#this is just cinematic and storytelling beauty ...

[vanessagillings]

Please talk about your favorite animated movies and what makes them special to you! I'm really curious about what you enjoyed about them both in the past and now?

haha, okay you asked!

I LOVE animated movies. My theory on this is that it took me a long time to emotionally relate to most media growing up, where I felt next to nothing watching most movies and shows as a young kid, and didn't relate to books until I was quite a lot older (I read picture books until I was around 10, and then suddenly in middle school, I hopped right to adult novels like 1984 and the entire Darkover series by Marion Zimmer Bradley, ha). But even before I emotionally related to fiction, I really enjoyed watching animation. It was nice to look at, and I enjoyed watching everything move and change. I grew up in the 90's where animated movies were largely 2D, and I spent hours watching and re-watching my favorite movies just studying how the characters moved -- it's definitely a lot of where I got my understanding of human expressions from. But I also think as I got older and started to relate more to fiction, animation was easier to parse emotionally than live action. The body language is clear. The stories are direct and not as forgiving of bad human behavior (I get frustrated sometimes with the defeatism in adult media, that assumes that People Just Act Badly, and that just needs to be accepted). Facial expressions are also exaggerated and more stylized -- think of a single arched eyebrow, for example, an expression that's commonly drawn to express one particular emotion in animation/illustration but which you next to never see on a real human face. My first introduction into serious reading was also manga -- a highly visual medium -- which uses a lot of the same tactics stylistically as western animation: big, expressive faces, bold gestures and big stories. Compare manga with western comics being printed at the time and it's even more obvious to me why I didn't particularly like comics until I was given manga as an option -- and thankfully I lived close to a kinokuniya, so I could spend all my allowance on untranslated books and magazines, which is also where I learned Japanese (もうたくさん忘れてしまいましたけど).

As far as my favorite movies? THAT IS SO HARD. The first animated movie that BLEW MY MIND was The Lion King. I saw it in theaters when I was eight and I was obsessed; it was definitely one of my first special interests. I know that entire movie line by line, frame by frame, and I had the stuffed animals and the trading cards and the clothes (man, was I teased for those clothes!). My other favorite movies as a kid were The Land Before Time, American Tale, and The Secret of NIMH (I was a big Don Bluth fan!) which have left deep impressions on how to approach storytelling for children; I warn you, I go hard on emotions for kids, because I needed that as a kid, and I know I'm not alone. Some of my other favorites are anything Miyazaki but especially Howl's Moving Castle (I relate to Sophie a lot), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (what I watch when I'm In A Mood), Ratatouille (a huge source of echolalia for my husband and me, we often detect nuttiness, let me tell you), Wallace and Gromit and Fantastic Mr Fox, which I watch every fall as an autumnal tradition. Even as an adult who likes live action, too, I still tend to like slightly over the top directors like Wes Anderson and Guy Ritchie, or movies that are highly cinematic like Road to Perdition, which is still one of my favorite films of all time.

In my opinion, animation is a super important medium outside of it being a very beautiful one. I truly believe it helped me access and understand emotion better as a child, and as an adult, it's a massive source of inspiration in my own work 💛

(Sorry for length, but you did ask!)

[wildfairies]

part two of simspo shoutouts <333

@afrolatinotrait 🌹 most gorgeous sims and lookbooks everrrr, every time you post i'm studying your sims' features trying to figure out how you made them GLOW ✍🏼!! during my ts4 break it was always your cas posts that made me want to open the game 😚

@birdietrait 🕊️ i love how your sim style/edit style has evolved but your posts still always have a vibe that's so unique to you! i've especially been inspired by your edits lately!

@wooldawn 🌄 no matter what game you're playing your characters/posts have that gorgeous wooldawn look!! i literally bought skyrim thanks to your screenshots lol

@sikoi ⚔️ just finished checking out the updates to your oc page lol it looks amazing! not only are your renders unbelievable, the lore you create is so cool and interesting!

@periipheral 🎨 i love seeing how you use color in all your posts but especially your lookbooks! the way you style cc is always so pretty and unique!

@mmonetsims 🖼️ kieeee i've been loving everything ab your posts! the styling, faces, editing, lighting, are all chef's kiss!! i've loved seeing your style evolve <3

@warmsol ☀️ obviouslyyy i want to live inside your gorgeous edits with the prettiest sims alive! your posts just emit pure sunshine and are unbelievably detailed!

@machinegrl 🤖 ugh your saves and sims are just so creative and distinct, i'm obsessed with practical magic esp but deadstars is so cool toooo <3

@simphic ☎️ the level of detail your renders have truly blows my mind, not only are they stunning to look at, they srsly make me feel like i just bought luna and yassah's vogue spread or am on ig stories looking at my favorite influencer's account!! could stare at your posts for hours 😍

@elksun 🦌 i loveee your sim style, your sims always have such beautiful and unique features! and i want to be in their friend group so bad 😃

@non-sims 🧸 i swear your sims are so gorgeous and your posts just make me feel calm for some reason, you have such a nice style that balances that smooth cartoon look with realism!

@paupelou 🦋 obsessed with every single one of your sims, you are so so talented and you make cas an art!! your in-game screenshots are always so cinematic and beautiful!

@diactrl 💿 your renders are simply amazing i want to frame them, you make me want to improve my blender skills!

@theeflowerofcarnage 🪻 your sim style reminds me of paintings, your juliet actually changed my brain chemistry and your vatores are canon to me. love your blog (and your affection for the emperor 💀)!

@reallyhailey 🌷 i adore your renders and lookbooks, you inspire me so much and have such an eye for fashion and are so creative!

@yngblkarawak 💎 you've made some of my all-time favorite renders, and i overall just can't believe how creative and stunning your posts are!

@stinkrascal 🦇 forever so inspired by your storytelling and cinematic posts!! i love the lore you create and i love the way you bring it to life with your posts!

[neptunalyin]

Just a thought, ill draw it too when I can. But in Fit's Day 105 stream after the "task failed successfully" part, watch that cinematic masterpiece closely.

See how Fit in 2b2t is bleak and grayscale? It represents the rough and dangerous world that he lived in before Quesadillas Island; an anarchist with no place to call home and a mission to carry out. You'll notice that Ramón and the things he built (amongst other QSMP-related stuff) are bright and colorful, a contrast to Fit's old life. His beautiful baby boy brightened up Fit's world, a man who is always cautious about getting attached to people or things because in that world, nothing is permanent and all will be lost eventually.

That small little Huevo that came into his life is unexpectedly the best thing that has ever happened to him in YEARS. Ramon is his LIGHT, his HOME on the island, and that is why I loved that cinematic so much, it all comes full circle into one beautiful storytelling from Don Huevo.

[starflungwaddledee]

Hello hello!! I absolutely adore Starstruck Dee, she’s a darling!!

I hope it doesn’t sound too strange to ask, but I finished playing through Forgotten Land’s main and postgame stories, and between that and seeing all these wonderful ocs and everything… where can I learn more about the Kirby lore/timeline? Where would I even start with it?

Is it the sorta thing where the base concepts from canon are the same but everyone has their own interpretations of it?

Are Kirby and Bandee kids?? Younger adults? Is it a Rayman situation where they grow up over the course of their games?

I know I sound very uneducated but I really really want to learn!

hi there! thank you so so much! 🥺 i'm so happy that you like her!

this isn't strange to ask at all, and you don't sound uneducated! i'm thrilled to answer for you and if you have any other questions please don't hesitate to reach out!

i'm popping all of this under a read more just because it got very long!

topics covered: the joys of 30+ years of breadcrumb lore delivery, the diverse headcanons of a very creative community, and recommendations on where to step off from if Forgotten Land was your first kirby experience

to be honest kirby "lore" is enormous and sprawling and has been spread out in tiny little crumbs across multiple platforms and medias for over three decades. if you're poking around in tumblr fandom as a starting point, one of the reasons it can be so hard to figure out what's what is because a lot of folks pick one aspect (early game dynamics, ancient anime lore, the mirror world, niche subgames, etc etc) and hyper-focus to their hearts content!

one of the nicest parts about kirby is that the lore, while comprehensive and really cool, is very very open for interpretation. the fandom is very creative, and build all their own niches and headcanons based on the bare bones that we were given in canon, and it's wonderful to see!

for this reason though, i would actually recommend (and this was my personal experience, though only incidentally) you stay outside of the fandom for a bit and formulate all your own preferred headcanons and thoughts, rather than being influenced by others right out the gate. then you can come into fandom and see brand new takes that might surprise you, and hopefully find some folks who have come to the same niche conclusions as you!

a good starting point is Wikirby, and for games specifically their series list is very helpful. it shows you the mainline games, considered 'game canon', and the smaller titles in chronological order. this is often used by folks as a sort of "timeline" for the lore, though again it's totally flexible

forgotten land in particular was an unforgettable (ha!), incredibly beautiful and cinematic game, as well as the series' first foray into 3D gameplay rather than side scrolling platformer.

if you're looking for an active suggestion for which game to play next and you want a similar experience with familiar characters, (and you don't want to do a full chronological playthrough-- this would take you a long time; i should know, i've been working on mine for months!), i would recommend that you try Return To Dream Land Deluxe.

RTDLDX is a scene-for-scene remake of an older chronological game from the modern era of storytelling with a whole additional storyline, so it's a good place to start, and it's also available for the switch which i'm guessing you must have! you'll find familiar characters in there (Kirby, Bandee, King Dedede, and Meta Knight), multiplayer mode, recognisable copy abilities, and an engaging story-- read as little ahead of time if you haven't already so that it can surprise and delight you!

Star Allies is the other mainline game available for the switch, and it was made as a kind of love letter to the series up until that point. it honours dozens of characters who appeared in previous games and is chock full of nostalgia and uncharacteristically blatant lore drops, but in my opinion you'll enjoy it much more if you have at least a passing idea of who all the allies are!

if you're looking for something other than games, i highly recommend this tumblr masterlist for translations of the light novels! other medias you can check out are the anime and the various mangas. all three of these are quite different to the games, and can be considered to have their own separate canons; some folks prefer one over the other, or will mix and match elements from all medias! some even like to bring in "lore" from the real life kirby cafes!

kirby as a creative playground is diverse and really beautiful; it's the only franchise i have ever created for and fandom i have participated in actually, because i've not seen another quite like it. if you're interested in being creative yourself, i do strongly recommend that you play around in your own sandbox (or with one or two friends who are also discovering kirby) for a little while first to get a feel for what you like!

i hope you'll have a fun time interacting with the franchise, and if you play any of the other games i really hope you love them!! if you want any other suggestions, feel free to reach out!

as for the question of ages, you'll find this question in particular gets western fandom a little more riled up than most. none of the characters have any canonically stated ages, and in japanese remarkably few have genders. kirby himself is specifically intended to be projected on by the player! technically, that could make kirby your age, and your gender, if you so wish!

japanese fandom generally focuses on a very wide range of characters and interconnected relationships, even including a lot of common enemy characters, and considers most of the characters to be of comparable ages; either all teens or all adults. western fandom focuses quite a lot on the much beloved meta knight and dedede partnership, and subsequently-- as romance centric fandoms do-- likes to play around with the idea of kirby and bandee as their kids or wards.

fandom will offer you everything in this regard; far future AUs, baby adoption AUs, even AUs where meta knight and dedede are children while kirby and bandee are adults! it's really entirely up to you, and my number one suggestion is to always be respectful and kind towards everyone's creative headcanons, even if they do not align with your own.

for me, i naturally project onto player characters, and so i always saw kirby and bandee as similar in age to myself. as such, because i'm an adult, they've always been adults to me, and i do like to imagine that they have grown from young adults to full adults over the course of the series! i actually was quite shocked to learn that a lot of tumblr folks thought of them as kids, but that's the fun of joining fandom the way i did, and why i recommend it! bake your own cake, and then hop online and find a million others of all different flavours you can try!

[soob1nn]

MY FILMS - ADULT FAME DR

REMINDER! I haven’t shifted yet, so all these is just my imagination 🤍

masterlist - main masterlist

Films are a powerful medium of storytelling and artistic expression. Combining visual, auditory, and narrative elements, films captivate audiences, transporting them to diverse worlds, evoking emotions, and sparking thought. From silent classics to cutting-edge blockbusters, the world of cinema has evolved, reflecting societal changes and pushing creative boundaries. Whether it's the magic of a well-crafted screenplay, the mesmerizing performances of actors, or the technical brilliance behind the scenes, films continue to be a dynamic and influential form of entertainment and cultural expression.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" saga is a cinematic adventure like no other, immersing audiences in a world of high-seas exploits, swashbuckling action, and supernatural wonders. This beloved franchise, brought to life by the charismatic Captain Jack Sparrow, has left an indelible mark on the world of cinema.

What sets the "Pirates of the Caribbean" saga apart is its perfect fusion of thrilling action and cleverly woven mythology. From the very first installment, "The Curse of the Black Pearl," to subsequent sequels, the films have taken viewers on a journey filled with cursed treasures, mythical creatures, and, of course, eccentric pirates.

At the heart of the saga is the enigmatic Captain Jack Sparrow, portrayed brilliantly by Johnny Depp. Jack's witty charm, unpredictable antics, and ever-present quest for rum have made him an iconic character in cinematic history.

The franchise's success also lies in its ability to seamlessly blend history and fantasy. The Caribbean settings, the pirate code, and the age of exploration provide a historically rich backdrop for the fantastical elements like cursed Aztec gold, undead sailors, and mermaids.

Each film in the series has introduced new characters and expanded upon the lore, creating a vast and interconnected narrative that keeps fans eagerly awaiting the next installment.

With unforgettable moments, memorable quotes, and a score that resonates long after the credits roll, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" saga has carved its place as a beloved classic. It's a thrilling voyage into the world of pirates, where legends, curses, and epic battles reign, making it a timeless adventure that continues to captivate audiences of all ages.

BEAUTY OF THE BEAST

"Beauty and the Beast," in its live-action adaptation, breathes new life into a timeless tale that has enchanted generations. This magical film takes the beloved animated classic and transforms it into a visually stunning and emotionally captivating experience.

Set in a picturesque French village, the story follows the intelligent and kind-hearted Belle, brilliantly portrayed by Emma Watson, who longs for more than the provincial life she leads. When her father becomes a prisoner in the enchanted castle of the Beast, played by Dan Stevens, Belle courageously takes his place, embarking on a journey of discovery, love, and the power of inner beauty.

With its stunning visual effects, lavish costumes, and memorable musical score, the live-action "Beauty and the Beast" faithfully pays homage to the original while adding depth to its characters and narrative. The film not only celebrates the power of love but also explores themes of tolerance, acceptance, and the beauty that lies within.

This enchanting adaptation is a cinematic masterpiece that captures the hearts of both long-time fans and new audiences, reaffirming the enduring power of this classic tale as old as time. "Beauty and the Beast" in its live-action form invites us to be their guest in a world where magic and love flourish, reminding us that beauty truly comes from within.

LITTLE WOMEN

"Little Women" stands as a cinematic jewel, capturing the timeless essence of Louisa May Alcott's literary masterpiece. This film adaptation, directed by Greta Gerwig, breathes new life into the beloved narrative of the March sisters, presenting a fresh and poignant take on sisterhood, ambition, and the pursuit of one's dreams.

Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, "Little Women" unfolds the lives of the four March sisters—Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy—each with distinctive personalities and aspirations. The film gracefully weaves between the past and present, allowing audiences to witness the joys and challenges of the sisters as they navigate the trials of womanhood, love, and societal expectations.

With an all-star cast featuring Winter Reed Jackman, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen as the March sisters, and an exceptional performance by Timothée Chalamet as Laurie, the film brings these iconic characters to life with depth and authenticity.

Greta Gerwig's directorial prowess shines through as she infuses "Little Women" with a contemporary spirit, resonating with modern audiences while maintaining the timeless charm of the original story. The film is a celebration of the strength, resilience, and individuality of women, urging viewers to embrace their ambitions and forge their paths.

"Little Women" is a poignant and visually captivating cinematic journey that captures the spirit of sisterhood and the pursuit of one's aspirations. It invites audiences to revisit the cherished tale with fresh eyes, offering a profound and emotionally resonant experience for both new and devoted fans of this literary classic.

KNIVES OUT

"Knives Out" is a modern masterpiece in the realm of whodunits, a brilliantly crafted film that masterfully blends mystery, humor, and a star-studded ensemble cast. Directed by Rian Johnson, this murder-mystery film takes audiences on a rollercoaster ride of suspense, twists, and dark humor.

The story centers around the death of wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey, portrayed by Christopher Plummer. When renowned detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, is enlisted to investigate, the Thrombey family becomes the focal point of scrutiny. With each member harboring secrets and motives, the plot thickens, and the suspense escalates.

"Knives Out" boasts a stellar cast including Daniel Craig, Winter Reed Jackman, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more, each delivering standout performances that contribute to the film's gripping atmosphere. The narrative is cleverly layered, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as they attempt to unravel the intricate web of deception and motive.

Beyond its gripping storyline, "Knives Out" is a sharp and satirical take on family dynamics, privilege, and the consequences of wealth. Rian Johnson's expert direction and sharp dialogue elevate the film, making it a delightful homage to classic whodunits while infusing it with a contemporary edge.

This cinematic gem not only keeps the audience guessing until the very end but also provides a fresh and entertaining perspective on the murder mystery genre. "Knives Out" is a clever and stylish film that engages the mind, tickles the funny bone, and ultimately leaves a lasting impression, establishing itself as a standout in the pantheon of modern cinema.

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

"Top Gun: Maverick" is a highly anticipated sequel that soars into the iconic world of fighter jets and high-stakes aerial combat. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Tom Cruise reprising his role as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, this film is a thrilling continuation of the 1986 classic, "Top Gun."

Set decades after the events of the original film, Captain Maverick finds himself adapting to a new era of aerial warfare dominated by drone technology. As he mentors a new generation of Top Gun graduates, the film promises heart-pounding dogfights, cutting-edge aviation sequences, and a nostalgic nod to the beloved elements that made the first film an enduring favorite.

"Top Gun: Maverick" not only reintroduces fans to the adrenaline-fueled world of fighter pilots but also introduces fresh faces played by actors like Miles Teller and Winter Reed Jackman. With its combination of high-octane action and character-driven storytelling, the film aims to capture the spirit of the original while propelling the narrative into uncharted skies.

As Maverick confronts his past and embraces the challenges of the future, the film offers a blend of nostalgia and innovation, promising an exhilarating cinematic experience for both longtime fans and a new generation of moviegoers. "Top Gun: Maverick" is poised to be a blockbuster that reignites the Maverick legend while delivering a visual spectacle that takes the iconic franchise to new heights.

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" unfolds on the silver screen as a spellbinding cinematic journey through the glitz and glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age. Adapted from Taylor Jenkins Reid's compelling novel, this film invites audiences into the captivating life story of Evelyn Hugo, a legendary film actress portrayed with brilliance and nuance.

In the film, we follow Evelyn's journey through the decades, beautifully capturing the essence of old Hollywood. The glamorous sets, meticulously crafted costumes, and evocative cinematography transport viewers to a bygone era where stars shone brightly on and off the screen.

As the narrative unfolds, the complexities of Evelyn’s seven marriages come to life, each husband portrayed by a stellar cast that adds depth to the character-driven drama. The film navigates the twists and turns of Evelyn’s life, revealing secrets, scandals, and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of fame and love.

The storytelling prowess of Taylor Jenkins Reid is masterfully translated to the screen, with Evelyn's compelling voice narrating her journey. The film seamlessly weaves together themes of identity, love, and the price of success, creating an emotional tapestry that resonates with audiences.

While exploring the intricacies of Evelyn's life, the film introduces Monique Grant, the journalist chosen by Evelyn to tell her story. Monique's personal journey becomes an integral part of the cinematic narrative, adding layers of depth and connection to the overarching tale.

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" on the big screen is more than a glamorous expose of Hollywood excess; it's a poignant exploration of the human experience. The film's rich storytelling, combined with outstanding performances and lush visuals, elevates it beyond a mere adaptation, making it a cinematic triumph that lingers in the hearts of viewers long after the final credits roll.

[witsserviceablesubstitute]

Stories are not reality. They use many tools to reflect reality but they are not beholden to the same rules. What's more, they reflect Romance just as readily as they reflect Realism. Stories require a suspension of disbelief. Some willingness to look outside yourself to pick apart meaning. An ability to empathize with experiences not your own so you can better see why and how it was put together the way it was. Stories are ephemeral and intangible, a collective fever dream with meanings that shift depending on the dreamer. They are also deliberately constructed and come with their own concrete intentions, histories, and baggage unique to each culture, genre, and medium the story is told in.

If I had one wish when it comes to critiques of fiction, it's that people come at a story from where it is first and everything else can come later. For example, critiques of YA are going to be different to that of Adult works. Those teenagers are heroes and sexual agents because it's important teenagers be allowed their own coming of age journeys— explorations of sex and sexuality a big part of that period of self discovery for many. (That doesn't mean sex has to be a PSA either, it can be raw and awkward and weird and uninhabited). E.g. No, that immortal/older supernatural being falling for our teen hero isn't a predator (well... there are layers). What they are is a extremely common teen power fantasy. (However, if you did want to read a YA series that deconstructs that particular trope and explores how horrific such a dynamic would be, I'd recommend 'The Fever King' and 'The Electric Heir' by Victoria Lee. Brilliant and harrowing books).

Okay, so, anyway. I've been watching a very good YA show called Dead Boy Detectives. (I have a feeling the people following me are reading those words with exasperation, "No shit"). It's fun spooky hijinks but it's also a beautiful piece of cinematic storytelling that uses a variety of mixed mediums to get its points across. It makes this queer nerds heart happy and deserves more space to tell the story it wants to tell and subvert the tropes it wants to subvert. However, in case it doesn't get that space, I wanted to recommend two queer book series that fans of the show may want to look into. The 'Whyborne & Griffin' series by Jordan L. Hawk (each book gets better and better, and also, the actor that plays Edwin would make an excellent Whyborne) and 'The Last Binding' series by Freya Marske.

[preciouslittle-bhaalbabe]

I think it's funny that my page angers so many people because I post BOTH A!A and spawn content in a positive way.

I don't take sides. I do what's best for the rp in my campaign. When I make a character, they have motivations, backstories, and personalities that are usually different from my own. I do not self insert in RPGs. That's just my play style and usually just what you do with DnD.

So, if my evil cambion durge adores A!A and my resist durge is happy with spawn, why is that such a hard concept? Why is it that praising the creativity and depth of ALL character arcs is considered taboo?

I love Astarion, I love his character, his story, and how polarising his arcs are. It's wonderful storytelling. I view this game as creative expression between dev and player. They gave us this beautiful big world to do as we please. Why is it bad to do exactly that? If Larian didn't want people pursuing evil routes, they wouldn't be adding a bunch of new cinematics and endings for evil route enjoyers.

Larian isn't perfect either. There are PLENTY of examples of things being bugged/not doing as intended. SO when Larian decides to fix it based off player feedback, it's not because they were "bullied" into it. Come on, we're not children. If Larian was set with their choices for a narritive, they wouldn't change it no matter HOW badly the players want it (looking at you, durgetash enjoyers lol my condolences).

Larian still has work to do. The game isn't perfect and frankly there's stil ALOT of content that has bugged out/gone missing. The game isn't finished yet It's only been out for what, like a year?

Anyways. Be kind to each other. And if you see content you don't like, block and move on <3

[waitmyturtles]

Turtles Catches Up With Old GMMTV: I Told Sunset About You (ITSAY) Edition

[What’s going on here? After joining Tumblr and discovering Thai BLs through KinnPorsche in 2022, I began watching GMMTV’s new offerings -- and realized that I had a lot of history to catch up on, to appreciate the more recent works that I was delving into. From tropes to BL frameworks, what we’re watching now hails from somewhere, and I’m learning about Thai BL's history through what I’m calling the Old GMMTV Challenge (OGMMTVC). Starting with recommendations from @absolutebl on their post regarding how GMMTV is correcting for its mistakes with its shows today, I’ve made an expansive list to get me through a condensed history of essential/classic/significant Thai BLs produced by GMMTV and many other BL studios. My watchlist, pasted below, lists what I’ve watched and what’s upcoming, along with the reviews I’ve written so far. Today, in a long post, I work my way through Nadao Bangkok’s cinematic motherlode: ITSAY. Thanks to everyone for your patience with this post: I did major due diligence with it, with the absolutely TREMENDOUS help of @telomeke, @lurkingshan​, @wen-kexing-apologist​, and @bengiyo​ to ensure I had facts and analysis correct. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to these dear friends for holding me down and offering your sharp eyes.]

To dive into a topic as complicated, as beautiful, as reflective, as impactful as a macro-analysis of I Told Sunset About You is to take on...a lot. As I’ve discussed with @lurkingshan, from a filmmaking perspective, as so many of us who have watched ITSAY know -- it occupies the top spot of Thai BLs by way of pure cinematic quality. (If you follow my late-night liveblogs, you’ll know that this was the first show -- not even Bad Buddy did this to me -- where I needed to stop multitasking, to just sit and watch the episodes. No drama has done that for me in the years since I became a multitasking mom.)

As with 2gether and Still 2gether last week, this watch of ITSAY is a definite milestone on the OGMMTVC list, and I really thank @shortpplfedup, @bengiyo, @wen-kexing-apologist, @lurkingshan, @telomeke, and others in advance for what we’ve talked about in direct conversation regarding ITSAY, its many influential tentacles, and the influences that the show itself may have come from.

I’d like to touch upon a couple of frames to structure this piece, but the caveat here is that by no way will I consider myself an ITSAY expert, because there’s a tremendous fandom that knows much more about the Nadao Bangkok studio, about PP Krit and Billkin Putthipong, about the director and screenwriter, Boss Naruebet, and much more. I will have a substantial postscript to capture loose notes and learnings that didn’t make it into the main analysis. 

Inspired in part by direct conversations with @telomeke and @lurkingshan, I’d like to dive into the following: 

1) From a question that @lurkingshan posed to me: what shows from the start of the OGMMTVC watchlist -- and, more broadly, what art out there -- do I think spoke to ITSAY and its development, 2) The important story of Chinese migration to locations like Phuket, Penang (in Malaysia), and other locations on the Malay Peninsula, and how Chinese and Thai-Malay-Chinese-Peranakan cultures flavored ITSAY’s storytelling, 3) A discussion of internal and external homophobia on Teh’s experience, and how his conversation with Hoon encapsulated our understanding of homophobia, filial piety, and socioeconomic pressures in Teh’s particular life, timeline, and culture,

and more, I’m sure. Let’s boogie.

I warned some folks prior to this review that my thoughts on what may have spoken to ITSAY may turn some people off, so I offer this as a flare to y’all in advance. Acknowledging that episodes three and four of ITSAY were as emotional as anything I had ever seen in Asian BLs, Teh was just such a PERFECTLY written character. (The ITSAY supporting documentary episodes state that the show was in part inspired by Billkin’s and PP’s personal lives, and I know there’s fanon that the show was meant to deeply depict their personal stories with each other. I don’t have primary source material to point to regarding this, so I’ll leave it alone, with the understanding that there are interpretations of the show that read between the lines to bring that lens in. I acknowledge the existence of the theories, but will not dive into that here.)

So, in regards to Teh, as I chatted with @lurkingshan as I was watching the series, I just kept thinking to myself... hello, Fuse. 

CHAOS BOYS! (Fire Boys? No, no, chaos boys, ha.) 

This is where I think my analytical read might get a little controversial with folks, because to compare Make It Right to ITSAY -- from a LOOKS perspective, CERTAINLY from a storyline and narrative structure perspective -- no, it’s not there, not by a long shot.

But when I wonder about what ENERGIES and inspirations opened the door for Boss Narubet to WRITE the way that he wrote, and to DIRECT the way that he directed, Teh’s ENTIRE EMOTIONAL PROCESS AND BREAKDOWNS, his back-and-forth, his hesitations -- I saw chaos, and when I think of chaos, I think of Fuse.

I think of Fuse, and how Fuse was held back, particularly in Make It Right 2, regarding Fuse’s CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ASSUMPTION that he couldn’t break up with his girlfriend, all while being in a nascent give-and-take, back-and-forth relationship with Tee. And how that ASSUMPTION held BACK the full expression of commitment, honesty, and trust that Fuse and Tee ended up having at the end of MIR2. Fuse was being rather unsophisticated while he was struggling with this, and he was bringing Tee along, frustratingly, for that ride.  

Something that you said to me also really resonated, @bengiyo, in conversation with @lurkingshan, about comparing TeeFuse and TehOh, in that Fuse and Teh weren’t necessarily SPARKLING or GIFTED presences. As you two both pointed out to me: Teh had to work much, much harder than Oh-aew for the talents that Teh achieved, and somehow, chaotically, he managed to lose his grip on those talents and achievements as he gave up his hard-earned opportunities for the sake of the overall-better-off Oh-aew. MESSY, BRO.

Besides MIR/MIR2, there’s somewhere else where I saw chaos. @bengiyo, you pointed out to me that you felt that you saw more of Thai queer cinema in ITSAY than in BL. I don’t think ITSAY *doesn’t* speak to BL and vice versa (I don’t think there’s anyone who thinks that, considering what Nadao Bangkok achieved with this show), but when I think of chaos -- and of the structures of storytelling that allowed us to get such an in-depth experience of Teh -- I also think of 2019′s Dew the Movie, and to a different extent, the before-its-time show in 2019′s He’s Coming To Me. 

ITSAY, Dew, and HCTM have:

a) multiple chaotic leads (including actual ghosts and dudes who see ghosts),  b) overarching cultural backgrounds rooted in extremely specific Asian cultures and/or practices and/or time periods, and c) interplays of emotional revelations vis à vis those specific cultural backgrounds.

 - Fuse introduced to us, way back in 2016 and 2017, an internal holding back of an emotional engagement with Tee that was rooted in internal homophobia by way of his negotiation with what Fuse’s girlfriend expected of him, and what HE expected of HIMSELF regarding HAVING a girlfriend, while falling in love with a young man. 

- Dew featured two young men in chaos, in 1990s rural Thailand, one of whom (Dew) who had previously lived in a different city where, likely, his sexual orientation would not have been met with such dystopic scrutiny as it did in the movie. The movie made clear that Dew wanted a solid relationship with Phop, but with both Dew’s and Phop’s families and cultural expectations holding them back, they both met untimely and unfortunate ends that hammered, in extremes, the perils, in cinema, of being gay and out in an incredibly restrictive and old-fashioned Asian society.

- HCTM featured a young man (Thun) who could see ghosts, along with the ghost that he ends up falling in love with (Med). The revelation of Thun’s being able to see Med is deeply connected to Thun’s Thai-Chinese Buddhist practices, and how his family has engaged with spirituality over the course of his life. While the structure of the show has often been described as having a happy ending, I argue the opposite -- that the ending is left open-ended, as it so often is in some of P’Aof Noppharnach’s shows, with the assumed understanding on behalf of an Asian audience that Med will one day be reborn and will leave Thun’s side (unless he’s reborn into another person that knows Thun) (hello, Until We Meet Again). 

So what do all of these shows/movies -- ITSAY, Make It Right/MIR2, Dew, and HCTM -- have in common?

ITSAY, Dew, and HCTM have the common background of an old-fashioned culture serving as a MAJOR anchor to their stories. Their stories are leveraged by the micro-level, individual-level interplay between their main characters and old-fashioned worlds, complete with old-fashioned notions, assumptions, and expectations. ITSAY, Dew, and HCTM negotiate boundaries with these cultural guardrails, and we see -- Teh at the end of episode 4, Thun on the rooftop in episode 5, Dew talking to his mother -- what those expectations and boundaries have done internally to our dear young men. 

Make It Right’s Fuse, way back in 2016, internalized this slightly differently, without us seeing as deeply the WORLD in which he grew up. The directors and screenwriters New Siwaj and Cheewin Thanamin gave us a guy in school with a girlfriend. FUSE’S world, that we see, is a school world, so apropos for that time of Thai BLs, complete with very heterosexual expectations for a young man WITH a girlfriend. And Fuse struggles with his push-and-pull throughout the two seasons.

What I love about the OGMMTVC project is that by having watched these projects before ITSAY, I can somewhat predict what the journey of chaos, by way of internal revelation, will be for these characters. 

However.

What ITSAY DESTROYED for me, as compared to these dramas and movies, was the high level of acting that Billkin leveraged to get Teh to the emotional levels that he reached. Teh, episode 4, and Thun, episode 5 = handshakes. 

This is where ITSAY’s structure just brings ITSAY to the top of the cinematic list and runs away from everything else. I posted in my liveblogging that the ending of episode 3 blew me away with a subversion of the four-act structure of screenwriting. @bengiyo corrected me to say that it was, instead, a rare example of Thai BLs achieving a successful five-act structure. 

Just -- fuck. 

You combine this UTTERLY FUCKING BRILLIANT STORYTELLING STRUCTURE, NARRATIVE STRUCTURING PAR FUCKING EXCELLENCE, ALONG WITH BILLKIN’S PORTRAYAL OF TEH IN HEAT AND CHAOS, and I’m eating, fam. Five-star Michelin tasting menu-level. 

But before I start that meal, there’s even more that ITSAY did to really hammer in what I’m referencing by way of the anchors of old-fashioned culture to this story, which, clearly, Boss and Nadao Bangkok value, in the show’s indirect commentary on Chinese culture and migration in Thailand, and what it meant for Teh and Oh-aew to grow up in Phuket and prepare to leave for Bangkok. (If you haven’t watched ITSAY, I highly recommend that you plan on watching the supplementary documentary material, because those docs give a ton of insight into the Thai-Malay-Chinese background of the show. As a SE Asian homey, those revelations gave me the wonderful warm and familiar vibes.)

Dear @telomeke (I don’t know what I’d do without you, friend!) helped me to understand, back in my HCTM days, that I inherently know more about Chinese migration, immigration, and culture into Southeast Asia than I previously gave myself credit for as a part-Malaysian, because many of the migratory patterns and cultural assimilations are similar between Thailand and Malaysia. I appreciated that confirmation, and had my inspector’s hat on during my watch and rewatch of ITSAY. 

I’ve spoken with @lurkingshan and @neuroticbookworm about the impact of migration and diasporic existence, in that, I think, oftentimes, immigrants to another country often hold a more conservative view of the cultures they bring with them -- in order to hold onto the tenets of those cultures, and to keep those tenets from getting influenced or maybe even watered down by the new environment in which immigrants are living. (My example to Shan and NBW was that I find that South Asian immigrants are often MORE conservative than my relatives in my homelands -- so as to keep a tight grip on assimilation, or, say, moral/ethical weakening by way of Western culture.)

I think the background of Phuket and EVERYTHING it lent to the show...

- Teh’s mom selling Hokkien mee at a stall storefront and the boys eating it in Teh’s old-fashioned house, - The old-fashioned o-aew dessert shop, selling a Hokkien Chinese dessert, which is often preceded by a shot of the “Phuket Old Town” sign, - Teh’s mom’s traditional Chinese-Peranakan outfits, particularly when she’s celebrating Teh and Hoon’s successes, - The tight streets and alleys,

...all of it, visually and culturally, reminded us that the boys live in a world that was DEEPLY INFLUENCED by the way back when. I posit that Teh’s mom is the encapsulation of this kind of old-fashioned culture, from the architectural style of her Hokkien mee stall, to the clothes she wears, to the heavy decorations and rugs and furniture of her old-fashioned house -- to her old-fashioned notions of filial piety that both her sons will be successful and will help to take care of her as she ages. I posit that this old-fashioned mindset also likely led Teh to believe that Teh’s mom would not accept him for liking men, which I will delve into more in a bit.

I mentioned cultural assimilation earlier: I brought up Penang, Malaysia, earlier, because I’ve spent time in Penang -- and Penang was referenced by Boss in the ITSAY documentaries as being similar to Phuket by way of cultural structure. @telomeke educated me on the tin-trade-influenced links from Phuket to the Malaysian towns of Penang and Kuala Lumpur, all towns that experienced heavy immigration from China and feature the strong presence of Chinese-Malay-Peranakan cultures in their social fabrics. The Peranakan population developed when the first Chinese immigrants to these regions began marrying the local ethnic Thai and Malay residents, creating a brand-new culture, complete with unique foods, clothing, architecture, and much more. 

Having not been to Phuket yet, I believe Boss. As well, I want to note -- very important to me as a part-Malaysian -- that Boss referenced Teh’s nickname as the Malay word for tea. @telomeke​ noted for me this distinction as one that’s notable for how ITSAY differentiates the culture within the show -- again, a culture that’s influenced by Chinese and Malay migratory history -- against the backdrop of Bangkok, where tea is not “teh,” but rather is called “cha,” the Thai word for tea. [The most famous “teh” drink of Malaysia is teh tarik, a sweet, creamy, and strong tea drink that you see everywhere in Malaysia. While o-aew is a distinctly Chinese-style dessert, teh tarik comes from Indian immigrants to Malaysia (and is usually drunk with roti canai, another Indian import to Malaysia)]. 

In other words: we are talking a TREMENDOUS, a TREMENDOUS amount of references to cultural mixing, development, and assimilation here, all INTENTIONALLY placed by Boss Narubet and his screenwriting team -- and all of this serving as a reflection against what Teh and Oh-aew will experience as being “different” in their futures in Bangkok, where this Thai-Chinese-Malay cultural differential will make them different when they get to college. (Not having seen I Promised You The Moon yet, I wonder if IPYTM sets up Teh and Oh-aew as potential country mice, à la Ji Hyun and Joon Pyo in The Eighth Sense.)

One more pertinent note of cultural intermixing by way of the historical Thai-Chinese-Malay linkages. @bengiyo was surprised that I didn’t initially exclaim at the presence of hijab- and songkok-clad Muslim women and men eating at Teh’s mom’s Hokkien mee stall; Teh and Oh-aew’s friend, Phillip, is also shown with his Muslim parents. It’s funny, @bengiyo, as I said to you: because I was watching ITSAY with such a trained eye towards spotting the Thai-Chinese-Malay cultural mixing, seeing Muslims on screen did NOT ring a bell of differentials because -- I expect to see them there, in those kinds of spaces, anyway. (In fact, seeing Muslims on Thai television is rare, which I will get into more in the postscript.)

So we have: MANY CULTURES MIXING OVER MANY GENERATIONS. Migratory patterns intertwining. Indications of physical and emotional movement. And even though, and even DESPITE, these cultures mixing, we ALSO HAVE an OVERARCHING message of old-fashioned customs and ways of living that dominate the lives of the children in the show -- ESPECIALLY Teh. Teh and Oh-aew -- literally, their NAMES reference places ELSEWHERE than Phuket and Thailand. Phuket’s old-fashioned roots. Teh’s mom SELLS a dish that comes from somewhere else (the Hokkien Chinese population mostly hails from Fujian, China, as its origin).  

What happens with migration and immigration? Cultures collide and combine -- social mores and expectations change -- one’s standards of HOW TO LIVE ONE’S LIFE changes. 

Teh and Oh-aew, during the entire series, are facing a moment in time where THEIR lives, THEIR cultures, THEIR micro-interactions WITH THEIR cultures, ARE GOING TO CHANGE, definitively, by way of their burgeoning same-sex relationship. Teh and Oh-aew are already different in Thailand by way of their cultural backgrounds, as I’ve established -- and now, with a potential public revelation of their relationship, will they be even more different. And their families -- especially Teh’s mom, but Oh-aew’s family as well -- are going to collide with the very PRESENT present vis à vis their boys and their love. 

As this happens with migration and immigration, CHANGE WILL HAPPEN vis à vis Teh and Oh-aew’s queer revelations as well. 

Boss focused on the aspects of Phuket that were anchors to the culture that Teh and Oh-aew were raised in -- an immigrant culture, a migrant culture from China, that has had a long hold over many, many towns and societies in Thailand. We didn’t see the modern 7-11s that we know are there in Phuket, serving the tourists of these towns. 

And, just like the physical dystopia of Dew, and even vis à vis the spiritual practices built into He’s Coming To Me, the slice of Old Town Phuket that we SAW as that anchor was a HEAVY PRESENCE in Teh’s life -- it was PERFECTLY matched with the old-fashioned, conservative ANGER and DISAPPOINTMENT that we saw in Teh’s mom in episode 4, when Teh shares that he dropped out of university for Oh-aew. That anchor, to me, was meant to SMASH into, FEED into Teh’s overwhelming emotionality at his queer revelation, and at the revelation that serving his mother via filial piety would be automatically made more difficult, thus maximizing the impact of his internalized homophobia and his fear of recognizing his love and attraction for Oh-aew.

COUPLE THAT with the previous hints -- and then the SMASHING WRECKING BALL -- of the visual depths of Oh-aew’s own realizations earlier in episode 4, his own internally different place, the way he reveals himself to the world vis à vis the fast Instagram post of him wearing the red bra. And how Teh reacts to it. And how it sets off such an unreal chain of emotional unraveling for Teh, the SECOND of that episode, even before he goes to Bangkok to drop out. 

WHOA.

THIS, TO ME WAS FUCKING STUNNING

and very important to me to see as a South/Southeast Asian. WHEW.

And, good lord. How Hoon comes in at the end for Teh. Hoon, the eldest son, the one who has very quietly borne the financial responsibility that his mom, Teh’s mom, too, has placed on Hoon’s shoulders, naturally, through generations of family custom. (Super duper thanks to @lurkingshan for talking me through this in detail with me.)

And Hoon gives his family, his little bro, Teh, comfort. How Hoon says, listen. Mom’s gonna be mad if and when you tell her about Oh-aew and your feelings for me. But guess what? She’s gonna come around. You’re a crybaby, Teh, but I’m here for you.

Hoon knows that Teh’s mom will come around -- because Hoon is also a part of the next generation of change, much like his Thai-Malay-Chinese-Peranakan community before him -- as he brings his Japanese girlfriend home to his mother and brother. (THANK YOU, @wen-kexing-apologist, for pointing this out!)

Teh’s mom, too, will move. She will move from her old-fashioned mindset, to migrate to a new mindset, where she will accept her son. Teh needed to hear that, to know that that movement would be possible.

Just like the movement of the many swirling cultures around Teh and Oh-aew, the hustle of Bangkok before them, nipping at their lives like the ocean to the beach. 

What ITSAY captured for me was a cinematic moment of movement on so many levels. It was a pulsating reflection of change. It was meant and designed to insidiously shock viewers out of complacency. Like a beanstalk climbing from the ground, the movement begot movement to these two young men beginning to address and empty themselves of the homophobia that kept them back, Teh especially. 

GAH, THEIR MOVING PHYSICALITY, IT NEVER STOPPED -- the end of episode 2 on the boat, the end of episode 3 in Teh’s room, GAWD -- Teh’s ABSOLUTE HORMONAL DRUNKENNESS, Oh-aew’s STARE AFTER STARE AFTER STARE, Oh-aew’s SILENT DEVASTATION AT THE END OF EPISODE 3, the way Teh would nod and FLOP his head uncontrollably in desire, the nuzzles, the sniffs, the uncontrolled reaches -- GAH. It gives me the shivers. 

It was a lot.

ITSAY was just -- y’all know it. It was fantastic. While HCTM was before its time, I feel that ITSAY was RIGHT ON TIME. It brought so many elements of this GORGEOUS, HISTORIC, culturally Southeast Asian experience into the intersection of the queer lens, as well as the *migratory* lens of the Southeast Asian region specifically. It showed us, from a micro-perspective, the very tremendous macro-level implications and pressures of filial piety, of internalized homophobia, of the huge socioeconomic expectations that families have on Asian students to succeed in education, and so much more. IT WAS *DEFINITIVELY INTERSECTIONAL*, MORE SO THAN ANY BL BEFORE ITS TIME.

Yet again, for me, just like Bad Buddy, just like Until We Meet Again, I have another show in my arsenal that makes me proud to be an Asian watching these shows -- and in ITSAY, I feel particularly proud that a slice of my own personal culture, as an Malaysian, made it in there, intentionally. I will FOREVER, and ever, be grateful to ITSAY for that.

-------

I’d like to offer this postscript as a means of making some quick points that @telomeke, @bengiyo, @lurkingshan, and @wen-kexing-apologist shared with me as I was writing this review -- and I thank them all deeply for reading drafts of this post before publication. 

1) I was previously unaware of the history and current state of Islamic culture in Thailand until ITSAY and Be My Favorite included women wearing hijabs in their shows. This is an important slice of culture for me to know about, as I’m part-Malaysian, where Islam is the dominant religion. @telomeke shared with me that the majority Muslim population in Thailand is in southern Thailand (although, of course, Muslims live across Thailand), and that there have historically been separatist efforts in those southern provinces that have often led to violence. 

There are many reasons why discrimination of Muslims exist in Thailand, as it does around the world, including references to the separatist efforts in the southern provinces. As well, ethnic Thais can trace their heritage back to various towns and communities within China, thus possibly making northern Thailand, with its proximity to China, potentially more lauded in Thai culture, and contributing even more to a perception that southern Thailand, with its Muslim population, as potentially “less desirable.” (And I want to take a second to note @telomeke​‘s excellent point to me that “Chinese” as a catch-all word is often incomplete, as Han Chinese make up a sizable portion of Thailand’s population, but as we see in ITSAY, the Hokkien Chinese population also flourishes in certain parts of the country, and there are populations of Teochew and Hakka Chinese as well, as there are in Malaysia.)

All of this combined -- the geographic proximities to China, the places where various populations have settled, from the places that various populations of Thais track their heritages, plus global and/or popular misconceptions and stereotypes of “other” communities -- can contribute to discrimination of Muslims in Thailand. Of course, that is not a universal statement, as we do see Muslims beginning to show up in Thai drama art, which is heartening. To me, it strikes me as more realistic for the region to see Muslims on screen, but I don’t know Thailand well enough to say that for sure (that’s my Malaysian-side talking). I really want to thank @telomeke for taking me on SUCH a deep dive with insight into this part of Thai culture that I think is very necessary and fascinating. (Politics in Thailand is quite complicated at the moment, but at this very second, Thailand’s current Parliament speaker, from the Move Forward party, is Thai Muslim, with a Malay Muslim name -- Wan Muhamed Noor Matha. Very cool, but this is going to change soon, as Move Forward will make way for another political party to take control of the government.)

2) If you know me well enough, I cannot leave food well enough alone in our wonderful dramas (exhibit A: Moonlight Chicken and khao man gai, exhibit B: coffee/kopi in The Promise, lol), and I want to make sure that we were all aware back in 2020, and/or make you aware now, that Hokkien mee is a VERY regional dish, with styles unique to each town in which it is famous. @telomeke, I know you feel differently, but Hokkien mee from Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia is my.... it’s my heaven, my soul, my heart, HA!

Here’s some linkies to get you educated. And also! Oh-aew prefers his Hokkien mee with rice vermicelli noodles, instead of the usual, thicker egg noodles. You know what I like to do if I see that a stall has the two styles of noodles available: I like to get them mixed together. Hokkien mee, Hokkien prawn mee noodle soup, curry laksa -- I like the best of both worlds of noodles in my bowl. YUM.

Phuket Hokkien mee KL Hokkien mee Penang Hokkien mee (this one is the prawn noodle soup, not the fried noodles -- omfg so good) Singapore Hokkien mee (note the lighter color -- and the m’fing mix of thick and thin noodles, hell yeah!)

(If you made it this far in the ITSAY review, I have an easter egg for you. Guess what the Malay name is for rice vermicelli noodles? Bee hoon or mee hoon. 

Hoon and Teh, two Malay names: thin noodles and tea. What Teh’s mom serves at her stall, and what Teh and Oh-aew represent, symbolically, by names and their noodle preferences, as a pairing. AND! @telomeke​ gave me one more easter egg! Teh O is a popular way to order tea in Malaysia and Singapore. It’s black tea with sugar, no milk. Another pairing reference. ITSAY never stopped with all the layered references!)

[WHEW! What a ride. Thanks to all y’all who held me down during my losing-it liveblogging of ITSAY. More to come when I get to Last Twilight in Phuket and I Promised You The Moon.

Next week, I’ll release my review of YYY into the wild -- listen, honestly. Yes, chaos, confusion, all of it. But I am not writing this show totally off. There was definitely stuff in it to chew on. And: POPPY RATCHAPONG. And Pee Peerawich. The acting was actually stacked on this show. There’s stuff! More soon.

And I also finished Manner of Death, so that review will drop in two weeks. I LOVE MAXTUL. UNABASHEDLY. Yes, I know I’m years late, yes, I know Tul is retired, sobs. Let me live my 2021 dreams! These guys are so good together, and MoD was fuckin’ great.

I have so much good stuff on the way: I’m fully in my ATOTS rewatch, and I’ve added 55:15 Never Too Late, very specifically its BL storyline. I may not give 55:15 a full review because I’ll fast-watch the rest of it, but: Khao, come to me, boo-boo! I have an INSANE August ahead of me as I’ll be moving in a month (GAH), but hopefully this schedule won’t fall back too much.

Status of the listy! Hit me up if you have feedback!

1) Love Sick and Love Sick 2 (2014 and 2015) (review here) 2) Make It Right (2016) (review here) 3) SOTUS (2016-2017) (review here) 4) Make It Right 2 (2017) (review here) 5) Together With Me (2017) (review here) 6) SOTUS S/Our Skyy x SOTUS (2017-2018) (review here) 7) Love By Chance (2018) (review here) 8) Kiss Me Again: PeteKao cuts (2018) (no review) 9) He’s Coming To Me (2019) (review here) 10) Dark Blue Kiss (2019) and Our Skyy x Kiss Me Again (2018) (review here) 11) TharnType (2019-2020) (review here) 12) Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey (OffGun BL cuts) (2016 and 2017) (no review) 13) Theory of Love (2019) (review here) 14) 3 Will Be Free (2019) (not a BL or an official part of the OGMMTVC watchlist, but an important harbinger of things to come in 2019 and beyond re: Jojo Tichakorn pushing queer content in non-BLs) (review here) 15) Dew the Movie (2019) (review here) 16) Until We Meet Again (2019-2020) (review here) 17) 2gether (2020) and Still 2gether (2020) (review here) 18) I Told Sunset About You (2020)  19) YYY (2020, out of chronological order) (review coming) 20) Manner of Death (2020-2021) (not a true BL, but a MaxTul queer/gay romance set within a genre-based show that likely influenced Not Me and KinnPorsche) (review coming) 21) A Tale of Thousand Stars (2021) (review here) 22) A Tale of Thousand Stars (2021) OGMMTVC Fastest Rewatch Known To Humankind For The Sake Of Rewatching Our Skyy 2 x BBS x ATOTS (watching) 23) Lovely Writer (2021) 24) Last Twilight in Phuket (2021) (the mini-special before IPYTM) 25) I Promised You the Moon (2021) 26) Not Me (2021-2022) 27) Bad Buddy (2021-2022) (thesis here) 28) 55:15 Never Too Late (2021-2022) (not a BL, but a GMMTV drama that features a macro BL storyline about shipper culture and the BL industry) 29) Bad Buddy (2021-2022) and Our Skyy 2 x BBS x ATOTS (2023) OGMMTVC Rewatch 30) Secret Crush On You (2022) [watching for Cheewin’s trajectory of studying queer joy from Make It Right (high school), to SCOY (college), to Bed Friend (working adults)] 31) KinnPorsche (2022) (tag here) 32) KinnPorsche (2022) OGMMTVC Fastest Rewatch Known To Humankind For The Sake of Re-Analyzing the KP Cultural Zeitgeist 33) The Eclipse (2022) (tag here) 34) GAP (2022-2023) (Thailand’s first GL) 35) My School President (2022-2023) and Our Skyy 2 x My School President (2023) 36) Moonlight Chicken (2023) (tag here) 37) Bed Friend (2023) (tag here) (Cheewin’s latest show, depicting a queer joy journey among working adults)]

[sportincinema]

There is one huge oversight when it comes to the success of the sports genre, though. The soccer movie. The beautiful game has never looked as alluring when it has been made for the big screen. Sure, Escape To Victory is an enjoyable romp, Bend It Like Beckham is undeniably feelgood, and Michael Sheen has never been better as Brian Clough in The Damned United. But even in these films, the shots, passes, and tackles are too choreographed. Goalkeepers look as if they’re moving out of the way of shots instead of saving them. The pace of the game is too languid. There’s a complete absence of technique. You can never really tell where players are on the pitch, which itself often looks too small. It’s also incredibly difficult for a director to shoot a prolonged sequence of play, while any edits or use of slow-motion immediately makes the game look unnatural. It’s notable that soccer looks best on screen when the action is real: as in the recent Netflix David Beckham documentary or Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait. (...) So what needs to change in order to right this cinematic wrong? “You just can’t script a film in the same way as a real soccer match,” says Kyle Kusz, an associate professor of kinesiology at the University of Rhode Island. “Baseball and football are more static, they stop and start, and don’t have the flow of soccer.” This gives film-makers a chance to build up the tension of these isolated moments, as audiences wait to see if a quarterback can throw a touchdown, a batter can smash a baseball out of a stadium, or a boxer can knockout his opponent. For Franklin Leonard, a film and television producer and the founder of The Black List, “conventional western, particularly American, storytelling tropes about a single hero doesn’t suite the nature of [soccer], which is fundamentally communitarian. It’s never just one person winning anything. It’s a team sport.”

Gregory Wakeman, Why has Hollywood failed to produce a truly great soccer movie? (2023)

[sharktunes]

Heartstrings and Harmonies: Feeling Bewitched: The Goddess Edition

Artist: Laufey Release Year: 2023 Genre: Jazz, Chamber Pop, Modern Classical

As a devoted fan of Laufey, Bewitched: The Goddess Edition feels like a warm hug laced with bittersweet nostalgia. Each track carries Laufey’s signature storytelling and delicate artistry, offering a blend of wistful romance and modern jazz sophistication. This expanded version takes the original album’s spellbinding charm and elevates it, delivering new tracks that feel like secret diary entries written just for her listeners.

Here’s a Lauver’s deep-dive track-by-track review with ratings that reflect the emotional connection Laufey fosters through her music.

Track-by-Track Review

"Dreamer" – 10/10 This opener is a love letter to dreamers everywhere, and Laufey perfectly captures the ache of longing for something just out of reach. The soft waltz rhythm feels like dancing under twinkling fairy lights, and as a fan, it’s impossible not to feel seen in her lyrics. It’s cinematic and perfectly sets the tone for what’s to come, the perfect first track.

"Second Best" – 10/10 This one hits home for anyone who’s ever felt like they’re not enough. The vulnerability in Laufey’s delivery is palpable, and the gentle piano accompaniment makes her emotions feel raw and intimate. As a fan, this track feels like sitting with a friend who just gets it.

"Haunted" – 9.5/10 Laufey’s ability to evoke imagery is unmatched here. The lyrics feel like walking through an old, creaky house filled with memories you can’t let go of. The minimalist production mirrors the emptiness she’s singing about. A fan favorite for when you’re deep in your feels.

"Must Be Love" – 9.5/10 This track is pure joy wrapped in whimsy. It’s light, playful, and captures the fluttering excitement of love’s first blush. It’s the kind of song you want to twirl to in your kitchen. Laufey’s jazzy influences shine here, making it a fun reprieve from the album’s more melancholic moments.

"While You Were Sleeping" – 9/10 Delicate and introspective, this track feels like a quiet confession whispered to a sleeping lover. It’s understated but resonates deeply with fans who appreciate the subtle beauty in Laufey’s storytelling.

"Lovesick" – 9.2/10 A classic Laufey heartbreak song, "Lovesick" feels like walking in the rain after unrequited love. While emotionally raw, it’s a touch repetitive compared to other tracks, which slightly diminishes its impact.

"California And Me" – 9.5/10 This is the track for anyone who’s left a piece of their heart in a place—or with a person. Laufey’s wistful delivery makes you feel like you’re sitting in a dimly lit cafe, staring out the window at memories you can’t get back. It’s personal, yet universally relatable.

"Nocturne (Interlude)" – 7/10 As an instrumental interlude, it serves its purpose beautifully, offering a moment of quiet reflection. Fans of Laufey’s classical side will adore its simplicity, though it doesn’t carry the emotional weight of her vocal tracks.

"Promise" – 9/10 This track feels like a soft cry in the middle of the night. Laufey’s delivery is heart-wrenching, and while it’s a bit subdued compared to standout moments, it’s perfect for fans who find solace in her quieter ballads.

"From The Start" – 10/10 A fan favorite and just pure magic! This track is flirty, fun, and filled with Laufey’s signature charm. It’s impossible not to grin while listening—it’s Laufey letting her playful side shine, and fans love her for it.

"Misty" – 9/10 Laufey’s rendition of this jazz standard feels reverent and warm. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, her voice adds a tenderness that makes it feel like a love letter to her jazz influences. A must-listen for jazz purists and longtime fans alike.

"Serendipity" – 10/10 Laufey at her most experimental, this track feels like wandering through a magical forest. The lush instrumentation and intricate melodies make it an unforgettable experience. Fans will adore how this track showcases her growth as a composer.

"Letter To My 13-Year-Old Self" – 13/10 A tear-jerker. This track is pure vulnerability and wisdom wrapped in Laufey’s soothing vocals. As a fan, it’s impossible not to feel a pang of nostalgia for your younger self. It’s a song that feels deeply personal yet universally resonant.

"Bewitched" – 10/10 The title track is Laufey’s masterpiece. Every note feels like it was plucked from a dream. As a fan, it’s the song you want to get lost in, over and over again.

"Bored" – 12/10 My personal favorite. A cheeky, clever track that’s fun without being shallow. The relatable lyrics, the bored/sleepy-like tone, and the bridge are what just hits home. It’s Laufey showing off her personality and wit, making it a delightful addition to the album.

"Trouble" – 9.5/10 Laufey channels a sultry, jazzy vibe in this standout track. It’s a little edgier than her usual fare, and fans will appreciate the slight shift in tone.

"It Could Happen To You" – 8.5/10 This cover feels classic and comforting, like a warm blanket on a chilly day. While it doesn’t bring anything radically new, Laufey’s delivery is so heartfelt that it feels like a gift to her fans.

"Goddess" – 10/10 The crown jewel of the expanded edition. Laufey’s poetic lyrics, layered vocals, and ethereal production make this track feel divine. Fans will feel like they’ve been transported to another world—a perfect closer to an extraordinary album.

First Impressions

From the opening notes of "Dreamer" to the ethereal conclusion of "Goddess," Laufey crafts a cohesive, intimate world. Her classical influences, coupled with jazz sensibilities, make each track a unique experience.

Critiques

While the album’s consistency is a strength, some tracks feel too similar in tone, especially during its quieter moments. The interlude and a few covers, while lovely, may feel less essential compared to the original compositions. However, the expanded tracks like "Bored" "Trouble," and "Goddess" add depth and variety, enhancing the experience.

Conclusion

Overall Rating: 9.7/10 Bewitched: The Goddess Edition showcases Laufey at her finest, blending her classical training with jazz and pop sensibilities. It’s a timeless and deeply personal album that resonates with themes of love, longing, and self-discovery. Fans of Laufey’s dreamy style will find themselves enchanted, while new listeners are likely to be drawn into her captivating world.

-Zeith

[all-about-the-tea-parties]

I know s3 is almost done filming, but now that the story is fixing its pace and the characters feel very forward moving, I hope the pros of s1 come back. S1 was heavy on imagery and director choices - watching new ppl pick up the show reminded me just how moody, cinematic and intentional the shots were in every scene of s1, and I feel the action oriented s2 lost a little bit of that.

I will not condemn a show for choosing storytelling, dialogue, and characters over the visual part of film, (because I am an avid lover and defender of Agents of SHIELD which is not beautiful in cinematography like Daredevil, but it is strong in its interesting world and story) - but I do miss it. I mean, it’s film! We’re meant to be quite literally shown; not told.

I just rewatched the scene we’re introduced to Valda, and comparing that to Dain Bornhald’s introduction, I just wanna smush the good parts of both together. Bornhald had better transition into the story, very easy dialogue and natural integration, Valda was a bit “look! A bad guy!” but Valda’s scene was so stark and haunting and evillll just from him coating a cup in the blood of the woman who burns in its reflection - and Bornhald had a simple stroll to a table.

It does make me wonder if there were more set constraints/budget issues. There’s a lot of closed spaces/narrow hallways used in s2.

[floodonthefloor]

i’ve been meaning to say something for ages now, but have only just gotten around to it because i know if i start typing words i’m just going to start spewing alllll my thoughts, so i’m locked in right now!! (edit: this is so long i’m so sorry)

firstly, i want to say that i’m obsessed with your love affair with italics. like hi WHAT—you have SUCH a flair, voice to your writing i think i could pick out your writing from a mile away. it’s always so distinct and full of love. you imbue your stories, your characters with so much love sometimes they don’t even know where to put it all. i don’t even know how to take in and cope with how rich your storytelling is.

you’re so so fucking good at dialogue—like immensely gifted. call it practice, call it skill, but it’s clear you understand people. you understand what makes people flawed, what makes them tick, what makes them hurt in a way not many writers do. the way they sound so real and every word means something. there’s not a single line that doesn’t serve a purpose to the narrative. like in the recent chapter of ‘less of a stranger’, alicent says “Get up, Aegon, get the fuck up!”—it’s so fucking raw—like that entire scene fucked me right up!! i mean every scene you write is a surprise and delight, but something about this one, one where we really get to see aegon and alicent face each other is gorgeous. i’ve been trying to figure out how to convey what your writing feels like, and i think it’s just come to me. it feels so cinematic. there are colors and body and this feeling that everything is larger than life.

just a silly side note, as a writer and screenwriter, what you’re doing is so so admirable because the fics youre writing would all be beautiful as films. theyre so emotion heavy and equally character and plot driven that they would work so beautifully as scripts as well. like RAHHH i’m just so fascinated by your thought process and ability to COOK. thank you thank you for the delicious fucking food!! thank you for writing and sharing<3 it’s a true pleasure and privilege to be able to read such phenomenal works of art!! also this was so surface level but i literally have no notes or lines saved that i loved because im always far too engrossed in every chapter to stop and type something down sofjksdk—so if there’s anything you ever want specific thoughts on i would absolutely be willing to write some thinky thoughts down!! sending love and good vibes :))

okay first of all

second of all

third of all this is so thoughtful and i can't stress enough how much messages like yours means to me. it's one thing to have people read the things you write (baring your soul is scary etc etc etc even if it's in the form of fanfic) but then to have ppl like yourself put so much time and thought and energy into a message like this is another thing entirely. like actually it's unbelievable how much of a difference it can make in my entire day my goodness. thank you so much

[wildfairies]

just want to shoutout my current biggest simspos! and i gave u all a little emoji for fun 🩷

@starshinesims ✨ you have the prettiest cas pics everrr and such an amazing sense of style!

@stellarfalls 🗺️ i meannn your gifs and storytelling are just stunning! i can't even fathom how you create such cinematic posts, you simply have a gift!

@simminginstars 🌠 i'm obsessed with your edits, the way you use lighting to make your sims pop and give a dreamy feel is unreal!

@missatan 😈 your renders are just stunning and so inspiring, and your tutorials and shaders have been soooo helpful as a blender newbie!

@taurus-whim ♉ your edits are amazing, they capture such small but beautiful moments and you always make me want to open the game!

@skaterboisims 🛹 your sims are just always so cool and i love how your renders have such realistic but prettily framed moments!

@elderwisp 🎞️ i want to live inside your pics, you always capture such incredible, natural-feeling screenshots with gorgeous editing!

@lucidicer 🔪 your edits and sims are amazing, and your outtakes/reblogs/collages/character tags are so cool and i can just tell how much you put into your ocs!

@arcadewonder 🧚‍♀️ idek how you create such a mystical magical fairytale vibe in ts4 but i absolutely love to see it every time!

@shawsimmer 🪩 cas inspo of all time! your sims are all gorgeous and styled so well, and you have a distinct sim style without making all your sims look the same!

@ophernelia 🕶️ your edits are just so cool, unique, and lifelike. you have such a special aesthetic!

@claudtrait ☁️ i swear every one of your sims is just 😍😍😍😍 instant reblog, you always make me want to open cas!

@goldenwaves 🌊 your edits have inspired me so much lately, love to see your dnd sims especially and you just have such a stunning and unique editing style!

@dejasenti99 🎱 i'm lovingggg your edits and story posts, your sims look so good it's like they're from another game! idek how you achieve such depth and realism 😍

@retrotrait 🌼 the way i'm sat waiting to find out what will happen to anani and simon every day. love your gp/storytelling!

@resurrection-trait 🪦 your renders are just beautiful! you inspire me sm to play more with angles + lighting!

@tricoufamily 👻 your renders are so creative and i love how you can tell a story with just one frame!

@rosymiel 🔮 been obsessed with your edits for a million years and now i'm obsessed with your gameplay gifs, they're just the prettiest and the coziest! also your editing tut has helped me while trying to improve 🩷

@saturngalore 🪐 your edits are so creative and i always love their composition sm, they make me want to play with different layouts! i esp love your takes on vintage ads & gorgeous photoshoots!

[mayamidnightmelody]

My Crush: Jennifer Lawrence

In the dazzling tapestry of Hollywood, where glamour often obscures authenticity, Jennifer Lawrence stands out as a beacon of raw emotion and unfiltered honesty. With a career marked by stellar performances and an unwavering commitment to her craft, Lawrence has not only captured the hearts of audiences worldwide but has also redefined what it means to be a modern-day cinematic icon.

From her breakout role in "Winter's Bone" to her unforgettable portrayal of Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games" franchise, Lawrence has consistently delivered performances that resonate with depth and sincerity. However, it is her willingness to embrace vulnerability, both emotionally and physically, that truly sets her apart.

In many of her roles, Lawrence bares more than just her soul; she lays herself bare, exposing her vulnerabilities and insecurities for the world to see. Whether she's portraying a grieving widow in "Silver Linings Playbook" or a troubled young woman in "American Hustle," Lawrence brings an authenticity to her performances that is as captivating as it is relatable.

But perhaps one of the most powerful aspects of Lawrence's performances is her willingness to expose her body on screen. In an industry that often objectifies women and reduces them to mere objects of desire, Lawrence refuses to conform to conventional standards of beauty. Instead, she celebrates her body as a vessel for storytelling, using it to convey the raw, unfiltered emotions of her characters.

In films like "Red Sparrow" and "Mother!," Lawrence fearlessly bares her body, laying bare the physical and emotional scars of her characters. Far from being gratuitous, these moments of nudity are integral to the storytelling, serving to deepen the audience's understanding of the characters and their innermost struggles.

But Lawrence's bravery extends beyond the confines of the silver screen. In an industry plagued by sexism and inequality, she has emerged as a fierce advocate for gender equality and body positivity. Whether she's speaking out against the gender pay gap or challenging unrealistic beauty standards, Lawrence refuses to stay silent in the face of injustice.

In a world that often prizes perfection over authenticity, Jennifer Lawrence reminds us of the power of vulnerability. Through her fearless performances and unapologetic embrace of her body, she has inspired countless individuals to embrace their own imperfections and celebrate their unique selves.

As she continues to captivate audiences with her talent and charisma, Lawrence serves as a beacon of hope in an industry that often values conformity over individuality. With each new role, she challenges us to confront our own prejudices and preconceptions, inviting us to embrace the beauty of our own humanity. And for that, we are eternally grateful.

[miguelswifey04]

we got barbie movie w miguel now we need noir to watch it he’ll be pointing at all the vibrant colors like 😱😱😱😱

WHOEVER COOKING UP THIS IDEAS, I LOVE YOU 🫂🌱🌈

with a sense of delightful irony, you and Spider-Noir found yourselves in a movie theater, about to embark on a rather unexpected cinematic experience - the Barbie movie. the contrast between the vibrant, fantastical world of Barbie and the monochrome universe he hailed from was as stark as night and day.

as the lights dimmed and the screen flickered to life, you couldn't help but steal glances at Spider-Noir, curious to see his reaction to this colorful world. he, too, seemed intrigued, his eyes scanning the screen as the vivid shades of pink, purple, and blue danced in front of him.

throughout the movie, he pointed out each vibrant hue, his unique perspective adding a layer of appreciation to the colorful scenes. with every vivid burst of color, he marveled at the bright landscapes and the shimmering Barbie outfits, a sense of wonder slowly dawning in his eyes.

“darling, look at those golden locks," he whispered, nudging you gently as Barbie's iconic blonde hair cascaded across the screen. "in my monochrome world, such vibrant hues are but a distant dream. but here, they come to life, as if painted across a vibrant canvas."

you couldn’t help but smile, caught up in the charm of his observations. it was a stark reminder of the stark contrast in their worlds, and how beauty could take on such different forms.

as the movie progressed, Spider-Noir's curiosity turned into genuine enjoyment, a childlike excitement shining through his dark eyes. he reveled in the lively songs, the whimsical storytelling, and the joy that radiated from the screen. his laughter mingled with yours, as the movie took you on a colorful journey that transcended your expectations.

by the time the credits rolled, Spider-Noir turned to you, a wide grin spreading across his face. "thank you for sharing this with me, my dear. i never thought a Barbie movie could hold such wonder and joy. the vibrancy of this world, even for a fleeting moment, has breathed new life into my monochrome existence."

in that moment, you realized that sometimes the simplest of experiences could bridge the gap between two worlds. it was a reminder of the beauty in embracing the unfamiliar, and the endless possibilities of love and adventure that awaited you both. as you left the theater, hand in hand, you carried with you the memory of this unique escapade, ready to explore even more vibrant horizons together.

and just maybe, in the midst of the colorful tapestry of your shared experiences, Spider-Noir would find a new appreciation for the splashes of color that awaited him, not only in the world of Barbie but also within the depths of your heart.

———

a/n: he’s so dreamy like he would definitely call you his darling, honey, hun, sweetheart, sweetstuff, sunshine 🫂

[amethystsoda]

Anime Movies Worth Watching:

(disclaimer: this is only for ones I've watched and enjoyed--there probably are other good films out there, I just haven't seen everything yet!)

Akira (A cyberpunk classic. The hand painted animation alone makes this a must watch)

Promare (dynamic [and pretty] adult characters fight fires and start fires, all in a scifi + mecha candy-colored world with stunning animation. One of my all time faves by Studio Trigger)

Belle (Hosoda) (SHE IS THE MOMENT. A movie about facing fears, coping with past trauma, and connecting through technology. Also a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but without the romantic undertones!)

Suzume (If you watch anything from the Shinkai Cinematic Universe, make it this one. It still has all his classic art style and storytelling methods, but the time and place based storyline and animation is even more stunning)

Howl's Moving Castle (A classic. Most everyone has heard about this Studio Ghibli offering by now, but if you haven't watched yet, please put it on your list NOW. Pretty landscapes. Pretty Howl. Pretty animation. Absolute comfort film)

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (If you like vampire stories and amazing feats of animation, please watch this one. MadHouse animated it--the same studio that did Trigun and Death Note--and it's absolutely stunning. The story follows D, a dhampir and vampire hunter, and a starcrossed couple, Charlotte, a human, and Meier, a vampire)

JJK 0 movie (You don't have to have watched Jujutsu Kaisen to see this film! MAPPA absolutely blew everyone away with the animated battle sequences in 0. The story is a prequel, so you can start your journey without prior knowledge. Follow our protag, Yuta, and his cursed spirit, Rika, as they fight against a cult leader who wants to rid the world of curses)