#lucy huston imagine

[fictionadventurer]

Thoughts about A Biltmore Christmas that could drive me to write fanfiction (spoilers for everything):

The story of his death was a plan "we" concocted just in case. "We" suggests there were multiple people involved. My best guess is that Ava also saw Lucy disappear, and so she was primed to buy it when Jack told her this wild story of time travel.

Maybe the prop guy was involved, too? Repairing a magical time travel artifact has got to give you some insight into the existence of magical time travel.

I still thing that one bearded guy in the crew is a time traveler. He seems more casual about it. Time traveling to help a classic Hollywood film crew just for fun. He could help arrange things, too.

The story of how Jack managed not to get fired after helping a criminal escape against direct orders from the head of the studio.

About five minutes after Jack decides to stay in the future, Margaret stumbles upon them. Her shrieks of joy can be heard from space.

Lucy: Okay, Jack, time to fly back to Santa Monica....oh, wait, you have no ID. /Margaret, somehow making a facial expression that is the equivalent of fifty-seven ecstatic emojis all at once: ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!

Lucy: Excuse me, Mr. Tour Guide Riker, sir, I have a film star from 1948 here what do I do with him, please?/ Mr. Tour Guide Riker, handing her a manila envelope: Here are all necessary identification documents to set him up in a modern life. Please ask no questions.

(I know what Tour Guide Riker's name is. Tour Guide Riker is funnier).

Alternately, the thrilling legal battle of trying to get Jack some documentation, the same way that kids whose parents don't get them birth certificates have to.

Lucy comes home to her sister, trailed by the 1948 actor from the film they've watched multiple times a year since they were kids. Lots of freaking out happens.

Jack, who has trained as an actor in an extremely outdated style, struggles to find a job not only because of his dubious legal documentation, but also because he has zero marketable skills. With the same happy-go-lucky pluck that led him to travel eighty years into the future for the sake of a girl he'd known for a couple days, he makes the best of it and becomes an amazing house husband.

Jack watching the remake of His Merry Wife!, and having a lot of opinions about the comparative skills of the new actors. Is either extremely amused at the new Charlie actor or offended by his very existence. (I can't imagine the Hallmark actors would favorably compare to the original).

Jack: Honey, I'm sure you're an amazing writer, but I can't even begin to wrap my head around the new style of movies.

Lucy: Puts Jack through a months-long training course of classic movies to catch up on the history of cinema.

Jack Huston is an obvious stage name. Jack starts going by his original name in the future. It takes a while for Lucy to adjust.

Jack has to catch up on all of history for the past seventy-odd years. Too much amusement potential to even know where to start.

Did Jack fight in WWII? Does this affect his life at all?

Semi-regular encounters with classic Christmas movie fans: "You look just like Jack Huston." "Yeah, I get that a lot."

Jack cosplaying at Biltmore at Christmastime and having the time of his life quoting the film and getting pictures from people who are amazed that the staff found such a good impersonator.

[thatesqcrush]

Possibilities, Ch. 4

Rafael Barba x Lucy Huston

CW: language, smut, angst.

WC: 1654

Tags: @madpanda75 @ottosuricato @delia26 @dreila03 @sass-and-suspenders @glimmerglittergirl @melsquared79 @mommakat32 @garturbo @southern-magnolia @niyashell @tropes-and-tales @imjustreallynosy @whyissvuruiningmylovelife @sweetsummertime99 @evee87 @scarletsoldierrr @kscarlett1 @cesarofangirl78 @redlipstickandplaid @zoeykaytesmom @differentshadesofgray @neely1177 @misssirenlove @lovesomerafipapi @thefanficfaerie @theenchantedgalleryofstories @mormonsinthepiazza @mrsrafaelbarba @lovebennycolon @germansarechill @skittle479 @gibbs274 @choppedgalaxynerd - anyone else just ask. 

*** 

Shortly after her outburst in Rafael’s office, Liv apologized to Lucy and offered her old job back, but Lucy turned it down - the relationship had soured and was destroyed. There was no going back to what it was. What hurt Lucy most was not getting to say goodbye to Noah on her own terms. It was the start of summer when Lucy was able to find something new in the nanny-share: a new family in Brooklyn Heights from South Carolina with two young girls. It felt as if things were going back to normal. Little did Lucy know how wrong she was. 

 “Come for me,” Rafael growled against Lucy’s ear as he continued to pound upwards into her, his fingers gripping her hips tightly.

 Lucy bit the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from screaming. Blood filled her mouth as she shuddered against Rafael, her walls tightening against his cock in a vice like grip. Rafael quietly grunted against her shoulder as he came.

 As they both came down, Rafael pulled Lucy’s face towards him with his index finger and thumb and kissed her deeply. Lucy sighed into the kiss, savoring the full feeling of his cock inside her. The kiss broke and Lucy carefully pulled off Rafael’s lap, and smoothed her skirt down. Rafael stood, removed the used condom and knotted it before tossing into the trash. He tucked himself back into his pants.

 “Never did that before,” Rafael quipped as he straightened his tie.

 “Well, I hardly see you, so sex in the office it is,” Lucy pouted as she covered the condom with other trash, burying it. Lucy approached Rafael once more and tugged on his suspenders.

 “I know amoricita. Lo siento,” Rafael replied. “I should be free for dinner tonight.”

 “I’m actually meeting some friends for drinks. You should come and finally meet the whole gang,” Lucy exclaimed. “They know all about you.”

 “I don’t know...” Rafael began. “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

 “Nonsense!” Lucy replied, walking over to grab her purse. She slid the strap over her head so that the bag would lay cross against her. “It’ll be fun. They’ve been itching to meet you.”

 Rafael furrowed his brows. “Okay.” He pulled Lucy close to him by her hands. “I’ll meet your friends.” He pecked her lips.

 Lucy beamed. “I’ll text you the address!”

 ***

Rafael walked into the bar and could feel the music vibration in his cells. There was an incredible din of chatter and laughter. He pushed his way through the crowd, keeping an eye out for Lucy. He spotted Lucy in a booth surrounded by a gaggle of women. He awkwardly waved hello.

 “Rafi, you made it!” Lucy shouted, her face lighting up. She climbed out of the booth. Her footing was slightly wobbly, and Rafael grabbed her by the waist to steady her. Rafael cocked a brow and looked past her at the empty beer bottles on the table.

 He opened mouth to say something, but Lucy pressed a kiss to his lips. “Everyone this is Rafael, Rafael this is everyone - Norah, Genesis and Eliana.”

 “Nice to meet you all. Let me treat you to the next round,” Rafael offered, reaching into his wallet. A round of cheers exploded from the booth. As Rafael turned towards the bar, he wondered if they had enough scotch to last him through the evening.

 Hours later, the crowd at the bar hadn’t thinned out all - somehow it became even more crowded, filled to the brim with the younger working crowd. Rafael was nursing a beer - the scotch on hand was in his opinion, swill. He nodded along to the story being told by- was it Genesis? No - Eliana - it didn’t matter. “Excuse me,” Rafael replied.

 He made his way to the back of the bar, continuing down a congested hall towards the bathroom. The line to use the bathroom wrapped around the corner and moved at a snail’s pace. Rafael leaned against the wall and closed his eyes as he waited. He could hear the sound of the bathroom door creaking and what he heard next made him open his eyes.

 “Can you believe Lucy is dating that guy? He’s so... old.”

 “She said he was fun.”

 “Fun? He’s old enough to be her father! She must have some serious daddy issues.”

 “He’s kind of hot though.”

 “This isn’t romance. It’s clearly a transaction since she lost her job.”

 Rafael felt his stomach churn and immediately felt hot. The door shut and Rafael watched as two of Lucy’s friends walked out of the bathroom. He shifted, so his back was to them and set his focus on some blond in a cheap suit who was talking up another patron. Rafael looked at the time - the urge to use the bathroom was gone and he decided it was time to leave.

 He made his way back to the booth and Lucy.

 “Amor, I’ve been given an emergency hearing on Monday. I need to go home and prepare,” Rafael lied.

 “Oh boo,” Lucy pouted. “Please stay.”

 “I wish I could, but I can’t. I’m going to close out the tab.“

 “I’m going to stay,” Lucy replied, glancing at her friends who were talking amongst themselves. “I’ll text you later.”

 “Please - let me know when you get home. Be safe.” Rafael replied. Lucy moved to kiss him, but instead he pressed a kiss to her cheek.

 ***

 Initially Rafael did in fact feel his age with Lucy when they first started dating. He wasn’t oblivious to the huge age gap between him and the petite brunette. Maybe it was Lucy’s vivaciousness and spirited attitude, but life felt less jaded and his senses weren’t benumbed anymore. After Liv stormed into his office, those warm feelings began to pull away - like when the ground is pulled as the water retreats. Instead he was filled with doubt and consternation. Hearing the comments from Lucy’s friends further cemented those feelings.

 ‘What if they are all correct?’ Rafael wondered as he walked into court for that morning’s proceedings. Rafael looked at the people milling about and he imagined the conversations they would have if they knew he was in a relationship with a woman half his age.

 “If this doesn’t scream midlife crisis, then I don’t know what does?”

 “Cradle-robbing perv.”

 It was the beginning of summer; the start of when people went on leave at the ADA’s office. Rafael picked up the slack; at first it was a bad habit - but then he purposely began to push Lucy away. It was an easy enough excuse: work, work, work. Lucy knew what he did for a living. Lucy was no stranger to Rafael’s long hours, given her history with Liv and SVU.

 Lucy could feel Rafael pulling away. It wasn’t immediately obvious but the threads that held their relationship together were starting to fray. It wasn’t just constant work, cancelled dates or clipped one-sided conversations - the tension was getting thick.

 ***

 Rafael was sitting on the bed, leaning over to tie his shoes before work. Lucy sleepily sat up in bed and watched him as then moved to put his tie on. She bit her lip before she sat up fully and moved to be closer. She leaned against him to press a kiss to his cheek.

 Rafael closed his eyes as Lucy pressed against him and placed kisses along his neck. She ran her hands down his shoulders to the front of his dress shirt. “Mmm you can take 5 minutes, can’t you?” she murmured against his ear before taking his lobe into his mouth and nibbled. “Maybe instead of lunch today, you can devour me?”

 Rafael felt the heat in groin pool. As much as he wanted to, the comments from the bar popped into his head and he felt the bile in his stomach rise.

 “Lucy, I can’t,” Rafael replied sharply.

 “Okay,” Lucy replied defensively. “You don’t need to snap.”

 “I’m sorry.” Rafael immediately felt guilty. He stood up and grabbed his suit jacket.

 “What’s going on with you?”

 “Nothing,” Rafael lied. “Why would you think anything is wrong?”

 “Ever since…” Lucy began as she rolled out of bed, grabbing her jeans. “You’re not the same.”

 “Since what?”

 Lucy bounced as she tugged on her jeans. She dug into her pocket and took out a hair tie. “Since Liv! Things are different. I don’t see you anymore. You hardly respond to my calls or texts. I’m tired of having a relationship with your phone.”

 “You knew what you signed up for when you got into this relationship,” Rafael tersely replied, grabbing his attaché.

 “Are you kidding me?” Lucy questioned, as she slipped her tank top on. She couldn’t believe what Rafael was saying. Her heart ached and her stomach knotted up.

 “I’m not. And if you’re not getting what you want, then maybe we shouldn’t be together anymore,” Rafael snapped.

 “You’re right. Maybe we shouldn’t be together anymore. I thought I was finally with someone who knew what they wanted - clearly that’s not you!” Lucy replied angrily. Tears threatened to fall and she chewed on her bottom lip.

 Rafael wanted to spill the opposite - that he wanted to be with her - that life was better with her in it - that truth be told, he loved her. He shoved the feelings aside. He knew no one would truly accept them.

 “I’ve got to go to court.”

 The color from Lucy’s face drained and she stared at him in disbelief. Rafael fought the urge to apologize and sweep her into his arms. To further twist the knife, he continued. “I’ll make sure to have a messenger come by with any stuff you’ve left behind.”

 “You’re an asshole,” Lucy shouted as he blew past her. Rafael inwardly winced as he shut the door, leaving Lucy behind.

 TBC.

[inkwellco]

REVIEW - WONDER WOMAN

I absolutely love it when a movie meets my expectations. For years I’ve been looking forward to the Wonder Woman film. It did not disappoint. I would go so far as to say, it is the best superhero film I’ve ever seen. Definitely part of the top 10 films I’ve ever seen. I loved this film. Between the humour, action and notes reflecting on history, we as an audience were taken in. Director Patty Jenkins is a genius and credit to her craft, in my opinion she has created a world that surpasses the stories previously told in the superhero universe.

The audience was captured by top notch storytelling. Both in the flow of the story and the performances on screen. For years we’ve been waiting for a solo story to be told on the scale of a full on blockbuster epic. Wonder Woman meets that criteria. There are elements of a 300 meets Captain America way of storytelling. I say Captain America because that is the best Marvel solo story and 300 because of the action sequences combined with the flow of the story, completely reminiscent in Wonder Woman, but on a higher scale.

Gal Gadot absolutely encapsulates Wonder Woman. Like I’ve said before in my Suicide Squad review discussing Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, I’m finding it hard to imagine someone else in to role of Diana. Gal Gadot is absolute perfection. She has the emotion, characteristics, mannerisms, everything down pat. I think it helps Gadot has skills when it comes to fight sequences. Her movement is absolutely amazing. That combined with brilliant camera work and directing, create scenes that make me think, I’m taking this to my gym and I will transform. Like I felt when I was a child, I want to be Wonder Woman. It’s been a while since I left the cinema thinking, I want to be that character. A while since I left the cinema feeling invigorated, as if a part of that character imprinted on me. That was the case with Wonder Woman.

Chris Pine as Steve Trevor one of my new favourite characters of all time. His interaction with Wonder Woman and his overall being really resonated with the audience. He was us, the person coming in to this new situation and explaining the realities of life. There were some really funny and lovely scenes between Steve and Diana. The way this relationship grows over the film is a testament to the writers and their delivery in storytelling, having a friendship like that grow in amongst the other stories, all the while not distracting us from the other plot lines is pure genius. The bathing scene is so well done, and helps establish the tone in their story. The growth in all the characters is so well achieved too. You come to love these characters and can’t wait to see what happens next.

Lucy Davis as Etta Candy is another new favourite character. If we were like any character in this film, we would definitely be Etta Candy. She’s the one that brings grounding to every situation. She is hilarious, bringing a light, fun hearted quality to the film. What she brings to the story, just adds to the overall appeal of the film. She’s fun and quirky, so the humour she brings to the story is honestly a breath of fresh air. It’s the type of humour that is more a comment on a situation in passing that has a really honest element to it. Her relationship with both Steve and Diana really makes her a loveable character. For that matter, I really like the use of love, or more so the idea of love in this film. How it relates to the start, middle and ending of this particular chapter. Almost like a thread that connects the different plotlines, and emotions in each of these scenes, together. Another notable mention, David Thewlis (who you may remember as Harry Potter’s beloved, Professor Lupin) stars as Sir Patrick, someone who is instrumental in the going ons of the war, he funds the mission for Diana and Steve to stop Doctor Poison. It was interesting to see Thewlis take on this character, in contrast to characters he’s played in the past. There’s dimension to his character and ultimately the delivery of his role throughout the film really adds another layer to the story in itself. Especially when it comes to his interaction with the team and that includes Etta.

Another great element to this film was the team Diana and Steve formed, Charlie (Ewan Bremner), Sameer (Saïd Taghmaoui) and Chief (Eugene Brave Rock). We start the film off with Diana in present day, receiving something from Bruce Wayne aka Batman. That package is a photo of Diana’s team. The letter reads, I’d love to know the story, it is this device that launches Diana into the telling of said story. Our beginning, and ultimately her origins story. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it is the best origin story I’ve seen yet. You go on such an amazing journey over the two hours of this film. Each part contributes to the story, it adds to the development of not just the plot but the characters. Starting off Diana is a tad unsettled by her team members as they don’t show to have the particular values she shares, but over time Diana learns you can’t judge from first impressions. Underneath each person there’s something that has made them who they are standing in front of you. With each experience you are shaped into the person you are. That photo represents that.

There was a point during one of the action sequences where I was brimming, smiling like a cheshire cat. I was elated to see a character I’ve looked up to for decades, become a role model to a whole new generation. Add to that how amazing the action sequences were. The slow motion coupled with the amazing moves really created a feast for the eyes. This was also achieved in the training fight sequences. The Amazons on the island of Themyscira created such a cool dynamic of training and then ultimately fighting. There was a good mix between the action and story in this part too. Learning about the history and how it relates to Diana’s story, and how she then takes that mantle on to bridge that into the larger picture of the film. Connie Nielsen and Robin Wright are great both in the way they took on the roles of Queen Hippolyta (Nielsen) and General Antiope (Wright). I honestly want to be a mix between the two, particularly because both have a different type of strength. A strength that can be seen in Diana. You can see over the course of the film that Diana was given the correct arsenal of strength thanks to these two ladies. Over the course of the film with every person she meets, she gains something new, particularly understanding and a new scope on the greater meaning of the world.

Ares God of War is the villain in this film. A being whom Wonder Woman sees as the catalyst for the current World War, the main reason she has journeyed beyond the seas of Themyscira to save the World. Diana believes Ares has corrupted the minds of men and is the sole cause of the World War. That he has taken on a role within the high ranks of military to influence a nation. General Erich Ludendorff (Danny Huston) fits this bill and Maru aka Doctor Poison (Elena Anaya) is by his side creating a gas that will assist their goals. Both are a different type of villain. That’s the thing with the DC villains, two different villains may have the same goal but they each achieve it differently, in their own style. Again, a varying male – female villain duo with their own style. There are some epic fight scenes throughout and the visuals are brilliant. At one point Steve Trevor infiltrates their camp site and upon escaping, nonchalantly drops a hand bomb into a space. The visual effects in the blasts and fire work within the film are so well done. Overall the special effects were above average in Wonder Woman. There were two moments where I felt some of the imagery looked a tad blurred, particularly when it came to panning in moments that were at times moving fast, but ultimately those small problems paid no consequence to the whole aspect of the film. The costume design is Oscar worthy. Between the outfit Diana wears in the present (I want that outfit), to her Wonder Woman warrior outfit, to her London style, the fashion in this film was beautiful. I loved Etta’s outfits too. That’s the thing, each character had an outfit that was specifically designed to represent the persona and how they relate to the situation they’re in. The hair and makeup complimented these looks, especially the hair. A lot of what I saw in the film could translate into every day life (just my excuse to look like Wonder Woman every day), between the gladiator sandals, to the royal blues and reds, along with the gold, I’m pretty sure I’ll be re-organising my wardrobe this weekend. Speaking of colours, the cinematography in this film is stunning. The contrast between the rich colours in Themyscira to the dull colours of London was achieved well, and summed up perfectly by Diana. I have to also mention how brilliant the music in the film complimented scenes. The Wonder Woman theme playing as she broke through a window in slow motion to then launch into one of the most epic fight sequences was so brilliantly done. I could not stop smiling. Overall it’s a complex story, with complex characters that create a fantastic story, that audiences can respond to. It’s the first superhero film directed by a woman, Patty Jenkins, a director who has created cinematic brilliance. It’s truly inspiring, both in how this story was achieved/delivered and the content created. It’s very rare that I come across a film that I love this much. That gives me different levels of feeling and emotion using a variety of techniques, like humour, heart and action. Which is why I rate this film 5 stars. I will definitely watch this film again. Walking out of the theatre I was asked, “how was it?” (I was wearing a Wonder Woman top, grinning and enthusiastically analysing the film with my colleague. I replies, “It’s honestly the best, the best superhero film I’ve seen.

Rating: 5/5

☆☆☆☆☆

[lastgenpodcast]

WONDER WOMAN Review

WONDER WOMAN is not great film because a studio finally decided that a woman led superhero film is an acceptable act.  It's not great because it promotes a strong female lead while being a symbol for empowerment either.  While those statements are accurate, that is not the base of praise upcoming.   It's a great film because it's engaging, funny, beautifully shot, dramatic when need be, features a pitch perfect performance by Gal Gadot as Diana of Themyscria, and finds itself comfortably next to Richard Donner's SUPERMAN and Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT.  It's that good.  

Diana Price was the best part of the misfire known as BATMAN V SUPERMAN, where the film started off on the wrong foot when the title was chosen, and she proves here that it was no fluke that shined despite the mess surrounding her.  Gal Gadot embodies a Diana that is learning, a bit naive, and full of energy to do the right thing.  She is full of wonderment when seeing simple, yet new to her, sights such as snowfall.  When despair is the environment that resides, she measures it and tries to make sense of the horror.  She is also ready to absolutely whoop someone's ass when pushed.  From start to finish, she is the centerpiece and unlike her fellow Justice League members to this point, she is allowed to take pride in what she is accomplishing and does not see it as great burden that one must only suffer through.  It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but it's her job to ensure the sun will indeed rise tomorrow.  

As director, Patty Jenkins achieves what all had hoped for in this release by bringing a humanity to DC's universe of Gods and monsters, while also making it a large, bombastic, summer adventure.  She takes time on the character building scenes to provide a connection to the talent, then delivers a ballet of action with Diana on center stage looking graceful and deadly.  The action sequences are never confusing either.  You always know where you are and see the effort put into the choreography while not having it forced down your throat with overly flashy camera movements that shout "Look at me, look at the camera thing we did!".  This is the closest that anyone has come to matching Richard Donner's SUPERMAN in terms of a correct tone where "dark and gritty" was not plastered on every inch of celluloid, digital or not.  The myth of Diana is embraced without cynicism.  That is not a knock on Nolan either.  He understood what Batman is.  When that tactic is misused though, it can be disastrous.  Jenkins balances the wonder of the woman with the horrors of war all while containing the ever dangerous origin story to a smart, effective opening that never feels familiar or tiresome.  And guess what, it's actually funny in many spots.  It never feels like it "trying" to be funny either.  Nothing in the film feels like a round table of executives sat around and decided it needs to be this or that.  The film simply exists on its merits.  

With that praise aside, there is a third act problem that all superhero films face and, not counting a clever play by Marvel's DOCTOR STRANGE, seem to fail at cracking a satisfying finish in terms of facing off against THE villain.  Punches and large objects are thrown back and forth onscreen until the hero lands the final blow.  It never really goes beyond that.  The final conflict does dish out a fair bit of character history revelation though, so on that side, the unavoidable monologuing at least has important information being delivered regardless of whether it is much of a reveal.  Additionally on the plus side, this film achieves a level of investment into its characters that many others in the realm of superhero, fail at, which aides in making the finale have some stakes.  Much of that is due to the chemistry between Chris Pine's, Steve Trevor, and Diana herself.  While Marvel did excellent work with Steve Rogers and Sharon Carter in Captain America, DC films, Nolan included, have never really notched an impressive mark when it comes to on-screen romance.  Here, Pine and Gadot are given ample time to learn about one another and we are shown, not simply told, why these two would find a connection.  From Steve Trevor's position, it's not exactly rocket science.  Gal Gadot as Diana, and in practically any scenario I can imagine, is breathtakingly beautiful but also independent and strong while having a sweetness and caring that would win over any human being, or God for that matter.  The real work is making me believe that Trevor would catch more than Diana's glance after getting over that fact that he is the first man she has ever seen.  Pine, while to his own description is "above average" compared to most males, has a heart and pulse within his character that matches wonderfully with his onscreen counterpart. Their difference in upbringing could not be more different, but their inner workings are beat for beat.  That all creates a meaningful care towards the finale.  Full marks to the script on that note.  

Reversing the engines a bit, the opening scenes of Themyscria provide the film with some gorgeous vistas and introduce the method of shooting the action that will carry for the film's remainder.  For the story portion, Robin Wright and Connie Nielsen do excellent work with building a foundation for Diana to grow from.  Myth is introduced and the pace is established.  We also begin to like Diana immediately which goes far going forward.  

The smaller part players here also are given time to shine in spots.  Lucy Davis is quite fun as Etta while the endlessly classy David Thewlis brings a sense of dignity every time he steps in front of the camera.  Our front billed villains, Danny Huston as Ludendorff and Elena Anaya as Dr. Poison, are not given too much to work with but they fit the mold really well in this pulp type setting.  Steve Trevor's buddy trio of Sameer, Charlie and The Chief, bring a rounding out to the hero circle with each their own personality, charms, and even weaknesses.  

In short, this film not only works but really excels throughout most its run-time, which is not short mind you.  Third act issue aside, WONDER WOMAN is a film that should be appreciated for its acceptance of fun and excitement while also making the timeline of human events seem respected.  Gal Gadot IS Wonder Woman and DC has finally put together a feature film worthy of the name on the billboard all led by director, Patty Jenkins.  Let's hope this is the start and not the exception to future offerings in the DC universe.  

[silverscreenclassics2016]

by Paul Batters

It is an absolute thrill to receive this award a second time and I cannot thank Brittaney from The Story Enthusiast enough. It is very kind and thoughtful of you to think of me, and similarly I think I needed this award at this time to boost spirits. It’s nice to be recognised and this award gives impetus to bloggers to continue writing and not be disheartened.

In keeping with the process, I’ll first state the rules of the award nomination.

List the award’s official rules

Display the award’s official logo somewhere on your blog

Thank the person who nominated you

Provide a link to your nominator’s blog

Answer your nominator’s questions

Nominate up to 11 bloggers

Ask your nominees 11 questions

Notify your nominees by commenting on at least one of their blog posts

Here are the answers to the questions kindly provided by Brittaney. 

1. What British or International film would you recommend to a friend who has never seen one?

To be honest, this would greatly be impacted by what type of cinematic experience they were after.

I would probably direct them to Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et la Bete (1945) as a dark yet beautiful and tragic fairy tale. The magic and fantasy of Cocteau’s vision is stunning and unforgettable.

In terms of Italian Realism, then I would direct them to Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves (1948), which I think is one of the greatest films ever made and inspired so many international directors.

For sheer beautiful sentimentality and an ending I cry to EVERY time I see it, Giuseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso (1988) is a masterpiece.

To choose a British film is near impossible but if I had to choose ONE as an introduction it would probably be a pre-Hollywood Hitchcock like The Thirty Nine Steps (1935), simply because it’s one of my favourites.

2. Which classic film director do you prefer and what is your favourite of their films?

Hitchcock is a stand-out and whilst I have the greatest affection for most of his films, Vertigo is the one which reaches deep into me every time. A real masterpiece in every way.

Also a huge fan of John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, Treasure Of The Sierra Madre, The Asphalt Jungle) and Billy Wilder (Double Indemnity, Ace In The Hole, Witness For The Prosecution).

3. Which character actor or actress do you think would have made a great lead?

Oh Claude Rains certainly and indeed showed that he could in a few films. For me, Rains is one of the most incredible actors – period. He would have also been a great success in the modern era as well.

4. What child actor do you believe should have had success as an adult but didn’t?

Bobby Driscoll is a child actor who had wonderful potential but was treated poorly, cast aside and followed a tragic course that ended his life. If things had been different and he had been taken care of as a boy, we may have seen Driscoll become successful as an adult.

5. What film do you love, but dislike the ending?

I wouldn’t say I ‘love’ Schindler’s List but it is one with an ending that I have found problematic. Over time, I have found myself less enamoured with the film, even though it was an Oscar winner and had a massive impact. In fairness, it is impossible to bring to the screen the horror of the Holocaust and do justice to those that suffered (although Come And See (1985) is quite a harrowing film in presenting Nazi atrocities in the East). But Schindler’s List does have its’ issues.

For me the ending is one of the key issues. It seems to shift our emotions as an audience to the figure of Oskar Schindler himself, instead of the millions of Jews, Roma, political prisoners, POWs and others who were murdered by the Nazis. It feels like Spielberg is going for the Oscar winning moment with Schindler declaring ‘I didn’t do enough’ and the orchestral manipulation of our emotions as we cry for Schindler becomes a strange sort of catharsis. Who should we actually be crying for?

The moment at the actual grave of Oskar Schindler is bittersweet but again our attention is drawn away from who the victims of the Nazis were and are. I would have ended it in the following way:

After Oskar Schindler declares the war over to the gathered workers and the SS guards ‘leave as men not murderers’ and asks to observe three minutes of silence, the audience hears a sole voice singing which leads to a candle being re-lit and a return to colour. Fin.

6. Whose onscreen wardrobe do you covet and would like to claim for your own?

I must say that Cary Grant looks impeccable and would undoubtedly stake a claim on his wardrobe.

7. Which original film do you think could be improved as a remake and who would you cast?

There are certainly many original films which should not be remade. Yet some original films (such as 1930’s The Maltese Falcon and 1936’s Satan Met A Lady) were remade (in the aforementioned case as 1941’s The Maltese Falcon) and became iconic films. I’m also going to cheat with this question and ‘remake’ and partially recast a film by doing so at the time it was made.

The film I would remake would be Dracula (1931) and whilst keeping Bela Lugosi as Dracula, Edward Van Sloan as Professor Van Helsing and Dwight Frye as Renfield, I would make the additional changes to the cast:

                                                           Mina – Madeleine Carroll                              

                                                             Harker – Robert Donat

                                                           Dr. Seward – Claude Rains 

                                                                Lucy – Myrna Loy

Certainly the first part of the film would remain unchanged, as Lugosi’s entrance is legendary and his interaction with Renfield especially memorable. I would like to add more of Dracula’s brides attempt to seduce Renfield, as well as Renfield’s view of Dracula – imagine seeing Lugosi scamper like a lizard down the side of his castle!

Lucy’s demise and vampirization would be further delved into, with the infamous delving into the crypt to confront her as a vampire also depicted. It’s just too good an opportunity to ignore.

The much criticised anti-climactic ending would obviously be far better done, with the Count being staked in full view of the audience (or at least show Lugosi’s face and a wonderful supernatural ending to the vampire).

8. Which classic film actor or actress do you think would be successful in today’s film industry?

Something tells me that Joan Crawford would have been successful. She was tough enough and determined to make it in a very different time under very hard circumstances. Crawford was also incredibly hard-working and adaptable, with a career that spanned five decades – that’s pretty good going!

9. What film trope do you never tire of seeing?

I’ve never tired of the MacGuffin and the way that outstanding directors use it. Hitchcock, of course, used it perfectly, and John Huston used a MacGuffin in The Maltese Falcon.

10. If you could adapt a piece of classic literature that has not yet been made into a film, what book would you choose and who would you cast in the main roles?

I’m going to cheat here and include a response I previously used for a similar question elsewhere. But I cannot get past Budd Schulberg’s book ‘What Makes Sammy Run?’ – not because it’s a favourite per se as many books I love have been made into films but because it’s a powerful book and should be made. I know and understand the stories behind why it’s never been made as a film, as it is a terrifyingly cynical view of the film industry.

In terms of casting, it’s very difficult which might also explain why it was never made. But I’ll take my best shot, using actors from the classic era.

Al Mannheim: Dana Andrews Sammy Glick: Frank Sinatra Cathy ‘Kit’ Sargent: Teresa Wright Sidney Fineman: James Gleason ‘Sheik’: Anthony Quinn Laurette Harrington: Martha Hyer Carter Judd: Jeffrey Hunter Rosalie Goldblaum: Cathy O’Donnell

11. Which of today’s modern actors or actresses do you think would have been successful in classic films and why?

George Clooney and Jessica Chastain. Both have an amazing quality on the screen, photography beautifully and most importantly are outstanding actors who bring their A game to every performance.

The Nominees

I now nominate the following bloggers for the Sunshine Blogger Award. All of these are classic film bloggers are wonderful writers and I encourage you to check out their sites if you haven’t already.

Silver Scenes

Classic Movie Man

Out Of The Past

Stars And Letters

Cinematic Catharsis

The Classic Movie Muse

Silver Screenings

Films From Beyond The Time Barrier

The Last Drive In

4 Star Films

I Found It At The Movies

The Questions

The questions I was given by Brittaney were fun and challenging, and so I am going to offer them to the nominees as well.

What British or International film would you recommend to a friend who has never seen one?

Which classic film director do you prefer and what is your favorite of their films?

Which character actor or actress do you think would have made a great lead?

What child actor do you believe should have had success as an adult but didn’t?

What film do you love, but dislike the ending?

Whose onscreen wardrobe do you covet and would like to claim for your own?

Which original film do you think could be improved as a remake and who would you cast?

Which classic film actor or actress do you think would be successful in today’s film industry?

What film trope do you never tire of seeing?

If you could adapt a piece of classic literature that has not yet been made into a film, what book would you choose and who would you cast in the main roles?

Which of today’s modern actors or actresses do you think would have been successful in classic films and why?

Paul Batters teaches secondary school History in the Illawarra region and also lectures at the University Of Wollongong. In a previous life, he was involved in community radio and independent publications. Looking to a career in writing, Paul also has a passion for film history.

  The Sunshine Blogger Award – A Second Time Honour! by Paul Batters It is an absolute thrill to receive this award a second time and I cannot thank Brittaney from…

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A Walk Among the Stars: Visiting the Hollywood Royalty of Yesteryear

Yesterday I crossed the street to visit Marilyn Monroe. The platinum-haired beauty wasn’t much of a car enthusiast—the only automobile she’s said to have ever owned was a 1956 Ford T-bird she received as a Christmas gift—but she did appear in the 1950 John Huston movie The Asphalt Jungle, the title of which I appropriated for the monthly column I’ve been writing for roughly 15 years now. So she’s in my “club.” Playboy founder Hugh Hefner lies immediately to Marilyn’s left, having long ago purchased the marble crypt so he could be assured of sleeping forever next to the star whose photograph became his magazine’s first-ever centerfold.

Hugh was a car enthusiast; he especially loved German metal. Among his wheels: a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman limo, a 1959 300SL roadster, and a 1972 BMW 3.0CS. Some folks even say the name of Hefner’s groundbreaking monthly was inspired by the then-newly defunct Playboy Automobile Company. (Playboy co-founder Eldon Sellers’ mother worked for the car company’s sales office in Chicago.)

Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park is tiny at just 2.5 acres and, if you didn’t know where to look, all but impossible to find. Its entrance is hidden away behind a few nondescript office towers on Los Angeles’ busy Wilshire Boulevard. But I walk there often. It’s nearby, quiet, and peaceful. Filled with flowers and handsome trees. And on a per-square-foot basis, it hosts more celebrities than the lunchtime dining room at Spago.

When I walk past the graves of Monroe, Hefner, and the many other storied names at Westwood Memorial, I can’t help but pause and try to imagine the lives they led—working under the lights, the parties, the beautiful homes, the interactions with fans and critics, stardom’s delirious highs and crushing lows. But of course I also wonder: What did this person drive? And did their cars outlive them? Are their wheels in museums or still prowling the streets today?

Near the Monroe and Hefner crypts rests crooner and actor Dean Martin. (He died on Christmas Day in 1995.) The Sinatra pal and Rat Packer owned a slew of sweet rides, including a ’76 Stutz Blackhawk and a car I once profiled in Motor Trend Classic, the avant-garde 1962 Italian-American Ghia L6.4—one of just 26 ever built. (Sinatra had one, too.) Edgy as it may have been (the L6.4 was based on the striking 1957 Chrysler Dart concept car), the Ghia wasn’t cool enough out of the box for “The King of Cool,” so Martin had famed Hollywood car customizer George Barris (of original Batmobile fame) tweak his with an extra helping of suave. A little research suggests the car was last sold in 2012 with an asking price of $199,500. The Ghia was said to be in immaculate, unrestored condition—with only 46,000 miles on the odometer. I’ll have to whisper that to Dino on my next visit.

Actress Natalie Wood is buried under a tree amid the central lawn, having mysteriously drowned off SoCal’s Catalina Island in 1981. She was just 43 years old. Two-plus decades before her death, at age 19 and already a huge star, Wood purchased a brand-new 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster—and promptly had the car painted bright pink. A subsequent owner, not surprisingly, had it repainted back to its original Silver Blue—but the red leather interior and highly desirable Rudge wheels remain as Wood enjoyed them. The car—restored to concours condition—sold at auction in 2014 for $1.84 million, well above estimate. Whenever I stop here, Wood’s grave always seems to be adorned with flowers, but the day of my December visit, someone had also placed a small Christmas tree. It had tipped over in the wind, so I set it back up straight and tucked it in, remembering how gorgeous Wood looked when I first saw her in 1955’s Rebel Without a Cause. And how alive.

What did this person drive? And did their cars outlive them? Are their wheels in museums or still prowling the streets today?

His crypt not far from Monroe’s, actor Robert Stack, like Wood and Hefner, was also the proud owner of a Mercedes 300SL roadster. Although probably best known to contemporary audiences as the blundering Captain Rex Kramer in 1980’s Airplane! or as the host of Unsolved Mysteries, in 1960 Stack was the rising young star of ABC’s hit drama The Untouchables, where he played famed Chicago law-enforcement agent and Prohibition enforcer Eliot Ness. It’s said that every day Stack would drive down Sunset Boulevard on his way to the studio and, passing an auto showroom, stare at a bright green ’57 SL on display. Finally, his wife, Rosemarie, threw up her hands and said, in effect, “Just buy the darn thing!” Yet Stack didn’t do so, telling a MotorTrend writer in 1998, “I’d never pay that much money for a car for myself.”

Natalie Wood had her 300SL roadster painted pink.

As fate would have it, though, Stack didn’t have to spend a dime. Unbeknownst to him, Untouchables producer (and I Love Lucy star) Desi Arnaz bought the car for Stack, a gift for his having won the Best Actor Emmy for 1960. Stack owned the SL right up until his death in 2003. A decade later, the car—now painted dark red but otherwise almost completely original—sold at auction for $808,500. Sorry, Mr. Ness, but that good news merits a cold martini.

Actor Jack Lemmon, who died in 2001 at the age of 76, has the best headstone in Westwood Memorial. It reads simply: “Jack Lemmon”—then, below, “In.” Yet the two-time Oscar winner was the complete opposite of a car guy. In a 2014 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lemmon’s son, Chris, confessed: “[My dad] was the worst friggin’ driver. He wrecked a magnificent sports car for pretty much every film he ever did. For How to Murder Your Wife, he wrecked an Aston Martin. During Tribute, he wrecked a vintage MG that he bought from Bill Bixby [late star of the 1977–82 hit CBS series The Incredible Hulk].” Lemmon’s grave lies in a prime spot, at the end of a line of four that includes actor Carroll “Archie Bunker” O’Connor, legendary writer-director and Lemmon favorite Billy “Some Like It Hot” Wilder, and actor Peter “Columbo” Falk. It’s a 12-foot walk of fame.

For me, Westwood Memorial isn’t a sad place; it’s a celebration of lives lived uniquely—and full-up. It’s also, at times, a reminder of the utter absurdity and unpredictability of existence. (The child star of the 1982 horror hit Poltergeist, Heather “They’re heeerrrre!” O’Rourke, rests in a crypt near the entrance; she was only 12 when she died of septic shock in 1988.) Thankfully, near Lemmon lies comedian and actor Rodney Dangerfield; inscribed under his name on the headstone: “THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD.” Mr. “I don’t get no respect” died in 2004, just shy of his 83rd birthday. Whether Dangerfield gave one whit about cars, I don’t know, but every time I come to Westwood Memorial, I’m uplifted by memories of the comic’s hilarious stand-up routines, many of which revolved around his wife and her lousy driving. One of my faves: “My wife took her driver’s test . . . oh, she was happy. She got 18 out of 20! Yeah, two guys jumped out of the way!”

The post A Walk Among the Stars: Visiting the Hollywood Royalty of Yesteryear appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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A Walk Among the Stars: Visiting the Hollywood Royalty of Yesteryear

Yesterday I crossed the street to visit Marilyn Monroe. The platinum-haired beauty wasn’t much of a car enthusiast—the only automobile she’s said to have ever owned was a 1956 Ford T-bird she received as a Christmas gift—but she did appear in the 1950 John Huston movie The Asphalt Jungle, the title of which I appropriated for the monthly column I’ve been writing for roughly 15 years now. So she’s in my “club.” Playboy founder Hugh Hefner lies immediately to Marilyn’s left, having long ago purchased the marble crypt so he could be assured of sleeping forever next to the star whose photograph became his magazine’s first-ever centerfold.

Hugh was a car enthusiast; he especially loved German metal. Among his wheels: a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman limo, a 1959 300SL roadster, and a 1972 BMW 3.0CS. Some folks even say the name of Hefner’s groundbreaking monthly was inspired by the then-newly defunct Playboy Automobile Company. (Playboy co-founder Eldon Sellers’ mother worked for the car company’s sales office in Chicago.)

Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park is tiny at just 2.5 acres and, if you didn’t know where to look, all but impossible to find. Its entrance is hidden away behind a few nondescript office towers on Los Angeles’ busy Wilshire Boulevard. But I walk there often. It’s nearby, quiet, and peaceful. Filled with flowers and handsome trees. And on a per-square-foot basis, it hosts more celebrities than the lunchtime dining room at Spago.

When I walk past the graves of Monroe, Hefner, and the many other storied names at Westwood Memorial, I can’t help but pause and try to imagine the lives they led—working under the lights, the parties, the beautiful homes, the interactions with fans and critics, stardom’s delirious highs and crushing lows. But of course I also wonder: What did this person drive? And did their cars outlive them? Are their wheels in museums or still prowling the streets today?

Near the Monroe and Hefner crypts rests crooner and actor Dean Martin. (He died on Christmas Day in 1995.) The Sinatra pal and Rat Packer owned a slew of sweet rides, including a ’76 Stutz Blackhawk and a car I once profiled in Motor Trend Classic, the avant-garde 1962 Italian-American Ghia L6.4—one of just 26 ever built. (Sinatra had one, too.) Edgy as it may have been (the L6.4 was based on the striking 1957 Chrysler Dart concept car), the Ghia wasn’t cool enough out of the box for “The King of Cool,” so Martin had famed Hollywood car customizer George Barris (of original Batmobile fame) tweak his with an extra helping of suave. A little research suggests the car was last sold in 2012 with an asking price of $199,500. The Ghia was said to be in immaculate, unrestored condition—with only 46,000 miles on the odometer. I’ll have to whisper that to Dino on my next visit.

Actress Natalie Wood is buried under a tree amid the central lawn, having mysteriously drowned off SoCal’s Catalina Island in 1981. She was just 43 years old. Two-plus decades before her death, at age 19 and already a huge star, Wood purchased a brand-new 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster—and promptly had the car painted bright pink. A subsequent owner, not surprisingly, had it repainted back to its original Silver Blue—but the red leather interior and highly desirable Rudge wheels remain as Wood enjoyed them. The car—restored to concours condition—sold at auction in 2014 for $1.84 million, well above estimate. Whenever I stop here, Wood’s grave always seems to be adorned with flowers, but the day of my December visit, someone had also placed a small Christmas tree. It had tipped over in the wind, so I set it back up straight and tucked it in, remembering how gorgeous Wood looked when I first saw her in 1955’s Rebel Without a Cause. And how alive.

What did this person drive? And did their cars outlive them? Are their wheels in museums or still prowling the streets today?

His crypt not far from Monroe’s, actor Robert Stack, like Wood and Hefner, was also the proud owner of a Mercedes 300SL roadster. Although probably best known to contemporary audiences as the blundering Captain Rex Kramer in 1980’s Airplane! or as the host of Unsolved Mysteries, in 1960 Stack was the rising young star of ABC’s hit drama The Untouchables, where he played famed Chicago law-enforcement agent and Prohibition enforcer Eliot Ness. It’s said that every day Stack would drive down Sunset Boulevard on his way to the studio and, passing an auto showroom, stare at a bright green ’57 SL on display. Finally, his wife, Rosemarie, threw up her hands and said, in effect, “Just buy the darn thing!” Yet Stack didn’t do so, telling a MotorTrend writer in 1998, “I’d never pay that much money for a car for myself.”

Natalie Wood had her 300SL roadster painted pink.

As fate would have it, though, Stack didn’t have to spend a dime. Unbeknownst to him, Untouchables producer (and I Love Lucy star) Desi Arnaz bought the car for Stack, a gift for his having won the Best Actor Emmy for 1960. Stack owned the SL right up until his death in 2003. A decade later, the car—now painted dark red but otherwise almost completely original—sold at auction for $808,500. Sorry, Mr. Ness, but that good news merits a cold martini.

Actor Jack Lemmon, who died in 2001 at the age of 76, has the best headstone in Westwood Memorial. It reads simply: “Jack Lemmon”—then, below, “In.” Yet the two-time Oscar winner was the complete opposite of a car guy. In a 2014 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lemmon’s son, Chris, confessed: “[My dad] was the worst friggin’ driver. He wrecked a magnificent sports car for pretty much every film he ever did. For How to Murder Your Wife, he wrecked an Aston Martin. During Tribute, he wrecked a vintage MG that he bought from Bill Bixby [late star of the 1977–82 hit CBS series The Incredible Hulk].” Lemmon’s grave lies in a prime spot, at the end of a line of four that includes actor Carroll “Archie Bunker” O’Connor, legendary writer-director and Lemmon favorite Billy “Some Like It Hot” Wilder, and actor Peter “Columbo” Falk. It’s a 12-foot walk of fame.

For me, Westwood Memorial isn’t a sad place; it’s a celebration of lives lived uniquely—and full-up. It’s also, at times, a reminder of the utter absurdity and unpredictability of existence. (The child star of the 1982 horror hit Poltergeist, Heather “They’re heeerrrre!” O’Rourke, rests in a crypt near the entrance; she was only 12 when she died of septic shock in 1988.) Thankfully, near Lemmon lies comedian and actor Rodney Dangerfield; inscribed under his name on the headstone: “THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD.” Mr. “I don’t get no respect” died in 2004, just shy of his 83rd birthday. Whether Dangerfield gave one whit about cars, I don’t know, but every time I come to Westwood Memorial, I’m uplifted by memories of the comic’s hilarious stand-up routines, many of which revolved around his wife and her lousy driving. One of my faves: “My wife took her driver’s test . . . oh, she was happy. She got 18 out of 20! Yeah, two guys jumped out of the way!”

The post A Walk Among the Stars: Visiting the Hollywood Royalty of Yesteryear appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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A Walk Among the Stars: Visiting the Hollywood Royalty of Yesteryear

Yesterday I crossed the street to visit Marilyn Monroe. The platinum-haired beauty wasn’t much of a car enthusiast—the only automobile she’s said to have ever owned was a 1956 Ford T-bird she received as a Christmas gift—but she did appear in the 1950 John Huston movie The Asphalt Jungle, the title of which I appropriated for the monthly column I’ve been writing for roughly 15 years now. So she’s in my “club.” Playboy founder Hugh Hefner lies immediately to Marilyn’s left, having long ago purchased the marble crypt so he could be assured of sleeping forever next to the star whose photograph became his magazine’s first-ever centerfold.

Hugh was a car enthusiast; he especially loved German metal. Among his wheels: a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman limo, a 1959 300SL roadster, and a 1972 BMW 3.0CS. Some folks even say the name of Hefner’s groundbreaking monthly was inspired by the then-newly defunct Playboy Automobile Company. (Playboy co-founder Eldon Sellers’ mother worked for the car company’s sales office in Chicago.)

Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park is tiny at just 2.5 acres and, if you didn’t know where to look, all but impossible to find. Its entrance is hidden away behind a few nondescript office towers on Los Angeles’ busy Wilshire Boulevard. But I walk there often. It’s nearby, quiet, and peaceful. Filled with flowers and handsome trees. And on a per-square-foot basis, it hosts more celebrities than the lunchtime dining room at Spago.

When I walk past the graves of Monroe, Hefner, and the many other storied names at Westwood Memorial, I can’t help but pause and try to imagine the lives they led—working under the lights, the parties, the beautiful homes, the interactions with fans and critics, stardom’s delirious highs and crushing lows. But of course I also wonder: What did this person drive? And did their cars outlive them? Are their wheels in museums or still prowling the streets today?

Near the Monroe and Hefner crypts rests crooner and actor Dean Martin. (He died on Christmas Day in 1995.) The Sinatra pal and Rat Packer owned a slew of sweet rides, including a ’76 Stutz Blackhawk and a car I once profiled in Motor Trend Classic, the avant-garde 1962 Italian-American Ghia L6.4—one of just 26 ever built. (Sinatra had one, too.) Edgy as it may have been (the L6.4 was based on the striking 1957 Chrysler Dart concept car), the Ghia wasn’t cool enough out of the box for “The King of Cool,” so Martin had famed Hollywood car customizer George Barris (of original Batmobile fame) tweak his with an extra helping of suave. A little research suggests the car was last sold in 2012 with an asking price of $199,500. The Ghia was said to be in immaculate, unrestored condition—with only 46,000 miles on the odometer. I’ll have to whisper that to Dino on my next visit.

Actress Natalie Wood is buried under a tree amid the central lawn, having mysteriously drowned off SoCal’s Catalina Island in 1981. She was just 43 years old. Two-plus decades before her death, at age 19 and already a huge star, Wood purchased a brand-new 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster—and promptly had the car painted bright pink. A subsequent owner, not surprisingly, had it repainted back to its original Silver Blue—but the red leather interior and highly desirable Rudge wheels remain as Wood enjoyed them. The car—restored to concours condition—sold at auction in 2014 for $1.84 million, well above estimate. Whenever I stop here, Wood’s grave always seems to be adorned with flowers, but the day of my December visit, someone had also placed a small Christmas tree. It had tipped over in the wind, so I set it back up straight and tucked it in, remembering how gorgeous Wood looked when I first saw her in 1955’s Rebel Without a Cause. And how alive.

What did this person drive? And did their cars outlive them? Are their wheels in museums or still prowling the streets today?

His crypt not far from Monroe’s, actor Robert Stack, like Wood and Hefner, was also the proud owner of a Mercedes 300SL roadster. Although probably best known to contemporary audiences as the blundering Captain Rex Kramer in 1980’s Airplane! or as the host of Unsolved Mysteries, in 1960 Stack was the rising young star of ABC’s hit drama The Untouchables, where he played famed Chicago law-enforcement agent and Prohibition enforcer Eliot Ness. It’s said that every day Stack would drive down Sunset Boulevard on his way to the studio and, passing an auto showroom, stare at a bright green ’57 SL on display. Finally, his wife, Rosemarie, threw up her hands and said, in effect, “Just buy the darn thing!” Yet Stack didn’t do so, telling a MotorTrend writer in 1998, “I’d never pay that much money for a car for myself.”

Natalie Wood had her 300SL roadster painted pink.

As fate would have it, though, Stack didn’t have to spend a dime. Unbeknownst to him, Untouchables producer (and I Love Lucy star) Desi Arnaz bought the car for Stack, a gift for his having won the Best Actor Emmy for 1960. Stack owned the SL right up until his death in 2003. A decade later, the car—now painted dark red but otherwise almost completely original—sold at auction for $808,500. Sorry, Mr. Ness, but that good news merits a cold martini.

Actor Jack Lemmon, who died in 2001 at the age of 76, has the best headstone in Westwood Memorial. It reads simply: “Jack Lemmon”—then, below, “In.” Yet the two-time Oscar winner was the complete opposite of a car guy. In a 2014 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lemmon’s son, Chris, confessed: “[My dad] was the worst friggin’ driver. He wrecked a magnificent sports car for pretty much every film he ever did. For How to Murder Your Wife, he wrecked an Aston Martin. During Tribute, he wrecked a vintage MG that he bought from Bill Bixby [late star of the 1977–82 hit CBS series The Incredible Hulk].” Lemmon’s grave lies in a prime spot, at the end of a line of four that includes actor Carroll “Archie Bunker” O’Connor, legendary writer-director and Lemmon favorite Billy “Some Like It Hot” Wilder, and actor Peter “Columbo” Falk. It’s a 12-foot walk of fame.

For me, Westwood Memorial isn’t a sad place; it’s a celebration of lives lived uniquely—and full-up. It’s also, at times, a reminder of the utter absurdity and unpredictability of existence. (The child star of the 1982 horror hit Poltergeist, Heather “They’re heeerrrre!” O’Rourke, rests in a crypt near the entrance; she was only 12 when she died of septic shock in 1988.) Thankfully, near Lemmon lies comedian and actor Rodney Dangerfield; inscribed under his name on the headstone: “THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD.” Mr. “I don’t get no respect” died in 2004, just shy of his 83rd birthday. Whether Dangerfield gave one whit about cars, I don’t know, but every time I come to Westwood Memorial, I’m uplifted by memories of the comic’s hilarious stand-up routines, many of which revolved around his wife and her lousy driving. One of my faves: “My wife took her driver’s test . . . oh, she was happy. She got 18 out of 20! Yeah, two guys jumped out of the way!”

The post A Walk Among the Stars: Visiting the Hollywood Royalty of Yesteryear appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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On the face of it, they couldn’t be further apart in exposition, scope, or even their target audience. If I wasn’t constrained by the anomaly of the expression – for, I’ve tasted both, but never attempted to write with one of them – they’d be legends of chalk-and-cheese. And yet both arrived circa 2017, and both in their own ways, shook up the watching audience.

Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins and written by Allan Heinberg, as we all know now, shattered the DC world and that of superheroes forever. It was, by Zeus, helmed by a woman, and that wasn’t the reason it re-pressed box-office records worldwide. It carried with it, a hitherto unseen and unfelt emotional space in caped crusades, that brought a whiff of genuine romance even as it split wide open global issues, that though it keenly observed during the flagging days of World War I, are more relevant than ever. Opening in a flashback to the wondrous and stunning locales of the mystical and hidden island of Themyscira, the inhabitants being the all-women Amazonian warriors, created by Zeus to save mankind – the only scenes where the director and cinematographer Matthew Jensen paint the screen with mind-bogglingly breathtaking colors and hues – we see  the relationship between ruling Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen, all power and caring mother at once) and her only daughter – also the only child on the island – Diana, wanting to pick up the battle cloak and dagger from an early age; to her mother’s vehement and vigorous denial, the child is trained by her aunt, Antiope (Robin Wright, masterfully intense) to become even a more whiplash of a warrior than herself. And once the Queen mother realizes there’s no stopping her defiant daughter and sister, she lets you into a tantalizing line that tells you there’s more to revealed about Diana. But that’s later for you to discover in the movie. The lives of the amazing Amazonian women are upended when a fighter plane crashes near their island, and a grown-up Diana (Gal Gadot) rescuing its sole pilot, American pilot Captain Steve Trevor (Chris Pine). That’s also when, in perhaps one of the most invigorating and eye-widening action sequences in the movie, that Diana realizes that Zeus’ son, Ares, is out there in the world unknown to her tribe, and is somehow behind the catastrophic war; she also realizes, as the island is attacked by a German unit in pursuit of Trevor, of how hopeless her island’s weaponry can be, against the modern blitzkrieg of hot lead and powerful thermodynamics. Her adventure takes her out to the big, bad world with Trevor, and she runs in with the German psychopath-cum-General  Erich Ludendorff (a marvelous Danny Huston) and his chemical-mania of a chemist Dr. Isabel Maru (a superbly evil turn by Elena Anaya) also known as Dr. Poison, which so nicely fills in her job description as well. There’s other characters who support Diana/Wonder Woman as she, with Trevor takes on the evil forces, with a little help from friends including the British cabinet minister, Sir Patrick Morgan (David Thewlis, shining as always), Trevor’s secretary Etta Candy (Lucy Davis), and a band of fighters that Trevor gets together for the mission.

Gal Gadot: bows to no one.

In Aruvi (Waterfalls), the titular lead character, played by Aditi Balan, has no such luck with regards to friends or kin. This story is told in flashback too, but keeps cutting to the ominous present, where she and perhaps her only thick-and-thin friend Emily (Anjali Varadhan, singeingly fantastic) are being interrogated by police officer Shakeel Waqaab (Mohammed Ali Baig, very suave, extremely believable, but inflecting at times as if he’d rather be on an episode of CSI), and as you hear Aruvi’s story, you realize that much like Diana, she’s had a sheltered childhood, but not one of fantasy, but an everyday life, where she’s the apple of her father’s eye  – Thirunavukkarasu in a magnificently etched and enacted supporting role – and has a regular love-and-tiff relationship with her younger brother. All this changes, and as far as you’re concerned, it happens in a scene that stuns, as you see Aruvi’s life upend, as you did Diana’s – only here, there’s no Trevor to lend a helping hand nor a mother to lend a supportive farewell, and a sullied Aruvi is kicked out of the house, despite her pained protestations. Director Arun Prabu Purushothaman doesn’t have the big bucks backing for this project, nor does he require the green bundles to tell the story he wrote – it’s in the turning of the  blunt knife that he enjoys your discomfiture, not in the anesthetized comfort of a newly forged blade. In between cutting from a swift montage of the ever-burgeoning intrigue of the present and an increasingly chilling look at the past that got his lead character here, the director spares no wound and cut, and just as suddenly, the movie parkours from a social drama to black comedy to a visceral look at society’s unstoppable spinning of hypocrisy and exploitation. Backed by an ensemble of character actors who do wonders onscreen (as they do in Wonder Woman) – here, Arnold Mathew (playing Aruvi’s brother), Lakshmi Gopalswami (the TV host of Solvathellam Sathyam), Pradeep Anthony, Bala and others – Aruvi works best when it’s ripping off the skin of societal hypocrisy, zipping into a TED-like talk of happiness, and a cathartic revelation for a character in the TV studio. Where it does get weak is when the director spins the bottle of story much too long, giving himself and his  Aruvi this indulgence that both might never get again. As in Wonder Woman, where the bar scenes and comedy tend to act as a plateau for the main mission.

Aditi Balan: water-falling in love.

Both movies also look, in their own lens-mounted ways, of the troubling times we live in. The focal point of these projects is women. And both of them are Wonder Women in the way they grittily pack a punch back at the world. Both characters step out into these worlds they haven’t seen earlier, much less prepared to take head on. But both realize very quickly that taking the bullshit by the horns is a much more messier and complex affair than they could have imagined or planned for. In a world designed by men, for men, and of men, in a sense both Diana and Aruvi are Amazonian warriors, their battles very cleanly defined by themselves even if circumstances have forced them to do so, their weapon of choice the best possible that their times have to offer. In Wonder Woman does Diana realize that the world’s such a big truckload of mess that even superheroes can’t quite resolve the mosaic of power struggles and the manic ambition of a few, or just one. Aruvi on the other hand does her best to take control of these very manipulative and destructive forces of reality shows and news mites that feed into speculation, metastasizing into false news, triggering meaningless late-night TV debates, making experts of all who care to appear on TV and indulge in shouting matches.

Thirunavukkarasu is all father’s pain in Aruvi.…

Both women succeed, if you can call it that, but pay a very heavy price for their success. If there ever was Pyrrhic victory, it is these two who bear the burden of it. From the principles of naiveté to steely determination for justice, these super women bear crosses that they’re forever nailed to. Aruvi also makes you think of palliative care, of how important it is for everyone, without fail, to have loved ones around them, as they make that one final journey, however painful the director makes it for you to watch.

..while Gal Gadot and Danny Huston play some deadly maneuvers in Wonder Woman.

And both movies work superbly well within the ground rules of engagement they lay for themselves – Wonder Woman is eventually a commercial explosion of entertainment, not pretending to be otherwise; Aruvi is more than a waterfall – it’s a flood of a wincing, progressively-tough-to-watch indie, not attempting to be anything else. And yet, both have power that they grant their women to achieve, and for that, both are extremely gratifying cinematic experiences.

The movies boast of fine lead performances – Gal Gadot is impeccable, walking the line of a radiant, magical superwoman, stumbling along to find the magic of love and the callousness of mankind, even while executing some truly fine action pieces. Aditi Balan as Aruvi is astoundingly splenetic, clawing at your soul with what has to be one of the finest debut performances ever. She’s magical too, in her own way, but more the dark, haunting variety.

The music score for Wonder Woman by Rupert Gregson-Williams is a typical blockbuster music sheet, and there, you won’t find anything alluring, except maybe for Hans Zimmer’s grungy theme. Composers Bindhu Malini and Vedanth Bharadwaj, however, aren’t bound any such considerations for Aruvi. Much like the break-out woman the movie portrays, their background score, especially, is a winner. Utterly unpredictable, rocking between Carnatic music and the unexpected pleasure of a bass, using trumpets to segue into hip-hop jazz, the musicians add their own layer of pleasurable unpredictability to the story.

And there’s another difference between the two movies. Wonder Woman, despite all the losses, gets a sequel. Aruvi, despite winning at life and because of it, doesn’t. But it is the pyrotechnics of the fantasy of one that make it easier to watch the inevitable poignancy of the other. And it is in the balancing out and propelling of these two stories, not in their canceling each other, that makes movie watching such a beautiful, uplifting, and powerful experience.

Aruvi Movie data powered by IMDb

Aruvi Director Arun Prabhu Purushothaman Running Time 2h 10 min Writer Arun Prabhu Purushothaman Stars  Aditi Balan, Pradeep Anthony, Arnold, Mohammed Ali Baig, Thirunavukkarasu Genres Drama

Wonder Woman data powered by IMDb

Wonder Woman Director Patty Jenkins Running Time 2h 21 min Writer Allan Heinberg Stars  Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston Genres Action, Adventure, Fantasy

  ‘Aruvi’ and ‘Wonder Woman’ reviews: A Flood and an Explosion On the face of it, they couldn’t be further apart in exposition, scope, or even their target audience.

[pointofgeeks]

New Post has been published on http://www.pointofgeeks.com/media-round-up-june-2017-movies-to-see/

Media Round Up - June 2017 - Movies To See

It’s time… The month of June is going to be explosive. It will see some of the most anticipated releases of the year as Wonder Woman makes her debut, the Mummy returns, heck…even Captain Underpants is getting into the fun. There are a lot of movies to see and you are at the right place to get a preview of all of your favorite blockbusters. Enjoy.

  June 2

    Wonder Woman

  Stars: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, David Thewlis, Danny Huston, Said Taghmaoui

Director: Patty Jenkins

Synopsis:

Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.

    Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie

  Stars: Ed Helms, Kevin Hart, Nick Kroll, Jordan Peele

Director: David Soren

Synopsis:

Based on the worldwide sensation and bestselling book series, and boasting an A-list cast of comedy superstars headed by Kevin Hart and Ed Helms, DreamWorks Animation brings audiences the long-awaited global movie event, “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.” This raucously subversive comedy for the entire family tells the story of two overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold, who hypnotize their principal into thinking he’s a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants.

    June 9

    The Mummy

  Stars: Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Russell Crowe

Director: Alex Kurtzman

Synopsis:

Tom Cruise headlines a spectacular, all-new cinematic version of the legend that has fascinated cultures all over the world since the dawn of civilization: “The Mummy.”

Thought safely entombed in a crypt deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient queen (Sofia Boutella of “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and “Star Trek Beyond”) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her, is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.

From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, “The Mummy” brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.

    It Comes At Night

  Stars: Joel Edgerton, Riley Keough, Carmen Ejogo, Christopher Abbott

Director: Trey Edward Shults

Synopsis:

Imagine the end of the world— Now imagine something worse.

Award-winning filmmaker Trey Edward Shults follows his incredible debut feature “Krisha” with “It Comes At Night,” a horror film following a man (Joel Edgerton) as he learns that the evil stalking his family home may be only a prelude to horrors that come from within.

Secure within a desolate home as an unnatural threat terrorizes the world, the tenuous domestic order he has established with his wife and son is put to the ultimate test with the arrival of a desperate young family seeking refuge.

Despite the best intentions of both families, paranoia and mistrust boil over as the horrors outside creep ever-closer, awakening something hidden and monstrous within him as he learns that the protection of his family comes at the cost of his soul.

    June 16

    47 Meters Down

  Stars: Mandy Moore, Claire Holt, Matthew Modine

Director: Johannes Roberts

Synopsis:

On the rebound after a devastating break-up, Lisa (Mandy Moore) is ready for adventure while on vacation in Mexico. Even still, she needs a little extra persuasion when her daring sister Kate (Claire Holt) suggests they go shark diving with some locals. Once underwater in a protective cage, Lisa and Kate catch a once in a lifetime, face-to-face look at majestic Great Whites. But when their worst fears are realized and the cage breaks away from their boat, they find themselves plummeting to the bottom of the seabed, too deep to radio for help without making themselves vulnerable to the savage sharks, their oxygen supplies rapidly dwindling. “47 Meters Down” is a terrifying tale of survival set in the domain of the ocean’s fiercest creatures.

    Cars 3

  Stars: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin, Kerry Washington, Nathan Fillion, Armie Hammer, Jeff Gordon

Director: Daniel Gerson

Synopsis:

Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!

    Rough Night

  Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Kravitz, Kate McKinnon, Ilana Glazer, Jillian Bell, Demi Moore

Director: Lucia Aniello

Synopsis:

Five best friends from college (played by Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, and Zoë Kravitz) reunite 10 years later for a wild bachelorette weekend in Miami. Their hard partying takes a hilariously dark turn when they accidentally kill a male stripper. Amidst the craziness of trying to cover it up, they’re ultimately brought closer together when it matters most.

    All Eyez On Me

  Stars: Demetrius Shipp Jr., Danai Gurira, Lauren Cohan, Hill Harper, Jamal Woolard

Director: Benny Boom

Synopsis:

“All Eyez on Me” tells the true and untold story of prolific rapper, actor, poet and activist Tupac Shakur. The film follows Shakur from his early days in New York City to his evolution into being one of the world’s most recognized and influential voices before his untimely death at the age of 25. Against all odds, Shakur’s raw talent, powerful lyrics and revolutionary mind-set propelled him into becoming a cultural icon whose legacy continues to grow long after his passing.

    June 21

    Transformers: The Last Knight

  Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Isabela Moner, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Hopkins, Laura Haddock, Santiago Cabrera, Jerrod Carmichael, Stanley Tucci

Director: Michael Bay

Synopsis:

Transformers: The Last Knight shatters the core myths of the Transformers franchise, and redefines what it means to be a hero. Humans and Transformers are at war, Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Saving our world falls upon the shoulders of an unlikely alliance: Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg); Bumblebee; an English Lord (Sir Anthony Hopkins); and an Oxford Professor (Laura Haddock).

There comes a moment in everyone’s life when we are called upon to make a difference. In Transformers: The Last Knight, the hunted will become heroes. Heroes will become villains. Only one world will survive: theirs, or ours.

      June 23

    The Bad Batch

  Stars: Suki Waterhouse, Jason Momoa, Giovanni Ribisi, Keanu Reeves

Director: Ana Lily Amirpour

Synopsis:

The highly-anticipated follow-up to Amirpour’s acclaimed directorial debut, “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night,” “The Bad Batch” follows Arlen (Waterhouse) as she is unceremoniously dumped in a Texas wasteland fenced off from civilized society. While trying to orient her unforgiving environment, she is captured by a savage band of cannibals and quickly realizes she’ll have to fight her way through her new reality. As Arlen adjusts to life in ‘the bad batch’ she discovers that being good or bad mostly depends on who you’re standing next to.

    June 28

    Baby Driver

  Stars: Ansel Elgort, Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jon Bernthal, Jon Hamm

Director: Edgar Wright

Synopsis:

A talented, young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom.

    June 30

    Despicable 3

  Stars: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Steve Coogan, Jenny Slate, Julie Andrews

Director: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda

Synopsis:

The team who brought you “Despicable Me” and the biggest animated hits of 2013 and 2015, “Despicable Me 2” and “Minions,” returns to continue the adventures of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions. “Despicable Me 3,” directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, co-directed by Eric Guillon, and written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, will be released in theaters on June 30, 2017.

The animated film is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and executive produced by Chris Renaud.

Joining Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig in “Despicable Me 3” is Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award winner Trey Parker, co-creator of Comedy Central’s global phenomenon “South Park” and the Broadway smash “The Book of Mormon.” Parker voices the role of villain Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who’s grown up to become obsessed with the character he played in the ‘80s, and proves to be Gru’s most formidable nemesis to date.

When you see them, let us know what you thought of June’s movies in the comment boards, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! Share our stories by clicking below!

Source: ComingSoon

[thatesqcrush]

Possibilities

Rafael Barba x Lucy Huston

CW: language, implied smut, mostly fluff.

WC: 1258

AN: For @amirightcounselor​ who put this ship in my head. Also - for those who have seen Seared, there is a line from the play in here. 10 points if you can spot it.  Tags: @madpanda75​ @ottosuricato​ @delia26​ @dreila03​ @sass-and-suspenders​ @glimmerglittergirl​ @melsquared79​ @mommakat32​ @garturbo​ @southern-magnolia @niyashell​ @tropes-and-tales​ @imjustreallynosy​ @whyissvuruiningmylovelife​ @sweetsummertime99​ @evee87​ @scarletsoldierrr​ @kscarlett1 @cesarofangirl78​ @redlipstickandplaid​ @zoeykaytesmom​ @differentshadesofgray​ - anyone else just ask

***

It had been an unseasonably warm February afternoon. Dressed in jeans and a tailored charcoal grey lightweight sweatshirt, Rafael bounded down the steps of his apartment in search of coffee. He was in the middle of practicing his closing argument when his well-loved percolator broke. The same percolator got him through college, then law school, and through most of his career as an ADA. “Okay, so maybe it wasn’t completely random that it broke,” he admitted out loud to no one but himself.

In SoHo, it seemed like every door and window that could be opened, was. Rafael made his way down the busy Manhattan side walk. The street was bustling with throngs of native New Yorkers and tourists alike who had come out of their winter slumber, quick to enjoy the warm weather - a respite from the winter doldrum - that had settled in for the weekend.

Rafael made his way towards his favorite coffee shop/bakery that supplied coffee from a local roaster complimented with modern twists on French pastries. As he waited for the light to change, Rafael took notice of a sign on a restaurant window: Valentine’s Day reservations almost all booked - call now! It dawned on Rafael that it was indeed almost Valentine’s Day in a few weeks and that yet again, he was single.

Despite living the soltero life, Rafael’s bed wasn’t so lonely. He had his fair share of partners - women who like him, had an itch that needed to be scratched every once in awhile. It was all very business - almost transactional. Rafael sighed, as he crossed the street, his hands shoved in his pockets.

Rafael made his way into the coffee shop, ordering a latte and a pistachio loaf cake, choosing to sit by a window. He scrolled through his phone, sipping the hot elixir, when a shapely brunette in a cream colored sweater and light washed jeans caught his eye. He couldn’t see her face as she chatted with the vendor of the flower stand in front of the shop.

The waitress brought over Rafael’s pastry, and he quickly thanked her. Just as he did, the flower shop prospect turned her face, a small breeze blew her dark hair from her face.

Rafael felt his face turn pink as he realized he was gawking at none other than Lucy Huston, Olivia’s nanny. 

And to add further embarrassment, she was staring right back. *** Lucy smiled at the flower proprietor, bidding them a nice day as she took her receipt. She made her way towards the coffee shop, assuming it’d be rude to not to say hello to her boss’ colleague - she’d spent enough time in Rafael’s presence anyway.

“Rafael — it’s so nice to see you,” she greeted.

Rafael gave her a trademark half smile. “Likewise. Enjoying this beautiful day, I presume?” He motioned for her to sit, and she did so. 

“I am,” Lucy replied. “I have the next few days off - my folks are coming into town, so I am just shopping and getting ready, hence the flowers.”

“Where are you from?” Rafael asked, his brows furrowed. The waitress returned, spotting that Rafael had company. Lucy shook her head, politely declining. “Let me treat you,” Rafael insisted and Lucy acquiesced, ordering a dirty chai latte.

“I’m from the city, but my parents moved out to Connecticut,” Lucy replied. “It’ll be nice to see them. Anyway, I don’t want to bore you - I am sure you’re plenty busy. I just wanted to say hi.”

Lucy moved to stand and grab her latte, but Rafael placed his hand on hers, stopping her. Rafael wasn’t sure what had come over him, but suddenly he was sure his closing could wait. Lucy bit her lip, feeling the spark when his large, warm hand covered hers. Lucy slowly sat back down, curious. She and Rafael had plenty of exchanges before - it was just nature of the job. But suddenly something felt different.

And it was there, in the a quaint coffee shop that tiny buds of something more began to be planted. As Rafael got to know her, beyond the quick chats at either the precinct or at Olivia’s apartment, he realized she was incredibly intelligent and witty. Rafael was enchanted with the way she laughed - her dark eyes sparkled. His eyes landed on her plump pink lips and he wondered how soft they were. Subconsciously he licked his own lips.

Lucy listened intently as Rafael talked about this frustrations with his closing argument. Lucy would never admit it to anyone but she always found the Cuban attorney devastatingly handsome. He radiated a presence that was captivating. She made a small joke to which Rafael laughed and she felt her cheeks pink, not realizing how someone laughing could even render her. They lost track of time, each of them eventually ordering second and third coffees.

Eventually Lucy did happen to glance at the clock and she gasped in horror. “Oh my God, I have to go. I have to do a few more pick ups. I am so behind.”

Rafael stood and helped Lucy gather her belongings. He admitted he too to get back himself. Rafael watched Lucy as she walked away. It took every ounce in Lucy’s being to not turn around as she walked away. It was the briefest encounter. But it stayed with her and she wondered if he felt it too.

Rafael did. And he jogged after her.

Lucy approached the corner of the sidewalk and waited for the light to change when she felt a finger tap her shoulder. She turned, and upon seeing Rafael, gave him a smile.

***Weeks Later***

Rafael helped Lucy slip her coat on. As she moved to button her coat, he dipped his head to kiss her neck. “You know, we will have to tell Liv,” Lucy sighed.

“We will,” Rafael murmured, sweeping her hair away to gain greater access. “Soon.”

“And what if it doesn’t work out, hmm?” Lucy wondered out loud. “Then I’ll be heart broken and out of a job.”

Rafael stopped what he was doing, and moved to stand in front of Lucy. He placed his hands on her waist, drawing her close. “Who says it isn’t going to work out?”

Lucy cocked her head. “Sometimes it doesn’t work out.”

“We’ve barely started and you’re not even giving us a chance,” Rafael protested. “You and I know we are perfect for one another.”

Lucy nodded. “I know. This is just fucked - I don’t want to hurt Liv or worse, hurt Noah if this doesn’t....”

“It’s not fucked. It’s difficult. Life is difficult. But we owe it to each other.”

Lucy bit her lip, nodding. Rafael cupped her chin with his thumb and index finger. He bent his head to capture her lips with his. Lucy moaned into the kiss, as his tongue traced her bottom lip, seeking permission to enter, which she happily obliged. She pressed herself tightly against him, gripping the back of his neck. Rafael groaned, before running his hands from the roundness of her hip up to swell of the side of her breast.   Lucy broke the kiss hesitantly, a bit breathless.  Her pupils were wide, and her face was flushed with want.  “If we keep this up, we’ll be late for our Valentine’s Day reservations.” 

Rafael shrugged, his own eyes dark and blown with lust. “To hell with dinner.”

Lucy threw her head back, laughing. “Thank God.” She grabbed his hand and led him to the bedroom. FIN.

[symbianosgames]

Montag, 08. Mai 2017 um 10:56

Der finale Trailer zur DC-Comic-Verfilmung Wonder Woman zeigt in vielen neuen Szenen eine kämpferische Superheldin, die es mit der neuen Gegenspielerin Dr. Poison (Elena Anaya) aufnimmt. Die neuen Szenen werden übrigens von dem Song Warriors (2014) von Imagine Dragons aus dem Videospiel League of Legends begleitet.

Die Superheldin aus Zack Snyders Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice erhält in ihrem ersten Solo-Abenteuer ihre Origin-Story: Aufgewachsen auf der paradiesischen Insel Themyscira wird die junge Amazone Diana zur mächtigen Kriegerin ausgebildet. Erst als ein amerikanischer Pilot zufällig auf ihrer Insel notlandet, erfährt sie von den Konflikten in der restlichen Welt. Sie verlässt ihre Heimat in der Überzeugung, mit ihren Fähigkeiten den Krieg zu beenden. Seite an Seite mit den Menschen kämpft sie für den Frieden und wird zur Superheldin Wonder Woman.

Neben Gal Gadot als Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman spielen in weiteren Rollen Chris Pine (Star Trek), Robin Wright (House of Cards), Danny Huston (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), David Thewlis (Harry Potter), Ewen Bremner (Snowpiercer), Saïd Taghmaoui (American Hustle), Elena Anaya (The Skin I Live In) und Lucy Davis (Shaun of the Dead) mit. Die Regie führt Patty Jenkins (Monster).

Die DC-Comic-Verfilmung Wonder Woman kommt am 15. Juni 2017 in die deutschen Kinos.