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knives-out20 · 3 years

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The Impact Of The Intergalactic - David Bowie Opinion Essay - by Beck S.

This is an essay I wrote about the span of David Bowie's career. I wrote it for a summer school course I took last year (August 2021) for a course called History of Rock & Roll.

My teacher gave nice feedback after he marked it, talking about how it was an "Excellent paper. It charts Bowie's progress throughout his career well, and includes significant detail. I could really feel the passion you have about him throughout. In fact, there is *too much* detail! The paper was supposed to be 3 pages max, double-spaced. Still, this is a good problem to have; better too much than too little."

So...enjoy!!

From his early works like Hunky Dory, to Black Tie White Noise in the 1990’s and stretching over to Blackstar as his final album, David Bowie has rarely had a bad album or song- in my opinion. His career has had ups and downs, his musical creations ranging in the way he would pitch his voice and what instruments he would use, the people he would produce with, and the wild things he would say. Charting David Bowie’s development over time is in fact an interesting journey.

Early on in his dreamy career, Bowie would have done nearly anything- or in fact, anyone- to grow in the music world. Hopping from band to band (like The Velvet Underground), producer to producer, doing whatever he could do to get ‘in’ in the industry. His early albums weren’t taken very highly in their times- especially with the ‘man-dress’ he wore on the British release of his The Man Who Sold The World album. Although, this dress was only the start of the androgynous appearance he would soon be known for, over the course of his 5-decade-spanning career.

The 1970’s were strange, to say the least. He married Angela Bowie at the start of the decade, then welcomed their son Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones a year later. Bowie went on to be hopped up on cocaine. David donned the look of one of his famous personas, The Thin White Duke. The same persona with slicked-back ginger hair, a white button-up under a black waistcoat and paired with black dress pants. The same Duke who called Adolf Hitler one of the first ‘rock stars’ and gave off a lot of faschist energy. He said many statements he’d later apologize for and grow as a better man from, which is good- it’s better than standing by then, or even backing himself up and supporting them. David Bowie called that period the darkest days of his life, and blamed the crazy statements on his horrid addiction and deteriorating mental state. The late 1970’s were more favorable, seeing as it gave the world what was dubbed the Berlin Trilogy alongside Brian Eno and David’s personal friend, Iggy Pop. Made up of three of his albums: Low and Heroes (both in 1977) and Lodger (1978). He moved from Los Angeles to Switzerland, then to Berlin as a further decision to escape his addiction (the reason he moved away from LA in the first place). It was in Berlin, of course, where he wrote his famous song Heroes, about two lovers, one from East Berlin and one from West.

Speaking of Berlin, David Bowie performed near the west of the Berlin Wall in 1987; he played so loud that crowds gathered on the east to listen. At this time, Bowie had no idea he would be the beginning of the city’s soon-coming unifying. After his death in 2016, the German government thanked him for bringing the wall down and unifying a divided Germany.

Music isn’t all he is known for, though it is a majority. He also starred in movies from time to time. Being the titular man in The Man Who Fell To Earth in 1976, Jareth the moody goblin king in Jim Henson’s 1986 Labyrinth film (what is most likely his most famous role), Monte the barman in the 1991 movie The Linguini Incident, cameoing as himself in Zoolander (2001), Nikola Tesla in the 2006 movie The Prestige, and even Lord Royal Highness in Spongebob Squarepants’ Atlantis Squarepantis in 2007, among a few others. David Bowie dabbled in the art of acting, and was not that bad at it. He was good enough to gain a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, too. Sometimes it bends my mind that my first introduction to my all-time favourite musician was in a Spongebob Squarepants movie, back before I knew who he was, but David Bowie was never one to shy away from foreshadowing. At least one song from many of his albums would hint at the direction he’d go in for his next release. For example, his track Queen Bitch on Hunky Dory foreshadowed his soon-coming Ziggy Stardust. And the Diamond Dogs track 1984 actually hinted at the Philadelphian soul of Young Americans, which is a more famous song of his, which he went on to perform on The Cher Show with its host.

The 1990’s were certainly an experimental time for David Bowie. But to my knowledge, I think the 1990’s was a time for everyone. He married supermodel Iman some days after performing at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, and released the album I named earlier, Black Tie White Noise. It is known to have had a prominent use of electronic instruments, as was his other 1990’s album, Earthling. The early 1990’s greeted David’s first real band since the Spiders From Mars, dubbed Tin Machine. They recorded three guitar-driven albums which received mixed reviews from the masses, but Bowie looks back at this period- as do I- with a certain fondness; “a glorious disaster” he called it, when talking to journalist Mick Brown. Tin Machine is a period I don’t listen to often, compared to his solo stuff, but I don’t press the skip button when it comes on.

Alas, the starman’s career drew to a close as the 2000s rolled in. David Bowie greeted the 2000’s with the birth of his and Iman’s daughter, the beautiful Alexandria Zahra Jones. After suffering a- strange, as it were- heart attack symptoms mid-song during a concert in 2004, he took a hiatus from his career. I say strange because given what I know, he was trying his best to stay healthy at the time. According to my special Rolling Stone edition magazine about David Bowie (released at the start of this year), he was on tour and performing in a really hot arena. But Bowie was sober, and had quit smoking. He was taking medication to lower his cholesterol, and worked out with a trainer. Bowie looked great, and yet he felt a pain in his shoulder and chest, along with a shortness for breath. A bodyguard rushed onstage to usher Bowie off of it, cutting the concert short. He only performed live once or twice after that point, but was set on never going live ever again. And he kept his word on that, unfortunately but also fortunately. Unfortunately, because David Bowie live would have been quite the experience- I wouldn’t know, personally. But fortunately, because I do not believe anyone needs a repeat of the 2004 Reality scare.

I am actually not too fond of speaking of his final years. Nobody really likes to speak of the last years of their idols’ life before their death, so it’s no surprise. Blackstar was David Bowie’s 25th and final album, recorded entirely in secret in New York alongside his long-time producer, Tony Visconti. The album's central theme lyrically is mortality, and seeing as Bowie was undergoing chemotherapy for his cancer at the time, I see it as his way of coping with his incoming death. His producer Tony Visconti called him a ‘canny bastard’, when he realized Bowie was essentially writing a farewell album. Every song on the album is what is considered a swan song, a swan song in question being a phrase for a final gesture of some sort before retirement or death. In this case, death. Over the course of recording the album, David Bowie’s chemotherapy had actually been working and he had an eerie optimism while recording. But by the time they shot the two music videos Blackstar and Lazarus, where he showed off the definite passage of time and cruelty of chemotherapy through sparse and gray hair with sagging skin, he knew his condition was terminal and that this would be a battle he would lose. Blackstar wasn’t the first album to have been made by a musician succumbing to a fatal illness, but in my opinion it is in fact the most beautiful. It’s jazzy, and elegant, showing how at peace he had become with dying.

Blackstar the album was released on January 8th, 2016. Also known as David Bowie’s 69th birthday. Two days later, David Bowie died at his Lafayette Street home on January 10th after living with liver cancer for up to 18 months. Beforehand, he had let it be known he did not want a funeral nor a burial, but rather that his body be cremated and the ashes to be scattered in Bali by his loved ones. His wish was received, and planet Earth was very much bluer and quieter without his colour and wonderful noise.

As I said earlier on, David Bowie’s career came with ups and downs. His mysteriously close relationship with Mick Jagger, his cross with famous underage groupie Lori Maddox, the births of his two talented children, his faschist bender in the 70’s, and final bang of Blackstar in his final year on earth. Through the highs and lows, his career and his music meant a lot to the quote-unquote misfits and freaks of the world, myself included. David Bowie turned and faced the strange, shouted “you’re not alone!” To those who felt the loneliest, he surely spent his career helping those who needed to be themselves, feel more freer and braver in doing so, no matter what they may be when they are themselves. He never went boring, he never went stale, he sang what he wanted and dressed how he pleased, and kept to his word on how much more to life there is when you’re just that; yourself. A year after David Bowie’s untimely passing, his son Duncan Jones accepted an award for British album of the year that was won by Blackstar at the 37th annual Brit Awards. When he accepted it, he made a speech about his father that I will leave here, and never forget. Seeing as it perfectly encapsulates David Bowie’ legacy, and the true meaning of his extraordinary career.

“I lost my dad last year, but I also became a dad. And, uhm, I was spending a lot of time- after getting over the shock- of trying to work out what would I want my son to know about his granddad? And I think it would be the same thing that most of my dad's fans have taken over the last 50 years. That he’s always been there supporting people who think they’re a little bit weird or a little bit strange, a little bit different, and he’s always been there for them. So...this award is for all the kooks, and all the people who make the kooks. Thanks, Brits, and thanks to his fans.” - Duncan Z. H. Jones (February 22 2017, at The O2 Arena in London.)

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itsapapisongo · 4 years

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“WEBBED SURVEILLANCE”

Pairing: None, though I won’t blame you for any spotting Ho-Yay banter/interactions.

Genre: Superhero | Comedy | One-Shot

Word Count: 2.0K

Warnings: Language

Summary: An exasperated Spider-Man (Mark Lee) trails the elusive Black Cat (Lee Taeyong) across town, hoping to knock some sense into the master thief.

Notes: This was supposed to be the first of a series of one-shots focused on original characters face-claimed by several members—from NCT to Stray Kids to SEVENTEEN—but I decided to drop the whole face-claim thing and simply go full what if x member was a superhero route instead. A choice that is partly inspired by @vernosaur and her awesome fic Playing Hero.

Edited: 20.09.25 (last update ) | 20.12.06 (recent update)

HE had planned to land on the floor, but it was already occupied.

“Oi!” Spider-Man exclaimed, his voice a nervous, high-pitch. “Nope!”

In the nick of time, without missing a beat and with superhuman ease, he performed an in-air flip and clung to the ceiling, arms extended to either side of his body as though to maintain balance. He didn’t need to be so theatrical but he had been caught off guard. Ignoring a reaction as visceral as this one had become harder and harder to contain; more often than not, sheer instinct kicked in and he just went with it.

Spider-Man stared in disbelief at four of the ugliest Komodo dragons he had ever laid eyes on and they glared back at him, thin tongues slithering in and out of their snouts. He could hear them hissing—or snarling, he couldn’t tell—and gulped, shocked at how late he had come to notice them. A tingling sensation notified him of potential danger but he hadn’t imagined it would be a quartet of monitor lizards casually dragging themselves on such a small apartment.

He’d set up his phone and laptop to monitor emergency channels, in hopes that it would direct him to where he could make a difference. Robberies, fires, break-ins, super villains being up to no good was what he had in mind but apparently the universe had other plans for him. And so, in a matter of minutes, a routine night of surveillance turned into a bizarre chase across the city. He had been swinging non-stop for the past hour and half, chasing the elusive Black Cat across town, mumbling to himself that he probably shouldn’t have made such a dynamic entrance in Inner Demons territory.

You gotta time your quips, man, he scolded himself when everyone hauled ass in different directions and he lost sight, albeit briefly, of the Cat. The master thief had connections with just about everyone in the crooked lane that was Enn City. Following the guy meant getting in a heap of trouble but that was already part of the job so what the hell, right? He just hadn’t considered Komodo dragons to be part of the equation.

The chase led him to the shady part of town, where the properties looked ancient and in need of a new coat of paint, and into the lost (apartment-sized) world of Komodo Land. The Black Cat had been quick to find and subsequently hide in this narrow, five-story monstrosity that oozed with not-so-chill vibes and shamelessly overpriced and claustrophobically small apartments. It reeked of neglect, nicotine, and chemicals, as though it had been repurposed for some clandestine drug operation.

Spider-Man wondered if it had been a deliberate ploy to distract him. After all he had checked the lobby and the first floor and found no sign of the master thief. What he’d found instead, much to his disgust, was the stench of the dragons’ dinner, excrement, and urine.

Just my luck, he thought, crawling across the ceiling and scanning the rest of the apartment: the door had been left ajar and there was nothing but a bucket and a mop by a corner. The pungent smell stung his nostrils even through his mask and he resisted the urge to gag by clearing his throat. One of the Komodo dragons stared, as though it could see right through him. Big bioluminescent green eyes stared back and narrowed until becoming thin slits of contempt and disgust. Behind the mask, Spider-Man cringed.

Who knew something could smell so bad?

“Good Lord,” he whispered, gently shaking his head. “You guys should think about cleaning after yourselves.”

As he shifted his weight and positioned himself to face the door, crawling slowly toward it, he saw it. A shadowy figure in the hallway outside the apartment. The figure moved itself with grace and purpose and just enough that Spider-Man caught a glimpse of his face in the dim-light of the hallway. Aware of the now incessant hissing—or snarling, Spidey still couldn’t tell—of the lizards, the figure turned toward the half-opened door then dashed into the hall.

Pushing himself off the ceiling and clinging to the door, not trusting his new Komodo besties to not take a chunk out of him, he peered into the narrow hallway and saw the Black Cat running toward the elevator. Spider-Man gracefully leapt off the door and slammed it shut behind him because there was no way in hell he was going to leave those beasts out of there.

Who waits for an elevator while they’re being chased?

Spider-Man groaned and shook his head.

The chase was on—again.

ALRIGHT, folks, let’s do this one last time.

His real name is Mark Lee.

He was bitten by a radioactive spider—or at least, he thinks it was radioactive—and for the last year and half he’s been Spider-Man. By chance, fate, or design, he’d been bitten. Just like his idol: Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man. Mark would love to call himself the One and Only Spider-Man but knows it would be a lie and disrespectful to Parker. So, in a town as big and as shady as Enn City, Mark did what he could and took up the mantle, making it his mission to live up to his idol’s example and use his powers for the greater good.

The encounter made him superhuman, granting him spider-like abilities. He can leap great distances, cling to almost any surface, and sense when something is about to threaten him, allowing him to avoid and react to danger with ease in the blink of an eye. The bite not only made him quicker on his feet but it granted him superhuman strength, stamina, reflexes, as well as enhancing other skills, such as his balance and dexterity, that he’d honed over the years as an athlete. Physical education was certainly less of a hassle after that.

The suit—black and green—represents his passion and ambition and paid homage to the original Web-Slinger by keeping the same spider symbol upon his chest and back; the web-shooters, designed by Joshua Hong and Moon Taeil, make it easier for him to move across the city and enable him to snare criminals; and the mask offers anonymity, protection, and comfort, a way to fight crime and keep his life as boring as it always has been.

Being a hero was no easy feat. Mark is aware of this. He does his very best to kick ass and take names. Life has meaning, even if it includes being pounded into the ground and fighting guys in colorful suits that possess, whether innate or manufactured, unique abilities that rival his own. New threats crawl out of the woodwork but he’s ready for all of them. Because he’s Spider-Man and it’s his duty to kick ass and keep people safe.

But sometimes, no matter how cool it might feel, being Spider-Man can be exhausting.

THE Black Cat was fast.

Not Quicksilver fast, but definitely-athlete-fast. Like, come to think of it, track-star fast. He moved with such complete control of his body that for a second Mark felt jealous of his flexibility. He dashed and shouldered a door open at the end of the corridor, promptly disappearing through it. Just then, as if on cue, the elevator binged itself open. It was empty. Obviously. The Cat had no plans on waiting for it and had been a last second attempt to lose his pursuer.

Mark sprinted after him and launched himself forward with a leap that had him cling to the ceiling then bounced on a wall and thrust himself toward the exit the Cat had improvised for himself. He noticed that the master thief’s choice of exit was the emergency staircase. Instead of descending, the Cat ascended not by foot but via grappling gun. Seconds before he was propelled upward, they came face-to-face.

The Web-Slinger, albeit reluctantly, admitted the elusive and perpetually frustrating thief was quite the looker—even if a good part of his face was still concealed by the domino mask-like goggles he was wearing. The lenses were pristine and made his eyes visible: one was dark, the other bright blue. His complexion was pale, his hair a mess of red and white. When he smirked he came across as both charming and devious, a strange mix that only added to his allure.

You seriously gotta focus, the Web-Slinger scolded himself. There’s no time for man-crushes.

In the blink of an eye, the Black Cat was whisked away and the sound of the line echoed in the empty staircase.

Seriously?

“Son of a—hey—that’s cheating!” Mark exclaimed as he leapt on the stair’s railing then aimed his web-shooter at the Cat’s feet. “Gotcha!”

Only he didn’t. The webs flew past the Cat’s head and attached themselves to the railing three stories up. Spider-Man groaned, shook his head, and released the weblines. He cracked his neck and knuckles, inhaled through his nose then exhaled through his mouth. With all the strength he could muster and crouching as low as he could, while still balancing himself on the railing, he sprung upward like a bullet. He flew, matching the Cat’s altitude, and caught him mid-air before he could disengage the line on his belt. The impact was harder and a bit more painful than expected; it was bound to be either way. Mark shrugged it off with a faint grunt. The Black Cat? Not so much.

Shooting his webs to a railing, the Web-Slinger managed to hold them suspended before completely falling. The Black Cat groaned from the whiplash but was still conscious and strong enough to smack Mark across the face, using him and the web to ascend as though he were back at climbing the rope in PE. Mark groaned despondently, his upper-lip stinging, then saw the master thief run through a door that led to the roof.

You gotta be shitting me.

He spun another web, triggering the web-shooters to pull him up, and dashed through the door as soon as he touched ground. The Black Cat, who had a decent head start, was running toward the edge of the building’s roof. He leapt on the edge and looked down, as though to prepare himself to jump. Yet, before he could he even think about doing that, two strong web-lines dragged him back. The master thief landed squarely and pathetically on his back. When he blinked and groaned, pain shooting through all of his back and some of his buttocks, he saw a pair of green eyes squinting right at him.

“Hey,” said the Black Cat, trying to conceal a smirk. “How’s it going, Webs?”

Mark tilted his head, arms crossed. “It seems like we’re in a rush, aren’t we, Puss in Boots?”

The Cat scoffed and cackled sarcastically, rolling his eyes. Though he could make another run for it, he remained on the ground. “I thought you’d be taller,” Black Cat exclaimed, sounding disappointed. “Like way taller.”

“And I thought you’d be—uh—less of—dammit.”

Mark groaned and rubbed the back of his neck when his quarry stared at him with a smug half-smile. The master thief shrugged, chuckled, then his hands moved to either side of his head faster than Mark could register it. With acrobatic ease and proficiency, the Cat performed a perfect kip up and was instantly on his feet. If he was winded and exhausted from the chase, he didn’t show it.

“Cat caught your tongue?”

“Funny,” mumbled Spider-Man. “Real funny.”

“Not as funny as this.” The Cat titled his head to the side. He was still smirking as he sang, “Oh Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream—make it the harshest pummeling I’ve ever seen.”

“What are you—?”

And there it was. A second too late but still there. His entire body buzzed, goosebumps spreading everywhere, and his head felt heavy as a wave of nausea hit him like a punch on his gut. Everything momentarily slowed down but before he could react to the danger, before he could even register it, he was swept aside with such force that felt like a van had smacked him squarely across the side. The pressure and velocity of it overwhelmed him. He flew, high and far away from the building’s roof . . . until he wasn’t.

He didn’t know where or how he landed. He just knew, as everything turned dark, that everything hurt and there was definitely a good amount of sand in his pants.

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birdlord · 3 years

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Everything I Watched in 2020

We’ll start with movies. The number in parentheses is the year of release, asterisks denote a re-watch, and titles in bold are my favourite watches of the year. Here’s 2019’s list.

01 Little Women (19)

02 The Post (17)

03 Molly’s Game (17)

04 * Doctor No (62)

05 Groundhog Day (93)

06 *Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home (86)

07 Knives Out (19) My last theatre experience (sob)

08 Professor Marston and his Wonder Women (17)

09 Les Miserables (98)

10 Midsommar (19) I’m not sure how *good* it is, but it does stick in the ol’ brain

11 *Manhattan Murder Mystery (93)

12 Marriage Story (19)

13 Kramer vs Kramer (79)

14 Jojo Rabbit (19)

15 J’ai perdu mon corps (19) a cute animated film about a hand detached from its body!

16 1917 (19)

17 Married to the Mob (88)

18 Klaus (19)

19 Portrait of a Lady on Fire (19) If Little Women made me want to wear a scarf criss-crossed around my torso, this one made me want to wear a cloak

20 The Last Black Man in San Francisco (19)

21 *Lawrence of Arabia (62)

22 Gone With the Wind (39)

23 Kiss Me Deadly (55)

24 Dredd (12)

25 Heartburn (86) heard a bunch about this one in the Blank Check series on Nora Ephron, sadly after I’d watched it

26 The Long Shot (19)

27 Out of Africa (85)

28 King Kong (46)

29 *Johnny Mnemonic (95)

30 Knocked Up (07)

31 Collateral (04)

32 Bird on a Wire (90)

33 The Black Dahlia (05)

34 Long Time Running (17)

35 *Magic Mike (12)

36 Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (07)

37 Cold War (18)

38 *Kramer Vs Kramer (79) yes I watched this a few months before! This was a pandemic friend group co-watch.

39 *Burn After Reading (08)

40 Last Holiday (50)

41 Fly Away Home (96)

42 *Moneyball (11) I’m sure I watch this every two years, at most??

43 Last Holiday (06) the Queen Latifah version of the 1950 movie above, lacking, of course, the brutal “poor people don’t deserve anything good” ending

44 *Safe (95)

45 Gimme Shelter (70)

46 The Daytrippers (96)

47 Experiment in Terror (62)

48 Tucker: The Man and His Dream (88)

49 My Brilliant Career (79) one of the salvations of 2020 was watching movies “with” friends. Our usual method was to video chat before the movie, sync our streaming services, and text-chat while the movie was on.

50 Divorce Italian Style (61)

51 *Gosford Park (01) another classic comfort watch, fuck I love a G. Park

52 Hopscotch (80)

53 Brief Encounter (45)

54 Hud (63)

55 Ocean’s 8 (18)

56 *Beverly Hills Cop (84)

57 Blow the Man Down (19)

58 Constantine (05)

59 The Report (19) maddening!! How are people so consistently terrible to one another!

60 Everyday People (04)

61 Anatomy of a Murder (58)

62 Spiderman: Homecoming (17)

63 *To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (95) Of the 90s drag road movies, Priscilla is more visually striking, but this has its moments.

64 Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (92)

65 *The Truman Show (98)

66 Mona Lisa (86)

67 The Blob (58)

68 The Guard (11)

69 *Waiting for Guffman (96) RIP Fred Willard

70 Rocketman (19)

71 Outside In (18)

72 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (08) how strange to see a movie that you have known the premise for, but no details of, for over a decade

73 *Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country (91)

74 The Reader (08)

75 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (19) This was fine until it VERY MUCH WAS NOT FINE

76 The End of the Affair (99) you try to watch a fun little romp about infidelity during the Blitz, and Graham Greene can’t help but shoehorn in a friggin crisis of religious faith

77 Must Love Dogs (05) barely any dog content, where are the dogs at

78 The Rainmaker (97)

79 *Batman & Robin (97)

80 National Lampoon’s Vacation (83) Never seen any of the non-xmas Vacations, didn’t realize the children are totally different, not just actors but ages! Also, this one is blatantly racist!

81 *Mystic Pizza (88)

82 Funny Girl (68)

83 The Sons of Katie Elder (65)

84 *Knives Out (19) another re-watch within the same year!! How does this keep happening??

85 *Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (10) a real I-just-moved-away-from-Toronto nostalgia watch

86 Canadian Bacon (92) vividly recall this VHS at the video store, but I never saw it til 2020

87 *Blood Simple (85)

88 Brittany Runs a Marathon (19)

89 The Accidental Tourist (88)

90 August Osage County (13) MELO-DRAMA!!

91 Appaloosa (08)

92 The Firm (93) Feeling good about how many iconic 80s/90s video store stalwarts I watched in 2020

93 *Almost Famous (00)

94 Whisper of the Heart (95)

95 Da 5 Bloods (20)

96 Rain Man (88)

97 True Stories (86)

98 *Risky Business (83) It’s not about what you think it’s about! It never was!

99 *The Big Chill (83)

100 The Way We Were (73)

101 Safety Last (23) It’s getting so that I might have to add the first two digits to my dates...not that I watch THAT many movies from the 1920s...

102 Phantasm (79)

103 The Burrowers (08)

104 New Jack City (91)

105 The Vanishing (88)

106 Sisters (72)

107 Puberty Blues (81) Little Aussie cinema theme, here

108 Elevator to the Gallows (58)

109 Les Diaboliques (55)

110 House (77) haha WHAT no really W H A T

111 Death Line (72)

112 Cranes are Flying (57)

113 Holes (03)

114 *Lady Vengeance (05)

115 Long Weekend (78)

116 Body Double (84)

117 The Crazies (73) I love that Romero shows the utter confusion that would no doubt reign in the case of any kind of disaster. Things fall apart.

118 Waterlilies (07)

119 *You’re Next (11)

120 Event Horizon (97)

121 Venom (18) I liked it, guys, way more than most superhero fare. Has a real sense of place and the place ISN’T New York!

122 Under the Silver Lake (18) RIP Night Call

123 *Blade Runner (82)

124 *The Birds (62) interesting to see now that I’ve read the story it came from

125 *28 Days Later (02) hits REAL FUCKIN’ DIFFERENT in a pandemic

126 Life is Sweet (90)

127 *So I Married an Axe Murderer (93) find me a more 90s movie, I dare you (it’s not possible)

128 Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (67)

129 The Pelican Brief (93) 90s thrillers continue!

130 Dick Johnston is Dead (20)

131 The Bridges of Madison County (95)

132 Earth Girls are Easy (88) Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum are so hot in this movie, no wonder they got married

133 Better Watch Out (16)

134 Drowning Mona (00) trying for something like the Coen bros and not getting there

135 Au Revoir Les Enfants (87)

136 *Chasing Amy (97) Affleck is the least alluring movie lead...ever? I also think I gave Joey Lauren Adams’ character short shrift in my memory of the movie. It’s not good, but she’s more complicated than I recalled.

137 Blackkklansman (18)

138 Being Frank (19)

139 Kiki’s Delivery Service (89)

140 Uncle Frank (20) why so many FRANKS

141 *National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (89) watching with pals (virtually) made it so much more fun than the usual yearly watch!

142 Half Baked (98) another, more secret Toronto nostalgia pic - RC Harris water filtration plant as a prison!

143 We’re the Millers (13)

144 All is Bright (13)

145 Defending Your Life (91)

146 Christmas Chronicles (18) I maintain that most new xmas movies are terrible, particularly now that Netflix churns them out like eggnog every year.

147 Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse (18)

148 Reindeer Games (00) what did I say about Affleck??!? WHAT DID I SAY

149 Palm Springs (20)

150 Happiest Season (20)

151 *Metropolitan (90) it’s definitely a Christmas movie

152 Black Christmas (74)

THEATRE:HOME - 2:150 (thanks pandemic)

I usually separate out docs and fiction, but I watched almost no documentaries this year (with the exception of Dick Johnston). Reality is real enough.

TV Series

01 - BoJack Horseman (final season) - Pretty damned poignant finish to the show, replete with actual consequences for our reformed bad boy protagonist (which is more than you can say for most antiheroes of Peak TV).

02 - *Hello Ladies - I enjoy the pure awkwardness of seeing Stephen Merchant try to perform being a Regular Person, but ultimately this show tips him too far towards a nasty, Ricky Gervais-lite sort of persona. Perhaps he was always best as a cameo appearance, or lip synching with wild eyes while Chrissy Teigen giggles?

03 - Olive Kittredge - a rough watch by times. I read the book as well, later in the year. Frances Mcdormand was the best, possibly the only, casting option for the flinty lead. One episode tips into thriller territory, which is a shock.

04 - *The Wire S3, S4, S5 - lockdown culture! It was interesting to rewatch this, then a few months later go through an enormous, culture-level reappraisal of cop-centred narratives.

05 - Forever - a Maya Rudolph/Fred Armisen joint that coasts on the charm of its leads. The premise is OK, but I wasn’t left wanting any more at the end.

06 - *Catastrophe - a rewatch when my partner decided he wanted to see it, too!

07 - Red Oak - resolutely “OK” steaming dramedy, relied heavily on some pretty obvious cues to get across its 1980s setting.

08 - Little Fires Everywhere - gulped this one down while in 14-day isolation, delicious! Every 90s suburban mom had that SUV, but not all of them had the requisite **secrets**

09 - The Great - fun historical comedy/drama! Costumes: lush. Actors: amusing. Race-blind casting: refreshing!

10 - The Crown S4 - this is the season everyone lost their everloving shit for, since it’s finally recent enough history that a fair chunk of the viewing audience is liable to recall it happening.

11 - Ted Lasso - we resisted this one for a while (thought I did enjoy the ad campaign for NBC sports (!!) that it was based on). My view is that its best point was the comfort that the men on the show have (or develop, throughout the season) with the acknowledgement and sharing of their own feelings. Masculinity redux.

12 - Moonbase 8 - Goodnatured in a way that makes you certain they will be crushed.

13 - The Good Lord Bird - Ethan Hawke is really aging into the character actor we always hoped he would be!

14 - Hollywood - frothy wish-fulfillment alternate history. I think the show would have been improved immeasurably by skipping the final episode.

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meloncholor · 4 years

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Writing Masterlist (4/7/2020 Update)

Blog Exclusive

Trevor, You’re an Idiot - Trevor and Sypha try and name their first child.

Christmas Memories (Part 1) - (Prompt) A fluffy story about Trevor, Adrian, and my Bloodborne character name Ezio giving each other simple presents for Christmas and talking about their lonely past.

Reading - Trevor Reading over Sypha’s shoulder to annoy her.

Come to Bed - Sypha is an early riser and Trevor is a lazy boi; Sypha snores and it sounds like purring

Please Put Me Down - Trevor can speak french; Sypha gets injured and Trevor has to carry her

Remembrance - Trevor opens up to Sypha emotionally.

Mi Oso - Sypha tries to teach Trevor Spanish

Dog Days - Sypha brings in a stray German Shepard because it’s scruffy and soft and it reminds her of Trevor.

Magic Spider - Trevor and Sypha have to decide who kills the spider.

Birthday With the Dirty Boy - Trevor’s birthday.

Star Children - Sypha and Trevor looking at the stars.

Winter’s Bounty - Trevor makes a cloak like his for Sypha.

Your Laugh is Funny - Sypha is ticklish.

Goodbye, I Guess - Trevor visits his parents’ graves with Alucard and Sypha.

Castlevania Mafia AU - Just what the title says.

Osito - Trevor asks why Sypha calls him that.

Birthday Girl - Trevor celebrates Sypha’s Birthday

Finish - Carmilla and Godbrand hate s*x. (Lemon)

In Bed Alone - Trevor isn’t feeling great.

A First - Elinore’s first words.

Singer - Trevor asks Sypha to sing for him.

Destino - Trevor likes Sypha’s singing.

Castlevania Warmup #1 - Elinore goes hunting.

House Call - Lisa treats a young Trevor.

How Lovely to See You Again - Vlad greets his wife (reader) when she gets home.

It’s Alright, I’m Here - You wake from a nightmare and Trevor comforts you.

Training Pains - The Belmont kids train together

No Matter the Cost - Vlad would do anything for you.

All for You - Reader and Vlad spend some quality time together.

Archive of Our Own

General

Warm - Trevor and Sypha share a moment by the fire. (Lemon)

A Snowy Relief - Sypha and Trevor have fun in the snow

Thunderstorm Blues - Sypha gets hurt by a night creature, Trevor is left to watch over her

An Unexpected Fortune - Trevor and Sypha have to share one bed at an inn. (Lemon)

A Few Drinks Together - Sypha insists on coming with Trevor to the bar. (Lemon)

A Cottage In The Woods - Alucard pays a visit to the Belmonts after a long time away.

You’re a Mean One, Ms. Carmilla - Carmilla calls on Hector when she’s bored (Lemon) (TW: R*pe/Non-con)

One Lie -Trevor nearly drinks himself into a coma

Old Friends - Trefor visits the new home of Leon Belmont

Castlevania 2185 - The gang breaks into Vlad Inc.

The Hanged Man’s Prize - You are hired by the famous crime lord Vlad Tepes, and his interests start to reach far beyond the scope of your duties. (Lemon)(Incomplete)

Hidden Charms - Alucard likes SOME things about Trevor. (Incomplete)

Grace - Trevor saves you from a witch-burning and you are left with the aftermath of what you’ve seen.

Indulgences - Trevor is a filthy dirt man who only functions on spite, even when it’s to his detriment. Alucard fixes this.

Fifty Shades of Carmilla - Hector and Carmilla have a tit for tat relationship

I’m Waiting, My Lord - Trevor Belmont is the only son of the poor noble house Belmont, he's invited into the service of King Vladimir Tepes after the death of his ailing wife and is assigned to be the retainer of Prince Adrian along with the court magician Sypha Belnades, and the Prince has plans of his own for his personal knight.

People Watching (Complete) - You and Vlad have a falling out.

Belinda and Leandra Belmont - Exploring Trevor’s parentage

Light Reading - Sypha finds a book on vagina spells.

Mother Dearest - Sypha finds a journal on Trevor’s Grandmother.

Blog Exclusives

Tone Deaf - Kyoka/Bakugo AU where they’re musicians

Seeing Stars - BNHA boys smoking weed and girls dropping acid.

Dancing Queen - Todomomo trying to learn to salsa dance.

I Didn’t Know - All Might forces Endeavor to reconnect with his family.

Torment - Students find a bottle of Aizawa’s scotch.

An Early Morning - Emi and Aizawa’s morning with Kiwa.

Please Stop Asking Me - Emi is the first to push for kids.

Bakugo’s Lament - Bakugo explains why he didn’t become a villain.

Unpolished Kiribaku Warmup - The family goes shopping.

BNHA Kyoka/Kaminari Warmup - They’re hanging out.

Little Wonders - Ochako and Izuku in their home.

Parent-Teacher Conference - Emi and Aizawa are asked to come to Kiwa’s school.

Save Me - All Might almost drowning, based on the scene from Aladdin.

A Forgotten Memory - Enji and Yagi before everything changed.

Archive of Our Own

Two Bros in a Hot Tub and They’re Definitely Gay - Kirishima visits the number 2 hero Bakugo in his expensive home (Lemon)

Mom Swap - Katsuki and Izuku switch moms, that’s it.

Mom - Mitsuki visits her son in the hospital

Tired - She hasn’t seen Shoto in a while

Is this a Porno? - Izuku doesn’t think Mei has a medical degree… (Lemon)

Holding a Vigil - Momo waits for Shoto

Alice in Wonderland - Izuku has conflicted feelings when he sees Hitoshi at a strip club. (Lemon)

A Memory Preserved - Toshinori and Enji have passed their times in the limelight, it’s time for them to finally talk about what happened.

A Knight’s Honor - Fantasy AU; Bakugo and Midoriya spar.

Blog Exclusives

Spoken through Pen Strokes - Charthur fluff.

Just a Little Bit Longer - Jovier Fluff.

Sunny Days (Part One) - Charthur Fluff

Happy Valentine’s Day Arthur - Albert pays a visit.

What Once Was - Arthur finding out about his ex-wife and son.

Dance With Me - Dutch asks Hosea to Dance.

Charthur Warmup - Pure Fluff.

Wasted Opportunity - John is an idiot.

Again? - John can’t sleep.

You’re Always A Party - Sean and Karen go on a date.

Archive of Our Own

Two Sides of the Same Coin - Albert Mason is a fool.

She’s All I’ve Got - Hosea has to save Dutch from her brothers.

Soaked to the Bone - John takes Javier fishing.

Starry-Eyed - Arthur gets distracted while Charles is tracking animals.

Blog Exclusives

Anwar and Nadia Warmup - Nadia tries serving traditional Haitian food.

Muriel and Lillian Short - She likes playing in his hair.

Trouble in Paradise - Lucio isn’t paying enough attention to Ophelia.

Noise - Lillian has a panic attack.

Another Warmup - Avina has trinkets Asra’s never seen.

Dandelion Bouquet - Julian gets an idea.

Archive of our Own

General

Mala - Lillian takes Muriel to her favorite shop, and then she meets a new friend.

A Short Reprieve - Lucio and Ophelia are late for a banquet.

Here in the Garden - Julian has to walk through the woods to get home, and on his way intrigues the interest of the woman who makes her home there.

Arcana Thirst

Let My Love Adorn You - Ophelia’s sanctuary is invaded. (Lemon)

Greeting the Sun - Anwar and Nadia spend the morning together. (Lemon)

Deviating Divination - Avina gets home late with her supplies. (Lemon)

Sanctuary - Lillian wants to give something to Muriel. (Lemon)

Be My Muse - Donovan is having an art block, Julian helps. (Lemon)

I Missed Your Warmth - Monica comes to visit Portia during a snowstorm. (Lemon)

A Nightmare’s Only Cure - Nadia has a nightmare. (Lemon)

Archive of Our Own

A Lone Sword - Alistair and Leliana have a short conversation about their leader. (Dragon Age)

Sharing - Sten wants to give the Warden a small gift for returning his sword. (Dragon Age)

Gift of a Sword - Valmiro finds out what Kadan means (Incomplete)(Dragon Age)

Romantic Philistine - Catria and Lukas sneak away from camp (Fire Emblem: Echoes)

Shhh… - Python and Forsyth forgot to be quiet. (Fire Emblem: Echoes)(Lemon)

Apples - Catria and Lukas share breakfast. (Fire Emblem: Echoes)

Black Wine and Good Times - Genji is escaping the mansion for at least a little while, he meets a stranger in a bar. (Overwatch)

Missing You - Genji finds out Jesse is coming home. (Overwatch)

Sickness - Carol is a bit unsettled when she couldn’t grant wishes for a period of time, she goes to Strange for help. (MCU)

The Entrance - Grim is waiting in jail, he gets saved by an elf and he really likes what he sees (Kingdoms of Amalur)

It Was You All Along - Geralt has to rediscover feelings after the jinn takes some away. (The Witcher)

Secret Stash - Shane is invited to a barn party. (Stardew Valley)

Spoils of Conquest - Sawyer just wants Max and Felix to get along.(Outer Worlds)

The Quietest Nights - Forsyth realizes he might miss Python. (Fire Emblem)

The Witch Who Set This Flame (Personal Favorite) - Tulma, an Altmer from a farm near Ivarstead, is contacted by the Thalmor to be an inside source on the happenings of Ulfric Stormcloak. Things don't go as planned and the Dragonborn will get justice.

Blog Exclusives

Another Geralt/Dandelion Warmup - Shameless fluff (The Witcher)

Final Defiance - Geralt fights a crudok. (The Witcher)

Spookfest 2019

Halloween Prompt #1 - Ophelia and Lucio go for a walk.

Halloween Prompt #2 - Donovan gives an autumn gift to Julian.

Halloween Prompt #3 - Symone and Elinore freak out over losing a grimoire.

Halloween Prompt #4 - Lillian has a bad habit of bringing home animals.

Halloween Prompt #5 - Izuku and Bakugo go to a haunted location.

Halloween Prompt #6 - Emi surprises Kiwa

Halloween Prompt #7 - Avina gets flustered.

Halloween Prompt #8 - Charles and Arthur go hunting.

Halloween Prompt #9 - Sam tricks Dean and Cas

Halloween Prompt #10 - Dean doesn’t realize what he’s done. (TW: Gore).

Thanksgiving 2019

Thanksgiving Prompt #1 - Anwar and Nadia Short

Thanksgiving Prompt #2 - Trevor and his Mother

Thanksgiving Prompt #3 - Elinore, Elias, and Symone Belmont

Thanksgiving Prompt #4 - Avina and Asra

Thanksgiving Prompt #5 - Clair doesn’t like eating flour.

Thanksgiving Prompt #6 - Ophelia and Lucio

Thanksgiving Prompt #8 - Leandra and Belinda

Thanksgiving Prompt #9 - Dean and Cas

Thanksgiving Prompt #10 - Geralt and Dandelion

Christmas 2019

Feliz Navidad a Los Muertos - Javier is missing what used to be his home.

Winterfest Prompt #1 - Jaskier has a habit of predicting things.

Winterfest Prompt #2 - Nadia and Anwar curl up in front of the fireplace.

Winterfest Prompt #3 - Lillian brings gifts for everyone.

Winterfest Prompt #4 - Bakugo returns home to a surprise.

Winterfest Prompt #5 - Arthur is running from bounty hunters.

Winterfest Prompt #6 - Emi and Shouta are just trying to take a picture

Winterfest Prompt #7 - Monica and Portia are baking some cookies.

Winterfest Prompt #8 - Trevor is doing something a little out of the ordinary.

Winterfest Prompt #9 - Alm has an idea to take Celica away.

Winterfest Prompt #10 - Geralt doesn’t want to ice skate with Jaskier.

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keichanz · 4 years

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Costumes

Spooktober day 23: Costumes

The second the automatic doors slid open to admit them into the store, Tai took off with a childish squeal of delight, immediately disappearing within what seemed to be the endless racks filled with Halloween costumes.

Laughing at her excitable son, Kagome grabbed a cart and followed after him at a more leisurely pace as Izayoi trailed behind, her enthusiasm less than that of her brother’s. Unsurprisingly the Halloween store that popped up every year around this time was hopping with activity, children, teens, and adults alike roaming about looking at decorations, costumes, and all sorts of fun, spooky things to really get into the Halloween spirit.

Unfortunately, Izayoi’s spirit was nowhere to be found that day as she silently followed her mother and brother throughout the store. Or more like she followed her mom as she followed Tai; the five-year-old was having the time of his life trying on masks, exclaiming over every single cool costume he found, and announcing he found what he wanted to be but then changing his mind a second later as something else grabbed his attention.

Pausing next to a rack that held an assortment of brightly colored masks and accessories, Izayoi sighed as she plucked a headband with black cat ears attached to them. Her own ears twitched as she studied the faux appendages with an air of boredom before heaving another sigh and putting them back.

It wasn’t fair. She would have thought by that now that she’d at least have some idea of what she wanted to be, but because she had no idea what Raiden was going to be, Izayoi in turn didn’t know what to base her own costume on. After Rin had slyly coordinated her costume to match with Kohaku’s – Sally to his Jack – the young hanyou had gotten the idea to find out what her crush’s was going to be so she could sneakily do the same.

Thing was, though, either Raiden was being very tight lipped about it at school, or he simply wasn’t going to dress up for Halloween, because Izayoi hadn’t heard a single thing about it despite the month already being half over. And it wasn’t like she could just outright ask him.

Oh, yeah, she thought sarcastically, rolling her eyes. That’d go real well. ‘Hi Raiden! So I was just wondering, what’re you gonna be for Halloween this year so I can base my costume on yours and then I can pretend that it’s a complete coincidence that we match, oh wow, isn’t that just so convenient, EL OH EL.’

Izayoi snorted at her own thoughts and scowled at the innocent fake ears she’d put back as if they’d personally offended her somehow.

Ugh. It wasn’t fair.

“Hey, sweetie,” her mother’s voice drifted over to her and Izayoi turned her head to find her wandering over with a cart full of decorations and some kind of weird spider prop. Tai was still zooming between the racks, giggling and trying on every mask he could get his grubby little hands on.

“Find anything you like?”

Izayoi grumbled something under her breath and wrinkled her nose, ears lowering slightly on her head as she pouted and averted her gaze.

Kagome’s brows rose as an amused smile flirted with her lips. “Is that a no?”

Her daughter grunted and she reminded Kagome so much of her father it was a little frightening.

Humming in thought, Kagome surveyed the rack of masks and accessories and plucked off a standard black half-mask covered in glitter.

“Your brother wants to be Batman,” she remarked with a tiny grin and held the mask up to her own eyes. “How about Harley Quinn? I spotted a few different costumes back there if you wanna take a look.”

Izayoi sighed and took the mask her mother held out to her. “Maybe.”

Kagome frowned a little at the complete lack of interest in her daughter’s tone. “You okay there, sweetpea?”

When all the young half-demon did was sigh again, Kagome was about to ask what was wrong, a little concerned at her daughter’s behavior, but before she could open her mouth she heard her youngest child calling for her and it sounded like he was struggling with something. No doubt he managed to tangle himself up in another costume again so with a soft sigh, and one last worrying look toward her daughter, Kagome affectionately tweaked her ear, said to come get her if she found something, then retreated to go assist her son in whatever trouble he’d gotten himself into. Again.

Izayoi was still staring down at the boring black mask in her hand, ears low on her head and wondering if she should even bother anymore when suddenly a familiar scent teased her nose and an even more familiar voice rumbled in her ear.

“I don’t really think black is your color.”

Gasping, Izayoi spun around and stared into twin pools of laughing bluish-green.

“Raiden!” she said a little breathlessly, her face flushing as a shy smile flirted with the corners of her lips. “Hi! You, um, you scared me.” She laughed nervously and god did she sound like a complete dork.

“Sorry,” the young dog demon said with a mischievous grin, shrugging. “I figured those cute ears of yours would hear me coming.”

Izayoi made a strangled sound in her throat as her flush deepened and her amber eyes widened. He thought her ears were cute! It’s official she was going to die oh god she needed to talk to Rin RIGHT NOW.

Seeming oblivious to the reaction his words had caused, Raiden never lost his easy grin as his gaze dropped to the mask in her hand and deftly plucked it out of her grasp. His fingers brushed against hers and Izayoi felt a small spark of warmth that shot all the way to her toes as butterflies erupted in her belly.

“So, what’re you gonna be?” he casually asked, studying the half-mask briefly before turning his gaze to the rack behind her.

Willing her racing heart to calm and her face to stop blushing already, Izayoi cleared her throat and offered a shrug, half-turning to look at the rack as well.

“Oh, um, I don’t know yet,” she confessed, wrinkling her nose as she flicked a claw against the cheap plastic of a medieval plague doctor mask. “There’s just so many options, y’know?”

She laughed nervously again but when all Raiden did was hum distractedly Izayoi winced and mentally kicked herself. God, could she be any more of an awkward idiot?!

Before she could open her mouth again and either salvage her dignity by saying something incredibly smooth and cool or potentially make the situation ten times more awkward, Raiden suddenly grinned and reached behind her to exchange the half-mask for something else on the rack.

“Here,” he said and set something on her head, carefully arranging it so her ears weren’t compromised. “Now this suits you much better.”

Blinking as her face once again erupted into color, Izayoi could only stare in silence as Raiden dug out his phone and brought up the camera app before turning it around so she could get a look at herself.

“Whaddaya think?” he asked her, grinning proudly.

Izayoi gasped and lifted a hand to flutter her fingertips across the brown velvet of the steampunk top hat he’d set on her head. Complete with dark goggles attached to the front and a brown lacy ribbon wrapped around it, the young half-demon had to admit she loved the prop. The hat had little gold and silver gears sewn into the velvet on one side and the back had a trailing mesh tail that cascaded down her back. She was surprised at how well it looked with her silver hair and she had to admit, Raiden definitely had good taste.

“Wow,” she breathed, a delight smile spreading across her face as her amber eyes lit up. “This is...really cool. I like it!”

Proud, Raiden tipped her another grin and playfully tapped the rim of the hat.

“I have an idea,” he said, drawing her attention and Izayoi lifted her gaze as he put away his phone. “Your parents are having a Halloween party at the end of the month, right?”

Izayoi blinked and tilted her head. “Yeah...”

Raiden blinked. Wow, she was cute. Shaking his head, his confident grin reappeared as he said, “I don’t have any ideas for my own costume yet. Why don’t we coordinate and wear matching steampunk getups? We’d be the coolest couple there, hands down.”

Izayoi choked because he’d just called them a couple oh dear lord she was going to die. Or maybe she already died because was this really happening? Had she died and gone to heaven where all of her dreams were coming true right before her eyes?

Realizing she was standing here like an idiot while he was waiting for an answer, Izayoi nodded her head so fast it was a wonder the hat didn’t fly off her head.

“Y-yeah,” she squeaked, the smile on her face wide and probably a little creepy but she couldn’t help it. “That’s—that’s a great idea! Let’s do it!”

If she sounded a little too excited, Raiden didn’t notice, blue-green eyes lighting up in delight.

“Cool,” he said, infinitely pleased. “Alright, sounds good. Keep me updated then. You have my number, right?”

Izayoi nodded. She didn’t, but she’d force Rin to get it from Kohaku. Her birthday was coming up; maybe her parents would finally allow her to get a cellphone since she would officially be a teenager?

The dark-haired dog demon quirked another grin at her. “Good. Catch ya later, buttercup.”

Then with that, Raiden winked and twirled around to rejoin his friends who had, apparently, found the Star Wars costumes and were battling it out in the middle of the store with light sabers and one of them had the Darth Vader mask on.

With a dreamy look on her face, Izayoi watched him go, her smile soft and completely smitten. She didn’t even hear her mother approaching and was hardly aware of anything until the hat was suddenly taken off her head and she snapped out of her daze with a start.

Blinking and with a guilty flush, Izayoi looked up at her mother who was studying the hat in her hands with a secret smile on her lips. She glanced down at he daughter then toward the rowdy group of boys just over yonder, watching in amusement as one of them started chasing the others around with a terrifying looking spider decoration.

“Mom?” Izayoi said and Kagome turned her gaze toward her daughter, having a pretty good feeling she knew what she was going to say. The young half-demon’s flush deepened slightly and her amber gaze flittered to the group of boys causing a ruckus—or more accurately, Kagome noticed, one boy in particular.

“I...know what I wanna be now,” she admitted and Kagome recognized that soft smile on her face, the wondering tone in her voice reminding her of years ago when she herself had been completely smitten with one stubborn, foul-mouthed half-demon.

Face softening, Kagome smiled, genuinely happy for her daughter, and nodded as she carefully put the hat down in the cart filled with decorations and something else that was definitely not a Batman costume.

“Leave it to me, sweetpea” Kagome declared, already knowing exactly what to buy to make up her daughter’s costume. Steampunk, huh? She could work with that.

Izayoi smiled gratefully, glad to have such an amazing and understanding mom.

“Thanks, mom,” she whispered and received a brief ear rub in response. Feeling lighter than she had in days, Izayoi grinned, surveyed the contents of the cart—and her smile promptly faded to be replaced by a horrified look as she stared at something gross and bloody.

“I thought Tai wanted to be Batman,” Izayoi stated, blinking in wide-eyed horror. “That is definitely not Batman.”

Knowing exactly what she was talking about, Kagome sighed and it was the sound of a resigned parent. She wandered toward the aisles where she thought she’d seen various steampunk costumes and accessories, gesturing for her daughter to grab the cart and tug it after her.

“So did I,” Kagome murmured, flicking a glance at the child in question who was at the moment content to spin in circles wearing a Scream mask. Wrinkling her nose, she added, “The moment he saw it all ideas about being Gotham’s hero flew out the window and he begged me to get that...that monstrosity. I swear to god he becomes more and more like your father everyday. It’s terrifying.”

Izayoi shuddered. “Boys are weird.”

“Preach,” Kagome mumbled and reached to take down a brown leather waist cincher. Hmm...maybe this with an off the shoulder white blouse...

“Do you have any white stockings, Iz?” Kagome asked, reaching next for something brown that might be a skirt, but she wasn’t too sure. When her daughter failed to respond, Kagome looked over her shoulder and repeated, “Iz?”

Completely distracted, Izayoi was staring at a certain dark-haired dog demon that was laughing so hard at his friend he was doubled over and barely able to stand upright. The friend in question was wearing a princess costume a few sizes too small and was gallantly parading around in it, complete with a wig and tiara.

Kagome lifted a brow and drawled, “Boys are weird, huh?”

Unpredictably Izayoi flushed and her smile was gentle as she murmured, “Well...maybe not all boys.”

#costumes #spooktober prompts #day 23 #oneshot #kagome #izayoi #raiden #tai #keizfanfiction #fanfiction

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thebibliomancer · 5 years

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Dark Crystal Age of Resistance ep 2 liveblog

Just a stream of thoughts

Things I don’t want to do again: watch a puppet eat a melancholic breakfast

Ooh snap the podling is Aughra’s housekeeper or something

Wonder why she doesn’t have one in movie times. I mean besides the Skeksis drinking everyone

Aughra: goes right from deep sleep to “OHSHIT I OVERSLEPT AND EVERYTHING IS HORRIBLE FOREVER”

Come to think of it, between this and the power of the dark crystal comics, authority figures taking overlong naps causes more trouble than anything else in this world

Podling housekeeper: immediately tries to give her a hug

Aughra: 'No, none of that!'

Aughra was trying to see the entire universe and is now annoyed that she actually has to do her job now

Oh that’s why she doesn’t have a housekeeper later. She’s kind of a rude boss

Underground elf needs blindfold. She has darkvision and everything is way too bright

Hey how come all the dnds can have both dark and bright vision with no real adjustment time?

It’s a fizzgig!

Deet: “Do you like having your belly rubbed?”

A fizzgig: -immediately rolls over-

Do the gelflings just accept the unwelcome touches and sinister way of talking as Just How Lords Are? The Skeksis don’t really try to act unevil

Chamberlain decides to frame Rian for Mira’s disappearance and hey there’s no forensics that will clear him BECAUSE SHE EXPLODED

Chamberlain: “Gelfling have always believed Chamberlain’s whispers, yes? This is what I do. I plant stories in ground, watch grow into truth.”

So the definition of Chamberlain is “an officer who manages the household of a monarch or noble” but I think in Skeksis culture it’s their word for the office gossip

SkekSil just hanging around by the water cooler with the off-duty guards going ‘hey so i heard cheryl and bob are seeing each other and also I heard Rian killed his girlfriend but how about that game last night? are the referees crooked or what?’

So before the Skeksis had more to hide than usual why was Chamberlain spreading fake news among the Gelfling? Just for shits and giggles?

Oh so this is why the General/future Garthim Master really hates the Chamberlain

Every problem that he ever faces he suggests punching someone’s teeth in and then Chamberlain goes ‘hey here’s a plan that isn’t stupid’ and the Emperor sides with him

Guy just wants to punch teeth and Chamberlain keeps getting in the way

Emperor: ‘I NEED MY SOUL GOO I’M COMING DOWN FROM MY HIGH’

I’m less surprised that the Gelfling became jackbooted thugs after the movie. Tolyn wears that hat gleefully

“Dreamfast with me” oh yeah it’s hard to do a falsely accused plot when someone can just prove their innocence with psychic flashback sharing

Damn the puppetry on that terrifying spider

Deet: ‘Do you want to be friends, terrifying spider?’

Friend to all living thing living underground has not prepared her for dangerous predators

You Tried, Errol Flynn Podling

Deet: -slams podling Hup into spider like a tetherball-

Hup is on the way to meet the high queen gelfling to become the first podling Paladin

Now I have to grapple with learning that Thra has the concept of paladins

And I was just making jokes about Toolah from Beneath the Dark Crystal comic being one earlier today

Librarian: ‘hey I’m sorry for being rude yesterday’

Brea: ‘Can you help me research something?’

Librarian: ‘GTFO MY LIBRARY’

Elder Cadia: ‘I can’t tell you what that symbol means but I CAN get you super high’

Brea does a princess bride drink switch because the super drugs is actually amnesia dust and she’s not down with that

So the weird symbol vision Brea saw either means beginning or ending because Thra is one of those places where anything can mean the opposite thing

Gourmand: “Come out Gelfling! We won’t hurt you.... for long!”

Did... did you really thing that would work?

Apparently the Skeksis have successfully stopped anyone else from seeing the Crystal since they (or the UrSkeks) broke it because Rian gets one look at the Crystal all cracked and darkened and goes ‘well, that ain’t right’

LOCKSNAKE!

I love biotech nonsense

Rian decides to climb down the Crystal pit to sneak into the laboratory and steal the soul goo so he has proof

Just think: if he kept climbing down he would have found out Thra is hollow and has a sun inside and then he would have caught on fire and died

Chamberlain is an expert locksnakepick. Just hypnotize the lock and then EATS IT

Scientist: ‘dammit Chamberlain, stop eating my locks and stealing my goo!’

Rian yoinks

Damn Gurjin you were a true bro

Deet: “I don’t know how other clans go about their lives with three suns hanging over their heads all the time. They’re giant balls of fire! .... What if one falls?” Dammit Deet, you’re a delight

Deet has been following the moon instead of star the whole time because she’s an underground elf and doesn’t understand the sky

“Even a princess is not above the law” yeah but the law sucks, your majesty

Chamberlain: “I deserve to be punished. Flog me, scold me. I am riddled with shame. Such shame” This is a brave strategy, SkekSil. Orrr is this a briar patch thing?

Oh he’s flipping the blame on the Scientist by saying things that are technically true and giving them a bit of a spin

Emperor: “Is this true?”

Scientist: “Ehhhhhhhhhh technically?”

Where did this aptitude for lying go later in life, SkekSil? Where went your skill for wriggling our of trouble?

Annnnyway that’s how Chamberlain talked his own punishment down to the Scientist having his eye eaten by a beetle

And then I guess because he’s feeling like a big dick boy, he immediately tries to pick a fight with the General

Rian’s dad: “Let me hunt down my son. Then I’ll dreamfast with him to see what happened”

Skeksis: ‘OH SHIT DREAMFASTING’

So now Ordon is being sent after Rian which surely won’t backfire horribly. At least they told Ordon not to dreamfast with Rian for Reasons.

Aughra: “I must find what happened in my absence. I could ask the Mystics! ... No, no I don’t have time for riddles”

So instead she’s off to go chat with the Skeksis. Everything really is impressively imploding on the Skeksis in terms of people having serious questions of them

Nooo SkekTec your beautiful yellow eye

Actually based on the mentioned needler and tail dangler it sounds like the Skeksis really want to fuck each other up. It is a wonder they lasted so long without killing each other

And a wonder that the General bypassed all the mutilation when he beat Chamberlain for new Emperor in the movie and went right to making him naked and throwing him out of his house to do the walk of shame exile

#dark crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #liveblog #episode 2

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ansheofthevalley · 5 years

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Till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old - chapter six: Only holy devotion can keep the devils at bay

A/N: you can also read here

The winds were as harsh during the day as they were during nighttime. But Winterfell was a big castle, full of thick and warm walls that could shield you from the winter. There was a hidden little spot, just between the Library Tower and the Kitchens, perfect for a shadow to blend in with the great grey walls.

"Why did you bend the knee?" he heard the Stark boy ask the newly appointed Warden of the North.

"To protect the North" Jon Snow replied, quickly and firmly.

One of his fears was now confirmed. Winterfell's Bastard is playing the game. A dangerous game, he thought with surprise in his mind and fear in his heart. Nothing good can come out of a fight between the Dragon and the pack of Wolves. His thoughts were turning somber at great speed.

"And why do you feel like you have to protect it?"

"Because it's my duty, It's always been. Ever since I swore an oath" he heard Jon Snow say. His duty lies with his family and with his people. Like everyone in this realm... but he mentioned his oath, he reflected.

"And that duty, that desire to protect the North, where does it come from?"

"I protect it because it's my home, a part of me"

"Your home, and you love it. Sometimes, duty and love go hand in hand, but sometimes, we must choose between one and the other. Father chose both, his love was with your mother, as same as his duty. Robb chose love, forsaking his duty. Jon, you've chosen duty over love so many times. You have the chance to choose love, now". What the youngest son of Ned Stark said left him wondering.

"His love was with your mother..." he repeated that over and over in his head. Lord Eddard Stark never said the name of his bastard's mother. Some said it was a lowborn woman, others said it was Ashara Dayne, but no one had a definitive answer. Why would Eddard Stark's love and duty lie with a mysterious woman, when he was a devoted husband to Catelyn Tully, when it was known that there was love in their marriage? He had heard of the time when Lady Stark had visited the capital, a lifetime ago... He felt as if he was looking at some forbidden image, without being able to decipher its meaning.

"But what about my duty? What about Daenerys?"

"Everthing will work out the way it's supposed to"

The sound of the dragons flying over the castle broke him from his thoughts. He took it as a sign that it was time for him to leave.

He headed towards the Kitchens, trying to look incospicous. He asked one of the maids to bring him some warmed dornish red, along with some broth.

"Alright, m'lord. It'll be in your room in a moment" said the young maid.

He just bowed his head as a wordless "thank you".

He took his time getting out of the Kitchens. He could see that Lord Eddard's daughter had managed to bring all the grains and resources she could. He heard whispers of the Lady of Winterfell, how she took care of her people. The movements in the Kitchens and in the Armory were a testament of that. Who knew that little girl that once was Joffrey's plaything could become such a competent ruler, he reflected. It shouldn't be surprising, though. She learned how not to do things from the most incompetent monarchs in recent history... And Littlefinger, he remembered. He heard whispers of him teaching her all he knows. If it's true, that wouldn't only make her a competent ruler but also a skilled politician. He dwelled on that thought for a while.

He wandered a bit in the courtyard, watching the men and women train for the umpending battle against the dead. He saw Brienne of Tarth, commanding a small garrison of soldiers, teaching them all she could, given the little time they had. But the training of soldiers didn't capture his attention, the little She-Wolf did. He saw Lady Arya practice her shooting. All of the arrows she had fired had hit the bullseye. Just as he was turning his eyes to her again, he found her staring at him. She still had the bow tensed, the arrow ready to be fired. They locked eyes for mere seconds, but in those mere seconds she hit the bullseye yet again, all while glaring at him. Then, just as she arched an eyebrown, a small smug smile forming on her lips. He felt as if he had given her something. Unsettled, he bowed his head to her and left. He felt an incredibly strong need to be alone. Things are not going as planned. The pups are wild beasts now. And we must act accordingly, he thought.

While making his way towards the Guest Keep, he saw Jon Snow all but run towards the Great Keep, with Winterfell's maester trying to keep up with him. He looked like a soldier, marching towards the battlefield. A man with purpose, he told himself. And again, the conversation he had with his brother came back to him. With all of this in mind, he headed towards his chambers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My dear friend" Tyrion greeted him.

"I was under the impression you wanted to have a few words with Jon Snow"

"Well..." Tyrion grabbed a cup and started pouring some of the warmed Dornish red he had asked for, "I think he's a busy man" he said before taking a long sip. "But what about you? I came here to talk about our Queen, only to find an empty room" he told him with fake dissapointment. "Are you already weaving your little webs, Lord Varys?"

"You must have information, valuable information, in order to weave anything. And I think you'll agree with me, my friend, when I say that northmen aren't the sharing type" pointed out the Spider. After this, silence surrounded them. He did the same as Tyrion; grabbed a cup and poured some Dornish red. The warmth of the drink relaxed him a bit; if he closed his eyes, he could almost pretend they were south of the Neck. Almost.

They both had their missions. He had to find out any valuable information that would be useful, and Tyrion had to make the Starks understand the situation they were all dealing with, without offending anyone.

"Well... Have you found anything?"

"Nothing good. Turns out Jon Snow isn't as much of a fool as we all thought. His loyalties lie with the North and the Starks"

"But then why is he-" Tyrion stopped on his tracks as realization dawned on his face. "He managed to bring her all this way North to fight alongside him" he said while rubbing his neck. He opened his mouth to say something, but inmediately closed it. He jumped out of his chair and started pacing around the room. "Do you realize what this means? One wrong look, one wrong word, and we're fucked" he claimed.

"We can still salvage this alliance. She still believes him to be loyal to her" Varys tried to appease his friend.

"She believes him to be in love with her" he claimed, while coming to a halt. He looked at Varys with pleading eyes, reminding him of something only the two of them knew. "Did you found anything else?" he sighed.

Varys had his doubts about telling him about the rest of the conversation he overheard "I can't bring up an assumption and speak of it as if it were the truth" he thought. "I must keep digging". He took a long sip of his cup. "No. Not yet, at least".

Tyrion let out a long, heavy sigh. "Well, then" he said as he put his cup on the table and made his way to the door. "Since the Warden of the North is busy, it seems I must talk to my Lady wife" he jested.

"She's not the same girl we've both seen at the Capital" he reminded him.

"I know" he replied, all humor gone from his voice, "she made that perfectly clear the same day we arrived" he declared, with a sour tone. He stood still, facing the door, but Varys knew Tyrion. He had more to say. He was right; Tyrion pivoted and took long steps towards him, as long as his legs would allow him. "I think she knows about the Reach" he confessed.

This surprised Varys. "You think she knows about what exactly?" he inquired. "About the Tarlys?"

Tyrion just shook his head. "I don't know, all of it?"

"How could she possibly know all of it?" he wondered, "news don't travel as fast during winter".

"Well, somehow the Lady of Winterfell knows about what our Queen did" he noted.

"This is not good" Varys pointed out. "These Stark children are definetely not like their parents. More difficult to read, and even more difficul to handle" he thought.

"We're fucked, Varys. Sansa can say all those very convincing words, and Daenerys can choose to believe all of it" he scoffed. "But that doesn't change the fact that none of us are welcomed here. Not you, not me, and definetely not our Queen" he went back to table and poured the rest of the Dornish red in his cup. After taking a very long sip, he continued "We have to be careful"

"With whom?

Tyrion sighed yet again. "With all of them" he said after putting down his cup. He marched towards the door, and when he opened it, the cold air of the North crep into the room.

"It's so fucking cold" Tyrion muttered as he left.

Finally, Varys was left alone. Alone with his thoughts, and other people's truths and secrets. But it's not enough, he reminded himself. He dwelled on these thoughts while eating his broth, until a hard knock echoed in the whole room.

He opened the door and was surprised to see one of the Unsullied. "Queen Daenerys requires your presence" the warrior announced, his back straightened and his eyes looking at some fixed point behind Varys.

"Very well" he said to the young Unsullied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He found the young Targaryen queen looking at the snowy fields of the North through a window. "It's a beautiful place, the North" she said with some melancholy in her voice, still looking through the window.

"It is, Your Grace. Though it's far too cold for my liking" he offered, politely.

"As it is for me" she replied, looking at him over her shoulder. "Please, sit" she gestured with her hand at the chairs that were by the hearth. Then she gave a single nod to the Unsullied. Now, they were alone.

"I guess I wasn't summoned to talk about the chilly winds of the North" he said as he sat down. The firewood from the hearth were cackling, making little noises, yet as he seated close to it to fight the cold, he couldn't help but wonder... How can something be there to protect you from something but also be a threat itself?

"No, you were not" she agreed. "I summoned you because I want to talk about the North" she said as she seated across him by the hearth.

The conversation he had with Tyrion earlier came back to his mind.

"We have to be careful"

"With whom?"

"With all of them"

"I know they don't want me" Daenerys said, with a mix of sadness, dissapointment and anger tinting her voice.

Varys only sighed. He knew she was far from over, that she needed to vent, so he let her.

“Not the North, not the lords and ladies, not Lady Sansa and her family" she remarked, anger starting to show in her voice and features. "I'm here to save them, can't they see?" She then looked at him with her beautiful eyes. Eyes filled with doubts. Eyes trying to mask a thunderstorm.

"Your Grace, the northmen are known for being proud. They just need a little more time. To get to know you" he offered her. At his words, Daenerys seemed to relaxed a little, fixing her eyes in the fire. He took it as a sign to continue. "You have to remember that the last memory they have of Targaryens are those of your father and eldest brother. They are not remembered fondly here".

The mention of her father and brother made her snapped her eyes back at him. "And pray tell, Lord Varys, what do I have to do for the people of Westeros to realize I'm not father nor my brother?" she fumed.

"You can't expect them to forget the last two decades, my Queen. But you can show them that there is more to the Targaryen name than your father and brother" he insisted.

She returned her gaze to the flames. The way she seemed to be so enthralled by its dance reminded him of the red priestesses of R'hollor. Although the hearth gave the room some warmth, he still got chills.

"I will show them there is more to the Targaryen name" she echoed, still looking at the flames. But a thought seemed to snap her out of its spell. "What about the Starks?"

"What about them?"

"Jon has been avoiding me since we arrived. Lady Sansa is courteous, yet I can see the ice in her eyes". she said in an exasperated tone. "How do you suggest I win over the Lady of Winterfell?"

"You are both women of power, maybe you can try by starting there. Maybe you can open up to her about your experiences in Essos, let her get to know you" he proposed.

She looked at him, with narrowed eyes, analyzing what he just said. Then, she turned her eyes to the flames again. "What about Jon?" she sighed.

"Lord Tyrion wasn't able to reach him this morning. Winterfell's maester said he was busy discussing some strategies on how to defeat the Night King with his brother and the Tarly boy"

"If he was discussing strategies, weren't we suppossed to be ther-" she complained, but stopped herself when realization dawned in her eyes. "Did you say Tarly boy?"

"Samwell Tarly, Your Grace. Randyll Tarly's eldest son. He's a sworn brother of the Night's Watch. They tell me he's close friends with Jon Snow" he explained.

The implications of what he just told her didn't escape her. Her queenly mask was slowly coming off. Varys could only look at her. Enthralled by the flames, she just stood still. The flames made her eyes shine in a beautiful and disturbing way.

"That will be all, Lord Varys" she said, never taking her eyes from the fire. "Thank you for your counsel".

He respectfully bowed and walked out of her chambers as fast as propriety allowed. She shouldn't be alone right now, he thought. When he arrived to the entrance of the Guest Keep, he told one of the Dothraki posted there "Go find Missandei of Naath. Tell her her Queen needs to speak to her".

He hoped Missandei's friendship and presence would act like a balm to the Dragon Queen's strong passions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was in the Kitchens, eating some hot broth, when a young maid came to him. He had asked his little birds to fly around the Wolves' castle, looking for anything that might be useful. Most of them came empty-handed. But this young maid, Darla, she was one of the good ones.

"M'lord, this is all I could find" she said as she handed him a piece of paper. "I tried to write as fast as I could" she explained.

Varys opened the piece of paper and read it, but he couldn't believe his eyes. He reread what Darla had written. "Where did you find this?"

"The chambers of that man from the Night's Watch. It was in an old book" the young maid looked at him with impatient eyes. "So, is it any good?"

"You have no idea, young girl" he told her as he gave her five gold dragons. At this, the young woman nodded and mouthed a "thank you" and left as fast as she could.

Now, the conversation between Bran Stark and Jon Snow made more sense. This changes everything, he thought. And his mind filled with those familiar doubts, but now they found a new partner in some treasonous thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Varys liked the view from the battlements. The view of the vast snowy fields surrounding Winterfell could be an image that brought him peace and comfort; but given the threat of eternal winter, the view made him as if were staring at the flames, like he did all those years ago. He let out a heavy sigh, the cold air making it visible. If only I could see things like I see this, he reflected, then maybe I could make my move.

He remembered Littlefinger, then. Always eager to make his move, one that drive him forward, closer to his goal. And because he's always so eager he leaves chaos in his wake. Chaos that loves to prey on others, he thought. He remembered what Lady Sansa has said about him during the welcoming feast. "He went to the Vale, to oversee some things regarding the food” Ned Stark's daughter has said. But he knew Petyr Baelish, he knew him very well, and it was not like him to miss such an opportunity like this. He's the master of chaos, and a Targaryen in Winterfell would be just the kind of situation he would like to exploit. Maybe Lady Sansa was telling the truth. But if it is the turth she was saying, that means she has power over him. And to have power over someone like Littlefinger...

His thoughts were interrumpted by the sound of someone approaching him. He turned around to find Ser Davos Seaworth. The man was a loyal and trusted advisor of Jon Snow. Maybe he can give me some insight of what's Winterfell like under the rule of Eddard Stark's children, he thought.

"Ser Davos" he greeted him with a light bow.

"Lord Varys" he said, with some surprise. "I'll say I didn't expect you to find out here. It's freezing cold"

"Just admiring what the North has to offer, ser" he replied, returning his eyes to vast fields covered in snow.

"Not a lot to admire, I'd say. But we don't get to see this much snow on the South, so I think there is some beauty in it" he commented.

"What brings you here? Like you said, it's freezing cold" he asked

"War council. We're trying to figure out how to make best use of the battlements and the high grounds. We must use any advantage we have" he answered.

"I'm not a military man, I do not understand the art of war" he admitted "but if there's a war council being held soon, let me know so I can inform our Queen"

Davos Seaworth turned his head to him when he said our Queen. He was one of the very few that knew that Jon Snow was no longer King in the North. Hopefully, it stays like that until the North warms up to Daenerys, he thought.

Just as he turned his head to him, he turned it back to the fields. But they didn't capture his attention, since he turned his head back at him again, his eyes narrowed. "May I ask you a question, Lord Varys?" He nodded in response. "Why do you serve Daenerys Targaryen?"

Varys smiled at the bold man. "She's not like any other ruler the Seven Kingdoms have seen" he offered. A nice, short and safe answer.

"No, she's not" he agreed. "She has dragons, but I guess that makes her like her ancestors"

"You're worried she might be like some of them? Like the worst of them?"

"Consider me a subject interested in his new Queen. You see, Lord Varys, while Jon and I were in Dragonstone, we didn't get the chance to know much about her" he replied

"A wasted opportunity, I know. I advised her to let her people know her. I believe that will bring peace of mind to many"

"Maybe. But northerners are tough, they're loyal to their own" he argued. A small laugh left his lips after he said this, it was as if he was remembering something. "You don't earn their trust easily. It took me a long time and a bloody battle for me to earn the trust of many around here".

"She will make a good Queen, ser Davos. You have my word"

Ser Davos chuckled at his answer. "Can I be honest with you, Lord Varys?"

"Always" he said, with a little bow

"It's not your word they need. Like you said, they don't know her, and for them to accept her would take time" he confided. "But time is something we don't have. I hope Queen Daenerys earns the North's trust. I really do" he sighed.

"It's what's best for the realm, dear ser" he assured him.

"And what if she doesn't? What happens then?" He had his narrowed eyes fixed on him.

"Let's hope she does earn their trust, ser Davos" he replied, the answer he really wanted to give him hidden in the words he said.

Davos Seaworth's narrowed eyes now widened. He seemed to understand what he meant to say. He took a deep breath while staring at the white snowed fields surrounding the castle, "Let's hope she does" he echoed. After a few moments of silent meditation, ser Davos turned to him once more. "Lord Varys" he said as a goodbye.

He just nodded. The words of the onion knight echoed in his mind. Whether someone sent him or not, one thing was clear. Daenerys wasn't wanted here. Not as Queen, anyways. The North seemed very content with Sansa Stark as Lady of Winterfell and Jon Snow as their King. A great pair, he thought, a most capable politician and a renowned warrior. He let out a long sigh. He knew what this meant. The Queen doesn't handle rejection very well, what happened at the Reach is testament of that, he reflected. He decided he had enough of the winter winds for one day and headed to the Great Keep, looking for the only person able to appease the people.

He walked across the courtyard, where many men, women and children old enough to fight were training. Some with sword, others with bow and arrow. There were even some with spears, being trained by Greyworm. As he walked, he wondered how many people would die fighting for the living. Let's just hope we win, otherwise it would've been all for nothing.

When he arrived at his destination, he took a deep breath to give himself some courage. Give some in order to get some, he reminded himself. That's what this is about. Information.

"Can I help you, m'lord?" a northern man, no more than three-and-twenty, asked him.

"Yes. I'd like to talk to Lady Stark" he replied. He could see the anxiety in the young man's eyes. Sansa Stark is not one to inspire fear. Something must've happened.

"Wait here, m'lord". After that, the young northman entered Lady Sansa's solar. A few minutes passed until the guard came out. "Lady Sansa is waiting for you inside, m'lord" the young man said with a light bow of his head.

As soon as the heavy wooden doors closed, Sansa Stark stood up. "Lord Varys, I didn't expect you to see you so soon" she said, not as the little lady he remembered from King's Landing, but as Lady of a great castle.

"Well, I'm afraid, my Lady, we weren't able to finish our conversation"

"I think we did" she said as she approached him. "You were very clear on your stance, Lord Varys, and I like to believe I was very clear on mine" she continued. "I think there's nothing left to discuss".

"Forgive me, Lady Sansa" he replied. "But I'm afraid it's not our last conversation that brought me here today".

"Then what is it that brought you here today, Lord Varys?" she asked, her face relaxed, but with ice in her eyes.

"Your family. And the future of Westeros" he stated.

And at that, Sansa Stark gave him her full attention.

#jonsa #jon x sansa #sansa x jon #Jon Snow #Sansa Stark #jonsa fandom #jonsa fanfiction #got #game of thrones #got fanfiction #game of thrones fanfic #my fanfiction #my writing #my stuff #till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old

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chicagoindiecritics · 5 years

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New from Every Movie Has a Lesson by Don Shanahan: EDITORIAL: Movies and the 9/11 effect

(Image: pathtoparadise.com)

EIGHTH EDITION: UPDATED SEPTEMBER 11, 2019– In an update to my annual editorial (after the original post on the 10th anniversary in 2011), I’ve got new movie inclusions in several sections, including the most recent section of faded and relaxed sensitivity in films. I plan to make this an annual post and study for at least until the 20th anniversary in 2021. (All poster images are courtesy of IMPAwards.com)

Never forget. There’s no doubt that every American over the age of 25 won’t soon forget where they were 18 years ago at 8:46AM on September 11, 2001. The world and our American lifestyle changed forever that day in more ways that we can measure. I know movies and cinema are trivial pieces of entertainment compared to the more important things in life, but movies have always been two-hour vacations and therapy sessions from life, even in the face of immense tragedy. Sometimes, we need movies to inspire us and help us remember the good in things, while still being entertained. In seventeen years, they too have changed.

I’m here for an editorial research piece on the anniversary of 9/11 to showcase a few movies, both serious and not-so-serious, that speak to that day whether as a tribute, remembrance, or example of how life has changed since that fateful day. Enjoy!

MOVIES THAT WERE OPENING THAT FRIDAY EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO

Call this a time capsule, but these were the notable movies that opened Friday, September 7, 2001 and Friday, September 14, 2001, the two Fridays surrounding 9/11. Such a different time, huh? Needless to say, few people were in the mood for a movie in those first weeks and the fall 2001 box office took quite a hit until the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone showed up in November 2001, followed by Ocean’s Eleven and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring that December.

The Musketeer (September 7th)

Soul Survivors (September 7th)

Rock Star (September 7th)

Hardball (September 14th)

The Glass House (September 14th)

All were box office bombs at the time. The Musketeer garnered a good bit of overseas earnings and Hardball got some of the best reviews of Keanu Reeves’s post-Matrix career and grew to be a DVD hit. Still, talk about bad timing.

EXAMPLES OF 2001-2002 MOVIES CHANGED BECAUSE OF 9/11

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Spider-Man— Many of you may remember seeing this teaser for the big comic book blockbuster before it was pulled post-9/11. (New remastered video in 2019)

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Donnie Darko— Suggested by Feelin’ Film Facebook Discussion Group contributor Josh Powers. Released months before 9/11, few remember how much this film was somewhat buried and forced to become an underground cult favorite due to a pivotal moment involving a horrific plane crash.

Lilo and Stitch— See a side-by-side video clip of differences in Imgur. The trivia notes behind it are explained on IMDb.

Collateral Damage— The Arnold Schwarzenegger terrorism movie had its release date bumped and terrorist overtones mellowed down. (trailer)

City by the Sea— The production on this Robert DeNiro/James Franco thriller was moved from New York to Los Angeles in July 2001, dodging the terrorism attacks that would have threatened their home Tribeca studios. (trailer)

Sidewalks of New York–– Edward Burns intermingled love story movie was bumped to November and had to have its posters changed. See right here on the left for an example. (trailer)

Men in Black II— The original scripted ending of the movie was scripted to have the World Trade Center towers open up to release a barrage of UFOs. (trailer)

Serendipity and Zoolander— Both movies had shots of the WTC digitally removed from the skylines of their finished films before they hit theaters that fall.

The Time Machine— Had its December 2001 release bumped to March because of a potentially sensitive scene of meteor shower over New York (which it cut). (trailer)

Big Trouble— It too had its nuclear bomb-centered plot cause a release delay well into 2002. The delay didn’t help this already awful movie. (trailer)

MOVIES ABOUT 9/11 ITSELF

September 11 (2002)– International directors from around the world, including Ken Loach, Mira Nair, and future Oscar winner Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, made a two-hour anthology of short films showing creative expressions of other cultures and their reactions to the tragedy.

United 93 (2006)– Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum director Paul Greengrass took an unknown cast and directed a harrowing real-time account of the flight that fought back. Hard to watch, but undeniably powerful without exploiting the tragedy. (trailer)

World Trade Center (2006)– Conspiracy specialist Oliver Stone turns off the urge to dig into his usual musings and delivers an incredibly humble, respectful, and understated (words that hardly ever describe an Oliver Stone movie) true story of the last two men (Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena) rescued alive at Ground Zero. Worth every moment to see and a great tribute to the first responders and their families. (trailer)

9/11 (2017)– I think we all knew a day would come where some hack film was going to come around and exploit the tragedy that is the 2001 terrorist attacks. That award goes to Charlie Sheen, Whoopi Goldberg, and director Martin Guigui’s straight-to-VOD trash heap. Sheen, a noted conspiracy theorist on 9/11, took it upon himself to make a glamour project stepping on history. Do not waste your time with this film.

MOVIES WITH PROMINENT 9/11 CONNECTIONS

The Guys (2002)– One of the first reactionary films to 9/11 came from Focus Features in 2002 and starred Anthony LaPaglia and Sigourney Weaver. Based on Anne Nelson’s heartfelt play, LaPaglia plays a fire captain who lost eight men on 9/11 and Weaver plays the editor who helps him write eulogies for the fallen. The film is only available on disc from Amazon. (trailer)

WTC View (2005)– Gallows humor bubbles to the surface in this off-kilter indie romance from Brian Sloan about a SoHo man who placed an ad to find a new roommate and September 10th and now lives through a more difficult and trying landscape. (trailer)

Reign Over Me (2007)– In a rare dramatic turn, Adam Sandler plays a fictional wayward man who lost his wife and daughters on 9/11 and tailspins through life fiver years later when an old college friend (Don Cheadle) tries to help keep him from being committed to a psychiatric care. (trailer)

Remember Me (2010)– Billed as a coming-of-age film starring Twilight star Robert Pattinson, it features a fictitious family affected by the tragedy, including the fall of the WTC. Most critics found the 9/11 connections exploitative and offensive. (trailer)

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)– Speaking of exploitative, the Tom Hanks/Sandra Bullock Oscar nominee from this past year definitely rubbed more than a few audiences the wrong way in using 9/11 as a backdrop to a fictional family tragedy. Critics (including this one) clamored that if you’re going to bring 9/11 to the big screen, use a real story. (trailer) (my full review)

September Morning (2017)– Independent writer/director Ryan Frost crafted a small drama about five college freshman staying up all night after 9/11 weighing the impact it will have on their present and future. The film won a youth jury award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival. (trailer)

MOVIES ABOUT THE WAR ON TERROR

In the decade since September 11, 2011, our largest response as a nation to the terrorism of that day has been a pair of wars overseas in the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan. The “war on terror” has quickly grown into a ripe orchard for possible movie storylines.

Home of the Brave (2006)–Rocky producer Irwin Winkler earns the credit for the first mainstream Hollywood movie depicting the Iraqi War and the initial soldiers returning home to re-acclimate to society. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, and Jessica Biel. (trailer)

The Hurt Locker (2008)– Of course, the best-of-the-best is the 2009 Best Picture winner from Kathryn Bigelow starring Jeremy Renner as a driven, yet dark Iraqi bomb specialist. Its quality needs no introduction. (trailer)

Grace is Gone (2007)– In the Audience Award winner of the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, typical gender roles are reversed when John Cusack plays a homefront father (in my opinion, the best he’s ever acted) who has to find the best way to tell his two daughters that their soldier mother was killed in Iraq. This movie is “guy-cry” level brilliant. (trailer)

Rendition (2007)– Jake Gyllenhaal, Reese Witherspoon, and Meryl Streep get together for a movie calling out the wrongs of detainment, interrogation, and torture. (trailer)

The Kingdom (2007)– Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper, and Jason Bateman investigate a bombing and throw down in the streets of Riyadh. (trailer)

Lions for Lambs (2007)– Robert Redford delivers a three point-of-view discourse on U.S. war affairs before home and abroad with the help of Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep. (trailer)

In the Valley of Elah (2007)– Crash director Paul Haggis leads Tommy Lee Jones (in an amazing Oscar-nominated performance) and Susan Sarandon as parents investigating with a local detective (Charlize Theron) the disappearance of their AWOL son returning home from Iraq. (trailer)

Body of Lies (2008)– Ridley Scott’s fictional take on the CIA’s involvement in preventing Jordanian terrorism starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. (trailer)

Stop-Loss (2008)– Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt play three young Texas schoolmates who are finally home from overseas but are forced back via the stop-loss clause. (trailer)

The Messenger (2009)– Woody Harrelson was nominated for an Oscar for his role as a U.S. Army Casualty Notification Team officer mentoring recent veteran (Ben Foster) on the uniquely difficult job of informing families the bad news. (trailer)

Taking Chance (2009)– Along the same bringing-bad-news-home lines is this gem of a HBO film starring Kevin Bacon (like Cusack earlier, in arguably his best performance as an actor) as a desk officer who never saw combat but takes on the duty of escorting a young fallen soldier’s body back to his old hometown. Even though this wasn’t in theaters, it is outstanding and worth your time on DVD. (trailer)

Brothers (2009)– Jake Gyllenhaal takes care of his older brother’s wife (Natalie Portman) while he (Tobey Maguire) is declared MIA in Afghanistan, from director Jim Sheridan. (trailer)

Dear John and The Lucky One (2010 and 2012)– These two adaptations of Nicholas Sparks romance novels briefly touches on the War on Terror through Channing Tatum and Zac Efron’s lead characters’ return home to romance. (trailer and trailer)

Green Zone (2010)–Director Paul Greengrass followed United 93 with his Bourne series star Matt Damon in this taut and marginally-dramatized account of the early unsuccessful searches and the possible cover-up of Baghdad’s supposed stores of weapons of mass destruction. (trailer)

Restrepo (2010)– The highly acclaimed National Geographic documentary film follows a one-year look at the real men of the platoon embattled in the deadliest fortified valley of Afghanistan. (trailer)

Act of Valor (2012)– Disney pumped up the military with this fictional anti-terrorism film using active duty Navy SEALs. Coming out after the death of Osama bin Laden, this was a welcome and well-promoted hero picture and recruitment reel. (trailer)

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)– The Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow made a film about the SEAL Team 6 men and their story of taking down Osama bin Laden. The film was my #1 movie on my “10 Best” list for 2012. (trailer) (my full review)

Lone Survivor (2013)– Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) directed an outstanding and patriotic film based on the Afghanistan saga of Marcus Luttrell starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster, and Emile Hirsch that echoes another true-life story from the ongoing War on Terror. Very good movie! (trailer) (my full review)

A Most Wanted Man (2014)– Spy novelist John LeCarre’s multi-layered 2008 novel about the world of inter-agency espionage happening in Hamburg, Germany, the same city where the 9/11 conspirators hatched their plans, is an excellent and different post-9/11 film with an international flair and flavor. It will also be remembered as one of the last performances of Philip Seymour Hoffman, who was phenomenal in the film. (trailer) (my full review)

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)– This modern reboot or update of the famed Tom Clancy character, now played by Chris Pine, roots his pre-spy origins in the aftermath of 9/11 and the War on Terror that followed. (trailer)

American Sniper (2014)– Clint Eastwood’s Best Picture nominee war drama about the real-life story of the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (played by Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper) went on to become the highest grossing film of 2014 (north of $350 million). Kyle’s journey from the heartland to the front lines was spurred by a sense of duty and patriotism that started from the attacks of 9/11. This is, by far, the most high profile movie to date to feature the War on Terror directly correlating 9/11. (trailer) (my full review)

Good Kill (2015)– On the smaller side, but just as solid with warfare and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is this under-seen film which had a limited theatrical release during the summer of 2015. Andrew Niccol (Lord of War, Gattaca, The Truman Show) shifted his focus to the War on Terror by showcasing a Las Vegas base of drone pilots dealing with the ramification of their actions and the war being waged on their screens and with their joystick controls. (trailer) (my full review)

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)– Director Michael Bay’s slanted look at the September 11, 2012 embassy attacks that have become a political firebrand since certainly qualifies to make this list. (trailer) (my full review)

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)– Tina Fey shed her comedic image for a heavyish war drama loosely based the true story of Afghanistan/Pakistan television journalist Kim Barker. (trailer)

Snowden (2016)– Renowned politicized filmmaker Oliver Stone brought his brush of dramatic license to the story of whistleblowing former spy Edward Snowden, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The paranoia of the post-9/11 digital age was the mission field for Snowden and many other young men and women who sought the security and counterterrorism industries. (trailer) (full review)

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016)– A company of soldiers who lost their commanding officer in Iraq are making a victory tour of press dates and public appearances when the reflections of the title character (newcomer Joe Alwyn) fill the day. Ang Lee’s film felt ten years too late and was not well received. (trailer) (my full review)

Thank You For Your Service (2015) and Thank You For Your Service (2017)– This popular conversation sentence was the title of two different works. In 2015, Tom Donahue’s documentary opened eyes to the shoddy mental health governance for modern veterans and made waves that changed actual policies. The 2017 feature film borrows inspiration from David Finkel’s 2013 nonfiction bestseller dealing with the PTSD topic of returning Iraqi tour soldiers adjusting to civilian life. Miles Teller is the headliner and is joined by Haley Bennett, Beulah Koale, Joe Cole, and Amy Schumer. (trailer) (trailer)

Megan Leavey (2017)– 2017 was a busy year for War on Terror-connected films with five new entries. Taglined “based on the true story about a Marine’s best friend,” Megan Leavey stars Kate Mara as the soldier leader of a bomb-searching pooch on deployment in Iraq. Touching film! (trailer)

The Wall (2017)– Nocturnal Animals Golden Globe nominee Aaron Taylor-Johnson and emerging WWE movie star John Cena play two soldiers pinned down by an Iraqi sniper in a single-setting thriller from action specialist Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow). (trailer)

War Machine (2017)– Enough time has passed now in 2017 where the War on Terror has reached a point of being a target of satire. Animal Kingdom and The Rover director David Michod puts a witty spin on things creating a fictionalized account of U.S. General Stanley McChrystal with Brad Pitt in the lead. Netflix is the exclusive carrier of this one. (trailer)

Last Flag Flying (2017)– The last and best of the 2017 bunch is Richard Linklater’s dramedy about three old Vietnam veterans (Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, and Laurence Fishburne) who come together when one of their sons is killed in Iraq and coming home for burial. The excellent acting trio and Linklater’s writing (adapted from Darryl Ponicsan’s novel, a spiritual sequel to his The Last Detail) deliver touching brevity and sharp commentary on the echoes of war across generations. (trailer) (my full review)

A Private War (2018)— Documentary filmmaker Matthew Heineman made his feature film debut with a biopic on British photojournalist Marie Colvin, who made her stops through the hellfire of Iraq and Afghanistan in her storied career. Rosamund Pike was snubbed for an Oscar nomination that year. (trailer) (my full review)

Vice (2018)— Speaking of biopics, writer/director Adam McKay brought his machete for satire to the life of former Vice President Dick Cheney. The film dove deep into the manipulated machinations from Cheney that engineered the War on Terror during the Bush administration. While not as good as The Big Short, Vice did earn eight Oscar nominations (winning one for makeup), including Best Picture and Best Actor for Christian Bale in the leading role. (trailer) (my full review)

Official Secrets (2019)— When invading Iraq was on the table to push the war to the ground, the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Tony Blair were lockstep next to the U.S. on seeking United Nations approval. The true story of whistleblower Katharine Gun unearthed secrets that led to questioning the war’s legality before it even began. This is a nice step-up for Keira Knightley. (trailer) (my full review)

The Report (2019)— Not yet widely released in 2019 after huge buzz at the Sundance Film Festival, frequent Steven Soderbergh screenwriting collaborator Scott Z. Burns made his directorial debut with this searing docudrama of the use of torture by American agencies during the War on Terror. Check out the film’s trailer:

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MOVIES ABOUT THE CHANGES IN AMERICAN LIFE (BOTH SERIOUS AND NOT-SO-SERIOUS)

25th Hour (2002)– New Yorker Spike Lee was quick to not shy away from the post-9/11 pulse of New York City following Edward Norton’s character’s last night of debauchery and unfinished business before going to prison. Filled with scathing social commentary and visual reminders of 9/11 and Ground Zero, its amazing opening credits sequence alone set the tone as only Spike can. (trailer)

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Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)– Documentary maverick Michael Moore’s slam at the handling of 9/11 and the war on terror became one of the most successful box office documentaries of all-time. (trailer)

Sorry, Haters (2005)– Robin Wright played a professional woman who receives conversation and unexpected interaction with an Arab New York cab driver in this IFC production. (foreign trailer)

An Inconvenient Truth (2006)– By contrast, in a small snippet and computer graphic on melting glaciers in this Oscar-winning documentary, Al Gore lets us know that half of Greenland or Antarctica’s melted ice would put New York, including Ground Zero, underwater within the next 50 years. (trailer)

The Terminal (2004)– Airports are now covered in bureaucratic red tape. Heaven forbids, you’re not from America. (trailer)

Anger Management (2003)– Showed us that you can get kicked off a plane now for just about anything. (trailer)

Soul Plane (2004)– Then again, come on, guys. Air travel can still be cool, even with the new security rules. (trailer)

Snakes on a Plane (2006)– OK, maybe not so much… (trailer)

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)– You’ve got to hate racial profiling as much as you equally love a good parody. (trailer)

Iron Man (2008)– Marvel’s steely hero had his Vietnam origin story conveniently and modernly flopped for an Afghanistan-connected one. (trailer)

Bridesmaids (2011)– Now, that’s how an Air Marshall gets down! (trailer)

Source Code (2011)– Our fear of catastrophes on planes can easily be translated to trains as well. (trailer) (my full review)

The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2013)– For a serious look at the warped view of Muslim citizens post-9/11, take a look at Mira Nair’s dramatic thriller about a young Pakistani man (newcomer Riz Ahmed) who is successful on Wall Street but viewed differently through profiling after 9/11. (trailer)

The Fifth Estate (2013)– The film story of the WikiLeaks of Julian Assange carry a loose connection to the changed post-9/11 landscape of security and more. (trailer)

Boyhood (2014)– Richard Linklater’s huge biographical opus was filmed over the course of 12 years with the same cast growing up and aging to tell their family story. The film starts in 2002, where the incidents of 2001 are fresh on the minds of the characters and discussed openly during the first year sequence of the journey. Later on, political mentions of Bush, Obama, and the War on Terror make it into a reflective conversation as well. (trailer) (my full review)

Won’t You Be My Neighbor (2018)– A key moment in the extraordinary Fred Rogers documentary chronicled when a retired Rogers was brought back for a special televised message to young viewers about reacting to the 9/11 tragedy that played on-screen for so many viewers. It’s a touching historical moment. (trailer) (my full review)

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MEMORABLE PAST IMAGES OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN MOVIES

Sometimes, all it takes is the camera making a fleeting, yet memorable, glance at those beautiful and now-gone skyscrapers to immediately remind us of a different time. The WTC towers have been shown in innumerable establishing shots. We’ll highlight some great ones. Beginning with the closing credits to New Yorker Martin Scorsese’s 2002 film Gangs of New York, here’s a great montage of cinematic views of the WTC from various pre-2001 movies.

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Superman (1978)– Even a passing fly-by over “Metropolis” feels different.

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Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)– Tell me this clip didn’t just go from cute to eerie to sad. Wonderful then, but different now.

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Godspell (1973)— Submitted by friend-of-the-page and larger-fan-of-musicals-than-me Josh Powers, enjoy this dance number from the summery musical filmed and completed before the skyscraper’s ribbon-cutting.

King Kong (1976)– While it may not match the iconic 1933 image of the original ape towering on top of the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center plays a big role in the 1976 remake starring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange. (trailer)

Independence Day (1996), Deep Impact (1998), Armageddon (1998), and The Day After Tomorrow (2004)– These all constitute the prominent disaster movies that leave New York (and, in three cases, the WTC) in destructive shambles.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Godzilla (1998), Cloverfield (2004), War of the Worlds (2005), and Watchmen (2009). Kind of not so entertaining for few seconds anymore, huh? See for yourself. Here’s a montage of NYC movie destruction:

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MOVIES THAT FEEL DIFFERENT IN THE POST-9/11 WORLD

I don’t know about you but a lot of movies just don’t resonate or feel the same as they did before September 11th. We’ve changed and the perception has changed. For some movies, their message and impact is only made stronger (in good ways and bad) since 9/11. In other cases, what was entertaining then doesn’t feel so right anymore.

Airplane! (1980)– Farce or not (and still funny to this day), we could never get away with anything that happens on an airplane from that movie now. (trailer)

Passenger 57 (1992)–Let alone this movie… (trailer)

Executive Decision (1996)– …and this movie… (trailer)

Turbulence (1997)– …and this movie… (trailer)

Pushing Tin (1999)– …and probably this movie too… (trailer)

True Lies (1994)– Slammed even then for its depiction of Arab terrorists, it likely has picked up a little more egg on its face. Adding to its burial, the movie hasn’t been released on any physical media format since 1999, which includes zero Blu-ray editions in its history (factoid from Josh Powers). Do you think 20th Century Fox wants that movie to go away or what? (trailer)

The Siege (1998)– This frightening martial law thriller with Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, and Bruce Willis makes True Lies look like G.I. Joe starring Ken from the Barbie dolls toy line. Scary and eerily prophetic in its over-the-top terrorism and bombing scenarios. (trailer)

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)– Though fictional with Pittsburgh standing in as Gotham City, the New York imagery and parallels occurring during its terrorist takeover led by Tom Hardy’s Bane have eerie 9/11-inspired ramifications. (trailer) (my full review)

Syriana (2005)– George Clooney won an Oscar, but the touchy subjects of torture, terrorism, and the oil industry evoke a little dose of fear. (trailer)

Munich (2005)– The Black September assassination of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics and the Mossad’s reaction was probably the last time before 9/11 that terrorism made worldwide live media headlines. (trailer)

Arlington Road (1999)– While this resonates more as a comparison to Oklahoma City-style domestic terrorism, the Jeff Bridges/Tim Robbins underappreciated thriller is no less scary now than then. (trailer)

Fight Club (1999)– Watching Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt/Edward Norton) destroy New York’s credit district is another example of domestic terrorism and destruction that rings a little louder post-9/11.

The Sum of All Fears (2002)– Many people found the Super Bowl bomb plot far too soon to see those images just a year removed from 9/11. (trailer)

V for Vendetta (2006)– Urban terrorism in London via a Guy Fawkes fan resonates a little different for a public scare on our side of the Atlantic. (trailer)

Courage Under Fire (1995)– Our first trip to Iraq foreshadows a lot of the equal futility, bravery, and loss experienced in our second trip… (trailer)

Jarhead (2005)– …especially when told from the true account of a disillusioned soldier who was there. (trailer)

Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)– The same foreshadowing can be made out of our 1980’s Cold War involvement on the side of Afghanistan versus the Soviet Union as outlined by a gem of a Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman film. To think that we could have stuck around and cleaned the place up before they became our enemy. (trailer)

Rambo III (1988)– Speaking of an American fighting on the anti-communism side of the Afghans! (trailer)

Air Force One (1997)– Not that George W. Bush or Barack Obama ever channeled Harrison Ford here, but don’t you now root a little harder for a take charge President… (trailer)

The Patriot (2000)– … or a flag-carrying American hero from 230+ years ago… (trailer)

Pearl Harbor (2001)– …or the last great American tragedy that galvanized a nation and sent us to war. (trailer)

MOVIES SINCE 2001 THAT RENEW THE AMERICAN SPIRIT

These examples (as well as the aforementioned World Trade Center) will get your patriotic heartstrings going and boost your down spirit.

The Last Castle (2001)– Opening just over a month after the tragedy, the military and flag-waving patriotism of Robert Redford’s underrated drama undeniably stirs you. (trailer)

Behind Enemy Lines (2001)– Leave it to Gene Hackman and Owen Wilson (of all people) to win macho patriotic points for loosely re-enacting the famous pilot Scott O’Grady Bosnian prisoner escape story. (trailer)

Black Hawk Down (2001)– Released during the 2001-2002 awards season, Ridley Scott’s powerful depiction of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu showed the uncompromising courage of U.S. Army Ranger and Delta Force soldiers at a time when our current soldiers were likely preparing for going overseas to similar urban warfare. (trailer)

We Were Soldiers (2002)– Mel Gibson may be embroiled in unpopular headlines now, but his 2002 action-drama from his Braveheart writer about America’s first official military action in Vietnam is as powerful and it is impressive. Like Black Hawk Down, it added to the heroic mystique of the American soldier, even if it was set in the past. If you don’t cry watching those wives deliver those first casualty letters, there’s something wrong with you. (trailer)

Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004)– New York’s #1 resident superhero always fights for a way for the citizen of the city to stand up together. I suppose you can throw in the pair from the reboot (The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2) for some of the same reasons. (trailer)

Gangs of New York (2002)– Martin Scorsese is a quintessential New Yorker and his mid-1800’s history piece (while definitely violent) was a love letter to the city’s great history. (trailer)

Elf (2003)– Will Ferrell put the Big Apple back in the Christmas cheer. (trailer)

Ladder 49 (2004)– Though it wasn’t set in New York, you can’t help but think of the 343 NYFD men and women that lost their lives on September 11th and ardent first-responders when you watch Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta as macho Baltimore firemen. (trailer)

Million Dollar Baby (2004)– America loves a good underdog story and Clint Eastwood gave the public a heck of a good one that went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture. (trailer)

Miracle (2004)– What better way to boost American spirit than to relive our greatest Olympic triumph. (trailer)

National Treasure (2004)– How about a history lesson to make you feel good about our great country? Why not? (trailer)

Hitch (2005)– Will Smith brought popular romance back to the City That Never Sleeps. (trailer) He would capture hearts for a different reason the next year with The Pursuit of Happyness. (trailer)

We Are Marshall (2006)– Another real-life airplane tragedy sets the stage for an amazing story of athletic and community rebirth. One of the most underrated football movies out there. (trailer)

Live Free or Die Hard (2007)– Why not give NY’s best bad-ass cop a chance to save the nation’s capital? (trailer)

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)– Last but not least, you can’t get more patriotic and underdog than this skinny guy from Brooklyn transformed into a red-white-and-blue super soldier. He followed it up this past summer saving New York in The Avengers. (trailer and trailer) (full review and my full review)

American Sniper (2014)– The tremendous reception Clint Eastwood’s film had to become the highest grossing movie of the year made Chris Kyle a household name and heavily amplified a previously dormant red-blooded (and “red state-d”) surge of patriotism and soldier appreciation. (trailer) (my full review)

Sully (2016)– Both the incredible true story of Flight 1549 from 2009 and Clint Eastwood’s respectful retelling featuring Tom Hanks as Capt. Chelsea “Sully” Sullenberger remind audiences of the strength of New York City. There’s a great line in the movie where someone is trying to thank Sullenberger and says that it’s been a long time since the city has had good news about anything like the “Miracle on the Hudson,” especially about a plane. (trailer) (my full review)

Patriots Day (2016) and Stronger (2018)– The way the city of Boston rallied from another terrorist attack on American soil during its marathon has key inspirational value. It’s too bad the film was the Mark Wahlberg show rather than a well-rounded ensemble approach. (trailer) (my full Patriots Day review) (trailer) (my full Stronger review)

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018)– Much like the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield web-slinger movies that came before, Tom Holland’s take on Peter Parker is a born-and-raised New York kid that supports and protects his neighborhood and city from dangers foreign and domestic. His protection, joined by fellow New Yorker Doctor Strange, expands with the united effort with The Avengers when Thanos shows up in Avengers: Infinity War. One part down on that with one to go in the summer of 2019. (trailer) (my full Spider-Man: Homecoming review) (trailer) (my Avengers: Infinity War review)

Only the Brave (2017)– Just as with Ladder 49 thirteen years before it, you can’t beat the sympathy generated by the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice of firefighters. Forest fires aren’t terrorists, but the feels are all there. (trailer)

The 15:17 to Paris (2018)– Four years after American Sniper, Clint Eastwood dipped his filmmaking brush in the hero worship paint again to tell another true story. The wrinkle of this one is that Eastwood called upon the actual heroes that thwarted the 2015 Thayls train attack to star in their own movie recreation. Results were mixed, but the Eastwood prestige is there. (trailer) (my full review)

THE UP-AND-DOWN PULSE OF CONTINUED SENSITIVITY AND/OR CENSORSHIP TO 9/11 SIMILARITIES

For 2014 and going forward, this is a new section I’m adding to this study. Now that enough time has passed since 2001, I’m beginning to notice that movies are starting to go back to some of the images and themes of violence, destruction, and terrorism that were hands off for so many years after 9/11. Like all history, even 9/11 will fade. What we were offended by after the horrific incidents have returned, in some cases, to be more tolerated and even acceptable and celebrated again. Sure enough, there are plenty who vividly remember 2001’s events and images and are quick to point out when something is in possible poor taste. That shaky barometer has led to some allusions and reminders to 9/11 and some flat-out censorship changes and corrections. Some get flak and slaps on the wrist while some don’t. Here are some examples in recent years.

Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down (2013)– Both competing White House takeover films from 2013, one from Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) and one from Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) had a bit of split audience reaction to their violent and terrorist content. Some rooted and cheered as if it was the 80’s again and America is always going to win. Others were not so keen or ready to see the White House become a target and battleground, even if it was just a movie. Between the two, Olympus Has Fallen, the R-rated and more severe one of the two, was the bigger hit. In a way, no one batted an eye. (trailer and trailer) (my full Olympus Has Fallen review)

Man of Steel (2013)– Despite being one of the most all-American heroes around, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel gave Superman a very serious tone that, in a way, can’t be included on the category before this one of movies that renew the American spirit. Also, many people were not very pleased with the immense city-wide destruction scenes of Metropolis during the film’s climax. Even though Chicago was the filming location of a fictitious comic book city, there were staunch critics who had a problem with huge office buildings and skyscrapers in very 9/11-esque rubble. Its 2016 sequel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice mildly addressed that a city can’t be destroyed without consequences, even on Superman’s watch in a colorful comic book setting. (my full review)

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Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)– Much like Man of Steel, the third Michael Bay Transformers movie features a great deal of city-wide destruction (again, in Chicago) that rubbed a few people the wrong way. (trailer) (my full review)

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)– Throw in the terrorist label for the villain and his bombings and the big San Francisco starship wreck during this film’s ending action that was clearly a larger scale to a passenger jet taking out buildings. (trailer) (my full review)

Godzilla (2014)– Add the King of the Monsters to the list of more city destruction that raised an eyebrow for some. (trailer) (my full review)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)– Outside of this string of modern and accepted examples of urban attacks and destruction, is the minor amount of hot water the makers of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got it for a promotional poster that had an exploding skyscraper that cut too close to 9/11 similarities. The study pulled the poster and had to apologize. Censorship and sensitivity won that argument and mistake. (trailer)

The Walk (2015)– A very big test to peoples’ memories of the World Trade Center will be coming in the Fall of 2015 with Robert Zemeckis’s film The Walk, the true story of the French high-wire artist Philippe Petit’s quest to tightrope walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1974 (previously featured in the Academy Award nominated 2008 documentary Man on Wire). Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the film will prominently display, thanks to Zemeckis’s stunning use of CGI, a tremendous amount of imagery of the two lost skyscrapers. Even though it’s a period piece to a non-turbulent time, no film since 2001 has attempted to show this much of those building. Public reaction was mixed and the film was not a box office hit. (trailer) (full review)

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)– I guess it’s OK for patriotic mass city destruction again. London gets it worse than New York, though. (trailer) (full review)

Ghostbusters (2016)– Well, New York was safe for at least a month anyway between Independence Day: Resurgence‘s release and the new reboot (which conveniently made sure its city destruction in Times Square and other places be easy to erase). Not far behind was the fictional Suicide Squad and its over-the-city halo of supposed death. (trailer) (my full review)

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Rampage (2018)– Larger in size than the old World Trade Centers used to be, Chicago’s Willis Tower, the former Sears Tower and tallest building in the world, was the targeted collapsed skyscraper spectacle of choice in the Brad Payton/Dwayne Johnson live-action video game adaptation. Monsters aren’t terrorists, but the imagery hits close as the Willis Tower was one of many skyscrapers across the country evacuated on 9/11 out of fear of becoming another target. See the collapse clip above. (my full review)

I hope everyone enjoyed this little (OK, large) retrospective about the impact of 9/11 in movies for the last 18 years and counting. Take some time this coming weekend to appreciate the freedoms we have the people fighting to keep them for us. Support your troops and first responders and, again, NEVER FORGET!

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we-are-what-they-grow-beyond · 5 years

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lol here are my globes predictions for 2019 if anyone wants to laugh at how wrong I will be:

these opinions are purely my own, please feel free to roast them

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Will win: “A Star Is Born”

Should win: “Black Panther”

Other contender: “BlacKkKlansman”

[ i lowkey didn’t like a star is born other than the surprise of gaga, but it will definitely scoop up a few awards ]

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

Will win: Lady Gaga (“A Star Is Born”)

Should win: Glenn Close (“The Wife”)

Other contender: Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Will win: Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”)

Should win: Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”)

Other contender: John David Washington (“BlacKkKlansman”)

[ if Bradley Cooper wins i will riot ]

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Will win: “The Favourite”

Should win: “Crazy Rich Asians”

Other contender: “Green Book”

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Will win: Olivia Colman (“The Favourite”)

Should win: Olivia Colman (“The Favourite”)

Other contender: Constance Wu (“Crazy Rich Asians”)

[ i can’t wait for the rest of 2019 when the US realises they’ve been sleeping on Olivia Colman, i would die for her. ]

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Will win: Viggo Mortensen (“Green Book”)

Should win: Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Mary Poppins Returns”)

Other contender: Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Mary Poppins Returns”)

[ maybe Lin shouldn’t win but i love him ok ]

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

Will win: Claire Foy (”First Man”)

Should win: Claire Foy (”First Man”)

Other contender: Regina King (“If Beale Street Could Talk”)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

Will win: Mahershala Ali (“Green Book”)

Should win: Timothee Chalamet (“Beautiful Boy”)

Other contender: Adam Driver (“BlacKkKlansman”)

Best Motion Picture – Animated

Will win: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

Should win: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

Other contender: “Incredibles 2”

[ If literally nothing else I like wins it’s fine as long as into the spiderverse gets something, my son Miles deserves it lol ]

Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language

Will win: “Roma”

Should win: “Roma”

Other contender: “Girl”

[ Alfonso really out here snatching all our weaves again huh ]

Best Director – Motion Picture

Will win: Alfonso Cuaron (“Roma”)

Should win: Alfonso Cuaron (“Roma”)

Other contender: Spike Lee (“BlacKkKlansman”)

[ Again, if Bradley wins this i will riot. People like Spike and Alfonso have been out there doing the lord’s work for years and then Bradley just decides he can direct too? I don’t think so bro. ]

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

Will win: Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara (“The Favourite”)

Should win: Barry Jenkins (“If Beale Street Could Talk”)

Other contender: Alfonso Cuaron (“Roma”)

[ Barry Jenkins is a genius pls don’t do him dirty globes ]

Best Original Score – Motion Picture

Will win: Ludwig Göransson (“Black Panther”)

Should win: Ludwig Göransson (“Black Panther”)

Other contender: Marc Shaiman (“Mary Poppins Returns”)

Best Original Song – Motion Picture

Will win: “Shallow” (“A Star Is Born”)

Should win: “Shallow” (“A Star Is Born”)

Other contender: “All the Stars” (“Black Panther”)

[ i really did wrong by my boy Troye by not including him here but i just don’t think it’s gonna happen for him I'm sorry ]

Best Television Series – Drama

Will win: “Killing Eve”

Should win: “Killing Eve”

Other contender: “Bodyguard”

[ Honestly I think we all just want to see more Sandra Oh, but also any opportunity for Phoebe Waller-Bridge to emerge is an opportunity worth taking in my books. ]

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama

Will win: Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”)

Should win: Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”)

Other contender: Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

[ Eve Polastri. I think that’s enough justification. ]

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama

Will win: Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”)

Should win: Richard Madden (“Bodyguard”)

Other contender: Stephan James (“Homecoming”)

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Will win: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)

Should win: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)

Other contender: “Barry” (HBO)

[ I honestly don’t know if the critics are going to let The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel crew sweep the awards season again this year, but i hope they do, because the whole Catskills sequence deserves every accolade in itself, and also Rachel Brosnahan is quietly brilliant. ]

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Will win: Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)

Should win: Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)

Other contender: Alison Brie (“Glow”)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Will win: Bill Hader (“Barry”)

Should win: Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)

Other contender: Sacha Baron Cohen (“Who Is America?”)

[ If Donald doesn’t win after that Teddy Perkins episode I’ll be very disappointed tbh ]

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Will win: “Sharp Objects” (HBO)

Should win: “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (FX)

Other contender: “A Very English Scandal” (Amazon)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Will win: Amy Adams (“Sharp Objects”)

Should win: Laura Dern (“The Tale”)

Other contender: Regina King (“Seven Seconds”)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Will win: Benedict Cumberbatch (“Patrick Melrose”)

Should win: Darren Criss (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)

Other contender: Hugh Grant (“A Very English Scandal”)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Will win: Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)

Should win: Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)

Other contender: Thandie Newton (“Westworld”)

[ Alex Borstein as Susie Meyerson is a gift ]

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Will win: Henry Winkler (“Barry”)

Should win: Ben Whishaw (“A Very English Scandal”)

Other contender: Edgar Ramirez (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)

fin. thank you.

#golden globes #golden globes predictions #gg 2019

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aion-rsa · 3 years

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Star Wars Fans Create What If? Scenarios That Completely Change the Galaxy

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

“What if Darth Plagueis was a light sleeper?” journalist Charlie Ashby responded on Twitter to the question “What If?” It’s a stunning pitch for an alternate Star Wars timeline, brilliant in its simplicity but with major implications for the galaxy far, far away.

Let’s think about Plagueis’ alternate sleeping habits for a second. Were Plagueis a light sleeper, Palpatine probably wouldn’t have been able to murder him in his slumber, which would have likely led to Plagueis killing the future Emperor before he even had a chance to become Supreme Chancellor in The Phantom Menace. This means Plagueis would have been the Dark Lord of the Sith in charge throughout the Prequel Trilogy. Would Plagueis have next taken Maul as his apprentice, sparking a chain of events that led to Plagueis or Maul becoming Emperor? Without Palpatine to manipulate the midi-chlorians, would Anakin have been born? Would there BE a Skywalker Saga at all?

Ashby’s is just one of the many pitches currently being circulated on Twitter, thanks to a prompt from The Star Wars Underworld handle that reads: “If Lucasfilm created a ‘Star Wars: What If…?” series and asked YOU to come up with an alternative scenario in the Star Wars universe base an episode on, what would you choose?”

With Marvel’s What If? currently exploring alternative scenarios set within the MCU on Disney+, Star Wars fans didn’t waste any time dreaming up their own takes, some of which lead to really interesting possibilities.

What if Leia had been raised on Tatooine and Luke on Alderan? https://t.co/zYUGYe7hxd

— Zack Davisson (@ZackDavisson) August 17, 2021

Writer and translator Zack Davisson asked, “What if Leia had been raised on Tatooine and Luke on Alderaan?” We can assume Leia would have been the Skywalker to be trained as a Jedi by Obi-Wan Kenobi, which would have led to her rescuing Prince Luke Organa from the Death Star in A New Hope, and later her life-altering confrontation with her father in The Empire Strikes Back. Funny enough, there already is a What If-style comic series where Leia became the last hope of the Jedi after Luke was killed by the Wampa in Empire.

How about it, Disney? Greenlight the Star Wars Infinities animated series, please.

What if Wedge Antilles was the one who blew up the first Death Star? https://t.co/WkCkbcD5yX

— Chock'lit Gidddyup (@JAMALIGLE) August 17, 2021

“What if Wedge Antilles was the one who blew up the first Death Star?” asked comic book writer and artist Jamal Igle. Would that have put Wedge on Vader’s immediate shit list? We know that the Sith lord spent the years between A New Hope and Empire chasing Luke, even before he learned the young rebel was his son. Why? Because he wanted revenge for the humiliation he suffered during the Battle of Yavin. But replace Luke with Wedge, and how does that change things? Well, for one thing, Wedge isn’t Force-sensitive and definitely wouldn’t be able to hold his own in a fight against Vader. Let’s just say Wedge’s career would have ended much more quickly.

What If… Rogue One Failed to Steal the Death Star Plans? https://t.co/qMI6qlW9TY

— DEJ #BlackLivesMatter #TransRights #FreePalestine (@DawsonEJoyce) August 17, 2021

Speaking of short careers, Luke, Leia, and the rest of the Rebellion would have been extinguished by the time the credits rolled on the first Star Wars movie had “Rogue One failed to steal the Death Star plans.” No plans means the Rebellion never finds the Death Star’s single weakness and Yavin IV is obliterated. Wait…without those Death Star plans, Leia never sends R2-D2 on a mission to find Obi-Wan, which means the droids never run into Luke on Tatooine. Without those Death Star plans, there’s no Original Trilogy at all!

1. Anakin never turns to the dark side 2. Order 66 fails. 3. Ahsoka raises Luke And Leia 4. Qui Jon lives and trains Anakin 5. Maul kills both Obi-Wan and Qui Jon and trains Anakin. 6. Ahsoka never leaves the Order 7. Starkiller/Galen Marrik gets reintroduced. https://t.co/4K6M3s3HIY

— CySmithVA (@CyrilSmithVA) August 17, 2021

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

YouTuber Cy Smith shot out a whole list of fun pitches but my favorite is “[What if] Maul kills both Obi-Wan and Qui Jon and trains Anakin?” We can all agree The Phantom Menace hardly did our eternally sad Zabrak Sith boy justice. He’s the coolest character in the movie, yet he gets one line of dialogue and is then cut in half in the third act. While he eventually returned in The Clone Wars, better and pettier than ever (and with spider legs made out of trash!!!), there’s no doubt that Maul deserved more time on the big screen, something he seemed poised to get in a sequel to Solo: A Star Wars Story had the first movie not bombed. Regardless, I would love to watch an alternate version of Episode II and III where young Anakin served Maul. Would they have teamed up to take down Palpatine and Dooku during the Clone Wars? There’s probably some really good fanfic about this already!

You can read more scenarios here.

While we wait for Disney to jump on Star Wars What If?, the studio is releasing another animated anthology series that introduces fresh perspectives to the galaxy far, far away. The collection of anime short films is called Star Wars Visions and is out on Sept. 22.

Make sure to check out the complete upcoming Star Wars movie and TV release schedule here.

The post Star Wars Fans Create What If? Scenarios That Completely Change the Galaxy appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/2W69mRm

#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

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thearabkhaleesi · 6 years

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AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR SPOILER REVIEW

I wrote most of my opinions on the movie in general in my NO SPOILER review, so I won’t be repeating myself, but instead will discuss in depth, the story and plot.

MAJOR SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still can’t wrap my head around Gamora’s death. She was such an awesome, strong female character in the MCU and I’m so sad to see her go. I wished she lived long enough to see the end of, and have a hand in, her father’s demise.

Doctor Strange blew my freaking mind. MAN. I always said I liked his character more than his movie, and this is what I’M TALKING ABOUT. HE’S SO COOL AND AWESOME. I’m so happy we FINALLY see Doctor Strange this way. He kicked a** in the movie and definitely stood out, amongst a large number of amazing characters, which is such an amazing feat. & to anyone thinking: “But he’s so stupid, why would he give the Time Stone away so easily?!” You’re forgetting something. Doctor Strange KNOWS what’s going to happen. He looked at their futures. He knows he has to give up the Time Stone to win in the long run. He said earlier on in the film he would let Tony & Peter die for the Time Stone, and with his stubborn personality, he wouldn’t have a change of heart that fast. As he said himself, “It was the only way…” (to defeat Thanos in the long run)

To say I love the Thor would be an understatement. In Ragnarok and especially in Infinity War, we finally see him at the height of his powers. I’ve also I’ve always been fascinated with the idea how Mjölnir was made, and to see the making of STORMBREAKER, with GROOT, ROCKET, AND TYRION LANNISTER by his side, it was incredible (also: how GOOD WAS HIS CHEMISTRY WITH THE GUARDIANS?! I loved it.)

And, I don’t care what Tony thinks, Thor is the strongest Avenger, and he KILLED IT.

I also loved Scarlet Witch in this movie. In my opinion, she doesn’t get enough appreciation and people underestimate her & her powers, but the fact that she was able to destroy the Mind Stone proved how powerful she is, I thought she was awesome (even though I don’t really like her relationship with Vision).

Now, Star Lord, Oh Star Lord.. what did you do? I have to be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with Star Lord (and Chris Pratt tbh), and I loved & hated him in Infinity War more than ever. He was bad***, cool, exciting, funny… and then he decided to punch Thanos. While it really angered me at first, someone pointed out that it was most probably meant to be in order for them to defeat Thanos in the long run. But seeing the Gauntlet slip out of Spiderman’s hand at the last second made me wince. Damn it, Quill.

One thing I loved without a shadow of a doubt in this movie was the separate, but connected storylines, and the dynamic/relationship between the characters who are meeting for the first time. All of the groups had GREAT chemistry! Tony, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, and Star Lord, Thor, Rocket, and Groot (HOW CUTE AND PERFECT!). Cap, Black Widow, Hulk, T’Challa, Bucky, Scarlet Witch, Vision. It was all so perfect, seeing two narcissist Sherlocks with big egos quarreling, a mighty Norse god with a raccoon and a tree, and super soldiers and assassins with the King of Wakanda, his army, and Bruce role-playing as Iron Man. It was a perfect blend and unity of our beloved characters.

Captain America is a character that will always have a place in my heart, and I literally squealed and clapped at his entrance. However, I needed more on Captain America / Black Widow. and their time post Civil War. Cap especially is a very important character in the MCU and to me, and I was upset that we didn’t see more of what he was up to. His sudden appearance to help defend Vision and Wanda just felt rushed for plot convenience, which I didn’t appreciate. Maybe they’ll expand on what he was up to in Avengers 4, but I love Cap so much that I just needed more.

Some of my of my favorite comic book characters of all time, Iron Man, Hulk, and Spider-Man, were just as great in this movie. I got so emotional when we discovered Tony and Pepper were engaged, because this is FINALLY where he deserves to be, and yet Infinity War comes along and Marvel loves to torture us. Seeing Thanos stab him made my heart stop, but I’m happy he’s safe (for noe). Seeing Science Bros reuniting and Bruce hugging Tony made me so emotional and reminded me of happier times. Spider-Man is literally one of my childhood heroes, and I LOVE Tom Holland’s version of him, which is arguably the best. He was so fun and brilliant in this movie, and I can’t express my love for his relationship with Tony; they both look at each other as father/son, and the way he calls Tony “Mr. Stark” and always wants to impress him. Gah my heart.

Though I have a few personal issues and bones to pick with Thanos, I can’t deny that I thought he was a great villain. Yes, his intentions can seem stereotypical, and he isn’t my favorite MCU antagonist (Loki & Killmonger), but I can’t deny he was great. He was unstoppable, ruthless, and showed no mercy. Plus, he was scary because you know your faves aren’t safe against him. He was so frightening that on my second screening of the film, there was a little kid a few seats away that sat trembling in fear when Thanos collected all the Infinity Stones. THIS is a great villain.

Something I really didn’t like in the film was Loki’s death. Loki’s death was TOO FAST, AND TOO SOON. If you know me, you know I went through a Loki phase & he’s a character I actually really love. I low-key (lol) expected him to die, but the way it happened kinda angered me. The Loki we’ve seen before wouldn’t be that stupid to try and stab Thanos like that. I AT LEAST expected him to make it really seem like he was betraying Thor (again) but had a bigger plan, and was going to betray Thanos for Thor. + The scene was too fast. Did we REALLY have to see Drax eating snacks instead of more Loki? It was very disappointing. In my opinion, he was the greatest villain in the MCU and deserved better. However, I do have to say it was amazing to hear him say “We have a Hulk”.

Another thing, Thanos’ children were lame. I hoped for characters similar to Captain Phasma - even though they wouldn’t be the villain in the film, but rather a minor antagonist, I at least expected them to be somewhat cool. But alas, I don’t really care about them, they didn’t have that big of an impact, and at least we got that hilarious Squidward joke.

So let’s talk about that ending. I’m going to be honest here, don’t worry about the safety of those that died at the end. Most of them have contracts for future movies past Avengers 4. I would say most of them are safe in the long run. Worry about those who are still alive, as it seems THEY are the ones facing Thanos in Avengers 4 next year. Even though I was very emotional, I was actually satisfied with the ending because I love a good cliffhanger, I can theorize a bit, and yet I still don’t know what to expect! I loved it. And I don’t care what Kevin Feige says, those characters will come back somehow…

In conclusion, I loved Infinity War. The Russo brothers took huge risks, but I’ve always wanted to see stakes this high in the MCU. Even though many of my beloved characters “died” at the end, it was emotional, epic and exciting.

9.5

#avengers #infinity war #avengers infinity war #mcu #marvel

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briangroth27 · 6 years

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Avengers Infinity War Review

I went into Avengers: Infinity War completely bored with the drawn-out Infinity Stones plot (it’s been going on for 6 or 7 years—since First Avenger or Avengers—depending on how you want to call it and Guardians of the Galaxy devalued the Stones by calling them meaningless McGuffins), uninterested in Thanos (Josh Brolin) as a villain, and not at all ready to say goodbye to original Avengers like Captain America (Chris Evans) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). However, the movie definitely dispelled the vast majority of my doubts! It was very well-made, expertly wove a huge amount of characters together, and absolutely felt like an epic event movie. That said, while I didn't dislike it by any means, there also weren't any moments that really wowed me; I liked it a lot, but didn’t love it.

However, it’s obvious the creators did. It’s clear this movie isn’t a cash grab, but a celebration of the universe Kevin Feige and his numerous writers, directors, and actors have crafted over the past 10 years (which is a bit odd to say, given this movie gets dark). Infinity War never feels cynical or forgets to treat its heroes as heroes, despite their imperfections. Gone are the days of severe hero infighting; when a universe-threatening enemy shows up, everyone puts their differences aside to save the day (even if they bicker from time to time). I love that writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely changed the source material (Infinity Gauntlet) to make the Avengers the main characters out to stop Thanos instead of cosmic characters we haven’t met in the movies. It would’ve been extremely disappointing to have an entirely new group of characters come out of nowhere to steal our heroes’ thunder. Script-wise, this movie feels like meeting old friends again, as the writers captured the various heroes' voices well. While less-skilled writers might have washed out nuances between characters due to the similarity of trademark MCU snark, everyone still felt distinct here and there were plenty of standout comedy moments balancing the dramatic beats perfectly. Even though I haven’t previously been invested in some of these characters, everyone came off as likable. I do wish we’d gotten more character moments out of more of the heroes: all of them (somewhat necessarily, given the scope) come in as we left them in their last adventure, even though for about half of them, two years (or more, in the case of the Guardians) have passed since we last saw them. This lack of development wouldn’t be as much a problem for me if there were more solo films coming, but given we know whose contracts are expiring, it seems several Avengers have run their course in the MCU and are leaving interesting stories on the table. I have no problem with a universe-threatening villain in a sprawling adventure, but given the choice between that and digging into the characters more, I’d prefer solo films. Still, there’s only so much screentime the acting was strong across the board; even when the script didn’t give some actors a lot to work with, they were able to play to their characters’ iconic true north really well. The writers and the Russo Brothers brought everyone together seamlessly, creating several fun new dynamics. Tony (Robert Downey, Jr.), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), and Star-Lord’s (Chris Pratt) similar attitudes irked each other perfectly while Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Teen Groot (Vin Diesel) came together organically and Captain America’s crew mixing with the heroes of Wakanda felt totally natural.

Full Spoilers...

There are a lot of character beats I loved. Black Widow consistently being the deadliest of the Avengers was great (and I’d love to see these skills put to the test as her enemies come after her in a solo film, allowing her to finally clear her Red Ledger), and her kickass team-up with Okoye (Danai Gurira) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) was a great (if brief) showcase of the MCU’s heroic women. Likewise, I loved that Shuri (Letitia Wright) was the obvious person to turn to when it came to super-science, and her reaction to Stark and Banner’s (Mark Ruffalo) construction of Vision (Paul Bettany) made it absolutely clear that her tech abilities far outstrip theirs. I’ll take any Shuri appearance I can get and I wonder if she'll get to be the Black Panther in her brother's (Chadwick Boseman) absence like in the comics. I do wish she could’ve met Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and that they could’ve become science besties. Spidey’s enthusiasm for superheroics and his drive to protect his neighborhood was a breath of fresh air, particularly when played against the more cynical characters. I do think his willingness to come up with a plan to kill a villain was a little alarming morally, but otherwise I love his youthful energy. I wish we could’ve seen the fallout of Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) discovering Peter is Spider-man at the end of Homecoming as part of Peter’s introduction here, because that certainly needs to be dealt with onscreen. Maybe he could’ve finally said “with great power comes great responsibility” and mentioned Ben in that moment, which would also fuel his decision not to leave when Tony tells him to get off the ship. I get the urgency of giving Peter the Iron Spider suit (which looks much better than in the comics), but I was kinda bummed that we’re yet again having Tony hand all these toys to Peter instead of Peter developing them himself (I prefer a self-sufficient Spidey using homemade tech). Speaking of Tony, it was great to see him come up against egos as big as his, particularly when Star-Lord threw his plan away outright and came up with a better one. His reaction to Strange’s magic was what you’d expect from Stark encountering the supernatural and I wish they’d had time to dig into a science/mysticism dichotomy between them a bit more. Tony’s arc of telling Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) about wanting to have kids to losing his surrogate son Peter at the end was much more emotional than the “last man standing” fear vision he had in Age of Ultron. I thought his reluctance to call Steve as the crisis started was a fine—if underwhelming—continuation of their rift from Civil War, though I think it’s worth noting that he kept the flip phone on him for use at a moment’s notice (even if he didn’t end up calling Rogers personally).

Steve's "We don't trade lives" is a great motto and, like others have noted, it’s the answer to Thanos’ argument. I just hope it's not reversed in the next installment by the original Avengers sacrificing themselves for Thanos' victims. I also liked that they dealt with the potential dissonance with Cap sacrificing himself at the end of First Avenger, though Banner's justification was essentially that Steve didn't have a choice. I worry that Cap and the others will be forced into a place where they don't have a choice in Avengers 4. It would’ve been nice to dig into Cap’s thoughts on having become a nomadic vigilante after the events of Civil War and to at least hear what he and his crew have been facing in that time. I’m glad he hasn’t lost his upstanding personality, but he, Nat, and Sam (Anthony Mackie) don’t seem very changed by their time on the run, which felt like a missed opportunity: you’d think losing the Avengers’ insulation would be the perfect time to expose Steve to how the common people’s ideals and dreams have changed, which would be a fantastic conflict for him. I really wish we were getting one more solo Cap film to deal with just that: are his ideals outdated? What kind of symbol does America want now, and does he need to remind us of what we should be aiming for? What of citizens who spout hate and call it patriotism? Maybe they can persuade Evans to come back for a Logan-scale solo film set before Infinity War to explore this kind of thing. Still, it was good to see Steve and Bucky (Sebastian Stan) reunite, but I wish we (and Rogers) had gotten an idea of Bucky's newfound peace. I like the idea of Bucky finding his place as White Wolf in Wakanda instead of taking over as Captain America, so some idea of what he's been doing beyond recovering would've been nice. I wish that Cap's other bestie, Sam, had gotten more than an extended cameo here; at the very least, both he and Rhodey (Don Cheadle) should've have something to say upon seeing Wakanda for the first time (as pointed out here). I guess the writers wanted to focus on the characters who'd be vanishing so their loss would hit harder—and the original heroes are said to get the spotlight in the next film before we say goodbye—but small moments like that would've added a lot (especially as Sam vanished). However, I was glad to hear Rhodey had turned on the Sokovia Accords in the time since Civil War; it seems all the heroes on Tony’s side have realized how bad an idea it is, which is a nice vindication for Cap (Spidey hasn't signed or commented on them at all, perhaps because he's a minor and isn't thinking about the big picture).

It would've been nice to see more of how Wakanda had begun opening itself to the world beyond staging the final battle there. Does T’Challa have a specific plan for his outreach centers? Okoye's comment about imagining Wakanda taking part in the Olympics or getting a Starbucks was funny, but I wanted more. More pointedly, how do the people view T'Challa's decision? Is there any dissension, especially when his choice immediately brings a war to their doorstep? I really would’ve liked to see T’Challa convincing the people to take on this struggle (at the very least, Black Panther 2 needs to discuss this). If nothing else, his role as King could’ve made him a starker contrast to the other heroes. It seems T’Challa and Cap’s strategy held off Thanos’ forces long enough for Shuri to copy Vision’s AI, so even though his body was destroyed he could come back though honestly I'm not sure he's necessary. I don't really get Vision, so it could just be me, but his story seems to have come to an end. I appreciate that he isn't written like a cliché robot seeking humanity (or seeking to eliminate it), but his purely analytical outlook from Age of Ultron and Civil War seems to have largely faded, he isn't protecting the world like Stark created him to at all (as a friend of mine pointed out), he seems potentially too powerful to fully use his abilities, and I don't really see what he adds to the overall universe at this point. I do buy his love for Wanda (and hers for him) as well as their connection over the mysteriousness of their origins, though. Given all she's been through and the incident that sparked the Sokovia Accords, I don't blame Wanda for wanting a normal life with Vision. However, it would've been nice to get a glimpse of her view on the world post-Civil War and how she felt about being tied to a cosmic force like the Infinity Stones that already mutated her and her brother and now threatened her love. I liked the twist that Wanda could destroy the Mind Stone since it was used to create her powers and that she was perhaps the most powerful Avenger. One of the other most powerful, Hulk, got an unexpected arc that didn't fully land for me. I'm all for Hulk having his own character development, but if his refusal to show himself really was fear after his beating from Thanos (as fans have speculated), that wasn't clear. Instead, it felt like they played Banner's inability to transform as a joke. I was also underwhelmed by the moment touching on the Bruce/Nat relationship. I'm not a fan of that relationship in general—she doesn't need to date anyone, but if she were going to, she and Cap had the best chemistry and "opposites attract" spark—but this is what we've got and they need to deal with it. The awkwardness of their reunion didn't cut it for me.

As far as reunions go, it was a bummer that Thor and Loki’s (Tom HIddleston) peace after Ragnarok was immediately cut short here. While I felt it was time for Loki’s death—too many wishy-washy alliances and betrayals over the years wore out his welcome for me and Ragnarok established that he was aiming to be a lazy king, defanging his villainy—I’m glad he finished his arc and found real peace with Thor. I thought telling Thanos to kill his brother felt a little off at first, but I suppose making it seem like he’d put up a fight to keep the Tesseract was part of his elaborate plan to try to kill Thanos (as was bringing up that he’d worked for him before). It was also a little disappointing that the Asgardians took another huge hit to their population here and are apparently just left floating in space. I certainly hope Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) survived and can join the fight to get revenge on Thanos; losing so many of her people again has got to have an impact and I'd love to see the lessons about heroism Thor imparted to her inspire her to stand up rather than run away this time. Maybe she could become something of a queen of Asgard and lead the survivors to a new home! Even beyond losing half of his people, Thor going over all the family and friends he’d lost with Rocket was a somber moment and Rocket’s attempts at consolation were a nice gesture. I felt like Infinity War found a perfect balance of Thor’s humorous and serious sides, and I hope it sticks around. The bond Thor and Rocket developed was a highlight of the film, even if their quest to get Thor a new weapon a movie after establishing he didn’t need one was a little odd (as others have noted). I can’t wait to see how Rocket grows after losing all his family, especially now that we know Teen Groot’s last word to him was “Dad…” That’s heartbreaking! Moody Teen Groot was a very entertaining addition to the Guardians and they got a lot of mileage out of making the Guardians his “parents.” Mantis (Pom Klementieff) is another strong addition who gelled well with the rest of her crew thanks to her enthusiasm for “kicking names and taking ass!” I’m glad she stuck around after Guardians 2. I was impressed that she got to play such an important and powerful role against Thanos when they tried getting his glove off. I still prefer Drax’s (Dave Bautista) original “takes everything literally” personality from the first Guardians, but I liked his humor here a lot better than in the second film (where it seemed to settle on “states the obvious” instead). “Perfecting” invisibility by standing totally still was hilarious! I’m glad he got a chance to avenge his family, even if it didn’t work out and nearly cost them everything. If only Quill had learned a lesson from that failure! I don't think the movies should follow the comics in having Thanos see the error of his ways while Nebula (Karen Gillan) becomes the real villain. It's a cliché that a woman achieves ultimate power only to become evil, so I’d be much more interested in seeing her interact with Tony (maybe they make something of their biology-infused tech similarities?) than going off the deep end. True Thanos' torture of her was horrific, but I'd like to see her take a healthier path instead of spiraling into insanity after all the pain she's had to endure.

I was wary of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) making Quill promise to kill her if things went bad in their attempt to stop Thanos from collecting all the Stones because she knew where the Soul Stone was hidden, as it seemed like that could lead to fridging her. Ultimately, though, that request being her choice and the fact that she was killed for more than fueling Quill's angst avoided that (though she does fuel Thanos’). I don't have a problem with him getting emotional and punching Thanos when he found out about Gamora, but I wish that scene had been staged differently. I thought we got a good amount of range from Pratt in the film, from that sadness to his romance with Gamora to bickering with Stark to the comedy surrounding his confidence issues around Thor. Star-Lord copying Thor's accent was unexpectedly fun and it was great to see Stark's dismissive attitude thrown back in his face. The similarities between Stark and Strange were also fun, and I enjoyed Strange's completely different point of view from everyone else when it came to saving the day: he had no problem sacrificing anyone. That perspective is one I would've thought would belong to someone with universal experience like Thor or who’s coldly calculating like Vision, but it was nice to see a human thinking beyond their planet, even if I agree with Cap's "we don't trade lives" philosophy and not Strange's "sacrifice whoever it takes" outlook. I thought he'd given Thanos something other than the Time Stone when he traded it "to save Tony," and like a friend of mine suggested, he probably rigged it in some way to give the heroes a chance.

I thought it was incredible that, despite some iffy CGI in a couple of wide shots, Josh Brolin was able to emote so clearly as Thanos. I'm not sure I've seen a CGI villain in a live-action movie done this well technically, and it certainly helped that the writers let Thanos experience loss and remorse. I was impressed they included his emotional side and gave him an arc, but I do have an issue with that remorse: despite Brolin selling the feeling of a man who thought he was giving up what he loved most, Gamora is right and what he's framed as love is anything but. It's abuse and as others have pointed out, I'm not sure why he loved Gamora in the first place. His "adoption"/kidnapping of her felt a little random and turning her face away from the murder of half her people did nothing to convince me he was a caring parent (I'm also unclear as to why she was so transfixed by a knife he gave her that she forgot about her missing mom), nor do the facts that he turned her into an assassin and later killed her. As a friend pointed out, I wish we’d seen more focus on Gamora's view of being raised by Thanos in Guardians 2 to increase the complexity of their relationship. Even if we had (and her laughing in his face when she finds out he has to sacrifice something he loves gives us a good indication of it), I still wouldn’t sympathize with Thanos…if he really loved her, he would’ve let her live and would’ve abandoned his plan when it came down to choosing between them. The more I think about it, the more troubled I am by the implications of the Soul Stone trade. Since Thanos' task is to sacrifice something he loves and he's successful, it implies that whatever cosmic judgment holds the Stone agrees that what he felt for Gamora is love. Unless the Young Gamora (Ariana Greenblatt) in the Stone at the end is a punishment to torture him for an impure trade (which I'd be fine with)—I imagine she’s actually adult Gamora using a form that will turn the screws on Thanos harder, and her Soul enduring there will allow her to come back to life—this is a pretty messed-up message and it’s my biggest issue with the movie.

I would've preferred keeping Thanos' comic motivation of becoming the universe's greatest killer to impress the physical embodiment of Death by showing what an awesome guy he is (to which she shrugs, having done better herself); playing the galaxy's greatest scourge as a Nice Guy would've been an unexpected way to make him relatable and of the moment without really having to modernize him at all. That said, trying to kill half the universe to save it from overpopulation is a fine egomaniacal supervillain motivation (no, internet thinkpieces, he is not a hero), even if I wish the heroes had pointed out the flaws in his logic (as others have pointed out online) and how foolish this plan is. For example, unless he also makes the survivors immortal and sterile, people will still breed and kill each other, throwing his precious balance out of whack within a generation or two (and his sunset retirement at the end doesn't imply he thinks he’ll have to conduct regular cullings). He also gives no consideration to how the resources he's "saved" will be used on each planet, leading me to think that things are going to immediately descend into chaos as the survivors try to take all they can (especially if the majority of any given people's governments survived to maintain their status quo). And as I've seen elsewhere, what if a people were already using resources responsibly and he killed them without bothering to check? Better yet, why doesn't he just create an infinite set of resources with his all-powerful glove? Forcing him to confront flaws in his plan would give us more insight into his thought process, or at least the justification he's sold himself. If the Gauntlet can only destroy and not create for some reason, explaining that would've served to make Thanos seem more backed into a corner and desperate, making his thought process seem slightly more "necessary." Instead, he comes off as a lunatic (yes, he’s known as the Mad Titan) who couldn't get over his one terrible idea because he confused the mismanagement of Titan's resources with proof he was right and not crazy. I've seen comments suggesting he be seen as a conservative politician, only concerned with fawning over his ideology instead of seeing the detrimental effects it has on the people, and that's not a bad take: looking at him as an outdated fringe "visionary" who won't learn/evolve his thinking or question his way of doing things helps quite a bit. I feel like these questions and the sheer outlandishness of his plot ranks him far below the best MCU villains like Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), Vulture (Michael Keaton), and Hela (Cate Blanchett), who all went to terrible extremes, but at least had motivations that were somewhat understandable and tethered to reality. He was still a powerful threat who truly required all the heroes working together, though.

Thanos' "children" (Terry Notary, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Carrie Coon, Michael James Shaw, Monique Ganderton) were fine as lackeys, which is all they needed to be. I wish X-men Apocalypse had taken a similar tack with the Horsemen instead of using famous mutants: we don't need to know characters who are essentially zealot thugs. I did appreciate how warped they were to Thanos' way of thinking, though. They also proved to be worthy matches for the heroes before facing the Mad Titan himself.

Infinity War has an incredible sense of scope, giving the impression that the Marvel cosmos are vast, but it was odd they were largely devoid of people (even on Earth). Showing more than just wreckage would've upped the stakes and impact of Thanos' climactic actions while also showing the overpopulation “problem” he seeks to solve. The pacing moves the film along really well, even with the film being as packed as it is (though it doesn’t feel overstuffed). I loved that they were willing to have imaginative fun with the Infinity Gauntlet's powers, like turning laser blasts into bubbles, throwing a moon at our heroes, literally unraveling Mantis, and turning Drax into blocks. I’m all for more weirdness like that! The action is thrilling and moves very well for the vast majority of the film, with one major exception. A pivotal battle with Thanos on Titan has Iron Man, Spidey, Strange, and several Guardians struggling to hold him long enough to steal his Gauntlet. They almost succeed, but Star-Lord messes up his own plan (when it's revealed Gamora is dead) by punching Thanos in the face, knocking Mantis (who's psychically subduing him) away and freeing Thanos. I don't have a problem with Quill reacting to the news emotionally, but the staging of the scene offers at least two ways the heroes could've won right there: Nebula does nothing when she could've been stabbing Thanos in the face, and either she or Strange could’ve cut off his arm to free the Gauntlet. I know the movie can't end there, so knock Nebula out or otherwise busy her and Strange before writing yourself into a situation that raises these questions. Or they could've let Thanos lose his arm, yet still regain the glove through brute force or cunning before the heroes could get a handle on how to use it: showing him as a scrappy underdog for a moment would make him look more dangerous (and more appealing to the audience).

Despite an ad campaign suggesting a culmination of the MCU, Infinity War feels more like a seamless continuation of it. I'm glad they hit the ground running and didn't take the time to re-introduce everyone, except when it made sense, like the Guardians and Thor meeting for the first time. This will be detrimental for anyone coming into the film having missed earlier entries, but I think it works for this series. Reveals of familiar characters and locations, like Cap and Wakanda, made me smile. It was also great to finally get an answer to a dangling question about Red Skull's (recast with Ross Marquand) whereabouts in a completely unexpected way! I understand why they ended the movie on the beat they did, but part of me wishes this hadn't been a two-parter: I'd like there to be more adventures than just Thanos Round Two. I don't have a problem with the MCU going on indefinitely, but I do want them to take the time to continually develop and change the characters, and disparate threats would be a great way to challenge them differently. Between changes, we also need to spend time in their status quos to see how they react to each new normal. That's the weakness of movies vs. shows, though, and it seems highly unlikely the MCU is willing to give that much time to its movie heroes.

Infinity War felt like a true comic book crossover and that's the direction I want the Avengers films to take: they should be the crossovers with MCU-altering events while the solo franchises are just that, exploring the worlds of each character while focusing on character development. However, like the revolving door of death in the comics, a lot of the impact of this finale is going to come down to how the fallout is handled. I feel there are three necessary components to making the ending of Infinity War matter: the survivors need to be changed by losing their friends and half the general populace, the victims need to be changed by their experience as well, and we need to see what happened to the world in the wake of Thanos' Snap. Regardless of how the Snap is undone, everyone should remember what happened to give the events weight. Since I don't think Infinity War 2 will have time to deal with (and say a final goodbye to) the original Avengers, let everyone have a moment to shine, chase down Thanos, undo what he did, and really explore the state of the post-Snap world (one scene of Cap and Co. stopping a riot or something and saying "it's gotten crazy out here" would be deeply unsatisfying IMO), the world-building should be mostly left to the MCU offerings that are coming out next. Ant-Man & the Wasp and Captain Marvel are coming out before Infinity War 2, but Ant-Man is supposedly happening concurrently with/just before Infinity War and Captain Marvel is set in the 1990s. However, Luke Cage Season 2, Cloak & Dagger, and possibly The Runaways Season 2 would all fall into this range and could explore the world from several different angles. I thought the mass vanishing would've been the perfect chance to finally let the TV characters join the Avengers in a unified universe, but I'll settle for the shows handling the fallout.

There's so much potential with this scenario that it would be a massive wasted opportunity not to do anything with it. With the world losing half its population, there are plenty of opportunities for supervillains (or just regular people) to exploit the problem. Do people stop caring about values and basic decency in a world where half the planet can vanish? Are they all hoarding resources and killing each other over them, fearing another culling? Are there others who find their inner, everyday hero and help their fellow people? Maybe superheroes are forced to take extreme measures to defend their local turf. What happens to religion? Do some people think this is the Rapture (a critic referred to it as "the Snapture," which might be perfect)? Are there new religious beliefs rising out of this; perhaps a cult that believes in what the Snap "accomplished?" Society as we know it could crumble and every nation could be in danger of falling. This is the perfect time for superheroes to step up and for SHIELD to finally reclaim its position as a global force for good. It’s a shame Agents of SHIELD isn’t coming back until the summer after Infinity War 2, since it would’ve been the ideal vehicle to explore this world. Even when Infinity War 2 undoes this, it'll only have weight if everyone remembers what happened, so SHIELD and other heroes working to save everyone from themselves wouldn't be in vain even if the Avengers are the ones who actually save the world. No matter what happens, half the population vanishing is a fascinating premise fraught with drama, and something in the MCU needs to explore it; if they gloss over all that, this will have been truly empty.

That emptiness is a problem I had with a lot of the deaths. It's not just that it's clear these heroes will be brought back—if they remember what happened and it changes them, it won't be pointless—but they didn't die for anything. They were slaughtered for nothing, which left a bad taste in my mouth; if they'd at least chosen to go out fighting or if Thanos cared about who he was killing instead of being randomly "fair" about it, I feel like I would've felt them more. I was disappointed to see a few of them go, like T'Challa, but it was Tom Holland who really got me with his "I don't wanna go." That was heartbreaking and nearly made me cry!

It would be nice if the Defenders who survived the Snap got promoted to Avengers status in the interim, but I doubt that will happen. I've seen suggestions elsewhere that the heroes who got Snapped could form a "New Avengers" within the Soul Stone to fight their way out and that could be cool, but I hope the focus of Infinity War 2 is on the original six Avengers since it will probably be their last mission. They can deal with what the Snapped heroes went through in their future solo films.

I think it'd be cool if Nick Fury's (Samuel L. Jackson) beeper actually contacted Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) in the 90s (just chalk the time zone difference up to Kree or Skrull tech). This could be why he chose to summon her for help: being in the past, she wouldn't be affected by the disintegration wave.

In terms of the longer-term plans, I don't want another long build-up to something; I hope Infinity War 2 is the end of long-form plotting in the MCU, at least for the next few phases. We don't need a years-long build-up to Secret Wars or something, and not every threat has to spring from the previous one in some manner.

Infinity War is big, fun, and action-packed with plenty of crowd-pleasing moments (and some that truly pull at your heartstrings), but it's not one of my favorite MCU films. I think it falls somewhere in the middle, but in terms of spectacle it's one of their finest outings. It's definitely worth a trip to the theater!

Check out more of my reviews, opinions, theories, and original short stories here!

#avengers #infinity war

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dogwitchcity · 3 years

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HOVERCRAFT .. heavy as heated .. droned and drew too .. too may too many .. true manly men .. naught naughty gi4rls need .. gnawed bones and .. blighted ways and .. stay safe miranda .. stay safe mahriah .. stay safe mah love .. and spirit vbe your own …

Love you ..

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Okj dad …

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VAUGE FOG FOGGY MOANS IN MEANS MEAN AND VIOLET COLORED ….

Mom .. tara .. hets heathers geras geres and geos aer …

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Time patience war trust life grace truth and faith

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The bell rung recess and playshow storytell and wills wae well and sweet …

Cu101

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