alion-things

[alion-things]

Hi! Thank you for all your work on the FFX freecam masterpost. I've been referring to it a lot as I write my FFX fics.

I'm wondering if you still have shots of Yunalesca's room. I seem to recall that you did make a post about it but I can't find it anywhere in your blog 😓

Thank you very much! I'm glad it has been useful to you!

Yunalesca's room is found under Zanarkand, Unruined in my main post.

[alion-things]

Beauty and the Beast Australia

Went to see this on Sunday night. Mixed feelings, to be honest. The music is great, the singing was great. But it really feels... dumbed down. Like lots of yelling and jumping up and down to entertain the kiddies, when they really didn’t need to? Kids aren’t dumb. You don’t need to be hyper and over the top constantly to keep their attention. Design wise, the costumes didn’t seem to have any specific era they were going for, actually, it seemed quite modern. Like, they got stuff from off the shelves at a shop. And kind of... I dunno. Like they didn’t think anyone would know it was set in france if they didn’t put a bunch of eiffel towers on everything. There were a few very good costumes, but also quite a few that matched the quality of Also limited sets, mostly screens. I found a lot of the background screens a bit meh quality wise. Some seemed more like preliminary designs. I wouldn’t call it outright bad, but it definitely wasn’t the quality I expect from DISNEY. But that’s kind of the problem with Disney these days, parks and shows. Something I’ve heard, from someone describing recent Disney rides, that they felt “designed by corporate committee”, and thats kind of how I feel about this production. I did actually enjoy my evening, lol. I thinks it just shares a lot of common problems I have with a lot of modern Disney stuff.

#beauty and the beast musical #beauty and the beast australia #disney

[alion-things]

Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 NPC Fashion Masterpost

Mass Effect had some cool background outfits. Only 1&2 because whenever I get to 3 I inevitably run out of steam and get distracted by other games. I’ve been sitting on these for awhile and thought I may as well just put out what I’ve got. Also uploaded to my pinterest now. https://www.pinterest.com.au/acecosmica/0-my-screencaps/ Colonists, Workers, Science Human/Asari dresses part 1 Human/Asari dresses part 2 Human men Turians Salarians Quarians, VI

#mass effect #mass effect 2 #asari #turian #salarian #quarian #masterpost

[alion-things]

FINAL FANTASY X AND X-2 NPCs MASTERPOST Due to difficulties, these are now in their own post. Also uploaded to my pinterest now. https://www.pinterest.com.au/acecosmica/0-my-screencaps/ Locations Masterpost is here! Named/Unique Islanders, Mainlanders Luca workers, Sailors, Blitzball Yevon, Crusaders/Youth League Al Bhed, Zanarkand Non-Human Final Fantasy X-2 Exclusive

#final fantasy x #final fantasy x-2 #ffx #ffx-2 #spira #masterpost

[alion-things]

Moulin Rouge! the Musical

Went and saw this in the Capitol Theatre in Sydney last night. The sets and decoration were amaaazing! Good costumes too! It was a fun show, but I feel like they tried to stuff in too many songs. I felt like the movie better integrated the songs it chose. A lot of random snippets were just unnecessary, imo, and stopped the flow of the overall musical numbers they were injected into. It felt like they just wanted to shove in as much as possible. I like Chandelier as a song, but it just didn’t feel right to me in the musical. Rolling in the Deep and Firework as well? I don’t think the audience was supposed to laugh at Firework. I feel like they’re too well known or too specific to fit into the story. Personal apathy towards the last two songs might be part of it. Shut Up And Raise Your Glass was pretty dull. I missed One Day I’ll Fly Away and The Show Must Go On from the movie. I did have a lot of fun though! The cast was very energetic. This is just my opinion, anyway. A lot of it is definitely clouded by my apathy towards 2010s pop music. There were some pretty good musical choices as well!

#moulin rouge! the musical #moulin rouge the musical #moulin rouge! #moulin rouge

[alion-things]

Final Fantasy X HD Freecam Exploration Masterpost

Using Henry Lawrence on Patreon’s freecam. Area galleries for Final Fantasy X and X-2 completed! I have added galleries of nearly every NPC in the two games, as well! Some of the Blitzball players are missing, but for the most part... all the people. Also uploaded to my pinterest now. https://www.pinterest.com.au/acecosmica/0-my-screencaps/ NPC gallery is now here!

FINAL FANTASY X

Baaj Temple - 01 Underwater Ruins Besaid Island Kilika Island Luca Mi’ihen Highroad Mushroom Rock Road, Djose Temple Moonflow, Guadosalam Thunder Plains, Macalania Bevelle Calm Lands, Remiem Temple, Mount Gagazet Zanarkand, Unruined Zanarkand Ruins - 01 Zanarkand Ruins - 02 Baaj Temple - 02, Omega Ruins, Inside Sin Ships of Spira and Fayth Statues

FINAL FANTASY X-2

Intro, Celsius Floating Ruins Kilika Island Bevelle Chateau LeBlanc Underneath Bevelle Youth League, Dungeons, Zanarkand, Farplane

#final fantasy x #final fantasy x-2 #ffx #ff10 #spira #masterpost

[alion-things]

The costumes really make more sense to me in the whole context. I think they’ve done a good job overall, but there could always be a bit more bling. Christine’s second act especially could use a bit more, I think. The only costumes I remain completely befuddled by the Don Juan Triumphant ensemble costumes, which I notice they’ve not released pictures of. Modern, 16th century, 17th, 18th... They’re well made, but I’m not sure what they’re supposed to mean. Are we thinking the in-story opera has pulled together whatever they had to put the performance on as quickly as possible? Did the phantom want it to be a historical melting pot? It’s possible I’ve misidentified a few costumes. There’s a few musicals I’ve seen at the Opera house and thought the historical costumes could be a little better. Like a wrinkly satin skirt that was too light and floated up waaay too high when dancing, or stretchy, skintight material. They seem to have really streamlined costuming, in general. Not super detail heavy. I’ve caved and bought another ticket for a hopefully monsoon-less performance. :D

I saw (most of) the show in Sydney! I can now say the costumes look amazing on stage. Christine's act 2 costumes are a little plain, and Don Juan Triumphant's seemed like an odd mix of different centuries, but otherwise, sooo good, and well made. Especially Masquerade. :D My initial disappointment has completely vanished, haha. Though many were wearing modern, non slip shoes, they weren't that intrusive. I had a ball, even with getting completely soaked and the cancellation. :)

Oh no! You were one of the people monsooned away :( But I'm glad you got to experience most of it, anyway. Luckilly you already know how it ends...

As for the costumes, I also like them more when more close-up shots has been released. They have more details on. Although I was never thrilled with hoop skirt designs for Christine in general, I can see why the designer chose the largest possible silhouette for the massive stage. It really is a gigantic venue, and you need the cast to be as visible as possible.

That aside... I did expect a "peacock dress moment" or two for Christine in the second act, and we didn't really get that. The Peacock dress (as well as the rust and red LND dress) is a whole different level of originality and splendour compared to Christine's overall wardrobe, and especially the second act dresses.

It would maybe be more correct to compare the Elissa performance costume to the Peacock performing costume. But if we go for one of the mundane dresses in LND, they are still a whole different level:

The POTO Sydney Harbour wardrobe feels like the POTO Oslo wardrobe: very nice design, good basis, but I'm itching to funk the costumes up. Accentuate lines and drapes with contrasting trims, more "kritzy kritzy", more bling, period details just because. I frankly also think it would make them more visible on stage.

(I wonder if the different feel is due to the costume maker? Anthony Phillips did both the original POTO Australia ones and the LND ones, while the POTO Sydney Harbour ones are from the Sydney Opera workshop + freelancers. Maybe Phillips simply was more into details and contrasts?)

Anyhow, thank you so much for your thoughts! And I'm so sorry your performance was sabotaged by the rain :/

[alion-things]

Some of Gabriela Tylesova's costume sketches in the brochure. Not sure if these were already up, but here they are anyway, lol.

#the phantom of the opera #Phantom of the Opera #Poto Australia #Poto Sydney #Poto Sydney Harbour #Gabriela Tylesova

[alion-things]

The signatures Mr. Simpson got for me. Really nice of him. :) The supposedly waterproof bag we put it in was not quite as waterproof as advertised, but I guess it adds to the memories!

#the phantom of the opera #phantom of the opera #poto australia #Poto Sydney #Poto Sydney Harbour

[alion-things]

So, Phantom of the Opera on Sydney Harbour!

My physio's husband is a friend of the conductor, Guy Simpson, so they organised me to meet him and chat before the show! It was gonna be a total surprise, but they decided to warn me, because I'm autistic and easily overwhelmed. Good idea lol.

He was really nice, talked about Phantom and musicals and he got some of the cast to sign my program. I am still overwhelmed, lol.

As for the show...

I'll admit to being a little disappointed at the costumes when the first pictures came out, but they looked amaazing on stage, under the lights. Masquerade was particularly fun to see!

Oh, and Andre and Firmin's costumes seem to have been dancing bears? Bears with little fezzes? I know there was confusion lol.

The direction and choreography is very much in the same style and spirit as the original. It's not been sexed up or made edgier or anything like that, it's really similar actually.

Unfortunately, a weather occurrence (heh) that started during Wishing and finally became too much halfway through PONR and we never got to see the Final Lair. But the show was still totally worth it!

Some things I still remember:

Monsieur LeFevre running down the steps in front of the audience and sprinting off into the distance got a good laugh!

Christine and Raoul? Very cute.

The Phantom sometimes edged a little into camp, but never too over the top. I felt there was some Ben Lewis 👀 going on.

Raoul and Christine got some big spinny kiss action, and some cute neck smooching. They run off giggling at the end of the scene. Too cute.

At the end of Act 1 you can see the Phantom in the back, conducting the fireworks, lol.

The ensemble costumes in Masquerade were really rich looking, and several reminded me of something you'd see in the original.

I spotted Carlotta and Meg bowing and wiggling their white bird headdresses at each other, and I was amused.

Christine's Masquerade costume didn't seem to have a theme, but she was colour coordinated with Raoul. :D

Piano's Masquerade made me think of like, a real elaborate bachelor party. I don't know why, it just gives me that vibe.

Everyone's on the stairs at the end, and the Phantom just kinda casually strolls in from the back. Not the most intimidating entrance, lol. Everyone panics and then runs down to go stare at him directly. Twas a little bit awkward. 😅

The seats in the Don Juan rehearsal Sean turn around and become gravestones for Wishing. I thought it was neat.

The Phantom is pretty close to the ground on his grave podium, and Christine walks up pretty close to glare at him.

When Raoul and Christine run away, the Phantom seems disappointed that they didn't stay for the rest of his pyrotechnics.

Don Juan costumes are all over the place. We've got 16th, 17th, 18th century and Carlotta in a kinda modern looking dress.

PONR, I think the Phantom's hat is supposed to be disguising him? It really isn't though. The rain was picking up and people were moving about, so I never got whether Christine knew it was him the whole time or not.

The Phantom and Christine are seated at opposite ends of a small table, and they sort of go through the motions of having a feast , but like, ~sensual~. It is better than I describe it, lol.

Christine tries to keep the furniture between her and the Phantom, and tries to make a run for it, but she ends up in his lap and the usual PONR shenanigans ensue... and then the rain was just too much, lol. The actors were doing great until they finally called it off. Troopers!

I really enjoyed myself, the cast was great, the music, great everything great, haha. <3

#The Phantom of the Opera #Phantom of the Opera #POTO Australia #POTO Sydney #POTO Sydney Harbour