchanged phrases of which the PM and I understood nothing, and then burst into resounding laughter. All this for more than half an hour, then our Head of Security said, as if by chance:

Ahh sorry…Abdul Karim……by the way …I came to see you after so many years yes…but also for that stupid matter of the rented villa…you know…the one we want to leave…you know?

Abdul Karim as if falling from the clouds: ''Ah yes yes… I was informed by one of my collaborators that there were trailers ready to take away the furniture… but this is not done my friend… you should have warned, right?

You are perfectly right akooya (brother) but you know these Westerners don't always know what our customs are, so I ask you as the brother you are, to forgive them from the height of your goodness that everyone recognizes in you (How could he be the head of the Secret Services and being ''good'' no one has ever explained it to me)

Sure, sure - replied Abdul Karim - but you agree that there are conditions to be respected so that everything can be settled, right?

Of course akooya – said our Chief of Security.

Well - the Commander continued - come closer and I'll tell you what these conditions are (I didn't understand this, they could have continued to speak to each other ''remotely'' in Arabic, given that neither I nor the PM understood what they said to each other when they spoke their language)

The Head of Security sat down on a chair immediately prepared by the Major's attendent, and so began a dense exchange of sentences, which our friend only interspersed with ''naam…naam'' (yes…yes) Then it all ended, we got up and with big bows, touching our hearts with our right hand as a sign of ''how good of you to receive us and you didn't even let us get whipped'' we left the police station. In the car, our Head of Security informed us of the ''conditions'' posed by the Major to ''forget'' the nasty rudeness we had tried to do to him, taking away OUR furniture and OUR air conditioners from his villa, where we paid 6,000 USD /month rent + all expenses, including security. (We suspected that it was the watchman who alerted the police that the trailers had arrived for the move). Well for 4 additional months in cash, the complete re-painting of the house (exterior/interior/surrounding wall) and OUR air conditioners, the Commander would have forgiven our ''offence''. The PM muttered "WTF......" but we had to put on a good face because there were no alternatives. The next day - once all the furniture had been loaded onto the trailers - the painting work began, under the supervision of an Al Jalaani representative.

[yojabari]

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