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allthefilmsiveseenforfree · 3 years

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What Lies Beneath

So my wife is incredibly supportive of my movie-watching goals. She helped me set up my blog and my Patreon, she was my very first patron, and she watches at least half the movies with me. As my patron, she has the right to request one movie per calendar year for me to review just for her. But sometimes she tries to skirt the rules by insinuating, nay, cajoling nonstop in her goal for me to watch a movie she wants me to see without it counting as her “official” selection. And because I love her, I (sometimes) allow it. Such was the case with What Lies Beneath, a twisty psychological haunted house thriller that stars two middle-aged, serious actors (Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer), and that I shockingly wasn’t lining up at the megaplex for when I was 13. What did my preteen self miss? Well...

A fucking GREAT movie is what I missed. I won’t sugarcoat it - this was a huge surprise in the best way. I won’t spoil the ending at all, because this is one film I think you really need to watch unfold for the first time without knowing exactly what’s going on. Basically, Claire and Norman Spencer are new empty-nesters, and in their gorgeous Vermont home all to themselves, strange things start happening. Is it something to do with the mysterious new neighbors? Or maybe some past traumas that are dug up over the course of the movie? Could their house be actually haunted by some malevolent spirit? All of these are distinct, and delicious, possibilities, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun figuring out what exactly is going on.

Some thoughts:

A VERY GOOD DOG at the very beginning! I was so concerned for the dog at a few points in the film, but the dog (Cooper) is absolutely fine and remains happy and carefree all the way to the end of the film.

I have always had a thing for Harrison Ford, and that is not diminishing at all as I watch him shirtless in bed while writing a paper about science. Unf.

Very into the way this exposition is handled - Claire (Pfeiffer) missing her daughter and finding the Julliard tank top in her dresser, then looking through photo albums where we see the daughter wearing it, then see Claire studying at Julliard, then see HER wearing the tank top, plus some articles about Norman’s father dying and photos from a car accident in which I think her first husband died. It’s all tiny pieces of exposition, just little bits of information that you, the viewer, have to put together and remember, and I love that.

Don’t love Norman (Ford) gaslighting her about what to do about the neighbors. If you mind your own business and never reach out when people sound like they need help, that’s how people get hurt. Makes me think he has something to hide or maybe some kind of connection to the neighbors?

Loving the Rear Window vibes of spying on the neighbors, thinking you’ve witnessed a murder, complete with binocular surveillance.

There’s a lot of wind in this movie. Wind is basically like another character.

The layering of dialogue - Norman and his friend are talking about a colleague who got fired for stalking an intern, and Claire and her old friend are catching up. The two conversations are overlapping, and I think they’re both important but we’re so wrapped up in Claire and her friend that that stalking conversation gets buried. This is really well-thought-out character development and building of backstory and motivation. I haven’t watched a movie this skillfully thought out in quite awhile.

I hate the way Norman diminishes her. Like he’s charming and he’s Harrison Ford, but he kind of implies that she’s hysterical or silly for the things she’s been experiencing, and laughs at her expense.

She didn’t say goodbye after playing with the Ouija board. ROOKIE MISTAKE, everything that happens afterward is clearly a result of poor Ouija etiquette.

Oh interesting, so she was in a terrible car accident a year ago, which is part of why everyone is worried about her mental state and fragility. We don’t discover this until HALFWAY THROUGH THE FILM. This is storytelling like prestige television does it, and it’s so unusual to see in a film now that it keeps bowling me over.

Their water bill is gonna be sky high after this. These completely full tubs? The rates are astronomical.

Oh no things have escalated so quickly - I feel like I’m trying to outsmart the twist at every turn and I can’t quite grasp it, which is good because I actually think this is an incredibly plotted movie that’s so purposefully and carefully crafted. I can’t help but feel that we are missing so much now, because we just don’t get mid-level budget domestic dramas with A-list actors like this anymore. I think their era might have completely passed, and that’s a damn shame because the nuance and care here makes this such a delightful and surprising ride to take.

A huge part of that is Ford and Pfeiffer just absolutely nailing how they play every single scene. Their chemistry is great, and watching them play off each other, you can sense all the layers of their relationship, all the past traumas and the lies and the reconciliations.

He says “I know you’re going through something I don’t understand and I’ve tried to be there for you” but like...have you, Norman? You’re always working, you shut her down every time she wants to talk.

The brilliance here is that you don’t know if something supernatural is actually going on or if there’s a rational explanation, and I’m so here for the ambiguity. We simply don’t get enough ambiguity (that’s purposeful) in mainstream Hollywood films anymore. It’s all in the indies, which are great, don’t get me wrong! But I want more audiences to see how it could be done.

I know I just keep going on about it but every new scene reveals a detail that feeds into the overarching mystery in such a natural way. For example, this NICE callback to the key, which I had totally forgotten about. This honestly is a fantastic slow burn of a film, really well done.

I’m so enjoying Harrison Ford using his charm and his looks and his general Harrison Ford-ness to play a not very nice guy. He’s not a lovable rogue like Han Solo or a stubborn adventurer with a heart of gold like Indiana Jones, he’s just a guy who thinks he deserves to have what he wants at any cost. He’s worked hard, he’s a “good guy” and he thinks that he’s entitled to have things go his way just because.

Holy shit the symmetry with the first scene of the film to the big climax - that’s just some damn good writing, that is.

I’m so pleased that there’s no music at all during this final sequence - the score had been a bit overbearing at times, but this eerie silence with just the water running is, frankly, terrifying.

One slight critique - the movie has almost as many endings as Lord of the Rings. You think it’s done, and then there’s another whole section that you think is gonna be the last, and then everything’s underwater again and it’s STILL NOT DONE. But in a good way, I didn’t get nearly as pissed as I do at the end of LOTR.

Holy fucking shit, Clark Gregg wrote this?????? Agent Coulson Clark Gregg?? This is my absolute favorite bit of movie trivia I’ve learned all year.

Did I Cry? No.

I am never going to stop talking about this movie. Wife was right, and I will say it loudly and publicly - I am so glad she cajoled me into watching this film. If you haven’t seen it, watch it immediately. It’s smart, it’s well-paced, it keeps you guessing, and it boils over into an absolutely bonkers climax in the best way. I will be thinking about this for aaaages and missing the way movies outside of the “Disney/Pixar/Marvel vs. teeny independent Spirit Award winner” machine used to get made.

If you liked this review, please consider reblogging or subscribing to my Patreon! For as low as $1, you can access bonus content and movie reviews, or even request that I review any movie of your choice.

#121in2021 #what lies beneath #what lies beneath review #harrison ford #michelle pfeiffer #clark gregg #movie reviews #film reviews

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cricketnationrise · 3 years

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Books I read in quarantine: Part 1

So on Friday, March 13, 2020 something not that chill happened. We all know what that was. Anyway for me the silver lining was that I got a lot of my TBR knocked out by not being at work. I read over 150 books from mid-march to mid-october.

1. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: yes, it had been on my list for a while, yes it was awesome, yes, its still worth the read

2. Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey: eh. listen. she’s one of the most prominent women in fantasy/sci-fi writing and that’s great. and maybe some the later books aren’t quite such a product of their time. but there are some aspects to the dragon “bonding” that feel especially uncomfortable and there’s a lot of violence toward women. so.

3. Briar’s Book by Tamora Pierce: I was in the midst of a Circle of Magic reread. Unfortunately for me, this one is about a plague. It’s still one of the best CoM books and I enjoy it immensely. Its definitely going to be harder to read from now on

4. The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera: loved this. empress and ruler of the steppes as lesbians that also battle demons? i needed a family tree, but that’s normal for me. still need to get to the next one in this series.

5. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull: middle grade fantasy novel. i hesitate to say lighthearted because there are definitely some heavy themes, but all the fantasy creatures you encounter are cool AF and this one at least doesn’t end on a cliffhanger.

6. Magic Steps by Tamora Pierce: less strong than some of the others in the Emelan series, but has some cool worldbuilding that got better fleshed out in the Beka Cooper Tortall books. featuring UNMAGIC. v dark. also dance magic. and romance between two older characters

7. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan: delightful romance, not super explicit, very wish fulfillment if your wish is to run away from your life in london and live off the proceeds of a mobile bookstore in a tiny town. which. is not unappealing.

8. Street Magic by Tamora Pierce: features 9 cats, street urchins, and a VERY TERRIFYING wealthy widow straight up murdering kids for fun and games, stone magic

9. Scythe by Neal Shusterman: okay so take our world and then solve all physical ailments and have everything run by the cloud. except that death is still a thing but only if you are picked by a Scythe. first book in a trilogy. fast paced, amazing, violent (someone gets their head cut off), standard dystopia stuff. you’ll want to have the next two books ON YOUR SHELF

10. Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke: there is definitely someone out there who will like this more than me. one of them is my roommate. it was just too dark of a friendship/enemyship for me. lots of unreliable narrators. and like, they were just kind of horrible to each other? the actual plot was kinda cool and i definitely would have liked it more if it ended lighter

11. The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. LeGuin: a giant of fantasy and science fiction. this was my first of her sci-fi stuff and the first of the hainish cycle that i’ve read. quick read. definitely makes you think.

12. The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark: number two in a series, but i didn’t know that going in. absolutely going to read the others. a cairo where all sorts of spirits and demons exist and actively interact with the “normal” world.

13. The Girl Who Reads on the Métro by Christine Féret-Fleury: i’ve never been to france but this feels VERY french. magical realism about bringing the right book to the perfect reader. super cute.

14. Fire Starter by P. Anastasia: first of a series. i wanted to like this better based on the magic system. romance felt forced. also it turned out to be aliens. which like, not a problem, but don’t spend 100 pages telling me its magic and then boom alien virus. maybe the others are better, but i’m not going to find out.

15. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros: i had to read this in middle school and definitely didn’t appreciate it enough. highly recommended.

16. A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies by Alix E. Harrow: a fantastic short story about reading, libraries, magic and supporting teenagers who need it. you can read it online or as part of Apex Magazine Issue 105 from Feb 2018.

17. On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden: really long graphic novel about a found family in space trying to do a good job repairing various buildings and stuff. enough queer content for anybody really. gorgeous art.

18. Doughnut by Tom Holt: book 1 in the YouSpace series. very discworld-esq except that its our own world plus a pocket dimension that’s only accessible with a lot of math and a prayer. hilarious at times, but a decidedly darker tone than discworld so just be aware if that’s not what youre looking for

19. The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind by Jackson Ford: teenage girl in california has powers that let her move things with her mind. works as part of a government program with a whole band of misfits. she thought she was the only one and then someone else starts doing crime (TM) and murder with telekinesis and she has to stop them. found family toward the end. graphic violence toward the end. wildfires.

20. Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts by Julian Rubinstein: what it says on the tin, basically. NONFICTION. this dude in europe had way too many day jobs that were actually crime and his story is WILD. last update i saw was that he was still alive, paroled from jail, and making pottery??

21. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon: 800+ pages of epic eastern fantasy. some dragons. a witchy big bad. betrayal. queer romance as a main plotline. magic. seriously good.

22. Transcription by Kate Atkinson: flashback within a flashback within a flashback and reversing that path as you move through the book. woman just wants a secretary job during the war. somehow ends up as a spy??? i liked it, i keep meaning to get more of her books

23. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire: first in the wayward children series. under 200 pages if you’re looking for a quick read. what happens to kids that have gone through a door, had an adventure, and then forced back into our world? they don’t quite fit. and when that happens they go to Eleanor West’s School. fantastic series that is still being added to (number 7 comes out next year). can be very dark/sinister at times. but theres a lot of queer representation and found family stuff to balance out.

24. Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire: book 2 in the wayward children series. focuses on Jack and Jill’s backstory of their time before book 1. they are from The Moors where a Vampire Lord and a Mad Scientist are battling against each other to keep the balance of the world with a village of innocents between them

25. Go Fish by Ian Rogers: short story published on Tor.com about a group of paranormal investigators. there’s a fish factory that no one will go in because it’s haunted and/or cursed and people have been dying from going in there

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woulddieforperrytheplatypus · 4 years

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Ohmygoodness, what if Perry finding out about Stan's portal would tie into the AT2D crossover prompt?! Phineas is fuming more than ever because not only has Perry been fighting crime behind their backs, but he also kept quiet that a wanted criminal was operating a doomsday device under their noses, but when Stan explains his backstory, it gives Phineas more of a wake-up call to save Perry from Doof-2, since he cared enough about the guy to let him continue saving his brother.

in reference to this portal post and the entirety of the #PnF/GF at2d tag

and obligatory keep reading comes in now

I didn’t even think about how that could tie into at2d 👀 Phineas was mad enough when he realized Perry let Heinz open the portal to hide his identity, but he’d be pissed if he knew Perry had been watching Stan go at it for weeks and not stepped in once. I hate to think that Phineas wouldn’t forgive Perry until after he forgave Stan, but that honestly does sound like how it would go down. He wouldn’t realize until he heard Stan’s story that Perry had a reason to let Stan open that portal, and that if Perry had a reason for that, maybe he has a reason for keeping the fact that he’s a secret agent from them, too.

But if a) Perry was aware of the portal and b) Phineas finds out that Perry was aware of the portal, I do have to question the logistics of said portal(s). Is it sort of a continuation of the portal post, but instead of the portal bringing Ford back, it sucks them all into the second dimension? In which case, do they not meet Ford at all, and they have to open another portal to bring him back when they get back to their dimension? And does Heinz now need to figure out how to make his portal work on his own? Or does Heinz also go through that portal, because if it’s a continuation of the portal post, he could theoretically also be there when the portal opens? In which case, Heinz is kinda obsolete, and 2D Doof is going to focus his energy more on finding Stan than finding the kids or working with Heinz -- and that’s if he even meets Heinz at all; I’m assuming Stan’s portal wouldn’t open up in DEI, so would they run into 2D Doof that early on? And if not, how does that affect the rest of the plot?

And now that I’ve asked a bazillion questions because I am way too into logistics, here’s how I think it would work.

It is a continuation of the portal post, except Perry does, for some reason or other, have to reveal that he’s basically a human in a platypus’s body and that he’s on Stan’s side for this (and maybe he gives them the pamphlet then so they know that he’s a secret agent, because then they know that Perry could have and should have stopped this but chose not to). Not only is Dipper pissed at Stan, but Phineas is pissed at Perry, so they’ve got that in common. Now the dynamics are basically Stan and Perry vs Dipper and Phineas, Mabel and Soos are conflicted, Ferb is lowkey indifferent like he was in at2d because he loves Phineas and Perry too much to pick a side, and poor Heinz was just there to make sure the portal didn’t explode or whatever and he has no idea when the fuck Perry the Platypus got here but he’s very confused.

So they get launched into the other dimension, and they’re probably dumped in the middle of the street somewhere idrk. They can obviously tell it’s not a good place, but they don’t realize until someone sees Heinz and starts freaking out that it’s such a bad place because 2D Doof is in charge (and that’s an interesting conversation because literally no one but Perry knew that Heinz was evil, and that’s just going to make Phineas more upset). Obviously, Perry can’t explain that the Heinz they’re looking at is literally the dumbest person known to man, so he’s just gotta sit there and let Phineas (and tbh probably Dipper too) yell at him. But they know they have to make it home somehow, so they still head to 2D Phineas and Ferb’s house. A Normbot catches them in the process, and though he doesn’t manage to capture anyone, he does tell 2D Doof that his doppelganger is here with a few kids, a couple adults, and Perry the Platypus.

Perry hears that 2D Doof is looking for him and that he’ll leave the rest of the group alone as long as he gets Perry, so he peaces out, and Phineas doesn’t even do the whole “Did it ever occur to you that we could help you? That we could have made a great team? But I guess you can’t have teamwork without trust,” bit, because that only worked in the movie because Phineas still had some trust left in Perry. After the whole Stan-Perry-portal debacle, he can’t say that anymore, so their “goodbye” is literally just Phineas yelling at him, which, like, it sucks, but what’s Perry gonna do about it, ya know? (Would 2D Doof want Heinz, too? I almost feel like he would; it would be a two-for-one deal, and if they turned themselves in, 2D Doof would have no need for anyone else -- at least until he figured out that this was Stan’s portal).

And since they’re in a safe place now, Stan finally explains what he was trying to do. I don’t think it would be like it was in A Tale of Two Stans, though, because when he explained it then, he had already seen Ford again and he already knew that they still weren’t on good terms. Before he saw Ford, it almost looked like he’d either forgotten why he didn’t like his brother or that he’d moved on and just assumed that Ford had, too, so when he tells the story, it’s a little bit of an optimistic view of things. That’s not really important to anything except that everyone is going to be in for a rude awakening when Ford shows up and lowkey tries to beat the shit out of his brother.

That’s when the Doofenchannel announces the capture of public enemy number one, Perry the alternate-dimension Platypus, and public enemy number two, alternate dimension Heinz Doofenshmirtz. They assume that means that Heinz was actually on their side the whole time, which is yet another brownie point for Perry. What they don’t realize is that Heinz basically spoon-fed 2D Doof everything he wanted to know, and when 2D Doof realized his doppelganger was entirely useless and that he just needs Stan, he basically said fuck you and threw him in prison, too. (It’s probably worth noting though that Heinz isn’t, like, actively against the PnF/GF gang; he kinda likes them, but he also kinda liked this alternate version of himself, so he wasn’t really sure where his loyalties should lie until he got thrown in jail)

Then everything’s basically back on track with where the fanfic would have gone. They go on their rescue mission, save their tri-state area, Heinz gives up his Choo Choo, and all is forgiven in the end because I’m a sucker for a happy ending lmao

#phineas and ferb #pnf #gravity falls #PnF/GF crossover #PnF/GF at2d #look i have an ask #across the second dimension #at2d

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arthur-of-camelot · 4 years

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Knights of the Round Table Plot

Do you like fun? Action? Adventure? Does saving the town from disaster and acting like a hero of legend appeal to you? Want some petty drama between characters that stems from centuries old beef? Then this may be the plot for you. Excalibur has been pulled from the stone and in so doing has called for the knights of the round table to return to Arthur and work together as one.

How this works: When Excalibur was removed from the stone, a wave of magic spread throughout Swynlake like a call to arms reaching out to people who would be deemed worthy of continuing the legacy of the knights. Those people in that moment would then have been flooded with the memories and knowledge of the knight that they most closely resembled. The goal of the sword was to bring these people back together in order to protect the realm (or Swynlake) from harm. It’s up to the mun as to what elements of a knight’s story your character receives/how you decide to handle it. See this post for an example of the flood of memories that can occur. From there the goal is to bring the knights together and have them experience modern day quests to protect Swynlake/adventure etc. The dramatic backstories can also help foster interesting/weird/dramatic new relationships with characters.

If you’d like for your character to be given the memories/experiences of former knights, please fill out the tiny app under the read more. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MALE/NON-MAGIC TO APPLY.

List of Knights:

•Sir Galahad (Son of Sir Lancelot): known for his gallantry and purity and and one of the most perfect of all knights. It’s said he was able to defeat a lot of his enemies because he was pure. One of the ones who quested for the holy grail.

• Sir Lancelot: known as Arthur’s closest friend/greatest companion and the greatest swordsman and jouster of the age. Also known for wrecking Arthur’s marriage and hooking up with Guinevere basically helping destroy Camelot. (I have two seriously great plot ideas regarding Arthur and Lancelot so getting Lancelot would be so so good) • Sir Gawain: known as Arthur’s nephew and as a formidable, courteous, and also a compassionate warrior, fiercely loyal to his king and family. He was a friend to young knights, a defender of the poor, and as "the Maidens' Knight" a defender of women as well. (personally feel Gawain should def be a lady knight this go around) • Sir Percival: One of the knights who looked for the holy grail. Renowned for his strength and fighting prowess. He was kind of beefy. But also a cool dude. • Sir Lionel: a double cousin of Lancelot, he was apparently raised by the lady of the lake in her underwater kingdom. He proves himself very unworthy of the holy grail by trying to kill his brother for not rescuing him. *Strongly recommended to be a magick. • Sir Bors: brother of sir Lionel, was worthy of seeing the grail. Lionel tries to murder Bors, and Bors does not defend himself, refusing to raise a weapon against his kinsman. Became Arthur’s successor when Arthur died. • Sir Tristram/Tristan de Lyones: He was sent to fetch Iseult/Isolde back from Ireland to marry the king. However, he and Iseult accidentally consumed a love potion while en route and fall helplessly in love; the pair underwent numerous trials that tested their secret affair. Also known as a great musician and falconer. • Sir Gareth: Arthur’s nephew and Gawain’s brother. He avenged the death of a fairy king. He defeated a bunch of knights since he’s apparently a badass himself. Was accidentally killed by Lancelot, though he was also like a son/younger brother to the dude. Oops. • Sir Bedivere: known as the one who returned Excalibur to the lady of the lake. A handsome one handed knight. He was described as the most handsome man in the world other than Arthur and the wielder of a magic lance. *Strongly encourage a character with a disability • Sir Bleoberis: Though described as skilled and honorable, he is also depicted as malicious. One example is with King Mark's marriage with La Beale Isoud, where Bleoberis rode into Mark's court, demanded a gift, and, on being granted it for sake of his renown and his place as a knight of the Round Table, he helped himself to Sir Segwarides' wife as the fairest lady at court and rode off with her. He also tried to kill Gawain's son, Guinglain, at the Perilous Ford. • Sir Brunor: was nicknamed ‘the badly-cut coat’ by Sir Kay after his arrival in his murdered father's mangled armour and surcoat at King Arthur's court. He vowed not to take it off until his father’s death was avenged. Was also known as the Good Knight without Fear. • Sir Palomedes/Palamedes: Had an unrequited love for Iseult/Isolde so he and Tristram/Tristan clashed. The two basically had a love hate relationship. Was known as the hunter for the questing beast, and being on Lancelot’s side when the affair with Guinevere is revealed. Killed by Gawain. • Sir Lamorak: was referred to as Arthur's third best knight, only inferior to Lancelot and Tristan. He was known for his strength and fiery temper. His father killed Gawain’s father which led to Gawain eventually turning around and killing Lamorak’s father. And then to make things worse, Lamorak decided to hook up with Gawain’s dad’s widow therefore making their blood feud worse. Rejected an offering of truce from Arthur, and ended up ambushed and killed.

• Sir Pelleas: was the son of a poor vassal and ended up falling for a high born maiden. She spurned and humiliated him and refused to let him into her castle. Pelleas goes to Gawain for help but Gawain ends up being into the maiden too and hooks up with her, devastating Pelleas. Gawain eventually remembers his promise to help and convinces the woman to love Pelleas. • Sir Kay: the foster brother of Arthur’s, sort of helped raise Arthur and teach him how to be a knight. Also kind of dickish. He’s most associated with hot-headedness and a fiery temper supplemented by his role as an incompetent braggart.

• Sir Ector/Hector de Maris: younger half-brother of Lancelot. Murdered a lady’s fiance so he could be with her. Also had an affair. Deemed unworthy to behold the holy grail. Sides with Lancelot with the Guinevere drama. • Sir Dagonet: considered the court jester. He saw himself as a courageous warrior and acted like he was but in reality, he would flee at the slightest provocation. He often battered his own shield so that it appeared that he had been in a fight – telling all that he emerged victorious of course. • Sir Agravaine: nephew of King Arthur. Was known as the one with hard hands. Proud and kind of a bully. He secretly made attempts on the life of his hated brother Gaheris and participated in the slayings of Lamorak and Palamedes. He played a leading role in exposing his aunt Guinevere's affair with Lancelot which lead to his death at the hands of Lancelot. • Sir Mordred: a traitorous nephew most well known for fighting with Arthur and mortally wounding him even as Arthur did the same to him. He actively worked to expose Lancelot and Guinevere and to ruin the kingdom.

APPLICATION:

Muse: Preferred Knight: Why do you want this particular knight/what would you want to do with them?: (200 words)

#arthurian plot #my god how long have i been planning this #SO LONG IT'S INSANE

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metalgearkong · 4 years

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Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker - Review

12/20/19 ** Spoilers

Directed by JJ Abrams (Lucasfilm / Disney)

Among the current social media and the 24 hour advertisement cycle, if you wanted, its possible to piece together much of the plot of this movie, or any big blockbuster these days. Its for this reason I avoided every single piece of media about Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker before I saw it. Even when bombarded with Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TV ads, and movie previews, I successfully dodged all snippets of the movie in order to be as surprised as possible once I sat down to see it. That night was tonight, and it’s felt like a long and arduous two years since The Last Jedi. Once again I have deeply mixed feelings about a new Star Wars movie, but I enjoyed myself more in The Rise of the Skywalker than I did in The Last Jedi, but not necessarily for shakesperian reasons.

The fans were worried about how The Rise of Skywalker would turn out, and as release day approached, reviews were already negative. I accidentally saw a Rottentomatoes critics score in the mid 20′s, and several videos were already uploaded to YouTube giving away that broad opinion of this film. This concerned me, as even critics liked The Last Jedi, which is one of my least favorite Star Wars movies. I let all of the negativity brush off me like a blaster bolt on Beskar armor. I went into The Rise of Skywalker rooting for it and looking to find every positive it could bring being the ninth main installment of the Star Wars saga. I was also ready for this trilogy to be over so everyone whining online could move on and obsess over something else. In an odd, semi-genuine, and semi-ironic way, I had tons of fun in The Rise of Skywalker, even acknowledging its horribly messy and rushed script.

Each of these Star Wars movies to me is like how a new chapter in the Bible would feel for a Christian, and the theater is my house of worship. The series’ trademark title blasted onto the screen among roaring trumpets, and I was ready. My auditorium applauded as the Star Wars logo shrunk to the background and the opening crawl appeared at the bottom of the screen. Seeing a new Star Wars movie in the theaters is always a holiday for me. Each film is a new addition to the lore of my favorite movie universe of all time, pulling from years as a kid before I can even remember the first time I saw it (thank you parents). This movie had me grinning from ear to ear, bringing out that inner child in me that Star Wars always used to do, something The Force Awakens partially did, and what The Last Jedi failed to do completely.

JJ Abrams continues his pension for fast paced scenes, but somehow still containing a ton of charm. We finally get to see Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), Chewie (Joonas Suotamo), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) all working together on the same mission. The characters have a ton of charisma between them, and it inspires me to think of the potential for them having been together more often in this trilogy. I enjoyed their quips and didn’t think it got out of control or relied too much on bathos. The first half of this movie moves like a racetrack, as our heroes move from one location to another pursued by the First Order enough to almost make me dizzy. This would turn out to be a running issue with the movie, and if JJ Abrams and the editor would have let each scene go a little slower and last a little longer, it would have been more appreciated.

Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is the Supreme Leader of the First Order, having murdered and usurped Snoke (Andy Serkis) in the last film, and is on a personal quest to track down what may be the resurrection of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). The movie opens on this note, and having none of it spoiled ahead of time for me, found it to be intriguing and exciting. The Emperor is one of the best and most fleshed out characters in Star Wars, and I was curious to learn how he resurrected. Unfortunately the movie barely gives an explanation and we are simply left with the spectacle of what I call Necro Palpatine. However we do have it explained that Snoke was a mere puppet of Palpatine in some capacity, but we aren’t told to what extent, or any other kind of logical backstory. It both answers and raises more questions simultaneously, about both dark lords.

The Rise of Skywalker also goes out of its way in several places to help explain some of the more controversial elements of the prior film, and I appreciated it as a fan of the series who felt toyed with in The Last Jedi. It’s obviously a wink wink to the audience, but I’d much rather have it than not. Greatest of all was Luke (Mark Hamill) being redeemed, as he admitted he was not only wrong to go hide on the island, but toss his father’s lightsaber over his shoulder. The movie also tries to shoe-in more explanation of what Luke was doing after his Jedi Academy was destroyed, which included trying to find the Sith Wayfinder along with Lando Carissian (Billy Dee Williams). It’s not a great explanation of why Luke disappeared, and I wish this was clearly the plan from the beginning of the trilogy. The Wayfinder is basically a key to get to Exegol where Palpatine is hiding. It becomes Rey (Daisy Ridley) and her friend’s mission to find the Wayfinder, through various means and mcguffins.

John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra returns one final time scoring a Star Wars movie. I heard a dozen of his old tracks throughout the film and I had fun naming as many as I could. For how much I love his leitmotifs and listen to his music ad noaseam, whether its giving me an emotional rush during a run or driving on the highway, I couldn’t recall any new music heard in this film. The first thing I did when I got home from the movie was try to download the soundtrack from Spotify but it wasn’t available yet. I still give this movie a big thumbs up for its soundtrack because although it isn’t new, the way Williams’ music is used and where it’s placed gave me goosebumps every time. Hearing Rey’s theme in just the right moments made me happy, and identifying other leitmotifs and variations of them were great to hear.

The acting all around was excellent for a Star Wars movie. Daisy Ridley as Rey is as great as she’s ever been, and the same goes to Adam Driver as Kylo Ren. All the side characters and comic relief did a good job as well. The banter between Finn, Poe, and C-3PO was a treat as well. Tony Daniels continues to be one of my favorite actors in all of Star Wars for conveying as much personality as he does without facial expressions and very limited movement. McDiarmid as Necro Palpatine gets very little screen time, but he’s hamming it up as the evil Emperor he’s always been, and I loved every second of it. I also deeply appreciate that the movie seemed to rely on puppets again, and one of the stand out side characters was a tiny engineer named Babu Frik (Shirley Henderson) who should have had more time in the movie.

The only “yikes” moment I felt was any time we saw Leia. It’s such a tragedy that Carrie Fisher passed away so unexpectedly, and least of all not able to finish this Star Wars trilogy. I listened to her audiobook The Princess Diarist and she seemed so excited, yet nervous, to be yet again the role that made her famous, and to complete episodes 7, 8, and 9. Her face seems to be animated on a stand-in actress, and her only lines were from old footage that was never used in Episode VII or VIII. This means Leia has very little to say in this movie, and probably had a lot less to do in the plot than she deserved to. The CGI simply wasn’t convincing for me and is the only aspect of the movie that put a lump in my throat for all the wrong reasons. On the flip side, Han Solo’s cameo was a terrific scene that also had me teary-eyed. It was a great call back to The Force Awakens, and served a purpose for Kylo Ren’s character. Harrison Ford did a perfect job, and it was just the sort of scene I didn’t know I wanted.

While much The Rise of Skywalker feels hastily cobbled together, and relies on way too many conveniences for the plot to keep moving, I found it to be a very satisfying time. You know that feeling when you’re extremely tired and almost feel drunk, and everything seems hilarious and flippant? That’s how I felt during this entire thing. I could see ridiculous script elements that either contradict or ruin lore left and right, but I think something inside me was just so happy to finally get this trilogy over with. I let the fan service envelop me even if it didn’t make sense or feel justified. Yes Rey is still a Mary Sue, yes we still got an underwhelming lightsaber duel (that she wins), yes there are too many characters, yes the plot and details can be nonsensical, yes this movie needed way more time to bake in the oven. But unlike a Jedi’s weapon, this movie may not be elegant, but it is a cathartic and satisfying experience, which is all I every hoped it would be. Now can we all take a breath and move on?

6/10

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xxdecipheringgravityfallsxx · 6 years

Text

BEYOND THE FALLS Episodic Animatic Series Announcement

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Yo what's up Gravity Falls fandom! Are you looking for something new and exciting to happen in the fandom? Have you been feeling restless and unsatisfied?

Well listen to your good pal Holly Rose, for I have a huge announcement! I'm not certain if you all have ever heard of episodic animatics before!

Here it is -

The Synopsis for Beyond The Falls:

In this Alternate Universe- Stan, Mabel, Dipper and Soos all got sucked into the portal in Not What He Seems.

The portal powers down shortly as they enter it, and they end up in the crossfire while Ford is trying to take Bill down. Ford, Stan, Mabel, Dipper and Soos then flee from Bill and travel across the Multiverse trying to survive and trying to evade capture from Bill and his Henchmaniacs.

This AU probably isn't anything new, and has probably been thought up long before I thought of it. I tried making a comic out of it at first, but I wouldn't have the patience or willpower to make a comic as of right now.

Yet I still yearn to see this project come to life and I was wondering if perhaps the fandom could come together and make episodic animatics to bring this AU to life. It would be like episodes of the show, except in animatic form - think of Deep Woods but more polished with colored backgrounds and such.

This video is not only an announcement video! But a casting call video as well! For not only voice actors but for animatic artists as well, for story boarders, and musical composers and such! This is basically a casting call video for all the people that will need to be involved to make this project a reality!

List of requirements:

If you sign up as a person doing some of the animatics for the episodes - you must be a decent enough artist. There needs to be some slight animation to each of your scenes.

If you watch the videos in the description below you will understand what's being looked for. All scenes must be colored and polished.

If you try out for a voice, your mic must be decent and you must try to get your voice as close to the character you're trying to voice as possible.

You also need to put emotion into your voice! We will not accept your audition if it sounds like you're reading off lines... SORRY ^__^'

If you're trying out for being someone who pitches ideas for episodes, you must make sure to explain in detail how the episode will go.

And you need to make it fit with the overall plot and have it make sense on where it ends up in the episode timeline, and make sure to keep everyone in character as much as possible!

If you're trying out to be a musical composer for soundtracks, make sure you make it all on your own. It has to be made from scratch, it cannot be a remixed version of copyrighted songs!

It has to be 100% from you! Also try to make sure the track fits well with the theme and style of Gravity Falls. Make it as though it would be something that we can all agree we'd hear on the show!

I think that pretty much covers the entire requirements section!

Now here's some final words before I give the voice lines for the casting call!

If you are unable to contribute to the project because you do not have the skill required, fear not. For you have a VERY important job! And that's spreading the word! For you see, you the supporters will be the very BACKBONE of this project.

This project will not get anywhere without you! For you and only you can spread the word to the fandom! This will help the project gain traction and take off! This is a very important job, so don't you dare feel like you aren't helping!

Because honestly your help will be the greatest help of all! Your support will not only bring in the people that will make this project a reality, but it will also keep everyone in the project inspired to continue! So please don't sell yourself short, I can assure you that you will be helping plenty!

Now let's get onto the casting call!

The characters we are casting right now are:

Stan

Ford

{{ Kid Stan and Ford as well, seeing as you know we still have to have Stan and Ford tell their entire mysterious backstory! }}

Filbrick Pines

Caryn Pines

Crampelter

Principle

The Woman on The Speaker Calling Stan and Ford to the Principles office.

West Coast Tech College Board person.

Young Fiddleford

Tyler's mom

Lazy Susan

Toby

Blubbs

Ma and Pa from Dusk 2 Dawn

Additional Background character voices - from when Stan is giving the first tour of the Murder Hut aka Mystery Shack -

Dipper

Mabel

Soos

Bill

For this casting call all you need to do is look up lines from the show and voice act them out. Please try to find at least ten or more lines to do!

Also make sure they each have different emotions to them as well. Don't just do all happy lines, or funny lines. Try to lines of anger, lines of sad, etc etc!

Welp that's basically everything I needed to get out of the way! Here's to hoping we can get make this a project a reality!

Remember! Reality's an illusion, the universe is a hologram, buy gold! Byeeee!!!

Animatic Examples:

{{The Smothering is basically what an animatic episode would look like, except with more polished backagrounds and such. Each episode should try and follow the timeframe of a normal run of a Gravity Falls episode!}}

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{{ALSO ONE LAST THING! We want to try and keep the artistic style as close as possible to the show! But a little different as well! If you want an idea of what style it should follow, then check out “Don’t Dimension It” in the Gravity Falls Graphic Novel! Made by Kiki-Kit! I adore that style and think it would work well with the Episodic Animatic Series! Now of course it doesn’t exactly HAVE to be that style -it can differ a little but try and make sure to keep your animatic parts a mix between the show style, The Don’t Dimension it art style, and a little bit of your own style. Since this will be a multi animated animatic project, we want the style to hold some consistency throughout the episode!}}

#Gravity Falls #Gravity Falls Fandom #Gravity Falls AU #Gravity Falls huge project #Gravity Falls Episodic Animatic Project!#I am hype #are you hype?#Let's hope we can bring this to life!

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