#cherry magic the movie meta

[waitmyturtles]

TL;DR: My analysis of the quiet tone of the Cherry Magic movie -- the overarching theme of the movie was the development of family between Adachi and Kurosawa. 

Well, I’ve turned this space temporarily into a Cherry Magic hovel, a kind of messy sanctuary, really, maybe a cave full of hoarded passing thoughts, rising and cresting emotions, lots of SIIIIGGGHHS, at least two and a half re-watches of the movie, many reblogs, plummeting away my phone battery on consuming more and more gifsets. I regret not being here on Tumblr for the original series, but I feel like I’m more than making up for it by doing all I can to contribute to the dialogue around the movie, which I want to continue doing, meta-style!

Two things have cropped up in my reads of reviews here and on Twitter, one about the tone of the movie, and the other about the pace of growth between Adachi and Kurosawa. I think the first point goes into the second, so here we go:

I’ve seen a lot of comments about how the movie was quieter than the series. I reblogged a quick statement on quiet Japanese BLs earlier this weekend, and I also learned a bit about what the OG CM fandom hoped for with the original series way back when, when there were rumors of a real kiss for the final episode, and how the fandom was slightly let down. 

I think there’s an interesting dichotomy between heat and quiet in the kind of Japanese BLs I tend towards. If you read this space, y’all know my top three -- CM, Kinou Nani Tabeta, and Old Fashion Cupcake -- generally trend toward the quiet, with the slight exception of OFC, which turns up the heat in a panicked moment of revelation.

As I thought about this point, I asked myself -- why the draw towards quiet development and/or contemplation?

For me, all three of these dramas, especially KNT, center on family -- actively creating family, dealing with existing family, and/or managing expectations of creating a future family. 

If you’re Asian, as I am, the thinking on and managing of family issues is, in my opinion, the dominant issue that you spend the majority of your life dealing with. That’s not to say that in Western lifetimes, less time is spent on family issues. What I mean to say is that family issues, I would argue, take up more of your brain space and your sense of morality and ethical engagement in humanity if you’re an Asian, as opposed to the manifest destiny of the West. When I was right out of college, for instance, and rolling with a majority white hipster crew at that moment, my friends would comment on how I’d visit my family’s house once a month. That was tooooo much for them. And they’d legit tell me -- you care too much about your family, you need to separate yourself from them.

These are surface-scratching statements, and if you’re Asian, I know you’ll immediately guffaw at how ridiculous and impossible it would be to even BEGIN contemplating how to “separate yourself” from your family. It’s taken me a LOT of my old lady years to even come to grips with the fact that I needed to live an independent life away from the expectations of my family. And for hundreds of millions of people in our Asian cultures, those Western notions of “separation” and “independence” simply don’t exist. You can cohabitate, be co-dependent on, be enabled by your family, and that is just fine. Family is the structure that gives meaning to the lives of many Asians, without question. 

So to say that the movie tends towards the quiet, I think, possibly bypasses what I think is a major point that the movie is trying to make, both in a cultural arc and in the actual storyline: We are seeing Adachi and Kurosawa making a family together, THEIR family together. 

IMHO, the king of family-oriented BLs was KNT. Both Yoshinaga Fumi, the mangaka behind KNT, and Adachi Naoko, KNT’s screenwriter, deliberately gilded the KNT script with the tadaima and okaeri greetings that you hear when someone comes home at the end of the day. That set-up was meant to indicate that Shiro-san and Kenji considered themselves family to each other -- because, you might be saying tadaima to your parents when you’re a child, or your spouse as an adult. 

The clues to Adachi’s thinking about family are apparent. There’s the moment where he gives advice to his chief about the chief’s complaining wife. There’s the moment in the office when Rokakku and Fujisaki are talking about their lives, the very moment in their lives where they are single but happy at work and with friends. There’s the moment when Adachi picks up the mail and sees his name and Kurosawa’s name, while coming home. 

And of course, the gorgeous moment in the kitchen when Adachi states his desire for a public and permanently committed relationship with Kurosawa. 

Adachi is creating his new family in that moment. 

I want to tie this together with a comment I read on Twitter about how Adachi’s personal growth matched Kurosawa breaking down his walls of perfection, and how he originally projected his perfectionist nature on their relationship. We remember in the series Kurosawa being ULTRA cute in the office after Adachi’s original confession, saying he was going to create the best first date ever; and then all the practice dates they had; and all the planning that went into the Christmas date. 

Those walls began breaking down a little bit in the last episode of the series, and we saw that even more as the movie began, when we realized that they had not, indeed, bonked, as we thought they had, on Christmas Eve. When Adachi’s hunger interrupted their potential love sesh, Kurosawa was like, WEEEEELLLL, through gritted teeth -- I’ll still be patient for Adachi. 

That’s life. But as I originally wrote in my first review of the movie, what I didn’t expect to see in the film was that the movie would be utterly dominated by Adachi’s internal growth INTO the relationship, and how that ultimately steadied Kurosawa to be okay to be weak in front of Adachi, and in his own (Kurosawa’s) life. We know this is a HUGE DEAL, a HUUUUGE DEAL for Kurosawa. He mentions it in the essay he writes for Adachi’s family. He states it as a major point of being devoted to Adachi to his (Kurosawa’s) mother. Breaking down his walls is a major life moment for Kurosawa -- and it would not have happened without Adachi becoming his family.

Because -- family, often, is about rejiggering and redefining one’s boundaries, and creating new ones with the people you’ve chosen. If you’ve chosen well, and right, like our boys did, then your partner gives you the strength to do this major lifting.

AND: where else do we see these boundaries being rejiggered, besides between Adachi and Kurosawa themselves?

We see them in the family scenes. I think that the movie devoted a LOT of time to the family scenes says a lot about what I said earlier about Asian cultures.

I swear to jebus that I nearly had multiple heart attacks during the family scenes. Besides Kurosawa’s mom’s very apparent sadness and confusion, Adachi’s mom had me at moments, even though she outed herself as a fujoshi, basically, lol, when Kurosawa showed up. Why the heart attacks?

These confronting kinds of conversations to family about things like marriage -- I mean, I don’t know if I have the words to describe HOW MOTHERFUCKING HUGE THESE CONVERSATIONS CAN BE FOR MANY ASIANS. Like -- these conversations can be the culmination of a lifetime. They can destroy you. Y’all, if I wrote about what happened to me when my family learned I was dating my husband (in a cishetero relationship, peeps! Interracial and interfaith, yes, but otherwise, not really rocking the boat here!), I probably wouldn’t finish writing without breaking down in tears for an hour. It was horrible. My family couldn’t handle the growth, simply put. 

This Asian family dynamic that an individual’s original nuclear family unit carries SO MUCH WEIGHT IN THEIR APPROVAL OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO -- I emphasize here that this theme was major in the movie. The movie NEEDED to spend time on this in order to achieve Adachi’s dream of permanence with Kurosawa. Adachi NEEDED to tell Kurosawa that he (Adachi) would be present in front of Kurosawa’s parents -- because Adachi KNEW that Kurosawa would NEED Adachi there, because of how BIG that BIG CONVERSATION would be. I’m talking BIG, here, BIG. And I believe that the movie’s OG Japanese audience understands this very implicitly and very, very deeply.

Adachi NEEDED to grow into himself -- he needed to lose his magic, his crutch -- and needed to FIND himself to be the strength and pillar that Kurosawa would need to face his family. I want to take this point, make it into a Cherry Magic teddy bear, brand it with Gelato Pique, and place it on a mantle. 

In order to face their families, our guys needed to become family. And that’s why I think the movie tended towards the quiet -- because THAT kind of growth takes a lot of internal work that comes out in the quiet moments of intimacy with the people you’ve chosen and you love. 

#cherry magic #cherry magic meta #cherry magic the movie #cherry magic the movie meta #adachi kiyoshi #kurosawa yuichi #akaso eiji #machida keita #adachi x kurosawa #kurosawa x adachi #kurodachi #asian family dynamics #asian family culture #family boundaries #asian families

[twig-tea]

I CANNOT BELIEVE

IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024

I HAVE ON MY SCREEN

TAY TAWAN AND NEW THITIPOOM

SHIRTLESS MAKING OUT

ROLLING ON A BED

IN AN ADAPTATION

OF CHERRY FUCKING MAGIC

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS

SINCE 2019/2020

AND IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT

#cherry magic thailand #bl meta #sorry for the yelling #but i feel very strongly about this #tay and new not doing scenes like this in kiss and kiss me again made sense #in dark blue kiss it really did feel like it was missing #in cherry magic the show i forgave them some but the tease of the kiss was just rude #and then in the movie it felt worse #this feels like they've righted multiple wrongs in one go and i am so here for it #typed so that i can stop thinking it #i'll be more coherent about this show later maybe no promises

[absolutebl]

2023 Thai BL Favorites List - Mid Year Check In

Tagged by @thatgirl4815​ (thanks hon!) I adapted this to my taste.

Feel free to c/p do the same! 

I’m answering all these right now for 2023, because it’s too complicated for me otherwise. 

Favorite Thai BL 2023:

My School President

Favorite currently active Thai BL Branded Pair:

High Heat: Net James (Bed Friend) 

Established: OhmFluke (609 Bedtime Story)

New: GeminiFourth (My School President & Moonlight Chicken) 

Most underrated Thai BL actor right now: 

Film Thanapat. He was perfectly serviceable in To Sir, With Love but he’s a goddamn revelation in Laws of Attraction. 

Pair the deserves a second chance: 

Haii & Boom (Chains of Heart) 

Favorite Thai BL Main Character 2023:

King (Bed Friend) 

Favorite Thai BL Side Character 2023:

Thiu (My School President)

Favorite Thai BL side dishes 2023: 

Li Ming & Heart (Moonlight Chicken)

Favorite scene in a Thai BL so far:

My School President calling on the spirit of Love Sick. What can I say? I love meta and I love BL remembering it’s own history. This did both. 

Most Anticipated Thai BL (& why):

I Feel You Linger in the Air 

I like the premise, the cast looks great. This is a time travel historical romance adaption of y-novel by Violet Rain about a heartbroken architect who is transported to the 1930s from the producers of Lovely Writer.

Guilty pleasure Thai BL 2023 series (or likely to become so):

Future the series

July 2023 Thai BL Report

ABL has watched:

My School President & Our Skyy 2: My School President

La Pluie

Step By Step

Bed Friend

Between Us

Destiny Seeker

Make a Wish

Moonlight Chicken

Never Let Me Go & Our Skyy 2: Never Let Me Go

Our Skyy 2: A Tale of Thousand Stars

Our Skyy 2: Bad Buddy

Our Skyy 2: Star in My Mind

Our Skyy 2: The Eclipse

A Boss and a Babe & Our Skyy 2: A Boss and a Babe

Cutie Pie 2 You special

Future the series

609 Bedtime Story

Our Skyy 2: Vice Versa

I Will Knock You

Remember Me

Tin Tem Jai

Pastsenger

The Promise

Cafe In Love

Chains of Heart

Hit Bite Love

The Luminous Solution

My Blessing

Currently Watching: 

Be Mine Super Star

Be My Favorite

Dinosaur Love

Hidden Agenda

Laws of Attraction

Love Syndrome III  

Low Frequency

Senior Love Me

Wedding Plan

Can’t Find

Love Upon a Time

Boyband the series

Heart by Heart

Moments Of Love

DNF 

House of Stars

Till the World Ends

Announced for 2023 (maybe still to come?)

After Sundown

1626

Fake Love

Friends Forever

I Wish You Love

Lucky Love

Pisces of Me

Refund Love

Right Time, Right You

You Are My Soulmate

The Camp Fire

The Outing Series

Deep Night

Pit Babe

Rule No.1: Don’t Be Too Emotional

Future From Me

SHADOW

Naughty Babe

Only Friends

Buddy Line Y Animal AKA

Mystique in the Mirror

2 Worlds

Punk Spy

The Next Prince

Kemjira Will Survive

Playboyy

Close Friend 3 Soju Bomb

Waterboyy 3 AKA Waterboys

Acadex

I Feel You Linger in the Air

Middleman’s Love AKA Middle Love

Cinderella Boys

Cherry Magic (Thai remake)

Born to be Y

Dangerous Romance

23.5

4 Minutes

7 Times 4 Days

Big Dragon 2

Big Dragon the movie

Boy Never Smiles

Chiang Mai Adventures

City of Stars 

Colorful Melody

Cooking Crush

Flirt Milk

Friend. Boyfriend

Heroin The Series

Hot Bamee and Yummy Gyogung

Khemjira Will Survive

Last Twilight

Lost in the Woods

Love in Translation

Love Puzzle AKA Plengrak AKA

Love Syndrome – The Beginning

Lover Merman

Man Suang

Night Dream

Our Skyy 2

Our Story

Rule No.1: Don't Be too Emotional

Sunset Vibes

The Chinese Family

The D Project

The Hidden Character

The Internship

The Sign

The Whisperer

True Moon

Two Worlds

Wish Me Luck

Wish You Luck

Y-Moment

Crazy Handsome Rich

For Him the series

Twin The Series AKA Twins

Casanova Begins

Marry Go Round

Venus in the Sky  

#Thai bl #memes gonna meme #abl answers the call of the meme #favorite thai bl #favorite thai pairing #most underrated actor #thai BL midyear reoirt #thai bl till to come

[celestial-sapphicss]

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE 💖🥳🌹I hope this year is full of kindness, warmth, strength, hope and positivity for you ✨

i can't believe it's been only a little more than an year for me on this hellsite. i already love all of the people here 🥺

i grateful that that we had @badbuddyweek @badbuddyrewatch this year!!! most definitely the highlights for me 🫣

i loved everyone's edits/gifsets/creations (y'all are so talented), and the meta posts and the fics (the brains!!!!!), and they truly made my year!

i discovered ton of different shows this year, and watching them along with everyone here talking about it definitely made me like those shows more!

some of my favourite shows/movies that i saw this year were: the gifted series, cherry magic movie, fathers movie, semantic error, vice versa, enchante, the eclipse, 55:15 never too late, baker boys, kieta hatsukoi, light on me, the player, not me, everything I'm currently watching and definitely bad buddy!

tagging some blogs/people who made my year 10x better! @justafriend-ql @gooseras @dramavibes @naravits @telomeke-bbs @singharit @prans-pat @piningintrovert @ardentlytess @tutontawan @deshimango @dimpledpran @talays-portkey @i-got-the-feels @billlkin @actually-yikes @7nessasaryevils @phukaoapologist @grapejuicegay @cankersoregirl @lovelyghostv @surajmukhis @pranpats @tipsyjaehyun @pranparakul @freensrcha @icouldhyperfixatehim @ghostvalleymasters @laowen @lanzhans @machikeita @tachineko @seeking-moonscapes @dribs-and-drabbles @absolutebl @airenyah @maggiecheungs @wahgifs @baifengxis @smittenskitten @dangermagnetstrand @ahxu-laowen @oldfashioncupcakes @casualavocados @cubedmango @spicyvampire @heretherebedork @kaonoppakao and literally everyone else (the tag limit 😡)

i can't wait for this new year to bring a lot of great shows to us so all of us can collectively lose our minds over them yet again (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠❤

something below the cut for people who didn't have the best of 2022 and some dose of hope & strength.

so, i did not have a particularly great 2022. i could only get through it safe and sane because of the loveliest person that my mother is.

she wrote something for me for the new year's, and I'd love to share it with everyone who had a difficult 2022. (consider it a bearhug from my mom & i).

मैं प्रार्थना करती हूँ, अपने बच्चे के लिए, वो आने वाले साल को, जी भर जियें।

जो रोष मिलें हैं जिंदगी से, उसे स्वीकार कर आगे बढ़े।

दुखद स्मृतियों को भुला पाएं, सुखद समृतियों को हँस कर याद करें।

कठोर ना बने, पर कोमल भी ना रहें।

चलना ही है सर उठा कर, ये बस याद रहे।

दुख उन्हें तोड़े ना।

जिंदगी का एक पहलू लगे, कोई ना हो, उनकी माँ है साथ, ये भी हमेशा याद रहे।

अपने जीवन को धिक्कारें ना, उस से जी भर प्यार करें।

रास्ते खोजें उस पर बढ़ें, और जीवन को स्वीकार करें।

translation: i pray for my child to live the coming year to the fullest. accept whatever hardships & pain this life has given you and have the strength to move on. have the strength to forget the painful memories, and remember the happy memories with laughter. do not become cruel, but do not remain tender either (so that people walk over you). remember, that you should walk with your head held high! hope that the pain doesn't break you. if it ever feels like there's no one for you, always remember that you have your mother (parent/guardian) with you. i hope you don't curse your life, love it to the fullest. find & explore your way/path, move forward on it, and accept your life.

skksksk the translated version seems a lot like toxic positivity bs but i swear its not, it full of love and strength and hope and respect.

#vi.txt #ignore me I'm emotional over nothing 🤡 #2022 sucked because of my father #in most ways i lost him this year #he made our lives hell and made me realise he isn't worth being called a father #well thankful greatful for my mother and my friends & family and tublr #2023 manifestation: cut off my father and his family 🫣 #year end appreciation!

[pandasmagorica]

Intro/tracking post

Last updated April 25, 2024.

Older queer white cis dude in California, pronoun he.

Love music.

Enjoy QL, mostly Thai, mostly series. Here to read and comment on posts.

If a series puts me off in the first episode, I will often abandon it, sometimes within the first few minutes. I'm less likely to abandon midway. If I'm considering abandoning a series I've otherwise liked up to that point, I'll often read the reviews on MDL or look up posts on the series, at risk of getting spoilers, to decide whether to go on with it (and it's gone both ways).

Not a fan of spoilers, but recognize it as a risk of engaging so I don't (usually) spoiler-shame. Please don't put them in comments to me, if you would be so kind.

Okay with sad endings if they're earned or otherwise inevitable.

Incomplete watchlist (which I will update from time to time):

Top Ten (in order as best I can, ask me on another day and stuff might move):

Not Me (best QL series ever for plot, acting, cinematography, and music, content warning for violence) (1 re-watch)

Bad Buddy (lots of fun, new discoveries on every re-watch) (3 re-watches)

He's Coming to Me (heartwarming, delightful coming-of-age work. I didn't care for the library raid part and skipped it once on rewatch and there seemed to me to be some inconsistencies with the ghost rules.) (3 re-watches)

Cherry Magic (Japanese version, delightful, looking forward to the Thai remake if they ever settle the rights issues)

To Sir With Love (could get me to try lakorns)

Semantic Error (enemies to lovers comedy that hits all the right notes)

A Tale of a Thousand Stars (fine series, not sure why I haven't rewatched it, need to rewatch after Our Skyy 2)

55:15 Never Too Late (not QL but has a QL subplot, notable for having an older semi-out gay character) (1 re-watch)

Gaya Sa Pelicula (Like in the Movies) (odd couple thrown together, fall in love, hit limits)

Eternal Yesterday (re-watch episode notes) (not usually into high school QL but the plot got me and it blew me away, achingly sad throughout) (1 re-watch)

Much as I love them, I don't automatically recommend every one of them to everyone. The right rec for the right person!

In progress

23.5

Cherry Magic (Thai) (on apparently long-term hold pending rights issues)

I Promised You the Moon (but not actively watching)

Considering

Okay, this is a really long list and I'm probably not going to watch all of them, but a fan's gotta dream, right?

Although I Love You, and You?

The Eighth Sense

Ex-Morning

The Heart Killers

Leap Day

Mama Gogo

Midnight Motel

My Strawberry Film

Old Fashioned Cupcake

Oh! Boarding House

1000 Years Old

The Player

Revamp

Shadow (although probably not)

Stay Still

The Spirealm (this ones an unlikely stretch - censored and 38 x 45 minutes equals over 28 hours)

ThamePo

Unknown (to binge)

Us

First episode watched but not committed to

Our Dining Table

Also Completed:

A Cut Above (in alphabetical order):

Near misses for my top 10 - there can only be 10 - but bubbling under that line. Highly recommended.

Anti-Reset (episode notes) (speculative fiction on the future of AI, in a robot and a human who fall in love, quite emotional)

Formula 17 (campy and fun) (2 or 3 rewatches)

History 3: Trapped (very funny and enjoyable

I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama (feel-good comedy)

The Great Doctor (episode notes) (not QL) (medical/historical/time travel mashup, content warning for violence and gory medical stuff)

Kiseki: Dear to Me (watch notes) (top notch crime drama with a lot of humor - content warning for violence - includes an older gay couple) (1 rewatch)

Lovely Writer (very meta about the QL industry and quite funny)

Moonlight Chicken (touching and fun)

Once Again (touching time travel, sad throughout) (1 rewatch)

180 Degrees Longitude Passes Through Us (intelligent and a good watch, melancholy, feels very much like a stage play)

The Sign (deeply flawed but wild and enthralling deep dive into northeastern Thai mythology disguised as a cop series - content warning for violence - yeah, it's a mess but it's a glorious mess)

10 Years Ticket (episode notes) (crime drama about two warring families, bittersweet ending - not QL, but there's a QL subplot)

3 Will Be Free (review link) (wild ride with great twists, content warning for violence, yeah I'd call it QL)

Until We Meet Again (fine contrast between the ghosts of the past and the world of today, deep story, but has a few problematic scenes that I cringe at, theme music got repetitive; content warning for suicide) (1 or 2 re-watches)

The Warp Effect (not QL, but some queer characters)

and a fanfic:

What's in Your Head (Bad Buddy zombie fic) (content warning for violence, requires AO3 login)

Others I enjoyed (in alpha order):

I enjoyed these enough to be happy I watched them, but not enough to consider them classics and in no danger of breaching my top 10.

Be My Favorite (fun time-travel fantasy with a strong political viewpoint and good twists, one of the mains is a bit hard to take)

Bed Friend (not sure enjoyed is the right word, has some triggers, but worth seeing, loved the cat role-play)

The Boy Foretold By the Stars (fun, sweet comedy)

Choco Milkshake (fun, touching pet fantasy)

Cupid's Last Wish (fun body-swap plot, insane amount of food and landscape porn, rural settings, content warning for gross cow veterinary scene)

Dark Blue Kiss (pretty good, creepy interloper)

Dear Tenant (enjoyed isn't the right word, and had to pause and walk away from it partway for a major cry, but an excellent film)

DNA Says I Love You (review link) (sweet, sad, interesting gender minority rep)

The End of the World With You (mix of SF and fantasy, good story and relationships)

Eternal Summer (Taiwanese film about youth discovering their identity - bisexual love triangle - well done if a bit melancholy)

Ghost Host, Ghost House (nice supernatural treatment)

Gift Shop for People You Hate (not QL but has two minor gay characters making guest appearances, one evil and one harmless) (horror, with a very dark sense of humor) (this one doesn't show an English title on YouTube, but if you search YouTube under that name you'll find it) (1 rewatch)

Jack O'Frost (melancholy and sweet)

The Man Who Defies the World of BL (very funny after watching several series and becoming aware of the tropes)

The Man Who Defies the World of BL season 2 (okay, maybe a joke can go on long enough)

Me, My Husband and My Husband's Boyfriend (bittersweet poly-ish story)

Midnight Museum (not QL but has a major bromance that could go full QL if there's ever a sequel) (a mess, but a glorious mess)

Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss (quite enjoyable)

My Ride (enjoyable comedy with dramatic moments - includes an older gay couple)

Naked Dining (good fun, lots of misunderstandings and food porn)

Neverland (web series from India, well done and too brief)

Our Dating Sim (fun series about the courage to correct your mistakes from the past, set in the video game workplace - a few cringe moments, but generally a very kind series)

Rainbow Prince (campy and fun, not enough songs for something that's supposed to be a musical, you have to be okay with cheesy)

Rak Diao (funny, very silly, although the harassment jokes got old fast and didn't stop)

Sleep With Me (review link) (sweet lesbian romance, kinda slow for such short episodes, great disability rep)

Something in My Room (the abridged-episode version) (good, not great, ghost story)

Stay By My Side (review link) (fun ghost story version of Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss)

Tale of the Lost Boys (movie) (friendship story between a visiting straight Filipino and a gay Taiwanese aboriginal in Taiwan, heartwarming story)

Tinted with You (a way too short, fun time travel fantasy involving a painting and a mystical art lover that bring an art student together with an ancient deposed prince)

Twilight Kiss aka Suk Suk (fine, bittersweet Hong Kong film about an affair between two heterosexually married men who are actually closeted gay men)

Twins (Thai pulp, fun, not too deep)

Your Name Engraved Herein (not sure enjoyed is the right word but it's fine work)

Zero Photography (from Magic of Zero) (most entertaining product promotion vehicle I've seen in QL, even better than Pran & Pat's product placements in Bad Buddy)

Torn about:

These all had some kind of major issue that prevents me from recommending them.

Fish Upon the Sky (appalled at the racism/punch-down humor in episode 4, otherwise loved its play with form)

Last Twilight (entrancing series, but the characters didn't grow, the ending was poorly set up - needed a few more episodes - and it ultimately fumbled on disability rep)

Mr. Cinderella (nearly abandoned this one because of a supporting toxic character, but kept with it after reading a post about the traditional Vietnamese story it was tracking)

Secret Crush on You (cringed for the first half, considered dropping it, read the defense by trans reviewers, watched the rest, and suddenly it got really good)

Together With Me (mix of great content and really problematic content)

Lukewarm:

I'm more glad than not that I watched these but in retrospect would have been okay if I had missed them:

Bagan Beginning (Not-bad early Myanmar QL, lots of food and antiquity porn, content warning for violence in the last episode)

Color Rush (interesting concept, okay)

Enchanté (not as bad as people say it is, but also just okay)

Gay OK Bangkok and Gay OK Bangkok 2 (definitely gay and, er, okay)

Nitiman (okay enough)

Only Friends (episode notes) (a sex farce with too much toxic behavior for my taste and a last episode choice that left a bad taste in my mouth)

Our Skyy 2 Bad Buddy x Thousand Stars (counting the four episodes as one series even though they have different names, didn't love this but didn't hate it either, very pale compared to the original two separate series)

Our Skyy 2 Vice Versa (was just okay with a really bad idea at the base of its plot)

Star & Sky: Star in My Mind (not great, not bad)

The Tasty Florida (cute enough, just so-so)

Vice Versa (brief notes) (good concept, product placements became way too intrusive for my full enjoyment)

Ones I wish I could watch:

I only watch legit sources, both so the creators get money for it and to reduce the hacking risks that watching gray presents.

Triage (I don't have a Thai phone number to log in to AISPlay, and even if I did not sure if it would have English subtitles)

Manner of Death (I need a WeTV subscription and will check that out) (thank you to @lurkingteapot for this info)

I Feel You Linger in the Air

Peach of Time (supernatural plot) (supposedly I can watch this on WeTV using VPN but I'm not yet ready to make the leap to VPN)

Series I abandoned:

Accomplishment of Fundoshi Bartender (episode 2 when he screamed offstage about not dating married men - I know this series isn't intended to be realistic but I still need the other characters to react to his behavior - this series has gotten entirely too silly for me)

Candy Colored Paradox (bored by episode 2 or 3)

Cooking Crush (a few minutes into episode 1 [2/4] as it is getting way too silly for me, plus we're going to have to put up with hazing/bullying as comedy - at least they had some new sound effects)

Cutie Pie (hated the infantilizing, left by episode 3 or 4)

I Told Sunset About You (left in episode 1, not loving the high school content)

Love by Chance (had someone fall on top of someone else in the first 30 seconds, left immediately)

Love Stage (apparently without most of the music - I'm guessing there's rights issues - but I abandoned it after 2 episodes because one of the lead's acting felt flat and I didn't enjoy the humor)

Lucky My Love (first segment didn't engage me)

Meow Ears Up (lost interest in the first episode with the fangirls in the store incident)

My Secret Love (first segment didn't engage me)

One Room Angel (dropped after episode 3 because it's so depressing; open to returning if it cheers up)

Playboyy (a new record - I got scared away by the content warning before the episode even started - however, based on various posts I might reconsider in for a binge watch once it's over)

SOTUS (not a fan of hazing)

Star & Sky: Sky in Your Heart (abandoned around the time of the outhouse incident)

Theory of Love (abandoned when nearly at the beginning Gun's character was crying in the shower)

VIP Only (failed to engage me in the first episode)

Un-favorite tropes:

Falling on someone

Heavy seme/uke dynamic

Northern rural Thai loan sharks

Evil ex

Boss/Employee

Stuff that I've written as opposed to reblogged I've tagged #pandasmagorica so I can find them easier.

#intro post #yaoi #bl series #bl drama #thai bl #taiwanese bl #japanese bl #pandasmagorica #ql #ql drama #ql series #gl drama #gl series #thai ql #taiwanese ql #japanese ql #filipino bl #filipino ql #filipino gl #korean ql #korean bl #hong kong ql #hong kong bl #hong kong films #taiwan films

[cubedmango]

Hey naina, tried to rewatch the cherry magic movie tonight. Got up to the nagasaki scene. It’s currently paused,,, I have cried genuinely. non stop since I pressed play? My head hurts really badly I think. I’m gonna try again tomorrow I hope you’re having a lovely day

(other ask under the cut for length)

KUROSAWA SAYING WHEN YOU DIDN’T TURN TO ME I WAS SAD AND THAT ONE FUCKIN TEAR THAT FALLS FROM HIS EYES AND THE WAY HE LAUGHS AND APOLOGISES FOR BEING A MESS I NEED A NURSE like i’m gonna. Die i’m two seconds away from throwing up my heart why would he. Why did they film a movie with such intent to tear me to the ground the way he can barely speak and has to try and gather himself multiple times with deep breaths before speaking and ends up crying anyway the way adachi looks on helplessly wondering how to comfort him and let him know how much he loves him the way. The way he tries to bridge the gap between them with understanding through touch one of kurosawa’s main love languages the way kurosawa’s eyes are so glossy and doe like as he waits for adachi’s kiss the way he says his name so softly the way adachi rests his hand on kurosawa’s knee and their hands find each other so slowly…, so softly… so tenderly… the way they can literally speak 636373 words with just their hands alone and do way more for the sake of romance and true deep mutual love than anything the way none of these are in order of how they happen because my brain is seeping out of my ears naina what the actual fuck were they thinking..,, machida keita akaso eiji and kazam hiroki you will receive my medical bills shortly i’m. I wow so. cool

PLEASE IM CRYING KFJHSDKFHDSJF ALL OF THIS IS SO REAL??????? cm crew put Smth into the nagasaki scene idk what but its insane like i will never Not be feral when i think abt it ...... kurosawas breakdown is so painful to see hes been holding everything back for So Fucking Long and imagining all the events from his perspective is crazy like think abt it. he has no idea if adachis ok or not and none of his calls go through and theyre so far apart like Imagine . the fact he wasnt like full on bawling in that scene means hes still holding back so much probs for adachis sake its so aaarhrrhGHGFGHF!!!!!!! LET HIM CRY MORE PLEASE.......

adachis side was perfectly analyzed in that meta i rbed earlier so i have nothing substantial to add but god for the 58302th time his Growth ..... even in ep 12 he had to get that push from tsuge to go meet w kurosawa but in the movie he could already tell kurosawa was putting up a front (and literally predicted it would happen as soon as he got the transfer offer) and he probs planned on talking abt it when he flied back to tokyo before the incident which is. ... .. and the look of determination on his face the entire time kurosawa finally broke down w no panic no overthinking like "I Am Going To Love And Cherish This Man So Hard" and comforting kurosawa w touch and no longer caring abt the magic that hes become reliant on for kurosawas sake. . Yeah im going to be ill about these two for the rest of my life thank u cm crew god bles <3

#cherry magic spoilers #are we still tagging spoilers? i have no idea #my answer #nagasaki scene is fucked up and Evil they didnt have to go angst 100 w it.. even the manga ver had some sillies.. the writers chose violenc #and ofc akaso and machida absolutely killed it my god im v glad its them who got these roles bc the scene is Very hard to portray right imo #like a game of acting ping pong getting every expression and line right....... and the ball is my poor heart getting slapped around #anon ur making me want to rewatch too but i know i cant handle it im still weak i still miss them so much :( #this did remind me to try working on my post-nagasaki fic again i have the ideas and everything its jst. The Damned Writers Block #but i did have plans to make kurosawa break down even More (for good reasons!!!!) i wanna write it so bad augh

[chawarin-panich]

man every time I see a moot fawn over cherry magic movie I’m here like :/ did no one else feel like the oppressive amounts of queer identity stuffed within the standards of straight asian respectability?

i think the reason why I got so annoyed is cause I read meta where it’s compared to old fashioned cupcake and I’m just like keep old fashioned cupcake out of your mouth they are not and never will be the same

#i hope this doesn’t appear in the tags #because people deserve to enjoy it #and yes this is entirely over the use of the word kekkon #cherry magic movie can choke on its zutto soba ni ite kudasai #like sir that is fresh out of college line of romance #like if you think old fashioned cupcake is the same as cherry magic movie #you didn’t watch old fashioned cupcake right #and like I hate that I’m not Japanese so I don’t feel qualified to speak on it #i just know an unfortunate amount about Japanese culture and Japanese respectability in particular #to ever like cherry magic movie #nani’s hot takes

[yea-baiyi]

Tag 9 People You Want to Get to Know Better:

tagged by my beloved @stars-inhereyes ily bestie

Favorite colour:

Yellow at the moment!!! Blue is kind of my signature colour, plus as asexual/bi/nb I’m a purple queer so that is ALSO one of my colours. But the colour that makes me happiest rn is yellow :)

Currently reading:

Rereading and annotating TGCF vol 2, which I’ve been posting about. I’ve been looking for new material though, my attention has been bouncing around like mad lately looking for something to latch on to.

Last songs:

Basically all I listen to are my 3-4 main playlists that I rarely add to. But lately I’ve been trying to catch up with kpop so there’s a lot of random playlists of new songs.

Last series:

Kinnporsche (which I still need to rewatch for fic reasons) but I ALSO just started a rewatch of FMA:B (ALSO for fic reasons) so good luck to me.

I’m planning on watching Sandman and Extraordinary Attorney Woo if I get in the right headspace for it. Also Vice Versa. And Cherry Magic.

Last movie:

Everything Everywhere All At Once!!! I think I also watched the Nicholas Cage movie after I saw EEAAO the first time. But then I rewatched again. But that was months ago, for someone who used to be a huge moviegoer I really hardly watch anything new anymore.

Currently working on:

HAHAHAHAHA where do I start.

Meta projects: TGCF reread (for Hua Cheng analysis mostly), mxtx protags ace-spectrum reading analysis, vegaspete meta, jiang cheng meta

Writing projects: that giant fma:b fic, my cql fic (dead and buried but ive been thinking about resurrecting it), that vegaspete au

The less said about my art the better. But also I have massive ADHD and my work is extremely busy all the time so my energy for projects bounces a lot so I cannot promise anything will ever get finished :^). I think my meta projects will definitely get done at some point at least

Tagging: tagging some of my fave mutuals bc i wanna know more about youuuuu (if we don’t talk this is me saying we should bc ily) @helendamnationx @onmythirdleg @flirting-on-rooftops @catboycrimsonrain @birbfeedersart @sluttyilinglaozu @emingz

#ask #me stuff #i really mean it i wanna be best friends with all of u ppl i tagged #also if we’re mutuals and i didn’t tag u it’s probably bc i forgot or i’m shy #but i am 100% down to be friends just dm me #sorry i’m in a bubbly kinda mood because it’s FRIDAYYYYYYY #it’s the sqx kinnie in me. you’re all my besties now

[heretherebedork]

Tagged by @pose4photoml and why not, it's still summer break.

Name: Francis

Star Sign: Aquarius

Height: 5'11

Time: 10:51 am (almost Unforgotten Night time!!!!)

Birthday: January 27th

Favorite Bands/Favorite Solo Artists:  Uh. Dan the Bard? lol sorry y'all my music is eclectic, random and very sporadic. I pretty much... don't listen to music unless I'm on public transit?

Last Movie: No goddamn idea. No clue. I don't watch movies much at this point and don't really plan to? OH! I think I rewatched the two Seven Days movies because @absolutebl talks about them so much and summer break means I am doing nothing.

Last Show: Minato Shouji Coin Laundry

When did I create this blog: 2011 or so. I was originally a Homestuck blog, just FYI. Yes, that's why I originally joined tumblr.

What I post: . BL stuff. Gifs, analysis, meta, criticism, responses to ask, deeper meta depending on the time and the occasional 'what weird food am I eating now!' which reminds me to do a post about the pickled strawberries and cherries I bought...

Last thing I googled: photopea not accepting video

Other Blogs: Nah. I have some sideblogs but they're all dead and mostly Homestuck.

Do I Get Asks?: Oddly regularly, yes.

Why I chose my url: I am dork and I am here and I like Shakespeare a lot this... weird phrasing is kinda my thing?

Following: 56 (look, I get a lot of anxiety about my dash moving too fast, so I limit my following and have a list of people that I just occasionally go look at. I'm working on being better about it but it's rough, especially considering my absolute urge to avoid all KP posts at this point...)

Followers: 3228

Average hours of sleep: 6-7, typically, less when I'm not keeping to a schedule because I stay up later but still automatically wake up early in the morning.

Instruments: none. None, none, none. I have no rhythm and I'm tone deaf and I tried to play music and all those poor teachers... suffered.

What am I wearing: boxers. It's summer in Chicago, even my AC isn't enough to convince me to wear a shirt I don't need to

Dream job(s): Pretty much what I do? I'm good at it and I love it.

Favorite Food: Sushi definitely at the tops but I also have a very special place in my heart for several Thai dishes, anything chocolate, really good deep dish pizza and butter chicken

Nationality: American

Favorite Song(s):  People can choose?

Currently playing on repeat:  Uh. Again. Music? Not my thing. Currently... JAX's "I Know Victoria's Secret" because it's been caught in my head for a while.

Last book I read: Animorphs Graphic Novel #2

Top 3 fictional universes I’d like to live in: lol I'd be so bad in any fictional universe... Discworld because frankly I'd probably just lead the same life there only with magic, Elfquest on the basis of being an Elf, Animorphs (which is just the real world but also with aliens and shapeshifting, let's be honest)

I'm not going to tag anyone to do this but I'll tag @absolutebl and @iguessitsjustme because I saw both of them do it and wanna make them read my answers. :P

#i am me and me I am #but anyway enjoy this new random knowledge of me #why yes i am a giant nerd on ever level

[waitmyturtles]

Well, well, well, looky who’s getting all up in the Cherry Magic meta scene!

(Credit to Twitter OP!)

#cherry magic #cherry magic the movie #cherry magic the movie meta #let's hope the extra scenes from the special blu-ray disc get fully translated #from the depths of a dying twitter #machida keita #akaso eiji

[piningintrovert]

NAVIGATION

Welcome to the organized chaos :D You’ll find a little bit of everything here, but mostly queer media, kpop & dramas. Remember, I said organized chaos — so I can’t promise things won’t get a little messy. 

My Content — click here for my tags

Gifs 

Commentary

Meta

General Tags 

About Me — things that are deeply relatable

Notes to Self

Faves

Words — quotes, poetry, prose etc.

Art // Fanart

Miscellaneous

The fandom shenanigans start below the cut — only my absolute faves are listed. Everything is organized in alphabetical order and all visual media are categorized by language/region.

This is a living post; last updated 6/6/2023

Kpop etc. 

Artists whose music I follow closely enough to consider myself a fan — a stan for names italics. I sometimes use kpop, khiphop & krnb as general tags.

Big Bang

BTS

DPR IAN

HyunA

Jackson Wang

Wonho

SHINee

TXT

Zion.T

Series, Dramas & TV Shows 

Chinese

Like Love

The Untamed

Guardian

Word of Honor

Filipino

Gameboys // Gameboys 2

Like in the Movies

MyDay

Japanese

Cherry Magic

Life: Love on the Line

Minato’s Laundromat

Mood Indigo

Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice but to Kiss!

My Beautiful Man

My Love Mix-Up

Old Fashion Cupcake

Senpai, This Can’t Be Love!

The Novelist

Korean

I use kdrama as a general tag

Alchemy of Souls

Beyond Evil

Blueming

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Long Time No See

My Name

Semantic Error

The Devil Judge

The Glory

To My Star // To My Star 2

Tomorrow

Where Your Eyes Linger

Taiwanese

Addicted Heroin

Be Loved in House: I Do

Kiseki: Dear to Me

History: Make Our Days Count

History: Obsessed

History: Trapped

Plus & Minus

See You After Quarantine?

We Best Love

Thai

A Tale of Thousand Stars

Bad Buddy

Between Us

Cutie Pie // Cutie Pie 2 You

Friendzone

KinnPorsche

Love By Chance

Love in the Air

Manner of Death

My School President

Not Me

Pit Babe

Second Chance

The Sign

Triage

Until We Meet Again

Vice Versa

Why R U?

Western

Black Mirror

Criminal Minds

Game of Thrones

Heartstopper

Scandal

Sense8

Stranger Things

S.W.A.T.

The Sandman

The Witcher

Young Royals

911 // 911: Lonestar

Movies & Short Films 

Chinese

I Love You as a Man

Nobody Knows But Me

Korean

Private Lessons

Secret Roommate

Japanese

His: The Movie

The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese

Spanish

Trémulo

[absolutebl]

Hii

Thank you so much for your lists, meta, spreadsheets and so on. I found BL relatively recently but as a queer person who used to watch any queer movie I could get my hands on, it has been amazing. And your blog has helped me to understand BL, tropes, filming techniques/styles, media analysis, recommendations and so forth. Thank you so much for your hard work.

I wanted to ask, I have a friend a recently met that is queer and thought he (is from the US) might like BL. I was thinking in recommending him The new employee or Bad buddy, but wanted to ask you what would you recommend a queer person to first start in BL.

Also, I love Moon Ji Yong and Khaotung's in-love eyes. They're superb. I was wondering if you have a top of your fav in-love eyes of BL.

Again, thank you so much, sending good vibes ✨

Thank you for the compliments! So glad to be helpful!

My favorite love eyes?

Currently? Gongchan - Unintentional Love Story:

what would you recommend a queer person to first start in BL?

I thought I had a post about this but now I can't find it so I'm going to cobble one together for you.

I did do come intro level BL question here, but none of them speak specifically to a queer viewer.

#asked and answered #currently my favorite boy #Gongchan #korena bl #korean bl #thai bl

[retrocontinuity]

in the beginning was the cursed word (jjk0 movie)

I have a preference for the bold adaptation, the bolder the better. (Unpopular opinion: between the two extremes, I'd rather an anime do something ambitious while deviating from its manga source material rather than slavishly translate a manga into animation). Jujutsu Kaisen 0 the movie is not a bold adaptation. In fact, in many ways, it's disappointingly faithful. There are some beautiful movie-original scenes: a long wordless sequence from the beginning of the movie as Yuta moves through his new morning routine before showing up for his first day at Jujutsu High, a sentimental juxtaposition of Getou and Gojou caught contemplating the sunset and their school day memories from two different empty rooms, wide-angle shots of all the jujutsu users fighting during the Night Parade battles. For the most part, however, almost everything you see in the JJK0 movie is from the manga, with almost the same pacing, framing, and dialogue.

But the last third of the JJK0 movie is something more interesting, perhaps something only possible with this specific canon: it is essentially a meta post from the MAPPA staff, an animated Tumblr post or Twitter thread, helping tie together the original prologue arc with the Gojou flashback arc to tell the themes they think are important.

(JJK0 spoilers below; some hinting at Shibuya Incident spoilers)

JJK0 was written before the rest of JJK, in fact as a completely separate standalone series, and you can tell. Reading it is like condensing a whole shounen series into four chapters and then shooting it straight into your veins. It has all the Akutami hallmarks, but the speedrun version. I've tweeted this before, but JJK often reads like Akutami accidentally falls into character moments, like he didn’t mean to create such strong characters and they are fighting his breakneck plot to express their Very Strong Feelings. JJK0 isn't this. The emotional beats of Yuta's development are calculated, each time meant to be the catharsis/denouement of the chapter’s plot, and, sometimes, underplayed. Movie!Yuta telling Getou that his use of Rika is "pure love", complete with a cherry blossom pink explosion of power that’s both magical girl and Dragon Ball Z, feels like the mic drop moment it was always meant to be. In the manga, it doesn’t even get a splash page.

The Night Parade is a shockingly generous conclusion to the prologue arc (though, at the time, Akutami didn’t know it was a prologue). Getou and his two-pronged attack on the foundation of the mainstream jujutsu society is the kind of conclusion you would normally save for a mid-story arc. I wonder if Akutami ever regretted using it so early, which may explain why there are technically two versions of the Night Parade story: the one told in the prologue arc and the one told in Gojou and Getou's flashback arc. In the prologue arc, the buildup is implied -- Getou had done something that resulted in him being thrown out by the "mainstream" jujutsu society and banned from the grounds of Jujutsu High, he rescues Mimiko and Nanako, Gojou and Getou both reference but never fully explain a deep friendship from their youth. In the flashback arc, it is the fallout that is implied -- you don’t ever see the events of the Night Parade, but you know what happens next, after Getou walks away.

The movie could have just stuck with a straightforward adaptation of just JJK0. But it can't help but be a tiny bundle of fanservice, for both fans of the manga and the anime series itself. You spend time with the Kyoto students the night of December 24, for example, and indulge in a Nanami fight sequence that for the manga fans is a bittersweet taste of the grand finale of the Shibuya Incident. MAPPA cannot help but hint that JJK0 isn't the whole story of Getou and Gojou, but it also doesn’t have the luxury of telling the whole flashback arc. Instead, JJK0 omits all but a brief snippet of the Riko Amanai story and doesn't mention Fushiguro Toji at all. It ends up focusing on just one moment between Getou and Gojou during their high school days, and in doing so, reframes the Gojou and Getou story for me entirely.

There are multiple levels of cursed speech in JJK0, and like Getou casting a veil on top of Ichiji’s veil during the haunted elementary school sequence, they cover each other, obscuring each other. The most basic of the veils is Inumaki Toge, who is born with cursed speech, so afraid to accidentally bind someone that he only talks in onigiri fillings. The next level is Rika, who curses Yuta with a promise of future engagement. Then, on top of that, is the truth of Okkotsu Yuta, that he binds Rika to him by ordering her not to leave him. This is a connection that Akutami articulates, even hits you over the head with. See, Panda says, he worried about you, because both of you curse others with your words. Yuta's lineage and immense jujutsu power even allow him to appropriate the Inumaki clan's technique. You only see it happen explicitly as so once, when Yuta speaks into a cursed megaphone at Getou. But hasn't he been weaving that technique the whole time with Rika?

And is there not one other distant relative of Michizane Sugawara, one other collector of impossible techniques and boundless cursed energy?

Why did Getou do what he did? What went wrong? The flashback arc in the manga shows this as a culmination of many things. He saw Riko Amanai die, a pawn to a power struggle she was helpless to prevent. His best friend Gojou, the most powerful man he knows, is unable to prevent her death. His best friend holds the body of a young girl in his arms and asks him, should we kill everyone here? Aren’t they responsible for this girl’s death? Say the word, and I’ll do it. No, he tells Gojou, no. Don’t kill thse people. This girl’s death will be enough to show there is something wrong with the jujutsu world. Change will come. But change does not come. Instead Getou watches Gojou rise and feels himself sink. He is killing himself to clean up for a world that doesn’t acknowledge his pain. What is the use of being the strongest, if it cannot prevent pain? Then, right when he is at the height of emotional vulnerability and exhaustion, they send him to the sticks. They show him two young girls, caught up in a struggle they are helpless to prevent. And he asks himself, shouldn’t I kill everyone here?

By cutting out Toji, by cutting out Riko Amanai, by not showing you when chronologically Getou rescues Mimiko and Nanako, the movie makes this conversation between Gojou and Getou the only association you have with Getou turning his back, literally, on the “proper” jujutsu world. Gojou’s words, in essence, become the cause of Getou’s fall. It is the final layer of cursed speech. Like Yuta and Rika, Getou and Gojou trade places. The one who is cursed and the one who bears that curse. They end up assuming the other's mantle. They cursed each other with their own high school idealism. Gojou ends up the protector of the weak, the one who is forced to apply reason and responsibility to his power and the power of his students. He becomes the righteous one. Meanwhile, Getou sloughs off moral responsibility, the idea of any black and white morality at all. There is only strength. The struggle for the peak. The struggle to become Gojou Satoru -- on heaven and on earth him alone.

It's likely that Akutami only made Gojou and Yuta distant relatives as a funny throwaway punchline, but I think the movie casts even this connection as another level of cursed speech. Yuta binds Rika to him and we are told it is a curse, but viewed in another light, that’s just love. To have and to hold, until even death cannot do us part. Getou and Gojou had a friendship, a kind of love, but in the end, wasn't it a curse? As he dies, Getou and Gojou exchange last words. "You should at least curse me at the end," Getou chides Gojou. But didn't Gojou? Hasn't he been cursing Getou the whole time, just like Yuta did with Rika? Their friendship, Gojou knows, is the biggest curse of them all. They are each other's one and only. It is because they were each other's best friends that this happened.

This is why Gojou says to Yuta at the end of JJK0 the manga and the movie that Yuta was not the reason Getou came back to Jujutsu High. Gojou was the last veil. Yuta couldn’t have known.  

In the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, last words are a curse, so much so that Nanami as he was dying worked hard to make sure his last words would not curse Yuji. But Getou and Gojou's last words to each other are not curses. They are about their past together, the time they shared and can never go back to. Nothing about the future. Getou doesn't ask anything more from Gojou. The future is none of his business. They have already cursed each other to their heart's content. Just like Yuta and Rika, they did it when they were young, when they bound each other with friendship. The largest, most twisted, most powerful curse of all. There is nothing left for either of them to say.

Akutami is at his best not when he is trying to tell you why something happened, but when he is showing you how we live the surprise consequences of our own actions. MAPPA understood that. Jujutsu Kaisen is not a story about solving mysteries. It’s about untying these questions of what makes us human, what actions we should take in the face of immense danger to ourselves and others, what it means to save someone and what it means to be responsible. It doesn't matter what ancient fingers were pulling our strings to bring us here. The point is that we are here. The point is not that Yuta is the descendant of Sugawara, but that Yuta has always bound his sense of self-worth and self-affirmation in other people, so that when Rika died, he bound her to him, and when his friends were going to die, he let himself be bound to Rika. The point is not how Rika became the Queen of Curses, but that when time came to call Yuta on his bargain, she cut him free. (The point is that Rika is Sukuna and Rika is Tsumiki.) The point is not how Itadori Yuji ended up strapped on the trolley tracks -- just that he is. The point is that, no matter who was behind it or how they were maneuvered, Megumi feels like he forced Yuji to curse himself and then asked for Yuji to keep living with that curse. The point is that Yuji doesn't feel that way, that he thinks he chose his own curse and chose to live through that curse, knowing it will mean he dies. (You know I will always come back to them.) The point is that, even though he himself is a sum of circumstances and choices beyond him, Gojou knows it's his own strength that caused Getou's equal and opposite reaction, forcing Getou into doing something so horrible that it left him vulnerable to becoming an unwitting vessel for an even larger horror. The point is that Getou took Gojou's words and marinated them until they bloomed like a cursed lotus in the mud of ordinary, everyday human evil. The point is that if none of these people met each other, they would be lesser people, but perhaps happier.

The point is that it is a horrible curse, to love a friend and wish they could stay alive and stay with you always, and to know they cannot.

Misc. Notes

Getting Megumi Ogata for the movie was a stroke of genius, not only because her voice is so good at conveying vulnerability, panic, and unhinged strength but also because it makes you realize how much of JJK0 is basically the first half of Evangelion TV and most of Eva 3.0+1.0. I completely forgot that even in the manga, the higher ups talk to prologue Gojou from behind folding screens. In the manga, it could just be an accident, but in the movie, when you see Gojou surrounded by faceless, nameless old men telling him what to do with Shin-- I mean, Yuuta, It's so SEELE-esque it almost toes the line of parody.

Do you think Gege realized that the 0 of JJK0 looks like a ring?

I am a Known SatoSugu anti so I have to say that the movie is the one time I actually felt one (1) feeling for these two. The sunset sequence is pure, unadulterated pandering, and the perspective Gojou not attacking Getou as Getou walks away from, painted in dark blues and grays to contrast the bright reds and oranges of their high school years, is an obvious but fantastic use of the animation medium to do something the manga couldn't. 100/10, absolutely no notes.

In the elementary school and the Hapina Shopping District, the veil once cast turns the environment inside the dome dark and overcast, almost night. But when the veil falls over Jujutsu High when Getou attacks, you can see it blocking the red orange of the sunset and turning the inside into greens and a sort of hazy, dusty daylight. What's going on?

#jujutsu kaisen 0

[life-rewritten]

THE GIANTS OF THAI BL 2020 AKA SHOWS STEALING MY HEART IN NOVEMBER

UPDATE AND UPCOMING ANALYSIS NOVEMBER 2020

It's the moment I've been waiting for since the excruciating silence of Thai BLS during the lockdown. It's November, the month of thanksgivings, the month of pre-Christmas jitters, nanowrimo and the month that has finally made me realise we are so close to ending this godforsaken year. Still, most of all, November means that we are getting buttloads of shows that are about to take my breath away. This year has been such an exciting year for BLS because of the increasingly amount of companies and directors willing to produce and release different types of BLS. In this list, we have awaited sequels, delicious plotlines and shocking comebacks. But most of all we have lots and lots of romance and men. Which of these have you been waiting for? Let me know. Let's squeal about it. November is going to be so great!

Ratings: From 1 to 5 (1 being least excited to watch, 5 being most,) how excited am I to delve into these shows?

Shows already airing

1.I TOLD SUNSET ABOUT YOU/ INTERPRET, MY LOVE, WITH YOUR HEART

Genre/Themes: Romance, Melodrama, Coming of Age, Angst, Drama, Childhood friendship

Country: Thailand

Verdict: So finally I rise from the memories of poorly produced bls, and pains of bad acting, and toxic writings, and traumas of stiff actors and homophobic agendas to finally say that without a doubt. Nadao has produced another masterpiece after my other favourite (Non) BL; Greater Man academy. Nadao stuns me, and for a very long time, I couldn't understand that this was how everyone was feeling, one because I wasn't fully educated or in the know about the company, I only saw tv shows in Thailand that were produced by GMMTV and to be honest I didn't think there was anything else above that standard in shows apart from Lakorns and Movies. (I know Sacrebleu) Getting to know and watch Nadao shows has been an experience, and for BL, I am hooked and ready for what else they have to offer. The only qualms that prevent me from gushing about the show are how international fans are treated. It took me a very long time to forgive ITSAY for its subbing platform (and price range), and that's why I refused to watch it with positive feelings. After episode 2 though, I'd be a fool to hold on to resentment when there is no doubt that this BL (despite not knowing if it's a sad ending. I'd hate if it is but it wouldn't change anything) is the best BL of this year. With ridiculous, incredible production, outstanding breathtaking cinematography, beautiful and talented actors and writing so good it blows me away. Episode 2 left my heart in pieces, but in a good way, I haven't recovered from the angst.

Ratings: 4.5/5 Would have been a 5/5 if the pricing made sense but also I'm terrified about a sad ending which I won't be too happy about.

2. FRIEND FOREVER/ OUR LOVE IS SICK

Genre/Themes: Romance, Music, Coming of Age, Angst, Drama, Childhood friendship, Rich vs poor,  Bullying 

Country: Thailand

Verdict: It's a pity this show is not available for international fans. Because I think people would actually love this show the way I do. It's so precious, reminds me so much of my first ever BL Lovesick (made by the same production team so makes sense) but better. What can I say about this show, really adorable cast, actually so good on the screen, great chemistry, and good storylines that keep me hooked. I am so in love with surprisingly one of my favourite couples this year Tin and Sea. I have such a great time watching this show, and I enjoy also analysing and just piecing together some of the mysteries in the show. It's been so good so far, and I can't wait for more. The first episodes are a little slow-paced, but it gets better as you keep watching it. I'd advise you to watch the director's cut because that has all of the storylines in the episode instead of the tv version which is more censored and has a lot of deleted scenes that mess with the flow of the storyline. Still, one of my favourite Thai shows right now. 

Ratings: 4/5  I think 4/5 is a fair score just because of some confusion when trying to watch it internationally and getting the right version and I do think the story feels like a whiplash between the different styles of writing of the main two couples. Go watch this though if you haven't, dm me and I'll show you how. 

NON-THAI

3. GAYA SA PELIKULA

Genre/Themes: Romance, Drama, Comedy, Angst, LGBTQ+ Education, Contract relationship, Haters to lovers

Country: Philippines 

Verdict: Normally with verdicts, I have so much to say about a show, also when I analyse I can write essays and essays of information. When it comes to this show, I'm speechless. I'm in awe; I'm crying just even trying to explain how great this show is. How great Fridays are because of this show. How upsetting and damaged I am when the end of the episode occurs, I literally mourn waiting for the next episode the next week because it's too long. This show pulls you in, and it never lets you go. I'm mindblown by the writing of this show, mindblown by the acting, by the production, music, but most of all I have become a mess because of this meta in this show. I have cried so much because of how much I care about this show, the characters are all fleshed out, are so powerfully written, and emotionally tugs at your heartstrings whilst still educating and representing LGBTQ community fantastically. I don't know what we did to deserve a show like this. Maybe its because after years of waiting for something to finally show up and just be unproblematic and be so great with no questions, no confusions, no struggle, this show is just that. And I will be forever thankful to the whole team that brought this to us

Ratings: 5/5 I would give this more than 5 if I could. That's how much this show means to me. 

4. CHERRY MAGIC 

Genre/Themes: Romance, Comedy, Supernatural, Office drama, Slice of Life

Country: Japan

Verdict: Kurosawa and Adachi. That's it. That's the reason for the 5/5 stars when it comes to watching this show. First of all, I like Japanese romantic comedy shows, and anime, and manga. So seeing cherry magic come to life as this amazing form of that makes me so happy. Typically with Japanese BL, everything feels so serious sometimes, and then sometimes it feels too crazy and over the top. But Cherry Magic just feels like a warm hug when you watch it; you can't help your self but to smile and giggle at Adachi's adventures realising that he can read minds because he's a virgin at 30 years old. To add to that, he is given Kurosowa this incredible, amazing, wonderful non-toxic man who absolutely adores him and unconditionally is there for him. I just like what? Where do I get my own Kurosawa? Like it just feels so unfair haha. But really cherry magic is full of great acting, fantastic plot and unique as well. Every character is also written well, and all have interesting dynamics. We also have another side couple who is so funny and ridiculous but also just cute and heartwarming. I have a great time watching this show and the fact that it's ending on Christmas day? Already tells you what this show is, a gift and its a great one. 

Ratings: 5/5 I want my own Kurosawa. That's it. That's all I want Universe.

Shows Upcoming

5. THARNTYPE 7 YEARS OF LOVE

Genre/Themes: Romance, Drama, Comedy,  Mature, LGBTQ+ Representation, Internalised homophobia, Sequel

Country: Thailand

Verdict: This is a complicated show to gush about. First of all TharnType, the series in 2019 was one of my favourite shows that brought me back to this BL thing. I absolutely adore all the actors, and I also loved the storyline like I said before there's something about Mame's writing that I appreciate, I think most of her strengths is found in TharnType. Because of this, this sequel is one of my most anticipated show this year. However, I feel conflicted because I hate sequels. I hate couples having to go through the weird-ass, shallow, conflicts that just end up ruining the meaning of their previous show and leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth about the couple I once loved (Looking at you Together with me the next chapter still traumatised honestly). Enough of the negatives, Tharn and Type from the trailer looks like it's going to be a wild ride, I can even see the great chemistry that made me fall for MewGulf, and I'm so excited to see the new couples and characters. I also am so excited to see TECHNO again and laugh with him every Friday. We also know that the awaited wedding between our couple is also going to be in this show. And that's going to make me bawl like a baby. Let's hope we don't have too many toxic or troublesome storylines, let's hope we don't have too many breakups and fights (because that hurts so much seeing Mew cry) and let's hope we finally have a sequel that is better than its predecessor. 

Ratings: 4.5/5  This is how I feel about it, I don't think I can rate it as 5/5 because of all the worry and anxiety at what the storyline entails—still a great show to look forward to. 

6. MANNER OF DEATH

Genre/Themes: Romance, Crime, Mature, Angst, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Haters to Lovers

Country: Thailand

Verdict: Think about it. Why wouldn't this be number one on everyone's list of upcoming BLS? We have the return of one of the best actors in this genre MaxTul the actual godfathers of Thai BL; we have an incredible team here with a director that has won multiple awards, with a storyline that is unique to Thai BL, we're getting crime, detective, mystery BL with mature characters who are not in university? As if that's not enough, we also have a really incredible plotline about this forensic doctor who falls in love with someone who we are not sure if we should trust because he could be a murderer! Like oooh yes please, the drama, the angst, the thrill?? I'm ready for this; I am so prepared to give my whole heart and attention on this show. I want it to be so good, to defeat the shows of 2019 that came and took our hearts away, to be the best BL ever. It's so difficult not to raise my expectations when it comes to this show when I know we have a great cast, great chemistry, non-stiff acting, and just a really non-toxic author as well. I look forward to this so much. Only issue/question? Where is the trailer? Hello WETV, where is our teaser? Why don't we know the date for when this is coming out? I want it out now. But I'll try and be patient okay? 

Ratings: 5/5 I can't think of how this show won't be good. And that's really worrying. But for now, I'll keep my expectations high and wait.

7. TONHON CHONTALEE 

Genre/Themes: Romance, Coming of Age, Angst, Comedy, Childhood friendship, GMMTV

Country: Thailand

Verdict: Podd and KHAOTHUNG, (my sun, my heart, my favourite person ever) Sorry just gushing over my two faves. GMMTV has shocked me this year with the announcement of this show. First of all, Khao gets to have a show where he's the main lead. I've been waiting for this, and I'm so proud and excited for him. Not only that obviously, but TonTonChontalee looks really good with a vibe of a  comedic spin to one of my favourite shows Theory of love. I am ready to see Podd act so stupid as Ton and at the same time sob when he finally realises that Chon is the one. I'm so ready to see Khao act his socks off, and the show looks so funny, so fun and just like the chemistry between two is definitely a winner. I cannot wait for this next Friday. And it also has Mike and Toptap! What's not to love? Seriously though I'm praying this is successful, and it helps both Podd and Khao to dominate GMMTV. Let's find out next Friday.

Ratings: 5/5 For Podd and Khaothung. Just worth the rating.

8. GEN Y THE SERIES

Genre/Themes: Romance, Drama, Comedy, Angst, 2moons Fanfiction, Haters to Lovers

Country: Thailand

Verdict: First of all 2 MOONS Reunion! What?? Very shocked to see this show tbh one because it's like a direct copy of 2moons the series; the same cast, the weird alternations to the same name, the same kind of plot as well. Channel 3 has finally decided to invest in BLs,  one of the biggest companies in Thailand, so the budget is high, the actors are known and famous, the production is good. This is so exciting to see. Also, 2moons was one of my favourite past BLs the whole time it was airing, and I had a massive affinity for Kimmon and Copter, so it's great to see them play their characters again but with a better budget and now glow up and grown. Their acting seems to have improved, Kit and Ming's storyline being the main focus is also really lovely to see. I also love seeing Bas and the other actors from other Bl series (The Moment actors) and I'm excited to know more about the new cast as well. So yeh this show has a great potential to win my heart as well, and the competition is not easy at all. But with a great company behind them and an exciting premise, this can also be a winner. 

Ratings: 4/5 I'm intrigued by this show, and I look forward to seeing what it brings.

November is such an exciting month for someone like me who just loves watching tv and analysing and just seeing romance bloom. These couples, stories and actors have a great potential to be the best things of 2020 so far, each of these shows holds evidence that they're worth paying attention to and honestly I've missed seeing Thai BLs that make me so excited so much. I've missed these actors, I've loved each and every one of them, and I can't wait to see them this month on my screen. What about you, guys? What do you look forward to? Who are your favourites? What are you worried about when it comes to these comebacks. Let's discuss.

#thai bl #bl drama #itsay #i told sunset about you #friend forever the series #cherry magic! #cherry magic #cherry magic! thirty years of virginity can make you a wizard?! #japanese bl #bl series #gaya sa pelikula #like in the movies #tharntype #tharntype 7 years of love #manner of death #tonhon chonlatee #poddkhao #gen y the series #wrpup #november #mewgulf #cwg

[miru667]

do you have any favorite onceler/lorax related headcanons ?

i had to think long and hard for this ask, wow. There have been so many headcanons made by the fandom over the years, many that have just been passively absorbed into my brain as near-canon by now, so i rly drew a blank when i first saw this question. |,D

Some headcanons that crossed my mind weren’t headcanons but were instead analyses or little details discovered by looking closely at screenshots or stuff from official concept art that never came to fruition so I’m not gonna mention any of those....

Anyway my fav ones include:

the onceler’s height being 6′4″ [link]

the onceler being idolized in public during his biggering days (p much canon already but i love to see/create fan content of him looking casually intimidating and untouchable, high above the crowd in a figurative sense [link] [link] [link])

the onceler wearing suspenders under his suit 😍

the onceler smoking cigars during his biggering days (this and the previous headcanon i love to see in fanart)

the onceler being personally influenced by fashion of the 60s/70s growing up [link]

the onceler having good proprioception. I know most of the fandom liked to think him clumsy, but I think he’s the opposite. He can dance so smoothly while multitasking, he caught all those pancakes perfectly, he balanced himself on that bed frame so well despite being rushed down the rivur, and he’s got magician fingers. i bet he could tie a cherry stem with his tongue.

magic electricity in the air. His electric guitar wasn’t plugged into anything, and he could turn a lamp on and off in his tent, and even keep a fridge running. This would’ve helped make lerkim-living bearable as well. i know in reality Illumination prolly just couldnt be bothered to work around the lack of electricity in the valley, and some ppl even go with the excuse that the flashback was seen thru ted’s imagination so of course he’d imagine an electric guitar etc [if anyone has a link to the og post pls msg me], but it’s my personal de-meta headcanon intended to poke fun at the movie out of endearment and i love it lol

thneedville recycling deceased ppl into foodstuffs [link] (Elf made this canon for their Ted’s thneedville, and I had my Audrey eating soylent green in zomb au, tho the product’s authenticity was never confirmed 9.9)

i have a lot, a lot of little personal headcanons for Audrey/thneedville that i ended up making canon for my Audrey, from her archaeological interests to her celebrity crush to thneedville’s high restriction of outside-world information, but that’s getting into oc territory!

There are also a lot of headcanons that askblog mods have made specifically for their characters that i love deeply and accept as movie-canon in my heart, but those are also oc-ish territory so I'm leaving them out.

i have 7212 headcanons that I’m absolutely crazy for but i dont think ur looking to hear abt crossover stuff lol

That’s all I can think of for now! I’ve probably missed some important things so if I think of more I’ll edit this post in secret. Thanks for the ask, this was fun :D

#miruask #sloshering #onceler #the lorax #miruanalysis #reference

[agentnico]

Top 20 Best Movies of the Decade (2010′s)

Now that we have entered the 2020s, it’s time to look back on a decade of movie magic. To emphasise the importance of each year, I’ll balance things out by including two films from each year for my Top 20 list. I’ve tried to pick films that both defined this decade as well as appealed to me personally, so my list will of course, as always, be different from yours, but hopefully, I won’t totally irritate you with my humble choice, which I deem worthy to post online for the public eye to witness.

2010:

INCEPTION - “You’re waiting for a train...” Christopher Nolan unarguably is the most exciting and original directors working today. Each time he releases a movie, its an event. A literal must-see at the cinema. Which is why this isn’t the only film of his you will find on this list. With Inception, Nolan gives us a movie that is both enjoyable and imaginative, rewarding the audience for the attention that it demands. Filled with so much detail that if you miss certain shots, you will completely get lost in confusion of the narrative (as confusing as it already is). It’s intense and complex, with great performances from the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, this movie will leave you lingering for more even after that mysterious ending.

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD -  “You cocky cock! You'll pay for your crimes against humanity!” Once again, another exciting director on this list (oh there are so so many!). Ever since Edgar Wright emerged from the British isles, he’s given us some of the funniest films of the past decade and onwards. His Cornetto Trilogy is a blast, Baby Driver is a blast, Ant-Man was going to be even more of a blast if Marvel allowed Wright to do his magical shenanigans his way, and the upcoming Last Night in Soho will surely be a blast also. With Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Wright creates a meta-clever universe taking inspiration from comic books and video games and filled to the brink with wink-wink-nudge-nudge humour, this is an exciting and very sarcastic over the top endeavor. Also, Brie Larson in this movie.....phew!! And unsurprisingly, its all a blast!

2011:

DRIVE - “I just wanted you to know, just getting to be around you, that was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Drive is more of an elegant exercise in style, and its emotions may be hidden but they run deep. A shamelessly disreputable, stylish, stoic, ultra-violent thriller with amazing stunt work, one of the best opening sequences of any movie this decade and a neon-pumped soundtrack that’s a must-own for all vinyl users, if you still haven’t seen Drive, there’s only one thing you can do. Clue: it’s to go watch Drive.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL - “Your mission, should you choose to accept it...” Tom Cruise’s deal with the devil allows him to do some literally impossible stuff, and though I don’t condone his Scientology ways, the man’s stunt work and efforts in his area of expertise are worth all the praise and respect. To be honest, I’m commemorating all three of the Mission Impossible flicks that graced our screen this year (Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation and Fallout). This franchise is like a game of dodgeball, except that Tom Cruise is the dodgeBALL, being thrown and thrust left and right like nobody cares. Also, with me being Russian, the fact that a movie manages to destroy the Kremlin and then have me not hate the film in the aftermath shows that this film is way too fun to hate.

2012:

DJANGO UNCHAINED - “Gentlemen, you had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.” Quentin Tarantino is one of my favourite directors working today. And Django Unchained happens to be my favourite film of his. The writing for this film is orgasmic (I went there!). The way the actors deliver the lines and the lines of dialogue themselves sound almost poetic to my ears. I can quote so many lines from this darn thing. The cinematography is immaculate. The soundtrack choice is great. The performances, my goodness, the PERFORMANCES!! Jamie Foxx does arguably his career-best work here, but also we have Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio both chewing up the scenery, and I’m sure everyone has heard the story involving DiCaprio and the broken glass. Django Unchained is an easy choice on this list for me, and possibly in my Top 10 of all time.

LES MISERABLES - “Do you hear the people sing?” The film that is based on a musical that is based on a book that is based on certain true events. Tom Hooper did an interesting choice of having actors sing live in front of the camera during filming rather than pre-record their voices, and it works to grand effect, though Russell Crowe should have probably been given more singing lessons. The movie is one hell of a way to adapt such a popular stage musical. With an opening shot that emphasises the scale of this picture with a zoom-in towards this big ship during a storm being pulled by these poor prisoners, we are plunged into the despair and conflicts of various characters with adroit narrative thrust so that not a moment feels wasted or redundant. You’d think that a film with hardly any dialogue and an overall reliance on singing wouldn’t be so emotional. Yet, somehow, it works. Also props to Anne Hathaway for winning an Academy Award for being in a film for only 5 MINUTES!!

2013:

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET - “Sell me this pen.” Martin Scorsese’s mad look into Wall Street life is a bombastic caper and running at nearly 3 hours, Scorsese and his editing team manage to keep an astoundingly intoxicating pace that keeps you enthralled and engaged throughout. This one is definitely not for the families, as this R-rated fest is filled with drugs, money, sex and everything you can possibly imagine and paints quite the picture of the rich folks of Wall Street. And the middle of it all a bravura performance from Leonardo DiCaprio. Someone needs to give DiCaprio’s agent a raise, this is Leo’s third appearance on this list and we’re only in 2013!

THE WAY WAY BACK - “I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave. You're having way too much fun, it's making everyone uncomfortable.” Sometimes a little indie flick is enough to lift a human spirit. Real, fun, uplifting and innocent, The Way Way Back dedicated to anyone who felt awkward or out of place at some point in their life, which, let’s be honest, counts all of us. I’m not afraid to admit that. So stop being a b*** and reveal your sensitive side too! Yes, you, the person reading this. Who else could I possibly be talking to? Myself? Maybe. The Way Way Back though is one of the best feel-good indie films of this decade, with the loveable Steve Carell acting very unloveable and Sam Rockwell Rockwelling himself to charm city! If you’ve missed this one, treat yo’self and check it out.

2014:

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL - “And?? Where is it? What's it all about dammit don't keep us in suspense this has been a complete f***ing nightmare! Just tell us what the f*** is going on!!!” Easily Wes Anderson’s best in my opinion (I have a friend who would argue Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums has the better hand but I think my opinion is more valid because it's me), this movie is a glossy, colorful, whimsical deadpan affair with an energetic turn from Ralph Fiennes as the hotel concierge M. Gustave H. as he and his lobby boy run into various Wes Anderson regulars and deal with murderers, stolen paintings, love affairs, prison breaks, and all kinds of crazy shindigs, but all shown in such a casual Wes Anderson way. This movie is like a slice of cherry pie - damn fine!

INTERSTELLAR - “Murphy’s Law doesn’t mean that something bad will happen. It means that whatever can happen, will happen.” As promised, Christopher Nolan makes another appearance on this list, now with his space time-traveling epic Interstellar, where he takes inspiration from the likes of Kubrick and Tarkovsky to give us, as always, a tad bit confusing adventure with great visuals and an interesting narrative (though it does sometimes get lost in its own way), however, the key thing holding this piece together is the father-daughter relationship with Matthew McConaughey and Mackenzie Foy (and Jessica Chastain) managing to bring so much raw emotion to their respective roles that you can’t help but want to shed a tear. I mean, I haven’t cried for over 14 years, but I remember when I first watched this film, the audience around me was sobbing quite a few times during the duration of this movie. Give it to Nolan to give us the emotional moments!

2015:

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD - “Oh what a day! What a lovely day!!” Easily the best action movie of this decade. Sorry John Wick, neither you or Tom Cruise could defeat this beast. The sheer, limitless invention behind this movie's exhilarating, preposterous chase scenes highlights action filmmaking at its finest. With big monster trucks and a random guitarist rocking-it in the middle of all the action, it’s like a nihilistic version of a Cirque du Soleil show! And it makes Tom Hardy the calmest person on-screen; no idea how it managed that.

STEVE JOBS - “I sat in a garage and invented the future because artists lead and hacks ask for show of hands.” If there is anyone who can make formulaic, mathematical or technological sound fun and exciting, its Aaron Sorkin. The man has a talent for writing screenplays about difficult and complicated topics yet turning them approachable for the casual moviegoer. Pair him with director Danny Boyle, and the result is Steve Jobs, a look at the man behind the phone. Narratively set during three important product launches of Jobs’, we get to see the behind-the-scenes of his relationships with his colleagues and family members, and this character study is one that could have easily fallen into generic biopic tropes, but it holds it’s own right till the credits roll. Also props for showing that Seth Rogen can actually do a serious role. Who would’ve thought that pot-smoking fella had dramatic chops in him?

2016:

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS - “Susan, enjoy the absurdity of our world. It’s a lot less painful. Believe me, our world is a lot less painful than the real world.” Fashion designer Tom Ford does sew his suits well. Apparently, he can also make great films too, with 2009′s A Single Man and with said Nocturnal Animals. This movie is truly incredible and I remember it taking me and my friend by surprise when we first watched it at the cinema. It’s shocking. Horrifying. Depressing. Upsetting. Altogether exhilarating. Being of a fashion background, Tom Ford directs the hell out of this movie, with gorgeous shots and great use of colour as well as managing to masterfully create tension and suspense when necessary. Honestly, I know Tom Ford is probably busy at a department store somewhere, but the guy needs to make another movie. The man has a talent.

LA LA LAND - “Here’s to the ones who dream, foolish as they may seem. Here’s to the hearts that ache; here’s to the mess we make.” Oh, La La Land. Damien Chazelle’s follow-up to the also excellent Whiplash. People who know me well know how much I love this movie. An old-school tour-de-force musical that’s a love letter to jazz and the golden age of Hollywood. The city of stars never looked so good. Featuring catchy original songs, excellent dance choreography (the sequence to the song “Lovely Night” is especially memorable) and a romance tale ten times better than the forsaken The Notebook, La La Land is one special movie. I know many are put off by the film’s not so happy ending, however for me it was the only way this narrative could have ended. 

2017:

BLADE RUNNER 2049 - “We’re all just looking out for something real.” Similarly to Nolan, Denis Villeneuve is proving to be one of the most exciting directors working today. He’s the man behind such films as *deep breath* Prisoners, Enemy, Sicario, Arrival and Blade Runner 2049. And those have all been done within the last decade. The man constantly makes quality movies of various genres, though lately, he has been leaning more towards science fiction, which is a-okay in my books, since as Blade Runner 2049 proves, he can turn science into fiction like butter on bread. A sequel made 30 years after Ridley Scott’s classic, this visually breathtaking piece is arguably even better than its predecessor with many moments giving you the “wow wow wow wow wow WOW!” factor, and when Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford are both on-screen they are dynamite. Forget the new Star Wars film (that’s right, I'm throwing shade there), Blade Runner is where it’s at!

PHANTOM THREAD - “The tea is going out. The interruption is staying right here with me.” The supposed last Daniel Day-Lewis film, as he has now apparently retired from acting, but let’s be honest, nothing stops him from simply unretiring at any point. Exhibit A - Joe Pesci. However, like Pesci, if he comes back I’ll only be happy. He’s one of acting greats of our time, and his collaborations will director Paul Thomas Anderson bring out some of his best roles. Phantom Thread is a marvel of a movie. No, I don’t mean that’s its part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I mean as in it can fill one with wonder and astonishment. Phantom Thread is PTA’s Gothic dark fairy-tale romance film, which expertly planned shots and scenes where every word of the dialogue counts. There is no wasted moment. And as the film transpires to its dark and unsettling climax, one begins to realize that this, THIS, is what filmmaking is about. Telling an engrossing story in an interesting way with crisp-clear shots and off-the-chart acting at play, with great costume design on display, although the latter is unsurprising due to a major aspect of the movie revolving around fashion.

2018:

MANDY -  “You ripped ma shirt!! You ripped maaa shiirrt!!” An acquired taste for sure, however, Mandy is indeed something truly special. From first glance, this film might seem like nothing out of the ordinary, especially from the point of view of the plot. Its the usual revenge flick. However director Panos Cosmatos’ vision and how he presents it is so much more unique. And what’s not love in this film? There’s something for everyone! It’s artsy and slow enough for the critics, hip and metal for the nonchalant, gory and violent for the hardcore genre fanatics and of course the Nic-Cage-rage factor is present for the fans of the actor. Alright, it may not be a family film, but this one is worth a watch. The whole thing is bound together by this psychedelic otherworldly environment, with the whole movie conceived in this dark, unsettlingly beautiful yet horror-filled aura that might stray people away, as it might be just too different for them, however, if you are looking for something different to watch, take mandy. I mean, watch Mandy!

A STAR IS BORN - “Music is essentially 12 notes between any octave. Twelve notes and the octave repeats. It’s the same story told over and over. All the artist can offer the world is how they see those 12 notes.” The film that began all the rumours surrounding Bradley Cooper’s and Lady Gaga’s affair. People, heads up, they are actors! They were putting on a performance! Jeez. That being said, I totally ship them. Nuff’ said. The film though? Yes, it’s good. Some country-style music, romance blooming, Gaga can apparently act, people sing about shallows for some reason...all together works for a pretty decent motion picture. Also, the fact that Bradley Cooper wrote, directed, produced and starred in this gives me so much respect for the guy. He poured his heart and soul into this. And Lady Gaga absolutely shines!

2019:

PAIN & GLORY -  “Writing is like drawing but with letters.” Director Pedro Almodovar semi-autobiographical film takes a close look at how one deals with acceptance, being forgotten, symptoms of depression and generally all fairly negative attributes, but delivered in such an honest and profound way that there is a strange lightness that emerges from it all. Antonio Banderas is uncannily vulnerable in the lead role, delivering such an earnest performance that shows a man that is filled with melancholic regret who seeks his own form of redemption. This movie is a thing of beauty.

PARASITE - “You know what kind of plan never fails? No plan at all. If you make a plan, life never works out that way.” Parasite is easily the most original and surprising films of 2019, and possibly the decade, managing to subvert expectations and blend together so many different genres so naturally. To spoil any narrative element of this movie would be a sin, like this one in particular works best when not knowing anything about it. This movie comes to us from Bong Joon-Ho, a South Korean director behind such films as The Host, Memories of Murder, Okja, and Snowpiercer. It’s nice to see the awards ceremonies giving him the proper recognition finally. He deserves it.

That sums up my Top 20 Best Movies of the Decade list. Of course, there are so many other great films that came out in these 10 years, such as Whiplash, When Marnie Was There, Paterson, Silence, Kubo and the Two Strings, The Nice Guys...I can go on forever. Cinema is a constant ever-growing medium, and it is fascinating to see how it changes through the years, in some ways improving and in some parts not so much. In any case, I look forward towards a new decade of, hopefully, great movies, however, let’s be honest, for all these great films there’s always a Norm of the North, a Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse or frickin’ Cats. But let’s hope those will be kept to a minimum. In any case, bring on the 2020s!

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