#vague review

[augment-techs]

My less than stellar feelings about The Return #4. Oh, and SPOILERS.

-Is this...disgust...I'm feeling? I mean, I get wanting to keep the kid safe, but wow, Kim; tell us how you really feel.

-FLIRTING. Flirting in SUITS.

-But pray, dear child, HOW DID YOU GET THE DAMN MORPHER BACK??

-Oh, good, she got the impulse control--or lack thereof--from both of her parents.

-Okay, this is new. A member of the family that gets right to the point~

-Why...why does this make me so uncomfortable. I don't understaaaaaaand. Q_Q

-Nevermind, this answers that question. Tommy and Olivia BOTH look like Kim's kids. And I am suddenly having flashbacks to poor Clone Tom, what the fuuuuuuuuck.

-In what dimension does the COMMUNICATOR do the teleporting? Great execution for a heart to heart, but now the teleportation bullshit from the moon to Earth pisses me off more.

-I sincerely hope that Zack and Billy go home together after this and sleep for a year. Jason can take Tommy out for his first beer, and Kim and Olivia can have a conversation about the pressures of being the only girl on a team of men that all think they somehow outrank her. This is a soft snapshot, but only if you don't think at all about anything afterward.

-Nope, nope nope nope. No. No more mystery mongering bullshit. Fuck Off.

[herbofthyme]

I finished my sketchbook……..

It’s so weird to be finally done! I almost don’t know what to do with myself!! Last night I went to set the sketchbook and my pencil case on my bedside table, like I always do so I can access it easily tomorrow, only to realise I wont need to do that! It’s full!

My new year’s resolution last year was to actually stick with the habit through the end of the year, and finish the sketchbook. There were days I didn’t draw, and I had to make them up later. There was a time I fell 10 days behind and had to slowly, slowly catch up. But in the end… I did it!!

A lot has changed throughout the year. My health has had some major ups and downs, and I nearly failed university. I moved back to the US for the foreseeable future. I graduated university. This little sketchbook saw me through it all!

I had been in a bit of an art slump before 2024, and struggled to finish the things i started. I sometimes went months without drawing. Forcing myself to draw every day was tricky, but effective: I just had to finish and move on. And as a result, I drew more this year than I ever had before. I also wrote more this year than I haver had before! The creativity is infectious!

My new year’s resolution for this year is to keep up the habit. Not with anything so structured as a daily sketchbook, but with studies, sketches, paintings, digital works… I want to keep drawing a little every day. In a way, it’s a bit of a relief to be free of the sketchbook. I have more time to work on bigger pieces, to work digitally, and maybe even get back into painting (i have sooo many paints, that haven’t been touched in years). But I’m deeply glad I did it, and I know that it’s helped me grow a lot!

To anyone reading this far into my rambles: thank you!! If you enjoyed my sketches this year, I deeply appreciate it <3 and if you left nice sentiments in my notes or in the tags I love you forever!! I tried to read every single tag people left on my sketches. Sharing them here and getting a positive response was such a warm surprise, and really motivated me to keep going, especially in the early months! So thank you.

This whole post is super cheesy and not the sort of thing I’d normally do, but I’m feeling a little emotional about it all. I’m excited to see where my art journey takes me next!

[cakebatteronabrickwall]

If you wanna get really excited for season four, absolutely read this gorgeous review by Kaitlin Thomas

[brunettedelulu]

The French New Wave: A Cinematic Revolution.

Introduction

The French New Wave, or Nouvelle Vague, is a cinematic movement that revolutionized French cinema and, by extension, global cinema. Emerging in the late 1950s, it marked a decisive break from the conventions of traditional filmmaking. This movement not only redefined the rules of directing but also spotlighted new talents who would go on to influence generations of filmmakers.

Origins of the French New Wave

The movement was born out of criticism, particularly through journals like Cahiers du cinéma, where young cinephiles such as François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, and Éric Rohmer began expressing their dissatisfaction with the rigidity of French cinema at the time. These critics soon transitioned behind the camera to materialize their innovative ideas.

Characteristics of the French New Wave

- Narrative Freedom : Films of the New Wave are characterized by non-linear storytelling and a liberated approach to narrative structure. Plot often takes a back seat, with emphasis placed on emotion and the moment.

- On-location Filming : Unlike traditional cinema, which predominantly relied on studio settings, New Wave directors favored natural locations, lending their films a more realistic and immediate feel.

- Innovative Camera Techniques : The directors experimented with groundbreaking camera techniques such as handheld shots, long takes, and rapid editing. This dynamic approach contributed to a unique aesthetic that often blurred the lines between fiction and documentary.

- Non-professional Actors and Improvised Dialogues : To enhance realism, many New Wave filmmakers cast non-professional actors and encouraged improvisation, resulting in more natural and spontaneous dialogue.

Pioneering Figures

- Jean-Luc Godard : With films like Breathless (À bout de souffle, 1960), Godard introduced a bold and provocative style, challenging conventional editing and narrative techniques.

- François Truffaut : In The 400 Blows (Les 400 Coups, 1959), Truffaut explored autobiographical themes with a new sensibility, deeply resonating with audiences.

- Agnès Varda : Although sometimes considered on the periphery of the movement, Varda contributed significantly with works like Cléo from 5 to 7 (Cléo de 5 à 7, 1962), enriching the New Wave with a feminine and introspective perspective.

Three Must-See Films of the French New Wave

1. Breathless (1960) - Jean-Luc Godard

One of the cornerstones of the French New Wave, Breathless tells the story of Michel Poiccard, a petty criminal on the run, and his love for a young American, Patricia. The film is renowned for its innovative editing style, with abrupt cuts and a frenetic pace. Godard disrupted traditional cinematic conventions, delivering a daring work that perfectly embodies the rebellious spirit of the movement.

2. The 400 Blows (1959) - François Truffaut

Truffaut’s debut feature is an autobiographical masterpiece that follows the misadventures of Antoine Doinel, a young boy rebelling against authority. The 400 Blows is a poignant film that explores childhood, the misunderstanding of adults, and the quest for freedom. The film is distinguished by its realism and sensitivity, hallmarks of the New Wave.

3. Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962) - Agnès Varda

Often referred to as the "grandmother" of the New Wave, Agnès Varda offers an introspective and feminist perspective with Cléo from 5 to 7. The film follows Cléo, a singer awaiting potentially grave medical test results. Over the course of two hours, we watch her traverse Paris, encountering various characters. The film is remarkable for its exploration of time, mortality, and identity, while also capturing the essence of Parisian life.

The Impact of the French New Wave

The French New Wave profoundly influenced global cinema, paving the way for a new generation of directors willing to break conventions, both in Europe and in the United States. Filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Wong Kar-wai have frequently cited the New Wave as a major source of inspiration.

Conclusion

The French New Wave remains a pivotal movement in the history of cinema. By breaking with tradition and innovating both in form and content, these directors redefined what cinema could be. Even today, their influence is felt, proving that the New Wave has left an indelible mark on the art of filmmaking.

(yes it is)

[mysteriouspersonrambles]

Ok I’m back I’m walking in a rainstorm but it’s fine

Damn this guy was cleaning up some crazy stuff how do you melt a tooth???

No dude lighters are bad news

Damn avatars in this universe got it together they made an effective food source

That’s not a mannequin my friend

Yeah dude don’t be curious that’s the motto here

Oh the dreams looks like the people here can’t escape those either

I wonder if a web or web variant runs the hilltop center

But at the same time this guy is going o. About stones and it sounds like he’s speaking in rocks so it might be a buried equivalent. (Also damn this is some good voice acting)

She can wait- SAM you fucking idiot you will not get another chance to call her back.

Also Celia is freaking me out especially that “there it is “ the tone of voice sounds so off

And you might relsease another one

Celia why do you sound so unbothered by the gasps(I know why I bet she heard a lot of that in the apocalypse)

WHAT IS IT damn I wish I had eyes

Is it that weird tree thing wtf is it

Almost that is not an answer

Sam this is not the time for a breakdown

Is Sam’s headache related to the object somehow

Also Sam you’re in a rusty quill product you don’t get to know what’s going on

OH WHAT THE FUCK it’s a tear in the universe

Celia you sound like a mad scientist I bet she was a chemistry major all this sounds of balancing makes me think of chemistry.

Also Sam’s totally a sacrifice isn’t he, Celia is going to shove him in the rift to try and take her place

Celia avatar of the web I was not expecting that

What is stopping her 

Oh shit oh shit oh shit that’s the stranger

What The FUCK WHAT IS GOING ON?????!!!! Her voice is tape recorder. Oh shit this is the TMA Celia the fearless one that’s fucking Georgy

Did the archivist say it is time??? What happened to them What is going on?????

oh Alice good luck what ever you are going to find isn’t going to be pretty. What the fuck oh shit it’s the stone statement guy from earlier. We are the Hilltop what??????

Oh Gwen you are so unbelievably fucked but good for you day drinking.

GWEN!!! You don’t even know what the job does!!!! And you still fucking blackmailed your way into it. You are so screwed girl

Oh the glitched phone sounds that is so cool, looks like the connections breaking

What the fuck is that noise

Sam’s fucking gone

Yeah gone in the multiverse man

Dude what a fucking season 1

Honestly what a fucking episode it really did a good job of wrapping up the season. I’m honestly excited for what comes next. (Still no Annabelle cameo so :( but a girl can dream)

[kyouka-supremacy]

(╥﹏╥)

[so-long-soldier28]

i finished the show 😭 (minor teen wolf spoilers)

it was way less a tragic ending than predicted, thank god. everyone and their mother showed up in the last thirty minutes and i loved it, coach, especially; you CANNOT tell me he didn't know something was up. man was johnny on the spot with that stick. minorly confused on alec, but i think i understand, the more i think about it? oh!, and mason and corey were so cute. scott without eyes is my sleep paralysis demon. they should've kissed in the elevator.

[benkyoutobentou]

Ranking the books I read in Japanese this year

It’s the end of the year and I don’t think I’ll be finishing any more Japanese books this month, so I thought it would be fun to rank what I read! I read twelve novels in Japanese this year, hitting my goal (but not quite reading one a month). There won’t be twelve rankings here, though, because I read multiple books from the same series and will be combining those.

9. コーヒーが冷めないうちに - 川口俊和: This book just didn’t do it for me. I listened to it on audiobook in February for a target language listening challenge and got stuck in a vicious cycle of not paying attention because the story was boring me and being bored of it because I wasn’t paying enough attention. Most other people I’ve seen who have read it in Japanese also thought it was boring, though, so I’m not mourning any loss.

8. 宝石商リチャードの謎鑑定 - 辻村七子: I really wanted to like this series but the negatives outweighed the positives so much that I only read the first volume. The most damning part of this for me was that I couldn’t stand the writing style. It was extremely confusing, and having a language barrier on top of that just made it miserable. I’m really glad I read this with others because I was not the only one who found the writing style to be ridiculously confusing for a book that doesn’t even handle confusing or difficult topics. Seriously, the writing was so bad that I considered continuing the series in English. But the characters were good.

7. あん - ドリアン助川: Now we get into the books that I enjoyed, just not as much. I liked this book well enough, but it was just a bit middling. I wasn’t overly invested in the characters or story and I found myself wondering how on earth this story could go on for another hundred pages. It was sweet, but ultimately I don’t think the story will stick with me at all.

6. ちょっと今から仕事やめてくる - 北川恵海: This was another audiobook read and although I know I enjoyed it, I really don’t remember much about it. I’m also not sure if the twist, which I did think was really good, actually happened or was something I misunderstood (I’m pretty sure I understood it though). Overall, this one goes on the to-reread pile, just as soon as I can find a physical copy of it.

5. 旅猫リポート - 有川浩: This was an adorable story perfect for cat lovers, but the end had me a little bored. Honestly though, it was quite the experience to go from being a bit bored to crying my eyes out in the span of ten pages. The writing style and the main cat’s perspective was super charming as well.

4. 人間失格 - 太宰治: This was my first classic in Japanese and wasn’t as difficult as I expected. Dazai’s writing style is a pain in the ass, but I will admit that it started to grow on me as the book went on and now I find it endearing. It also wasn’t as depressing as I had heard it was, and I really enjoyed getting a perspective of that time period.

3. 美しい彼 - 凪良ゆう: I only read one volume of this, probably exclusively because I suddenly couldn’t stand romance when I had fifty pages left of this. What can I say, I love a good toxic gay romance. The writing style is chronically readable and the story is super engaging.

2. No. 6 - あさのあつこ: I’m a fan of the anime for this and the novels have not let me down. I’ve only read two so far, but the story and characters are super gripping. I really love the emphasis on dialogue in this series, I really feel like it makes the characters pop more. The only problem I have is this odd quirk in Asano’s writing style, where the majority of the series is told from third person point of view, but will suddenly switch to first person point of view for a single sentence. It’s not enough to deter me, but it is a little odd to see.

1. キノの旅 - 時雨沢恵一: My number one favorite read in Japanese this year and no one should be surprised. I’m a massive Kino fan and read three volumes this year. I love books that I can analyze the hell out of and this is exactly that. Additionally, I think the writing style and the way both Kino and Hermes are characterized adds so much to both the stories and the underlying meanings that Shigusawa is trying to get across.

[gayforsuperhoes]

Justice League Action: episode 27 Time Out

Okay but hearing THAT from Bruce of all people must be such an ego boost 👀 Sorry for the booster spam this episode just got me together! I’m watching all of the dc animated series I can find rn and boy do I recommend this episode!!! Batman & booster gold’s dynamic is fun to watch and it gets a little angsty and wholesome towards the end :3c There are details and small character changes I just don’t vibe with when it comes to JLA but I do plan to finish it and I gotta admit there are some good moments and interesting duos and trios in the series!

[whitestopper]

'queer character' 'queer media' 'queer story' BITCH! Give me specifics, I need one of the letters!

[marmett]

ok a few months ago one of my mutuals posted abt this rpg game that came out in the last 3-6 years, and they posted a clip of their character interacting with an elf side character. who posted this and what game was that.

[kittykatninja321]

Much to think about…

[abigail]

my mom who says she hates horror and violence in movies made me watch movies like from dusk till dawn, seven, pulp fiction and saw when i was a child and now she wonders why i love horror and violence in movies as an adult like……. ok.

[unrubenovichon]

u can just go on a hour n half walk and collect dinner... like forest is an undersupervised specialty store... another of world's little gifts

[puppytoast]

Me glancing at steam d@wntrail reviews

robert downy jr meme: They are missing the point that this is a slow journey before destination story about trying to sincerely learn about, communicate with and work with others because we all have differing perspectives and lives that could benefit one another. That we should not jump to judgements of people we only see the basic surface of because there is always a reason for people's actions. That everyone is worth saving, yeah even that one that did unforgivable shit.

[fluxydrawings]

rather melancholic undertale podfic :) this was a real pretty one,,, undertale fics beloved,,