#movie: miracle (2004)

[quicksiluers]

found family hockey team...i love you so dearly

[ggswaywardgifrepository]

Just a few gifs from one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies. I saw Miracle 7 times in theaters and bought it the day it came out on DVD.

Michael Mantenuto was a phenomenal talent gone way too soon.

[mellpenscorner]

Mellpen’s Hidden Gems 2023

I watched 36 movies during October, November, and December of 2023, and these are my top picks:

October - Miracle (2004) November - The Ultimate Gift (2006) December - White Christmas (1954)

Part 4 of 5

[arcmonkeys]

hey guys did u know if u catch a movie at the cinema 17.30 u can watch another one after at home? just found out

[schlock-luster-video]

On July 23, 2004, Miracle debuted in Italy.

[autumn-foxfire]

Okay. Just thinking. So, Movie 8 where we get the very amazing scene of them on the rooftop where Shinichi licks his lips when confronted with KID (very, very straight of him). This movie was released on April 2004.

This date is very important. Why?

Because I just realised that Shinichi and Kaito did not have many encounters before this movie was released with this amount of tension between them.

Kaito's appearances up until now have been: His Introduction in the Black Star Heist, The Magic Lovers Murder Case, The Sunset Mansion Case which included a flashback of the actual first encounter that he and Shinichi had. Just a couple of days after the Miracle Midair Walk Heist was released in anime form, the 8th movie was released and checking the release dates, this was released in Manga form in January 2004. If you include the 3rd Movie, which we should as I am discussing movie canon, they have met face to face a total of 5 times (and one time where they didn't know who each other were).

A total of 5 times before this. And they were behaving like this together on a rooftop.

Jesus christ, you could cut the homoerotic tension with a knife.

In conclusion: gay, gay, homosexual, gay.

[mash4077confessions]

[lcdrarry]

LCDrarry 2024 Master List Part 1: Podfic & Art & Fic

Dear lovely Participants, Creators, Alpha and Beta Readers, Cheerleaders, Readers and Fans of this fest,

The 6th installment of LCDrarry has come to an end, and we'd like to thank you all for taking part in this fest, for creating so many amazing new Drarry works for us all to enjoy, for commenting on your favourite creations, for sharing and recommending the LCDrarry gems with and to your friends and blog followers, and for making this fest another amazing experience for everybody!

Fests would not exist without their participants or readers! You're all amazing! And we're so happy that you chose this fest in the vast and wonderful offerings of HP and Drarry events.

You can find out under the cut who created what ;D

~Your LCDrarry Mods Tami (@celilasart) and Suzi (@erin-riwen)

PS: Please have a look at the author notes and tags on AO3 for additional information and more detailed warnings. Thank you! PPS: You can find a link to Part 2 of this Master List under the cut. Enjoy!

Part 2 of this Master List with more lovely fics can be found here.

***

Podfic

***

A Mist That Appears (For a Little Time)

Prompt: “Sweet November,” 2001, Pat O’Connor Written by: dodgerkedavra Narrated by: reveriepi Podfic Length: 02:25:58 Rating: Explicit Warnings: Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Vomiting, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse

Summary: “Give me November, and I’ll teach you to be happy. There’s only one condition. You must swear on your magic that you won’t fall in love with me.” Harry’s so tired. His whole body hurts. If Malfoy can teach him how to be happy, then... “Okay.” Harry is working himself to death. Draco only has November to help him. Falling in love is strictly against the rules.

***

As You Wish

Prompt: "The Princess Bride", 1987, Rob Reiner Written by: Pineau_noir Narrated by: Cailynwrites Podfic Length: 02:31:28 Rating: Teen and up Warnings: None

Summary: Draco was raised on a farm in the small country of Witshire; his favourite pastimes were flying on his broom and tormenting the hired farm boy. Though his name was Harry, Draco never called him that. On Harry's forehead there was a scar shaped like a lightning bolt, so Draco called him Scarhead.

Nothing gave Draco as much pleasure as ordering Harry around.

Or a story about fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, True Love, and miracles.

***

The Pirc Defence

Prompt: "The Queen’s Gambit", 2019, Scott Frank Written by: sleepstxtic Narrated by: sweaters_in_the_summer Podfic Length: 01:05:00 Rating: Explicit Warnings: None

Summary: They were rivals, and they were lovers, and they were the greatest chess players of their generation. Exactly in that order.

***

My Big Fat Weasley Wedding

Prompt: “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, 2002, Joel Zwick Written by: slyth_princess Narrated by: Melcarrianna Podfic Length: 07:17:21 Rating: Mature Warnings: None

Summary: A decade after the war, Harry Potter is lost. There was a time when he knew exactly who he was, where he was going, and what he wanted. He is not that man anymore. Until one day he decides he is done. No more wearing clothes that don't fit, stuck in a job that was meant to be temporary, and simply coasting through his life. He has a plan. And, unsurpisingly, every single Weasley and honourary Weasley seems to have an opinion about it. But it's fine. Harry knows he is doing the right thing.

What he didn't plan for, however, was to find love in the most unexpected place. And with the most unexpected person. Still, it's going to be fine. Like he said, he has a plan. Weasley opinions be damned. He's got it all under control. Doesn't he?

Featuring a million Weasleys, a daft labrador, and a whole bunch of people just trying to figure out their lives.

***

Art

***

Draco's Moving Castle

Prompt: "Howl's Moving Castle", 2004, Hayao Miyazaki Artist: Averily Art Medium: Digital Rating: General Audiences Warnings: None

Summary: Art for LCDrarry2024 fest. Prompt was Howl's Moving Castle.

***

Go the Whole Wide World

Prompt: "Stranger than Fiction", 2006, Marc Forster Artists: julchen_in_red and m4g0rtz Medium: Digital Art Rating: General Audiences Warnings: None

Summary: When government employee Draco Crick was assigned to audit baker Harry Pascal, neither anticipated falling in love, but sometimes the person right next to you is the most welcome surprise.

***

[Art] A Game of Horcruxes

Prompt: "Game of Thrones", 2011, David Benioff Artist: fantalf Art Medium: Digital Art Rating: Teen and Up Warnings: Duelling, Horcruxes, Blood and Injury

Summary: Art Post for "A Game of Horcruxes" written by sleepstxtic.

***

Illustrated Fic

***

[Fic & Art] A Game of Horcruxes

Prompt: "Game of Thrones", 2011, David Benioff Author: sleepstxtic Word Count: 118,635 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Brief Descriptions of Injury, Racism, Classism

Summary: It has been centuries since an attack on the castle of a royal scion. Centuries, until now.

The Realm of Hogwarts is ruled by eight noble Slytherin families, aided by their Gryffindor armies. Each kingdom possesses a Horcrux—the most precious source of magic to the throne. But when the Kingdom of Malfoy finds their Horcrux stolen, Prince Draco must break all protocol and enlist the help of a commoner, Harry, to find what's missing. All the while, an evil beyond the horizon stirs, Dementor attacks are increasing, and civil unrest is burning across the land. Can Draco and Harry recover the Horcrux and save the realm? And will they be able to resist their growing attraction to each other in the meantime?

***

A Ferret, a ScarHead, a Weasel, and a Baby

Prompt: "Three Men and a Baby", 1987, Leonard Nimoy & "Taken", 2008, Pierre Morel Author: trishjames Word Count: 91,420 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Angst, Anxiety, Epic Fight Scene(s), Canon-Typical Violence, Hand-to-Hand Combat, Blood, Muggle Weapons, References to Past Child Abuse, Abduction, Injuries

Summary: They say becoming a parent is an unparalleled, priceless joy. Draco Malfoy finds himself putting that theory to the test when the star witness in his dangerous illegal potions case entrusts him with a powerful wish: protect her newborn baby at all costs. Now, it's up to Draco to fulfill that wish despite the looming threat of criminals hunting for the child. To think, just the day before, he was fretting over his inappropriate feelings for his annoying, bespectacled git of a housemate—not the mechanics of changing nappies!

Thank Merlin it takes a village to raise a sack of flour, ah, child.

***

Fic

***

White, Blonde & British

Prompt: “Red, White & Royal Blue”, 2023, Matthew Lopez Author: SortofShea Word Count: 40,058 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Mentions of death, drug and alcohol use and abuse, homophobia, racism, discrimination

Summary: Prince Draco Malfoy is known all over the world as “The Modern Day Prince Charming”, ask anyone - well, anyone except for Harry Potter, first son of the Indian president and (self) sworn rival of said stuck-up, snobbish prince.

***

drag the past out into the light

Prompt: "Se7en", 1995, David Fincher Author: ChaosBitch Word Count: 20,796 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Summary: There's a serial killer stalking magical London. The murders are gruesome, bizarre, and somehow connected to the Voldemort wars. Auror Harry Potter is paired up with an analyst from the Department of Mysteries to piece together the clues in the killer's unsettling game before they kill again.

The good news? This analyst is the best one on offer. The bad news? It's Draco Malfoy.

***

the beating of our hearts (is the only sound)

Prompt: "Pacific Rim", 2013, Guillermo del Toro Author: Pineau_noir Word Count: 12,675 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: canon (Pacific Rim) creature grossness

Summary: Do you want awesome, kickass fights between giant robots and aliens??!?!?

Go watch Pacific Rim.

This is a story about two flawed men who fall in love during an apocalypse.

***

Draco Malfoy's New Guide to Old-Fashioned Dating

Prompt: "How to Lose a Guy in 10 days", 2003, Donald Petrie Author: caliowl Word Count: 52,377 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: Non-Consensual Drug Use

Summary: When Harry's job as an auror is threatened by his perceived negative attitude towards Death Eaters, he makes a desperate gamble with his boss to save it. Bring a Death Eater as his plus-one to the company holiday party. Unfortunately for him, there's only one person he can think of to ask...

Meanwhile, in order to save his best friend Pansy Parkinson from a terrible social fate, Draco Malfoy makes a bet with Pansy's mother. He believes that old-fashioned, traditional courting methods are the best way to repel, not attract, a potential suitor. Now, if only he can find a wizard who has no clue about those methods...

***

Black Sheep

Prompt: "Shaun the Sheep", 2007-2020 Author: shushu_yaoi_lj Word Count: 10,808 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: smut, dirty talk, praise kink, soft d/s dynamics, begging

Summary: “You know, Potter, maybe all you need to win is a little—incentive, let’s say.” “An incentive?” Harry asks, his interest piqued. He takes a step closer to the fence, and then another one, until he’s standing so close that he can smell the intoxicating scent of Malfoy’s expensive cologne. “Shall we say that if you win, you can have whatever your heart desires?” Malfoy replies with a smile. “Anything.”

***

Jackknife To The Heart

Prompt: "Mad Max: Furiosa", 2024, George Miller Author: sleepstxtic Word Count: 11,723 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Gunfights

Summary: Draco licked his lips, slow and sensual. He climbed over Harry’s lap and slid down onto his knees. “Keep making love to me, darling,” he said, gazing up at Harry, something starry in his eyes; and then he pulled down Harry’s pants and took his cock in his mouth.

Harry sucked in a breath, threw the shifter into gear, and drove.

***

First Impressions

Prompt: "Pride and Prejudice", 2005, Joe Wright Author: ActuallyMoon Word Count: 87,934 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Period-typical racism and colourism (only present in one chapter), A/B/O dynamics, Dubious Consent, Classism, Smut, Mpreg

Summary: At the Shacklebolts' ball, Ginny found herself irrevocably smitten at first sight with Ms Pansy Parkinson. Meanwhile, her brother, Harry Potter, became the unfortunate target of biting remarks from Parkinson's haughty and aloof best friend, Mr Draco Malfoy. Harry's disdain for Mr Malfoy grew, fuelled by the latter's evident arrogance. Amidst this burgeoning animosity, Ms Romilda Vane began to spread malicious rumours regarding Malfoy, further tarnishing his reputation. Yet, the true nature of his character was far from what these tales suggested. Could Draco overcome his pride and Harry his prejudice, allowing love to blossom between them despite the odds?

***

Obscuro

Prompt: "Love is Blind", 2020 Author: stratigraphy Word Count: 35,227 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: None

Summary: Draco is grieving. His conversation partner is here against his will. It's a shameless rip-off of an insipid Muggle reality dating show. Hardly the occasion for true love, if you ask Draco. feat. a cat named Marmalade, a bird named Mumble, Lee Jordan's answer to Love is Blind, and two best friends who only want their dads to be happy.

***

Eternalism is a Never Ending Day

Prompt: "Russian Doll", 2019 Author: JK_Terfling_Can_Suck_My_Silicone_Dick Word Count: 25,970 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: Temporary Suicide, Temporary MCD, implied/referenced Depression

Summary: Malfoy has been reliving the same day for longer than he can keep track of now, and has just assumed that he was dead in the real world, which was fine to him. It isn't until the time loop stops doing what he expects that it occurs to him that maybe there's something else going on.

***

Part 2 of this Master List with more lovely fics can be found here.

As always, reblogs here on tumblr are very much appreciated to share all the wonderful works of LCDrarry with more people. But of course, please also shower our creators with comments and kudos on AO3 ;D Thank you! Read you next year ;)

[yesterdayandtodayy]

The Dead Poets favorite Christmas movies (inspired by the cute post @everythingisawayoflife made of the Poets favorite films):

Knox Overstreet-

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)- He especially would love the beginning, when Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed are young and in love (“I’ll lasso the moon for you” is SO Knox coded, oh my stars)

Love Actually (2003)

Home Alone (1994)

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

Charlie Dalton-

Jingle All the Way (1996)- you cannot tell me this man wouldn’t love Arnold Schwartzzenager as the every day family man trying to hunt down a turboman doll. He would be going around doing his best Arnie impression for days

Christmas Vacation (1989)

Die Hard (1988)

Gremlins (1984)

Neil Perry-

White Christmas (1954)- a Christmas musical? sign this man UP

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

The Holdovers (2023)

Elf (2003)

Todd Anderson-

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

A Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Little Women (1994)

Gerard Pitts-

Scrooged (1988)

Batman Returns (1992)

Also Die Hard (1988)

Bad Santa (2003)

Steven Meeks-

A Christmas Story (1983)

Polar Express (2004)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

The Snowman (1982)

Richard Cameron-

Klaus (2019)

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

The Shop Around the Corner (1939)

Frosty the Snowman (1969)

[haveyouseenthishorrormovie]

SUMMARY: Plagued by the thought that her shallow and unfaithful executive husband is leaving her because of her advancing age, former TV star Mrs. Li visits Mei, who now makes "miracle" dumplings for women looking to regain their youth. The key ingredient, however, might be more than Mrs. Li can handle.

[quicksiluers]

all these screenshots of jimmy were necessary

[pappydaddy]

pesky hair (j.m.)

a/n: this title sucks, i am sorry, i had nothing! reminder! i am testing out a new format, idk if i like it yet

tv show/movie: outer banks | pairing: jj maybank x fem!reader

requested by a lovely anon as part of my 800 follower celebration

synopsis: jj recounts the most memorable times he did something about y/n's pesky hair

taglist: @luvhann | @thelakespoets  | @lonely-simp | @smarie7543 | @tenaciousperfectionunknown | @k-k0129 | @maybankslover | @taurusvic | @moralina | @verystarfishflower | @4dr1ana | @adr1ana | @instabull | @poppet05 | @rottenstyx | @boxofsilentwords | @popeheywardssecretgf | @lexi-2004 | @i-always-come-back-xoxo | @rootbeerfaygo | @444lyra | @savagemickey03 *line through your user means i could not tag you lovelies!

warnings: fluff | fluff | fluff | descriptive appearance (tried to be as vague as possible)

navigation | masterlist | taglist sign-up

____

  Y/N had a love-hate relationship with her hair. Cute cut that’s low maintenance to style - love! Being able to let her hair air dry after a long day of swimming - love! The very, very infrequent bed head monstrosity - love! When her hair just won’t go up in a claw clip properly - hate. When her bangs wouldn’t dry right so now she’s stuck with weirdly shaped bangs - hate. The times when she can’t wash her hair on the proper hair wash day and her hair starts to morph into little mats and tangles - hate. Those little strands of hair that just keep falling out of place and getting into her face - triple, no, quadruple; no, infinitely hate. Actually, she loathes it and it makes her want to chop off all the hair on her head despite the fact that she absolutely adores it. She was truly blessed with great hair - a miracle many people envied.

  JJ has learned this throughout their long friendship turned romantic relationship. He actually learned this way back in middle school when he noticed her starting to wear headbands all the time. Of course, he had to figure out why she kept pushing her hair back when he knew she loved her hair. Now he realises that the reason he knew she loved her hair and noticed she was suddenly really into headbands was because he was head over heels for the girl who lived beside his best friend. 

  Since the day he learned it bugged her, he had dreamed of taking the hair and brushing it behind her ear while she talked (so enthralled in her conversation) like he sometimes saw her do. While they were close in their friendship, there was a level of intimacy to the action that crossed the “just friendly” boundary and JJ would shit himself if he knew she knew how he felt for her. Because how would someone like her ever love someone such as JJ Maybank? 

  The first time JJ actually did it was completely involuntary. Autonomic if you will. It was a few months into their relationship. It was all flushed faces, shy glances across the room as they hung out with the other Pogues, and awkward touches until they fit together like perfectly matched puzzle pieces. They were alone outside of John B’s. The rest of the Pogues having retired into the house for the night. 

  The only light coming from the moon, the stars, the dim fire in front of them, and the fireflies dancing around the air. Y/N was talking about her favourite show, talking fast and adamantly about the theories, how things connect to each other, and her opinions on everything. JJ had to be honest, he was not retaining any of it. He was too captivated by how pretty she looked right then and there. With the excitement in her eyes, the way her hands flew through the air as she explained everything. The way she would cut herself off as she was explaining one thing and start explaining another thing because she suddenly remembered it. And then he saw it. The slight, aggressive flick of her head trying to get that annoying stand of hair out of her face and the daydreams started. 

  He tried to ignore them as he started to try to take in some of the information she was giving him, but he could see the frustration start to build in her as she resorted to blowing at the hair in between words. At first, he thought he had imagined reaching out, his fingers lightly brushing against her cheek as he gingerly tucked the strand behind her ear. He had assumed he had imagined it because that has been what he’s done for the past six years. But the way her rant was suddenly cut off by her own shock made him realise that he did not imagine it. 

  Instantly, his own face dropped, his heart dropping to his ass along with it. A raging blush overcame both their faces as they stared at each other, wide eyed and completely short-circuiting. But soon, once the shock wore off and the sparks beneath their skin from where they touched subsided, they fell back into place - this time much closer (physically and emotionally). 

____

  The second time was smoother if you asked JJ. This was almost a year into their relationship. Intimacy was at an all time high. Butterflies still swirled in the stomach, but the awkward phase had released its grasp on them. Blushes still adorned their cheeks and the L-word was on the tips of their tongues. 

  It was midsomers, she was invited by Sarah and Kie invited Cleo while the boys found work at the party. It was supposed to be a girls night, but JJ convinced the boys to find jobs “just in case those Kooks try to pull a fast one on our girls” he had claimed. They already knew that he just wanted to see Y/N all pretty in her dress under the dim lighting of the outdoor festivities. 

  JJ’s shift as bar back had ended since he set up the bar meaning the second bar back was tasked with cleaning it up. For the most part, the party was over, but Y/N still sat at one of the tables. Moonlight and fairy lights illuminating her as she sipped at what was left of her wine. “This seat taken?” He had asked flirtatiously, earning a tipsy giggle from her. 

  “Well, I was hoping my boyfriend would be along soon, but I guess it’s free.” She waved a dismissive hand at the chair with a smothered giggle slipping past her lipstick-covered lips. 

  JJ pulled the seat out from the table, scooting it impossibly close to Y/N’s before sitting in it, happy to finally get off his feet. They were throbbing in the damn dress shoes and his suit was too tight and constricting, but being able to see her having fun tonight and dancing was all worth it. “That boyfriend of yours must be awfully lucky to manage to have a girl like you like him.” 

  She hummed in fake thought. “Actually, I think I’m the lucky one,” She admitted, leaning towards him. Getting the hint, JJ also leaned in, pressing a kiss to her lips sweetly. She hummed against his lips, melting against him the best she could in two separate chairs. “I am so tired.” She declared. 

  “I’d say,” JJ snorted endearingly. “I think you and Sarah spent most of the night dancing and consumed a half a bottle of champagne each.” He recounted the night. Luckily, he kept track of how much they were drinking so he knew what type of tipsy he was dealing with. 

  “We had fun, shut up.” She pouted, tipsily hitting his chest in fake hurt. His chest shook under her hand as he laughed at her. Looking at her, smudged and faded lipstick mostly staying on her lips, her eyes heavy but so bright and wide at the sametime. Her voice was light but slightly louder than normal. But what got JJ was her hair. Once perfectly styled into some complicated half-up half-down updo with “face framing” (whatever that meant, JJ had no idea but he loved it), now the curls had mostly fallen out and instead of a few strands of hair in her face, most of her hair was loose. 

  Watching her nose twitch as her pesky stranglers that slipped out of her updo tickled her cheek, he reached his hand up, fingers lightly brushing against her warm cheekbone (from the alcohol induced flush). Enjoying the feeling of her soft skin under his fingertips for a moment, he continued to tuck the annoying hair behind her ear. Her glossy eyes looked up into his, swimming with affection. “I know you did, Bub. Let’s get you to bed so you can rest from you fun night.” 

____ 

  The third time was by far JJ’s favourite. She was sitting there in front of him in the darkened room, candles surrounding them, illuminating them and the room in a dim glow. Both of them were tired but buzzing at the same time. In the candle light, he could see the white gown she wore, a figure of beauty. The centre of attention for the whole day not just because she was the bride. 

  “What do you say, Mr. Maybank,” She whispered, her eyes dancing with mischief. JJ didn’t say anything, knowing she had more to say. Instead, he just looked at her with nothing but admiration and love within his blue eyes. Her makeup was worn off for the most part, mascara flaked, lipstick rubbed off (mostly by his own lips), and her foundation slightly caked from all the celebrations at the reception. “Feel any different?” She asked with a lift of her eyebrow, a smile tugging at one corner of her lips. 

  His own smile took over as he lifted his hand. Her eyes fluttered closed, already anticipating his touch, leaning her cheek closer to his hand to meet him. She let out a little content sigh when she felt his fingertips brush her cheekbone, tucking the hair behind her ear before settling along her jawline. Warmth filled her heart, so overwhelming that she nuzzled her cheek further into his hand, trying to express how much she loved it. 

  “Even more in love with you, Mrs. Maybank.” He whispered, leaning towards her face until his lips met hers in a sweet, passionate, and long kiss. One that made Y/N’s inner school girl giggle and kick her feet in the air as if she were reading one of her cheesy teen romance novels that she loved so much back then.

[refrigeratorsong]

watched (almost) 200 movies in 2024. these were my favorites, in order of when i watched them.

some quick thoughts about each film down below-

Haru (1996): a beautiful, slow-burn romance that has the most positive outlook that i've ever seen on the window that is the internet. has made the ^_^ emoticon into something that makes me very emotional every time i see it.

La Cienaga (2001): examining a culture of bourgeois colonizers, as the corpse of a system they continue to puppet festers and rots around them. a sweaty and miserable film that i wasn't sure about until the credits hit, but once the swamp water sunk into my clothes and skin, i was devastated.

Mysterious Skin (2004): one of the best movies i've ever seen but also one i could never recommend to anyone. Gregg Araki is always so good at synthesizing queer rage and sadness into something poignant, and this one might be his most emotionally devastating. i had to take a shower afterwards. don't watch it, watch The Living End, or maybe Nowhere instead.

Poor Things (2023): i figured that i'd love this one going in but i couldn't imagine that i'd love it THAT much. this is a special one. the Yorgos for everybody. there's plenty to say about its politics and maybe even some stuff we should be critical of, but i think i love it most because of how much it begs the viewer to make conversation - with other viewers, and with the film itself. and, i haven't seen weirdo cgi skies that wondrous since Speed fucking Racer.

Fucking Amal [or Show Me Love, if you're boring] (1998): the very best lesbian coming of age story i have ever seen. no competition. this one filled my heart with so much love. the fact that it was directed by a cis straight man is mind boggling.

Air Doll (2009): look, i have too much to say about Air Doll. a back of the box synopsis is, a blow up sex doll comes to life and experiences the joys and pains of being a human. that feels so shallow, though. there's so much going on in there about gender, objectification, consumerism, loneliness, life and death and so on. if you watch a single movie from this list, make it this one. i cried through the entire fucking thing.

Love Lies Bleeding (2024): the kinda movie that makes you point at the screen every five minutes and yell 'HELL YEAH'. this is a queer romance on steroids, literally. it's as messy as the relationship it portrays but is better for it. there's so much here about how difficult it is to shed our blood-spattered upbringing, and does it all in the sexiest, gayest way possible. i want to be Kristen Stewart and i want Katy O'Brian to carry me off into the sunset in her big beautiful arms.

The People's Joker (2022): that this movie exists at all is a miracle in itself. Vera Drew, trans clown of crime, is a genius. how this managed to be everything that it is (a parody of comic book movies, a take down of comedian culture, an absurdist collage of every kind of artform, a heartfelt and sincere trans coming of age film) is beyond me. this is true communal filmmaking. the trans new wave is here and i don't believe it is going anywhere any time soon.

Trust (1990): if i had seen this in high school it would have been my favorite movie of all time. as is, seeing it in my 30s, it's still pretty high up there. dripping with early 90s apathy and angst, with dialogue that has a sense of musicality to its cadence. honestly, Trust reminds me a bit of Fooly Cooly in its writing.

Peep "TV" Show (2004): another film that i could never recommend. this is the closest a film has gotten to what it felt like to be in the dark corners of the internet in the 2000s. true freak cinema, a slimy, trashy, 4chan-ass movie, but i mean that as a compliment. i don't know how else to describe it, but i felt it in my bones.

I Saw the TV Glow (2024): i've watched this film five times this year. i still don't know how to write about it. there's plenty to analyze, but this is, mostly, a visceral experience. never have i seen myself so clearly on a movie screen before. you can always become something new. it hurts a lot, but the alternative is to die for the rest of your life.

Where is the Friends House? (1987): a gentle, tiny film about childhood. this is the kind of story that reminds me why movies are made, the empathy machine all gassed up and chugging along at full power. the ending is so, so, so sweet and you know i cried really hard.

Kamikaze Girls (2004): as funny as it is moving, with a completely unique personality that shines so bright. this is a manic, heartfelt masterpiece about identity, and a movie that anyone can love. and, not explicitly, but this movie is totally gay and you cannot take that away from me.

Woman in the Dunes (1964): i put this one off for a good while due to its longer runtime, but it fucking flew by when i finally put it on. one of the best critiques of work and hierarchy, through clear but complex analogies that build upon each other throughout. a true classic.

What Time is it There? (2001): i've seen a decent number of Tsai Ming-liang's films, and this is my favorite. ultra slow cinema, full of piss and loneliness and clocks and a ghost and a big weird fish. the exploration of boundaries is so deeply inspiring. time is a border, distance is a border, money and capitalism and work are borders, the body is a border that we will someday all cross.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969): completely heart rending. this is a movie about a dance marathon that lasts over a month, and there's a scene where one of the characters stretches his body as high as he can to catch the tiniest sliver of sunlight, and as it moves slowly out of reach his expression falls to pure exhausted defeat. and yeah, that's pretty much what it's like.

The Black Tower (1987): an incredible short film that plays with editing in fascinating ways. there can be many reads with this one, most obviously on depression, but there's also something here about the objects or structures that are most often within our view. what we see through a window can shape how we view the entire world, it can shape our emotions. it reminds me of an interview with Phil Elverum about his project's name change to Mount Eerie, saying something along the lines of 'everyone has that landmark that anchors them to where they live', and to him it was that mountain. to the narrator of the Black Tower, that landmark wants to swallow him whole.

Red Rooms (2023): this movie ruined my goddamn day. i've never been so stressed out while watching a film. this is another evil internet movie, and it made me feel very unpleasant. i never would have thought a series of google searches would have frightened me like that. Red Rooms understands the horror of modern tech, and manages to completely deconstruct the most disgusting aspects of true crime enthusiasts.

Knife + Heart (2018): full of joy and rage in equal amounts. follows a gay porn director and her actors, as a giallo-esque slasher haunts their studio. plays with giallo tropes, especially the othering of queerness, and transcends them in fascinating ways, eventually finding its way into a vibe entirely its own.

Janet Planet (2024): a gentle and slow slice of a very specific childhood, which somehow is exactly my wife's childhood, though i relate to the broader strokes as well. this one sneaks up on you, quietly, thoughtfully. "what are we saying when we talk about mothers?"

[youryurigoddess]

Case study and analysis of the 1992 Good Omens movie screenplay (“the shitscript”) in light of the ongoing WGA strike

As one could suspect, the topic of the 1992 Good Omens movie screenplay and its infamy has recently emerged from the depths of the fandom. In light of the ongoing WGA strike it’d be good to properly address this issue, starting with Neil Gaiman’s own recollection written in 2004:

It’s basically the same old story — of brilliant creative workers struggling under the pressure of detached studio executives and being legally forced to mutilate their work again and again for no artistic or economic reason — we’ve heard before in many different contexts.

If you’re reading this and somehow still wondering why writers are fighting for their rights at the moment, their job security hasn’t changed much since then. Please follow the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, and other unions’ official channels for detailed information and ways to help the cause.

Anyway, it took over a decade and an enormous effort to print the screenplay in a limited edition of 552 copies. It can’t be distributed otherwise due to IP law, but some fans shared its fragments online and heavily criticized them, dubbing the 1992 source material #shitscript

There’s been obviously a lot of controversies over the changes in the plot and the relationship between the main characters. And rightfully so — the number of iterations has created something very different from the beloved book and the award-winning show we can all enjoy today.

It’s… objectively not good. Wouldn’t be considered a hit back then and certainly not by today’s standards. I don’t think I would watch it in any other way than through channel surfing. However, it’s not a monstrosity some people believe it to be and not a case of low effort.

Let’s start with the world building: the setting wasn’t changed to the US. It’s still very much based in the UK, mostly London and Tadfield, although the latter lies now by the sea and seems much more ominous. Interestingly, the British Museum becomes a prominent location as well.

The main character and the designated hero is not surprisingly Crowley, this time in his 90s anti-hero glory. If you haven’t watched many movies of this era, esp. dark fantasy, this trope involves middle-age disenchantment, cynicism, as well as hefty doses of sarcasm and brooding.

90s anti-heroes are a dark, grim, and unnecessarily violent embodiment of power fantasy, matching the destructive ideology of that time. Combined with uber-masculinity and performative strength over weaker characters, nowadays they naturally evoke more cringe or worry than awe.

1992 iteration of Crowley is basically in his Furfur era. Deeply unhappy and stuck in a dead end job, all he talks about is how he hates Earth and his assignment here, considering a transfer to Alpha Centauri as his one and only possibility of career advancement. Or life, really.

The talking part is important here, because he clearly compensates by insulting everything and everyone. He hates on the whole planet at length only to confess that he’d rather stay here with Aziraphale due to “no good restaurants”, “no decent bottle of wine” in Alpha Centauri.

Yes, he’s verbally abusive in his automatic response to stress. But doesn’t hate Aziraphale. In one particular scene he calls Azi stupid twice only to assure him that they are friends and to offer to solve the problem when he sees that his words were taken seriously and hurt him.

Crowley refers to him as “my angel” and “my dear Aziraphale”, agrees to Aziraphale’s suggestion of sharing a room, praises the angel as a “miracle worker around the home”, drinks the tea he makes for him, and generally proves to be much softer towards him than he wants to admit.

Aziraphale, on the contrary, wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s the one engineering ways to spend more time together, following Crowley around, checking up on him (including miracling himself into his apartment and office when no one answers the door), offering help right away.

He’s successfully calming Crowley down through his anxiety attacks, overcomes his dislike of heights (!) for Crowley, directly challenges him and even breaks rules only to make Crowley stay with him. Crowley seems to be his main motivation in this movie, not the saving the world.

1992 Aziraphale also has the most badass scene in the whole Good Omens multiverse to date, taking a 180 degree turn from the typical guardian angel we all know and love to the real angel of wrath protecting Crowley from harm in his true form.

But there’s no Their Side in this universe. The only semblance of that concept appears in the context of Anathema not representing either of their respective bosses, but humanity. “That’s the trouble with the humans. They’re on their own side.”

This Crowley appears not as much on Hell’s side as under Satan’s heel. He’s scared of him and subservient, and needs Aziraphale to prevent his escape as a pretext to do what is right. He lets the angel stop him by pretending that he doesn’t even see him cheating during their duel.

By finally standing up to his toxic boss (Satan is like Gabriel during the body-swapped trial, suave and cruel) and leaving Hell’s side to do good, Crowley takes an emancipated and employee-focused stance instead of fighting for his relationship with Aziraphale like shown in S1.

Which is a shame, but matches the overall tone of the screenplay and the times it was written in. The concept of free will, while simplified in a true Hollywood-style to issues like mind control and fear, is still crucial to this interpretation of the Good Omens original plot.

Especially the character of Anathema is seen fighting both of these things. There’s no Agnes Nutter with her prophecies here, only a 21-year-old witch and her will to thwart the ultimate evil versus her fear of doing it at a cost of one boy’s life, versus Satan’s brainwashing.

Madame Tracy appears slightly redesigned as a new character as well, but isn’t 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 for the most part. She’s been enjoying her youth way too much to see how fast it was fleeting, and this sudden realization left her in shock from which she denies to come back.

Unfortunately she’s also the one who took in baby Adam and now stays under his care. The level of his parentification is unnerving, much like his bullying and loneliness. He struggles to be loved and ask for love, which becomes his main quest beyond, y’know, the apocalypse thing.

Don’t worry, despite everything all ends well just like in the book. The family of two gets a chance to start again on much healthier terms and Anathema to live for herself for the first time in years. Our heroes get back in their car, Crowley tempting Aziraphale with an apple.

All in all, this whole post is a very long reminder for Amazon Prime to #PayYourWriters, #PayYourActors, and #RenewGoodOmens! The strike is still ongoing and crucial for any new content for this and many other fandoms #GiveMeS3orGiveMeDeath

[schlock-luster-video]

On July 22, 2004, Miracle debuted in Germany.

[moviehealthcommunity]

This pinned post contains every movie we have determined to be safe for photosensitive audiences! This will be updated as new titles enter and leave theaters. This is NOT medical advice. These are just titles to which we have given flashing lights scores of 0 or 1 out of 10.

*=currently in theaters

The 40-Year-Old Virgin 80 for Brady Abominable American Fiction Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret Away From Her A Bad Moms Christmas The Ballad of Buster Scruggs The Beguiled The Big Sick The Bikeriders Billy Madison Book Club: The Next Chapter The Breakfast Club Casablanca Challengers Cheaper by the Dozen (2022) The Christmas Chronicles A Christmas Story Christmas Christopher Robin Cinderella (2015) Clerks Cocaine Bear Coco Coming to America Crazy Rich Asians Crimson Peak Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Cyrano Daddy's Home Daddy's Home 2 Dear Evan Hansen Dirty Dancing Dogma Dolores Claiborne Downhill Downton Abbey Drive My Car Eight Crazy Nights Eileen Elemental Elf Enemy Ever After: A Cinderella Story Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile The Fighting Preacher Five Feet Apart Gladiator Going in Style The Goldfinch Good Will Hunting Green Book Heretic The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug The Hurt Locker The Hustle I Don't Know How She Does It The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild IF In Bruges Instant Family Interview with the Vampire It Ends with Us It's a Wonderful Life Jojo Rabbit Kimi Knives Out Last Christmas The Laundromat Little Women (2019) Lizzie Logan Lucky The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Luca Lying and Stealing Ma Rainey's Black Bottom A Madea Christmas Madea's Family Reunion Madea's Witness Protection Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Mallrats A Man Called Otto The Many Saints of Newark Marriage Story Mary Poppins Returns Mary Queen of Scots Mean Girls (2004) The Menu Miracle of 34th Street (1994) Misery Monty Python's Life of Brian Mrs. Doubtfire The Muppet Christmas Carol Muppet Treasure Island Murder Mystery Next Goal Wins Night at the Museum Office Space On the Basis of Sex Origin Pan's Labyrinth Past Lives The Perfection The Polar Express The Power of the Dog A Prayer Before Dawn Psycho (1960) Psycho (1998) Pulp Fiction The Report The Rhythm Section Rise of the Planet of the Apes Roma The Room Rudy The Santa Clause The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause Sasquatch Sunset Seven Psychopaths The Shallows Shanghai Noon Shaun the Sheep Movie The Shining Shrek the Third Smokey and the Bandit Son In Law Spencer The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) Three Thousand Years of Longing Ticket to Paradise Uncut Gems United 93 West Side Story (1961) The Whale Windfall The Wizard of Oz Women Talking Won't You Be My Neighbor? Worth Zombieland: Double Tap The Zone of Interest