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demitgibbs · 6 years ago

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Kyle MacLachlan Talks New Gay Dad Role, Reaching LGBTQ Youth

In Giant Little Ones, actor Kyle MacLachlan plays a gay divorced dad named Ray Winter parenting a distant teenage son, Franky (Josh Wiggins), who’s grappling with his own sexual identity. I repeat: Kyle MacLachlan, a gay dad. The 60-year-old actor’s range knows absolutely no bounds, inhabiting diversified worlds and traversing genre, from comedy to drama, from soapy to supernatural.

MacLachlan’s first major role was in David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation of Dune (soon, Call Me By Your Name actor Timothée Chalamet will be slipping into MacLachlan’s stillsuit for the forthcoming remake) and two years later, in 1986, he collaborated with the screen auteur again on Blue Velvet, starring alongside Isabella Rossellini. But it was Lynch’s early-’90s cult TV series Twin Peaks that arguably made MacLachlan a marquee name (in 2017, he reprised his role as Agent Cooper in Twin Peaks: The Return).

In his three decades in TV and film and on stage, MacLachlan has played a city official based on first big-city openly gay Mayor Sam Adams, Fred Flintstone’s boss, the guy who fucks Nomi Malone in a swimming pool, Riley’s dad in Inside Out, Charlotte’s husband on Sex and the City, Bree Van de Kamp’s husband on Desperate Housewives, and because why the hell not: Cary Grant’s ghost. Starring in writer-director Keith Behrman’s Giant Little Ones as Helpful Gay Dad was really just an inevitably, but for MacLachlan, Ray is a warm hug of a role he deeply feels is important. One that, as a parent himself, even hits close to home.

Here, the actor talks about raising his son, Callum, much like Ray Winter does, gay fans who slip into his DMs and bears who love his rosé.

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You’ve played dads before. But what about Ray spoke to you differently?

He had a journey in this as well, which I liked. It was really about the connection with his son, and at that age it’s very difficult and made even more challenging by the fact that the parents are separated. Under the circumstances, Franky just doesn’t know what to think or what to say, and I like that (Ray) really hung in there. I think in the original draft he was maybe a little more demanding, and so we kind of softened that a little bit. There are still those issues, but it was really important to me to feel like Ray was there and he wasn’t gonna go anywhere and to remain as non-judgmental as possible.

His presence is always felt, but he’s able to give his kid space at the same time. I appreciated that he tells his son to focus on who you’re drawn to and not what to call it, essentially letting him know that sexuality is a spectrum. How did that resonate with you?

That was a really nice piece of writing on Keith’s part, I thought. Again, trying not to judge. Especially at that age, I remember for myself just kind of trying to find where you fit in, what you’re good at, what you’re not good at, who’s your group. There’s lots and lots of questions and insecurities that are masked by a false sense of identity or control or “I don’t want to hear what you say, I’ve got it figured out myself.” The idea of just being present, it’s the way I approach the relationship with my son, the not judging. I’m not going at it trying to make him into something he doesn’t want to be.

You were the stepfather of a gay son, Andrew Van de Kamp, on Desperate Housewive. Who does the better job parenting a queer kid: Orson Hodge or Ray Winter?

(Laughs) Orson, bless his heart. You know, he had good intentions, and there was an understanding there at attempting to connect. I don’t think Orson was ever comfortable in that role. I think Ray is more conscious and he’s a champion, in some ways, for anyone who’s being judged. In this particular case, it’s “hang on a second.” He’s sort of about turning the page: “Let’s look at this and what’s really happening here.” I liked that. And he does it with an inner strength and a firmness, but it’s not without a wry sense of humor, and that I liked about him too.

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When were your eyes first opened to having an LGBTQ following?

I think it was probably with Blue Velvet, I guess. Thematically it expected so much of the audience and it told a story that was so unusual and so true. That sort of started it, but I think with the advent of social media, suddenly it’s really obvious and present. And it’s great.

How has it become obvious through social media?

Just through comments, and its fun to read and great to feel the support. And then because so much of it is built around David Lynch, there’s a real shorthand just in terms of terminology and phrases, and because of David’s visuals and his images and his dialogue, of course.

I have a friend who says Blue Velvet was responsible for his sexual awakening. Is that what gay fans tell you on Twitter?

(Laughs) Maybe not quite so personal! But you know, that’s film. Film is all about experiencing something and having your eyes opened, and I think that film in particular was about that; the exploration of it and the themes of it were so interesting, and they hadn’t really been dealt with that much.

What kind of attention did Showgirls get you from the LGBTQ community?

(Laughs) I don’t think it found its camp niche until a little bit later. It had to go through the “Oh my god, this is perhaps one of the worst films ever made” reaction and then people sort of said, “I think it was, in a way, a guilty pleasure.” Then that began to grow, and there’s a true hardcore following of it and that’s really fun. I’ve never said, “Oh yeah, in fact, actually, that was the intention,” or, “Oh yeah, it’s a great film” – it’s not a great film. But it succeeds at a level that I think is still entertaining and fun. And why not? That’s our business.

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I was at a gay bar once and they were showing Showgirls on all the TVs. When you shot that film, did you expect for it to live on in the LGBTQ community like it has?

I think we all entered into the film – certainly, I did – looking at the creative side of it. So you had really talented people – (director) Paul Verhoeven, obviously – and I think his intention was to do something that was sort of hard and cutting-edge and exposé and I think it kind of got away from him a little bit and became something else that was unexpected. But at the same time, we’ve all embraced it and said, “This is where it went,” and I gotta say, the film was probably gonna have a much longer life because of how it ended up than if it hadn’t. If it was a film that we intended to make, it would’ve been great and fine and OK, but now, it will live on forever.

Particularly at gay bars.

At least there! And midnight showings!

For 2004’s rom-com Touch of Pink, what was special about portraying the ghost of Cary Grant who gives advice to a gay Muslim man?

It was really fun. First of all, just the research alone was great. Getting to watch all the films, reading up about him, who he was as a person and the business side of things in Hollywood and how he really, really created this persona, which I think he tried to get away from but it was what he was known for. So I loved the research of it.

And the director, Ian (Iqbal Rashid), whose story this actually was, was so lovely and I see him occasionally when I’m in London. He’s just a terrific person and a very, very talented director, and I was flattered. He had actually seen me on the stage doing a new play with Woody Harrelson and I don’t quite know how he got there from that performance (laughs), but he thought I’d be perfect. So that’s a pretty big mantle to try to take on, and so we sort of softened that a little bit and said he’s more the spirit of Cary Grant – he’s not exactly Cary Grant. But I enjoyed stepping in those shoes and trying out that language and that kind of attitude and that whole thing. And it’s got a beautiful message, and just the ending when he has to let go, it’s very touching, I think.

In 2018, you were honored with a Dorian acting award by GALECA, the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, for Twin Peaks: The Return, and in 2009, Desperate Housewives received Outstanding Comedy Series from GLAAD. Is there something special or distinct about having your work acknowledged by LGBTQ audiences and organizations?

Yeah, those stories, if they can speak to a community and there’s a resonance there, that’s the goal of this. They should be universal, but I think that if there’s a relationship that can be created then we’re doing a good job; something that’s worthwhile that creates an emotional response and a connection, that’s really what you want. I mean, that’s what I want.

You played the mayor of Portland in Portlandia. Do you think that character would make a good mayor of Twin Peaks or Wisteria Lane?

(Laughs) He wasn’t a really good mayor – but he was incredibly enthusiastic! I think that was the fun of it: He always got things a little bit wrong but they kind of ultimately ended up OK, with the help of Fred (Armisen) and Carrie (Brownstein), certainly. But, oh god, at least it would be a lot of fun to have him as a mayor of any community, I think.

Why haven’t we seen you in more openly gay roles?

(Laughs) It’s a good question. You know, the work just kind of comes, and it’s one of those things where once it sort of filters through a little bit of whatever it does in Hollywood it finds its way into my inbox and you take a look at it.

Have there been gay roles you’ve turned down?

It’s always about the quality of the material, so if it there was, it just wasn’t worth telling.

But then you read something like Giant Little Ones.

And you know that it is a beautiful story. I had the reaction that everyone had: This is a story that needed to be told, and for any kids out there who are having this kind of “I don’t know, I don’t know” and they don’t have anywhere to turn, it’s like, well, we’re not the answer, but we’re at least an experience to say, “You’re not alone.”

And a reminder to your own son that his dad is OK with whomever he becomes or wants to be.

In fact, he attends a school in New York and it’s all about that. It’s all about the acceptance of everyone, and it’s a wonderful thing to watch because that wasn’t my experience growing up. Public schools, small town, very conservative. Not unlike the situation of Franky, there was a lot of “however tough you are” and “whatever sports you play,” those are your identifiers. It’s nice that he’s having a completely different experience.

In your spare time, you are a winemaker. Are gay men some of your most loyal rosé buyers?

(Laughs) I should hope so, for god’s sake! Rosé is one of those crazy things: It just keeps expanding and people love it and now it’s not just for summer anymore, it’s not just for the Hamptons anymore. It can be year-round and, yeah, it’s been really fun. And yeah, very supportive.

In a queer context “bear” means a hairy, chubby gay man, so it can’t hurt that “Pursued by Bear” is the name of your brand.

You know, I was really going after the Shakespeare play, obviously, but yeah, not unaware and I thought, that’s kind of funny. There’ve been occasions where I’ve met a few guys – bears, you know – and they’ve said, “Oh yeah, I’ve got this in my cellar.” And it cracks me up! I’m like, “Fantastic, I’m glad you like it.” Its good wine and it should be enjoyed.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/03/27/kyle-maclachlan-talks-new-gay-dad-role-reaching-lgbtq-youth/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/183750970250

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fly-pow-bye · 7 years ago

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DuckTales 2017 - “The Golden Lagoon of White Agony Plains!”

Story by: Francisco Angones, Madison Bateman, Colleen Evanson, Christian Magalhaes, Bob Snow

Written by: Bob Snow

Directed by: John Aoshima

Storyboard by: Jean-Sebastien Duclos, Mark Garcia, Tanner Johnson, John Ramirez

I wouldn't call this a creek, either.

This episode starts with Scrooge and the boys paying a visit to a Gala dedicated to a newly opened Glomgold Wing at the Natural History Museum. The joke is that all of the exhibits are just whatever he can salvage from Scrooge's past adventures, and some outright falsehoods. Dewey even talks about how he's trying way too hard. Dewey's right...in maybe too many ways.

Scrooge, obviously not a big fan of this duck who tries to murder him any chance he can, is only there to support Duckburg's cultural institutions as an upstanding citizen. Oh, and to steal Glomgold's cocktail weenies and teriyaki skewers. The irony is that it's Louie that calls him out for this. That seems out of character for him, though it might be due to his suit giving him a rash.

As the boys follow Scrooge's lead in taking a bunch of buffet food, one of the guests of honor walks in the room. Scrooge drops his bag and gasps at the sight at this familiar-to-him face. The nephews ask him if his gasp is about a curse, a villain, or a villainous curse, but it's even worse than that.

Scrooge: ...it's my ex! (gulp)

🎵Life is like a hurricane...🎶

Well, that's one way to do a cold open.

Specifically, it's Goldie O'Gilt. He clarifies that she's an ex-rival and ex-partner, but the boys do not buy it. Scrooge gets the boys, and anyone in the audience who hasn't heard of this legacy character, ready by telling them to watch their wallets. They trade insults to each other, Scrooge saying that she has cloven hooves, and Goldie calling him a tightwad. Well, it is a fitting name for someone who takes hors d'oeuvres from a buffet. I learned just now that’s how you spell those words.

While the insults both disturb and intrigue Dewey, Glomgold shows up to tell Scrooge that Goldie happens to be his date. Even before she says anything, her body language clearly indicates he doesn't want anything to do with this man. Once the music starts playing, Scrooge and Goldie start dancing. He tries a second plan: dancing the same kind of dance with Dewey. I don't have a comment for that one.

After that, Glomgold decides to reveal the main attraction: a skeleton of a "Glacial Klondike Monster" his oil crew managed to dig up in the Yukon. Unlike the Glomasaurus Rex, which was clearly made up of random dinosaur bones, this exhibit is legitimate. The lights go out, and the mammoth's head disappears. No, it's not another mystery story, or another ghost story for that matter. Scrooge looks around and finds a certain someone missing, and he hot-tails it out of the gala.

While Launchpad drives Scrooge and the boys to the Mansion, it will make sense to how he would know about where she went later, the boys want to know more about "Scrooge's new old giiirlfriend", while they all make literal duck-lips. Yeah, that's their only real character trait they have for the rest of the episode. While DuckTales 2017 gave the boys far more distinct personalities, this episode is not a good example of that. Wait, Huey, Dewey, and Louie acting identically? No way!

They do get to be the audience of another Scrooge McDuck flashback to a time long before Donald or Della. We’re getting into “The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck”-like material here. From what I've read, it's a very loose adaptation; no Goose Egg Nugget here.

They go into a cave in the White Agony Plains to find the titular Golden Lagoon. Suddenly, Goldie, in her scheming ways, decides to steal the map to find the lagoon for herself. Scrooge manages to catch her, but the map gets torn in half. Suddenly, the "Glacial Monster" shows itself, being what might be the last of the Wooly Mammoths. Goldie’s part of the map ended up stuck in the mammoth’s teeth, and over a century later, that same mammoth's skeleton ended up in Glomgold's Gala. We get a shot of the skeleton with a map sticking out of its teeth, which wasn't shown before when we got a shot of it before, but never mind.

Yes, I really mean a century later. While they don’t specify the exact year, Scrooge is definitely referring to the Klondike Gold Rush in 1896. Huey, in one of the few times he gets to show off his personality, starts counting on his fingers and outright asks how old Scrooge is. He obviously does not answer that question, but this episode gives a rather decent explanation beyond "it's just a cartoon, so just relax".

While running from the Wooly Mammoth, Scrooge and Goldie jumped into a freezing lake, causing them to be stuck in an ice cube for 5 years. In fact, this episode confirms this isn't the only time they've been in situtations that made them age slower. The dance scene from earlier shows them talking about a fountain of youth and several timeless demon dimensions. In an unrelated note, Goldie also offhandedly mentions a necklace that prevents burns, which the camera zooms into for a few seconds. I did not think much of this on my first viewing.

After the story that was captivating that even the driver got too interested in it, Scrooge finally reaches his Manor to find that Goldie barged into his house, and she immediately asks where his half of the map went. One may wonder how she managed to get past Mrs. Beakley, all but shown to be a super spy with great combat abilities, and her trained-in-similar-arts granddaughter.

Well, she did. As the rest of this episode will prove, she's just that awesome. After Scrooge throws a chair at his own nephews after they do the same "Scrooge loves Goldie" shtick, yeah, don't anger Scrooge, Goldie realizes that it must be in Scrooge's top hat. When Scrooge wrestles her down for it, she offers the adventure. Scrooge asks why.

Goldie: Because it's gold, because it's a treasure you never found, and because you're Scrooge McDuck.

Scrooge, Goldie imitating him: You think you know me sooo well!

They decide to go on the adventure. Speaking of the map, we later see it, and it's one of those "dotted line with the X on it" maps. I'd imagine the one that has the X on it could have at least tried to extrapolate the path. I guess I could assume that half was in that skull, but wouldn't Glomgold take it? Whatever.

Goldie puts on her old outfit, and they go into the cave. The entire episode essentially follows a similar path: throughout the adventure, they both accuse each other of trying to sabotage each other. They are totally doing that. Scrooge finds an arrow trap, which he activates by throwing a pebble at it, and accuses Goldie of doing it. Scrooge then stops Goldie from getting stuck in a giant bear trap that he totally didn't set up. Notice the difference there.

They end up at a pulley-controlled elevator, built for one. Not willing to let one person go and get a jump on the lagoon, they have to share the elevator. Of course, this leads to her complaining about his sweat. It's a funny scene.

Not speaking of particularly funny scenes, Glomgold is slowly following them. I'll be honest: his scenes don't really do much for me. All he really does is get hit by all the traps, cuts the rope of the aforementioned elevator, and talks about how Scrooge is taking his girl. He seems to disappear after this scene, because it's better to focus on the scenes with Scrooge and Goldie trying to mess each other up.

One scene has Goldie lighting a trail of gunpowder behind Scrooge, taking both halves of the map with her while he's chasing. In this universe of ducks and dogs that walk upright and talk, this trail of gunpowder leads to a bear. Not a relative of Baloo, but a bear just like in real life. I wonder how that works.

Unlike in real life, Goldie gets cornered by Scrooge riding that same bear. He even reveals that he speaks bear. This show now has just as much talking to non-language-speaking-animals as that other reboot. How can he do this? Because he's Scrooge McDuck. Yeah, that’s a running gag throughout this episode, and it does have a good payoff at the end.

They eventually reach a dead end, which happens to be right next to the frozen lake where they spent 5 years of their lives. This leads to even more backstory. After 5 years of being forced into staring at each other, their frozen scowls slowly turned into smiles. Aw, they really do love each other. While it's certainly romantic to see this, it is a horrifying thought that they were conscious in there.

Of course, there's a caveat: as soon as Goldie's half of the ice melts, she immediately leaves Scrooge behind. Scrooge realized that she loved gold more than him, and Goldie...agrees. Fitting.

They do get to the waterfall made of molten gold, thanks to the help of erosion over a century. Scrooge gets Nanook, the bear, to break the wall they thought was a dead end open in something that would have looked cool in trailers. However, as soon as they bask in the glory, a twist happens. I debated whether or not I should even have these ellipsis, to be honest.

← JAW$! 🦆 Day of the Only Child →

...

Big shock, she was going to betray him in the end, just like Scrooge repeatedly accused her of doing! There is one surprise on top of this: Glomgold decides to show up, after stumbling down a hill because he's Glomgold, and reveals that he teamed up with her to do this ruse! Unlike the last time he tried, this turned out to be true.

Scrooge, telling himself he should have expected this, asks Goldie why she did this after all she did for her. He talks about how he untied her from Nanook...which he happened to tie her to himself. Again, fitting. Her response?

Goldie: Because I'm Goldie O'Gilt!

See, good payoff.

Regardless of what I feel about Glomgold’s involvement in this episode, I do like the flashback scene he describes, which is in this 50's romance comic book-like style. It even ends with him smooching the air. He sure loves that Goldie, he even came up with the shipping name: Glomgoldie.

There's a pickaxe fight that mirrors the dance scene down to certain lines, and a rather shocking scene that does give Glomgold a little more purpose in the plot. I don't want to give away everything, but I definitely questioned whether they would really do what they did.

I only have one thing I will say that will add to this review: the necklace I talked about earlier does become a plot point. What necklace? Well, that was my first impression of that ending, too; it took a second viewing for me to realize it didn't just come out of nowhere.

How does it stack up?

Promising a big adventure that happens to be a huge reference to the original comics, and the return of a classic character, DuckTales 2017 took a huge risk with this episode. As someone who hasn't really read the original stories, I can't judge whether or not it's a good adaptation.

I debated what rating I should give this. It's an entertaining adventure, sure, but it's a little repetitive, and Glomgold just became a third wheel that was more tiring than funny. This one slightly misses the mark for me. In a worse reboot, this would be one of the best episodes, but after Jaw$, it's just merely above average, which is a very high neutral for this show.

Next, the return of another classic character...whether you like him or not.

← JAW$! 🦆 Day of the Only Child →

#fpb dt 2017 #ducktales 2017 #ducktales #disney #fpb reviews

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argentdandelion · 7 years ago

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Review of "Judgement" | Minecraft Undertale Music Video [GENOCIDE] (Song by TryHardNinja)

(To read about the video's good parts, see "Scene Composition, Shots, and Artistic Choices")

Introduction 1. Bad Expressions 2. Death Animation 3. Route Inconsistency 4. "So I've Got a Question For You." 5. Scene Composition, Shots, and Artistic Choices

Introduction

EnchantedMob(TM) are skilled at animation, as their previous Undertale video, "Hard Drive" illustrates. I was expecting "Judgement" to be of similar quality...and it was not.

While "Hard Drive" wasn't absolutely perfect (I have a few nitpicks about seemingly easy-to-fix parts of Mettaton's face) "Judgement" had a lot more flaws. Or, more precisely, it had only a few flaws, but two of those were so severe it severely affected the quality of the video.

Bad Expressions

The greatest flaw in the video is how badly Sans’ mouth was handled. Rather than having a Glalie-like perma-grin, his mouth is structured and operates like the genocidal human’s. As he is apparently singing the song in-universe, his mouth opens and closes almost constantly, covering his two rows of small, inconspicuous teeth as if he had lips. In fact, at several points in the video his teeth aren’t visible at all with an open mouth, making him look toothless.

The second-biggest flaw is Sans's massive and very unfitting eyebrows. If one looks closely at his sprites, not once is Sans shown with eyebrows, not even minimal eyebrows that show up only for specific expressions.

Between the mouth and eyebrows, Sans is too expressive, and in the wrong ways: his mouth and eyebrows seem to “bounce” everywhere. It is clear from the game’s sprites that Sans emotes primarily through his big eyes, with his mouth largely frozen in place. Here, Sans is excessively expressive, at times looking overly friendly. His out-of-character expressiveness also alters the overall feel of the moment he dies. Rather than giving a brief grimace with a shocked/startled look when the fatal blow is dealt, he looks sad/betrayed/panicked.

Between the behavior of the eyebrows and mouth, he’s so “off-model” (even by the standards of Minecraft’s limitations) and out-of-character that he doesn’t look like Sans at all, but someone poorly cosplaying him. Apparently, though EnchantedMob (TM) does very well with highly expressive characters (e.g., Mettaton from “Hard Drive”) they have yet to learn how to handle inexpressive ones. (Sans here, and Five Nights at Freddy’s robots)

I could go on and on about this (previously this section was 622 words) but, in short, it wasn’t actually necessary to give Sans eyebrows and a humanlike mouth if EnchantedMob(TM) wanted him to convey a variety of emotions. There are other methods---methods EnchantedMob(TM) knows---that could have been used by themselves, such as eyelid-based expressions and shrinking Sans’ pupils in shock.1

Death Animation

How EnchantedMob(TM) handles monsters dying in a serious flaw. Lesser Dog, Undyne, and Toriel are shown collapsing to the ground, but not turning to dust. As some monsters (Toriel, Papyrus) speak a few sentences before dying, one could argue monsters don’t have to turn to dust immediately upon the final blow being dealt. Yet the way their bodies linger on screen, with the screen’s shaking drawing attention to it, just emphasizes how they aren’t turning to dust like they should.

It’s not that EnchantedMob(TM) has to show an impressive turning-to-dust animation: TechnicalAntonym depicted monster death correctly by showing it indirectly: for example, Frisk travels through the Ruins with a pile of dust (probably Toriel’s) in the foreground. Context (an Undertale fan’s familiarity, the lyrics, and characters’ facial expressions) convey how bad dust and being covered in dust is.

At one point, the human fatally slashes Sans, and dusty-looking light pours out from him. When first watching it, I had the feeling they were going to use dusty-looking light beams as an easier-to-animate, aesthetically-pleasing workaround to a turning-to-dust animation. Yet, soon after, Sans’ body breaks apart into some kind of explosion of block-atoms, which is a closer approximation of turning to dust. (I didn’t even think they could do something that complex) The explosion of block-atoms could have worked, and would have been a creative and logical way to depict turning to dust. Yet, the block-atoms don’t turn grey/white, on- or off-screen, as expected2 during the extended death sequence.

Though technically impressive, the way the death sequence was handled made it look more like a nuclear cloud or an “exploded” skull than turning to dust. It has the inexplicable details of Sans’ face being perfectly intact, him having a red human SOUL, and some kind of purple energy circling in his disassembling body.

Now, I have heard of speculation (and read fanfics/fan comics) in which Sans and Papyrus are the reanimated skeletons of dead humans, and I have heard of the idea Sans (somehow) has Determination, but outright showing him with a human SOUL here makes no sense to me. A better choice would be to show a white, upside-down monster SOUL. (While only Boss Monster SOULs persist after death, Sans is not technically dead: the sequence is just an expanded-upon “dying” sequence)

Frisk also tries to covers their eyes at 3:32, suggesting Sans is emitting a strong light as he dies, like a bomb. This behavior might have made sense for Mettaton's death (as he is a magic robot), but with Sans, him emitting a strong, explosion-light light as he dies does not make sense.

Route Inconsistency

I'm not against Neutral routes being referenced in a Genocide Route-based video; TechnicalAntonym's video does so, after all. The trouble here is that there are no cues for which timeline is happening on-screen. (TechnicalAntonym's video, in contrast, has cues, most obviously showing Frisk's LV) Featuring Neutral/Pacifist moments and versions of characters in what seems to be a Genocide timeline makes it seem more like the Leaderless/Queen Alphys Neutral path, or a Genocide Route with Neutral route moments patched on. Route inconsistencies include the fact Undyne is apparently dealt a fatal blow with the first hit, but neither melts (Neutral Route) nor reforms into Undyne the Undying (Genocide Route).

"So I've Got A Question For You"

The video takes an interesting direction with the “so I have a question for you”3 part of the song. In TechnicalAntonym's video, Sans asks this as he sneaks up on Frisk in Snowdin Forest. Frisk, who has gone through the Neutral, Pacifist, and Genocide Routes in that order, turns around with tears in their eyes and hugs Sans in response. In that video, it seems Frisk's answer was “yes”, and Frisk has gone Pacifist because of Sans. (either because Frisk realized the error of their ways or just believed Sans was unbeatable)

In EnchantedMob(TM)'s video, Sans asks the question in a really (i.e., excessively) friendly way in the Judgment Hall while walking up to Frisk. His “so I have a question for you” dialogue seems to be replacing his “there's a glimmer of a good person inside you” dialogue as a friendly ploy to make Frisk stop fighting and make "his job a lot easier". (Who knows, Sans might have been genuinely offering to forgive Frisk...port-mortem) While the dialogue switch isn't perfectly accurate to the game, it counts as a Adaptation Distillation matched to the lyrics.

Frisk's response to Sans' question is to slash Sans, and as he dies, seemingly happy music plays. In this take, Frisk's answer to Sans' question seems to be “no”, or at least “I'm not willing to listen”. Frisk then proceeds to the throne room, and as any Undertale fan well-versed in the Genocide Route would know, from that point mercy is (literally) no longer an option and the world will be destroyed.

Frisk's different answer here re-contextualizes the seemingly happy background music at this point, emphasizing the hints of despair or desperation that chiptune conveys so well.

Scene Composition/Shots/Misc. Artistic Choices

The video’s flaws are so severe, it compares poorly to both EnchantedMob(TM)’s “Hard Drive” and TechnicalAntonym’s version of the song. (Which EnchantedMob(TM) hadn’t seen while making the video) Though predominantly bad, like a curate’s egg parts of it are excellent.

While EnchantedMob(TM) poorly depicted Sans' skeleton-ness in his eyebrows and mouth, there are some aspects they pulled off well. The way they designed Sans' hand (seen most obviously at 0:18) looks good, and could very well be the best way to depict a skeletal hand in this style. At 0:39-0:40, Sans' head swings a little faster than his body, but of course a cartoony skeleton could spin his skull around. It's such a minor detail I think most people wouldn't notice it, and it might even be a tiny animators' gaffe with a handy in-universe explanation.

The “fighting Lesser Dog” sequence (1:03 to 1:08) was animated well. It was an unexpected (but fitting) take to make it from the first-person perspective. 1:57-2:10 was also particularly well-animated and shot sequence.

The sequence where the screen is filled with 9999s and slashing curves is a good, abstract way to indicate the human’s rampage, though toothless-Sans bobbing about and over-expressing himself on the right is a big distraction.

The Judgment Hall is literally pixel-perfect: it looks great in CGI like this, and the zoom through the area at 1:55-1:57 was a tiny moment of perfection.

The left-to-right panning at 2:08 where Sans suddenly appears as the camera moves was an excellent portrayal of Sans' off-screen teleportation, though it is ruined by Sans' bad model and gorilla-like hunching.

The animation of Sans' bone bullets (2:26-2:36) looks a little off. I think it's the way they seem to "wiggle" midair; bones don't wiggle. They may have looked better if they manifested in the air, by Sans' shoulders, and then immediately shot after Frisk.

Sans spreading his arms out as he brings up some Gaster Blasters (2:38-2:40) was a bad choice. Sans never raises both hands while expressing magic; he's not a Mewtwo-like (Super Smash Bros depiction) Full Contact Magic user. If Sans' hands were in his pockets as the Gaster Blasters rose up, it would have looked both more menacing and more in-character.

As impressive as the Sans battle sequence is (though the Sans model and its expressions are a massive flaw) I do have a nitpick: Sans’ eye only flashes blue (and yellow; people often forget that) during his “strongest attack” (the first of his attacks) and his second-to-last attack. It's common for people to show Sans' eye as glowing all the time in the Genocide battle, or even just when angry or vengeful. I understand why it's overused: it's cool, and people might be too busy trying to survive his volley of attacks to pay attention to his expressions while he's attacking.

The technical aspects (animation, cinematography, color composition) of the ending shot from 3:43-3:52 was very good, even if Frisk's sashay-like walk was a little silly and more feminine than I'd like. (Though, who knows, perhaps all attempts to animate humans’ walk as realistically as possible in Minecraft style end up looking like a sashay)

Sans never manifests eyebrows, and his pupils do shrink in shock when finally hit in the Genocide Route battle. [Source] ↩︎

Battle scenes are always in black-and-white, except for rare color accents. Thus, monster dust seemingly being white may just be a product of the black-and-white style. No piles of monster dust are shown in the overworld, and its color isn’t mentioned. It’s just fan convention to depict it as grey/white, and it could easily be the same color as the monster it came from. That being said, I’d prefer depictions of grey/white monster dust to colorful monster dust. ↩︎

The in-game dialogue is actually "so, i've got a question for ya." Most of the time Sans uses "you", not "ya", so it's possible the songwriter mis-remembered it based on Sans' typical word choice. This is not a flaw: I just wanted to point it out for thoroughness's sake. ↩︎

#Undertale #sans #Frisk #EnchantedMob(TM)#EnchantedMob #TryHardNinja

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81scorp · 5 years ago

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Constructive criticism: Transformers 2

(Originally posted as an editorial on Deviantart Apr 24, 2015. It has not been changed from how I originally wrote it.)

Before I go into Transformers 2 I want to talk about the X-Men and Spider-man movie that came out in the early 2000`s.

Spider-man and X-Men are in my opinion a good start. Not just to the whole "let`s try to make a serious comicbook superhero movie and not turn it into a big, campy, live-action saturday morning cartoon joke" genre, but to their own, respective movie franchises as well.

"What about The Crow and Blade?"

Yes, those were good, serious comicbook movies but they didnt start a big, new wave of good comicbook superhero movies, they were more of a prologue.As I was saying: X-men and Spider-man were a good start for their movie franchises. They weren`t perfect. The filmmakers were a little new to the universe and how to translate it into something more cinematic, but it worked well enough. In the sequels things worked a little better. The directors, writers and actors had gotten more familiar with the characters, the world they lived in and things seemed to work smoother. Not just in how close it was to the material they were adapting but in general. Then they screwed it up in the third movie.This is kinda how I feel about the first Transformers movie. The first one was a good start. It made sense how we in the beginning spent more time with the humans and didn`t get to the Autobots until a little later, and I liked most of the humor.

Though I think it would have been better without the scene where Bumblebee urinates on Agent Simmons. Just saying.

And in hindsight they could have dialed down the male gazing too. But unlike Spider-man and X-men, Transformers decided not to take what it had learned from it`s first experience and see if it could do better. No, instead Michael Bay and friends said: "Why wait for the third movie? Let`s screw it up now!" And so they did, and people still paid money to see it, myself included. Yes, I am ashamed. And yes, I know, the script was written during the writer`s strike and it`s possible that Michael Bay was involved in writing it but, come on! Even if you haven`t read books on script writing you can still see that the dumb decisions that they made were really dumb decisions!

Though in defense of Michael Bay, from what I`ve heard, he wanted to do a personal pet project after Tranformers, but was contractually obligated to do a sequel if it did well enough at the box office. Maybe he knew it was bad and screwed it up on purpose so he wouldn`t have to do more Transformers? That`s just wild speculations from me though. Let us, in my very subjective editorial, see where it went wrong and how it could have been fixed.

SPOILERS in disguise The Male gazing

They could have dialed it down or removed it completely.

Bumblebee

I get why he was mute and talked through soundclips in the first movie, because his voice thingy was damaged and also so he could be a sympathetic character for the audience. But why didn`t he talk in this movie? His voice came back in the end of the first one. Heaven forbid he actually has any character developement. He could have talked, he just doesn`t have to talk that much. And he could still use soundclips sometimes when he feels it suits the situation. Like: when they`re about to enter a dangerous place he could use the "I´ve got a bad feeling about this" line from Starwars. And then there`s the scene where he cries like a sprinkler when Sam tells him he can`t follow him to college. Yes, I get it, they wanted to have some comedy, but they could have done that better. They could have done it like this: When Sam says to Bumblebee that he can`t come, his reaction could be "Oh... OK, I... I understand." But by the tone of his voice and body language we can tell that this saddens him. And when Sam goes away Bumblebee could play "All by myself" on his radio.

Giving Bumblebee such exaggerated, emotional reactions just makes me feel that Bay only thinks of the Transformers as silly, one dimensional, cartoon characters. Disney characters (in good Disney movies at least), The Transformers in the cartoon and the ponies in My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic have a little bit more depth than Bay`s Transformers.

Covering up the events that happened in the first movie

I can believe that such a thing could happen in the Men In Black universe where they can erase memories and stuff, but in this movie? Instead: the army`s official story to the public could be: "Yes, this battle did happen but now all the giant robots (both the good and the evil ones) have disappeared. We don`t know where yet, but we`re working on it."

Mikaela detailing the motorcycle

Yes, Megan Fox is a physically attractive woman, but that is pretty much it, and this scene is, besides pandering to horny teenage boys, also a big research failure from the filmmakers. That`s not how you detail a motorcycle, it is usually done with more protective clothing. So either:

A: have her detail a motorcycle the correct way, or

B: have her change the oil or look at the engine of a car.

Skids and Mudflap

Sigh... these guys. One stupid, racist caricature wasn`t enough, there had to be TWO. They already had Bumblebee with them on their journey so they only needed one of these guys, it would be less work for the animators and should also make it cheaper. Instead of being a stupid idiot he (since there is only one of them now in this hypothetical example) could be a competent warrior and the comedy could come from that he has gotten a few expressions and a few facts about earth wrong. For instance: when they get to the pyramids he could say: "So this is where Lenin is buried" (Lenin was mummified after his death after all). And here`s a funny exchange of words they could have in one scene:

Skids/Mudflap: Let`s kick some Donkey!

Sam or Mikaela: I think you mean "Ass".

Skids/Mudflap: Meh, Tomayto, Potahto. And instead of being illiterate: he couldn`t read the text because it was ancient cybertronian.

Arcee

There are female autobots in this movie. Not many though and they don`t have much screen time (About 39 seconds, less than a minute, out of the movie`s 2½ hours runningtime. And that includes scenes where they are in their motorbike forms doing nothing.) and one dies near the end. (If I`m not mistaken there were more than one in the beginning of the movie, but I don`t remember seeing the other female autobots in the rest of the movie and I don`t remember if

anything was mentioned about what happened to them.) Arcee appeared in eight episodes in the cartoon BTW.Arcee should have had more screentime, and she didn`t have to die in the end. Personally I wouldn`t mind if it was she that joined Sam, Mikaela, Bumblebee and Leo on their journey to the pyramids instead of Skids/Mudflap.

Inconsistent laws of physics

A while ago I watched a video where some guy listed things he hated about this movie. One of them was a scene where a helicopter carries Optimus Prime`s lifeless body and drops it on the ground like a giant pile of scrapmetal. He felt that this was Bay being completely disrespectful to the character. Personally I thought Bay just wanted to bring in in a little realism. Prime was heavy and those wires couldn`t keep him up forever. However, earlier in the movie Sam is being thrown around by Decepticons and falls from heights that would have killed an ordinary human. If you`re gonna have realistic (or at least believable) laws of physics in your movie, keep them consistent.

The Big giant fight near the end between the humans and the Decepticons

It went on a bit too long. It could have been shorter and some of that time could have been given to Prime`s battle with the fallen, which was a little too short.

The immature humor

There are a bunch of things that I`d like to collect in one common category.

Sam`s mom running around high on campus: While I`m OK with the scene where she mentions that someone offered her brownies, the scene that comes after where she attacks/tries to get a piggyback ride from someone on the school`s lawn just felt like an unnecessary stretch of that gag. Lose it.

The dogs humping each other: Was not necessary in a 2½ hours long film that cost 200 million $ to make. Lose it.

Wheelie humping Mikaela`s leg: Instead he could have rubbed his head against her leg like a cat, and her reaction could have been flattered, yet weirded out. Or: she could be just weirded out. Or: just lose this joke completely.

Leo running out from the bathroom with his pants down: Instead he could run out (with his pants on) and shout:"I need your help! My friend just fainted in the bathroom!" (Yes, I know, the museum was closed so he`d very likely still get arrested, but still.)

Jetfire: I`m OK with him being old, but does he have to be a caricature? And I`d lose the parachute fart joke.

Devastator`s "balls": Lose it!

Robot heaven

The Autobots are not biological beings but they are sentient so I could buy this, but it was introduced very late in the movie. Instead: Sam doesn`t have a near death experience and the matrix doesn`t have to crumble to dust in his hands earlier in the movie. (Thus shortening the long running time by at least a few minutes.)

-Transformers Dark of the Moon-

My brother rented it on DVD and I gave it a watch. Slightly better than Revenge of the fallen but still not that good. Giant robots was not enough to distract me from the movie`s Bay-isms. Can`t really come up with ideas of how I would have changed it except two things:

Bumblebee`s voice

Like I said, his voice was fixed so why keep the soundclip thing? In the scene where he says Goodbye to Sam he could have done it in his original voice since it was an important moment for at least one of them.

Sam clearly acting suspicious when the watch-decepticon takes over his body

Like when he summersaults over a table for comedic effect. Was that really necessary? He could have acted normally and, at most, only have a few facial tics.

And that`s my list.

#transformers #editorial #constructive #criticism #rise of the fallen #81scorp

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snarktheater · 8 years ago

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Movie review — Power Rangers

Say, did I ever mention I was a Power Rangers kid? Because I was. I was a little too young for the original generation, but when Zeo aired, I was so into it it was kind of embarrassing. I watched as religiously as a small child can when he doesn't know how to VCR a show and has to rely on his parents remembering to record the episodes. I played pretend Power Ranger a lot. I had (and…still have) more toy Megazords than I am fully comfortable listing. And I'm pretty sure I still played with them into my late teenage years, because I am exactly that kind of dork.

Ahem. Point is, a Power Rangers movie reboot came and I was…intrigued, but mildly scared too. This series is not exactly top quality, and the wave of nostalgia-driven adaptations hasn't really led to great stuff that often.

Does the movie hold up? Well, honestly…yes.

Mind you, Power Rangers the movie (does it have a proper name? I wouldn't know) isn't high art or anything. But it's probably better than anyone expected when they heard about this movie in the first place.

This movie does a good job at striking a balance between recreating the original show and doing its own thing. Part of that is due to the media transfer (we can't tell the same kind of story in a show and a movie), but part of that is clearly a creative effort on the part of the crew.

So, the aesthetic is something most people have been critical of. "The suits look bad", and so on and so forth. Honestly, I'm on the fence on this one, but I have to admit that it's the only Power Rangers we could have gotten in 2017. I mean, look at the Flash in those Justice League trailers. This is just what's in vogue. I don't mind the suits, honestly.

No, if we're going to talk bad aesthetics, I have to point out that this movie is another victim of the "MAKE EVERYTHING DARK" trend of this decade. And I don't mean "dark" as in "serious and gritty". The movie has a fairly light tone overall, if you look at it honestly, but the color palette is washed out and the brightness is dialed down way more than it needs to be. That's an issue.

But aside from that, the adaptation strikes in world building as well. And that's actually my favorite part of it. We get backstory for Zordon and Rita (which I fully approve of), they worked in the Zeo Crystal as a plot device that's more than a McGuffin to give the Rangers new powers. Oh, and of course, the Green Power Ranger is already established here (although saved for the potential sequel), and Rita is given a connection to it that she didn't have in the original show. They even thought to explain why the Zords are modeled after prehistoric creatures!

It makes the world feel a lot more cohesive, rather than the "let's just pick a Super Sentai series to adapt and invent a connection" method that formed the plot of the original Power Rangers seasons. Not that I don't understand why the original series had to do it, but it's good to see that they decided to up the storytelling game for the remake instead of relying purely on the franchise name and nostalgia value.

Speaking of storytelling, the plot. After some backstory to the time Rita first wreaked havoc on earth, we skip to present day, and meet our teenagers with attitude, all the while witnessing Rita's return. It's a pretty standard hero's journey, if we have five heroes who stand almost (almost) on equal footing and follow a similar path.

Most of the movie is spent with the Rangers first finding out about their powers, then, once they meet Zordon and Alpha (i.e. the mentor figures), trying to master them. All the while, we cut back to Rita's progress. It's better than it sounds.

Allow me to elaborate. First, we spend a considerable amount of time introducing the protagonists before they're even chosen to be Rangers. Second, they don't just get picked by Zordon; instead, they actively make their way into becoming Rangers, first by finding the Power Coins, then by seeking out answers as to why these coins gave them the abilities they have. Active protagonists! It's important to have them.

Third, while Rita's earlier scenes are fairly standard and mostly serve to establish her motivation, powers (and rules thereof), and the threat she poses, she doesn't stay separate from the Rangers forever. She does clash with them halfway through the second act, gives them a more personal reason to fight than saving the world, all that jazz. Not that they weren't on board beforehand, but it's important.

Because…see, these Rangers have actual characters instead of being blobs who each wears a different color. They have personal conflicts, and while they're not exactly all resolved by the end of the movie (which is probably a tad overconfident by counting on sequels), they do progress. The Rangers make the right decision to save the world, but giving them a personal stake is what gives them resolve to fight the final battle. This is good, it's exactly how you should blend character motivation with heroism.

Speaking of personal conflicts, let's talk about these teenagers for a moment. The phrase "teenagers with attitude" associated with the show (which I already quoted above) is much more applicable here, when…you know, the protagonists actually have issues instead of being perfect role models. I understand that different times mean different sensibilities and I guess the original cast was more palatable to the 90s, but I'm glad about the change.

So we have Jason, the red ranger and leader of the group. He's the gold star athlete student of Angel Grove—big enough to be in the local papers, apparently. His issue is…basically an existential crisis of "is this what I want, or what everyone else wants from me?" Well, kind of. He's already past this issue at the start of the movie, since we meet him in the middle of acting up. I guess his conflict is actually more trying to reconcile the two, putting the things he's good at (i.e. leadership) to the service of something he actually wants to do (being a Power Ranger) instead of something he's expected to do. It works…mostly because he's definitely a little more central than the rest of the crew. Which is a negative point on the movie. I'm sorry, but you have a diverse cast, and you choose to focus on the white boy? Boo.

But on the plus side, this is a conflict we've seen done a lot, and I think this movie manages to do something new with it. Mostly by being more subtle about it. It lets the movie avert clichés (you know, the "No, dad, it's your dream!" speech), and it makes the whole progression feel a lot more natural when it's all understated. When the Rangers bond together, he doesn't even need to say his problem, because everyone knows. Including us. It's almost meta in its self-awareness.

Moving on. Kimberly is the pink ranger, and while I mentioned that all out protagonists are flawed and have conflict, she's the only one who's actually done something bad. In two words: revenge porn. Yeah. It's pretty bad. But…she owns up to having done something terrible, and grows from it. It's sort of put aside rather than actively being resolved, but again, I think this is more because the crew expected sequels. Oh, also, that kiss between her and Jason from the trailer was cut out of the movie. No romance here. Apparently focus tests finally showed that an unnecessary straight romance wasn't something people wanted!

Zack and Trini, the black and yellow rangers, are the least developed members of the team, by virtue of being the last to even show up in the movie. Not that they lack personality, mind you. If anything, them being a little harder to decipher feels intentional, since Zack stays out of school to take care of his sick mother, and Trini is "the new girl" (who's been here a year, but that's just details) and kind of self-ostracized, in a "don't let them in, don't let them see" kind of way.

They're still both pretty enjoyable characters. Zack is the brash comic relief archetype most of the time, but seeing his sweet side with his mother was a nice addition to the trope (also, having him speak Chinese, I approve). Trini is implied to be some shade of not straight, although I think the cries of "yellow ranger is gayyyy" were a bit exaggerated. More importantly, she's the one Rita chooses to go after first because she's more guarded than the others…and Trini does the right thing and ask for her team's help. Just like with Jason, it's a subdued kind of character development that I like a lot. No one goes "wow, you trust us now?" like it's some kind of grand change. She just trusts her team, and the others accept it. I like that. Also, she calls out her younger brothers' casual sexism, that's cool too.

Which leaves us with Billy, who I think is pretty unanimously the audience favorite. One, he's a black autistic guy, unambiguously so, which is already pretty rare. Two, his autism actually feels…you know, real. It's consistent, it shows itself in symptoms that make sense, but it also doesn't define all of Billy's character. His interests are his own, even if they express differently because of his autism. And three, and perhaps most importantly, he's the group's emotional core. That's pretty groundbreaking as far as autistic characters go.

And I don't mean he's the poor autistic kid that everyone feels pity to and therefore stick together to help—he's an active participant in it. He's the one who discovers the Power coins and gets several of the other protagonists involved (he definitely brought Jason, attracted Zack's attention, and I think Trini also followed him to the quarry), he's the first to embrace that they're Rangers and a team and he's the one who works to make everyone else work together. So hey, that was nice.

As for Rita…she's a little bit of a mixed bag. First is the whitewashing issue, on which I will…choose to remain cautiously silent aside from mentioning that, yes, Rita Repulsa was originally portrayed by a Japanese woman by virtue of all her footage being dubbed over from a Japanese show, and the movie cast Elizabeth Banks as her. Make of that what you will.

She is the biggest aesthetic departure from the original, which is partly because of her retconned backstory, but frankly? I think it's probably for the best because of the aforementioned whitewashing. Maybe my standards are low, but at least she's not trying to pretend like she is Machiko Soga at all. If you get my drift. And if you don't: I mean Hollywood loves to pass white people as Japanese (or other Asian ethnicities).

Far from me to claim I have a final say on this issue, of course.

But as a character on her own, I actually liked her a lot. She felt threatening in a way show!Rita never really did, probably because, you know, she actually does things instead of staying cozy on the moon and sending monsters to do her work. They established her powers more clearly, which is good, because rules means we know what she can do and we can feel the threat she poses, instead of having her pull random shit at us.

And yet, in spite of having a more threatening villain (including her underlings) and higher stakes (i.e. world annihilation, more or less), the movie manages to retain its light tone I previously mentioned. Which is…hit or miss (the very first present-day scene includes a particularly tasteless joke, if you ask me), but it's still less cringey than the original show, while keeping with its spirit.

So overall, I'd say the Power Rangers movie is a pretty successful adaptation. If we must keep readapting everything in the name of nostalgia, I hope we get more work like this. I wouldn't be too optimistic about it, though.

#power rangers #power rangers 2017 #movie #movies #review #reviews #movie review #movie reviews #st: movie reviews

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jonasmaurer · 5 years ago

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Latest skincare routine

Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! I hope you’re enjoying the week. We’re heading to the airport, so I’ll be sure to share lots of adventures on IG stories when I have those internets. In the meantime, I thought today would be a good day for a skincare post! I’ve had some requests to share my current routine, so I thought I’d post the goods. My routine fluctuates depending on the time of year or if I’ve found new products, but here’s what it looks like right now. I always love to learn about new techniques and products so if there’s a new fave in your life, please share the love in the comments section so we can all shop together.

My daily skincare routine:

1) Wash:

My skin is sensitive and my eyes are annoyingly sensitive. (Example A.) I have to be careful what I use on my eyes, or they burn, turn red, or I get these weird little bumps from too much oil. For now, my favorite cleanser is this blueberry bounce cleanser. It’s so gentle that I can actually use it on my eyes to get off eye makeup without it hurting or burning. (I put some with water on a washcloth and carefully rub the makeup off my eyes and then rinse.) I used to use jojoba oil to remove eye makeup but realized I was getting more of the little bumps on and around my eyes. I stopped using it and switched purely to the blueberry bounce cleanser. The blueberry scent is beautiful and it’s very gentle.

Exfoliate: to exfoliate, I use a few different things. This Eminence exfoliator smells gorgeous and isn’t too harsh. Rice powder absorbs oil while lactic and salicylic acids remove dead skin cells. The strawberries and rhubarb infuse the skin with antioxidants. Every few days, I also use this Overnight Peel. It’s one of my very favorite products because it makes skin tight, glowing, and helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It’s seriously magic in a bottle. (Friends who have used this noticed a difference within 24 hours!)

Once a week, I’ll also use the charcoal mask to help with impurities and balance my skin. The best part about this mask is watching every single pore appear. YIIKES. You wash it away and skin feels remarkably brighter and smoother.

2) Prep:

Toner! I’ve tried a few different ones that I rotate between and love. Currently I’m using this green tea toner. It’s jasmine water facial toner infused with green tea, willow bark, and witch hazel to balance, clarify, and hydrate combination, oily, and blemish prone complexions. I feel like it really smooths out my skin and preps it for heavy moisturizer before bed, or for daily moisturizer and makeup in the morning.

The other toners in the rotation:

– Countertime hydrating essence. This is like a toner but more beneficial because it delivers nutrients into the skin. This product uses Beautycounter’s plant-based alternative to Retinol: a combo of bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine Rose. It also includes sea water for vital nutrients and minerals to the skin and fermented sugars to slow aging and optimize hydration.

– Wahmisa organic flower deep rich essence toner: My first experience with a toner was with this one and the first night I tried it, I was like, “I”VE BEEN MISSING OUT MY ENTIRE LIFE.” This one smells so gorgeous, like a floral perfume and is made with mostly organic ingredients. The only problem is that it’s harder to find now. I think I used to order it from the Glow Recipe website but it’s no longer available and I heard the ones on Amazon aren’t always legit.

– fresh rose floral toner. It smells dreamy and is alcohol-free. It’s mostly rosewater, so I think you can absolutely find similar versions at the health food store for less.

3) Nourish:

I alternate between serums, usually using this Countertime serum and the Boissance serum. They both use a plant-based retinol and help with firmness and elasticity. I haven’t noticed a huge difference between the two – I love them both – but the Countertime version has better ingredients and also includes the Swiss Alpine Rose to boost antioxidant defense.

4) Moisturize

Daytime: Skinmedica Defense Moisturizer SPF 35. I mix this with tarte bb cream or the Dew Skin for moisturizer. I don’t usually use true foundation on my skin because it looks and feels heavy.

Nighttime: My night cream love is the Supreme Cream. It feels like the most luxurious moisturizing cream, but isn’t greasy. It helps with elasticity, hydration, and firmness.

I used to be obsessed with this moisturizer (and it was a major splurge about twice a year) but they changed the formula! I bought one and it was super greasy and gross. Thankfully, Countertime Surpreme Cream came out a few months after that and I’ve been super happy with the switch.

Occasional:

This watermelon sleeping mask. It goes on in a thin layer and smells like watermelon Jolly Ranchers. (I think I learned from this post that scent is a game changer for me when it comes to skincare. It has to be unscented or smell incredible.) The next morning, my skin feels soft and smooth. It’s also gentle enough that I can let Liv use it occasionally and she feels fancy.

5) Eye cream:

This is my go-to eye cream. The moisture level adapts to what you need, so I’ve found that it’s the perfect amount of hydration without being too thick or oily. I also love the Countertime eye cream.

Tools: I use this gua sha set and jade roller! I try to use them at least once a day to help reduce puffiness and increase blood flow (nutrients and oxygen) to my face. I also dry brush my skin using this dry brush whenever I take a shower, working towards my heart in long sweeping motions. I do clockwise on my stomach and booty.

Whew! So there ya go. It’s funny because it’s easy to think you don’t use a ton of products, but when you sit down to actually list them, it’s a lot! This is why it’s important for me to use safer options whenever I can because the cumulative effects add up. (I pick and choose where it makes sense for my life. I’ll never stop using my beloved Moroccan oil.)

I’ll do an updated makeup post soon!

So tell me, friends: what’s your skincare must-have? Anything amazing that you’ve recently discovered??

xoxo

Gina

The post Latest skincare routine appeared first on The Fitnessista.

Latest skincare routine published first on https://olimpsportnutritionde.tumblr.com/

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cynthiajayusa · 6 years ago

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Kyle MacLachlan Talks New Gay Dad Role, Reaching LGBTQ Youth

Here, the actor talks about raising his son, Callum, much like Ray Winter does, gay fans who slip into his DMs and bears who love his rosé.

youtube

You’ve played dads before. But what about Ray spoke to you differently?

You were the stepfather of a gay son, Andrew Van de Kamp, on Desperate Housewive. Who does the better job parenting a queer kid: Orson Hodge or Ray Winter?

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When were your eyes first opened to having an LGBTQ following?

How has it become obvious through social media?

I have a friend who says Blue Velvet was responsible for his sexual awakening. Is that what gay fans tell you on Twitter?

What kind of attention did Showgirls get you from the LGBTQ community?

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I was at a gay bar once and they were showing Showgirls on all the TVs. When you shot that film, did you expect for it to live on in the LGBTQ community like it has?

Particularly at gay bars.

At least there! And midnight showings!

For 2004’s rom-com Touch of Pink, what was special about portraying the ghost of Cary Grant who gives advice to a gay Muslim man?

You played the mayor of Portland in Portlandia. Do you think that character would make a good mayor of Twin Peaks or Wisteria Lane?

Why haven’t we seen you in more openly gay roles?

Have there been gay roles you’ve turned down?

It’s always about the quality of the material, so if it there was, it just wasn’t worth telling.

But then you read something like Giant Little Ones.

And a reminder to your own son that his dad is OK with whomever he becomes or wants to be.

In your spare time, you are a winemaker. Are gay men some of your most loyal rosé buyers?

In a queer context “bear” means a hairy, chubby gay man, so it can’t hurt that “Pursued by Bear” is the name of your brand.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/03/27/kyle-maclachlan-talks-new-gay-dad-role-reaching-lgbtq-youth/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazin.blogspot.com/2019/03/kyle-maclachlan-talks-new-gay-dad-role_27.html

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hotspotsmagazine · 6 years ago

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Kyle MacLachlan Talks New Gay Dad Role, Reaching LGBTQ Youth

Here, the actor talks about raising his son, Callum, much like Ray Winter does, gay fans who slip into his DMs and bears who love his rosé.

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You’ve played dads before. But what about Ray spoke to you differently?

You were the stepfather of a gay son, Andrew Van de Kamp, on Desperate Housewive. Who does the better job parenting a queer kid: Orson Hodge or Ray Winter?

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When were your eyes first opened to having an LGBTQ following?

How has it become obvious through social media?

I have a friend who says Blue Velvet was responsible for his sexual awakening. Is that what gay fans tell you on Twitter?

What kind of attention did Showgirls get you from the LGBTQ community?

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I was at a gay bar once and they were showing Showgirls on all the TVs. When you shot that film, did you expect for it to live on in the LGBTQ community like it has?

Particularly at gay bars.

At least there! And midnight showings!

For 2004’s rom-com Touch of Pink, what was special about portraying the ghost of Cary Grant who gives advice to a gay Muslim man?

You played the mayor of Portland in Portlandia. Do you think that character would make a good mayor of Twin Peaks or Wisteria Lane?

Why haven’t we seen you in more openly gay roles?

Have there been gay roles you’ve turned down?

It’s always about the quality of the material, so if it there was, it just wasn’t worth telling.

But then you read something like Giant Little Ones.

And a reminder to your own son that his dad is OK with whomever he becomes or wants to be.

In your spare time, you are a winemaker. Are gay men some of your most loyal rosé buyers?

In a queer context “bear” means a hairy, chubby gay man, so it can’t hurt that “Pursued by Bear” is the name of your brand.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/03/27/kyle-maclachlan-talks-new-gay-dad-role-reaching-lgbtq-youth/

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processfc · 6 years ago

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Clearing The Ball Is An Intellectual Defeat

Javier Santos interviewed Xavi - often referred to has "the best midfield in the history of the game", and talked with him about his career, his love for football and for clearing the ball properly.

In recent years, Football has focused on the physical aspect, so much that it seems difficult to improve it. Only thing remaining to ameliorate is the Football IQ? I totally agree with that. You have to improve game's intelligence and focus on talent. It all depends on the coaches obviously. But today, in training sessions, there is 60% of physical training and 40% devoted to the technical part. In other words, 0% of the time is devoted to the reflection of the game, to its interpretation. You cannot enter a Football pitch with just motivation, like: 'Vamos!', 'Come on!' It helps, yes, but it's not everything. The mind is the most important thing to work on for the future in Football.

How is it possible to improve the work on the mental aspect of the game? Football is a sport in which you have to watch what is going on around you to find the best possible solution. If you do not relate to others, you do not know anything and you cannot do anything. There is the space-time thing to apprehend in this game. And if you are not aware of it and you're not thinking about it, it's complicated. What makes the difference today in football? It's talent. And what is talent? It is the possibility of controlling what you do and what others do, because you play with your head and not only with your feet. I love Usain Bolt, he's a great athlete. Physically, nobody comes close to him. Who runs faster than him? No one. But with all due respect to him, he will never make any difference on a Football pitch. Why? Because we can not supplant mental speed and game's intelligence with physical abilities. It's impossible. (He gets up and goes next to his friend Matias). If I pass the ball to you and Matias moves from one side to the other. There you have to look where he is before you go. It's simple, right? To observe is to evaluate the situation in order to decide better. When you lift your head, you are in the reflection, you activate your neurons. On the other hand, if I give you the ball and I tell you: 'Pass the ball and Matias sends it back to you!', you do not think anymore. You are just in mechanization.

Some training centers believe that repeating the same things leads to perfection.. It's heartbreaking. If the coach says: 'Xavi, pass the ball to Matias, who passes it to Javier, Javier to Xavi, Xavi to Matias again, & so on for ten mins, what`s the point? What does it improve? Maybe the passes' technique, OK, but when do we activate the brain? We are stuck on elementary mechanic physical principles. During training, some players are even asked to run ten meters for no useful reasons: 'After the pass, you have to sprint!' But where? Why? Running is good, doing it smartly is better. Do players at least try to understand why some coaches try to make them do these things? l, personally, always had the will, I would even say the curiosity, to understand what is happening on the pitch. Why? How? Where?' These are questions I would constantly ask myself and will continue to do when I become a coach. We do not all have the same thoughts. There are professional players who do not understand what is happening on the pitch. Simply because they weren't trained to develop their talent, to think about what`s happening with them. But Piaget said that intelligence is what we do when we do not know the situation we are in.. l couldn't agree more. Intelligence is the ability to react and adapt to a problem that has never been encountered. Knowing how to encounter situations that have never been confronted is pure intelligence. It is true in everyday's life, but also in Football: 'This is new, I do not know it, but I will try to get out of it.' Dani Alves' match on his right side, between the opposing lines, at the Bernabéu, was spectacular. We always have the impression that he is everywhere. He is an incredible player. Incredible. But truthfully, he does not play with his feet. He does it with his brain. Same with Verratti. How does he play? With his neurons. He's small, not fast, but he's smart. He plays a lot like me. If he did not play with his head, he wouldn't be able to play Football.

The first time you saw Iniesta at La Masia, did you tell everyone: 'If this guy do not succeed, then he is an idiot..' Well, Andrés is a special case. He has an unusual talent, he could not fail, impossible. There was another Iniesta at Barça. I will always remember his name: Mario Rosas. If you saw how he played at 15, 16 or 17, you would say: 'When this guy makes to the first team, the Camp Nou will hallucinate.' He was a mixture of Laudrup and Messi, for real. He played with two feet, dribbled, was competitive. He had it all, but he got lost. It shocked me. Maybe he was not professional enough or didn't have a strong mentality, we will never know. Adolescence is a crucial period in life, your personality isn't yet fully built and it is very easy to make mistakes. You are full of doubts: 'Will I be able to play for Barça?' 'Will I have the level for the first division?' 'Will I make it to the NT?' You can fix these issues if you are mentally stable and have a supportive family. I`ve had the chance to always be protected by my family. Andrés’ family has also been amazing and taught him a bunch of values. But there are players who have chaotic lives, with complicated parents. When you don't have a support or someone to refer to, it's hard. It's been a lesson in life. Puyol, Valdés and I suffered at the beginning of our career. It was complicated with Barça.

What do you mean when you say you suffered at the beginning of your career with Barcelona? People used to tell me that I was the cancer of Barça, that I did not have the ability to play for this club. That with me, we would never win the Champions League. They said that Iniesta and I were incompatible. Visionaries... Iniesta and Xavi together on the ground? It was a taboo until the arrival of Rijkaard and Luis Aragonés. It's them who made us play together for the first time. They believed in us. And we made them proud. Fortunately, we won titles. Without that, we'd have been killed. It's the business of football. You should have in mind that once you become a professional, you will get exposed. what`s funny about Football is that everyone thinks they understand it. People who think they know football are many but all they do is criticize and criticize. That's why it's essential to have clear ideas. Is it because of these clear idea that Maradona calls you: ' a Football Master'? That's nice, right? Coming from Maradona, an idol. But I am not a Football genius. I am just a student of Cruyff's school, and Cruyff summarized football in a sentence: 'Football should be played with the mind.' I have had to use my brain to play Football. I am not Mbappé. How does he play? He runs, pushes the ball, passes a player. I don't have Mbappé's legs, but I use my brain. I compensate like that. I came to Barca when I was 11 and from the first day, I was forced to understand everything I did. We cannot play Football if we don't understand everything that happens on the pitch. It goes deeper than just the contact between the foot and the ball. Each reflection, each question open new perspectives. Why are we asked to give space to each other? Or to open up the game? It's logic. Imagine that I have the ball and I want to give it to a team-mate but an opponent is in between the two of us and wants to take the ball. If there is enough space between my team-mate and l, the other player can't do anything. I think like this: 'If he comes to me, I pass the ball to my man.' And, bam, the ball is already in the other direction. If we are in a confined space, we can easily lose the ball. That's the accordion of Cruyff. When we don't have the ball, what should we do? Defend highly and shortly. Why? To f*cking stifle the rival by closing spaces. The less space we give our opponents, the less chance they have to reach our goal. what`s Football? It's space-time. Concretely, what do you do to apprehend the game? What should I do when I have the ball? Search for free areas to save time for reflection. What should I do when I do not have it? Cut the opponent's space not to allow him to find solutions. If done correctly, the opponent is confined to a space-time mistake. He has less space to move the ball, so less time to think. It's a summary, but to put all this in motion, you have to pay attention to a lot of details. For example, if I get the ball on the touchline, I have to be able to stand in a way that would give me the opportunity to look at what`s going on on the pitch. If I look in the stands' direction or on the sideline, what’s the point ? It's simple, but I still see players doing it. 'But what are you doing, how can you turn your back to the game?' No, no, no. You have to have look properly at the pitch. If I get the ball and try to put myself in a position that would make me see the pitch, I see it all. I take the information on space and I save time to think. It makes sense, right? And yet some players put themselves in complicated situations, like the comer side, but why? You'll have to turn around, you're going to waste valuable time. Losing time in football is like losing gold.

What is your biggest quality, according to you? Like everyone else, I surely have something innate. Technically, I`m not bad. But my greatest quality is mental speed. I love 'Rondo'. Everyone sees this as a simple warm-up exercise, it's wrong! It must not be something you do for fun, but didactic. It is great for the technique, for the speed of execution, for the vision of game.

Nowadays, Football is full of statistics. It makes me laugh to see all these GPS that they put on our bodies. Because when they look at the data, statisticians say to themselves: 'On 100 passes, 80 were accurate. ' Oh really? And how do you know they were good? Do you know how they count them? For them, it's valid from the moment the player controls the ball that I sent to him. This is a good pass for the GPS. So yes, the guy may have controlled the ball, but he has four opponents on his back. So no, that's a bad pass. The good pass was elsewhere, to the one who was free of marking, the GPS doesn’t detect that. If it was enough to get rid of the ball in any way by putting the other in difficulty, I do not see the interest of statistics. I have the responsibility not to lose the ball, but I also have the one that my team-mate does not lose it. The difference between big teams and mediocre teams lies in the quality of the network of passes. The problem is that statistics will never replace sensations. They let you believe that Modric had a bad game against PSG. Sorry? Yes, he lost some balls, but he gained space, he relieved his teammates and hurt PSG. His contribution is uncountable. If you do not want to take responsibility for the loss of the ball, do it like Modric or Iniesta: keep the ball, gain space and look where is the free player. There is always someone free. Always. You know why? Because there is always the solution to give the ball to the goalkeeper. When the match begins, we are eleven against eleven, but when you have the ball, there are ten of you that want to take it, not eleven. There is always a free man. Those who say the opposite lie. Lately, people are hallucinating when they watch City. They are like: 'Gosh, they play really well!' But they play well because Guardiola spends his days finding ways to make everything work better for his players.

Some coaches also spend their days finding solutions for their players but by making them defend. The majority, yes. Whether in defense or in attack, everyone is looking for the free man, but not for the same reasons. Guardiola wants to find solutions so that his players go towards the goal. Others want to find ways to prevent the opponent to reach their goal. Simeone does that very well, for example.

Are you aware that some people get bored while watching Barça? It's incredible! Which team is boring? Barça or the team playing against them? Sometimes I hear: 'Barça is not dangerous enough.' But how can you be when you have eleven players in front of the goal? It's impossible. The team that plays on the back is not the team that tries to play, but refuses to. Isn't it boring when you watch teams losing time or sending the ball to the stands to break the rhythm? In front of ultra-defensive teams, It happened for me to ask myself: 'But how can I find spaces? There is not any.' But, there are always some. You have to move the ball from one side to the other, move, move again, and there you go, there is space. I spent my life searching for it, finding ways. Where is there space? How to make it happen? I was turning my head in all directions, I was nicknamed 'the girl from "The Exorcist"'. I do not turn my head to 360 degrees like her, but there are games where I have rotated mine more than 500 times. According to a Norwegian researcher, you produce 0.8 information per second. Why do it so often? My brain works like a processor: it stores data, informations. Turning my head helps me do it. And that's not only important, it's fundamental to master space-time. I think: My team-mate is man-marked, so I turn my head to look for another solution. Behind me, an opponent says to himself: I`m going to take the ball from him, he's turning his back, he does not see me.' Except that I saw him. Just as I saw that the player who is marking my team-mate is moving forward at the same time as his partner. Before they reach me, I passed the ball to the same team-mate who got free. I found spaces, solutions in a few seconds. Why don't we stimulate more creativity if it's so simple? Because we tend to believe that it is impossible. If I become a coach, and that's my wish, I`d like my team to have the ball. When am I calm on a field? When my team has the ball. As a coach, it will be the same. What did Cruyff say? 'There is only one ball.' And he was right, if I have it, I do not even need to defend, it's the others who have to run after it. If they steal it, I have to get it back quickly. I want to have 99% possession, 100% if possible. The ball is what stimulates players. In Football, in any case, there are two types of coaches: those who are afraid of having the ball because they do not know what to do with it. And those who are afraid of not having it because they do not know how to live without it. These are two different ways of thinking that require intelligence. But please, give me the ball. Is it that hard not to have it? Without the ball, I`m afraid of not enjoying the game. You have to play with Iniesta to know what pleasure means. You have to have exchanged passes with Messi to understand it. 'Pam, pam, pam.' And Leo, Iniesta came. Then Busquets was there too. We had six or seven passes in a row. We did not even do it to attack. But for pure pleasure. So you, kind of, want to humiliate your opponents. No, not all. If we start making these small passes, it's because there is space to do it. And if there is space, it means that our opponent is waiting for us at the back. A player is naturally attracted to the ball, even if he plays in a team that likes possession or not. And he likes it even more if he is losing. To make a comeback, it will be necessary to recover it, so at some point, they will come to stop us. We cannot give them the ball. What do they see? Two players, men-marked, passing to each other on the sideline. While for example, when we are losing, what Messi looks for is a way to find space, attract players towards him to free his team-mates to be able to pass the ball to them. So there is something mechanical. Repeating the same things is only good if you understand why you do it. I spent my life receiving the ball from the back, turning around and looking at where opponents were. Then, my brain tells me: 'Here, there are three, there. There are two. Well, I`m going to pass it on the other side.' Sometimes I watch games on TV, and I say: 'Well, they're attacking badly.' They often do it on the side where there is the more opponents. But why? You cannot attack well If you are outnumbered. When I played with Alves and Messi, we often attacked three against one, Ok. Three against two, Ok. Three against three. But it was the maximum. As soon as you are outnumbered, you have to switch the game where there is space and time. When you watch games on television, despite the camera's different angles, do you manage to distinguish these notions of space-time? When I watch a game, I do it deeply. If a friend talks to me during a match, I say: 'Hush, I`m trying to understand! Watching a Football match is like watching a film. If you distract me, I do not understand anything about dialogues between players. Talk to me when there will be a stoppage of play. Do not be like my wife: Xavi, I do not know this. . ' I do not answer my friend. I am so absorbed by what I see. Thinking is all I have in football. I`m not Messi: he dribbles four guys. I don't.

Maybe they never taught you how to do it. It cannot be learned. When you are neither fast nor skillful like me, you compensate with your other qualities. During an oriented control, yes, I can erase a rival, but otherwise, have you already seen me doing stepovers? Never. Interview: "Why? I`m not comfortable with that. It's not me. I am not good with that. I feel comfortable when it comes to creating numeral superiority. Give me the ball and I will not lose it. Because I think. Because I`m watching. Because I`ve been training on this all my life. Because it's written deep inside my neurons.

Beyond what you've learned at La Masia and while watching games on TV , you're also a fan of picking mushroom and baby-foot. Did these activities help you in any way? l have some things I always do, it's like an obsession. When I entered this room, I analyzed how the chairs, the tables were placed. I always want to sit where I can see the whole room. It's a reflex, I always do that. Because I like to control. I do not like surprises, for example, I want to know what will happen. I have an organizational capacity even on a daily basis. I know what I have to do hour by hour, without the need of a reminder. The agenda is in my brain.

You seem to be pretty good at Tetris, right? Are you kidding me? I was a champion. Do you see the pieces falling so fast? Well, it was me. I did not play anything else on Game Boy. It is a game in which you cannot do anything: you have to fit the pieces in a certain direction, anticipate the ones that will fall. It is a puzzle game that awakens your cognitive abilities. Sometimes you cannot play Tetris, so you have a little free space, you have to know what to do with it, guess the piece that will come, choose the right moment to drag it to such and such a place. It's space-time, like Football. Everyone who has played Tetris knows what I mean. You make a whole block leaving a space to fit the large piece so that it fits well. That's thinking about the second action. And preparation for Tetris is the same in Football, it is essential. Do you also see bricks when you're on the pitch or is it different? It's different. I calculate the passing lines, the distances. I try to correct them too: 'Why does my teammate come two meters from me? Stay 30 meters away!' I`m the happiest person in the world on the pitch when I see that there are movements, because it increases the passing options. After taking the information, just before making my gesture, my brain sends me a kind of signal: 'It's now that you have to pass the ball.' It happens to me when all the spatiotemporal factors are in place. And usually, it's for decisive passes. Emery said that he wants his player to be smarter than him. How can you deal with a group of players who don't see the game the way you do? l will try to teach them my idea of football. Make sure to stimulate talent. Obviously, I will not ignore the physical aspect, which is necessary, but I mean that I do not want my defender to just spend his time defending. No, no. I want him to play, to go forward. Ask Mascherano if he has not learned to play football in Barcelona. He had to adapt. He was smart. Like Abidal and Umtiti. Umtiti is the best centre-back, isn't he? Why? Because he's doesn't spend his time just defending. He plays, he thinks, he goes forward, he anticipates. In Lyon, he recovered the ball, then was happy to only give it to the midfielder, who was doing his job. At Barca, you have to participate more, it facilitates the work of the midfielder. When he goes forward, it gives him better option to pass the ball. It also gives him space and time to think. What about Dembélé? He will need some time. Barca is like a final exam for a footballer. It is like Dembélé is passing a Master degree right now because not everyone can play for this club. Why? Because you have to know things three times more than elsewhere. Barca play on barely thirty meters of play. Dembélé has a lot of talent, he is very fast, but here, he is not going to have the boulevards he had at Dortmund or Rennes. He had more space, so more time there. What will he do then? He will have to learn to think faster, in a few thousandths of a second. This is where we will see if he has the mentality. He must say to himself: 'l am a Barça player. ' You have to be mentally strong, to have convictions. There are average players who spent fifteen years at Barca, because they had a character. And there are some excellent players who did not do anything because they couldn't handle pressure. At training, when you saw them, you would say to yourself: 'They will break everything. They’re going to be legends.' But no. As soon as they entered the pitch, their legs started shaking, they did not want the ball anymore. And you would wonder: 'Holy f*ck, what`s happening to them?' Is it the famous 'scenic fear' that Jorge Valdano talks about? That's it. Mental strength is what stabilizes the performance. That's what makes you stronger. When there is fire, Marcelo, Modric or Sergio Ramos do not hide. On the contrary, it's at this moment that they appear. What did Lucas Vazquéz do against PSG? He entered the pitch with the desire win. A missile. The guy even went to Kimpembe. And there you say to yourself: 'What is he doing? He's crazy or what?' No, he's just mentally strong. You played at Barcelona, which has a very specific game philosophy. But you also played with a lot of foreign players. Are there various forms of game intelligence in your opinion? It has nothing to do with the nationality but rather with the character of each player. Obviously, a Brazilian does not have the same vision of life as a German. Generally, they are rather playful. They relativize the problems better. When you see Marcelo, Alves or Neymar, you have the impression that they play in the street, without pressure.

What do you feel when you make a bad decision? l feel my heart coming out of my chest.

XAVI INTERVIEW BY JAVIER PRIETO SANTOS

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alands9 · 7 years ago

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S2E06 Melora

They should shoot the station from below more often. It's got a lot more floors, and helps give it better sense of scale. I do repeat my original complaint: they need to do some close-ups to really give a sense of scale.

I suppose I'm not surprised that the Cardassian space Station is not ADA compliant.

“Not acceptable?” It would be one thing if she declined the offer, but I'm not sure that as an ensign she should be declaring things unacceptable.

I'm rather disappointed. They made a big deal about how she comes from a super low gravity world. I was hoping for something a little more alien than somebody who looks like a human.

“Trolley car?” You can cover it with unnecessary sheets of metal and call it a trolley car, but it's a wheelchair.

I know humans who don't get around as well as she does with a cane. The wheelchair seems overkill.

By the Prophets, we're not doing a disability episode, just replacing somebody who's actually disabled with a space alien, are we? I suppose it was the 90s. That would have been progressive for television in the 90s.

You'll adapt? It can literally be replicated in a few minutes. There's desiring independence, and then there's just being bull-headed.

She is really mouthy to people who are her superior officers. She better be the prophets’ gift to stellar cartography.

Also, the wormhole has been being explored for what, a year now? I doubt there's much cartography to do with a quick jaunt through the wormhole. For a longer-term exploratory mission, you need more than just one or maybe two people in a runabout, you need crew and supplies for an extended period. And I'm not so sure about needing a specialist in cartography. It seems like the sort of thing that just about anybody who could fly a runabout with suitable sensors could do, record the data, and bring home. Or even a drone. Sending a specialized cartographer just seems like a waste of time.

Maybe somebody more versed in art than I am will look at that bracelet and see a level of artistry that I'm not. But to me it looks like something the props department banged out of sculpy and spray painted gold in an hour or two.

Yeah, I'd be spooked too, Quark. How the hell does he eat with his nose running across the middle of his mouth?

Quark really needs to learn to close his door when he's not open. Seems like there's an endless stream of people wondering in at the wrong time.

I appreciate someone who can walk straight up to Quark and tell him that he's here to kill him. That requires a certain amount of guts. And probably a reason why you know Quark won't go to the authorities.

If the threat is a fake out I'm going to be pissed.

“Until they sit in the chair?” But I thought that most of the time she was in some sort of anti-gravity doohickey. I took the chair to be a highly unusual thing. Which is why she had to specifically practice before coming here.

Ultimately, it's pretty clear that this is going to be a disability episode, just without any pesky people with actual disabilities. * sigh *

Okay, maybe her anti-gravity thing is another chair.

“I wasn't going to allow any... handicap....” * sigh *

“To be honest, I prefer to work alone.” I don't think you understand Starfleet, or any military organization, or any large organization at all.

Apology? No, this is Doctor Bashir. I assume he's here to mack on you.

Bashir you're being an asshole. Don't psychoanalyze people. At least, not if they don't ask.

By the Prophets, being an asshole Is actually going to get him a date.

He bit the coin to test it. Is this a Klingon Ren Faire?

That supposedly Klingon food looks suspiciously like a gummy worm.

Bashir thought he could make a career out of tennis? I'm not sure how you make a career out of playing a sport in the post-money Federation, but okay.

The ensign snuck out early and stole a runabout, didn't she? That sort of shit should get her drummed out of Starfleet.

Your first instinct was not to ask computer where she was, but to break into her quarters?

I feel a little bad for thinking this, but she is totally flopping in the ground like Magikarp.

I'm with you, the raised lip at every door is a terrible architectural feature.

I'm genuinely surprised I misguessed.

Come to think of it, did she end up in this position because everybody else was trying to get rid of her?

Are we going to get some actual low gravity special effects?

That's not low gravity. That is literally zero gravity.

For early 90s television special effects, these are quite good. They've aged quite well. I'm not getting the sense that you often get in the zero-gravity scenes that the actors are standing on something, or hanging from a wire, and they've just hidden the floor or the wires. It’s not perfect, but it’s really, really good.

Okay, I guess it is low gravity. There is a tiny, tiny amount of gravity. Way less than Earth's moon. Did she live on a planet the size of the Little Prince’s planet?

Was that her way of macking on the doctor? Okay, based on the kiss, yes.

Clearly she needs a badass exoskeleton of some sort. I kind of assumed that the weird metal contraption she's wearing was, but it doesn't seem to provide any strength magnification.

You're asking if Dax thinks there's room for romance in Starfleet? Curzon apparently slept with everyone.

Oh, that's cruel. Funny, but cruel.

The charitable view is that doctor Bashir is offering to give the ensign superpowers. I'll admit, if someone offered me super strength, and it was free, I'd take it. The less charitable view, is that we're doing a disability episode, and the solution is apparently to “fix” the person.

How does increasing the output from the brain, to the extent that that's even a sensible thing to say, make someone stronger? That's not how that works.

Bashir, she already could walk. Just not here.

Apparently DS9 does not have an open beverage container law.

The technobabble in this episode is bugging me. There's some sort of magic reason why adjusting her brain will make her instantly stronger. And some other magic reason why, when the treatment is complete, she can never go back to low-gravity environment. You know, despite the fact that humans are capable of doing so.

Of course Dax is familiar with Earth fairy tales. Some point I'd like an alien to make a literary reference that they have to explain because no human understands it.

it's very important to mention that Hans Christian Andersen wrote it; this will be of great importance to the alien.

Yes, let's make a reference to story in which the heroine not only doesn't get anything she wants, but she dissolves.

Wait, security opened fire first, and I'm dubious they even saw the gun that Quark’s friend had.

“And I'm glad you got me to unlock the doors to my quarters.” Is that what the kids are calling it these days?

#Season 1 #A Very Special Episode #Bashir Episode

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demitgibbs · 6 years ago

Text

Kyle MacLachlan Talks New Gay Dad Role, Reaching LGBTQ Youth

Here, the actor talks about raising his son, Callum, much like Ray Winter does, gay fans who slip into his DMs and bears who love his rosé.

youtube

You’ve played dads before. But what about Ray spoke to you differently?

You were the stepfather of a gay son, Andrew Van de Kamp, on Desperate Housewive. Who does the better job parenting a queer kid: Orson Hodge or Ray Winter?

youtube

When were your eyes first opened to having an LGBTQ following?

How has it become obvious through social media?

I have a friend who says Blue Velvet was responsible for his sexual awakening. Is that what gay fans tell you on Twitter?

What kind of attention did Showgirls get you from the LGBTQ community?

youtube

I was at a gay bar once and they were showing Showgirls on all the TVs. When you shot that film, did you expect for it to live on in the LGBTQ community like it has?

Particularly at gay bars.

At least there! And midnight showings!

For 2004’s rom-com Touch of Pink, what was special about portraying the ghost of Cary Grant who gives advice to a gay Muslim man?

You played the mayor of Portland in Portlandia. Do you think that character would make a good mayor of Twin Peaks or Wisteria Lane?

Why haven’t we seen you in more openly gay roles?

Have there been gay roles you’ve turned down?

It’s always about the quality of the material, so if it there was, it just wasn’t worth telling.

But then you read something like Giant Little Ones.

And a reminder to your own son that his dad is OK with whomever he becomes or wants to be.

In your spare time, you are a winemaker. Are gay men some of your most loyal rosé buyers?

In a queer context “bear” means a hairy, chubby gay man, so it can’t hurt that “Pursued by Bear” is the name of your brand.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/03/21/kyle-maclachlan-talks-new-gay-dad-role-reaching-lgbtq-youth/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/183608308425

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cynthiajayusa · 6 years ago

Text

Kyle MacLachlan Talks New Gay Dad Role, Reaching LGBTQ Youth

Here, the actor talks about raising his son, Callum, much like Ray Winter does, gay fans who slip into his DMs and bears who love his rosé.

youtube

You’ve played dads before. But what about Ray spoke to you differently?

You were the stepfather of a gay son, Andrew Van de Kamp, on Desperate Housewive. Who does the better job parenting a queer kid: Orson Hodge or Ray Winter?

youtube

When were your eyes first opened to having an LGBTQ following?

How has it become obvious through social media?

I have a friend who says Blue Velvet was responsible for his sexual awakening. Is that what gay fans tell you on Twitter?

What kind of attention did Showgirls get you from the LGBTQ community?

youtube

I was at a gay bar once and they were showing Showgirls on all the TVs. When you shot that film, did you expect for it to live on in the LGBTQ community like it has?

Particularly at gay bars.

At least there! And midnight showings!

For 2004’s rom-com Touch of Pink, what was special about portraying the ghost of Cary Grant who gives advice to a gay Muslim man?

You played the mayor of Portland in Portlandia. Do you think that character would make a good mayor of Twin Peaks or Wisteria Lane?

Why haven’t we seen you in more openly gay roles?

Have there been gay roles you’ve turned down?

It’s always about the quality of the material, so if it there was, it just wasn’t worth telling.

But then you read something like Giant Little Ones.

And a reminder to your own son that his dad is OK with whomever he becomes or wants to be.

In your spare time, you are a winemaker. Are gay men some of your most loyal rosé buyers?

In a queer context “bear” means a hairy, chubby gay man, so it can’t hurt that “Pursued by Bear” is the name of your brand.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/03/21/kyle-maclachlan-talks-new-gay-dad-role-reaching-lgbtq-youth/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazin.blogspot.com/2019/03/kyle-maclachlan-talks-new-gay-dad-role.html

0 notes

hotspotsmagazine · 6 years ago

Text

Kyle MacLachlan Talks New Gay Dad Role, Reaching LGBTQ Youth

Here, the actor talks about raising his son, Callum, much like Ray Winter does, gay fans who slip into his DMs and bears who love his rosé.

youtube

You’ve played dads before. But what about Ray spoke to you differently?

You were the stepfather of a gay son, Andrew Van de Kamp, on Desperate Housewive. Who does the better job parenting a queer kid: Orson Hodge or Ray Winter?

youtube

When were your eyes first opened to having an LGBTQ following?

How has it become obvious through social media?

I have a friend who says Blue Velvet was responsible for his sexual awakening. Is that what gay fans tell you on Twitter?

What kind of attention did Showgirls get you from the LGBTQ community?

youtube

I was at a gay bar once and they were showing Showgirls on all the TVs. When you shot that film, did you expect for it to live on in the LGBTQ community like it has?

Particularly at gay bars.

At least there! And midnight showings!

For 2004’s rom-com Touch of Pink, what was special about portraying the ghost of Cary Grant who gives advice to a gay Muslim man?

You played the mayor of Portland in Portlandia. Do you think that character would make a good mayor of Twin Peaks or Wisteria Lane?

Why haven’t we seen you in more openly gay roles?

Have there been gay roles you’ve turned down?

It’s always about the quality of the material, so if it there was, it just wasn’t worth telling.

But then you read something like Giant Little Ones.

And a reminder to your own son that his dad is OK with whomever he becomes or wants to be.

In your spare time, you are a winemaker. Are gay men some of your most loyal rosé buyers?

In a queer context “bear” means a hairy, chubby gay man, so it can’t hurt that “Pursued by Bear” is the name of your brand.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/03/21/kyle-maclachlan-talks-new-gay-dad-role-reaching-lgbtq-youth/

0 notes