#this video was prime comedic chaos

[natalyarose]

𝓚𝓾𝓻𝓽 𝓒𝓸𝓫𝓪𝓲𝓷 - 𝐵𝒾𝓇𝓉𝒽 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝒜𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓎𝓈𝒾𝓈

warning: very, very long lol

I wanted to create an in depth chart analysis on someone, and it had to be someone famous whose life I knew well. I honestly don't keep up with celebrities much, but the obvious answer to me was Kurt. When I was an angsty, hurting, misunderstood young teenager, he had my whole heart. I came from a very 'pristine' upperclass neighbourhood, yet my home life was a battle ground. In my childhood, I didn't meet a lot of people like me who were also hurting or have been to dark places (or at least, nobody would talk about it), so someone as raw as Kurt & a sound as unapologetic as Nirvana was like an oasis, I felt love. I sort of grew out of the 'obsession' with him as a person, but I still remember the way Nirvana and Kurt's imprint on this Earth made me feel. I was utterly intoxicated. The music, the poetry, the eyes, the passion, the pain of an outcast, the sarcasm, the anger at injustice... magic.

So without further ado, let's delve into Kurt's chart. I'm going to try to talk about the key things I notice. I'll be applying Ernst Wilhelm's Dhruva Galactic Center Ayanamsa (on Astroseek, Galactic Center mid-mula).

Moon in Punarvasu

Let's start with the Moon, typically considered the most intimately personal planet in Vedic Astrology. It actually takes some adjusting for me to see Kurt as a Punarvasu Moon since in Lahiri he is Ardra and I think he's sort've become a 'poster child' for the moody, edgy, destructive nature of Ardra. Even I used him as a prime example of Ardra in a video a few years ago... but I realise now it makes perfect sense. He is still very Rahuvian, which I'll further explain in a bit.

First of all, we're looking at the Sidereal Gemini section of Punarvasu-a brilliant mind, comedic, a writer, a communicator, and as we know a musician. I see Punarvasu's Jupiterian nature in his kindness, gentleness and intense loyalty to his values when it comes to protecting & advocating for the innocent. Kurt was very protective of women and children and despite his 'rockstar' image, was humble and always seeking to use Nirvana's music to advocate for social change. I know this behaviour can be seen as Rahuvian in nature, but I actually think this perception comes from misunderstandings from the Ayanamsa issue. Rahuvians can absolutely take an interest in social/political protest, but often Rahu natives prefer to 'play the game' and find purity and order in the chaos & illusions rather than actively push for expansion (Jupiter) and change.

As seen through various forms of literature & media documenting his life, Kurt had a tendency to look out for & befriend underdogs- a common trait of Jupiterians.

Another thing to note is that Jupiter rules sound. A strong Jupiterian placement gives an extremely powerful sonic presence. Kurt was an amazingly versatile singer, his ability to alternate between soft, melodic vocals & raspy, fierce, powerhouse metal-esque vocals was- is, phenomenal. The emotion and meaning conveyed in his voice is felt vibrantly even when the lyrics are muffled (famously, Nirvana lyrics are hard to understand lol).

The gentle nature of Kurt's Punarvasu Moon really shines through in these photos I love. Not to mention, Punarvasu being the Cat yoni! Kurt adored his cats. He also adored his daughter, in the sadly, short time he spent with her, in interviews and photos taken around the time we get a glimpse of his love and tenderness.

Physically, yes, Kurt has very Rahuvian gorgeous eyes, the 'scruffy' look that's typical of Rahu men, etc. - but look at his chin! Jupiterian natives are easily identified by their prominent chins (Jupiter connecting to the voice places an emphasis on the chin/throat area). Not to mention his hair- Cat yoni Nakshatras often give very sleek, smooth hair like a kitty cat. I know a few Punarvasu men with that kind of hair.

Punarvasu Nakshatra is often connected to imagery of angels. A lot of famous photos of Kurt depict Angel-esque wings in the background. Nirvana's album 'In Utero', depicts the figure of a woman with angelic wings. I see the Punarvasu angelic effect in the way I often see people remarking that Kurt was 'too pure for this world'.

One more distinctly Punarvasu theme I want to mention - Punarvasu's mythology is all about second chances, 'trying again'. Before Nirvana, Kurt started a band called 'Fecal Matter' (lol, wonderful). The band fell apart, but then came Nirvana. It is said that Punarvasu natives always get a 'second chance' or that things come in twos.

tw//

Another much sadder manifestation of this theme: As talked about in 'Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck', as a teenager Kurt Cobain attempted suicide. He heard a train was coming then went and lay on the tracks. It turned out that the train went on the other track. I guess you could say he got a 'second chance' in a way.

As we know, his life ended through suicide :(

Kurt's Punarvasu Moon sits in his 10th house, considered the house of career, the public eye and ambition. This makes perfect sense and is a very common placement to see in celebrities. With Moon in the 10th house, the emotions and internal nature are on display to the public in some way, which is true for Kurt. The native is radiant and marvelled at in their vulnerability of spirit- the 10th house and MC can be seen as the sky, and when Moon is in the 10th, everyone is looking up at you, enchanted.

His Moon is quite close to Jupiter. Most people would say it's too far to be a conjunction and technically it is, but I have a very open mind when it comes to aspects- especially aspects to the Moon! The faster changing the planet, the more sensitive it is to surrounding planets. I would argue that the Moon can feel influenced by planets close to a whole sign away (I'll have to make a seperate post on this at some point).

Anyway, Jupiter being close to Kurt Cobain's Moon only enhances his Jupiterian qualities. Jupiter on (or near to) the Moon can amplify the intensity of a person's emotions and internal convictions.

Jupiter also relates to spirituality - Kurt explored different religious structures (Christianity, Buddhism, etc.) at various points of his life, which makes makes sense considering his Jupiter ('Guru', spirituality, faith) is in Pushya, a Saturnian (restriction, structure) Nakshatra. Pushya is also known to be the 'birth of sadness' amongst the Nakshatras.

Ascendant in Uttaraphalguni (conjunct Pluto & Uranus)

Of course, in traditional Vedic Astrology the outer planets aren't used, but I incorporate them; especially when they're this prominent in their positioning- Kurt has both Pluto & Uranus very closely conjunct his ascendant, Uranus & ASC forming a 0° orb. While amazing, it is very typical to see this or similar astrological placements in the charts of people who've had a major impact in this world! While the inner planets are more personal, the outer, slower moving planets speak of the masses. Outer planets are generational, showing their influence in major trends and global events.

Kurt having these outer planets so close to his Ascendant speaks to how powerfully influential he has been on our world. He's inspired not one, but now many generations of youth with his image, his legacy.

It is not uncommon for people with Pluto on the Ascendant to become famous for their death which rings true for Kurt. A lot of people who may know not much else about him or Nirvana, know of his death and the tragedy surrounding it. Pluto gives him a natural intensity.

Uranus on the Ascendant speaks to a person who is eccentric, erratic or somehow unusual. 'Alien-like'. Kurt is often praised for his unique, unconventional mind and approach to his artistry. The first house being intimately related to how a person dresses & represents physically, Kurt dressed in many controversial ways, often to make a statement on political issues (wearing dresses for example).

It is no wonder Kurt's ascendant is in Uttaraphalguni, a Sun ruled Nakshatra. Sun ruled Nakshatras are radiant and tend to make natural leaders. He was of course, the frontman or the 'face' of Nirvana. Uttaraphalguni tends to be very good natured, but no-nonsense. Especially in the Virgo section. Uttaraphalguni natives are often kind in my experience, but have little tolerance for lack of efficiency which is true of Kurt, who held his bandmates to a strong standard. This Solar objectivity of knowing what's up to standard and what misses the mark is likely a big reason for Nirvana's huge success! Kurt was known to be somewhat ruthless or at least, very particular in how he wanted things to go in the band. (also a trait we see in Venusian Nakshatras; Kurt having Rahu in Bharani).

Sun Nakshatras tend to bless their natives with a natural sense of ease and comfort. The unapologetic authenticity Sun Nakshatras radiate means it's not uncommon to see these people as pioneers in whatever their field is. Nirvana was a huge catalyst and made a name for themselves in the genre of 'grunge', but Nirvana continues to inspire all kinds of artists to this day.

Kurt having his ascendant in Uttaraphalguni made him a naturally magnetic person to women and men alike. People are extremely drawn to the warmth, loyalty and genuine nature of Solar natives.

Authenticity was a value held in extremely high esteem for Kurt. It was typical for him to do things like, playing songs Nirvana was told they couldn't play, just for the principle of it. While I mention Kurt's exploration of religion earlier, Kurt rejected the Catholic concept of God very strongly. He despised what he saw to be unfounded control over others' being, creativity & sexuality.

Sun Nakshatras are self made: they lead, others' follow/take inspiration.

A very good friend of mine showed me that people with strong Solar influence in their charts photograph very well in black and white because of their energetic radiance (they shine so brightly, they don't need colour to stand out). It also can be attributed to the fact that Sun Nakshatras tend to give strong and sometimes sharp & chiseled features. Another interesting thing is it's not uncommon to see Sun people with natural golden yellow-y streaks through their hair, which is true of Kurt Cobain.

Sun in Shatabisha

Shatabisha is the all seeing eye. It is the Nakshatra pertaining to secrets & the collective unconscious. Shatabisha natives are very tapped into the minds and emotions of the collective. They can be natural born mystics, very hyper aware of 'behind the scenes' or 'under the surface' societal themes.

A lot of Shatabisha natives are extremely cognizant of social & political issues. While I believe it is moreso Jupiter Nakshatras that take on that strong drive to actively make noise and make a change, Rahu is the observer, Rahu sees what is the issue. Hence Shatabisha translating to '100 healers'. Rahuvians will often dress or behave in unusual or eccentric ways, as if to show the world they cannot and will not be placed into a box of any kind. I mentioned earlier Kurt dressing and portraying himself controversially in ways such as wearing dresses, very aligned with Rahuvian nature.

Rahu/Shatabisha's sensitivity and attraction to altered states of perception (the all seeing eye wants to see the world from many angles) means that there is often a natural inclination to explore substances. A lot of Shatabisha natives I've met in real life engage in some form of escapism be it through gaming, drugs, or even sugary foods & energy drinks that give that hit. This is especially the case for Rahu influenced men rather than women, because the slightly more feminine nature of Rahu can feel less natural to men. They may feel they have a harder time dealing with the challenges/expectations related to being a man in society when they are influenced by such a flowy & feminine force. They feel themselves being the observer rather than the 'do-er' and it can cause self-esteem struggles. However, Kurt's other placements (namely, Jupiter & Solar influence especially) helped to give him a natural ability to be more hands on in life.

Of course famously & tragically, Kurt got lost in his addictions and his mental health deteriorated. I'm sure we can't blame the entire tragedy on Shatabisha energies and there's more in his chart we could look into to understand why/how this came to be, but looking broadly at patterns of Rahuvian men, we can understand the theme.

Shatabisha natives have the ablitiy make amazing art; the sheer vastness of their minds and Rahu's receptivity to external influences means that they have a wealth of ability to take in inspiration from others, then transform it into something unique and out of this world!

Every Shatabisha native I've met knows EVERYTHING there is to know about the artists, books, fashion, YouTubers, etc. they are interested in. They often have physical collections, and are very keenly attuned to pop culture (or just media in general). I've met a lot of Shatabisha natives who have a very specific genre/subculture they take interest in and know everything about, yet they still know everything about 'mainstream' culture too. Idk how they know so much lol, but I believe the all seeing eye effect of Shatabisha makes it easy for them to take in that information very efficiently.

We see this incredible art & knowledge of culture in Kurt, who was openly a fanatic of many other artists and referenced who and what he knows time and time again in his music.

Kurt's Shatabisha Sun is in his 6th house, meaning these energies are especially highlighted when it comes to his everyday life, day to day employment, etc. which we know is true seeing as he was a musician.

One of Kurt's first girlfriends used to be the 'breadwinner', and Kurt would stay home and paint or write music.

Also in his 6th house is Mercury in Purvabhadrapada- Mercury rules over the intellect, communication, thoughts. Kurt was known to be very moody and somewhat unpredictable. Purvabhadrapada's symbol is a man with 2 faces, so an unpredictable and dualistic quality can be see in the way he expresses himself. Mental health struggles can definitely be seen with this placement. Being the height of Jupiter, we also see a more aggressive form of Jupiterian challenging of limitations & societal expectations in Purvabhadrapada, which we do see with Kurt.

Uttarabhadrapada 7th House Stellium

Kurt Cobain has Venus, Saturn & Chiron in the 7th house.

The 7th house is the house of marriage, partnerships, business and other people. I learnt that the 7th house is associated with fame, as when you are famous you know a lot of people/are viewed by the people. Also, achieving fame often has more to do with connections, contracts, and partnerships than it does to do with ambition & talent alone. So it makes sense that a famous person would have a strongly lit up 7th house.

Looking at photos of Kurt, I'm noticing how Saturnian he appears- the symmetrical features, 'stern' look. That also can be attributed to him having a prominent Sun Nakshatra which gives a 'stoic' nature, but Saturn really comes through as well. He is also very Saturnian in his rulebreaking tendencies- Saturn Nakshatra men tend to have a strong internal moral code but love to break rules that they don't deem to be rules that are there for a good reason.

At 19, Kurt spray-painted 'God is Gay' and was arrested for it. He did this to irritate homophobic people, homophobia being something he stood strongly against having had a very close friend in school who was gay.

Uttarabhadrapada in particular is an extremely intense Nakshatra. It's related to sacrifice & suffering in the name of providing for the greater good, being the cow yoni (as cows provide milk). It's symbolised by the death bed. This is eerie knowing of his suicide, but beyond that I think it really fits with Kurt's views on fame. He didn't necessarily enjoy being famous or plan to become as big as Nirvana did, but in a way being that famous is sacrificial. The media milked him and his life in whatever way they could as they do with most uber famous people.

The 'suffering', Saturnian starvation and sacrificial themes in Uttarabhadrapada have a natural connection to the story of Jesus, which of course we see Kurt depicting Jesus on the cross in the Heart Shaped Box music video. A beautifully poetic song.

Venus being the planet of beauty, love, art, and femininity, means it is very important to look at in the chart of an artist, and Kurt's Uttarabhadrapada Venus being conjunct Chiron really speaks to how a lot of Nirvana & Kurt's songs speak of pain and suffering. Chiron is 'the wounded healer'- it is said that where your Chiron is can be where you have the power to help or heal others, but struggle yourself.

Of course, Kurt's 7th house Uttarabhadrapada stellium reflects his infamous relationship with his wife Courtney Love, very well. Kurt's ascendant is in sunny, jovial Uttaraphalguni, and many are of the opinion that Courtney or at least, the relationship really dragged Kurt down and wore down his psyche sadly. I don't like to speak too badly of anyone, but a lot of people see Courtney as a huge influence on Kurt's deteriorated physical and mental health. They would exasperate one another's drug issues, both struggling to stay clean even with a baby in the picture.

Courtney is really painted as a villain by many which is very Uttaraphalguni-Uttarabhadrapada axis... Uttaraphalguni is the shining Sun, Uttarabhadrapada is the dark, cold depths of the ocean... also, ice. This perception is rampant, many viewing Courtney as a manipulative 'psycho', some even theorising that Kurt's tragic death may have been a homicide of her doing.

You could even say that Courtney is the Uttarabhadrapada 'sacrificial lamb'; her own reputation taking a drastic hit so that the image of Kurt as blameless for how things ended can live on. Of course, it could be read the other way around in that Kurt was the 'sacrifice' in this relationship. Either way, these energies are present.

These photos of their wedding (famously, Kurt is in his pyjamas lol) in Hawaii are actually very Uttarabhadrapada in nature- the stormy dark weather and the ocean outside. The Sun is feint in the background- perhaps could be interpreted as symbolic of Kurt's Uttarabhadarapada 7th house (of marriage) drowning the light & joy of his Solar ascendant. Not that they had no joy together, but more that together they were headed down this dark path.

Rahu in Bharani/Ketu in Vishakha & Mars in Swati

Being a Shatabisha (Rahu ruled) Sun, Rahu in Kurt's chart becomes extremely significant being a depositor.

Rahu in Bharani is I imagine, at the root of a lot of Kurt's artistic interests. Kurt had a fascination with life & death, life in the womb, & the female anatomy, all Bharani themes. The most obvious example of this being Nirvana's album literally being called 'In Utero'. Also, there is a Nirvana song literally titled 'moist vagina' lol, a personal favourite actually (I find it so sexy & raunchy in an odd way haha)

Another thing that comes to mind is Heart Shaped Box- after Lana Del Rey (Bharani Venus & Rahu) covered it, Courtney Love revealed that the song was about her vagina lol...

Ketu in Vishakha can speak to obsession and drive, Vishakha being 'the Star of Purpose'. This is an extremely strong willed and potentially very artistic placement for Ketu. Vishakha is ruled by Indra, King of the Gods & Agni, the God of fire. Indra ruled over storms and rain. Ketu in Vishakha gives way to very intense emotions and a very powerful drive to create and fulfil what gives the native that sense of purpose. For Kurt, that was his music. I'll note that this means Kurt has a Grand Trine in the three Jupiter Nakshatras -

Moon in Punarvasu, Ketu in Vishakha, Mercury in Purvabhadrapada

A grand trine in a chart can point to someone possessing a unique gift or ability that comes effortlessly to them. As mentioned earlier, Jupiter rules the voice & sound in general. Jupiter rules expansion, growth. The weakness of Jupiter comes with overindulgence, going too far into the deep end. While Saturn willingly goes into the deep end through sacrifice & limitation, Jupiter can drive itself into dark places with its sheer lack of limitation.

_

Mars in Swati is at first glance, a very gentle Mars as Swati is ruled by Vayu, God of the Wind. It is not an angry Nakshatra perse, but it can be extremely cutting and 'quick with words' as it is the butcher caste. Of course, Kurt was a poet at heart.

One of Swati's main mythologies (to make it short and sweet) is about a boy who impressed the Gods with his bravery and abilities, and was then blessed with powers. However, the boy was a mischievous child always causing pranks, so for his 'naughtiness' he was then cursed to forget his story & his powers. However, later down the track he was reminded of his powers and his past.

This story highlights Swati's tendency to be extremely self-doubting of their own capabilities. They have 'forgotten' their powers and need to remember. Swati natives really struggle with feeling as though they aren't 'enough' and just like the story, really need people in their life who consistently remind them of their abilities and what they're capable of.

Kurt was known to be very self-deprecating in this way, often doubting his abilities and and despising the way he looked (also something we see with Chiron conjunct Venus).

Swati also gives a playful and childlike nature, often taking an interest in dolls, cartoons and other playful novelty things which is true of Kurt.

IC in Mula, MC in Mrigashira

Lastly, I'm going to briefly talk about Kurt's IC-MC axis.

The IC represents the childhood, home life & inner/private self. Mula is the final Ketuvian Nakshatra, and translates to 'roots'. Mula's primary motivation is truth, getting to the honest root of things regardless of whether it's pretty or not.

Mula for this reason is a Nakshatra associated with destruction, because the truth will often break absolutely destroy the ground of faulty foundations in society.

As the IC, this could represent a situation where in the household, this child acted as the whistle-blower of truth and saw through the family dynamics + were outspoken about what they saw. This rings true of Kurt, he was seen as somewhat of a 'problem child' at home and was outwardly, vocally embarrassed and unhappy with the turbulent family situation.

So at Kurt's core inner self, he valued truth. He would rather an 'ugly' disturbing truth than a beautiful lie.

The MC represents a person's outer persona, the identity and values the person wishes most to present to the world. Mrigashira is the birth of Mars. Mars is the maverick, the rebel, but also the fighter.

I definitely see that society at large had this perception of Kurt that he was this martian, aggressive person in some ways; especially taking the emotion and lyrics put into him & Nirvana's music at face value.

Mrigasira Nakshatra is known for being a 'troll', and Kurt trolled the media a looot. I think of that time in Nirvana when he intentionally butchered Smells Like Teen Spirit. Or him mocking the media's constant gossip about him like in this clip '...dead, pregnant, on heroin... I'm a hermaphrodite as well!' lol.

I'm going to finish this analysis here, this ended up being very long, but I hope it was interesting for someone! It was good practice for me... it also reminded me why I don't do readings anymore lol, I love astrology but... man. This was just the icing on the cake too!

Thankyou for reading ♡

[greyias]

Back in 2011, there was this midseason replacement show that premiered on CBS about a group of wildcard spies that relentlessly haze their newbie while being absolute chaos mongers abroad and causing many international incidents. It seemed relatively obscure at the time, even though it had the perfect recipe for being fandom catnip bait (ie: being about a bunch of white guys with varied personalities).

Every now and then, I'll suddenly remember it's existence, and then furiously start Googling to try and find any way to watch it. Legitimate streaming sites. Illegitimate streaming sites. Sketchy DVD sales that inexplicably have copies of shows long out of print/never released. And then, of course, this stupid Amazon link always comes up and mocks me:

One can only assume the streaming rights for it are largely ignored, or stuck in legal limbo for one reason or another, and thus, it will forever remain "unavailable". Still, I have never seen a show so collectively memory holed and forgotten as my poor abandoned spy show. Heck, I was once able to track down a copy of Veritas: The Quest for a a birthday present for a friend in the early 00's, a show possibly even more obscure other than the fact that it's where Cobie Smulders got her start.

I have a nearly dead TiVo I've been hanging onto for years, meaning to extract the contents of its hard drive, because I know I have a bunch old episodes still on there (possibly the entire series because I refused to let it delete any of the episodes). I mean, they're all in standard definition because I'm a cheapo who refused to pay for cable and just got whatever I could over the air... but still.

One day I'll get to rewatch it. If I can remember how TiVo's file system format worked.

[theomenmedia]

The Trailer Of Amazon Prime Video's Next Original Film "You're Cordially Invited" Are Out Now!

Get ready for a wedding clash like no other! Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon star in "You're Cordially Invited," where double bookings lead to double the laughs. Streaming on Prime Video January 30, 2025.

[trandingpost1]

Panchayat Season 3: What to Expect from the New Season of the Hit Mockumentary

Calling all Panchayat fanatics! It's time to dust off your desi charm and brush up on your Hindi because our favorite mockumentary is back for another side-splitting season. Mark your calendars – Panchayat Season 3 arrives on Amazon Prime Video on May 28th, 2024, and we can't wait to dive back into the hilarious world of Phulera! Back to Phulera: Brace Yourselves for Panchayat Elections and Abhishek's Political Quandary Remember that quaint little village nestled in the heart of Uttar Pradesh? We're heading back to Phulera for another eight episodes of small-town drama, laugh-out-loud moments, and of course, Abhishek's (played by the phenomenal Jitendra Kumar) ongoing struggle to navigate the labyrinthine world of local politics. This Season's Highlights: Laughter with a Dose of Panchayat Politics

This time around, Panchayat Season 3 throws a whole new set of challenges Abhishek's way. Get ready for: - Election Mania: Buckle up, folks! Panchayat elections are here, and Phulera is about to become a battleground. Will Abhishek, with his aversion to local politics, be able to stay out of the fray, or will he get sucked into the hilarious campaign chaos? - Love Triangle Alert? Let's be honest, the sparks between Abhishek and Rinki (played by the charming Sanvikaa) were undeniable last season. Will their undeniable chemistry evolve into something more this season, or will they remain just friends? - Rural Realities Take Center Stage: While Panchayat is known for its humor, it also doesn't shy away from depicting the realities of rural India. Season 3 might delve into the struggles Abhishek and the panchayat face as they try to tackle issues like infrastructure development (that elusive new road!), social welfare challenges, and the ever-present bureaucratic hurdles that come with it all. Why Panchayat Season 3 Deserves a Spot on Your Watchlist Panchayat is much more than just a laugh riot. It's a show that beautifully captures the essence of rural India, weaving humor with warmth and a touch of social commentary. Here's why Season 3 is a must-watch for anyone seeking a delightful escape: - The Perfect Blend of Hilarious & Real: The show's witty dialogue, delivered with impeccable comedic timing by the cast, will have you in stitches. But it's not just slapstick humor. The relatable situations and quirky characters create a sense of familiarity, making you feel like you're right there with them in Phulera. - Lighthearted with a Bite: Panchayat masterfully tackles serious topics like poverty and bureaucratic corruption in a way that's easy to digest and thought-provoking. It sheds light on these issues without being preachy, making it a show that entertains while making you think. - A Feel-Good Escape: Need a show that leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling? Panchayat is your answer. It's a delightful escape into a world of funny characters, small-town charm, and the simple joys of village life. Beyond the Plot: A Look at Panchayat's Stellar Cast Panchayat wouldn't be the same without its phenomenal cast. Season 3 brings back the iconic trio: - Jitendra Kumar as Abhishek, the engineering graduate stuck in a secretary's job, perfectly portrays the character's frustration and dry wit. - Neena Gupta as the fiery Pradhan ji is back to steal the show with her sharp tongue and no-nonsense attitude. - Raghubir Yadav as the wise and ever-optimistic Manju adds a touch of warmth and humor to every scene. The supporting cast, including Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, and Sanvikaa, also shines, creating a vibrant and relatable community in Phulera. Panchayat Season 3: More Than Just a Comedy Panchayat Season 3 promises to be a hilarious and heartwarming journey filled with relatable characters, witty dialogue, and a glimpse into the realities of rural India. It's a show that will make you laugh, think, and maybe even yearn for a simpler life in a quaint village. So, mark your calendars, gather your friends and family, and get ready to return to the wonderful world of Phulera on May 28th! Read the full article

[bee-birb]

my thoughts on the knuckles series! spoilers below

ok so it was really well done, cinematography wise. the cgi was gorgeous and knux was portrayed amazingly. the plot.... was severely lacking. the main plot of "wade needs to win bowling against his asshole dad" should've been the subplot instead of "knuckles is getting kidnapped by GUN agents to sell to exGUN criminal who worked under robotnik", which should have been the main plot. also maddie and tom tracking down knux for escaping being grounded is never brought up. the lore tidbits from the GUN agents and the cute knux moments were honestly not worth signing into my dads Prime Video account to watch Wade trying to joust on a childs bicycle with a katana. the MURICA propaganda was strong, depicting the Asshole Dad covered in british flags, and wade's family is jewish (which i have no problem with, i love diversity and the chance to show off others' cultures) but in light of the palestinian war (and how america is basically funding israel) it feels like a political statement. i was not here for politics, i was here for funny red guy eats grapes. also nearly all the characters smelled of autism (which is nice, i love the inclusion) but i wonder if the writers/directors were projecting a bit. overall, this show was a bit of a disappointment, and focused more on wade than the title character.

anygays heres my unfiltered thoughts below

-

confirmed, knuckles only eats grapes and cool ranch doritos, he has the tism rizz

radio death counter: 2

this is just 2 delusional idiots going on a quest

everyone is autistic i love this

DICK JOKE

oh the racism. not cool in light of palistan. and paramount supporting israel. ew. why do wade's friends all have to be part jewish? why the mom's side?

theyre all so autistic i love it

that was a very unrealistic fork stabbing

wade needs a hug gawdamn

NINJA TURTLES BEDSPREAD LESGOO

wall death counter: 2

rip sink

o w the roadrash

HE GOT GAY BLASTED

lmao fursuit wade

p u p p e t

iblis? black arms? WHO ARE YOU DEMON?

gingers

dont duel, idiot, run away

YUHHH JOUSTING MENTIONED WTF IS THIS SHOW

why did the mailman just happen to have a gun flare that says go

DONT DRAG THE KATANA ON THE ASPHALT YOU IMBECILE

ow the roadburn

unironically hate this show wtf

lmao he has a bob

HE RAN PAST THE MOTORCYCLE??? HUHH??

WE GOT THE HAT BABYYYY

ew a child

i can overlook the plotholes. i can overlook the racism. i can overlook the idiocy. bUT I CANNOT OVERLOOK BRITISH MAN. DISGUSTING (i ��hate’ brits for the bit, no hard feelings)

everyone is autistic i can smell it

HUGE LORE DROP, ROBOTNIK MADE GUN? not even grampa gerald, its def eggman. the implications for sonic 3 and the creation of shadow...

the squares were… an interesting editing choice

SUPPORTIVE WANDA LESGO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

really hope that knux is just causing chaos and eating grapes offscreen. he deserves some grapes.

LISTEN TO YOUR MOM WADE, NEVER TRUST A BRIT

yup, betrayal scene. never trust a brit

NOOO DONT BETRAY KNUX HE ALREADY HAS TRUST ISSUESSSS

they sacrificed dragon fruit man :0

where did they go

how did they commission custom bowling polos so quickly

omg FINALLY THE FIGHT SCENE

youre a loser baby

HOLY SHIT THE CHAOS ENERGY JUST GOT SLURPED RIGHT OUT OF HIM LIKE SPAGHETTI THROUGH A STRAW

YASS STEAL YOUR ENERGY BACK BABES

KICK HIS ROBOT ASS

bro didnt get his balls crushed, he got crushed by a ball

YUHHH PUNCH THE BRIT

final thoughts: 4/10, needed more knuckles, the repeating songs were eh, only eps 1, 5, and 6 were worth it, and i genuinely hate the majority of the main plot. the subplot of knux getting kidnapped and the whole gun thing was cool, but it should've been the main plot. fuck the brits

ALSO WTF WAS UP WITH PACHACAMAC. either he's a figment of knuckles' imagination that got imprinted into wade's head, or he's FUCKING REAL AND THATS TERRIFYING IN REGARDS TO THE LORE. WTF.

and the rock opera scene was ass. like ik it was supposed to be bad for comedic value but it was just bad bad.

[bolllywoodhungama]

Eddie Murphy tries to preserve Christmas in Candy Cane Lane, which will premiere on Prime Video on December 1st.

Candy Cane Lane will be available on Prime Video worldwide on December 1, 2023. On October 12, a teaser trailer will be released. Eddie Murphy is bringing his renowned comedic abilities to his first holiday feature! For the first time since their 1992 blockbuster, Boomerang, director Reginald Hudlin, Murphy, and producer Brian Grazer return for the film. Kelly Younger wrote the screenplay, which was inspired by his own holiday memories on Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo, California.

The first trailer was released on Tuesday, and it stars Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Robin Thede, Chris Redd, Genneya Walton, Madison Thomas, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Lombardo Boyar, D.C. Young Fly, Danielle Pinnock, Timothy Simons, Riki Lindhome, and Stephen Tobolowsky. This festive comic adventure stars Eddie Murphy as a man on a mission to win his neighborhood's annual Christmas home decorating contest. After Chris (Eddie Murphy) unwittingly makes a bargain with a scheming elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell) to improve his chances of winning, she performs a magical enchantment that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life and causes chaos throughout the town. Chris, his wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), and their three children must race against the time to break Pepper's influence, battle deviously magical figures, and save Christmas for everyone. Candy Cane Lane will be available on Prime Video worldwide on December 1, 2023. On October 12, a teaser trailer will be released.

[6ftgirlfriend]

// 🥛🐇🥛🐇

[autisticshadowthehedgehog]

King I love your sonic movie memes but please, a primer on who they are?

- sincerely, someone whose only exposure to the sonic universe is the Sonic Rush Adventure and the film

Ok so Sonic Prime is an upcoming Sonic show that is going to have Sonic explore multiple dimensions. The company making it owns the rights to the 90s tv shows (SatAM, AoSTH, Underground) so we're all really hoping part of the multiverse is the other Sonic canons, hence all my memes.

So, quick rundown:

Prime!Sonic - Gameverse, from Sonic Adventure onwards; we got confirmation a while ago that the main Sonic in Prime will be gameverse. I also lump IDW!Sonic in with him for now but we'll have to see if those comics go off-game canon at some point.

Classic!Sonic - Gameverse, everything from the original Sonic the Hedgehog to ~Sonic R. He's been featured as a separate character in Sonic Generations and Sonic Forces so we're counting him.

Nicky/Shogakukan!Sonic - from these early manga adaptations from Shogakukan. They're super hard to find and not much is known about them but basically Nicky is an anxiety boy who turns into Sonic when there's trouble.

Fleetway!Sonic/StC!Sonic - from the British comic Sonic the Comic published by Fleetway. He's known for being a lil ruder than Sonic normally is and for his SuperSonic form being fucking evil so that's cool as shit

AoSTH!Sonic - Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, 1993 comedy tv show that's basically a mix of Roadrunner and Garfield and Friends. Sonic in this canon is a dumbass and also more powerful than God.

SatAM!Sonic - Sonic the Hedgehog 1993-1994 tv show, the commercials always put "SatAM" by the title cause it aired on Saturday Mornings so that became shorthand for the show. Post-apocalyptic rebellion show, this Sonic's fighting to free his world and definitely has a lot of trauma. Also note that in this canon he's dating Princess Sally Acorn, my beloved, who's basically the only one in the rebellion with a braincell

Archie!Sonic - Sonic the Hedgehog Archie Comic series. So much shit happens in these comics I can't even get into it here. Basically started out SatAM adaptation and then mixed in gameverse and its own shit and it's wild

Scourge - From the Archie Comics, fucked up and evil Sonic from another dimension. We’re not allowed to use him rn because bitchass motherfucker K*n P*nders has custody.

OVA!Sonic - from Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, called the OVA by the fandom cause i think it stands for "Original Video Animation" or smth? An anime pilot film that never got picked up for a series but was pretty and fun. OVA Sonic is a lovable asshole who fistfights Metal Sonic. This is also the canon with Cowboy Hat Knuckles.

Underground!Sonic - from Sonic Underground, it was basically a studio trying to make SatAM more marketable while putting less work into it. I cannot recommend it as a good show but I do recommend it as a really funny show to laugh at. In this canon Sonic is one of three royal triplets (the others being Sonia and Manic, yes those are their real names) and they use magic instruments they summon from amulets to fight Robotnik and find their Mom. Yes that's all canon

X!Sonic - from Sonic X, an anime adaptation from the early 2000s that made its own original story to tie in with gameverse. The Japanese version is the best Sonic adaptation imo, but unfortunately the English was dubbed by 4kids who are notorious for being shit at translating. Anyway X!Sonic is the only Sonic with a braincell and also he can turn into Dark Sonic if you piss him off enough.

Boom!Sonic - from the Sonic Boom tv show/games, he's basically Sonic but with his flaws heightened for comedic value. aka he's a self-centered adrenaline junkie but also he's super tired of everything in life and he basically comes across as a bored college student. So I love him. You can tell him from the other Sonics by the neckerchief.

Filmverse!Sonic - from the Paramount 2020 film adaptation that's clearly spinning off into a universe of his own. aka Sonic Wachowski this is the one with two eyes and fluff, probably chaos emerald magic, and the least experience with Mobius's bullshit as well as the most experience with Earth's bullshit

I’ll get you a chart of which model is which character when I get back from grocery shopping.

[improbablecarny]

A Post About Making Adrian Shephard Interesting

The Half-Life series is full of engaging characters, ranging from loveable, to love-to-hateable, to Adrian Shephard. Who is Adrian Shephard? He is a guy, who has a gun, which is extremely surprising for video games. He and his gun are the stars of Half-Life: Opposing Force, the first game’s first expansion, where he is sent into Black Mesa after it becomes an interdimensional shitshow, so he and his gun can shoot some aliens. 

The game sets him up as a foil/rival/antagonist to the iconic Dr. Gordon Freeman, as if we are about to play a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse with the feral physicist. This setup is a lie. Adrian encounters his sworn enemy once, immediately loses him, and gets distracted with putzing around on whatever tasks the plot puts in front of him until the G-Man shows up and says “I don’t really know what to do with you” and indefinitely stuffs him in cold storage, which is, incidentally, also what Valve did.

Despite this, Adrian still has a decent following of fans, mostly attributed to the fact that he is a guy with a gun in a video game. His defining feature as a character is that he always wears a gas mask. His only defining feature as a character is that he always wears a gas mask. Okay, that's not fair: he has a couple diary entries where he mostly talks about how he and his gun want to shoot stuff, which makes him relatable to gamers everywhere.

What I’m getting at here is that, in a series where the POV characters have ranged from everyone’s favourite perpetually put-upon physicist to rebellion leaders, Adrian stands out to me as a piece of limp bread.

But what if I told you he doesn’t have to be?

What if I told you that the limp bread we know is merely at one end of a breadcrumb trail that leads to a whole loaf?

1. MARINES HUUUGH GUNS GO BANG

Okay, so it isn’t a secret that I think “military guy who shoots stuff” is, perhaps, a little played out. I see a guy with a crew cut and my eyes glaze over. I hear a chopper and begin to snore. I can no longer perceive olivedrab as a colour. We could get into the nitty gritty of American nationalist/military propaganda and its relationship with video games, but that isn’t funny, so I’ll just say that it sucks and I hate it.

Half-Life 1 was not overtly kind to our pals, the Marines. By that I am referring to the fact that they were consistently portrayed as sadistic meatheads. My approach to Opposing Force was hesitant, as to suddenly make one of them the hero is to say “but what if the sadistic meatheads kind of had a point?”. Luckily, as the game opens with Adrian silently shooting the shit with a handful of tongue-in-cheek war movie stereotypes, I got the sense that this wouldn’t quite the case -- which is more or less confirmed when Adrian’s chopper goes down before he has the chance to receive his orders to do war crimes.

So we have our first ingredient: a macho kid with stars in his eyes who goes out on his first mission and is immediately blasted in the face with a healthy dose of...well, blasts, but also, uncomfortable truths.

2. PAUL BLART, SCIENCE COP

Corporal Adrian Shephard has landed, the sole survivor of his unit, the quintessential badass, our gritty hero. Now the action begins, we think. He busts in, guns and wrenches blazing, and begins to kick some alien can. Right?

Well, he tries. But to his dismay, Black Mesa has a lot of doors, which as we all know, are impervious to guns.

Luckily, there is an aggressively Midwestern security guard wandering around who just happens to have the clearance Adrian needs. His name is Otis. There are actually multiple Otises (Otii?) because Black Mesa security guards have a bit of an esoteric relationship with reality, but let’s just pretend the ones that don’t die immediately in comedic scripted sequences are Otis Prime.

Otis is everything Adrian isn’t. Zombies stalk the halls and Otis is more upset with a wayward vending machine. Bullets fly and Otis jokes about how he should’ve taken the mall job instead. He’s an affable, goofy uncle of a man, and he’s not necessarily there to show us just how cool Adrian is in comparison... he’s there because Adrian needs his help.

And there we have our second ingredient: your coolguy action hero archetype isn’t maybe that effective as a lone wolf, and the unexpected kindness of strangers may be what he needs to pull through.

3. THE SHEPH(A)ERD

As many have pointed out, our pal Adrian develops a peculiar and hilarious habit: picking up random aliens and using them as weapons.

Opposing Force itself seems to be, more than anything, an exercise in showing off cool weaponry and cool enemies. Adrian’s fleshy new friends are just a means to a tech demo. But with the goggles of plot and characterization on, just as Adrian has a horrible barnacle grappling hook on his hand, we have something hilarious on ours: a flock of freaky friends there to help him on his journey.

And who doesn’t love the “head scritches for the spore launcher” animation?

I don’t know if this is what they intended when they gave him (a mutation of) “shepherd” as a surname, but Adrian’s Multidimensional Menagerie is the third ingredient of incredible potential: your loose-cannon commando came in here to kill aliens and ended up adopting a bunch instead.

A PATTERN EMERGES

Keeping these three things in mind, a vision of Adrian begins to solidify, and it is one that doesn’t quite match the image of the elite commando power fantasy that the dudes in the comments section of all Opposing Force-related Youtube videos are clamoring for.

What is Adrian’s goal in this story? Well, first off he seems ready to track down Freeman -- but once the slippery scientist slides on through his fingers like a handful of bright orange soup, it’s mostly a matter of fighting some aliens, fighting some black ops dudes, disarming a nuke, and pissing off a giant terraforming alien so bad that it just gives up and leaves. What can we pull from this to make Adrian compelling?

It’s not that he’s the coolest dude with the baddest guns: He is set up like every other badass military shootman, only to be immediately humbled by the horrifying truth behind his mission and the alliances he needs to forge in order to survive. He befriends some of the creatures he was sent in to destroy. He disarms a nuke and repels the Gene Worm without killing it. Adrian carries with him the framework of a character whose purpose is to de-escalate. 

Then we begin to see him as an actual foil to Gordon: where the good doctor was unwillingly plunged headfirst into violence and chaos in order to survive, what if Adrian had to reject these things to survive -- despite everything he’d been trained to be?

And if he returns to this post-apocalyptic world, under the G-Man’s thumb, without an Otis in sight (but plenty of aliens)... where does he go from there?

[0poole]

Tangle Tower

I don’t usually want to play games for multiple hours on end. Even when I really like a game, most of the time after a bit I’m just like “I’ve had enough for now” and go on to do something else. I think the only times that’s happened before (in recent memory at least) were with Oxygen Not Included, Pokemon Sword (because it’s Pokemon) and the Chao Garden in Sonic Adventure 2. I’m not the kind of gamer who won’t get up from their chair. Honestly though I have so many games just around and half-played I kind of wish I could turn into that to finish them all.

But I’m not here to post about that. I’m here to post about Tangle Tower, the best looking game I’ve ever played. And yes, I have played Cuphead. Don’t get me wrong, that games a godsend in every single way, I just prefer this style more. We don’t get 2D drawn-animation games often enough, and TT and Cuphead are both prime examples as to why that’s a damn ol shame. 

Since it doesn’t seem crazy popular, just watch the trailer and see: https://youtu.be/3JEliSJ859I

And looking at their previous game, featuring the same protagonist, looks like a serious step up. Might end up playing that one too, since it pretty much seems the same with less pretty art and animation. Or, you know, if any store app even worked on my phone...

Anyway, I’m sure the trailer did most of the work for me. I am in love with the character designs. I only wish I could make characters that inherently expressive. Ignoring what my pants have to say about it, I can’t get enough of Flora’s design. Even though she basically does nothing with her head or hands, the animation of her hair blowing in the wind just makes you stand up straight and think “Oh shit.” Plus, she’s the perfect degree of mysterious to be the subject of a painting painted by a murder victim. 

But come on, Sally though? There isn’t a better blend of coldness and wit out there. Her voice acting is also amazing. All voices are really, usually I just have to power through it and enjoy the rest of the game, but here they were all great voices. I was especially surprised at liking Grimoire’s voice, since he definitely seemed like the type to get annoying after a while, but his comedic side didn’t overstay its welcome, and was left behind when necessary, and played off Sally’s witty side pretty well too. I especially loved all of Felix’s weird little imperfections and chortles after his sentences and such. He definitely seemed like the type for that. If my own words aren’t enough, for once in my life I actually felt like going through each little clue when talking to each character just so I could hear their remarks. 

Since they were all so animated so well, I also just wanted to look at them move for a bit. Not just that, but if I weren’t so hard pressed on continuing through the story, I could seriously stare at them move in the overworld in each of their little rooms. It reminds me of those “lofi chill beats to study to” videos on Youtube, how their movements are so minute, but they seem to fit so flawlessly into the setting that it just is satisfying. Obviously Felix’s is kind of depressing, with him half asleep in the corner of his room, and Fitz’s being sort of creepy with him in the shadows of his greehouse, but even then it’s just fitting for the character. My favorite would probably be Hawkshaw, fiddling around with whatever’s on that weird portable desk of her’s. The setting is so nice anyway that pretty much any character could just lie there and look fantastic, but I still love overbearing character designs like Hawkshaw’s anyway.

Apart from the art, I was kind of glad how easy the puzzles were. Clearly, as you can tell, I’m mostly just here for the story and the art, so I wouldn’t want a puzzle to get in the way of that. That’s really the only reason why I haven’t wanted to play more Professor Layton games, because the puzzles make me feel like a proud idiot who doesn’t want to just look up the answers but is too stupid to get through them, and with some points requiring a certain amount of puzzles, I just don’t feel like going through the trouble. Here, not only were the puzzles directly relevant to whatever think the characters were supposed to get past, but they always felt super accessible to an idiot like me, and weren’t so accessible that I felt like it was a cop-out. I always felt like I knew what I was doing, but once and a while took just enough effort on my part that I still felt like I was doing something.

The plot wasn’t ground-breaking, but it sure as hell wasn’t bad. It is the type of thing that BEGS for a sequel, though. It doesn’t stray too far outside of the cooler bits that are relevant to the plot itself, so you’re kind of left wanting to just know everything there is about the little world they set up. I’d say it’s a good kind of that, though, like where it was a good balance that just teases the inner monster lover in you, but didn’t want to upset the non-monster lovers. Considering the monsters weren’t entirely relevant, them not being talked about as much isn’t an objective negative by any means. 

Basically: fork up your dough to look at some pretty art and animation for a while, while the story and puzzles keeps your active brain occupied. It’s seriously enjoyable.

[canvaswolfdoll]

CanvasWatches: KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!

You know what was a surprisingly nice discovery? Crunchyroll has the english dub of the first… season? Cour? First ten episodes of KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! (also known and henceforth referred to as KonoSuba) with the english dub. How magnanimous of the Dub-unfriendly service.

Konosuba was a pleasant follow-up to Kill la Kill (the review of which I’d been struggling with as I write this essay, so we’ll see if anything from that materializes). The network of Youtube Anime Reviewers had decided this was real good and funny and is worth the time. And, hey, I did have that free month courtesy of Twitch Prime, I might as well![1]

I thought it was fine! But the massive hype might’ve dragged it down. Comedy’s difficult. A lot relies on the unexpected, so if you prime viewers with “It’s really funny,” you raise critical expectations, which can undercut the weaker material.

Or maybe I’m too much of a comedic writer to get the full effect. Learned to read set-ups and such.

But I can recommend it if you have access and are interested. You won’t be disappointed.

Possibly another hurdle to my enjoyment is I went in intending to mine ideas for my own works. Spoofing RPGs and such is something I’ve long been wanting to set my skills towards, and it’s not always clear the best way to interpret mechanics.

Anyways, Konosuba has decided to parody the increasingly popular isekai[3] genre.

First ingredient: an average loser everyman for the viewer to project on. Filling the role is Kazuma Sato.[5] He goes out to buy a video game, decides to save a girl’s life from a perceived threat, and dies.

So, he needs to be reincarnated. As part of the typical Isekai set-up, he’s allowed to ask for whatever he needs to make himself massively overpowered.

So he takes Aqua, the sassy goddess offering him the choice.

This is the point where the typical formula breaks down. Kazuma has no notable advantages, and Aqua isn’t actually competent. Thus, we spend the 10 episodes stuck in the starting town of the pseudo-video game world.

So, when you throw someone into a video game or (less commonly) TRPG world, there’s the question of how to depict the actual GUI and game mechanics.

There’s the Sword Art Online and Log Horizon method, where the mechanics and their relationship with the world is unchanged, including the “players” being able to pull up a system menu to do… system menu things.

On the other end, we have Overlord, where the menu and other visuals vanish, and the tasks they accomplished must either be intuited by those translated into the world, or become part of their innate knowledge.

KonoSuba has everyone talk about the mechanics and such freely (in a tutorial NPC sort of way), but the menu has been replaced by an Adventurers ID, which shows stats and allows the adventurers to swipe and learn skills. Functional and easy for the viewer to accept.[6]

From this starting point, we have Aqua as the healer, and Kazuma as… an unclear role. He learns a Steal skill early, but he then starts learning magic, so he’s a bit of a Jack-of-all-Trades. The show’s not shy about the Master of None side of that, because the only decent stat our protagonist has is Luck, which counts just enough for him not to die and get the crucial things to fall in his lap.

Such crucial things include a Mage (who refuses to cast any spell except an excessive explosion spell) named Megumin, and a Tank-Fighter (who is… rather excited to take damage) named Darkness. Not the ideal companions, but functional.

But that also means we don’t have a straight Rouge, so I’m required to be salty about that.

Kazuma attempts to build a sustainable and fulfilling life, but the quests available are either above his capabilities or menial labor. Because life is more funny whenever things don’t go well for the hero.

The first three episodes are dedicated to establishing the setting and the characters, and aren’t actually that funny. Yes, there are things I can identify as attempts at comedy, but they’re modest attempts that don’t really build to a satisfying laugh. Kazuma’s attempt at straight-manning the shenanigans of his allies is restricted to complaining and feeling put upon, which flattens the funny moment by drawing attention to how wacky it’s meant to be.

Episode four, however, finally introduces a desperately needed element: a victim. In the form of a Dullahan who is up to his nonexistent neck with annoyance at Megumin casting a daily explosion spell on his castle.

His attempts at intimidation fall flat due to the apathy of our main party, and then Darkness steps in with her masochism, which bewilders him. He casts a death curse on Darkness, to her delight, and rides off to await Megumin to fight him in his castle.

Aqua then casually removes the curse, and our party forgets about the encounter.

A character desperately trying to do his job in spite of the ideocentricies of the main cast is much funnier than a character that just complains.

Comedy works better when it builds off what is established in narrative than over-relying on meta-knowledge and lampshade hanging. Those things have their place, but they work better as augmenting jokes or to speed up delivery, not as whole jokes themselves.

The next episode does a better job in that respect by introducing another guy with the same deal as Kazuma, except he’s a more traditional Isekai protagonist, and thus kind of a loser NEET. He also chose a massively overpowered sword instead of Aqua, and is doing better because of it.

Kazuma easily outwits him, steals the sword, and fences it. This sets a stronger character base for Kazuma: a genre savvy jerk willing to exploit the world around him for a quick buck. It turns him from a put-upon everyman into a jerk able to cause the same sort of chaos as the rest of his party.

Unfortunately, such moments are few and far between, as the rest of the season has Kazuma back to being a useless whiner. We do get closure with the Dullahan, which showcases Kazuma is actually pretty good at analytical thinking and tactics, but lacks the personal capabilities to actually fight.

The show then introduces an important character (a lich named Wiz) in a manner that clearly cut segments from the source material that, if shown in full, probably would’ve strengthened the rest of the story.

Instead, that time is used for an episode where Kazuma patronizes a succubus business that offers customized dreams. We watch an extended Q&A segment that raises uneasy implications about Kazuma’s predilections, then an uncomfortable encounter between him and Darkness which I don’t know how to fairly judge, since Kazuma is forcing Darkness into foreplay and intends to go further, but he thinks it’s a dream while Darkness doesn’t know that and thinks he’s being forceful, but she also could very easily overpower him and the show’s established…

Look, episode 9 should’ve been cut and I don’t wish to dwell on it any further.[7]

Anyways, the fall-out of that adventure is suddenly ignored as Howl’s Moving Castle (Dark Edition) lurches towards the town. Deary dear.

It belongs to the Dark Lord, though the exact nature of it and it’s controller is rather ambiguous. But it’s scary, powerful, and has immense defense. What will the town do?

Fortunately, Kazuma’s surprisingly powerful party and his tactical scheming allows them to stop it. However, in true villain lair fashion, the moving fortress starts a self destruct sequence. So now that needs to be addressed.

While searching the place to figure out how to deactivate it, Kazuma finds the corpse of the builder/driver with his diary.

Turns out, the guy was hired to build it, but thought the requirements were excessive and he didn’t really want to do the job. So he told his employers he needed a rare relic to power it, thinking it’d never get supplied.

The relic gets supplied.

So he builds the fortress, turns it on, and immediately loses control. The fortress goes on an unstoppable rampage as the builder is stuck inside. Oops. So he just kind of kept bluffing his way along.

Which tells us something crucial about this world: it runs on a narrativium fueled by malicious luck. Kazuma’s form of luck is not unique, wherein he is only fortunate enough for the next inconvenience to come along. He gets a rent-free manor not because he particularly deserves it, but because fate demands he be able to survive the winter. His companions are just competent enough to excuse their quirks. Even a second isekai protagonist finds success for only long enough to become a punchline.

It is a universe with a cruel sense of humor, and the greatest success goes to those who stumble uphill while trying to avoid detection.

It’s a world that rewards not the Aragorns, but the Rincewinds. So that’s fun.

This is best exemplified when Kazuma’s rousing success in saving the town results in him being arrested for at least property damage if not regicide.[8] And that is where the first 10 episodes end.

Now to wait for the season 2 and OVA dubs…

It’s a fine anime, but I think it’s been oversold. The premise is strong, the characters are fun, but the storytelling felt more like an attempt to hit the Greatest Hits beats. It might be worth the effort to read the Light Novel, as I suspect that might be the superior version in this case.[9]

Still, there are strong ideas, and a few things I’d aim to emulate. Especially the distinct leads. I do struggle with making a cast of diverse personalities.

If you enjoyed reading this review, please consider paying me. I have a patreon, a Ko-fi, and a burning desire to branch out into other projects but require investment to make it worth it.

We can’t all reincarnate into a fantasy world. Some of us need support to create them for ourselves.

Kataal kataal.

---

[1] My brother, meanwhile, has been binging Deltora Quest for… some reason… I know the books were pretty good for elementary school Canvas, while the succeeding series made less of an impression.[2] [2] Which is to say, bother Vulpin if you think it deserves a review. [3] Isekai (Japanese: 異世界, transl. "different world") is a subgenre of Japanese fantasy light novels, manga, anime, and video games revolving around a normal person from Earth being transported to, reborn, or trapped in a parallel universe. (Wikipedia)[4] [4] Yes, I actually used a footnote to cite a source and provide further information. Don’t get used to it. [5] I desperately want to make a Yakuza joke, but I got nothing. [6] The solution I devised for Penn & Pauper puts the Stats read-out on smartphones, with everything else being as it is in the normal world. IE, you have to manually equip weapons and armor and such. [7] Not just because my Mom is my only patreon patron. [8] They don’t specify if anyone was in the manor that got exploded. [9] Not that the Light Novels I’ve read thus far have been particularly strong. The writing of Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Spice & Wolf felt very stiff on the other end of the translation process. Log Horizon, meanwhile, has meandering Light Novels with a poor sense of rhythm for page breaks.[10] [10] Also, the Mighty Santa Clara Library System refused to accept my Spice & Wolf books, so now I don’t know what to do with them.

[trustglam]

Watch the afterparty online

WATCH THE AFTERPARTY ONLINE TV

Rome, Oz are some amazing choices from HBO Max. “The Afterparty” has not planned its launch on HBO Max. Punisher, Nailed It is some best options from Netflix. “The Afterparty” is not going to launch on Netflix. Tandav, Afsos are some best suggestions from Prime Video. “The Afterparty” is not going to debut on Prime Video. Shrill, Plan B is the best alternative from Hulu. Unfortunately, “The Afterparty” is not going to premiere on Hulu. While the scripts “were precisely plotted out,” showrunner Christopher Miller and executive producer Phil Lord acknowledged to Decider that there were plenty of leeways for the actors to inject their own creative flavor. Richardson and Schwartz both have extensive live comedic backgrounds (Richardson has performed at Second City, while Schwartz has been a long-time UCB improvisation), so it’s no surprise that they were given plenty of chances to improvise. You can’t tell what was prepared and what was improvised because the jokes are delivered at such a fast rate. The program employs a deceptively basic formula (amazing writing, well-rounded characters, outstanding performances, and a gripping whodunit) to create an intriguing mystery that masterfully blends intrigue and humor into one captivating plot. Tiffany Haddish stars as Detective Danner, and the cast also features Zo Chao, Dave Franco, Ilana Glazer, Ike Barinholtz, and Jamie Demetriou as former classmates, as well as Search Party star John Early as Haddish’s partner.

WATCH THE AFTERPARTY ONLINE TV

If you enjoy TV comedy, The Afterparty’s cast includes a who’s your favorite actors. The show, which launches on January 28, not only has a bold premise, but it also features one of the most hilarious comedic casts in recent memory. The eight-episode Rashomon-style whodunit, created by Christopher Miller, revolves around a murder case at a high school reunion.Įach episode is a retelling of the same night told from the perspective of a different individual, with the varied genres matching the storyteller’s distinct personalities. When I initially heard about Apple TV+’s new comedy The Afterparty, I was ecstatic. Expectations have a way of influencing your streaming experience in an indirect way.

[wazafam]

The Horror genre is a classic favorite of many with movies full of scenes that get the heart racing and send chills down the spine. Most films in the genre are a gore-fest, with the living dying in all kinds of scary ways and the dead doing all sorts of terrifying things. But, not all of them follow the cliché formula of horror films.

RELATED: 10 Horror Movies That Everyone Can Enjoy (Even If You're A Scaredy-Cat)

Since the 1980s, some film producers have mixed horror with other genres, thus catering to audiences who might be interested in some chills and thrills without losing the ability to get a peaceful night of sleep after the credits roll. This lighter horror stays true to the genre by providing the creeps while mixing things up with dark humor, comedy, and sometimes psychological thriller elements.

10 Gremlins (1984) - Available on HBO Max

When Billy's Christmas gift goes through some unexpected changes, all hell breaks loose. What started out as a fluffy pet turns into several terrible monsters all because 3 golden rules weren't followed. Chaos ensues as the creatures-turned-monsters unleash all kinds of mischief on the town with deadly consequences for some.

Gremlins is a creature feature that's not too spooky and has some comedic elements that help to lighten the mood. Some of the violent scenes make it a little less family-friendly, especially for younger children, but it remains a classic favorite of many even now, with a surprisingly great sequel too.

9 Ghostbusters (1984) - Available on DirecTV, Freeform, and AMC+

When there's something strange in the neighborhood, that's definitely a job for the Ghostbusters. In this film, combining comedy and horror, a group of friends set up a paranormal removal company in New York City to capture ghosts, with spooky and hilarious results.

Ghostbusters is a beloved classic for many and one of the first films to delve into a unique form of the horror genre that balances the chills and thrills with humor. The 2018 Ghostbusters reboot, starring Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, is also a good one to try, taking this classic, beloved story into a modern setting while keeping the spooky and comedic elements the original film is loved and known for.

8 Beetlejuice (1988) - Available for purchase on Prime Video

When a married couple suddenly dies in a car accident and gets stuck in their house as ghosts, they're left with no option but to haunt the new family that moves in. Unfortunately, instead of frightening the guests, their actions come off as comical instead, making Beetlejuice a little more hilarious than scary.

The Tim Burton production is another classic favorite that's ideal for almost any age group. It's mostly a fantasy comedy film, so it's perfect for viewers looking for something that won't keep them up at night.

7 The Addams Family (1991) - Available on Starz

Supernatural horror meets dark humor in The Addams Family--a story of a family that's both creepy and intriguing. The story kicks off with the supposed return of a long-lost relative and a plot to swindle the family out of their fortune.

RELATED: The Addams Family: 10 Spooky Facts Fans Didn't Know About The Movies

The story is based on characters from a 1964 TV series and while it has some spooky elements, it's mostly lighthearted with plenty of dark humor. If the movie feels too dark, the 2019 animated version of The Addams Family is a good alternative.

6 The Frighteners (1996) - Available on Starz

Following a car accident that killed his wife, a man discovers he can talk to the dead. He uses his newfound ability to communicate with the dead to make a living until he discovers something sinister and dangerous.

For many, The Frighteners is a familiar movie that never gets old or too boring to rewatch. The moderate violence and gore make it easier to swallow down than most horror films. Although it has comedy elements, it has some intense scare scenes befitting the horror genre.

5 The Others (2001) - Available on Max Go and DirecTV

Nothing is as it seems in The Others, a psychological horror film with some good scares and a shocking twist. The story follows a mother living with her two children in a home they believe is haunted and all the creepiness that ensues as they try to get rid of the paranormal entities in their home.

Unlike some horror movies that rely on over-the-top special effects to be creepy, The Others puts a chilling twist on the all-too-familiar sensation of feeling like there's something lurking in the shadows.

4 Coraline (2009) - Available for purchase on Prime Video

The stop-motion animation format might lighten the horrific elements of Coraline but it's still a pretty spooky watch. After moving to a new home with her family, Coraline discovers a parallel universe that seems better than the real world. But, as she soon discovers, nothing is as it seems and some things are just too good to be true.

RELATED: 10 Dark Familly Movies To Watch If You Loved Coraline

Coraline is an easy story to follow with just the right amount of creepiness to classify it as a horror movie without pushing it too far up the scary scale.

3 ParaNorman (2012) - Available on Netflix

Due to his ability to talk to the dead, a young boy named Norman finds himself isolated from his family and endlessly teased by his peers. All that changes when a dead witch summons the cursed dead responsible for her death and it's up to Norman to save the town.

As a stop-motion animated film, ParaNorman doesn't feel too much like a horror film even though it does have some creepy elements. For the most part, it's an entertaining comedy-horror that won't leave viewers with terrifying nightmares.

2 Victor Frankenstein (2015) - Available for purchase on Prime Video

Based on adaptations of the 1818 novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein presents the literary classic of creating life from death from a new perspective. The story is told through Igor's eyes, the young assistant to Victor Frankenstein who bears witness to the latter's resurrection of the dead.

The reimagining of the age-old tale features the same monster from the original with a couple of jump-scares and mostly tame horror elements balanced with witty dialogue.

1 A Quiet Place (2018) - Available on Fubo TV

In a post-apocalyptic world where monsters hunt their prey by sound, a family struggles to stay alive by staying silent.  A Quiet Place is a movie filled with more suspense and tension than scares, but still checks all the boxes of a horror film.

The lack of dialogue in most of the film does make the jump-scares that much more thrilling and intense, keeping viewers at the edges of their seats throughout.

NEXT: 10 Horror Movies That Make Us Laugh

10 Best Tame Horror Movies Even Your Grandmother Could Handle (& Where To Stream Them) from https://ift.tt/2R0W1HZ

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New from Kevin Wozniak on Kevflix: What’s Streaming This Month? – August

Here are my picks for the best movies coming to Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, Criterion Channel, and HBOMax in August.  This month offers up some great options, including Oscar winners, indie gems, and Hollywood classics.

          NETFLIX

Full list of everything coming to Netflix in August can be found here.

    THE ADDAMS FAMILY (Barry Sonnenfeld, 1991)

A perfect adaptation of the classic show about the creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky family.

  AN EDUCATION (Lone Scherfig, 2009)

Carey Mulligan’s breakout performance leads Lone Scherfig’s coming-of-age drama.

  BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (Spike Jonez, 1999)

One of two Charlie Kaufman-written movies coming to Netflix this month.  This one looks at a group of people who find a tunnel that puts them inside the mind of actor John Malkovich.  It’s an incredible film.

  CASINO ROYALE/QUANTUM OF SOLACE (Martin Campbell/Marc Forster, 2006/2008)

Though Quantum of Solace is a bit of a dud, Casino Royale is my favorite James Bond movie and ushered in Daniel Craig as one of our best Bond’s.

  ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Michel Gondry, 2004)

The other Charlie Kaufman-written film is his strongest screenplay to date and one of the most original movies of the 21st century.

  JURASSIC PARK TRILOGY (Steven Spielberg/Joe Johnston, 1994/1998/2001)

Lost World and Jurassic Park III may not live up to the first film (not many films do), but this is a fun trilogy of dinosaur chaos and mayhem.

  MR. DEEDS (Steven Brill, 2002)

One of the last great Adam Sandler vehicles.  This movie never fails to make me laugh.

  NIGHTCRAWLER (Dan Gilroy, 2014)

One of Jake Gyllenhaal’s best performances came in Dan Gilroy’s thriller about a man obsessed with breaking into the world of crime journalism.

  OCEAN’S 12 & OCEAN’S 13 (Steven Soderbergh, 2004, 2007)

It’s kind of annoying they don’t have the whole trilogy on here (more on Ocean’s 11 later in this list) but these are fun, cool, twisty, weird movies with stellar casts that are endlessly rewatchable.

  SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED (Colin Tervorrow, 2012)

The only good movie Colin Trevorrow has made is a unique take on the time travel movie.

    AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

Full list of everything coming to Amazon Prime Video in August can be found here.

    3:10 TO YUMA (James Mangold, 2007)

James Mangold’s underrated Western remake features dynamite performances from Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, and Ben Foster.

  INCEPTION (Christopher Nolan, 2010)

One of the best movies of 2010’s is as bold as any blockbuster film ever made.

  MARGIN CALL (JC Chandor, 2011)

JC Chandor’s debut is a tightly strung, expertly acted look at the 2008 financial crash.

  TOP GUN (Tony Scott, 1986)

An 80’s classic.

  DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD (James Bobin, 2019)

This adaptation of the Nickelodeon children’s show is an exciting and fun adventure film.

  THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON (Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz, 2019)

Led by the terrific performances by Shia LeBeouf and Zack Gottsagen, this is sweet, funny, heartwarming road movie that will melt your heart.

    HULU

Full list of everything coming to Hulu in August can be found here.

    AUSTRALIA (Baz Luhrman, 2008)

Baz Luhrmann’s bold romance staring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.

  THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN (Edward Burns, 1995)

Edward Burns won the top prize at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival for his film about three Irish Catholic brothers from Long Island who struggle to deal with love, marriage, and infidelity.

  MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD (Peter Weir, 2003)

An epic sea adventure from the great Peter Weir.

  RAIN MAN (Barry Levinson, 1988)

Barry Levinson’s Best Picture winner features a pair of excellent performances from Best Actor winner Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise.

  STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE/STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN/STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH OF SPOCK/STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER/STAR TREK: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY/STAR TREK: INSURRECTION (Robert Wise/Nicholas Meyer/Leonard Nimoy/William Shatner/Nicholas Meyer/Jonathon Franks, 1979/1982/1984/1989/1991/1998)

Being more of a Star Wars person my entire life I did not watch a lot of Star Trek, so I’m excited and intrigued to check these films out.

  UP IN THE AIR (Jason Reitman, 2009)

George Clooney is sensational in Jason Reitman’s look at a man who makes a living firing people.

    DISNEY+

Full list of everything coming to Disney+ in August can be found here.

    ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (Peyton Reed, 2018)

One of the most underrated movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

  THE PEANUTS MOVIE (Steve Martino, 2015)

A funny, sweet, beautifully animated adaptation of the Charles Schwartz creation.

  X-MEN (Bryan Singer, 2000)

One of the most important comic book movies ever made.

    CRITERION CHANNEL

Full list of everything coming to Criterion Channel in August can be found here.

*The Criterion Channel does things a little differently than every other streaming service.  The Criterion Channel, a wonderful streaming service that focuses on independent, foreign, and under-appreciates movies, doesn’t just throw a bunch of random movies to stream.  They get more creative, by having categories like “DOUBLE FEATURES” or “FILMS FROM…”, giving us curated lists of films that somehow blend together or feature a specific artist.*

    AUSTRALIAN NEW WAVE

A look at the films that changed Australian cinema forever in the 1970’s and early 80’s.

Walkabout (Nicolas Roeg, 1971)

The Cars That Ate Paris (Peter Weir, 1974)

Picnic at Hanging Rock (Peter Weir, 1975)

Sunday Too Far Away (Ken Hannam, 1975)

The Devil’s Playground (Fred Schepisi, 1976)

Don’s Party (Bruce Beresford, 1976)

Storm Boy (Henri Safran, 1976)

The Getting of Wisdom (Bruce Beresford, 1977)

The Last Wave (Peter Weir, 1977)

The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (Fred Schepisi, 1978)

Long Weekend (Colin Eggleston, 1978)

Money Movers (Bruce Beresford, 1978)

Newsfront (Phillip Noyce, 1978)

Mad Max (George Miller, 1979)

My Brilliant Career (Gillian Armstrong, 1979)

The Plumber (Peter Weir, 1979)

Breaker Morant Bruce Beresford, (1980)

Gallipoli (Peter Weir, 1981)

Puberty Blues (Bruce Beresford, 1981)

Starstruck (Gillian Armstrong, 1982)

The Year of Living Dangerously (Peter Weir, 1982)

  DIRECTED BY WIM WENDERS

Dabbling in both narrative and documentary films, this group of films from director Wim Wenders showcases one of Hollywood’s most diverse filmmakers.

Alice in the Cities, 1974

Wrong Move, 1975

Kings of the Road, 1976

The American Friend, 1977

Paris, Texas, 1984

Tokyo-ga, 1985

Wings of Desire, 1987

Until the End of the World, 1991

Palermo Shooting, 2008

Pina, 2011

  DOUBLE FEATURE: THE DECLINE OF MIDWESTERN CIVILIZATION

THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (Orson Welles, 1942)

KINGS ROW (Sam Wood, 1942)

Two 1942 films that focus on the trials and tribulations of people living in turn-of-the-century Midwest towns.

  DOUBLE FEATURE: BEHIND THE SCENES

HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE

THE PLAYER (Robert Altman, 1992)

Two wonderful, darkly funny looks at working in Hollywood.

  BRAZIL (Terry Gillian, 1985)

Terry Gilliam’s insane dystopian film is another one I have been dying to revisit.

    BACURAU (Juliano Dornelles, Kleber Mendonça Filho, 2020)

One of the most critically acclaimed movies of 2020 focuses on sinister events in a Brazilian village.

  RAFIKI (Wanuri Kahiu, 2018)

A bright, colorful love story about forbidden love in Kenya.

    HBOMAX

Full list of everything coming to HBOMax in August can be found here

    ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN (Alan J. Pakula, 1976)

The greatest film about journalism ever made and a true American masterpiece.

  BATMAN/BATMAN RETURNS/BATMAN FOREVER/BATMAN BEGINS/THE DARK KNIGHT (Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher/Christopher Nolan, 1989/1992/1995/2005/2008)

Need a Batman fix?  HBO has your back.

  BEFORE SUNRISE/BEFORE SUNSET (Richard Linklater, 1995/2004)

Really mad Before Midnight isn’t on here, but the Before Trilogy is the greatest trilogy in all of cinema and each film offers up something special.

  THE FUGITIVE (Andrew Davis, 1992)

A thrilling and entertaining Best Picture nominee.

  IDIOCRACY (Mike Judge, 2006)

A political satire that feels all too real now.

  JOJO RABBIT (Taika Waititi, 20190

Taika Waititi won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in this comedic World War II film about a child who’s imaginary friend is Adolf Hitler.

  OCEAN’S 11 (Steven Soderbergh, 2001)

Arguably the coolest heist movie ever made.

  AN AMERICAN PICKLE (Brandon Trost, 2020)

An immigrant worker at a pickle factory is accidentally preserved for 100 years and wakes up in modern day Brooklyn.  Seth Rogen plays the immigrant worker and his great grandson.

  BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN) (Cathy Yan, 2020)

Though I wasn’t the biggest fan of this when I first saw it, Margot Robbie is an absolute delight to watch as Harley Quinn.

  THE WAY BACK (Gavin O’Connor, 2020)

Ben Affleck gives the best performance of his career in Gavin O’Connor’s drama about a man trying to turn his life around.

            Follow Kevflix on Twitter and Instagram, @kevflix, and on Facebook by searching Kevflix.

          The post What’s Streaming This Month? – August appeared first on Kevflix.

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New from Kevin Wozniak on Kevflix: What’s Streaming This Month? – August

Here are my picks for the best movies coming to Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, Criterion Channel, and HBOMax in August.  This month offers up some great options, including Oscar winners, indie gems, and Hollywood classics.

          NETFLIX

Full list of everything coming to Netflix in August can be found here.

    THE ADDAMS FAMILY (Barry Sonnenfeld, 1991)

A perfect adaptation of the classic show about the creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky family.

  AN EDUCATION (Lone Scherfig, 2009)

Carey Mulligan’s breakout performance leads Lone Scherfig’s coming-of-age drama.

  BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (Spike Jonez, 1999)

One of two Charlie Kaufman-written movies coming to Netflix this month.  This one looks at a group of people who find a tunnel that puts them inside the mind of actor John Malkovich.  It’s an incredible film.

  CASINO ROYALE/QUANTUM OF SOLACE (Martin Campbell/Marc Forster, 2006/2008)

Though Quantum of Solace is a bit of a dud, Casino Royale is my favorite James Bond movie and ushered in Daniel Craig as one of our best Bond’s.

  ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Michel Gondry, 2004)

The other Charlie Kaufman-written film is his strongest screenplay to date and one of the most original movies of the 21st century.

  JURASSIC PARK TRILOGY (Steven Spielberg/Joe Johnston, 1994/1998/2001)

Lost World and Jurassic Park III may not live up to the first film (not many films do), but this is a fun trilogy of dinosaur chaos and mayhem.

  MR. DEEDS (Steven Brill, 2002)

One of the last great Adam Sandler vehicles.  This movie never fails to make me laugh.

  NIGHTCRAWLER (Dan Gilroy, 2014)

One of Jake Gyllenhaal’s best performances came in Dan Gilroy’s thriller about a man obsessed with breaking into the world of crime journalism.

  OCEAN’S 12 & OCEAN’S 13 (Steven Soderbergh, 2004, 2007)

It’s kind of annoying they don’t have the whole trilogy on here (more on Ocean’s 11 later in this list) but these are fun, cool, twisty, weird movies with stellar casts that are endlessly rewatchable.

  SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED (Colin Tervorrow, 2012)

The only good movie Colin Trevorrow has made is a unique take on the time travel movie.

    AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

Full list of everything coming to Amazon Prime Video in August can be found here.

    3:10 TO YUMA (James Mangold, 2007)

James Mangold’s underrated Western remake features dynamite performances from Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, and Ben Foster.

  INCEPTION (Christopher Nolan, 2010)

One of the best movies of 2010’s is as bold as any blockbuster film ever made.

  MARGIN CALL (JC Chandor, 2011)

JC Chandor’s debut is a tightly strung, expertly acted look at the 2008 financial crash.

  TOP GUN (Tony Scott, 1986)

An 80’s classic.

  DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD (James Bobin, 2019)

This adaptation of the Nickelodeon children’s show is an exciting and fun adventure film.

  THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON (Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz, 2019)

Led by the terrific performances by Shia LeBeouf and Zack Gottsagen, this is sweet, funny, heartwarming road movie that will melt your heart.

    HULU

Full list of everything coming to Hulu in August can be found here.

    AUSTRALIA (Baz Luhrman, 2008)

Baz Luhrmann’s bold romance staring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.

  THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN (Edward Burns, 1995)

Edward Burns won the top prize at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival for his film about three Irish Catholic brothers from Long Island who struggle to deal with love, marriage, and infidelity.

  MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD (Peter Weir, 2003)

An epic sea adventure from the great Peter Weir.

  RAIN MAN (Barry Levinson, 1988)

Barry Levinson’s Best Picture winner features a pair of excellent performances from Best Actor winner Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise.

  STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE/STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN/STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH OF SPOCK/STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER/STAR TREK: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY/STAR TREK: INSURRECTION (Robert Wise/Nicholas Meyer/Leonard Nimoy/William Shatner/Nicholas Meyer/Jonathon Franks, 1979/1982/1984/1989/1991/1998)

Being more of a Star Wars person my entire life I did not watch a lot of Star Trek, so I’m excited and intrigued to check these films out.

  UP IN THE AIR (Jason Reitman, 2009)

George Clooney is sensational in Jason Reitman’s look at a man who makes a living firing people.

    DISNEY+

Full list of everything coming to Disney+ in August can be found here.

    ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (Peyton Reed, 2018)

One of the most underrated movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

  THE PEANUTS MOVIE (Steve Martino, 2015)

A funny, sweet, beautifully animated adaptation of the Charles Schwartz creation.

  X-MEN (Bryan Singer, 2000)

One of the most important comic book movies ever made.

    CRITERION CHANNEL

Full list of everything coming to Criterion Channel in August can be found here.

*The Criterion Channel does things a little differently than every other streaming service.  The Criterion Channel, a wonderful streaming service that focuses on independent, foreign, and under-appreciates movies, doesn’t just throw a bunch of random movies to stream.  They get more creative, by having categories like “DOUBLE FEATURES” or “FILMS FROM…”, giving us curated lists of films that somehow blend together or feature a specific artist.*

    AUSTRALIAN NEW WAVE

A look at the films that changed Australian cinema forever in the 1970’s and early 80’s.

Walkabout (Nicolas Roeg, 1971)

The Cars That Ate Paris (Peter Weir, 1974)

Picnic at Hanging Rock (Peter Weir, 1975)

Sunday Too Far Away (Ken Hannam, 1975)

The Devil’s Playground (Fred Schepisi, 1976)

Don’s Party (Bruce Beresford, 1976)

Storm Boy (Henri Safran, 1976)

The Getting of Wisdom (Bruce Beresford, 1977)

The Last Wave (Peter Weir, 1977)

The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (Fred Schepisi, 1978)

Long Weekend (Colin Eggleston, 1978)

Money Movers (Bruce Beresford, 1978)

Newsfront (Phillip Noyce, 1978)

Mad Max (George Miller, 1979)

My Brilliant Career (Gillian Armstrong, 1979)

The Plumber (Peter Weir, 1979)

Breaker Morant Bruce Beresford, (1980)

Gallipoli (Peter Weir, 1981)

Puberty Blues (Bruce Beresford, 1981)

Starstruck (Gillian Armstrong, 1982)

The Year of Living Dangerously (Peter Weir, 1982)

  DIRECTED BY WIM WENDERS

Dabbling in both narrative and documentary films, this group of films from director Wim Wenders showcases one of Hollywood’s most diverse filmmakers.

Alice in the Cities, 1974

Wrong Move, 1975

Kings of the Road, 1976

The American Friend, 1977

Paris, Texas, 1984

Tokyo-ga, 1985

Wings of Desire, 1987

Until the End of the World, 1991

Palermo Shooting, 2008

Pina, 2011

  DOUBLE FEATURE: THE DECLINE OF MIDWESTERN CIVILIZATION

THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (Orson Welles, 1942)

KINGS ROW (Sam Wood, 1942)

Two 1942 films that focus on the trials and tribulations of people living in turn-of-the-century Midwest towns.

  DOUBLE FEATURE: BEHIND THE SCENES

HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE

THE PLAYER (Robert Altman, 1992)

Two wonderful, darkly funny looks at working in Hollywood.

  BRAZIL (Terry Gillian, 1985)

Terry Gilliam’s insane dystopian film is another one I have been dying to revisit.

    BACURAU (Juliano Dornelles, Kleber Mendonça Filho, 2020)

One of the most critically acclaimed movies of 2020 focuses on sinister events in a Brazilian village.

  RAFIKI (Wanuri Kahiu, 2018)

A bright, colorful love story about forbidden love in Kenya.

    HBOMAX

Full list of everything coming to HBOMax in August can be found here

    ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN (Alan J. Pakula, 1976)

The greatest film about journalism ever made and a true American masterpiece.

  BATMAN/BATMAN RETURNS/BATMAN FOREVER/BATMAN BEGINS/THE DARK KNIGHT (Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher/Christopher Nolan, 1989/1992/1995/2005/2008)

Need a Batman fix?  HBO has your back.

  BEFORE SUNRISE/BEFORE SUNSET (Richard Linklater, 1995/2004)

Really mad Before Midnight isn’t on here, but the Before Trilogy is the greatest trilogy in all of cinema and each film offers up something special.

  THE FUGITIVE (Andrew Davis, 1992)

A thrilling and entertaining Best Picture nominee.

  IDIOCRACY (Mike Judge, 2006)

A political satire that feels all too real now.

  JOJO RABBIT (Taika Waititi, 20190

Taika Waititi won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in this comedic World War II film about a child who’s imaginary friend is Adolf Hitler.

  OCEAN’S 11 (Steven Soderbergh, 2001)

Arguably the coolest heist movie ever made.

  AN AMERICAN PICKLE (Brandon Trost, 2020)

An immigrant worker at a pickle factory is accidentally preserved for 100 years and wakes up in modern day Brooklyn.  Seth Rogen plays the immigrant worker and his great grandson.

  BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN) (Cathy Yan, 2020)

Though I wasn’t the biggest fan of this when I first saw it, Margot Robbie is an absolute delight to watch as Harley Quinn.

  THE WAY BACK (Gavin O’Connor, 2020)

Ben Affleck gives the best performance of his career in Gavin O’Connor’s drama about a man trying to turn his life around.

            Follow Kevflix on Twitter and Instagram, @kevflix, and on Facebook by searching Kevflix.

          The post What’s Streaming This Month? – August appeared first on Kevflix.

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