#move over anna kendrick

[fairytale-poll]

ROUND 1D, MATCH 4 OUT OF 16!

Propaganda Under the Cut:

Into the Woods:

The embodiment of "Aren't you tired of being nice? Don't you just want to go apeshit?" but then she eventually decides that even if she's tired of being nice it's still worthwhile to try, and that doesn't mean she had to let people walk all over her

Her story is so fascinating, and she feels more realistic than other depictions of Cinderella. Most ItW characters have some fatal flaw- hers is her indecisiveness. After she goes to the ball, it isn’t a spell ending at midnight causing her to leave- it’s her fear of being discovered as a peasant. But the Prince loves her, so should she stay? But what would he do if she finds out she’s poor? But what if he wants that in a wife? But she wouldn’t fit in. But how would she know if she fits in if she doesn’t know who she is? This dilemma is what leads to her leaving her shoe on the steps of the palace and seeing if he comes back for her. But we know this story, she gets with the Prince and they live happily ever after… until act 2. The tree marking her mother’s grave has fallen down due to a rampaging giant, and she goes to mourn the loss of it. While she’s there, she learns of heartbreaking news- her husband cheated on her. Now this could lead to another example of her indecisiveness, but by now she’s grown from her last venture into the woods. She knows exactly what she needs to do and how to do it. She meets up with her companions from act 1 and comes up with a plan to kill the giant. But before this, she notices one member of the group, Little Red Riding Hood, is looking gloomy. The girl’s mother and granny had died due to the wrath of the giant, and she’s questioning her morality because she’s about to kill somebody. Cinderella, who knows about losing a mother, comforts her with the heartwrenching No One Is Alone, where she assures Red that there will always be someone looking out for her. She then runs into the Prince, and she confronts him on his infidelity. She is given the option to return to her marriage with him, but she denies and tells him to consider her “a victim of the giant.” After the giant is defeated, she moves in the with other survivors of the attack and helps our main character the Baker raise his newborn baby, as well as take care of Red and Jack. I wouldn’t consider anybody in ItW a good person- grey morality is a major theme in the show, after all- but out of the main cast, Cinderella is easily the most moral. Also she feels super aromantic so we love that for her too.

Into the woods is an incredible deconstruction of fairytales in general, and her arc is my favorite. Her story focuses on being a damsel because she doesn’t know what she wants.  She even purposely leaves her shoe so she doesn’t have to choose if the prince finds her. The show ends with her realizing that she has to have agency even if the choices she makes might be bad because that’s just part of being an adult. Also she has great songs.

SHE JUST WANTS A FUN NIGHT OUT, NONE OF THIS SUDDEN QUEENLY RESPONSIBILITY!

in this version she intentionally leaves behind the shoe because she's indecisive over whether she wants to stay at home which is familiar but horrible or go with the prince to the palace which is a whole new world for her she isn't used to at all and doesn't feel like she belongs. by leaving the shoe behind she makes it the prince's choice instead. but after she does marry him she still finds herself rather unhappy especially considering her prince is unfaithful and just all around sucks. by the end she decides to move in with a baker after leaving the prince finally finding the in between she was looking for. it's a really interesting take on her imo.

Okay we all know the movie adaptation is garbage but hear me out: I think that Anna Kendrick does a really good job of portraying her in the movie. She’s not nearly as bad as the Baker who was played by James fucking Cordon. With what she’s given, she does a really good job of portraying this version of Cinderella, who to me feels like a lost child that now as an adult is trying to figure out her place in the world. She’s indecisive but she wasn’t given the same tools in life as others to become that more confident and strong version of herself, which she finally is able to do by the end.

SHES SILLY!!! i had a huge essay but i realize now that i should probably save it for it's own post so here's a shortened version: -A huge part of her character arc revolves around realizing the prince is an asshole and she wasn't actually in love with him, but an idea of him (she's so comphet lesbian coded) -She can talk to birds and they do favors for her, but people think it's weird -She actually sometimes enjoys cleaning, when her step family isn't forcing her to do it. -Has multiple bangers, the first being On The Steps of The Palace where she basically goes "hm i think my life would be much easier and greatly improved if i just let other people decide my future for me" (aka leaving her shoe on the palace steps and letting fate decide if the prince finds her or not). The second is No One Is Alone, where she has what I would argue is one of the best solos in the entire show -Overall I think she's a really layered adaptation of Cinderella that seems like the standard kind no personality princess but is actually a really good study on romance and getting what you want and also shes a huge girlfail and we love her for that <3 ok bye Girlypop's husband cheats on her with the Baker's Wife and is told this by birds. That entire sentence is just batshit and no other Cinderella version has this. Not to mention the keep the step-sisters being blinded by said birds

Once Upon a Time:

Look. This is Season 1 episode 4. When I still watched this show. Girl is pregnant (and I guess has been for like  28 years?!?) and in trouble now. See she is Cinderella except Rumplestiltzkin has trampled all over her story by proofing away her fairy godmother. It’s not her fault her fairy tale was hijacked and then cast out in favor of a new Cinderella down the line.

I've only seen up to the first few episodes of season 4, but it really seems that she didn't get that much of a happy ending - or she did, and then it was ruined. In the flashbacks in the Enchanted Forest, it's revealed that he fairy godmother was killed by Rumpelstiltskin who helped her in return for her firstborn, so, after her marriage, they decide to help Snow White capture Rumpel once she's pregnant. During all of this, her husband (Thomas) goes to a well to fetch water - and then disappears. I'm currently making my way through season 4 and I have very little faith that they'll ever explain why he just disappeared. Then, in Storybrooke, she's alone, heavily pregnant, and desperate enough to steal. In the end, she's reunited with Thomas/Sean Herman and has her baby, and she's seen on a night out with Red Riding Hood and Snow White where Sean proposes, but I think the fact that her happy ending isn't as happy as people think it is fascinating. Since I've not finished watching all of them, it might be best to take someone else's propaganda, since they might know more than me.

She's an underrated Cinderella who in our world is a pregnant young woman abandoned by everyone and who tries to preserve her relationship with her boyfriend (the prince charming in their original story) who isn't sûre he's ready to be a father but who loves her deeply and decides to finally be the man she deserves. Also she saves her step sister from her step mother six seasons later

[adamwatchesmovies]

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Each viewing of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World reveals new depths to its narrative and humour, making its failure at the box office an even bigger shame. Well, better late than never. Go in for the memorable characters, arresting visual style, humour, and creative story. Come back to catch all the gags you missed. See it a third time to see what this movie is REALLY about.

22-year-old Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is a slacker musician dating 17-year-old high schooler Knives Chau (Ellen Wong). He's with her because he knows it’ll go nowhere. It's only a matter of time before he dumps her, which will be easy. Enter Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Promptly ditching Knives for the Amazon delivery girl of his dreams, Scott learns he must defeat her seven evil exes before they can date.

If the plot sounds crazy, it is. Director Edgar Wright (who co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Bacall, based off the comic series by Bryan Lee O’Malley) injects special effects in nearly every scene. References and Easter eggs to video games are everywhere in the form of health meters, bonus points, sound cues, non-sequiturs, and more. You can have a great time with a notepad playing “spot the reference” but it’ll be tough. There are so many and the deluge of gags is one hell of a distraction. It’s an outlandish tale with many characters and to ensure you never forget who’s who, we have a hugely talented cast bringing these quirky people to life. Kieran Culkin as Scott’s gay and very seductive roommate, Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman and more as Ramona’s evil exes, Anna Kendrick as Scott’s disapproving younger sister, Aubrey Plaza, Brie Larson, Alison Pill, Johnny Simmons and Mark Webber as Scott’s friends/bandmates... Every time one of them appears on-screen again, you perk up. What hilarious new line are they going to deliver? It never fails. You always laugh out loud.

This is sort of a “battle of the bands” movie, meaning you get all sorts of musical talents adding extra oomph to the dazzling visuals. The score & soundtrack is another character, another reason to re-watch the film so you can properly see (well, hear) how every note perfectly compliments the characters’ actions and the point we’re at in the story.

While you’re dazzled by the audio and visual, you might overlook one of the most important aspects of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: its theme. Those references to bands and video games? They’re just gravy. The fact is, this movie has a great message. It’s not actually about battling a bunch of crazy enemies in order to get a prize lady. All that’s a metaphor. What this movie is actually about is a slacker, a person you’re not really supposed to like. Scott is lazy and he’s stringing Knives along. Even when it’s obvious he wants to move on to the new hot thing, he takes way too long to admit it. When he does get with “the girl of his dreams”, he takes forever to get over the fact that she has a past, that Ramona broke some hearts and was selfish in her past relationships despite Scott having done the same thing to Knives. The battles he fights are actually against himself. To win Ramona, what he must actually do is learn humility and self-respect. This is what pushes Scott Pilgrim vs. the World from being “merely” good to being great. If you really look at it, you’ll learn something.

I might change my mind about this the next time I view it but right now, the only flaw I’ll bring up is the running time. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World a fast-paced, highly economical movie, which makes seven evil exes A LOT of enemies. The combat actually winds up slowing the film down and I can think of a couple of bad guys who could’ve been removed without losing much. Otherwise, it’s an instant favorite. You’ll want to come back to it over and over thanks to its unmistakable style, the ample creative choices made throughout, the humor and the characters. (On Blu-ray, July 24, 2020)

[mxdimitrescu]

Tattoo

Synopsis: Anna went with Skyler to get his tattoo done but she also encounters a handsome tattooer, Bellamy.

Genre: Fluff

Pairing: Anna Kendrick x Bellamy Black

(Masterlist)

Anna

"Kendrick, you ready yet? It's almost 1 and our appointment is at 1:30!" Skylar shouted from outside of the door as I finished putting my boots on.

"Hold on to your panties," I rolled my eyes as I walked out of my bedroom to be greeted by Skylar tapping his foot impatiently.

"It's about time! Now let's move!" Skylar said as he pushed me out of the door then into his car.

"You got no patience. I wonder how Camp deal with you," I smirked at the thought of Anna frustrated with Skylar.

"I'm not impatient," he said as he drove to the tattoo parlor.

"You gotta be kidding me," I said with my eyebrown raised in disbelief making him nod.

"Alright, gimme a sec," I said as I reached for my phone to call Camp and put it near my ear.

"What are you doin-" he went to ask but was interrupted by me.

"Hello? Hey Camp, can I ask you something?" I asked Camp who agreed so I put the phone on speaker.

"Okay, would you say that Sky is impatient?" I asked her.

"Skylar?" Camp asked sarcastically, "He got no patience for anything."

"Heyyy!" He whined making us laugh at him.

"Sorry baby but it's the truth. Now I gotta go," Camp said as we said our goodbyes.

It was silent for few minutes until Skylar spoke up, "I can be patient."

I snorted as we arrived at the tattoo place. He parked the car and we both got out then walked to the entrance. He pushed the door open making the door chime signaling the workers that we are here. A short man appeared from the back room and walked up to the desk.

"Hey guys, what can I do for ya'll today?" He asked us.

"I have an appointment with Bellamy?" Skylar told the man making him nod.

"Have a seat and I'll get her," he instructed us as we took seats as the guy went to get Bellamy.

We sat there for few minutes until a person walked out of the backroom making us look up to see. I was greeted by a tall woman, about 6'0, with lots of tattoos.

She's wearing black ripped skinny jeans with baggy black shirt and black shoes and her hair was up in a bun. I bit my lip at the sight of her muscular body.

"Skylar?"

Oh god, her deep husky voice was so fucking sexy. I actually can feel my panties immediately wet now causing me to shift in my seat.

"Hi, I'm Skylar!" He cheerfully introduced himself then me, "And this is my friend, Anna."

She nodded at us, "I'm Bellamy. So what tattoo do you want to do today?"

"Ah, lemme show you," Skylar grabbed his phone out and showed her the picture.

She hummed as she studied the picture then said, "Yeah, I can do that. Gimme a moment to sketch this out and we'll start the process."

He nodded and she went back to her office where she sketched the tattoo and came back out to lead us to her station.

"Here, where do you want this to be?" She asked.

Skylar took off his shirt revealing his chest and pointed to his upper right chest, "Right here."

She nodded and took the sketch and placed it over the place that he wanted and left a outline of the tattoo.

"Alright, check in the mirror and see if you like it then we'll start it," she said as Skylar got up and looked in the mirror to check the position.

"It looks good."

"Alright, let's start this."

Skylar sat back in his seat as Bellamy grabbed the tattoo pen and started tracing the lines. While Bellamy was tattooing Skylar, who looked in pain, I admired Bellamy.

She looked in total focus as she tattooed Skylar with such precision. I was knocked out of my staring when I heard Skylar cough making me look at him to see him smirking. I could see a glint in his eye making me warn him not to do anything with my eye but to no avail.

"So, Bellamy, are you single?"

She paused for a moment then resumed, "Yes."

"Are you gay? I dont want to offend you at all," Skylar asked making me roll my eyes at his lack of subtley.

"Yup," she replied.

I studied her. She's not a talkative person, just blunt and short responses.

"You don't talk much do you?"

"Nope, I rather listen rather than talk," She said finally speaking more than one word.

"Ah, you're the opposite of Anna here. She likes to talk," Skylar pointed out making me groan at his attempt to pair me with Bellamy.

I saw a tiny grin on Bellamy's face making me blush a bit. We went back in silence until Bellamy finished the last shading of Sky's tattoo.

"Alright, all done," she announced pulling back and grabbing a wipe with water to wipe off the excess blood.

She cleaned him then told him to stand in front of the mirror to see his tattoo.

"Dude, that looks awesome," Skylar exclaimed making Bellamy chuckle.

"Thanks, now let's wrap it up and set you up with aftercare stuff," Bellamy said as she put plastic over his tattoo and taped it.

She showed Sky how to take care of the tattoo for the next couple days. Soon, we're about to leave the shop when Bellamy stopped me before I left the shop after Skylar.

"Hey A-Anna," I turned around to see Bellamy looking down at her feet as she shuffled while a light dust of blush appeared on her cheeks.

"Yes Bellamy?" I asked curiously.

"I-I was wondering if I can ask you out? Like on a d-date," she stuttered as she looked up, her gray eyes meeting mine.

I blushed and said, "okay," making Bellamy grin and we both exchanged numbers to discuss our date.

I left the shop and just before I got in the car, I turned around to see Bellamy dancing to herself through the glass window making me chuckle at her excitement. I got in the car to be greeted by Skylar smirking.

"Soo.....you got her number?" Skylar asked after few moments.

"Just drive," I simply told him making him pout and turned to the front to drive.

Along the way back to my apartment, I recieved a text message from Bellamy.

Bellamy: Hey, are you free tomorrow night? Read at 5:21pm

Anna: What do you have in mind? Read at 5:23pm

Bellamy: Sunset picnic on the beach? Read at 5:24pm

Anna: Sounds like a plan Read at 5:25pm

Bellamy: Awesome, see you tomorrow night gorgeous! Read at 5:26pm

Anna: See ya! Read at 5:27pm

I grinned and put down the phone as we pulled up outside of my apartment. I got out of the car and as soon I closed the door, I told Skylar, "Guess who has a date tomorrow?"

I shut the door as Sky stared at me in shock then walked up to my apartment and entered it. I dropped my jacket on the coat rack and slumped aganist the couch. I put my feet on the table and turned on the tv, choosing a channel to watch.

'I can't wait for tomorrow', I thought as I slowly fell asleep.

[privilege-rpg]

ISOBEL ST. JAMES

☆ FULL NAME: Isobel "Izzy" Kate St. James ☆ GENDER: Ciswoman ☆ PRONOUNS: She/Her ☆ AGE: 32 (January 31st, 1992) ☆ BIRTH ORDER: Third ☆ TYPE: Full sibling; twin ☆ HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, California ☆ JOB: Drama Professor at PSU; part-time children's guitar and voice instructor; minor role voice actor ☆ SCHOOL: PSU Alumni ☆ SEXUALITY: Lesbian ☆ FACECLAIM: Anna Kendrick

ABOUT ISOBEL

It's unclear which cloth Isobel St. James was cut from. She was never going to be a dutiful housewife like her mother, nor did she necessarily plan to follow in her father's footsteps. Izzy was just Izzy. As a child, Izzy was hyperactive and outgoing, if not impulsive and indecisive. A later in life diagnosis of ADHD would explain a lot of this away, though a younger Izzy did find it difficult to process her big emotions. Often, this would result in less than impressed teachers removing her from their classrooms for "causing a distraction", or her parents becoming irritated with her when everybody was trying to wind down in the evenings. Their frustrations led to frustration for Izzy, too, who sought solace in notebook after notebook, color coded and annotated after scribbling down her feelings.

Easily sidetracked, however, what should've been more like journal entries became whimsical tales and rhyming lyrics, until she realized the latter was exactly what they were—lyrics. Thus began a lifelong enjoyment of writing songs she would never actually share with the world, because for all she was outgoing, Izzy was never the type to literally go looking for attention, not when it always so easily found her anyway. Upon realizing she was a mini lyrical genius, Izzy asked her parents for a guitar and lessons, both of which they were more than happy to provide. The learning part not moving quickly enough for her liking—one lesson a week? Lame—she taught herself what she could on the side, and soon Izzy was putting music to her lyrics. This was how she really discovered her singing voice, and how for such a little body, she had a huge set of lungs.

In an effort to redirect their daughter's abundance of energy into something else productive, her parents signed her up for acting classes. No, maybe Izzy didn't necessarily want to act in movies or TV shows or anything, but she certainly enjoyed the drama of it all. In fact, were she not so uncoordinated and quick to fall over things that weren't there, her parents would've loved a triple threat. Singing and acting were plenty enough, though, and when Izzy's ADHD diagnosis did finally come during her teens, she mellowed out enough with the help of a psychiatrist and medication that she was able to focus on the two without that overwhelming urge to impulsively embark on discovering new talents. Izzy enjoyed playing the guitar and singing covers of songs for her friends and family, then for the local preschool for a little voluntary work in the summer between high school and college, but her originals were just for her, and remain so to this day.

Speaking of college, with music already down pat as far as she was concerned, Izzy decided to study drama. Again, she wasn't necessarily trying to be an actor or anything, but she was good at it and she enjoyed it, and she knew she wanted to go to college, so she figured why not? She didn't necessarily need the money, but for something to do alongside her classes, she decided to offer guitar and voice lessons to children, something she still does now. While her past voluntary work and current side gig have given her plenty of experience with children, and she is actually really good with them, she simply cannot imagine anything worse than having any herself—Izzy is thankful she is a lesbian, and has no chance of an accidental pregnancy. She'd be very happy being the fun aunt to her siblings' children, though; that would enough for her.

Following her college graduation, Izzy became a little lost. She wasn't entirely sure what to do career-wise; she didn't want to act, and she didn't want to sing professionally—hogging the karaoke mic was just fine for her. For a little while, she got a job helping out at a drama program, where she delivered sessions to teens and young adults only slightly younger than herself. With her father's name attached to her, people understandably hung onto her every word, and Izzy found that she actually really enjoyed teaching an older age group than those she taught guitar and voice to. With that in mind, she set out to gain an official teaching qualification, and as of two years ago, has been working at PSU as a Professor of Drama, where her easygoing teaching style helps her to build a good rapport with her students. Sure, most of them tower over her, but she's good at gaining their respect, so it isn't a problem.

It was a student during her first year of teaching that put the idea of voice acting in her head. "Did you know, when you do that voice, you kind of sound like a cartoon mouse?" It wasn't meant with offense, nor did Izzy take it as such. In fact, she ran with it, and figured that while she had no interest in showing her face on screen, using her voice was a different matter. So, for the last year, alongside teaching at PSU and delivering guitar and voice lessons to younglings, Izzy has been dabbling in a bit of voice acting. So far, she hasn't been in anything big, just a few kids cartoons and a one-line bit part in a Pixar movie, but she wouldn't mind venturing into something more "main character". For now, though, she's perfectly content with the pace things are going, and is very much enjoying a more low-key life in the arts than the St. James name could technically afford her.

FAMILY BACKGROUND

The St. James family is well regarded among Hollywood circles for their undeniable talent and incredible work ethic. The St. James men have been acting in movies since the time of silent pictures and eventually the talkies. Marlon St. James, current great-grandfather of the St. James kids in game, was a Hollywood heartthrob actor and won several Oscars for his roles. Lance St. James has been known in the superhero universe for years in his role as Gambit. Recently, he took on a part as Walt Disney in a movie musical version of his life, showing the world that he could be fearsome in his Louisiana accent and throwing playing cards, but also sing the pants off of any Pasek and Paul harmony. His relationship with his wife, Genevieve, has been rocky since his fame skyrocketed and the rumor mill states that they're on the outs. Genevieve keeps popping out kids and adopting them in hopes of keeping Lance.

[itsmeanyango]

The Luckiest week in Astrology 2023: What is Jupiter in Taurus bringing you?

The Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter Uranus and North Node in Retrograde are in Taurus, the patient planet of beauty.

The Sun represents spotlight.

The Moon represents feelings and emotions.

Mercury represents communication and neighborhood.

Jupiter represents luck and expansion.

Uranus represents revolution. The type of change that brings restructure.

North Node represents whats meant to be, in retrograde it means review what is meant to be.

This energy with the sun in Taurus will last until end of Taurus season on May 21st.

The Moon will impact your feelings for three days until May 19th

Mercury will impact your communication and neighborhood until June 11th. Mercury was retrograde and you felt the stagnancy, resistance and strain then. Now you slow but surely will see the beauty of it all.

Jupiter will impact you until May 24 2024. Take advantage!

North Node in Retrograde will impact you until July 12th when it leaves Taurus.

Let's talk a little bit about the New Moon in Taurus.

On May 5th there was a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio. I made a post about it here. Scorpio is directly opposite Taurus, they are in opposition. Go back to what the Eclipse brought, removed or taught you. Which house was the eclipse in? Now look at this Moon in Taurus and see what the new beginnings are, Taurus softens the harshness of that eclipse because the universe does not pelt rocks at her children. One hard transit does not mean it's over for you, the universe ALWAYS has your back and will ALWAYS bring softness and tenderness to you. All you have to do is pay attention.

There's a prayer that can help you, the serenity prayer. You can customise it to suit you but here is how it goes:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

This is what this transit may mean for you depending on the house you have Taurus in your chart using whole sign:

In the 1H: People's perception of you, spotlight on you, being talked to beautifully or longing kind words and encouragement,self image success, review who you really want to be known as.

In the 2H: Your money looks good, emotional spending or retail therapy,money mantras or being told how money you seem, growth in income, review your relationship with money.

In the 3H: Beautiful relationship with siblings/cousins or wishing for such,be careful not to butter up the wrong person, postive affirmations, reviewing your conversations and self talk.

In the 4H: Making a beautiful home, memories back then, My home essay, expansion in family whatever family means to you, review what family is to you.

In the 5H: Beautiful face because of hair, your hair is beautiful please don't believe the negativity,letter to my younger self, nurturingy inner child, review how I treated younger me and how younger me and as treated.

In the 6H: Creating beautiful routines,only seeing the good of something,writing down plans,I have grown and evolved from that, review how you do things and figure out how they have worked for you so far.

In the 7H: Spotlight on Beautiful relationships(not just romantic), feeling like the beautiful relationships are too good to be true, self sabotaging beautiful relationships because of old mindsets, relationships bringing growth but remember growth can be painful, review the growth you have gone through.

The 7H has a lot. When Jupiter was transiting your 6H(Aries), you really had a hard time because things were moving so fast and your health was not at its best then so many plans were burning down. While others were enjoying Jupiter in Aries, you were in a hot oven. It must have been very hard, you deserve comfort. You deserve a break. It's going to be slow, but you will heal and get back up. Get back up again from the animation Trolls(and sung by Anna Kendrick) would be a good song for you, have a listen or play it on repeat.

In the 8H: Noticing how beautiful others resources are, jealousy or gratitude, asking for help(might be talking to investors), receiving support that propels you,healing from trauma, review your perception of who deserves and who does not deserve to be wealthy.

Someone is healing from sexual trauma and shame. I'm happy you get to experience this peace and freedom ❤️

In the 9H: Learning about beauty,reviewing your perception of beauty, talking or writing about beauty standards, expanding your knowledge on beauty, review your beauty standards objectively

In the 10H: Spotlight on career, zero in on what is most attractive to you career wise, feeling called to a certain career direction, writing the most beautiful cover letters and applications,promotions or getting into the career you wanted,review your career choices, they keep changing, why do they?

In the 11H: Seeing and desiring beautiful networks, going to places around you to see if you can get networks or making beautiful networks around you, meeting someone and realizing you landed a stroke of luck, review your networks especially on social media, are your connections good for your wellbeing?

In the 12H: Being open to mental health practices, feeling the fog lift, journaling, realizing what seemingly beautiful thing is making your mental health tank, reviewing what works and what does not work for your mental health.

The Moon was in Taurus on Wednesday, a good day to communicate your feelings because Mercury rules Wednesday.

The Moon is still in Taurus on Thursday, a good day to get philosophical about what you love because Jupiter rules Thursday.

The Moon is still in Taurus on Friday, indulge in beauty self care because Venus rules Friday.

The New moon in Taurus is on Friday, a good time to start or restart something beautiful.

Taurus is also ruled by Venus, love yourself ×10

Taurus rules the voice, honor your voice.

You can book a reading with me here follow our Tiktok here our Twitter here our YouTube here and our Pinterest here

Astrology and Human Design Simplified. AHDSimplified.

[whoiwanttoday]

Happy New Year everyone. Here is Anna Kendrick to start the year and I don't really know why. Nostalgia maybe? That sounds awful, like her best days are behind her or something but it was more I thought about how rarely I post her these days and it's really a symptom of how Hollywood works mixed with me being an easily distracted idiot. She used to be one of the darlings of the red carpet and you could count on countless pictures of her coming out all the time at premiers and so on and the pandemic hit and that just stopped. And I imagine part of it was no premiers but since the early days she really hasn't been on many that I have seen and it's always a question of is that because she is staying home or has the world moved on? The world does that eventually, where a month after an event you find out someone is there and it's because the pictures of that person never really god put out there, they weren't marketable enough. I don't think Anna Kendrick is at that point but it is interesting how this sort of thing shifts over time and she has never posted a lot of pics on social media so it's a bit of out of sight out of mind. And even if in my mind there isn't much new and it feels a little strange sometimes to go, "Hey, here are a bunch of pictures of Anna Kendrick from 2014". It feels odd in a way that I am sure no one else notices or cares about. I am exaggerating, I promise you @femalecelebrityoftheday notices and cares and would never, ever post 9 year old pictures if he could help it, but no one else notices or cares. Anyway, I ignored that today which is why some of these pictures are now 4 years old. I just wanted to post her. Today I want to fuck Anna Kendrick.

[tilbageidanmark]

Movies I watched this Week #123 (Year 3/Week 19):

When thinking of Ozu, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Refined domestic dramas, tatami shots, chrysanthemums flowers - or fart jokes? ... Good morning, my 5th film by Yasujirō Ozu, is apparently one of the few films he directed that is not about old people but about children.

A gentle and delightful comedy about two boys who refuse to speak until their parents buy a television set, it is full with ‘Pull my finger’ (rather ‘Touch on my forehead’) moments. With Ozu's favourite actor Chishū Ryū. 8/10.

🍿

Let him go, a wonderful discovery by a Thomas Bezucha, a director previously-unknown (to me). A moving, and slow-moving, neo-Western that turns 180 degrees for the third act. Salt of the earth, retired sheriff Kevin Kostner and taciturn wife Diane Lane grieve after the death of their son, then try to rescue their only grandson from some unsavory hillbillies. A tense story about loss. 8/10.

There are some magnetic and gorgeous actresses I am completely attracted to. Beside Diane Lane, there are Léa Seydoux, Maggie Cheung, Catherine Deneuve, Charlize Theron, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Isabelle Huppert, Anna Kendrick, La Binoche, Etc.

So I’m going next to watch Lane’s two 1983 back-to-back Coppola films, ‘The Outsiders’ and ‘Rumble fish’.

🍿  

First watch: The ruthless, brutal City of God, a Brazilian ‘Goodfellas’, but worst, not as funny, and so much bloodier and grittier. I was reluctant to watch it for a long time and for a good reason. Merciless crimes in the favelas, cruel, senseless killings committed by children, the poorest of the poor, and based on a true story.  

🍿

Lianna, my first relationship drama by independent director John Sayles, picked randomly from a list. An honest exposition about a vulnerable woman [who’s married to a prick named ‘Dick’!] and a mother of two who suddenly realizes that she’s a lesbian. She comes out, sans heroism, and faces the difficult and lonely struggles of being herself. Hard to imagine that it was written (so well) by a man, and in 1983.

🍿  

‘Meet me at the top of the Empire State Building in 3 months’ X 3:

🍿 Re-watch: Warren Beatty and Annette Bening’s Love Affair is broadly panned as one of the worst remakes ever made, but for me it’s one of my favorite romances. I love everything about it, from Ennio Morricone’s theme (which did tend to repeat itself again and again, but was glorious) to the sappy chemistry between the two lovers, and to this being Katharine Hepburn’s final role. 9/10.

🍿 It was based on Leo McCarey’s 1939 original Love Affair with Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne. But I found it a stiff and slow tearjerker in spite of its pedigree - "If you can paint, I can walk".

🍿 Leo McCarey’s own remake, the 1957 An Affair to remember, with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr was better (because it was newer?). Still I prefer the later Beatty-Bening version.

🍿  

The Novelist’s Film, my 10th art film by the always-the-same Korean naval-gazer Hong Sang-soo. Two women, one a prolific writer who all of a sudden can’t find the energy to write, and the other pretty actress Kim Min-hee who doesn’t want to work any more, meet randomly during a walk in the park, and on the spot decide to make a film together. As usual in his movies, the whole concept is but a series of mundane conversations, usually over coffee and drinks (this time over Makgeolli rice wine) which eventually adds up to a small and subtle epiphany. 7/10.

🍿  

Sapphire, my third by forgotten British director Basil Dearden. While it’s not as compelling as the first two groundbreaking films of his that I saw (‘Victim’ and ‘All night long’), this murder mystery again dealt with a social problem of the day, one not usually explored on film. This time it was bigotry and racial discrimination, and it did so openly and honestly.

How is Dearden not better appreciated today?

🍿  

Dogtooth, my third uncomfortable art film by Yorgos Lanthimos (after ‘The killing of a sacred deer’ and ‘The lobster’). A weird, freaky and perverse metaphor for fascism, or at least for the cult of the patriarchy. A Fritzl-like story about a father who isolates his three adult children in the family compound and keeps them home-schooled and emotionally stunted. Unpleasant and joyless.

🍿 

“I've known you for all of two mins & already I don't like you...”

Midnight Run, my 3rd re-watch in 3 years (and possibly my 20th re-watch in 20 years...), one of my all-time favorite movies, a perfect comedy-action buddy-cop with a heart. Best roles for (newly father of 7) Robert de Nero, as well as for FBI Special Agent Alonzo Mosely, Dennis Farina, Joe Pantoliano, and a fantastic Danny Elfman score. 10/10 again (and again).

Strangely enough, this brilliant script and impeccable dialogue were written by one prolific George Gallo, who also wrote 27 other scripts and directed 21 movies none of which I ever heard of. And most all his other movies have between ZERO to 30 ‘Rotten Tomato Scores’!

(Photo Above).

🍿  

William Wyler’s 1966 How to Steal a Million. The idea of seeing Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole [whose names, both first and last, are euphemisms for 'Cock'] in a light romantic comedy is irresistible. But the movie itself was a big letdown: All style and no substance. 2/10.

🍿

2 counties:

🍿 "Here I was for the first time in my life having a nice peaceful time and you had to come and spoil it".

County hospital, a 1932 Laurel and Hardy 2-reeler, simple and not too slapsticky. What a strange relationship these two “friends” had...

🍿 I used to lived in Anaheim Hills & Yorba Linda, CA when the third-rate teen ‘comedy’ Orange County premiered, but I only tried to see it now for the first time. Sadly, I couldn't stand this superficial and Clichéd low-brow piece of nepotism, just like (many of) the people who used to live there, and I had to click it off after 15 torturous minutes. 1/10

🍿 

I got talked into watching Saul Goodman’s violent action flick Nobody again. It’s still generic and unoriginal, and I hope they never do a sequel. 4/10. 

🍿  

Moviewise is a YouTube channel offering interesting film essays by a guy with a deep voice and a strange accent who often gives reactionary /masculine analyses. Last week I saw his ‘The camera and the mirror, a love story’. Here are some that I saw this week:

Why ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ has no ending *

How to Immediately Identify a Great Director *

What is the Encyclopedic Film genre *

Why ‘All about Eve’ is a perfect screenplay *

Why ‘Jeanne Dielman 23, Quai du Commerce’ is boring and does not deserve to be called ‘World’s Best film’ *

How are “Puzzle film” different from surreal ones *

Breaking down film dialogue into the ‘Practical’ and the ‘Analytical’ *

Why Succession’s Logan Roy Always Wins *

But he’s also funny sometimes, as he is in A Guide for Analyzing Movies.

Many more inside. In spite of his endocentric chauvinism, his readings are still worth the watch.

And talking of Succession, I’m looking forward to bingeing on Season 4 at the end of May, when it’s all done.

🍿  

3 shorts:

🍿 Of course I know about them, but I never actually seen any ‘Star Wars’ or JRR Tolkien movies. Caleb Ward used Midjourney AI tools to create two fictional trailers for alternative films directed by Wes Anderson, one for Star Wars, and another for Lord of the Rings: Cute.

🍿 In the end, what it felt like to almost die. A woman tells the story what she experienced when she had a massive pulmonary embolism.  

🍿

(My complete movie list is here)

[tiffanys-aus-and-headcanons]

Although Zack Snyder's directorial debut was a remake of Mad Max (1979), he probably arrived on most people's radar with his adaptation of the comic Gods Of Egypt. Impressed by audience feedback, Warner Brothers tapped him to direct their adaptation of Worm Turns, which they intended to be a film series. Although Worm Turns Arc 1 was a superficially faithful and generally popular adaptation, Alan Moore disowned it, as with all adaptations of his work, and moreover it underperformed studio expectations. The sequel, which was intended to adapt the second quarter of the graphic novel, died in development hell after negotiations with Johnny Depp stalled out. Anna Kendrick's casting as Taylor Hebert was always very love-it-or-hate-it; she would go on to become a frequent Snyder collaborator, playing Lilly Akemi in Snyder's original project Madoka as well as Natasha Romanova in Warner Brothers' ill-fated MCCU, which Snyder helmed. Most of Snyder's films have extended cuts that are very long and very different; it took much fan outcry to get the "Snyder Cut" for The Avengers (which Joss Whedon took over mid-production) completed and released.

Matt Groening is an American cartoonist best known for creating the long-running animated sitcom Married With Children. Although he started out his career with alt comic Fritz The Cat, he'd find much more mainstream success with the Bundy family, which he initially conceived of on the spot simply to avoid losing the Fritz rights. Married With Children was transgressive and countercultural when it premiered - it drew complaints from the president about its subversive content! - but as the years have gone by, it's become passe and is practically seen as a wholesome PG-rated merchandising staple. It's been outmoded by a whole industry of "adult cartoons" that seek to outedge one another, including similarly iconic long-runners Johnny Bravo (by Seth McFarlane) and Peanuts (by Trey Parker and Matt Stone). Groening may be better-respected for The Jetsons, a sci-fi successor to Married With Children; however, they're both undead shows, Married With Children being a zombie that's kept going long after it should have stopped and The Jetsons getting cancelled and picked back up over and over and never quite seeming to come back right. Groening's take on isekai fantasy, Amphibia, remains a relatively obscure Netflix exclusive.

James Cameron has a lot of big IPs to his name. He may be best-known for the RoboCop franchise he launched in 1984, but he's set the record for highest grossing film of all time twice, and both were unrelated to it. His Die Hard sequel, Die Harder, has generally overtaken the original in the popular consciousness; Sigourney Weaver reprised her role as Jane McClane. His 1997 historical epic Pearl Harbor made almost two billion dollars in its initial theatrical run; his 2009 space opera Star Wars made almost three. Cameron is still working on various sequels and prequels to Star Wars today, but he faces multiple severe problems in doing so. Although the original film was very successful financially, it left next to no impact on popular culture; most audience members simply enjoyed it as a tech demo for new-at-the-time CG technologies, and saw the characters and plot as a generic placeholder. Moreover, Cameron's perfectionism has gotten the best of him and produced an absurd thirteen-year gap between Star Wars and its first sequel, Star Wars: Into The Ice, giving whatever impact the original film had even more time to fade.

The MIB Wiki is a collective writing project originally born on Craigslist, although it moved to Wikia early on. It consists largely of (heavily redacted) in-universe immigration documents processed by the titular organization, which handles travel to and from Earth for all manner of extraterrestrial, supernatural, and otherwise abnormal entities. The Men In Black keep the peace and maintain the illusion of normalcy for the public. Per community consensus, they're generally depicted as the heroes, but their methods tend towards the darker end of morally grey. The site's early period is often looked back on now as an old shame, although it produced many of the most iconic passports; author avatars of moderators and power users, like Agents J and K, ran amok, "deporting" particularly unpopular new articles in overwrought takedown stories that eschewed the line between in-universe and out-of-universe drama. Writing standards are often said to have been lower back in the old days. Even the article that got it all started - "Jimmy the Weeping Angel" - hasn't aged particularly well. Its picture was taken from a real sculpture without the sculptor's permission - that was just the culture on Craiglist in the 2000s - and its general concept was clearly copied from an episode of Chris Carter's Foundation that had aired earlier that month.

Lightning round! The X-Files is a Netflix cartoon about conspiracy theories created by Shion Takeuchi, which was suddenly cancelled after a single (two-part) season and a cliffhanger. Inside Job is a YA anthology cartoon created by Owen Dennis for Cartoon Network, which got jerked around for four short seasons before being deleted from HBO Max by David Zaslav. Crazy Train is a much-rebooted Hanna-Barbera cartoon from the 1960s about a group of children who find themselves transported to a mysterious train. The Mystery Gang is one of numerous ghostwritten children's pulp adventure series from the early twentieth century; contrary to popular misconception, the dog did not actually speak in the original books. Daniel Handler created the popular Tom Swift series as a dark parody of this (already antiquated at the time) genre. Roald Dahl wrote A Series Of Unfortunate Events, and its villain Count Olaf has been portrayed by Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp, and Timothée Chalamet in assorted adaptations and spinoffs of varying quality. Willy Wonka is the beloved and charismatic star of a series of educational cartoons (originally picture books) from the '90s, The Chocolate Factory; in every episode he would put the children in mortal peril to illustrate some scientific point. Ms. Frizzle, originally voiced by Justin Roiland, is the title character of a popular adult cartoon about a manic schoolteacher with magical powers, and is largely a parody of Willy Wonka specifically. Pendleton Ward is best-known for creating one of Cartoon Network's most recognizable properties, Science Time, about a boy's adventures with his demented inventor grandfather. Ooo, Aaa, Eee, Uuu is a weird fantasy webcomic created pseudonymously by Abbadon, originally published as a quest on the MSPA Forums contemporaneously with later installments of Scott Pilgrim. Kiss Six Billion Demons is an indie horror game set up as a faux dating sim, created by Dan Salvato. Dana Terrace produced Doki Doki Literature Club for the Disney Channel, as a weeb-inspired postmodern take on older high school drama cartoons like Happy Days and As Told By Veronica Mars; despite its popularity it was cancelled for being too gay.

And so we return to J. K. Rowling. Certainly, when Luz Noceda and the Lying Witch first came out, it was immediately subject to intense censorship campaigns from religious watchdog groups; that's kind of just what you get by default for writing a children's fantasy novel where the oppressed inhuman creatures are called "demons", the central villain is a corrupt Christian zealot turned necromancer, and we are eventually introduced in later sequels to a background race of angels (not explicitly named as such, but symbolically obvious) who are shown to be cruel and xenophobic. However, these protests failed to prevent the series from becoming an international, culture-moving phenomenon. Billions of movie tickets were sold. A generation is nostalgic. Last year, Hexside Legacy made back its money on name recognition alone.

Nowadays, with the developing story on Rowling, relevant criticism of the series' content is much easier to find coming from a progressive direction. The Luz Noceda books lean heavily into the idea of the "Burning Times", a pop feminist and neopagan mythologization of the early modern witch trials as an exaggerated microcosm of all patriarchal oppression. Rowling essentially blames the witch hunts for all colonialism, and diagnoses the United States' particular problems as a consequence of its Puritan roots. When the books were new, it was common to see fans celebrate this stance as anti-colonial and anti-American; however, with the benefit of hindsight, we can see that her actual intent was to absolve Britain, her home country, which she has always been something of a chauvinist for.

Although Luz Noceda was undoubtedly groundbreaking for gay representation in children's literature, it's very easy to overstate matters. It took five books for deuteragonist Willow Park's fathers to be confirmed gay in-text; an illustration in an earlier edition of Luz Noceda and the Heroine of Stone seems to have been under the impression that it was a divorce-and-remarriage situation. Although there is some foreshadowing for the Luz/Amity relationship - particularly in Luz Noceda and the Gromethean Sacrifice - it was almost universally regarded as deranged fanon before the final book, and a significant fraction of the audience didn't even get it then. Several antagonists are described in transmisogynistic terms, most notably Terra Snapdragon.

And as long as we're talking about characters who were written as offensive stereotypes, Tibbles is coded as a classic unscrupulous Jewish peddler caricature. Of course, many background demons and witches throughout the series are also incompetently appropriations of Native American lore. There is sometimes an attempt at AAVE with Gus. The narration repeatedly favorably compares Luz's appearance to Willow's because the latter is fat, and highlights Willow losing weight as part of her character arc.

And Adam Sandler did Austin Powers!

Terrible Visions

A scrambled timeline is a timeline that has proceeded much like ours, except that some particular facet has been mixed up all over the place. For example, in the scrambled timeline we will consider today, our world's fictional stories have been told by different people, and in different ways.

Bryan Lee O'Malley, in this alternate timeline, is best known as the cartoonist responsible for Homestuck, a popular comic series about a group of children who become embroiled in a cosmic-scale video game known as Sburb. Although Homestuck is probably most often associated with the cult classic Edgar Wright-directed film adaptation released in 2016, the comics themselves are highly-regarded, and the film brought a new audience to them. Netflix has commissioned an animated continuation, The Homestuck Epilogues, which is due to be released soon.

Andrew Hussie, on the other hand, is a figure you're likelier to know if you're overly online. His "MS Paint Adventures" series - most notably including Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, which is kind of like Homestuck but weirder and hornier - have firmly remained a fixture of obsessive Twitter fandom culture. It doesn't help that the best-known iteration, Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, is infamous for stretching thousands of pages of meandering digressions out of a simple and focused narrative starting point. Scott Pilgrim fans have developed something of a toxic reputation, which is not entirely deserved - although of course Knives discourse is interminable, and back in the fandom's heyday there were reportedly incidents of fans assaulting each other "for being evil exes".

Scott Pilgrim fandom was very big back in the day, though, and consequently it was a nexus for other creative figures who would go on to surpass Hussie. Perhaps foremost among these is indie developer Toby Fox. He was literally living in Hussie's basement when he produced ROSEQUARTZ, a universally-beloved retro Goonies-like RPG about a human hybrid boy born to a race of gem-based aliens. He's now developing an episodic spiritual successor, RAZORQUEST, with more overtly dark themes. It revolves around an inheritance dispute among a demon-summoning family.

Other foundational figures in this timeline's internet culture include Alison Bechdel, who helped get the webcomic scene started. Although she's now more seriously acclaimed for her personal memoirs, her gaming webcomic Press Start To Dyke, which premiered in 1998, was once everywhere. It had a broad appeal, and at its height, it was common to see even straight guys sharing pages from it. Time has not been especially kind to it, though, and at this point its main legacy is test.png, a meme spawned by one of the comic's most ill-advised pages.

Then there's John C. McCrae, more often known by his pseudonym Wildbow. A prolific and reclusive author of doorstopping "web serials" - long-form fiction published online - McCrae's best-known serial is still his first, Wind, a noir superhero story set in an alternate history where capes are mostly just a subculture of unpowered vigilantes. Wind landed in a culture already rife with comic book deconstructions, like Alan Moore's 2002 graphic novel Worm Turns, but it nonetheless managed to stand out from the pack with its extensive cast of characters and its themes of coordination problems and the end of the world. Later McCrae web serials include Part (the first "Otherverse" serial; an urban fantasy story about a couple who die in a car accident and find that they have become ghosts), Tear (a "biopunk" story set in a collapsing underwater city), Warn (the controversial Wind sequel), and Play (the second "Otherverse" serial, set in a small Indiana town that helps hide a psychic girl from the CIA).

Last and perhaps least, we should discuss J. K. Rowling. Far and away the most famous of any of these authors, Rowling's name is inseparable from the YA series that she debuted with, the Luz Noceda books, which remain her one successful work. Although it was heavily derivative of older fantasy novels - like Jill Murphy's Academy For Little Witches, or Philip Pullman's Methods Of Rationality trilogy - Luz Noceda was still a monumental and unprecedented success in the publishing industry, and the film adaptations were consistent blockbusters. The final book, Luz Noceda and the Watcher of Rain, contained some allusions to a romantic relationship between Luz and her recently-redeemed associate Amity. Rowling confirmed that this was her intent in subsequent interviews and indicated that she had fought her publishers for it; the film would then go on to escalate matters slightly further.

There have been many lengthy and heated online arguments as to whether the references in the book itself constitute text or mere subtext. Whatever your stance on this discourse, a new complication has been introduced recently: although she has put out no official statement on the matter as of yet, it has become quite apparent from Rowling's shrinking network of contacts and her conspicuous silences that she is certainly TERF-sympathetic, and likely an outright TERF herself. For many, this is leading to a critical reevaluation of the social values inherent in the Luz Noceda series; others, to say the least, are holding off on that kind of reappraisal.

Anyway, Scott Pilgrim just beat Luz Noceda in a Twitter poll for Most Gay Media, and people are piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiissed

[imalloutofgin]

Long time, no see...

Hello friends, I have been watching things this whole time I promise! I have finally graduated from my masters degree and will hopefully post a lot more frequently... But I am considering moving to video form. What do the few of you that actually read these think? Anyways, here's some mini reviews!

American Psycho (2000): Absolutely amazing, very funny while also being harrowing. I cannot comprehend how so many misunderstood this brilliant satire. 5/5

A Simple Favour (2018): Very fun. I adore Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in this. THE OUTFITS! Recommend for a relaxed watch. 3/5 stars.

The End of Evangelion (1997): I would love all this symbolism if it had any other meaning besides "Catholicism looks cool". Great imagery with nothing to say. 2.5/5 stars.

Redline (2009): Good, but too over the top for me to really love it. My girlfriend was a big fan though. 2/5 stars.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953): I was going to give this film 4/5 stars but I actually can't stop thinking about it and I've watched it twice through. Really fun, great quotes, Marilyn Monroe at her finest. 5/5 stars.

Lady Bird (2017): I sobbed like a baby. This affected me in ways I can't fully articulate. What a painful and accurate depiction of a strained mother and daughter relationship. 5/5 stars.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016): A fun romp, but nothing to write home about. 3/5 stars.

Oceans 8 (2018): Looking at my notes I've given it 2.5/5 stars but I don't remember it being *that bad*. Certainly nowhere near as good as Ocean's 11... I did have fun though. 2.5/5 stars.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023): The more I think about this movie, the more mad I get. The book slaps - it's about fascism and it says something about power. The movie is about a guy falling in love with his tribute and he's a bad guy, actually. 1/5 stars.

Talk To Me (2022): What an amazing Australian film! Great music, awesome concept, and Australian as fuck. I would have liked there to be a bit more of an intense tone shift to create more fear, but other than that, basically perfect. 4.5/5 stars.

I have more reviews coming, so stay tuned!

[think-pieces]

Sunjoy Signing on

Show of hands. Who has watched Mr. Right? Anna Kendrick, Sam Rockell? Just me? well, objectively it's one of my favorite movies. It's a manic pixie dream girl, psycho fuelled movie. It's a true rom com. In every best way. There's so much undiscovered lore on this movie. However, had they made a second movie though? Wouldn't have hit as hard as the first movie.

More over, the chemistry that Anna and Sam have? Unstoppable. It's too good. The fight choreography? stunning. Sam as serial Killer Francis? so hot. I think what draws me in the most about this movie is the fact that unlike most Rom Coms, it's geuinely comedic. there's action, romance, a weird B plot. Steve? What more could a girl want? It's not a geuine romance movie like To All the Boys I've Loved Before.

I cannot express how much I love this movie. start to finish I will rewatch this until I die. Preach and sing about this movie until I die. I am geuinely in love with this Movie.

You may ask, well elaborate Sunjoy, preach what makes it so great. The formula they use, the dialouge style, the SET DESIGN? The character arcs are so fufilling. it feels as though I'm watching a movie, which obviously. But in the way that I'm immersed in the movie. The characters interact with eachother, the plot moves with purpose, and there's silence in the movie. scenes that exist as just that, scenes.

Either way watch it for yourself and please tell me what you think. And please recommend anything similar to it.

[thenomadinside]

Goodbye New York and Hello Taiwan!

And just like that, as quickly as it had arrived, we are already bidding farewell to summer of 2020. It felt like only yesterday when I was in New Jersey brainstorming ideas in my sketchbook on ways I can milk this summer for all that it was worth. Despite it being a bit different compared to a quintessential New York summer where days are lined up with glorious summer block parties, hipster Brooklyn concerts and late night food excursions, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, in more ways than one I almost feel as if it was better.

A few memorable highlights that commemorate this truly one-of-a-kind summer include:

Collaboratively filming a lip dub to one of Janet’s classics, “Together Again” with friends quarantined from all around the world

Tidying, redecorating and improving my room to be more functional and still aesthetically pleasing (with help from Muji, Wayfair and TJ Maxx)

Weekly recurring day drinking in Central Park… details a little blurry

Attending a dino-nugg party with all sorts of fun dinosaur shapes from T-Rex, stegosaurus to pterodactyls. Uh, who says eating food can’t be fun?

Dying from an outdoor HIIT workout at McCarren Park in Williamsburg. It took a week for my legs to recover… no joke!

Deep late night conversations fueled by $2.50 pie slices at Martha’s Country Bakery (a place of high sentiment to me – ask me why)

Getting that ‘glazed doughnut sheen’ with coworkers through an intensive Peloton class over Zoom

Venturing far into Murray Hills, Queens for a haircut and eating affordable freshly made kimbap in Kissena Park afterwards

Learning and performing “The Cup Song” featuring Anna Kendrick from Pitch Perfect at a virtual talent show amongst friends

Making delicious dumplings from scratch with other dumpling-minded individuals at my friend’s online cooking workshop

Attempting to embrace my youth by learning a TikTok dance to ‘Yummy’

Day trip to Edison for a low-key day of Topgolfing, ping pong, pool, and 蛋挞 hunting at Kam Man Chinese Supermarket

Finally getting around to editing two separate vlogs of my trips to Spain and India from a few years ago

Spending an extended July 4th weekend in Killington, Vermont for a summer getaway with old and new friends. Not going to lie, still a tad bitter about not being able to get my Belgian waffle from Waffle Cabin.

Rediscovering my balance in this next leg of my journey

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be leaving this Saturday for Taiwan until at least the end of the year. The idea to go back to Taiwan emerged from a casual conversation I had with a friend a few months ago who told me that she decided to go back to spend the summer. I remember feeling an alien feeling of excitement creep up and knew that it was the right move for me.

This will be a great opportunity for me to spend quality time with extended family but also recollect the balance (平衡) that I have lost over the past few months. The tolls of this imbalance has indefinitely stifled my creativity and it has been challenging to say the least to maintain productivity or feel any sort of inward motivation. Maintaining this so-called balance is a crucial part of who I am and I’m hoping to reclaim at least a part of it during my stay over there.

So, what are my plans while I’m there? This trip is unlike any of the other trips I’ve made back it marks the longest period of time I’ve stayed in Taiwan. Aside from still maintaining a work schedule, I hope to finish the second part of a project that I worked on years ago. In the year 2015, I spent an entire month living in Taiwan after graduation taking care of my grandmother and during that time I worked on a personal project called “Taipei: A Reservoir.” This project was a site-specific publication that documented the “remnants” of my mnemonic associations to the country as a child. It was intended to be a two-part project but that second part never came to fruition due to my sudden move to New York. This time around, I hope to revisit and finish what I’ve started!

In addition to what’s mentioned above, I am making a conscious effort to continue my summer goals for this trip. I’ve mostly ever done annual trips that have longest been two weeks at a time, most of which was preoccupied with spending time with extended family. So if anybody out there has friends that are open to grabbing a drink and meeting up, would greatly appreciate the introduction! Also, I can’t wait to practice and finally improve my Mandarin! Excited to share with you all my stories in the motherland 🙂

[202310271]

Facebook 1 - Re: Barb

Because there's nothing there for me to know about. I just know I repeatedly see that I can't get any affection and I just get the result from the teenagers coming up over and over from Generation X.

To move to Europe, different countries, you could need a Bachelor's, maybe find a host family, have money and job experience? I've been liking Europeans, but who wouldn't? Youth today got terribly lazy since I interacted with foreign exchange students late in high school. African Americans don't want to live with American trash/filth in Cleveland, and then I got a lot of hostility back.

...

It's all about girls born around 1984, or 1993, who often are professionals in the field of "Communications," "Public Relations." After that is worthless, unfortunately with examples like Kiera Knightley, Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Zoey Deschanel... born around 1985.

Old men should retire to a life with Spanish Americans from Latin America children today who are messed up as their "parental" generation.

[ianthedisastrous]

I'm gonna be That Bitch™️ and ask for Tian, Mighty, something for Tony in general, & MEDES (because I think I'm funny) k thnx I love you byeeeeee

Mighty

Actually decided on one not on the Mightly playlist.

I'm tellin' you to take your shot, it might be scary

Hearts are gonna break

'Cause we don't have the time to be sorry

So baby, be the life of the party

Together we can just let go

Pretend like there's no one else here that we know

Slow dance, fall in love as the club track plays

We don't care what them people say

There's something about the sheer impossibility to Mighty that I love, the defiance they both have decided to stand by to stay together when, realistically, they were made for very different lives than the ones they've chosen by being together. And with Ren that's obvious because Ren is so deeply defensive of their relationship with Martin but people underestimate just how strong Martin is in all of this. It's harder for him, he's never had the freedom to the degree Ren has; so every point when Martin gets just a little closer to happiness on his own terms amazes Ren.

This song, yes, is a bit more mellow, which is definitely a Martin feel for me, but a lot of Ren too in the insistence that whatever other people think just doesn't matter.

Tian

When I look into your eyes

It's like watching the night sky

Or a beautiful sunrise

Well there's so much they hold

And just like them old stars

I see that you've come so far

To be right where you are

How old is your soul?

Well, I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up

Again the battle was finding one not already on the Tian playlist. But! My boys! My dear, messy boys! They've been through a lot, still have a lot to go through and this entire song just hits that note with me over just how much they've tackled some of their own demons trying to be there for each other. Tony is a fighter, the boy lives by his resolve and has more bravado than brains sometimes and you have to love him for it. But one of my favorite things about Tian is how there's that balance; they argue, they're stubborn, they have rough points but genuinely when it comes down to it they've both been fighting the whole time for each other against the curse, their own mistakes, and the bond between them.

Tony will jump into a fight with little hesitation but when it comes to Tony being backed into a corner or losing his resolve that things will change for the better Ian won't back down either; they're still pretty clumsy in life but they've figured out what's worth fighting for.

Tony

We had plans, we had visions, now I can't see ahead

We were one, we were golden, forever, you said

But I can't be sober, I cannot sleep

You've got your peace now, but what about me?

Thought we had the time, had our lives

Now you'll never get older, older

Didn't say goodbye, now I'm frozen in time

Getting colder, colder

Granted, this is more of a relationship song but honestly it has that whole vibe that is always such an underlying pain with Tony and how time takes people away from him. He just survives and survives through it all and loses parts of himself every time, then just keeps trying to be a part of the world and build those bonds through it all. His resilience is amazing but it hurts me, endlessly, every year and every story of people who moved on without him. To a point we all experience that as we change, lose contact and our lives take different roads, so it's very relatable to me and one of the things about Tony that shows just how haunted he really is under the front he's learned to guard himself with.

Medes

Okay, you win, you beat me on this one. I need more self-important, stuffy owl songs in my favorites, clearly. I have failed. Oh, wait!

There we go! It's a more Medes' at his best with Martin and how Mr. Fluffy Feathers tries to direct and help this disaster of a man song but! Still. And maybe a little of birdbrain getting used to those grand purposes changing and how some things aren't right just because they're expected. Yes, I'm going with this. Plus I had to after the Cael and Medes ones. Ha.

[fyeahjacquelinecarlyle]

[ellatoone7]

Future can wait (Alessia Russo x Reader)

"I would break up with you for Anna Kendrick." It took Alessia a few seconds to process what you just said, you were currently cuddled up to your girlfriend with your head on her shoulder and legs intertwined while watching pitch perfect for the 100th time.

"Huh?”Alessia was dumbfounded at what you said, "What does she have that I don't." You clear your throat playfully, "Where do I start." Alessia snapped her head towards you making you laugh. She gives you a nod to let you know you could continue, "First of all you can't sing." Alessia scoffs before sitting up straighter.

"I saw the sign..."

You stared at her in shock before bursting out into a fit of giggles at your girlfriends off key performance. Alessia pouts before slumping back into the couch. "What else?"

Recovering you cup her face, "Well, she that whole. grunge vibe." Alessia scoffed while crossing her arms, "I'm not dying my hair." You sigh disappointedly, "Yeah, I know." You lean your head back against her shoulder as you focus on your celebrity crush.

"I have known you for years and you haven't mentioned her once." Alessia accuses as she shrugs you off, "Well yeah, cause I know you'd get jealous." Alessia goes to argue but the pointed look you gives her cause her to shut her mouth in defeat.

"Fine, I'd leave you for Zac Efron." You freeze before slowly turning to face your smug girlfriend. "You can't do that he's a boy!" Alessia just shrugs before relaxing back, pleased with herself.

"Don't you have some sort of football thing to go to." Alessia chuckles before slipping an arm around you. "You're funny." A quick kiss to the lips and just like that both of you forgot about the petty little argument.

Alessia felt you shiver against her, " "You cold, Darling?" You nod before sighing, "Your body heat seemed to disappear after you mentioned him.? Alesia laughed loudly before kissing your cheek while getting up.

"I'm gonna take advantage of my couple days off and you some popcorn, you want some?" You pause the movie, "yes, please. Get the blankets." Alessia chuckles while nodding big before she goes you tug her back.

"Hurry back, you're warm." Alessia smiles gently before kissing you softly. You try to occupy yourself as you beat your girlfriend fiddle with the microwave. Looking around your house you smile, you thought it was perfect when you first bought it and you still feel the same way now.

After moving to America to be with Less you both had practically lived together in her dorm. So, it was only logical that you found a house whne you moved back to England. Sure, it was small but it was your home nonetheless.

You had deen Iving tnere Tor 3 years now. Mime ya differed you and Less a place just until you found your bearings which you took gratefully but as much as you loved living with Millie and Ella you knew you and Alessia needed some privacy.

"Babe! I can't figure out what button to press, it's not even...will you get in here and help please!" Your girlfriends plea for help pulls you out of your daydream. "Yeah, yeah! I'm coming Less." As you stand up to go help Alessia you knock over a photo, catching it just in time.

The photo is of you and Alessia after she won the euros. You were both drunk off your heads, you had your arms wrapped around the blonde's neck with her medal around your own as you both gaze at each other with the most love suck expressions.

Ella had snapped the picture mid celebrations and you couldn't be more grateful. In fact your whole house was covered in cute little Polaroids and framed pictures of the two of you from when you were 5 to now. Taking one more look around you smile, proud of the life you and Alessia had made.

Eventually, when you and Less get married and have kids, new pictures will replace the current ones of your ever growing family but that was for the future and as excited as you were for that you could live with more of these lazy days with your favourite person in the whole world.

You decide to go help your girlfriend with the microwave, "I bet Zac Efron wouldn't help you with the microwave." You both fell back into that petty argument with small smile splayed across both your faces.

[greenorangevioletgrass]

can i have the blurb for The Next Ten Minutes plsssss

ask and ye shall receive @tommysparker @thesewordsareallihavetogive! also this is me manifesting myself into the role with andrew garfield playing jamie, thank yew <3

warnings: Last Five Years references, suggestive convo, jealousy (but everyone's an adult abt it), rooster has a moment of realization, andrew garfield is.. andrew garfield, hella fluff

***

Rooster is not a morning person, contrary to what his callsign suggests. He arrived in New York late last night for the opening night of your show and he has all day to sleep off his jet lag —your big day doesn’t start until later in the evening anyway. But the hustle and bustle outside your third-story window is an unfamiliar noise, and the spot next to him in bed is empty. Devoid of the familiarity and scent and warmth that he’s missed terribly this last couple of months. 

There’s just a dent on the sheets in the vague shape of you.

So, with his bleary eyes and face lined with pillow marks, Rooster shuffles out of the bedroom —stumbling on your scattered mess of shoes and package boxes and even a book— only to find you milling around in the kitchen, grabbing mugs from the higher cabinet and… humming sirens to yourself?

“Wow,” he rasps, his head tilted to the side, openly enjoying the view of your dolphin-cut shorts riding up your ass. “What a beautiful morning, am I right?”

“Hey, what are you doing up?”

“Bed’s cold without you.” He pouts, dragging himself closer to you, crowding you with his imposingly tall stature.

“Babe, I’m so stinky and gross from my run,” you groan, halfheartedly avoiding his kisses all over your exposed neck.

“So? I think it’s hot.” He turns you around. His eyes peer down at your cleavage, squeezing your tits over your sports bra playfully.

You roll your eyes, but pull him in anyway. Letting him wipe the sweat off of your forehead and cup your chin for a sweet kiss.

“I’ll make breakfast.”

‘Roo, it’s super early. Just go back to sleep—”

But he waves you off, already rummaging through your fridge like he knows his way around, grabbing eggs and bacon and tomatoes and putting bread in the toaster. Finding an easy rhythm as you prepare your tea with slices of lemon and drops of honey.

And while he should catch up on sleep, he’d much rather spend what little time he has with you. Even when you’re emitting weird noises for your vocal warmups —humming and whining and trilling and moving your tongue around inside your mouth with a serious look about you. It’s cute and kooky and he’s never adored you more in his life.

“Ready for the big day?”

Your dry grimace is enough of an answer, and it makes him chuckle. “I know flying across the country to see me work is hardly an ideal way to spend your leave—”

“What are you talking about? I’m watching my girl in this awesome musical in New York City. It's the best way to spend my leave.”

“But just so you know, this isn’t gonna be anything like Top Gun. It’s not as cool or grand or anything like that,” you warn him, somewhat nervous about what he thinks of this new environment.

He shrugs like it’s no big deal, because it really isn’t. He is genuinely fascinated with seeing you work. Whether it’s juggling cinematography and sustained G-forces on the back of an F-18, or commanding a mostly bare stage with just your voice, your presence. And if the extent of his help only goes as far as receiving flower bouquets delivered to your door while you put on your makeup and sitting in the audience like a good supportive boyfriend… fuck it. He’s having fun either way.

The show opens with a soft melancholic piano. Dots of light twinkle to life onstage, and the spotlight fades in on you. Holding a piece of paper in your hand. Beginning the love story with the ending, a tragedy. Taking turns on the stage with Andrew Garfield, playing the male lead, who lives out the story from the first date. Stories intertwining and timelines crossing, but never quite merging together.

Until it does.

“Will you share your life with me for the next ten minutes?” For the first time in the show, Andrew looks right at you, taking your hands in his, as gentle as he sings. “There are so many lives I want to share with you. I will never be complete… until I do.” He gets down on one knee and presents you with a ring.

And it’s not the proposal scene that makes Rooster’s heart clench; it’s the look on your face. The look of all emotions running amok —love, fear, excitement, panic— with every step forward you take in this crazy relationship. The disclaimer you always give in advance, as if it’d ever drive him away.

“I am not always on time—please don’t expect that from me. I will be late, but if you can just wait, I will make it eventually.” Rooster has never listened to any of the songs —he wanted it to be a surprise— but somehow he knows you’re gonna weigh in the easier option next. “I could protect and preserve. I could say no and goodbye… but why, Jamie, why?”

The music builds, and your hesitation swirls into a swelling  moment of revelation.

“I want to be your wife!” Your singing crescendos, only cut off by a choked sob as Andrew puts the prop ring on your finger. “I want to bear your child!” He kisses your hand, your belly, all over your face, and settles in your arms as you come down, “I want to die knowing I had a long full life, in your arms… that, I can do.”

And as Rooster watches you and Andrew finally come together in the climax of this romantic duet, he realizes two things.

One, he wants all that. The next ten minutes, and the next until it adds up to ten lifetimes with you. You in a beautiful little white dress, telling him ‘I do.’ Whenever the thought crossed his mind, he always buried it deep —you’ve only been officially together for six months. It’s too early to talk about that. But seeing you so happy and unabashedly in love only made up his mind.

Two, as irrational as it may be (and it is unbelievably irrational, because he knows it’s your job. He knows you’re a very good actress, and he knows that Andrew is a decent guy on top of it all), he can’t help the sharp pang of jealousy shooting through his heart. Then again, how could he not? Right now, you’re slow-dancing with another man, stealing kisses and sweet nothings as the music mellows down, stroking Andrew’s cheek the exact same way she would trace the little scars on Rooster’s, and it… hurts.

As much as he tried to shove it deep in the back of his mind, it still bleeds out through the rest of the evening. He’s so proud and happy and confused and insecure, and he spends much of the afterparty on autopilot.

“Hey, you okay, man?” Rooster snaps out of his reverie, realizing he’s been running his hand under the sink for God knows how long. He looks up to find Andrew washing his hands on the sink next to him, smiling tentatively.

“Yeah, just… long day is all.”

The air is thick in this empty men’s room, and both of them are much too perceptive to ignore it. “How do we feel about the show?” He asks, much too careful for it to be just about the performance. Andrew’s checking in on him, Rooster knows that.

“I thought it was really good. You guys were amazing,” Rooster compliments objectively. Evenly. “I just, uh… I’ve never seen Y/N in a romance before.”

And then it clicks for Andrew. He nods solemnly. “It’s a bit weird, isn’t it?”

That’s an understatement, but somehow it makes Rooster smile and loosen up a little. 

“Well. I don’t know how she does it. She just shows up to work ready, and switches on and off like it’s nothing —it’s annoying, really. But, uh…” he pauses thoughtfully, “I don’t think you have anything to worry about with her, Bradley.”

There’s something about the way he says it. Maybe it’s the way he doesn’t invalidate Rooster’s feelings, or your skills and work ethic, or simply the way he saw right through him and addressed him by his name. But for that, Rooster is thankful.

You spot him emerging from a crowd of patrons, waving at him unassumingly, and he breathes a sigh of relief. He strides over and gathers you in his arms in a crushing hug.

“Uh, hi, sweetheart.” You blink at him in surprise. “Is everything okay?”

“I just…” he shrugs sheepishly. “I love you.” he kisses your forehead, “and I trust you,” and again on the tip of your nose, and then down to your lips, “and I’m so, so proud of you.”

You stare at him curiously for a moment, and then it dawns on you. “Is this about me and Andrew? Baby, I can assure you—”

“I know, I know. And we talked it out earlier —he was really cool and sweet about it and…”

“And let me guess, now you’re a bit smitten by him?”

Rooster opens his mouth, ready to say no, but he pauses. Funny enough, he gets how everyone is so easily in love with that guy now. And while he can feel a sliver of insecurity creeping in again, he feels a lot less insecure about the whole situation. Especially seeing how you handle it with your humor.

“Ugh, this is such typical slut behavior of him. Andrew!” the man in question coincidentally walks by, and you swat his arm jokingly. “My boyfriend’s in love with you now. Look what you’ve done!” Andrew simply laughs and raises his glass, and Rooster returns the gesture. Things are gonna be just fine.