#only because it's also from the shrek soundtrack and came up directly after the other one

[ghostsinthecellar]

you can usually tell a lot about a person by the type of music   they listen to. put your favourite playlist on shuffle and list the   first ten songs then tag ten people — no skipping!

tagged by @quitetheketch​ - thank you! <3 okay so I...am an agent of chaos and I don’t listen to playlists, I just put the whole 17 days worth kit and caboodle on shuffle and go from there, so I did skip just one or two. anyways! please note I swear to god I do listen to women I really do 1 - Eye of the Tiger by Survivor 2 - Face to Face by Garth Brooks 3 - All These Things That I’ve Done by The Killers 4 - Stay Home by Self 5 - Until Yesterday by JC Chasez 6 - Make Me Lose Control by Eric Carmen 7 - The Heart Won’t Be Denied by Colin Devlin 8 - Who by The Sheepdogs 9 - My Guitar Lies Bleeding In My Arms by Bon Jovi 10 - Galileo by The Indigo Girls tagging just @futureofthemasses​ & @tundrakatiebean​ because I can

[purplekoop]

I feel like it's more or less fair to call Shrek 3 overhated at this point, though I think its bad reputation (no franchise soundtrack pun intended) is more from comparing it to the other three Shrek movies getting more and more genuine appreciation over time while The Third feels... just kinda shallow. Watchable (mostly), but shallow.

The big issue I think comes from comparing Shrek's internal conflict (yes I mean this completely seriously, internet irony poison be damned) between the movies. In 1, Shrek starts out thinking he's unlovable and can't love in turn, but by the end he realizes he loves Fiona and is willing to end his stubborn solitude to admit it. In 2, after he and Fiona are happily together, he still has this nagging belief that he's not good enough for her and the now much more attentive and judgemental world around him won't accept him, but then he learns he was good all along while still needing to admit where he wasn't. Both of these are really grounded but poignant fears to give a character that are *astonishingly* relatable to a lot of people.

In 3 he's... scared of being a dad. Which... I mean hey, it's a realistic fear, but it's not as complicated and feels like a bit of a retread in the "I'm not good enough" kind of story. It's also just not executed as well, it gets lost in subplots of varying relevance. Unlike the other villains, which directly affirm Shrek's initial negative perception and thus defeating them also defeats this false perception, Prince Charming doesn't play into this theme... at all. He just hates Shrek, and there needs to be a bad guy, so... he's the main bad guy now. All the ways this theme is actually addressed are a lot more heavy-handed and shallow, like the baby nightmare (HELLISH scene, genuinely bumps down the movie a whole letter grade for me on its own, the "DADA" at the end terrified me as a kid), Merlin's longwinded smoke vision of a baby carriage, or... Arthur.

Who yeah I admit, like a lot of the movie, isn't THAT bad on his own. It's more just that he takes up a lot of the movie for a character who isn't really entertaining (your mileage may vary, I think he's Okay but I'm certain people actively hate him somewhere), and how his narrative role is again, a shallow way to tap into the "Shrek is scared of fatherhood" core of the story. Somehow he's still the best attempt, but giving Shrek a teenager to escort for a bit feels like a somewhat disconnected way to prepare him for. Babies. I think the other way around, Shrek as part of Arthur's story, actually works pretty well. Giving the big green cultural icon the task of giving his well-learned philosophy of "don't care how other people think about you and just be yourself" to a socially awkward teenager actually isn't a terrible idea, it's just the problem is that most people came for Shrek's story, not Arthur's. I mean oddly enough a shockingly similar pairing of narrative journeys is what makes up most of the first Spider-Verse movie, but with the uncertain teenager being the lead and the scared-of-having-kids begrudging adult guide being a secondary protagonist. Peter B having the more shallow story works there because not only is it handled better, but it's also not the *main plot*, while we care about Miles because it's his movie and we follow him from the start. If the perspectives were reversed then I doubt people would like Miles *nearly* as much. Not saying I think people would've been as sold on a movie following Arthur from the start, but it probably would've functionally worked better... probably.

(Also sorry for the random Spider tangent but I watched that movie earlier this week and just was hit with that realization)

Meanwhile I haven't actually seen Shrek the Third in ages, despite seeing it fairly often as a child. I think even back then I preferred the other two (didn't watch Forever After until way later on). If I did I could probably find more to like and more to critique, but I wanted to at least convey the basics of why I think this movie is as derided as it is. It's less horrible on his own (Dreamworks has made WAY worse) and more just the worst Shrek movie, which hasn't been as kind to further critical analysis like the other movies. The overall more juvenile tone didn't help, even if it was still largely higher brow than a lot of other Dreamworks movies or other animated kid-oriented movies around the same time. It's just Shrek is so unusually special of a series that genuinely has great thematic cohesion, a gap in that streak gets noticed.

Anyways I'm VERY sorry for the impromptu Shrek the Third review, I tried to keep it short to just the main points to explain why people hate it but that still makes for a relatively long post.

(Actually a more relevant positive thing I can say about 3: the Eels song in 2 during Shrek's somber moment of contemplation has the line "I need some sleep", while the opening song of 3 starts with the line "I got some sleep and I needed it, not a lot just a little bit" and I think that's neat. I didn't notice this myself, it was something pointed out in a much more thorough and critical review from a few years back, but it's the most relevant thing I can say to the initial post.)

being a “your music got me through the hardest times of my life” Eels fan always makes for a wild experience when watching the Shrek movies

[woildismyerster]

Hey if you still want to write something with that “I love you” thing, number 5 (during an impromptu dance party) would be adorable with Race in my opinion! Also P.S.: I love your blog like a lot❤️

5.  Blurt it out in the middle of an impromptu dance party in the kitchen, as clumsy as your two left feet.  When time seems to freeze, hastily tack on “in that shirt” or “when you make your award winning meatballs” or, if you are feeling particularly brave, “when we do this.”  Resume your dancing and pretend you don’t feel her eyes on you for the rest of the night.

Thank you so much for the request!  I was so stoked to write this.  You have great taste in prompts, my dude.  P.S.: I love your blog too!

It wasn’t that Race had a lot of relationship rules for the two of you.  Why make rules when everything was already wonderful?  There did not need to be a set date night, since neither of you could get enough of the other.  No rules about who you could or could not talk to, or how much touching was allowed in public.  It was a relationship that was largely led by what felt right, and Race felt awfully right when you were around.

There was one set of rules, though, that was set in stone.  There was a certain list of songs, subject to additions but no subtractions, that the two of you were required to dance to.  It did not matter where you were, what you were doing, or who you were with.  The first few notes would play, his eyes would fly to yours, and you would drop everything to dance to it.  “Come on Eileen” comes on in the grocery store?  Ditch the cart and get to an area open enough to fit your fully choreographed dance routine.  “Walking on Sunshine” starts playing at a family reunion?  Hopefully you weren’t talking to anybody important, because that conversation is coming to a swift end.

The rules were not linked to the fact that the two of you were dating.  They had come long before, back when having a crush made everything feel important and competitive.  At first, they only mattered at parties.  If “your song” came on, wasn’t it a moral obligation to dance together?

Eventually, you didn’t have one song with Race.  It was a half dozen, maybe more.  Then it wasn’t just at parties, when the lights were low and everybody was too drunk to question it.  It was anywhere, as long as it meant that Race got to watch you smile and see the way you focused on moving just the way you wanted to.  When he started dating you, it just solidified them.

Race loved dancing with you.  Really, he supposed, he loved you.  He loved you in every way he could think of; every way he thought you would allow, but it was only when he danced with you that he had trouble keeping himself from saying it.

Was three months of dating enough time?  He knew he felt it, but did you?  Would you say it back, or panic, or think he was joking?  Not worth the risk.

There had been a day, a few weeks before finals when you guys had just started college, when he had been horrified by the telltale beginning of “Gasolina.”  You had just had your first fight.  It wasn’t really anybody’s fault - just some miscommunication or another, with both of you too proud to admit that it was stupid so you could move on.  The fight should have ended so fast, so early, but you were both too proud to back down.  As a result, you were tense and uncertain together, too quiet and too sharp.

The song began out on the quad, on one of those perfect days.  Race had heard you call it an “Indian Summer” day.  It seemed like the entire university had congregated outside, hoping to make the most of one of the last warm days before a seemingly eternal winter.  Race’s eyes shot to yours, instinct winning out over pride.

You had looked back, and after a second of uncertainty, Race moved away from the rest of the guys.  You mirrored him, finding a strip of empty grass, before the regular dancing could begin.

Race wanted to make you laugh.  He wanted to be over the top, or ridiculously bad, or anything that would break that uncertain stoniness on your face.

Slowly, too slowly, you warmed up.  The first time he tried the Sprinkler, you hardly looked at him.  By the time he was resorting to the Lawnmower or the Shopping Cart, you had loosened up enough to give a snort of laughter.  When he reached to twirl you, he made sure to spin you straight into his arms.  

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled into your ear.

You stepped back and offered him a careless grin.  “Sorry for what?”  When you kept dancing, the relief that swept over him was overwhelming.  Truly, his legs went a little wobbly, a little weak, at the thought that you would join him in the caf for breakfast the next morning, like always.

“I love you,” he blurted.  The relief shifted to horror when you faltered, looking at him again.  Before you had a chance to respond, he grabbed your hips and drew you close to him.  “-r sweet moves.  I love them.  Super classy, babe.”

You laughed, squirming a little.  “They’re classier when you aren’t trying to grind on me.”

You never mentioned the exchange afterwards, so Race figured he was in the clear.  No worries.  He loved you, but you didn’t know it yet.  Good.

The Cupid Shuffle, while not on the unofficial list of dances that the two of you had to do, was definitely a tune that Race always got down for.  It was, like, illegal not to dance to it.  So, at Jack and Katherine’s wedding, Race ended up next to you for the song.

During the portion of the song where you were directly behind him, you leaned over to whisper into his ear.  “I dare you to do the rest of the song like the Cha Cha Slide.”

“Absolutely not,” Race said, horror and delight intermingling  “No, no, no.”

“I dare you,” you crooned, bopping your way 90 degrees away from him.  “Are you a chicken?”

He groaned, his amusement slowly winning out over the clear and present danger.  “I’m no chicken, doll.”  He stopped dancing, ignoring the surprised looks from the people around him, and started clapping.

You were cackling while you danced.  You almost doubled over when his dancing would interfere with somebody else’s, and Race thought for a while that you might genuinely be in danger of wetting yourself.  He would have cared more if he hadn’t been trying to ignore the heat in his cheeks.  Jack would never let him live this down.

When the Cupid Shuffle ended, you grabbed him hand and dragged him away.  Mirth danced in your eyes, or maybe that was just the happy tears.  “You have cha-cha-d your way right into my good graces,” you said.  Giggles still mixed with your words, and he thought that your cheeks must ache with the size of your smile.

He leaned in and pressed a swift kiss against your lips.  Another.  Another.  “I love you,” he said.

You tried to stifle your laughter, but it had turned into a vicious cycle.  Each spurt of laughter powered the next one, and you couldn’t stop.  You opened your mouth to speak, maybe to say it back, but Race chickened out.  Again.

“-when you do evil things,” he finished lamely.  “You’re diabolical, honey.”  He kissed you again, effectively swallowing anything you might have wanted to say to him, and he mentally kicked himself.  He may have been ballsy enough to do the wrong dance, but he really was too much of a chicken to follow through.  Soon enough, thankfully, he was too swept up by your lips and your smell and your hands to worry about what he should have done.

The Shrek soundtrack was the God of music.  The Forrest Gump of movies.  The pizza of food.  It was indisputably prime, so when “Accidentally in Love” came on while you were cooking in your apartment, Race was swift to sweep you up into his arms.

“This song isn’t a slow dance,” you said, but you settled into him easily enough.  You wound your arms around his neck and settled your face against his shoulder.

“Every song is a slow dance, if you try hard enough.”  Race held you close against him, not caring about food that could burn or any mess you could be getting onto him.

“Even ‘Gasolina?’”

“Any song,” he repeated.  “You just have to try harder.”

You hummed a little, half in response to him and half to go along with the song.

Race took a deep breath, heart settling in his chest.  It was steady, if a little heavy.  You were still humming a little, the vibrations rumbling through him too.  “I love you,” he said softly.  There was a split second where he thought about correcting himself, but it wasn’t anything serious.  Last second nerves, but not second thoughts.  “I love you when we do this.”

He felt you smile against him, but he quickly swept you away into a different conversation.  Race desperately wanted to hear you say it back, but he didn’t want to spoil the evening if you didn’t.  This was perfect.  This was what he wanted.  So he talked about the awful haircut Albert got, how wonderful the new Panic! at the Disco song was, and about how it should be illegal to put coconut in chocolate.  In anything, really.

You did not tell Race that you loved him too, not then.  The moment had passed.  But he felt your eyes on him, warm and hopeful, and he knew that another moment would come soon enough.  They always did.

[corancoranthemagicalman]

💜🌱🌻💜🌱🌻💜🌱🌻💜

I actually *think* I saw something about a class or studying that made me think you're in university. Obvs people can go to university at older ages but maybe it was a bit of the shouting about eating glass lol. Fun fact: I found out recently that my grandparents love the first shrek movie. Lol my mom hates it and I didn't see it until I was in university probably. I'm flabbergasted that my grandma likes it.

Yes, I'm 26. And when I was in highschool people often thought I was in university.

I'm for sure a libra! This isn't part of the game but my hogwarts house is slytherin and I think that overlaps with some scorpio traits?

I am currently single. I do have ba lot of friends but I find it difficult to make *close* friends.

Eyes are blue! And I'd also consider myself an extroverted introvert.

You're better at this than you think lol I do garden, I love reading, I draw/paint/sew/crochet and I love to research things!

My favorite season is autumn, though :) I love the colors and the crisp air that is different than the crisp air of spring. Spring is probably my second favorite.

That sounds like a pretty good weekend (I also play dnd) 🌻 I'll be doing chores and crocheting a sweater

-🐧🌻

Oh, yeah!! I forget how much I actually talk sometimes lol. And the glass diet is one of my key traits lol. Shrek is a masterpiece, so your grandparents have good taste. No counting for you mom, though. Sorry :/ (KIDDING. But seriously, Shrek is a great film.) As a similar fun fact: My grandfather pretty much hates music made after ‘68 unless it’s church hymnals. Except for the Top Gun soundtrack. He loves Berlin’s Take My Breath Away. I do not blame him. It’s my favorite song on the track too. But my surprise when I started obsessing with the soundtrack and he started singing along cannot be measured.

!!! Oh interesting!!! I at the age of 14 got told I looked like a kid’s 36yo teacher because I “looked like her height” so that was fun. On one hand, being thought of as mature when I was younger was nice, but as soon as I hit like 17 I was mostly just tired of dudes hitting on me at work until I subtly started dropping the fact that I was underage. Dudes backed off quickly. Which sort of restored my faith in humanity.

Oh, Slytherins could totally be either or, I feel. I just think that Scorpio matches the traits of the Slytherins we actually got to see the most. And if you’ve read my bio, I’m a Hufflepuff!! So that’s fun!! Further creating the mental image of you in my head.

I was the same way until I met my best friend at university. Sort of feel like I’ve known her my whole life. I could get into my tragic backstory of being the outcast of my friend circle, how I was thee enemy of one of my “friend’s” teenage drama movie life, and etc etc. But the long and short of it is I always had trouble making deep connections. Don’t get me wrong, I love making friends and getting to know people!! I have a lot of friends now and I love them all!! Recently I’ve been going through things and trying to keep up with everyone is, unfortunately, exhausting or impossible. Which is awful but something I’m trying to work through and for the most part, my friends are very understanding and I love and bless them for it. But my best friend, it never feels exhausting talking to her. We don’t talk all the time but we talk once a day. And IDK I just literally can’t remember a time without her almost—I do, obviously—but remembering that time without her is like: how did I live without her? She’s amazing and supportive and if I’ve gotten anything out of my university experience, it’s her.

Ah!! Blue eyes!!! I think they’re so lovely :)) I can see that. Extroverted Introvert solidarity. 👊😔

DAMN. I’m sorta proud of myself?? Does it feel like cheating if I said painting and crotcheting was what first came to mind for me when answering but I only say it after you mentioned them lol. Researching is fun so I do not blame you for that hobby lol.

The end of a fairly decent run. Drat. I’ll be honest, I love autumn conceptually, but over here we don’t have any season other than hot and one week of freezing weather which is why I prefer Winter. I can wrap up if I’m cold; can’t strip off too many layers if I’m hot. The breezes we get in autumn are worth it, though, and I love autumn aesthetically. So I can respect that.

ASDFGHJKL YOU ALSO PLAY DND. Bestie, what class do you play?! Our game was hectic tonight since we had unexpected guest stars (one of our players came directly from the beach with his family so his wife and kids jumped in on our game for this session), but overall fun. I’m just dead tired so I’m turning in early so hopefully, I’m rested enough tomorrow to finish some homework that’s due. (Nothing too bad but I might’ve accidentally pushed it a wee bit. I’m confident in getting it done tho so no big.)

I hope the chores bring you harmony and relaxation, and I hope the sweater is fun!!! Is it a gift or a personal project? My mother used to crotchet a lot. I couldn’t pick up a lick of it, but I liked seeing everything.

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