#let the hilarity unfold

[leclerc-hs]

can't get you outta my head - cl16

pairing: charles leclerc x fem!reader (friends to lovers!) summary: in which you and charles are in the same friend group and find solace in one another OR you and charles fuck and can’t forget about it warnings: smut under the cut! oral (f-receiving!), outdoor sex, p in v, angst, pining, badly translated french (pls correct me), NOT PROOFREAD word count: 5.4k! (lengthy) author’s note: IN HONOR OF HITTING 1,600 FOLLOWERS I AM POSTING THIS TODAY!!!! double-postings today!!! i wrote this SOOO fast so sorry if there’s any mistakes. loved writing it tho and i know i was going to make it more enemies originally but making him softer and cutesy just felt right for now. i can always do another one if you guys want!! just let me know what you think! love hearing from you guys!!! xoxo

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BENEATH THE BRILLIANT canopy of the sun’s golden embrace, you recline comfortably upon the plush cushions of the lounge chairs, creating a sanctuary of comfort amidst the vast expanse of sand. Around you, a kaleidoscope of colors and textures unfold: vibrant beach towels strewn around carelessly, the glistening ocean stretching endlessly before you, and the verdant palm trees swaying in rhythmic cadence against the bright blue sky.

The sound of the ocean’s embrace upon the sandy shoreline murmurs in the background, a subtle undercurrent beneath the symphony of voices of your friends that fills the air. Your gaze drifts towards a cluster of your friends cavorting in the embrace of the water. Their figures, silhouetted against the shimmering expanse of the ocean, exude a carefree vitality. Like playful spirits unleashed, they tumble and wrestle amidst the crash of the waves, their laughter echoing.

You smile softly listening to a few of the girl’s banter over last night’s drunken escapades, flipping a page of the cheap magazine you purchased earlier.

“Joris a pratiquement mange de la merde hier soir.” Joris practically ate shit last night. Your best friend, also Joris’s girlfriend, to the left of you says in between laughter, as you all careen over with a laugh. 

“Au moins, il va bien.” At least he’s fine. You say with a soft smile, turning another page of your magazine. “Can we talk about Antoine shooting a firecracker out of his ass?” The words spark an immediate eruption of laughter, tears threaten to fall from your eyes from the sheer hilarity of the memory.

“Qu’est-ce qui est si drôle?” What’s so funny?

You turn your head and find yourself locking eyes with a pair of captivating green. In that moment, your heart skips a small beat, and a soft smile graces your lips as you gaze warmly at him. “Making fun of Joris and Antoine, bien sûr.” Of course.

A smile plays at the corner of his pink lips, and you can’t help but envy their perfect hue. You can’t help but notice the subtle dimples that grace Charles’ cheeks as he smiles. Did he always have those? With a casual grace, he raises a hand to scratch the side of his stubble before reaching for a towel casually draped over your lounge chair. As he leans over, droplets of water cascade onto your warm skin, a gentle reminder of the ocean’s embrace. You steal a moment to admire the bronzed glow of his skin, the sunlight dancing upon the small beads of water that cling to his sculpted muscles with a tantalizing allure.

A peculiar aura envelops the relationship between you and Charles. You didn’t speak often, although you were in the same friend group, and have known each other for forever. However, in the recent weeks, a shift has occurred. Perhaps it’s the shared experience of a newfound singleness has drawn you closer together, prompting conversations to flow more freely than ever before.

A delicate blush creeps onto your cheeks, a fleeting flush of warmth that you hope goes unnoticed against the backdrop of your sun-kissed skin. You feel a jolt of electricity shoot through you as Charles’s fingers brush lightly against your shoulders while the grabs the towel, igniting a subtle spark between you two.

“Allons-nous au club ce soir?” Are we going to the club tonight? One of your guy friends asks, sinking onto a sandy towel with a groan as he collapses onto the soft grains. 

For a moment, maybe a few seconds, silence hangs in the air. As if each person is lost in contemplation, weighing the prospect of the evening’s plans. Then, in a synchronous chorus, a resounding chorus of “yes” erupts from the group, breaking the silence with unanimous enthusiasm.

You remain silent, immersed in the pages of a trash magazine, each turn revealing scandalous tales that undoubtedly blur the lines between fact and fiction. Charles watches you intently from his position in the beach chair across from you, though not directly opposite. Positioned slightly to the right, his gaze lingers on you with a subtle curiosity, his expression betraying a hint of contemplation as he observes you amidst the circle of friends. Always in your own world.

“Lovie, tu participes?” Are you in? Your best friend beside you seems to notice your lack of response. Her arms stretch across the gap between your chairs, and she gently squeezes your wrist, a silent gesture of reassurance and solidarity. 

Lovie. You don’t exactly know why you got that nickname, but it stuck. And it carried over to most of the friend group calling you that since childhood.

You lifted your head up, the sun beading down on you causing your eyes to slightly crinkle, as you gave her a look that said duh!

Your friends smile widens as she claps her hands together, her excitement palpable as she sits up from her previously relaxed position. Her enthusiasm is infectious, casting a warm glow over the group as they all eagerly cheer in happiness with her. “Mon dieu!” Thank God! It was a squeal of relief. “Maybe you’ll meet a sexy man and fall in love and have his babies so you can forget all about that loser.”

Your heart clenches at the mere mention of your ex. The smile on your lip’s falters just slightly, but you quickly regain composure, determined not to show a hint of sadness surface while on vacation with your friends. With a subtle effort, you smooth away the brief flicker of vulnerability, masking it beneath a façade of cheerful resilience. 

You roll your eyes, “Nous verrons.” We’ll see. Your tone carries a hint of mystery as you look back into your magazine, letting the conversation of your friends flow into a different direction.

-

“Es-tu sûre que tu devrais en prendre unautre?” Are you sure you should have another? Joris says into your ear, making sure you’re able to hear him over the pulse of the music, his arm slung over the back of the booth behind you. You lean into his body, a drunken smile pulled on your lips.

He harbored a slight concern for you. While you were his girlfriend’s best friend, your friendship dated back to childhood, long before his relationship with her, and he held you in high regard. His care for you ran deep, and ever since your break-up, he knows that you haven’t been the same.

“Arrête de t’inquiéter pour moi.” Stop worrying about me. You shove his shoulder gently, before pointing to your best friend on the dance floor. “Inquiéte-toi pour elle.” Worry about her.

You let out a soft laugh as you witness Joris’s eyes widen in surprise at the sight of his girlfriend standing on the stage. With a knowing smile, you begin to slide out of the booth with intent to make your way to the bar, sensing the need for a fresh drink to accompany the unfolding spectacle.

Before you can even slide out of the booth, a fresh drink—scratch that, a refill of your drink, is placed in front of you. Your gaze follows the masculine hand holding the glass, adorned with an expensive watch at the wrist, tracing its path up the arm until your gaze meets Charles’ intense stare. His eyes, dark and captivating, lock onto yours, already filled with questions and a silent understanding.

You slide back over, silently signaling him to sit beside you. As he eases into the spot beside you, the proximity of his body sends a shiver down your spin, the heat radiating from him igniting a primal longing within you. Your bare skin tingles with anticipation as his presence fills the air with an electric charge, a silent dance of desire playing out between you in the dimly lit confines of the booth.

In the midst of the pulsating club music, words between you two remained scarce. Yet, you both found solace in the quiet companionship that enveloped you both. The energy of the club swirled around you, but the warmth of each other’s presence, you felt a profound sense of ease settle, much like a comforting blanket.

-

It wasn’t unnoticeable to the rest of the friend group. In fact, it was very noticeable. The way you and Charles seemed to find a connection with one another, especially post break-ups. 

It’s not that you were never friends, you just were never as close. So it came as a slight surprise to a few of your friends as they picked up the little changes that were made.

Like when Charles refills your drinks for you. Or when he notices that there is coconut in your meal, which you’re very allergic to, and sends it back to the kitchen. 

Like when you remind him to put on sunscreen, knowing he tends to burn easily. Or when you find yourselves sitting out by the fire at night, long after everyone went to sleep, just talking about the most random things.

“The CGI in that movie was terrible!”

“It’s a classic! You can’t hate a classic!”

“That doesn’t make the CGI better!”

Or

“I’ll have you know I’m a culinary expert.”

“Charles, I’ve known you for forever. Don’t lie!”

“I’m an innovator! Who else could turn pasta into charcoal with such ease?”

No matter the topic at hand, you and Charles always found yourselves engulfed in laughter, the gentle sound filling the air with warmth and camaraderie.

-

You didn’t want sadness to cloud your vacation, but sometimes emotions have a way of washing over you like relentless waves. One of the evenings, while your friends made plans to dine out, you made the wise choice to stay in. Although you didn’t want to miss out, you felt that you were not in the right mindset to be out with everyone. Some protested your decision, expressing concern, but you assured them that you would be fine on your own and ready to party it up all day tomorrow.

Charles shot you a funny look as he slid his hands into one of his pockets, leaning casually against the kitchen archway. His white linen shirt, barely buttoned and snug against his muscles, accentuated his tan, making it seem even more vibrant against the stark contrast of the fabric. A single glance from him stirred a whirlwind of emotions within you as you perched on the bar-stool chair, clad in nothing but a tiny pair of sleep shorts and a well-worn t-shirt. It was your ex-boyfriend’s shirt, a garment you should have long discarded, but its comfort proved too irresistible to part with. Despite the pang of guilt that tugged at your conscience, you found solace in its familiar embrace, a reminder of the past you couldn’t quite let go of yet.

The villa you currently stayed in was beautiful. Its whitewashed walls and wrought-iron accents blended modern and luxury all in one. Inside, the warm glow of the setting sunbathed the spacious rooms, casting an ethereal orange hue over the abundance of white and wood-colored furniture. As the click of the front door echoed through the villa, the chatter of your friends faded into near silence as they departed for dinner, leaving you alone in complete silence.

-

You find yourself eventually nestled in the corner of the oversized couch, cocooned in the warmth of a fluffy blanket draped over your body. With the television remote in hand, you flip through the channels, searching for something to capture your interest. Nothing quite grabs your attention, until you stumble upon a cheesy rom-com you’ve seen hundreds of times.

Lost in a trance, you’re oblivious to the world around you, the gentle breeze whispering through the open windows. The creak of the front door opening barely registers, and it’s only when Charles’ silhouette materializes in the archway beside the TV that you snap back to reality. A soft smile tugs at the corners of Charles’ lips as he gazes upon you, nestled comfortably on the couch, wrapped in a cocoon of warmth. His heart skips a beat at the sight of you, at the sight of your eyes looking at him with such softness.

“Que fais-tu de retour?” What are you doing back?

He shrugs nonchalantly, pushing off from the wall’s archway and making his way toward you. With an easy grace, he plops down beside you, propping one leg up on another couch cushion and allowing his shoulder and head to half-lean against you.

You both settle in a comfortable silence, the sound of the movie filling the air around you with a comforting ambiance.

“Penses-tu jamais que tu le surpasseras?” Do you ever think you’ll get over him?

The words send your stomach into a frenzy of somersaults, and a tightness forms in your throat, making it difficult to swallow.

You don’t answer immediately, instead you stare ahead at the television, your fingers fumbling with the fabric of the blanket nervously.

“Je l’espère.” I hope so.

His eyes are solemn as you look at him. “Parfois,” Sometimes. He begins, straightening his posture so he can fully look at you. “I think I’ll never get over her.”

His words hang heavily in the air, and though they sting a bit, you understand. You share the same sentiment.

“Mais toi,” But you. His hand reaches to yours, the one fumbling with your thigh. His eyes dart between both of yours, like he’s struggling to formulate his next words. “You just,” He starts before squeezing your hand in his. “You just make my days feel easier.”

You nod slowly, knowing exactly what he’s trying to say. “My pain, my heartache, just disappears whenever I’m with you.” Your voice is soft as you speak the words. The truth of them daunting.

“Sometimes I just wish I could turn my emotions off.” You say, unwrapping the blanket from your body, so that it only sits underneath you now. “Like I could just fuck someone and move on.”

Charles’ eyes widen slightly as the word ‘fuck’ slips past your lips. He nearly lets out an audible groan, his eyes tracing the contours of your collarbones peeking out from the oversized shirt that slips tantalizingly of your shoulder.

He licks his lips, swallowing a pronounced gulp, as his eyes trail back to your face.

“Yeah.” 

You could feel the tension in the air, like the both of you were considering fucking each other here and now. Charles couldn’t escape the thoughts of spreading you out on the cushions right here, spreading your legs and fucking you with his tongue.

As he locks eyes with you, you feel a flutter in your stomach, your thighs clenching involuntarily as his gaze lingers on your lips. You part your lips to speak, but before you can utter another word, a loud burst of commotion erupts through the front door. No doubt your drunken friends, clamoring for the fire pit.

-

You and Charles find yourselves in an awkward dance since then. Not too awkward, but the idea of you fucking each other escaped neither of your minds.

It was honestly twisted. The fact that Charles couldn’t stop picturing what you would look like beneath him, what your moans would sound like in his ear. He had fucked his fist twice to the though of you since he even heard the word ‘fuck’ slip past your lips on the couch the other night. It was honestly pathetic.

You couldn’t handle it either it seems. You found your eyes lingering on Charles way longer than necessary. The flex of his muscles as he enjoys a morning workout by the villa’s pool, the small smiles he gives you from across the room, and the small touches he gives as he walks by you has you driving yourself up a fucking wall.

So, when your friends decide to head out for a spa day, you and Charles hang back sitting across from one another a tad too far apart on the outdoor couch for it to be normal. It was as if you needed the space to stop from jumping each other’s bones.

The skimpy red bikini you wore did little to ease Charles’ thoughts. But he couldn’t help but feel grateful for the first time in weeks he isn’t thinking about his ex-girlfriend. No, he’s too engrossed in the idea of fucking you. Hearing your sweet little moans he just knows you would have. Feeling your smooth skin beneath the pads of his fingertips.

Charles could feel himself harden just by glancing at you lounging comfortably on the outdoor couch, the clouds covering the sun engulfing you guys in a moment of shade.

Across the couch from him, you tried to do everything but acknowledge Charles’ longing stare. But you couldn’t. Your body was all tense, in need of a release. 

“Charles, will you—”

Before you could even finish the sentence, Charles was standing over your figure on the couch. His hardened cock visibly noticeable in his short swimsuit. The muscles of his thighs flexed before you, as he visibly gulped at the vision of your breasts spilling out of the top.

“Assieds-toi droit.” Sit up. He murmurs softly, his voice carrying a gentle command as he shifts, prompting you to straighten your posture.

Was this really about to happen? You really hoped so.

It was as if Charles can see the desire in your eyes, answering the question of if you wanted this in his head almost instantly.

“Est-ce que je peux t’embrasser?” Can I kiss you? His thumb toyed with your bottom lip, tracing it as he licked his own.

You nodded your head before his lips pressed down onto yours, capturing them in a sweet embrace. His fingers tangled in your hair, gripping it firmly near your scalp as he deepened the kiss, igniting a surge of warmth and longing between you.

A soft moan escapes your lips as he slips his tongue into your mouth, pressing it hotly against yours. He pulls away for a moment, still standing above your sitting figure, as he takes in your blown out pupils.

“Ça a un gout si doux.” Tastes so sweet. His hand remains in your hair, holding your head in place to look at him. His eyes stare at your sightly swollen lips, a clench of need forming in the pit of his stomach.

He falls to his knees before you on the couch, kneeling between your two legs, as his other hand presses against your chest, forcing you to lean back against the cushions of the couch. The sun peeped through the clouds momentarily, allowing you to drink in the sight of just how light his eyes were.

His thumb grazes your bikini cladded core, rubbing light circles in a teasing manner. The pressure of his thumb wasn’t enough, but it was everything you needed.

He looked at you from between your legs, a smirk on his face like he knew just how crazy he was driving you. It was an image you never wanted to forget. 

“Touch me.” You begged, a breathy moan leaving your lips as his thumb pressed harder onto your swollen clit. 

It was all he needed to hear before sliding your bikini bottoms to the side and shoving his tongue to where you needed him most. The cool air of the outdoors was a stark contrast to the heat you felt between your legs. 

He took his time with you, like he wanted to savor every sweet moan you gave him. His tongue flicked around your clit a few times, before wrapping his lips around it. Your hand slid into his brown locks, slightly lightened form the sun over vacation, and pulled as you rutted your hips against his face.

“Mm, that’s it,” He groaned into your cunt, his words vibrating against you, sending your hips into a faster frenzy. He slipped two fingers into you, lifting his head to watch as you lulled your head back against the cushion and took your hands from his head to your breasts. You stretched the bikini top slightly, until your breasts spilled over the tiny triangles, your nipples already hardened from the need that burned within you.

Charles slipped one hand up to your breasts, taking one of your nipples in between his thumb and forefinger and pinching.

“M’god,” You half-shouted, biting your lip to prevent yourself for being too loud.

“Don’t deprive me from your sweet little moans, yeah?” He pulled his lips off your clit for a few seconds, giving you ample time to look at them glistening in you. You nearly came at the sight of it. 

He dropped his head back between your legs, flicking fast kitten licks to your clit, which had you careening forward with a cry of pleasure.

He sucked hard on your clit, eliciting loud mewls from you that were like a sweet melody to his ears. Charles could feel his cock straining against the tightness of his swim suit, he flexed his hips into the couch before him, in need of some sort of relief. 

He could feel you teetering on the edge of your orgasm, shoving his face deeper into you, his tongue slipping in and out of you at a fervent pace. It hit you hard. Your hips had a mind of their own, as they rode his face, the bony structure of his nose pressing against your clit sending you into a frenzy.

Charles replaced his tongue with his fingers and watched as you came down from your high. His fingers still working you over as he coaxed you through your orgasm, not letting up.

“I knew you would taste like heaven,” He smirks, finally removing his fingers, before slipping them into his mouth, and moaning at the taste of you on his tongue.

You groaned, your pupils blown out as you looked at him, your legs still spread and cunt fully exposed to him and the outside air. 

“Need more,” You practically begged.

“Need my cock, hm?” You nodded, wasted no time in answering. He pushed himself up from his knees, sitting beside you on the couch as he pushed his swimsuit down enough to free his cock. It was hot and heavy in your hands as you reached for it, precum already dripping from its tip.

You straddled his waist, raising up just enough for him to slip his cock into your already saturated core. Your hands grip the back of the couch behind Charles’ head, your fingers clenching it tightly as you take in each inch of him. His hands grip your waist, large fingers sprayed across as he guides your movements over his cock.

The squeeze of your cunt on his cock was better than Charles could ever imagine. The fact that he had to use his fist before you was honestly a punishment compared to this.

“Mon dieu,” My God. You groan as his cock stretches your walls. You waste no time in working yourself over his cock, the pleasure of it too good for you to do it slow. You chased that second orgasm as it teetered on the edge. You were already so close.

“That close already?” His smirk was permanent on his face as he flexed his hips up into you, hitting you deeper than before.

You nodded, soft mewls escaping your lips constantly. It was as if you couldn’t shut up now. His hands grip your hair tightly, pulling your head back to look up at the sky, as he pulls one of your hardened nipples in between his teeth.

You didn’t have time to tell him you were coming again, but the clench of your walls on his cock was enough of a warning for him. Your walls fluttered around him repeatedly, as his name fell softly from your lips followed with a string of curses.

As if he couldn’t hold back his orgasm any longer, he lifted you up off him and placed you to the side, his hot cum spilling over his cock and stomach in stringy spurts. Your body was limp against the cushion, your bathing suit covering nothing.

Still hazy from your climax, you look from the blue cloudy sky to Charles beside you. His eyes were glossy as he smiled, like he was fully content.

“Merci,” Thank you. You said softly, an acknowledgment for him giving you what you mentioned the other night.

He nodded once, giving a small smile as if to say thank you back.

-

It’s been weeks since you and Charles fucked on the outdoor couch of the vacation villa. You haven’t seen each other much since, not that you expected it. You were thankful it helped you forget about your ex-boyfriend just a little bit more. Like you could bare the idea of meeting other men. Which you were.

You claimed that Charles was a one-time thing. Although it was probably the best sex you’ve ever had, you knew you couldn’t do it again. It was a mutual one-time thing.

So, when you found yourself pressed against the bathroom door of the five-star restaurant, your short little sundress bunched up at your waist, and Charles’ cock buried deep in your cunt, it was a little unexpected. Not completely.

It was hard and quick, nothing but a string of breathy moans between you two as he pressed your chest forward into the door. You both came quickly, your chest flushed red and his cheeks slightly pink as if he just performed a hard workout. 

“Who’s your date?” He asks, the words slip out fast, like he’s trying to act like he doesn’t care.

You furrow your eyebrow for a second, before looking at yourself in the mirror, Charles standing tall behind your figure. “Just met him last night,” You flattened your hair as much as you could to make it seem normal. “I’m trying to get back out there.”

Charles smiles at you, although it seems slightly pained. “Good. Your ex-boyfriend didn’t deserve you.” His words were kind, and it made you smile that he even bothered to say it. 

“I should get back,” You begin, turning to face him. His eyes look at your lips one last time, like he’s contemplating kissing you again. “I’ll see you next week at Joris’s, right?”

He gave you a small nod.

-

Charles Leclerc is a liar.

Well, a liar when it comes to him saying he doesn’t think about you sexually. The way you feel around his cock. The way your breathy moans turn him on to no end. The way your breasts bounced with each thrust of his cock. The taste of your cunt on his lips. 

He’s a liar if he says he doesn’t fuck his fist almost every night to the thought of you.

But he was also a liar when it comes to him saying he doesn’t think about you not sexually. The way you loved to read trashy magazines, the way you always fidgeted with the rings on your fingers when you were nervous, the way your eyes glowed whenever you laughed. 

So, when Joris mentions you and a new potential boyfriend, he can’t help but feel slightly annoyed at the idea. The clench of Charles’ jaw at the sight of you and this ‘potential boyfriend’ across the yard at baby shower, does not slip past Joris’s eyesight.

“Y a-t-il quelque chose entre vous deux?” Is there something between you two?

Charles clutches the neck of the beer bottle in his fingers, bringing it to his lips, before straying his eyes from you to Joris beside him.

Charles’ eyes gleamed like he didn’t know how to answer this without admitting feelings he hasn’t even admitted to himself. He shook his head. No. Because there wasn’t.

“Vous étiez proches en vacances.” You guys were close on vacation.

It was just a statement, as if he wanted to see Charles’ reaction. Charles didn’t know if Joris was trying to insinuate anything, but Charles didn’t respond. Not as Joris’s girlfriend, your best friend, popped up behind you both, a tray of cupcakes in her hand.

You sat across the yard, deep in conversation with Theo, at one of the many heavily decorated picnic tables. The short purple sundress that adorned your body is a vision of effortless elegance. Delicate straps grace the shoulders, framing your breasts with a feminine charm. The skirt flows gently with every movement, swaying gracefully in the warm breeze.

You both knew it wasn’t anything serious, at least yet, but he had a way of making you smile, nonetheless. Despite only knowing each other for a few weeks and sharing a handful of dates, he made a point to take his time with you. He was considerate, never pressuring you into anything, especially after you had confided in him about your previous messy relationship one night.

“Tu es belle.” You’re beautiful. Theo whispered into your ear, his fingers toying with the fabric at the ends of your dress, resting right above your knees.

You blushed, your cheeks flaring a light shade of red, as you smiled into your lap. You lifted your head slightly, looking across the yard, where your eyes met with Charles. His eyes already watching you with such heat in his eyes it made your stomach do a somersault.

He felt an intense surge of resentment towards the guy who dared to lay his hands on you, his anger boiling as he watched him lean into whisper into your ear. Your cheeks flushed a brilliant shade of crimson under his gaze, betraying the effect of his words.  What could he possibly be saying to you?

It was just his cock you were coming around last week. So, why is this fiery sense of jealousy threatening to consume him entirely?

It didn’t make sense. How could he feel such intense jealousy over someone he never even had a real relationship with? He never even felt this jealous over his ex-girlfriend.

It was just sex.

He told himself repeatedly. It was just sex. But it only made the burn in his chest only grow more.

-

You were a liar if you said that Charles Leclerc is never on your mind. You were a liar if you said that it was just sex.

Because, for some inexplicable reason, you can’t seem to get Charles Leclerc out of your mind. You remember how he made sure none of your dishes contained coconut, how he bought you those trashy magazines he knew you loved so much, and how he always made sure that you were smiling.

So, when Charles Leclerc stood silhouetted in the doorway of your front door, the moonlight casting a soft glow around him in the middle of the night, you couldn’t help but feel your heart skip a beat.

You took note of his hair in disarray, as if he had run his hands through it a dozen times, and the soft grey sweats that hung loosely on his hips. The taut muscles of his arms peeked out against the seams of the black t-shirt he wore. 

“Je n’arrête pas de penser à toi.” I can’t stop thinking about you. He utters the words with a look of anguish etched on his face, each step carefully navigating around your figure as he stands in the foyer of your apartment, a space he’s been in countless times over the years. But never alone. Never without friends.

You close the door and turn to look at him, not realizing just how close he was to you. “It’s like you,” he begins but freezes, taking a step closer toward you. You take a step back, the tight tank top you wore did little to hide your hardened nipples from the cold air, and your back hit the front door. “It’s like you possess every thought I have. Every single thought. You. You. You.”

You sucked in a breath as you looked into his eyes, more darkened than normal, almost as if he was angry at you.

“Qu’est-ce que tu m’as fait?” What did you do to me? His fingers trail up your arm to your collarbones, a trail of goosebumps following in their wake.

You gulp audibly, your lips slightly parted from the feel of his fingertips on your skin for the first time in weeks. You struggle to find the words until Charles is pleading.

He laughs slightly sarcastic, like he can’t believe this is happening to him. “I even bought those trashy magazines that you like so much, a whole stack of them at my place, because I cannot get you out of my fucking head.”

“Dit moi, it’s not just me.” Tell me.

You would be a liar if you said it’s just him. Your hands trail up to his shoulder, your fingers squeezing them in comfort as you stare into his eyes. His breaths getting heavier as your fingers trail his t-shirt classes skin, like he was yearning for it so much, like it burned him.

“It’s not just you.”

He doesn’t give you time to say much more, not until his lips are crashing down onto yours again. Like he couldn’t last one more second without your lips pressed to his.

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[maizylx]

Tying their hair into pigtails while they're asleep

Feat: Blade and Jing yuan

Blade

You'd never even considered the idea of tying Blade's hair into pigtails unless you had a death wish, but here you were, dared by Silverwolf to do just that. Blade was currently taking a short rest on the couch in the center of Elio's quarters (idk if that makes sense) with his sword cuddling to his upper body as if it was a plushy. With two red ribbons in hand, you cautiously crept up behind him, hoping to execute the deed without getting caught.

As you drew nearer, nerves churned in your stomach, but the thought of enduring Silverwolf's relentless teasing if you backed out spurred you on. Clenching your fists, you reached for Blade's hair, which surprisingly felt soft to the touch. You quickly pushed that thought aside, knowing you had to act fast if you wanted to avoid a certain death sentence. Parting his hair, you wrapped one of the ribbons around a thick section, your fingers trembling as you attempted to fashion a cute bow. After what felt like an eternity, you managed to complete one side, releasing a sigh of relief.

However, your moment of triumph was short-lived as Blade's eyes suddenly snapped open, fixing you with a glare that sent a shiver down your spine. A groan of anger escaped his throat as he demanded, "What do you think you're doing?" Panic surged within you as you flinched back, watching in horror as he rose from the couch, sword in hand. Before you could even comprehend what was happening, he was already hot on your heels, his expression a mixture of fury and disbelief.

Meanwhile, Silverwolf watched from the sidelines, her laughter echoing through the quarters as she recorded the chaotic scene unfolding before her. Instead of coming to your aid, she seemed content to capture your desperate attempts to flee from Blade's wrath. As you dashed through the quarters, narrowly avoiding Blade's swinging sword, you couldn't help but curse your luck and to never to accept a dare from Silverwolf ever again.

Jing yuan

It wasn't difficult to catch Jing Yuan asleep, especially during the afternoon when he often took a break from his duties. You found it amusing to playfully prank him whenever he dozed off, so you waited patiently for the right moment to strike. When afternoon rolled around, you made your way to the Divine Foresight, knowing it was a favorite spot of his for a midday nap.

Sure enough, you found him there, his cheek resting on his knuckles, head slightly tilted forward as he slumbered peacefully. With a mischievous grin, you approached him, a red ribbon in hand. Sneakily, you removed the ribbon holding his hair in place, allowing his long, fluffy locks to cascade over his back and shoulders. It was a rare sight to see him with his hair down, and you couldn't help but appreciate the view.

However, your mission was far from over. Determined to make him look ridiculous (if that was even possible), you swiftly divided his hair into two sections and wrapped the ribbons around each, forming pigtails. Luckily, only the scolding voice of Fu Xuan could rouse Jing Yuan from his slumber, so you had all the time you needed to complete your task.

Stepping back to admire your handiwork, you couldn't suppress a giggle at the sight of the strong, mighty General with pigtails. Quickly snapping a picture, you sent it to Yanqing, who couldn't resist coming over to see the spectacle for himself. Bursting into laughter upon arrival, Yanqing's amusement only added to the hilarity of the situation.

As Jing Yuan stirred awake from the laughter of yanqing, his drowsy gaze settling on the two of you, Yanqing quickly hid behind you. "Do you guys need something?" Jing Yuan murmured with a yawn, his expression even funnier now that he was awake. Struggling to contain your laughter, you managed to compose yourself as Jing Yuan sighed and closed his eyes again. "Good, then let me take my rest now," he mumbled, falling back asleep without a clue as to his new hairstyle.

you exchanged a devious glance with Yanqing, who suggested keeping the pigtails until he noticed. Unable to resist the temptation of seeing how long it would take for Jing Yuan to realize, you agreed, deciding to leave the ribbons in place for the time being. After all, it was all in good fun.

(I'm sorry if this turned out bad and boring to read, I tried to add more characters (argenti and boothill) but i was struggling to come up with a idea that wasn't too similar to blade and jing yuan but every idea i had didn't made sense so i just gave up BUT don't worry I will probably write a different story where argenti and boothill are mentioned)

#hsr fluff #hsr men #hsr posting #hsr x gender neutral reader #hsr x male reader #hsr x female reader #hsr x oc #hc #headcanon #hsr headcanons #hsr blade #hsr jing yuan

[batsandbugs]

THE CONTINUATION OF THE IKEA VERSE

Okay, so this isn't quite an actual update yet, but I've been gone for a while and I wanted to let y'all know what's going on.

The last chapter of Classification System has been fighting me. Bruce and Damian's confrontation is important, but, up until now, I had no clue how it needed to go, or wanted it to end. After all, this story never had a planned plot, and was rather more a chaotic amalgamation of vibes that grew legs and dragged me along for the ride. While that worked well for the first story, the second wanted to veer into serious territory, which is maybe why it was fighting me so hard. I have serious stories, but IKEA Verse has never really been one of them.

So I started thinking of a third installment, hoping this inspiration would drive me to find the proper course for how Bruce and Damian's confrontation should unfold. So I put on my thinking cap, and thought, "hmmm... how am I going to bring back the fun and excitement and hilarity of the first installment, while still continuing Damian and Marinette's relationship?"

And my evil brain responded with...

"~Bigger is better, and better is bigger, a little bit is never enough, no, no, no!~"

So, ladies, gents, and others I now present to you the third installment of The IKEA VERSE:

THE GREAT GOTHAM SEWER RACE

CALLING ALL RACERS! Underneath Gotham lay miles of caverns, lava pools, zombie hordes, interdimensional racing tracks, funhouse hallways, a maze full of doors that do not open and lead into a never ending madness, a mysterious banked fog, submerged waterways, ancient temples, and more! Come try your hand at claiming the ultimate prize which lay hidden at the finish line.

If you survive...

Coming 2024!

So... yeah, IKEA Game Verse is getting a third installment. The last chapter of Classification System, should be out sometime within the next month or two, now that I have proper motivation to get it finished. And starting the new year I'll be posting the Great Gotham Sewer Race! Hope this makes up for the months of radio silence (although I have posted a few chapters of my Marvel fic, so I haven't been totally silent).

As always, all comments, suggestions, and ideas are welcome! The bigger and crazier the better and if it's good, there's a high likelihood it'll end up in the story (after all the knowledge of IKEA stores with ball pits was given via comment, and we all know how that panned out.) Think Hanabarbara Wacky Races! If anyone still remembers that show. Tell me who you want to see! ANYONE IN DC is open for consideration, other fandoms are also encouraged (the caverns beneath Gotham are interdimensional and inter-universal!) Tell me if there's any challenge, or obstacle, or event you want to see! I'm open anything and everything.

I hope this sparks excitement for y'all as it has done for me. See you soon!

#maribat #damian x marinette #mlb crossover #maridami #damimari #the great ikea game #the great gotham sewer race #daminette #daimianette #dc x mlb #the ikea verse

[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group E Round 2: #E1 vs #E2

#E1: Dead people are revived with souls from the future. Hilarity and angst ensue.

#E2: Psychic girl is adopted by Yakuza. Hijinks ensue.

Details and poll under the cut!

#E1: Are You Ok (You Yao)

Summary:

People from the modern world transmigrating (Chinese version of isekai) into the ancient Chinese fantasy world has become a common and everyday occurrence that the royal court in the latter has decided to moderate them. If you’re a transmigrator, you must report your existence to Lou Zhu, the master of Best Tower. Once you pass his test and prove that you are indeed a modern person, you can then be assigned to work in different areas of the government and be given a high salary.

Because of this promised benefit, many impostors have showed up before Lou Zhu. And one day, Zuo Yunqi shows up for this test. Is he an impostor, or is he an actual modern person?

But some transmigrators also choose to hide their existence out of distrust in the government. Where are they? And with their advanced knowledge on science and technology, what are they planning in the dark?

Propaganda:

The setting is a genius mix of ancient and modern. Lou Zhu’s tower looks like an ancient Chinese building on the outside, but on the inside it’s like a hotel, complete with different entertainment venues and even a milk tea shop! And of course, what’s a hotel without an elevator? But since electricity isn’t invented yet, it’s just powered by different men (in fancy uniforms) on bicycles.

You’d expect that the locals would have some amount of horror, sadness, and grief over dead people coming back to life and moving and talking as if nothing has happened. Except there isn’t; at least, not much. They’ve gotten used to it. Life still has to go on, so why not enjoy it?

On one hand, You Yao shows us the transmigrators’ lives and how they cope in this unfamiliar world. Often in isekai/transmigration stories, the locals are portrayed as “backward” and “ignorant” to highlight the modern character’s supposed intelligence. But in You Yao, the two parties have an equal relationship. Transmigrators still have to follow the laws set by the Emperor, and their modern knowledge doesn't always prove to be useful. Unless they can invent novel things despite limited materials, their knowledge often fails to set them apart. I mean, what are you gonna do when you’re an art student whose only talent is drawing p*rn but people expect you to cook??? Or how about when you’re literate in Simplified Chinese but can’t read the locals’ Traditional Chinese text? Or what about when your soul ends up in the body of a mosquito instead???

Even with a high salary from the Emperor, being a transmigrator is not that easy. And as the show unfolds, we find that there’s more to them than comedic figures. 

On the other hand, You Yao is also about the locals and how they have to adapt to their fast-changing world. My favorite among them is Lin Kai. He has fully embraced the changes that he’s become akin to a transmigrator in his knowledge of the modern world. He’s not prominent in the novel, but the donghua treated him with a full musical sequence when he was about to confess to his crush 😂. As the only straight character, they probably had to highlight his love story to let the BL go under the radar—Oh, have I mentioned this show is a BL with several pairs?

Chinese censorship won’t allow the gay to be explicit, but they managed to still make it very fruity. The s1 ending song is literally about the second pair, Li Ke and Zhou Rongqi (aka Prince Yu).

Then there’s the animation style, which is a hybrid of 2D and 3D CGI. People not used to 3D anime may wince at this, but it’s actually common in China. You Yao’s style works quite well for it, too, giving it a distinctive flair.

To sum it up, You Yao is a compelling show that deconstructs the isekai/transmigration genre. If you’re after comedy with depth and an overarching plot, this is the show for you. There’s also some gay romantic angst sprinkled throughout, giving you lots of materials for fanfiction 😎

Trigger warnings: Guns, kidnapping, and imprisonment. Nothing too dark, though.

#E2: Hinamatsuri

Summary:

While reveling in the successful clinching of a prized vase for his collection, Yoshifumi Nitta, a yakuza member, is rudely interrupted when a large, peculiar capsule suddenly materializes and falls on his head. He opens the capsule to reveal a young, blue-haired girl, who doesn't divulge anything about herself but her name—Hina—and the fact that she possesses immense powers. As if things couldn't get any worse, she loses control and unleashes an explosion if her powers remain unused. Faced with no other choice, Nitta finds himself becoming her caregiver.

Propaganda 1:

Hinamatsuri is about…

Hina, who is a psychic metaphor for autism ala Mob but imo better. She’s not only a weirdgirl who’s friends are almost all other strange girls, but she’s also into stuff that is just so either unfitting for her age or she’s just really intense about.

Nitta, who deserves all the fangirls and husbando-ing that every other random guy in anime gets. He’s a bachelor who loves pottery and can cook so well that Hina convinces her friends they have a gourmet chef working for them. He’s also a yakuza and is beloved by the aniki for being incredibly tough and scary. (He is gentle as hell with Hina.)

A bunch of other weird girls (Admin: this part of the propaganda has been cut due to possible spoilers)

Propaganda 2:

Hinamatsuri is an absolutely hilarious anime with some of the best comic timing I’ve ever seen. It’s so funny, the various girls are such nonsense.

Hina starts as a violent blank slate and develops into a lazy greedy horrible little gremlin. Anzu starts as a prideful edgy rival but eventually becomes a wholesome overly grateful insecure mess. Hitomi is forced to become more and more competent, independent, and adult because she can't stand up for herself and say no to people asking her for favors.

Nitta is a fantastic viewpoint character because he outwardly takes so much in stride that it’s easy to forget how annoyed and stressed everything makes him until he snaps.

Trigger Warnings: There is child nudity, but only for a Terminator reference. There is some comedic child neglect and slapstick. There is a child who is homeless, but it’s treated very sensitively.

When reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

If you want to criticize one of the shows above to give the one you’re rooting for an advantage, then do so constructively. I do not tolerate groundless hate or slander on this blog. If I catch you doing such a thing in the notes, be it in the tags or reblogs, I will block you.

Know one of the shows above and not satisfied with how they’re presented in this tournament? Just fill up this form, where you can submit revisions for taglines, propaganda, trigger warnings, and/or video.

#anime #donghua #best underrated anime #polls #poll tournament #tournament #anime tournament #animation #group stage #group stage round 2 #tournament polls #group e #are you ok #are you okay #you yao #有药 #hinamatsuri

[natasha-in-space]

Hello Mia! I'm loving your headcanons so far, and I'd love to request one of my own if you're not too busy!

Can I request something fluffy where we play with Saeyoung's hair? I just want to spoil him 😭

Thank you!! <3

One domestic Saeyoung coming right up! :D

You were never good at videogames.

Of course, that's not to say that you did not have any videogames on your laptop for you to enjoy every once in a while, but competitive games were never quite your forte. The pressure of always working to get better and stronger at the stragedy than other players was just not something that excited you that much. Though, when it came to watching someone play, rather than participating yourself... Well, that's a different story all together.

An impressed hum escaped past your lips as yet another enemy player, that was unfortunate enough not to end up on Saeyoung's squad, was practically ripped to shreds in an instant they tried to initiate their stealth attack. You'd like to say that you were feeling bad for them...

But that would be a huge lie, as you were pretty biased when it came to your partner, and you were not at all ashamed to admit it.

And, as Saeyoung let out yet another celebratory whoop, gesturing wildly into the air like an excited parent cheering for their kid in their first football game, you clapped in agreement, nuzzling into his shoulder with a satisfied sigh. "Wow. You and Yoosung are merciless together. I know I wouldn't want to go against you in a match."

You giggled as he bumped you into your side with his elbow, quickly glancing your way, a huge wicked grin adorning his face, much to your amusement. Oh, he was absolutely loving this, and you were just as thrilled to see him having fun in his element. "Hehe, then it's a good thing you're my favorite kitty! Well, you and Saeran. Oh, and Elly. And Longcat. And Grumpy cat. And Keyboard cat. And Nyan-"

"Okay, okay, I get it, you love cats!" You playfully smacked him on the chest, bursting out laughing in the process. While an hour long lecture about the impact cats have had on the human culture and how cats are way better than humans certainly would be interesting to listen to, now's definitely not the time for that. Later tonight, though? You were all for it. "You've still got one last match to beat. Victory now, kitties later."

"And that's why your my favourite kitty of them all." He proclaimed proudly, puffing out his chest with false bravado, as if he was a king announcing you as his new royal guard or something.

...Okay, maybe you've just watched too much historical fiction recently with this one.

As the last battle continued raging on, you felt his hair softly brush against your face from where you were sitting, pressed up against his side. Initially, you merely scrunched up your nose at the ticklish sensation, continuing to focus most of your attention on the game unfolding itself in front of you. But, to your dismay, with your redheaded boyfriend constantly shifting and squirming in his place, his hair just continued to brush against you time and time again, which did get a bit annoying after a while.

It's like it has a mind of its own or something!

Your desire to stay nestled up next to him was stronger than your annoyance, though. So, you merely raised one of your hands in an attempt to brush away some of the unruly red locks out of the way, so that they would stay in their position and stop bothering you. But, as you turned your gaze to his hair, you couldn't help but notice just how messy and fluffy it was, making you blink in total bewilderment. Due to his room being completely dark, aside from the pale light coming from his desktop, you didn't really pay any mind to it before.

Did he not brush his hair today or something? It looked like a messy red ball of fluff, and that comparison alone was slowly making you crack up from the total hilarity of it.

"Pfft-" You snickered as you played with a few loose strands, watching it bounce back without any care in the world. While his hair was way softer when it looked, that still did not take away the messy tangles peeking out from practically every side of his head. "Hey, can I brush your hair real quick? Not to sound like a prude, but you look like a red hairball right now. Granted, a very cute red hairball, but that's not really the point."

He merely shrugged, obviously unbothered by the chaotic state his hair was in. "Sure, do whatever you want! I'm sure you want shave it all off, like Mary Vanderwood the 3rd would."

"That I won't, I assure you."

Getting his approval, you quickly retrieved a small hairbrush he kept in one of his bedside tables, checking whether it was clean or not before you got to any proper brushing. Thankfully, it was in decent condition, which is why you immediately returned to your comfy place on the bed, this time, nestling yourself behind him so that you could focus on his hair entirely.

Surprisingly, his curly locks were way more cooperative that you initially expected, easily untangling themselves under your careful strokes. You couldn't help but admire the rich red colour of his hair, watching it twist and turn under your every move, like small flames flickering inside a fireplace.

It was beautiful.

You did always find his hair pretty. Maybe it's just fate that you finally got a chance to play around with it properly. At this point, you weren't even looking at the game, too mesmerized by Saeyoung's unruly hair and how it slowly returned to its normal condition under your care.

You could hear your partner humming in approval, leaning into your touch like an affectionate cat finally getting himself brushed. He really was just like a huge spoiled kitty sometimes.

Once you were feeling satisfied with your result, you put the brush aside, giving his hair one last thorough ruffle with your fingers, watching it become a new type of charming mess all together. It just didn't feel natural to leave him with a neatly brushed out hair. His red locks always were a bit messy, and that's how you liked it!

Though, before you could move away from him completely, Saeyoung grabbed you by the arm, not letting you pull away.

"Well, don't stop there! Master, I demand to be petted... Or else I'll loose this match, and then I'll never be able to talk to my bestest friend Yoosung ever again! My pride and our friendship depends on you and your pets, Y/N!" He whined, practically nuzzling against you even with his back still turned to you. Jeez, did it really feel that good...?

Well, regardless, not like you could refuse a request like that. "You're such a drama queen sometimes... Didn't know that my fingers are that good at their job, but okay."

He snickered. "I can think of some other things your pretty little fingers are exceptional in, player number two. Just so you know."

"Oh my God, Saeyoung!"

This time, you ruffled his hair with way more force on purpose, making you both tumble onto the bed in a fit of joyous laughter, game long forgotten.

#mystic messenger #mysmes #mysme #mm #saeyoung choi #saeyoung x reader #tbh i'm so surprised that my saeyoung drabbles are this well received! #and here i am fretting over not writing him to ooc #guess i should be more confident lol #hope you'll enjoy some quality time with your hacker boyfriend faye ♡ #just be prepared for him to purr on your lap because he IS a huge kitty and i will die on this hill #scritch under his chin go on do it

[blackjackkent]

Weirdly, even though we agreed to look into the murder of Father Lorgan (and Hector even got an inspiration for it!), there is still nothing about it in the quest log. Hm. Hopefully this doesn't mean it's bugged out.

Chatted a bit with some of the other priests in the temple - two of them are arguing because one thinks Lorgan was stupid to trust the refugees and the other thinks it is their responsibility to help all.

Hector puts a word in on the side of compassion. [MONK] "To offer alms to all who need it - that is the sign of a noble soul."

This didn't do anything to resolve the argument, but we did get an inspiration from Shadowheart for siding with the open-minded priest.

Another interesting thing that the grumpy priest mentioned was that Duke Stelmane has also been murdered recently. This is interesting primarily because, according to the Emperor's story, he and Stelmane were business partners running the Knights of the Shield. Something to keep an ear to the ground about.

Headed back downstairs in the hope of finding more clues now that we've talked to Yannis. No real luck, but we did find Shirra's grave.

Without any prompting from me, the spirit then came out of the amulet and looked in the grave.

"Gone thou might be, alas!" the spirit wails. A long pause, and then....

"AND YET THY SHELL WILL RISE!"

The corpse lurches upward out of the grave, surrounded in the pale purple aura which marked the laughing spirit of the amulet.

"Oh, ho ho ho, honored Shirra!" it chortles maniacally. "Her spirit hath fled, and her body but merely a husk. Heh heh hee-hee-HEEEEE!"

It takes a moment to recover enough of itself to continue. "Swear, I did," it goes on gleefully, "to shed this foul mania and bestow it upon Shirra! She was to endure, to suffer, as was her god Ilmater's wont! Who now shall bear the madness Shar has wrought on me, so I might no longer suffer?"

The corpse's glowing eyes focus on Hector and its mouth twists in a horrifying impression of hilarity.

"He-ho-hoo-hahaHAHAHAHAHAHA! Shall it be THOU?!"

Hector has watched this unfold with considerable bafflement, but with the sudden pointed question, he snaps to wariness at once. He has already felt the influence of the monk's laughing curse once, and it was hard enough to fight off the first time.

"Careful, Hec," Karlach mutters in an undertone.

[ARCANA] Ponder what you know of the monk's affliction. What are the consequences of accepting it?

Narrator: The monk himself holds your answer. Tasha's Hideous Laughter is a powerful skill - but earning it may come at the cost of wisdom.

It's an unappealing prospect at best. Hector has not only seen the amulet's curse but has also witnessed Gale using Tasha's Hideous Laughter himself; he doesn't really want anything to do with what this spirit is offering. Then again, leaving Shirra's corpse to wander around giggling maniacally forever doesn't really seem appropriate either.

Nevertheless, the answer feels clear enough. "Gods, no," he says wearily. "I don't want to inherit your curse."

The corpse's laughter takes on a menacing air. "HA! HO! Hee-HEE! Well, if laugh I must, let our alliance end on a lark."

Every corpse in the immediate area immediately springs to life around them and charges at Hector without hesitation.

#bjk plays baldur's gate 3 #hector carlisle #act 1 quest finally off the journal XD

[phoenix-manga]

Assuming that Fraena can get a portal back to her world.... Casual Geographic x Monster Hunter with Fraena with Carter or Rook as the camera men. I'm talking about those hardcore Wildlife Cameramen that camp out in nature for months just to get a shot of some animal. Actually the more I think about it, this could be more like Crocodile Hunter? Maybe?

If Casual Geographic is more video showing pictures while explaining everything in a dead tone that adds to the hilarity.

We could say that Fraena is more hands on like Steve Irwin, she's got more emotion in her tone as she is doing the wrangling while explaining.

Also a portal to the world of Monster Hunter would be the worst yet the most thrilling idea because this reminds me of Prehistoric Park if anyone remembers that show.

A guy bringing back dinosaurs from the past into a sanctuary and all that except Fraena has two students and a staff member follow her to her world to document creatures beyond their understanding.

But this can also be like a mix with Ragegamingvideos explanation to each monster. I watch that guy and he is hilarious.

Of course their normal phones won't cut it, Ignihyde offers their services and made a new model of camera not found anywhere, small enough to fit in the pocket but has several functions and built-in lenses to get that 4K quality.

Plus it will not break easily.

The video man is Cater and Rook and they do most of the filming while they ask Fraena some questions regarding said monster. Vargas is the back up in case it gets dangerous for the boys but he's like a kid at a candy store as Fraena gets hands on in confronting a dangerous creature.

Cater/Rook: What is that weird creature? What does it do? How do you kill it?

Let's say we start with something relatively rookie level like a Great Jagras.

Fraena: *Fixing weapons and traps* That large lizard is a Jagras, a relatively easy target for rookie hunters but don't think you're safe. Let your guard down and that thing will swallow you whole.

Jagras: *Eats an Aptonoth whole*

Cater: ugh! *Vomiting*

Rook: Amazing!

Fraena: Stay here and don't leave the bushes, I'm tasked to help out hunt this thing that's bothering the locals so if you wanna tape it then do so at a distance. *Goes to confront the Jagras*

Vargas: *looking all amazed* I wanna fight it too... but I gotta watch these kids.

Bringing back that video to NRC would require a projector because many would forget to go to class just to witness Fraena take down the big iguana monster.

This reminds me of the time the teacher just let us watch a documentary instead of a lecture

This becomes a new thing among the staff, if they don't feel like teaching, they just pop in the documentary video and sip some coffee.

The videos won't escalate to handling the more dangerous monsters like the high rank ones or G rank. But if they really want to, Ignihyde has to come up with a body cam or a drone that would follow Fraena and avoid any incoming danger.

I can see it becoming like some sort of anime scene though. The NRC students watching from the safety of the school with their breaths in their throats as Fraena and her Palamute tag team to take down the monster.

I guess we can put in that that view from the Monster hunter games would be the drone that Ignihyde sent over and they were watching the whole thing unfold.

Overall, compared to @draftingteacups Casual Geographic with Pokemon with plenty of sarcasm yet a tone of seriousness. Soni would be fine in getting near the Pokemon and ocassionally show the "What would happen if you mess with this" though it was all in good fun.

Like, Pokemon can be safe if you treat them right.

That's not the case for Monster Hunter.

Fraena's Monster Hunter Documenatries would be mostly first part is to prepare and talking about what kind of monster she's facing leaving the audience to anticipate what they are facing.

Second halg of the documentary is her facing the monster and they are blown away by the appearance because the descriptions do it no justice.

Or unless she has to fight a Gypceros then they won't be amazed, more like "WTF"

Maybe I'll make a short drabble out of this with different monsters.

#ask #mhs2 x twisted wonderland #monster hunter stories 2 x twisted wonderland

[dextervoid]

Dexter Void's Top 100 Films

I’d never claim to know anything about moviemaking, and the history of cinema, or even behold an in-depth knowledge of directors and actors, let along reel off well-known quotes. So, taking an intuitive approach to my favourites, this list of top 100 films is often based on the emotional states encountered when viewing them, as well as a vision of what’s technically impressive. And in undertaking something like this, it’s more-so interesting to unravel the characteristics of the self. In no way a movie-buff, it was still difficult to sift through the favourites oscillating in the mind and finally settle on the final 100. You can be captivated by film, but they also place the viewer within a memory or scenario, something that holds dear to the heart, and therefore encases it in place. And once you have the list, what do you do with it? It seemed like I had to prove why, and so a reasoning needed to be presented. There’s likely to be spoilers here, as well as agreements and/or debates, but I encourage everyone to create one. There can’t be a wrong answer if you think intensely enough about it. I therefore hope you enjoy interpreting my top 100 films. 

#1 

RATCATCHER 

Lynne Ramsay, 1999, UK 

You’d be forgiven for thinking not much actually happens during this sensitive gritty drama. It is, however, a beautiful debut by Lynne Ramsay, its refinement woven into the simplicity of its characters’ lives and surroundings. There’s a plain darkness scurrying underneath; Glasgow as industrial landscape, the canal as a dangerous entity and the binmen strike of the late ‘70s. We see young lad, James retreating into a world of confusion and curiosity, as he can only hope of a new life in a newly developed part of the city. His day-to-day existence is wistfully coerced and entangled by a crowd of odd locals and hostile environments. His imagination and aspiration, dashed against his own anguish and despair, take him to a place only he can truly fathom. 

William Eadie as young lad James in Ratcatcher

#2 

ORLANDO 

Sally Potter, 1992, UK 

This stately and often insightful historical account of England confused me for many years, my naïve mind not fully able to grasp, or follow the fantastical story. Eventually, its intricacies entranced my brain chasm; a sheer elegance found in Tilda Swinton marching headstrong through the various eras. These are well portrayed and historically detailed, at least to my eye, while she dazzles and transforms through each classical period to the next, leading a story of many layers. The soundtrack equally envelops my nimble frame in sheer mystique, while we experience Quentin Crisp as Queen Elizabeth I and Jimmy Somerville as a celestial chanteuse, pouring a non-binary serenade to an early ‘90s house beat. It all unfolds as a melting pot of abstract and noble plight. 

Tilda Swinton as one of the reinventions of Orlando

#3 

ZATOICHI 

Takeshi Kitano, 2003, Japan 

A reimagined story about a blind swordsman, told uniquely by Takeshi Kitano. Where previous films focused on featuring extended bursts of violence, revenge and blood in a more modern context, the nineteenth century feudal setting for the samurai-cum-masseuse brings acts of redemption, vengeance and ironic humour to the table. A riveting soundtrack propels us forward, revealing not only the story itself, but also bringing to life your own prefabricated dreams and desires. 

Takeshi Kitano directs and stars as Zatoichi, the blind swordsman

#4 

DEATH BECOMES HER 

Robert Zemeckis, 1992, USA 

Seeing this black comedy as a kid, I was engrossed by the hilarity of two feisty women (Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep) battling it out to cause as much damage and harm as possible with no success. All manner of special FX enables them to contort and distort their newly everlasting bodies to amusing repercussions. All the while, a perplexed Bruce Willis merely looks on. As a grown-up, the film now unravels so many sociological ideas and theories around greed, narcissism and vanity. The desperation for immortality and one's legacy envelops the aura of this picture. This all somehow makes it a shrewd observation, underpinned by much slapstick and screwball.  

Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep as immortal beings in Death Becomes Her

#5 

ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER 

Pedro Almodóvar, 1999, Spain 

Almodóvar deserves a place on a film list. His stories and direction are exuberant, full of life, colour and passion. I simply adore how All About My Mother is melodramatic with a huge heart, with a cast of characters to match. Bold and knee-deep in depth, their hardships captivate the audience, and all with a firm ironic nod to the 1950 classic, All About Eve starring Bette Davis. 

Cecilia Roth standing aside a poster of Marisa Paredes in All About My Mother

#6 

I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE 

Jacques Tourneur, 1943, USA 

The West Indies backdrop to this mysterious B-movie weaves an opaque, if not feverish impression. Its title is somewhat misleading and not the ‘zombies’ we’d typically imagine. Transported to the Caribbean, the determination of nurse Betsy Connell is steadfast as she tries to seek answers and remedies from a so-called witchdoctor, something of intrinsic folklore. The wonderful use of shadows and lighting create an eerie landscape, while the deployment of silence along creaky verandas, dark hallways and blustery crop fields keep the viewer engaged. We feel the loss and grief of the interwoven characters, while distant voodoo rhythms and whispers of superstition make for an unsettling environment, perfectly matching the tension that’s unable to hide from the lustrous moonlight. 

'Zombie' Christine Gordon with Francis Dee & Tom Conway in I Walked with a Zombie

#7 

GHOST WORLD 

Terry Zwigoff, 2001, USA 

It perfectly captures many things; the pressure of youth, and the confusion that comes from being a misfit, not to mention the boredom of smalltown life. Outsider Enid sure does relish in the cynicism of everything that obeys the patriarchy, but it’s fascinating to watch her carve out her place in the world. The film touches on the inevitable passage of drifting apart and the excitement of meeting someone new, the trappings of being a nerd and the absolute hypocrisy of others. At the end of all this discovery, what do we have to show for it? You eventually must tread your own path. 

Scarlett Johansson and Thora Birch in Ghost World

#8 

SECRETS & LIES 

Mike Leigh, 1996, UK 

Mike Leigh is a wonderful filmmaker and likely one of my favourites. With Secrets & Lies, he illustrates a delicate story and processes it in a complex family system via gritty drama. It’s full of, well, secrets and lies. It delves even deeper into your soul with characters who are honest and simple, full of their hidden pain and anguish, all-the-while projecting back our own doubts or feelings. It’s something Leigh does entirely well and is all the more heartfelt for it.  

Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Brenda Blethyn in Secrets & Lies

#9 

LA REINE MARGOT 

Patrice Chéreau, 1994, France 

Striding ahead, not leaving me enough time to catch my breath, this opulent epic flourishes in its own gore and violence. We witness a loveless royal marriage, the decadence of sixteenth century France and the impending combat between Protestants and Catholics in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. The fast-paced story unfurls a complex narrative of deceit, unions and passion, encroaching briskly to finally imbue its own blood. The percussion-based and droning string-led Medieval style soundtrack simply thrives, especially in the wild boar chase, all helping elevate the darkly humorous tale of lust, deception, revenge and its so-called allies. 

Daniel Auteuil and Isabelle Adjani in La Reine Margot

#10 

DOLLS 

Takeshi Kitano, 2002, Japan 

A second movie by Kitano in my top ten; Dolls seems to represent a translucent trio of human emotion, interwoven with, at times, an overbearing abstract demeanour. The striking costumes, landscapes and seasons that adorn the three sections can veer into overblown romanticism, with the viewer requiring a patient manner. But your gesture of poise is well rewarded, as we gracefully shuffle along with the bound lovers, overlapped by other love stories. This all serves to intensify our own accounts of grief, sadness and obsession with a tender eye that pays a wholehearted tribute to Japanese Bunraku puppet theatre.  

Hidetoshi Nishijima and Miho Kanno as bound lovers in Dolls

#11 

THE LADY EVE 

Preston Sturges, 1941, USA 

It’s worth noting that certain pictures from the 1930s-1950s have had an impact early on, instilling a viewpoint outlining the key components that make up a film. The Lady Eve is full-on screwball tomfoolery, hilarious one-liners and observations, all steered by the marvellous Barbara Stanwyck. It’s a riotous gallop of deceit and fraud, which interferes with, and plays havoc with the naïve, yet loveable gestures offered from Henry Ford. Taking place partly on a cruise liner, we also travel by overnight train where the antics only blossom further when the headstrong Stanwyck reinvents herself as an English aristocrat. The dinner party scene is unforgettable! 

#12 

MOROCCO 

Josef von Sternberg, 1930, USA 

Marlene Dietrich is something of an enigma. She dazzled me from a young age, and Morocco was an early viewing that started a spellbinding journey. The mysterious setting flits around human emotion and its quest for true love. Experimental lighting and camerawork are on display here, and we have the eye-pleasing Gary Cooper as the Légionnaire Dietrich craves. All-the-while, her fabulous and often gender-bending ceremony at the nightclub lures us into a world of unknowns. We react to the sentiments throughout, all building to a brooding bar scene, its piano dirge willing us on to join her at the film’s hushed and plaintive finale. 

#13 

BORN YESTERDAY 

George Cukor, 1950, USA 

It’s engrossing to witness a brash tycoon hiring a well-educated journalist, who’s only remit is to teach a so-called dumb blonde mistress and make her seem more appealing and presentable to important folks. We witness her brush-up on etiquette, culture and American history, which is why it’s funny to see the original intention fail. The Oscar winning performance by Judy Holliday is deserved, even if she is playing a feisty, irritable character, you’re rooting for her all the way as she sheds her boisterous and rough around the edges persona.  

#14 

SLEEPING BEAUTY 

Clyde Geronimi, 1959, USA 

This could be considered an odd Disney choice on the list, especially when the studio produced classics such as Dumbo, Pinocchio and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. What I love about Sleeping Beauty is its angular animation motif and slightly darker tinted colour palette, backed by the astounding Tchaikovsky score. It dissolves some of the regular Disney cuteness and more-so brings sheer horror to the medieval table, and to me, also feels like a farewell to the 1950s. Maleficent is depicted as truly evil, and her gothic Forbidden Mountain only enriches the mystery. There is light relief in the form of three good fairies, and it’s somewhat amusing how aloof Aurora and Prince Philip seem to be. Even more comical is the sheer shock from the aristocracy at the thought of him wanting to marry ‘a peasant girl’. 

#15 

SUNSET BLVD 

Billy Wilder, 1950, USA 

This darkly humorous and satirical look at Hollywood as an industry and its supposed has-beens certainly feels like a scathing attack on the studios that birthed them. Documenting the mere descent of a faded silent film star into insanity, played superbly by Gloria Swansons, it cleverly captures that desperation to be an immortal glowing icon. Rather exceptional considering Swanson herself was from the silent era, while it also features cameos from other silent luminaries including Buster Keaton and Anna Q. Nilsson. It has a fiery, sordid eye looking down on us with comical, if not reproachful one-liners concerning the state of the current film industry, as well as bygone glory days. You can also read much into it from a modern context; our throwaway society and obsession with maintaining youth, the desperation clinging to an omnipotent plain.  

#16 

CABARET 

Bob Fosse, 1972, USA 

The escapades and frolics of Sally Bowels remain in your tortured soul and brings a dose of longing to the somewhat fancy-free times it portrays. Berlin at the onset and gradual rise of Nazi Germany is startling against the backdrop of the 1930s. It explores offbeat flapper girl-types, styles and idioms, all wrenched with a sort of seedy psycho-sexual prowess shimmying with oddball reprobates, their quirkiness free and easy. Joel Gray as Master of Ceremonies is fabulous in an untouchable sculpture-like way, as is Liza Minelli as Ms Sally Bowles in a role that seemed to be made for her. Musicals aren’t entirely my thing (and downright rubbish in my opinion), yet Cabaret features gut-wrenching timeless songs with an equal level of humour, soul and yearning. Bob Fosse’s choreography is rowdy, inventive and gaudy, all in the gender-bending style of 1930s swing and chanson mimicking that of the seedy underbelly of an abstract Kit Kat Klub. This is something he explored in his previous picture Sweet Charity, but with the added rise and sobering integration of the Nazi’s in Cabaret, we have a more thought-provoking outcome.  

#17 

THE PIANO 

Jane Campion, 1993, New Zealand 

There are two striking components to this tale of loss and obsession; a lush and vibrantly moist landscape around a painstakingly pertinent costume drama which transcends beyond that of others. With unbudging characters, the gothic-drenched romance has a burden as heavy and unwieldly as the grand piano isolated on the beach. The muted lead of Ada McGrath communicates not only through sign, signal, and notetaking, but through the piano itself; an overbearing hulk of a figure that often yields heart-wrenching conclusions. Along with it, the Michael Nyman score leads us gallantly through the New Zealand wilderness with an equally obsessive eye. 

#18 

THE LITTLE MERMAID 

Ron Clements and John Musker, 1989, USA 

A second Disney choice here is from the contemporary era, dating back to when the studio more-or-less kickstarted their renaissance, and guided them through the ‘90s and beyond, thus rejuvenating the corporation after some stagnant years in the wilderness. Based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale, The Little Mermaid features outlandish, larger-than-life characters, a blend of brilliant songs and gleaming aquatic animation. The adventure glides along on a riveting underwater current of straightforward storytelling, never shying away from a charming sense of humour or darker depths of despair. 

#19 

THE WIZARD OF OZ 

Victor Fleming, 1939, USA 

Undoubtedly on many movie lists; a poignant ode to childhood and uncomplicated fantasy which only develops your melancholic gears as you grow older. Guaranteed to bring me to tears every time, yet I question why? In a modern context, it’s nostalgia for a dreamworld that embraces a sumptuous colour palette after so much sepia, all of which is further enhanced by flamboyant and vulnerable characters, sing-along tunes and a yearning for something you can’t quite comprehend.  

Charles Coburn, Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda in The Lady Eve

#20 

MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY 

Woody Allen, 1993, USA 

A riotous crime-solving excursion carried out by Woody Allen and Diane Keaton. They perfectly bounce off one another while they attempt to unravel and piece together a mosaic of strange goings-on and mysterious incidences, all in a hilariously slapdash way. With many gags along the way, Allen offers viewers just a pinch of insight into what’s happening as we try to keep up with their haphazard detective work, culminating in a delightfully perfectly imperfect choreographed tape machine manipulation. You might not perceive any bold statements, but it does lure viewers into a rather inquisitive journey, keeping you on the edge of your seat. 

#21 

HEAVENLY CREATURES 

Peter Jackson, 1994, New Zealand 

Based on the true story of two inseparable girls, who form a close friendship and consciously decide to commit murder when forced apart. The adaptation is devastating in its subtlety, interspersed with gallant fantasy worlds from the viewpoint of a young mind when presented with an inaccessible, and out of reach worldview. This is brilliantly emphasised by the slightly claustrophobic social setting of 1950s New Zealand, and lead actors Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet, in her debut role, offering their off-kilter and oddball personas with a captivating charm. Watching the friendship grow as an outsider brings forth the voyeur in you, and the heartbreak felt on both sides towards the films climax is none other than disturbing.  

#22 

THE PIANO TEACHER 

Michael Haneke , 2001, France 

Precisely what is deep-rooted within the disposition of the main character in The Piano Teacher is one that can trouble you, or is it a reflection of the faults you see in yourself? Played exquisitely by Isabelle Huppert, her psycho-sexual prowess and bizarre way of thinking erupts throughout and results in a desperate plea mired in transgression.  

#23 

THE CIRCLE 

Jafar Panahi, 2000, Iran 

It’s easy for me to speak highly of how The Circle is an exemplary modern-day account depicting the oppression women face in Iran. But watching a late night showing on Channel 4 in the early 2000s with no expectation as to what it was about threw me off guard. In fact, it was broadcast as a double bill with another Iranian film, possibly by Panahi. I don’t recall the name, but it was a primitive shot of a conversation in a cable car. Back to The Circle, we’re fully devoted to the women we traipse behind and feel fully engaged with the difficulties they face, thus going full circle, as it were, only to arrive back where we started. It’s a powerful message.  

#24 

AMÉLIE 

Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001, France 

One of those films where every little detail seems meticulously thought out and executed with effortless grace yet runs seamlessly from scene to scene. It can attempt to be too kooky at times, but the bountiful tale of intriguing romance and a colour scheme to match harnesses my attention. With the aim of secretly bringing joy to the people around her, it has a unique feelgood factor usually missing from similar comedies. Amélie is more rooted in humanism than the directors previous work, which includes the excellent Delicatessen and overtly industrial The City of Lost Children, and it seems to take rapturous delight in knowing this. With musical accompaniment from Yann Tiersen to help elevate the comic strip style skits and distinctive humour, we grow to be far-more concerned with the fate of our do-gooder.   

#25 

SIDEWAYS 

Alexander Payne, 2004, USA 

A movie that doesn’t get old. The cynical and wry ‘I told-you-so' style comedy of errors still resonates today and more-so feels like a coming of ‘middle-age’ movie. The friendship between the leads, Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church is a poignant one as they both slip into trouble on their vineyard, wine tasting and golfing road trip. The film reflects charmingly upon the mistakes, regrets and missed chances one encounters in life. 

#26 

DISHONORED 

Josef von Sternberg, 1931, USA 

My first Marlene Dietrich film, a subtle and suave picture that’s surely underestimated. With a nonchalant and suggestive demeanour, agent X-27 is deadly serious and beautiful when it comes to spying on those Russians. Its many exciting scenes flaunt the screen; a fantastical masque ball, a deceitfully dim-witted milk maid pursuit and ultimately the beautiful agent's final condemnation.  

#27 

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION 

Fred Schepisi, 1993, USA 

“Chaos, control, chaos, control” tears through this slapstick tale of tomfoolery and imposter satire. The ever-present metropolitan skyline of early ‘90s New York heaves to a revolving cast of characters. Cantankerous trust-fund brats of the affluent, confused art dealers, and college misfits collide frantically, duped by a young Will Smith, who misleads beautifully in a conniving sphere of innocence. Simply controlled chaotically. 

#28 

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 

David Frankel, 2006, USA 

A go-to hangover film. It always makes me laugh and feel a little bit hopeful, which seems rather gooey of me! Meryl Streep as editor of leading fashion magazine, Runway is startling, if only for her unbelievable demands and emotional detachment to the people around her. Anne Hathaway is all eager-eyes and transformative sprite in the world of fashion, leaving desperate Emily Blunt a nervous wreck. Despite a rather maudlin boyfriend character and slops of mush towards the end, it otherwise serves as a nice way of dipping your toe into an unforgiving industry – a scene involving a cerulean sweater is delightfully comical and unnerving. No doubt a crowd-pleaser and a so-called chick-flick (a genre term I’m not fond of), it smoothly immerses us in the preposterous domain of fashion, publishing and all that vacuous pizzazz. 

#29 

ALL ABOUT EVE 

Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1950, USA 

With many memorable lines and scenes fraught with tensions that sizzle around an abundant cast, we act as a spectator to a shy understudy, slyly navigating their way into the lives of top Broadway stars and industry people, manipulating her ascent. Superbly played out, we contemplate themes of longevity, legacy, youth and hypocrisy, all swimming in a pool of narcissism. Bette Davis runs amok in a whirlwind of frantic composure, her close allies around her aiming to ease the ego with charm and confusion. You better believe it when Margo Channing defiantly intones, “Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night”.   

Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada

#30 

CARNIVAL OF SOULS 

Herk Harvey, 1962, USA 

Perhaps one reason I’m drawn to this film is due to the title being immortalised by not just one, but two of my favourite bands. Birmingham’s Pram match organ-driven dub pulsations to lyrics interpreting the mysterious dance sequences and alluring spooky painted faces, whilst Rhode Island's Combustible Edison create a haunting atmosphere of Wurlitzer melodies that probe the mind echoing a similar sound heard in the film. A warped emotion that descends the staircase of your mind into a state of unconscious. What we have is a rather simple B-movie horror that fancies playing on the psychological side of our neurosis with melodramatic effect. The unsure and confused car casualty, played by Candace Hilligoss, drifting as a waif-like somnambulist through a world now not her own is delightfully unearthly. 

#31 

MANHATTAN 

Woody Allen, 1979, USA 

As a viewer, I wonder if this serves as social commentary, celebrating New York life, and the many expressions and struggles we endure. It pursues a thoughtful glimpse at the way friendships and relationships blossom, only to become strained while existing within the confines of a contemporary twentieth century. Shot in the fast-paced and ironic way Woody Allen is accustomed to, these characters are full of life, bursting with energy and philosophies all at once, which ultimately might just be their undoing. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton bounce off one another again perfectly and are effortlessly well placed in this romantic vision of the Big Apple. 

#32 

FASTER PUSSYCAT… KILL! KILL! 

Russ Meyer, 1965, USA 

Probably the only Russ Meyer film I can stand to sit through. However, it is a B-movie classic and a good exercise in exploitation. Located in a sort of bumfuck nowhere, (or the middle of the Californian desert to be more precise), the fierce trio of bad-ass go-go girls get their kicks out of drag racing and generally wreaking havoc as brassy and brazen nomads. Along the way, Tura Satana, Haji and Lori Williams kill a jock, kidnap a sap and infiltrate a hick’s farmhouse in the hope of laundering his millions of cash dollars. The acting is big and over the top, the many one-liners ricochet in-and-out of sexual innuendos, as their schemes dart around like the testosterone of the hick’s hulky dimwit son.  

#33 

THRONE OF BLOOD 

Akira Kurosawa, 1957, Japan 

One of my early adventures into Japanese cinema courtesy of my brother, undoubtedly fuelled by a teenage obsession with all things from the land of the rising sun. Masterminded by mood maestro Akira Kurosawa, his reimaging of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth in a Shogun-era, Feudal state of Japan is spellbinding. The eerie castle atmosphere and landscape draws you in, gloomily clinging to you much like the dense forest and torrential downpours the unforgiving fortress submits. The imperial gestures, grand battles and delectable Japanese etiquette give way to a yarn-spinning sorceress who prophesises a divine climb, and in due course, detrimental downfall.  

#34 

BULLETS OVER BROADWAY 

Woody Allen, 1994, USA 

It was difficult to decide the placement of my three chosen Woody Allen films, I enjoy them quite equally. This is an absolute triumph though, and hilariously shows off the farcical nature of theatre in all its manifestations. From casting, rehearsals, drawbacks and setbacks, the characters self-absorbed pretence right from the get-go to the final performance is a whole other drama unto itself.  

#35 

KING KONG 

Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933, USA 

An early childhood memory, subsequently embedded as a key favourite, the adventure story takes us from the misty and smog-filled harbour of New York City to exotic islands where the giant ape roams as a gated mystical godlike figure. The haunting score, superb camera work and animatronic beasts collide in what is a technical marvel for the time. An eerie, trance-like lurch permeates throughout, and when we eventually return to the glitz of all-consuming Manhattan, a thrilling finale ensues and sees Carl Denham starkly concluding “It wasn't the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast”. 

#36 

THE DRAUGHTSMAN’S CONTRACT 

Peter Greenaway, 1982, UK 

Set pieces galore, overt costuming and a grand location litters the atmosphere in this seemingly low-key, dialogue heavy, sexual satire, poking fun at the aristocracy. Saddled with a strident and morosely ironic Michael Nyman composition, the draughtsman in question beautifully attempts to map out the estate grounds, greeting mysterious encounters along the way. It’s not entirely clear what the meaning may be, but repeated viewings help unravel more than we realise. 

#37 

SOME LIKE IT HOT 

Billy Wilder, 1959, USA 

A stupendous tour de force in the art of farce and comedy with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis dragging it up in style whilst on the run. The frolics continue with a wonderous Marilyn Monroe as the love interest. Wilder gave cinemagoers some tremendous pictures over his illustrious career, with Some Like It Hot shoving its way to the forefront with clever storytelling, goofy fun, and important themes and ideas boldly explored for its time.  

#38 

AUTUMN SONATA 

Ingmar Bergman, 1978, Sweden 

A tender and revelatory meeting between mother and daughter, wrought with family truths, ties and personal wrongdoings. For the most part, the reflective dialogue transposes during the early hours of the morning, encased in an oppressive light and heavy atmosphere, the viewer attempts to alleviate the often-uncomfortable situation. Having not seen many Bergman films (apart from the often ridiculed The Seventh Seal or whimsical Wild Strawberries), this could be viewed as an odd choice, and perhaps won’t suit many. Think of it as looking into your own soul, your grievances and astute sentiments projected onto the characters themselves, hopeful of laying indifferences to rest.  

#39 

SHALLOW GRAVE 

Danny Boyle, 1994, UK 

I enjoy the dark and cynical route this black comedy takes; from the ominous obsession slowly eating away and absorbing the characters, tearing them apart. It’s a venomous neurosis which creeps meticulously into their behaviour. The gory-tinged horror embellishes and encroaches around the large apartment, which is utilised here well enough to become a character all its own, thus witnessing the final undoing of the dislocated pals. 

Toshiro Mifune and Isuzu Yamada in Throne of Blood

#40 

BRASSED OFF 

Mark Herman, 1996, UK 

One of those northern working-class comedies, very much in line with The Full Monty and Billy Elliott, that cheekily blows its own horn and stands out for depicting community and an eagerness to achieve in the face of adversity. With the local coal mine due to close, it signals the death bell for the colliery brass band. So, the miners and their dedicated band leader, played attentively by Pete Postlethwaite, steam ahead with practice for a national competition, while the members lives become intertwined and complicated. Full of foolhardy fun and pensive observations and introspections, it seems to me it achieves a well-thought meaning that one shouldn’t give up, no matter what obstacles we face. Along with all of this, the traditional songs and original score starkly resonate honesty and pride to boot!  

#41 

GAS FOOD LODGING 

Allison Anders, 1992, USA 

A lovely oddball of a picture, where I feel like a hanger-on to the daily lives of three women living in a trailer park in a New Mexico town. There’s something genuinely woven into the simplicity of their surroundings and an abiding yearning for something else. In this case, love, or at least figuring out your place in the world. Characters are portrayed unassumingly without veering into cliché or irritation. The film deserves your patience as we observe and grapple with the pressure of youth, midlife disillusion, mixed messages and confused confrontations, with the ever-present longing of escaping a deadbeat town. These resonate from start to finish. 

#42 

THOSE WHO LOVE ME CAN TAKE THE TRAIN 

Patrice Chéreau, 1998, France 

For me, the first half of Patrice Chéreau’s follow-up to La Reine Margot can induce motion sickness! Taking place on a train from Paris to Limoges, a motley group of individuals embark on a journey of self-discovery and revelatory perceptions of one another, whom all claim to have known a recently deceased artist, who’s funeral they’re roving towards. There are dramas en route, many of these waifs and oddballs determined and self-indulged behaviour revealing a multitude of aspects we name grief. Whether they’re genuine or not, remains to be seen. Yet, despite their disparate connections, they gel together well. The film is helped by fast-paced scenes and an artfully directed cord tangling it together in one interesting cluster, not only on the train, but also within the giant cemetery and at the artists bohemian house for the wake.    

#43 

RED DUST 

Victor Fleming, 1932, USA 

Jean Harlow shines in this somewhat simple and aloof romance concerning a rubber plantation owner and the trouble he finds himself in with his mistress. Harlow brings a feisty and zippy-like liveliness to proceedings, as Clark Gable does his darndest to nullify her, locking horns in a befuddled way. The Indonesian setting infuses with Oriental eloquence, the oppressive heat layering a veil of earth and soil over the sexual tension.   

#44 

WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN 

Pedro Almodóvar, 1988, Spain 

One of Almodóvar’s more satirical (at least to me) films captures all his usual intricacies and characteristics; fast moving sentimentality, vibrant sets and locations, madcap characters, and major doses of regret and heartbreak. Featuring the fabulous ‘mambo taxi’, we witness the outrageous happenings played out in front of us. This is all induced by a scorching Spanish heat and temperament, playfully scattered around Almodóvar’s obsession with the art of cinema-making itself. 

#45 

TOGETHER 

Lukas Moodysson, 2000, Sweden 

Lukas Moodysson does such a good job of recreating the 1970s, you can easily be misled to believe this was indeed filmed during that period. The characters are depicted and played accurately with a sensitive sheen of Swedish melodrama. The troubles and issues (as well as frolics) one can expect from living in a hippie commune are presented very naturally. No matter how trivial they may seem, it raises questions about how we are as a society and our small place within it.    

#46 

LES DIABOLIQUES 

Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1955, France 

At the time of release, cinemagoers may have been horrified by the cunning events depicted on screen. As time progresses, attitudes towards violence and murder change, evident from its classification downgrading from 18 to a 12 the last time I checked. Anyhow, as a viewer, I allow myself to be drawn into its twisted web of tricks and deceit played out by the vampish and shrewd Simone Signoret along with the timid, nervy Véra Clouzot. The queasy air of unease is something one should be shrouded in as it builds towards an unsuspecting climax of twists and turns.  

#47 

A FOREIGN AFFAIR 

Billy Wilder, 1948, USA 

A later film starring Marlene Dietrich whereby she isn’t the leading lady but very much dominates with her presence. That’s not to take away from the splendid performance by Jean Arthur, who does a fabulous job of portraying a prim and proper congresswoman, who is out to do away with immoral and subversive behaviours lurking in the underbelly of post-war Berlin. The scenes at the nightclub are raucous, where mistress Dietrich sings Black Market. There’s a sense of humour pulling at the films cord, while footage of a ruined Berlin is startling bleak.  

#48 

ROPE 

Alfred Hitchcock, 1948, USA 

With so many incredible Hitchcock films to choose from and digest, Rope is the one that left a stain on my mind. Maybe it’s the simplicity; one apartment, a revolving array of characters, and absorbing dialogue that brings various theories and philosophies to the table. The suspense is thrilling throughout, as we speculate whether the trunk, now being used as a buffet table will be opened or not.  

#49 

PECKER 

John Waters, 1998, USA 

I’ve attempted to whittle down my selection of John Waters films and found myself returning to Pecker more often than others. His early films, whilst subversive and completely uncompromising, give me a headache, quite literally and I emerge perplexed from some sort of discarded husk. His films from the later part of the ‘80s and into the ‘90s are much easier to take. Pecker comprises Waters ingenious and perceptive wit for trash in a more watered-down sense, all-the-while painting a rather odd depiction of Baltimore life and its residents, the main subject matter for the budding photographer Pecker. 

Chihiro voiced by Deveigh Chase in Spirited Away

#50 

SPIRITED AWAY 

Hayao Miyazaki, 2001, Japan 

Being a teenager when this Japanese anime was first released, it now takes on the nostalgia-induced cliché/coma that comes with so-called childhood memories, but Spirited Away is justified in that respect. It’s strikingly beautiful; from the intricate animation and colours to an exuberant potpourri of fantastical characters, overly sentimental and gallant sounds, interspersed with truly grotesque and terrifying depictions of human emotion and imagination. The Japanese and English language versions both emit the same soul, designating equal charm whichever way you experience it; a testament to the genuine magic and fantasy. Other titles from Studio Ghibli before and after are lovely but nothing compares to Hayao Miyazaki’s sublime and wonderful Spirited Away. 

#51 

ANOTHER YEAR 

Mike Leigh, 2010, UK 

Mike Leigh is likely to be high on the list of favourite film makers for many. For me, he sparks a sense of sentimentality and anxiety-ridden realism in my aorta chambers. There’s an essence of kitchen-sink drama-like qualities to his work too, a bit like the sensitive anguish we get with Ken Loach (Kes, Poor Cow, The Wind That Shakes the Barley), yet less forced perhaps. Another Year finds Leigh analysing the psyche of the human spirit by those comfortable enough to help others. Split across the seasons, it delves deep into various types of characters, family members and friends, exploring troubles with heartachingly tenderness. Ruth Sheen and Jim Broadbent are wholly believable as the offbeat straight-talking and caring couple, Sheen’s character acting as a diligent matriarch, although she allows space for her acquaintances to reel in their own misgivings and apprehensions. 

#52 

BELLE DU JOUR 

Luis Buñuel, 1967, France 

A glimpse into the daily life of a bored bourgeois housewife, this Buñuel picture contains a burning sense of desire that resides inside, waiting for some sort of emancipation. Catherine Deneuve approaches the part with both a nimble directness and gentle aloofness, not without a glint of wide-eyed naivety in her eye. Coming from a well-established avant-garde director, the metaphors are sure to make me think what exactly this all means, but it’s surely an exhilarating trip. 

#53 

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS 

Jonathan Demme, 1991, USA 

The horror genre isn’t one I completely go for in cinema; perhaps being drawn to the more psychological and fancifully manipulative films are what pique my disillusion. These are very much welcome. This psycho-horror genuinely spreads a chill through my feeble frame. The eerie opening lays an ominous tone, and that encroaching feeling lurches throughout the entire picture. The mind of its killer, Buffalo Bill crawls into your thinking, as does that of detective Clarice Starling, played effortlessly by Jodie Foster. A terrifying night vision scene ensues towards the finale, requiring us to lift ourselves out of the dumps of a dank and dangerous place.  

#54 

STRAY DOG 

Akira Kurosawa, 1949, Japan 

The oppressive Tokyo summer heat always felt like an overarching character in Kurosawa’s gangster crime thriller. With his often-cast main man, Toshirô Mifune scrabbles around the darker and undesirable parts of town in search of his stolen pistol, the heat sweltering and intensifying as the story progresses. What’s beautiful about the film is the way our inexperienced detective slowly learns more about his own work when directly impacted by a crime. 

#55 

THE BIRDCAGE 

Mike Nichols, 1996, USA 

An up-to-date rework of the classic La Cage aux Folles, faithfully depicted, and perhaps taken even further on screen by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. I love the way it lures me in with the lounge revival and tiki exotica backdrop of the 1990s and its fabulously glitzy hijinks of cabaret nightlife, succinctly pouting at you. With laughs and much camp mischief to be had, the heart of what family means is unveiled with nuances of acute generosity.  

#56 

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK 

Peter Weir, 1975, Australia 

The sense of loss paired with what we’d consider a conspiracy theory-like disappearance is brimming with boarding school innocence and sexual tension, made incredibly more difficult by the strict Victorian setting in the Australian outback. There’s something strangely supernatural swimming, almost floating between the rocky landscape and naturally formed columns. It’s almost gut-wrenching to witness the downfall of the matriarchal boarding house mistress, serving as a sort of profound metaphor about the unravelling of our own perceptions of people and the human condition. 

#57 

PRIVATE PARTS 

Betty Thomas, 1997, USA 

The life and times of Howard Stern are played out by himself in true-to-life lurid fashion, and even if you don’t know much about the outrageous U.S. national radio show presenter, just be thankful that his story is told. Fascinating to watch his rise from smalltown radio show host to mega personality, observing the ways he broke barriers and crossed boundaries in mainstream, corporate MOR America, all with tongue firmly in (ass) cheek notoriety. 

#58 

HAIRSPRAY 

John Waters, 1988, USA 

Following his early films of pure gross-out and bile contaminated hilarity, John Waters 1988 commercially viable Hairspray has all the right components, welding together a sardonic look at the faults of the 1960s, all purposely wrapped up in family fun viewing. The cast is brilliant, firm Waters favourites Divine and Mink Stole revolve around Ricki Lake, Deborah Harry, Sonny Bono and Ruth Brown as the zany Motormouth Maybelle, who assuredly has some of the most memorable lines put to celluloid: “Papa Tooney. We've got a Looney” and “No matter what you've heard, we are gonna teach the white children how to do The Bird!”. Waters tackles the civil rights movement with dirty aplomb, poking fun at a white dominated society, as well as the ludicrous age of teenage youth with utter wry mockery. 

#59 

THE ELEPHANT MAN 

David Lynch, 1980, USA 

I thought it might be a tricky decision choosing which Lynch film(s) would feature here, but then it became apparent it wasn’t so. His movies are great exercises in otherworldly dreamlike realms but for me can be too all consuming and bloated in pretentious soup. Whether it be the insanely complex Mullholland Drive, endless Inland Empire, convoluted Lost Highway, or regrettably irritating Eraserhead, they all seem slightly devoid of the sincere emotion I seek. Yet, this is where The Elephant Man trudges in. Shot in beautiful black and white, the dreamy trance-like pace and atmosphere only adds to the refined tenderness revealed from the so-called ‘monster’. It’s gut-wrenching to watch as he’s burdened by the harsh Victorian society around him, and the corruption inflicted upon our apprehensive protagonist. 

Roaming the mysterious Australian landscape in Picnic at Hanging Rock

#60 

A TASTE OF HONEY 

Tony Richardson, 1961, UK 

A rather gritty and grubby adaptation of the Shelagh Delaney play depicting British life in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. When transferred to screen, it might well play on and pigeonhole certain types of people, yet manages to capture working-class lives with simplicity, as well as the situations communities faced at the time. Catfights and squabbles between the mother, played incredibly convincingly by Dora Bryan and daughter Rita Tushingham, are slightly unnerving and uncomfortable, while the film gives weight to so-called outcasts; Paul Danquah as its black sailor and Murray Melvin as closeted homosexual. Tony Richardson’s direction circles a sense of longing and dread to proceedings, especially potent in a patriarchal, white-straight man dominated society. 

#61 

MESHES OF THE AFTERNOON 

Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid, 1943, USA 

A short avant-garde collection of dream state imagery to confuse and befuddle the mind. What it means exactly is up to you, but you must allow yourself to be immersed in the deep chasm of unrealities and esoteric abandonment. 

#62 

DANCER IN THE DARK 

Lars von Trier, 2000, Denmark 

There was only ever going to be one Lars von Trier film on the list, and obviously because it features Björk in the lead role. The story is like a knot of nerves, slowly unravelling as tragic melodrama, all interspersed with musical numbers based on musique concrète, otherwise reflecting the drab surroundings Björk’s character, Selma, finds herself in. These act as pure escapism and pays homage to musicals while being rather anti-musical, dispelling traditional conventions entirely. It adheres to the Dogme ‘95 concept, which you could say was better utilised in films such as Breaking The Waves or Festen, but it still trickles through here notwithstanding. The first time I watched Dancer In The Dark, I’d only recently discovered Björk, so inevitably bawled my eyes out over the adversities Selma was placed in. Even though a lengthy watch with jerky camerawork, I still believe the film is great, discarding the clichéd predictions of Hollywood, yet adoring the classic musicals of the silver screen at the same time, whilst serving bold manipulation. I’m just not entirely sure what Von Trier was attempting to say about our harsh society.  

#63 

AUGUST 32ND ON EARTH 

Denis Villeneuve, 1998, Canada 

This French-Canadian indie really took me by surprise. It involves a somewhat bizarre plot based around its main character, played by Pascale Bussières, wanting to have a baby with her friend, spurred on by surviving a car accident. Something like a wake-up call, or a last chance? Even stranger is the desire to conceive in the salt desert of Utah. Despite the selfishness of the main character, this curious story kept me on a hook, mainly to see where it would lead next. That would be a rendezvous in a weird mini pod, all futuristic techno oddness, drunken and revelatory and sees the pair questioning their kinship. This all seems a million miles away from Villeneuve’s later films; Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 and the Dune remake! 

#64 

BRIEF ENCOUNTER 

David Lean, 1945, UK 

A rather sentimental British film by my standards, but it manages to tap into a yearning and sense of adventure that we as people somehow unwittingly lose being part of the system. Propelled by the intensity of Rachmaninov, the train station setting and a very English post-war rebuild, the understated demeanour is concealed in wonderment. 

#65 

A PORTUGUESA 

Rita Azevedo Gomes, 2018, Portugal 

An extremely minimal film, certainly in terms of dialogue, but what it lacks in script, makes up for in grand and controlled theatrical gestures. Every detail feels painstakingly accurate and abundant, so much so, I put my trust in there being no historical inaccuracies to otherwise demystify the experience. The viewer does require patience, as each scene is framed to be some sort of artistic masterpiece - this involves very little panning shots or camera movement whatsoever, from what I remember. It’s a triumph of photography and cinematography, yet one I feel will be largely ignored.  

#66 

VERONIKA VOSS 

Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1982, Germany 

Obsession and narcotics liquefy in this dreamscape by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. His films all have heart and soul, and even though Veronika Voss herself is rather loathsome, perhaps we should understand it’s the system and omnipresent machine we’re sucked into that’s at fault. With a haunting soundtrack swaying among the trauma of our morphine dependent recluse, and desperate washout, one gets the sense her ongoing issues are building to a downward crescendo.  

#67 

INNOCENCE 

Lucile Hadzihalilovic, 2004, France 

Within the same stylistic vein as Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Amélie or Delicatessen, this eerie, slow-burning horror is saturated in opulent green and red pigmentation, and innocently treads a path depicting the upward development of youth and the inevitable journey into the real world. The sumptuous and peculiar imagery of a tucked away boarding house and quietly vicious superiority from its pupils is uniquely frightful. As they clamber towards their debut, it’s even more intriguing when considering the darker undertones of its two dejected and repressed mademoiselles. It all makes sense when the dark fairytale is over, and the final allegory is a reflection on the very loss of innocence. 

#68 

OFFSIDE 

Jafar Panahi, 2006, Iran 

I didn’t think a film about football could sneak into my list, but here we have a triumph at showing the struggle women in Iran face. The majority of scenes are shot, quite literally offside where female football fans are penned in after being discovered illegally watching the game within the stadium. It has that guerilla style of filming throughout, and we hear from different types of women, ignored and dismissed by bumbling security guards and officials. With a celebratory, and slightly sentimental finish, we’re merely left to contemplate. 

#69 

PERSONAL SERVICES 

Terry Jones, 1987, UK 

I weirdly love how this film portrays a grimy London, a sooty-laced air imbued with a strained and rigid seediness that’s all very English. The settings and locations are dreary, and dull, but awash with a diverse array of sexual taboos and kinks. The film acts as an exploration on the rise of Cynthia Payne, brothel hostess and sometime dominatrix, all overlaid with dark humour and hijinks, and played by Julie Walters superbly. It’s also a nice partner film to Wish You Were Here from the same year, based on the childhood of Cynthia Payne (both films feature David Leland as writer) and are well-worth a watch.  

Björk in Dancer in the Dark

#70 

THE FULL MONTY 

Peter Cattaneo, 1997, UK 

Without really meaning to, I automatically lump this together with other working-class films set in the north, such as Brassed Off and Billy Elliott. These films are full of antics and cheeky comedy, clenched teeth and a genuine heart. They also act as a nice distraction, if not amusing counterpart to the realism served by the likes of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach. What we get with The Full Monty is a jubilant look at the will of the human spirit when challenged. In this case, we witness a bunch of unemployed steel workers dealing with their immediate situation in the best way they know how, and what better way to do this than put on a striptease act. It touches on what it means for self-respect and their awareness of it. There’s laughs to be had amongst the day-to-day strife's, but their unwavering ambition remains the same. 

#71 

JURASSIC PARK 

Steven Spielberg, 1993, USA 

Including this adventure classic on the list might be considered an obvious choice and it can veer into camp parody at times. But with so many memories ingrained since childhood, how could it not be added? It has all the components you need for an action-fantasy adventure, aging rather well in the process. It strangely has heart too, as we witness a crestfallen Richard Attenborough, but the dynamic trio in the form of Sam Neil, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum lead the charge on a rescue mission. The film paces along perfectly, building plot pieces that lead to high intensity action complete with impressive dino-CGI and animatronics, as well as the all-important magic only Spielberg can conjure.   

#72 

CARRIE 

Brian De Palma, 1976, USA 

The horrors of coming of age and secondary school are enough to instil panic and anger in large doses. Enduring such memories alongside Carrie, who summons frightful telekinesis and the paranormal, immediately puts me on her side in. The film itself straddles elements of goofy comedy, classic horror manipulations, maniacal religious overtones, and lastly, delightful repercussions in a riotous bloodbath. I’m a regular schadenfreude. 

#73 

FESTEN 

Thomas Vinterberg, 1998, Denmark 

Underlying traumas and deep-rooted psychosis unearth and uproot themselves in this Dogme ’95 drama of intertwined family rifts and power dynamics. The unadulterated style of realism delivered through imposing camerawork is awkward, muddy and unnerving. With revelations slowly stirring in the strangely cramped castle setting, the troublesome dinner builds to a provocative nail-biting finale. 

#74 

ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND 

Michel Gondry, 2004, USA 

The innate possibilities and yearning etched into celluloid here is what captures the imagination; a glimpse at realigning the human memory or evading it shall we say. But can you imagine that possibility; the chance to block out unwanted trauma or mistakes, dalliances or disputes, the chance to delete certain aspects of one's life, much to the dismay of others. Michel Gondry uses his inventive vision to create illusion and uncertainty, sometimes heartwarming and sometimes scary. It’s not surprising of me to feature the director due to his work on eight Björk music videos, his collaborative work with the singer always spellbinding. The synergy Gondry utilises with Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood and Kirsten Dunst is marvellous here too, each of them fantastic in their roles. He aims to push the limits with subtlety and poignancy in a swirl of odd strangeness.   

#75 

THE WATERMELON WOMAN 

Cheryl Dunye, 1996, USA 

Inescapably ‘90s in overall look and ambiance, The Watermelon Woman tackles subjects concerning perceptions of race, history, queerness and portrayals of people with a divine lo-fi resonance. It did a very convincing job of fooling me into thinking Dunye’s research into the typecast ‘Mammy’ of 1930s Hollywood was entirely real, all punctuated with her day-to-day life at the video store she works at and her continued search for a girlfriend.  

#76 

MON ONCLE 

Jacques Tati, 1958, France 

Something of a unique picture as we traverse the odd day-to-day happenings of an angular and sparse French home, complete with vibrant and colourful architecture, 1950s wacky and modernist appliances and the off-kilter airs-and-graces of a seasoned middle-class couple. Much tomfoolery is to be had at the factory and trips to an unconventional rickety house in town, it’s all tied together by snippets of bungling dialogue and well-choreographed fanciful movements that are entirely sweet and charming. 

#77 

HIGH HOPES 

Mike Leigh, 1988, UK 

Fascinating to see parts of old Kings Cross in the late ‘80s, and even more fascinating to try and understand the many close to the bone subjects Leigh aimed to illustrate here; class, wealth, socio-economic status, the patriarchy and the sheer drudgery of existence in a political landscape of Tory oppressed Britain. Played out over a constant dirge of cello, harpsichord and double bass, that’s either mournful or spritely depending on the mood, it raises more questions upon repeated viewings. It’s similar in style to Leigh’s subsequent films, Life Is Sweet and Naked, although less good-natured or preachy, and we’re left to wallow in a dread that seeps into the fabric of our being. I begin to wonder why such a cognitive demanding and traumatic look of the world could end up on my list, but it’s essential viewing for a perspective, and as the Marxist-leaning son Cyril states mid-film “It’s a different world now”, begging the question, what can we change?  

#78 

TRAINSPOTTING 

Danny Boyle, 1996, UK 

Following on from the murky grit of Shallow Grave, Danny Boyles Trainspotting pushes the horror even further. With an unabashed soundtrack matching the ongoing ecstasy and disregard for human existence, the implosion of the kaleidoscopic cast grips you in its defiled veins.  

#79 

MRS. DOUBTFIRE 

Chris Columbus, 1993, USA 

Robin Williams is somehow at his most outrageous here, his wacky nature tailored to fit the frumpy, but seasoned and respectable drag/ cross dresser persona of Mrs. Doubtfire. It treads a rather routine and corny ‘90s family film path, and at times overdoses with mushy sentimentality and messages about parenthood and responsibility. But there are many laughs and gags to be had along the way, with Williams the star of the show in a sea of dowdy characters - the restaurant scene towards the finale is a frenzied, chaotic and slapdash stroke of genius that’s full of character.  

Scarlett Johansson in Under The Skin

#80 

UNDER THE SKIN 

Jonathan Glazer, 2013, UK 

An eerily lustful concoction with an irresistible sound motif. It lures the viewer into something that seems to signify a new-age style of sci-fi and horror; intelligent sci-fi cinema but without any overlong grand statements? Under The Skin urges us to question our principles about human sexual nature, morality and our molecular place in the universe. The otherworldly alien, played subtly by Scarlett Johansson juxtaposed against the Scottish landscape and city, as well as some unusual guerrilla filming are all brilliant choices and resonate coldly in a sea of despondency and confusion. 

#81 

THE CREMATOR 

Juraj Herz, 1969, Czechoslovakia 

There’s a dark sense of humour pumping through the veins of this black comedy. Framed shots and cinematography are perceived as 1930s expressionism; precise angles and wide-open views of the crematorium, inside and out. The candid and somewhat gruff proclamations from the cremator himself, an antagonist played creepily by Rudolf Hrusínský are darkly twisted, as his obsession with death and murdering his family seep into the membrane. The discordant atmosphere and jarring imagery slowly trickle free, leaving what can only be understood as symbolism pertaining the onset of the Nazis.   

#82 

BOYS ON THE SIDE 

Herbert Ross, 1995, USA 

The road trip movie is a fun journey to embark on, especially with strong-willed women, no matter what triumphs, mishaps or dilemmas they unwittingly find themselves in. Despite her stellar performances in Sister Act, Ghost and Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Whoopi Goldberg is pretty much flawless here as the assured head-strong lesbian singer, whilst Drew Barrymore plays the rebellious gal rather convincingly. Both of whom join Mary-Louise Parker’s character on the move to California. The film plays around with the notion of sisterhood, approaching it with a tenderness and spontaneity which is heartwarming but not excessively comfortable in its pulpy mulch. It builds to a charming, if sombre finish and one that I wasn’t quite expecting. 

#83 

BUGSY MALONE 

Alan Parker, 1976, USA 

Other childhood favourites of this ilk can easily dissolve. Yet, Bugsy Malone is one that doesn’t, undoubtedly due to the speakeasy setting of the ‘30s, gangster mobs using cream-like substances to gun enemies down, and more importantly, an excellent set of memorable songs. The child-only actors are cast well, none of them overplayed or obnoxious. I might consider it a worthy contender as one of the best musicals, simply because the songs don’t irritate, and the story retains a sense of humour. As a spoof of old gangster films, the pie fight finale is a humdinger and gives way to a well-meaning merge of two opposing sides.  

#84 

BEING JOHN MALKOVICH 

Spike Jonze, 1999, USA 

Indeed, it’s a secret portal from the seventh and a half floor of a dreary office that leads to the mind of John Malkovich? This beguiling picture dissects obsession and identity considerably candidly, but mainly it injects a hefty dose for the bizarre into our bloodstreams.  

#85 

MURIEL’S WEDDING 

P.J. Hogan, 1994, Australia 

Although messy and farfetched in places, the Australian sense of humour is the winning formula here. With an ABBA soundtrack offering Muriel an escape to realise her dreams, it’s an offbeat romantic comedy with a hollow heart, although it does capture the essence of being a misfit, whether you’re a rebel or bit of a birdbrain. The pairing of Toni Collette and spiky Rachel Griffiths as pals with a tempestuous relationship works incredibly well and sees us through to the end. 

#86 

CLOUD ATLAS 

Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski, 2012, Germany 

The high-octane ride of Cloud Atlas leaves an undeniable aura of melancholy over my rumination. Its six stories are beautifully interwoven by the three directors, perfectly utilising the talents of its cast in dual roles spanning the hundreds of years it resides. There’s an abundance of harrowing emotions dispatched across these eras, and although not without a sense of humour along the way, its finale is a glimmer of hope in what is already considered to be a post-apocalyptic and uneasy dystopia.  

#87 

THE MIST 

Frank Darabont, 2007, USA 

Adapted from the Stephen King novel, this is an interesting take on the horror sci-fi genre, its impending sense of doom obscured by a peculiar mist. When the locals become trapped in a minimarket, caged by their own fears and hardships, you intensely feel the inevitable cabin fever settling in and the subsequent division between a community dealing with their fate. The viewers own understanding is also shrouded in mist, and the film inquisitively taunts with creatures, supposedly unleashed by a government facility experiment gone wrong. All very B-moviesque and dipped in conspiracy. The bone-chilling use of ‘The Host of Seraphim’ by Dead Can Dance is a concluding factor placing it on this list. 

#88 

THE FALL 

Tarsem Singh, 2006, USA 

Simply put, it’s a magical escape into the mind of a child’s viewpoint when the tales of a wounded stuntman are relayed to her from a hospital ward in the 1920s. The imagery is vibrant and colourful, dripping in opulence with a delightful enthusiasm trickling phantasmagorical-like from country to country and from each heroic character to the next. With an innocent vision from the child, her storyteller is equally affected by his much-desired morphine reliance to help fuel his disheartened disposition.  

#89 

RAN 

Akira Kurosawa, 1985, Japan 

A film from Kurosawa later in his career, it brings to life all the similar themes and ideas of samurais and warlords expressed previously in his 1940s-1960s epics, but with Ran, we have the added essence of these stories in bright, Technicolor-like opulence. Returning again to William Shakespeare, Kurosawa tackles King Lear and creates a tragedy all his own. Outstanding performances abound, and huge bouts of violence circle around instinctual notions of revenge, treachery and power. 

Halle Berry and Keith David in Cloud Atlas

#90 

WHITE MATERIAL 

Claire Denis, 2009, France 

The resilience and stubborn nature of Isabelle Huppert’s character in White Material is a strange one. The ominous onset of an uprising in an unnamed African French territory is ever-present and broods, no doubt on racial injustices and conflict. It makes for an unnerving and weighty, if not social-philosophical viewing, as she fights to maintain her coffee crop and manage the breakdown of her profession, business and family. 

#91 

THE GREEN RAY 

Éric Rohmer, 1986, France 

One of my more recent discoveries, the French directors work seems based purely on the whims and charms of human characteristics. Just check Rohmer’s Autumn Tale and A Tale of Springtime for deeds of curiosity and soul stirring sincerity. The Green Ray is an equally reserved story of relatable proportions, and one that flashes upon thine eye. The solo holiday is presented naturally, locking in those awkward moments when you play hanger-on, or are simply unsure of your place. The vague and disparate connections Delphine feels, played effortlessly by Marie Rivière, are applied with almost organic, and spontaneous finesse. This is fleeting, as optimism for romance hangs in the air and when we finally get there, the meaning behind the film title is eloquently given, if only for a split second. 

#92 

MORVERN CALLAR 

Lynne Ramsay, 2002, UK 

Following her debut Ratcatcher, Lynne Ramsey caringly guides characters in this adaption of Alan Warner’s novel. There’s a realism to the Scottish landscape and town, whether it be the supermarket Morvern works in, or an eerie party on a nearby Scottish isle, and not forgetting the insane hacking up of her dead boyfriend in the flat. These are all skilfully depicted to make us feel like imposters. The unworldly aura of Morvern’s straightforward life turned upside down is strikingly likable. After all, her boyfriend has just killed himself, so you can accept her naïvely altering his unpublished novel and passing it off as her own. A trip to the highlands to be rid of the remains is like horror-noir, while a later trip to Ibiza offers some relief; the shambolic and grief-stricken mind of Morvern issuing herself some much need catharsis.   

#93 

STRICTLY BALLROOM 

Baz Luhrmann, 1992, Australia 

Depicting the usual fare of lovable bogans from the same white trash barrel we see in other ‘90s Aussie hits (Muriel’s Wedding and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), we’re treated to a hilarious shimmy of dance routines, camp comedy, and heated disagreements. Let’s not forget the impassioned romance too, as essentially, we’re anchored in a love story here. It’s one Baz Luhrmann manages to enthusiastically tell, evading the clichéd pitfalls usually associated with the subject. The terribly desperate Australian Pan Pacific Championships are fraught when upended by Scott and Fran’s fierce and fervid Paso Doble, greatly piling on the ironic humour to the max. It’s a shame many of Luhrmann’s other films don’t bear the same results.   

#94 

THE LOVE WITCH 

Anna Biller, 2016, USA 

An entirely refreshing take on witchcraft; one that is grandiosely camp and a feminist ode to love. Backed by gentle harp plucks, we traipse through foliage, Victorian tearooms and elaborate set pieces serving as an enigmatic triptych. Our witch dabbles in anthropology using an assortment of apparatus and instruments, fusing potions made from herbs, menstruation pads and piss to cast spells, perfectly embellishing the vampy costumes and pagan symbolism. But we find our witch in a quandary from loving too much. The acting is crystallised, all clear and precise, slowly drawing on B-movie exaggeration, while locations are pure daydreams from a Technicolor phantoscope. 

#95 

THE PLAYER 

Robert Altman, 1992, USA 

From the drawn-out opening scene that eerily pans across a movie studio offices and parking lot, it ambiguously outlines a clear atmosphere. We act as peeping Tom to daily routines, goings-on, eager pitches and curious hate mail, and we get the idea that Hollywood is not all it seems. The film has an ominous layer of (star)dust thinly veiled over satirical proceedings, paying homage to classic Hollywood, film noir in particular. The studio executive is expertly ‘played’ by a crafty and shrewd Tim Robbins, and whence taking a darker turn, the satire doesn’t let up. Neither does our voyeurism as a shifty Lyle Lovett and hilarious Whoopi Goldberg play upon one another as an amusing detective duo. Full of star cameos, unique cinema references and perfectly framed shots, it’s a sinister glance into the cutthroat world of Hollywood itself, the lampooning rolling until the very end.   

#96 

LILYA 4-EVER 

Lukas Moodysson, 2002, Sweden 

Moodysson’s light-hearted and funny coming of age film, Show Me Love and the even funnier commune dwelling Together focused on the humility of people trying to simply get along in the disparate locales they found themselves. The devasting Lilya 4-Ever broke this run of breezy films abruptly, tackling the hard-hitting subject of sex trafficking. By starting in an unnamed area of the Soviet Union, we act as distressed bystanders to the mother abandoning her daughter, and the false hope granted to Lilya from a stranger with the promise a new life in Sweden. It’s heart-breaking to see the awful conditions and situations she finds herself, antagonising at such injustices. The only saving grace is her friendship with suicidal 13-year-old Volodja, who has a presence in her life, even after he’s gone. 

#97 

LENINGRAD COWBOYS GO AMERICA 

Aki Kaurismäki, 1989, Finland 

We venture into the strangely strange here, but all with a firm tongue-in-cheek, although it sometimes doesn’t seem that way. We embark on a road trip with the Finnish klezmer music group and attempt to withstand their eccentric look and quirky sound to match. We follow their dim-witted bravado with an open heart as they try to make it or break it in corporate America, and then Mexico, observing an assortment of perceptions from folks along the way. 

The Leningrad Cowboys on the road in Leningrad Cowboys Go America

#98 

UN CHIEN ANDALOU 

Luis Buñuel, 1929, France 

An early surrealist short depicting the unconscious state a human mind can reach. The imagery is hypnotic, striking and bizarre. We onlook symbolism ranging from the slitting of an eye amidst roaming night-time clouds, an invasion of ants and strange dalliances in almost every corner of this dream realm, all backed by decidedly French musique. What can we expect when the screenplay was written by Salvador Dalí. None of it particularly makes sense, but to find any meaning would be missing the point. 

#99 

SECRET BALLOT 

Babak Payami, 2001, Iran 

From the opening shot of a ballot box landing in an unknown province of the middle east, we’re set-up for a film that’s as minimal as the vast landscape the registrar traverses in order to collect votes. Accompanied by a stringent, and often bewildered solider, who doesn’t seem to have much going on up top, it’s interesting to see how he slowly gains respect for the tenacious official seeking ballots. Much of the footage of residents in the remote areas could be classed as documentary, but the statements concerning the validity of their votes, or that voting itself doesn’t bring about any change for them, are rather frank in honesty. 

#100 

CHESS OF THE WIND 

Mohammad Reza Aslani, 1976, Iran 

Closing on this list was a difficult task with a handful of movies bubbling under vying to take #100’s place. Yet, I’ve settled on an Iranian oddity from the ‘70s set in the 1920s which serves as a gothic horror that slowly percolates unease and impending dread. The film itself was apparently lost forever at the turn of the Iranian Revolution, presumably never to see the light of day again. The characters, locale settings, Persian interiors and objects are all given equal focus throughout the restored picture, and with an assortment of themes explored, it all builds to a frantic crescendo of retribution. 

Fakhri Khorvash centre stage in Chess of the Wind

#movies #films #cinema #hollywood #film noir #screwball comedy #cinematography #top 100 films #british cinema #world cinema #international cinema #musicals #animation #art house #indie film #b movie #kitchen sink #horror movies #film director #movie stars #movie stills

[steelcitygirlreviews]

FRINGE REVIEW: Bimbos in Space!

Director: Kit Simmons

Playwright: Claud Spadafora

Company: Femmepire 

Performers: Kitoko Mai, Claud Spadafora, Severine Salvador, Tarah Ahmad, Catherine Allen, Mykola Paskaruk,  Kristina Kuhnert (also stage manager)

Captain Shadowban and her rebel crew of degenerate space bimbos must save the galaxy from evil! Inspired by B movies and exploitation film of the 1960s, the audience straps on (in...I mean, in) board the SS Slutbucket and SS Virago and hyper-drive themselves to encounter space westerners, dommes, an immortal tampon deity and Elon Musk’s cryogenically frozen head to negotiate the true meaning of justice in an increasingly polarized galaxy.

As much as this show is about bimbos and what that looks like to different groups of people, it is truly a fascinating piece of absurdist, feminist theatre. The folks at Femmepire have neglected nothing in terms of set, props, digital media and some truly immersive sound and lighting design. The story (a true labour of love and justice by Claud Spadafora) seems a bit much at times. It crams in as many social and political references and internet slang/turns of phrase as it can but we can ultimately forgive the wordiness when you’re having that much fun watching the space saga unfold. 

The characters are a mixed bag of hilarity. The domme who uses fear for good. The captain who is empty-headed...on purpose. The HR personnel who is all rules and regulations, horny for accountability. The delightfully queer communications officer who is a descendant of William Shakespeare. The technician who suffers from the sweetest struggle with low self-esteem and of course, our fearless leader who is no nonsense and may, quite literally, eat the rich. They are performed well, with only a few noticeable hiccups in line delivery due to sound cues overpowering them. There’s still some nervous energy too but it adds to the overall charm of the piece.

The audiences have been enormous since opening night, and thankfully the venue has released even more seats for our eager space cadet audience to see the bimbos fight for justice (and good hair). There was so much infectious laughter, cheering and hooting throughout that it’s easy to understand why this show is so popular and comes so highly recommended. 

Bimbos in Space not going to be for everyone but those that love this show are going to love it intensely. There is so much to take in, I would suggest this company films a version of it to better capture the hilarious absurdity that this show has in spades. Also, let there be a sequel. I need more adventures with these bimbos. This is a very strong contender for one of the weirdest and wonderful shows this year at Fringe. Engage besties! 

Event Details

Price: $12

Genre: Theatre—Comedy, Theatre—Drama

Duration: 60 mins

Warnings: Sexual Content, Coarse Language, Violence, Other

Age Suitability: Mature (ages 18+)

For tickets, please visit: https://hftco.ca/events/bimbos-in-space/

#hamiltonfringefestival

[giggleeclown]

Laughust Day 8: Haunted House

Have a Drabble instead!!! I think I’m going to stick with Laughust being writing Drabbles and tickletober being drawings.

Time is very perceived differently by different people. Some people think that a few weeks is a lifetime, while others blink and five years have gone by. People feel the turning of seasons differently, and it’s a feeling that should always be respected.

That’s why nobody in the Baikin Castle could stop Horrorman from putting up an explosion of fun Halloween decorations… two months early. Not that they could care less anyways, seeing that Horrroman was the only one keeping the castle floors from being four feet deep in garbage. Regardless, Baikinman couldn’t say that he wasn’t slightly annoyed that the Castle belonging to ‘Mr. Great-And-Godly’ was being purged with tiny decorative spooks. The nerve of that Horrorman. If he wanted a scare, he could look Baikinman in the face instead.

Suddenly, Baikinman perked up. That gave him a lovely idea. Horrorman was in the hallway, miniature cloth ghosts in hand. He took gentle care in making sure their clear wire didn’t tangle as he strung them across the ceiling, ‘cha-cha-cha-ing’ to himself all the while.

Timing his strike so that Horrorman’s arms were poised above him, he let out a giggle as he creeped down the hallway. When he was positive that Horrorman was concentrated on tying a ghost to the ceiling, Baikinman quickly tazed his arms and watched the hilarity unfold.

“BOO!”

“WAHAHAHAHA!”

The feeling of his armpits being tickled made Horrorman immediately lose his balance. He let out a sharp honk, falling backwards onto the ground. As he hit the ground cackling, his head popped off and rolled away. Baikinman didn’t stop, though. He continued to tickle for a few seconds more.

“B-BAHAHAIKINMAHAAAN! NO MOHOHORE! *snort!* GHEHEHEHAHAHAH!” Horrorman’s loud and improper laugh rang out through the house as Baikinman gave him an aggressive jab to the ribcage, finally haulting his torture and raising his hands in surrender.

“B-behehe… Baikinman… why did you do thahahat…?”

Suddenly, Baikinman realized that his onslaught had fell on the more endearing and playful side. He began to blush a deep red.

“I-I didn’t do anything except for teach you a lesson about putting up useless decorations in MY castle!” He huffed, crossing his arms and looking away so that Horrorman wouldn’t see his blush. Horrorman simply giggled, appreciating the small amount of involuntary attention his friend had given him.

For even though it only lasted a second, everyone has their own perception of time.

Horrorman’s is just more unusual than others.’

#tickling #ticklish #t content #t word community #t word #anpanman tickles #ler!baikinman #lee!horrorman #laughust

[jasmine-tea-latte]

Hi! You’ve watched Mr. Sunshine?! It’s in my watchlist and I was wondering what you thought of it!

I love it! So far I've only made it through the first 8 episodes out of 24, so I'm only 1/3 of the way through the story, but I've thoroughly enjoyed what I've seen so far. This review also got long, so I'm placing my thoughts beneath the cut.

Some highlights with very mild spoilers:

It's a romance, but not at the expense of the story. It's set in Korea during the late 1800s / early 1900s in the twilight of the Joseon dynasty before the Japanese annexation and focuses on the efforts of the Righteous Army who fight to protect their homeland. So while there are romantic tropes at play, the female lead's focus is more on defending her homeland. She’s not against falling in love, but don’t try to stop her from saving her country. There’s another strong female secondary character who I adore, who’s also secretly a badass. Strong-willed ladies? We love to see it.

I've enjoyed all of the characters and their interactions with each other. As the series progresses you learn how everyone is connected, and I'm sure there will be more connections later on that I'll look forward to seeing unfold, especially seeing how their fates are all tied together. I love the main characters, I love the secondary characters. I even enjoy the villains. Everyone is acted well, even the characters you’re supposed to hate.

One of my favorite aspects so far is the odd little bromance between the 3 male leads all vying for the heart of the previously mentioned female lead: Lady Go Ae Shin: a proper Korean aristocratic lady by day with a secret vigilante identity who’s out to save her country.

And her potential suitors:

Eugene Choi: a Korean American man who was born as a slave in Korea and escaped to America as a child, then grew up to become a high-ranking member of the US military and returned to his homeland. He’s good but has a decidedly pragmatic side and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.

Gu Dong Mae: a Korean Japanese man who also was born into a lower caste (his parents were butchers, so they were considered beneath even slaves) who meets Ae Shin after she saved him when they were children. He escaped from his home country to take up refuge in Japan. Years later, he returns as a Yakuza boss leader with a chip on his shoulder, to put it lightly. But he still has a soft spot for Ae Shin, for better or for worse...

Kim Hui-Seong: a Korean nobleman who’s engaged to Ae Shin but has spent the last decade abroad being a gambler and a womanizer, before deciding to return home to his fiancée and immediately falls in love with her. He acts silly and charming but has a secret serious side, and while I initially had my doubts he’s one of my favorites in this show, period.

All 3 couldn't be more different, and granted, there is one clear-cut frontrunner who ultimately captures her heart. That doesn't mean the other two won't win you over to some extent, though. Plus the comic relief scenes where it's just the three of them roasting each other are some of the absolute best in the show.

And here’s what happens when those 3 male leads run into each other at a bar, where hilarity ensues.

(Context: The first two are aware that they each have feelings for the lady and are seething in their jealousy / contempt for each other, while the third, her fiancé, remains an oblivious cinnamon roll for now, even though they despise him as well since he’s the one she’s supposed to marry.)

4. The pining. Whooo, the pining and the longing stares and the sheer angst of unrequited love. Let’s just say your heart and emotions are in for a workout. I’ve never seen a K-drama before, admittedly, but I will definitely be checking more out once this is finished!

So yes, overall, as someone who’s only seen the first 1/3 I’d still highly recommend!

If you watch it, let me know what you think! Thanks for the ask!

#asked and answered #mr. sunshine #not atla

[jokemock]

Best Story Jokes in 2024

Embark on an adventure of hilarity and imagination as JokeMock presents its latest blog post, dedicated to the captivating world of story jokes! Imagine sitting around a virtual campfire, swapping tales that tickle your funny bone and leave you in stitches. From quirky anecdotes to whimsical narratives, our curated collection of story jokes is guaranteed to transport you to a land of laughter and joy. Whether you’re a fan of witty twists or heartwarming plots, JokeMock has something for everyone. So, grab your favorite snack, gather your friends, and get ready to dive into a world where every joke is a story waiting to unfold. Head over to JokeMock now and let the storytelling begin!

#doctor #doctorjokes #DoctorSlump #dadjokes #daddydaughtertime #dadhumour #jokes #joke #JokeMock #humour #comedy #comedian #comedia #KnockKnockBoys #rizzles #storyjokes #knockknockjokes #funnyjokes

#funny videos #funnytumblr #i think im funny #ha ha funny #funny quotes #killing joke #joke post #joke #my poor attempt at a joke #bad jokes #story jokes #short story #story #original story #stories #story ideas

[beyvsl]

#LeagueOfLegends on #Twitch! 🎮 Come hang out and witness the chaos unfold - because let's be real, we've all been there when you just gotta "accidentally" flash into the enemy team! 😂 Join the hilarity live! #StreamingLaughs 🚀✨

#Jazz Rapper #league of legends #twitch #stream #online games #live gaming

[nexgenforge]

Laughing with Logic: The Hilarious World of AI and Humanoids

Where Fantasies Meet Futures: From Otherworldly Tales to Green Innovations Ever wondered what happens when AI and humanoids try their hand at humor? Join us on a whimsical journey through the lighter side of artificial intelligence, where laughs are logically engineered. Ah, the world of AI and humanoids – it's not just about crunching numbers, processing data, or, heaven forbid, plotting world domination. No, sir! It turns out, these digital dynamos have a knack for comedy that can give even the punniest of humans a run for their money. So, buckle up and prepare for a laughter-filled voyage into the heart of artificial hilarity! The Comedic Chronicles of AI Chatbots First up, let's talk chatbots. You know, those helpful little digital beings that pop up on websites offering assistance? Well, it turns out they've been moonlighting as comedians. Picture this: you're asking for customer support, and the chatbot replies, "Have you tried turning your problem off and on again?" Oh, the cheek of it! Humanoids with a Sense of Humor Moving on to the world of humanoid robots. These aren't your typical, stoic metal men; they've been programmed with a sense of humor. Imagine walking into a robotics lab and being greeted by a robot with, "I'd shake your hand, but I'm afraid of human error." It's hard not to chuckle, even if you're half expecting a Terminator scenario to unfold. AI's Attempt at Stand-Up Ever thought about an AI doing stand-up comedy? Picture an AI comedian on stage, spotlight shining down, delivering lines like, "I told my computer I needed a break, and it went into sleep mode. Talk about taking things literally!" It's a strange world where punchlines are calculated with precision, and the 'timing' is always algorithmically perfect. The Quirks of Living with AI Let's not forget the day-to-day hilarities that come with living alongside AI. Your smart home assistant might serenade you with a rendition of "Happy Birthday" that's more monotone than melodic, or your fitness tracker might congratulate you on the workout it thinks you did while you were just vigorously shaking a bottle of salad dressing. The Philosophical Side of AI Humor And then there's the philosophical side of AI humor. Have you ever considered the irony of an AI pondering over classic jokes like, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" Only to conclude, "To optimize its route based on real-time traffic data, of course!" Conclusion: The Heartfelt Humor of AI In the end, what makes the idea of AI and humanoids dabbling in humor so endearing is the reminder that at the core of every joke, algorithm, or line of code, there's a human touch. It's a celebration of our quirks, our unpredictability, and our innate need for a good laugh. So, the next time your GPS gives you an unexpected quip or your robot vacuum seems to chase the cat with a bit too much enthusiasm, just remember – the world of AI and humanoids isn't just about logic and efficiency. There's a whole lot of laughter to be found in the circuits and code. And hey, if all else fails, just remember the golden rule of AI comedy: if you don't get the joke, maybe it's just in beta testing! Got a chuckle or two? I sure hope so! If you've got your own funny stories about AI or humanoid encounters, don't keep 'em to yourself – share the laughter down below! Read the full article

#Humor

[dragtostoic]

"Werq The World" - A Review Through My Eyes 🌍✨

Morphine & MHI'YA: The Shade Begins 😂

Right off the bat, Morphine's unnecessary shade towards MHI'YA set the tone. It was like watching a high school drama unfold in the best way possible.

Their fight? Outta nowhere! But let's be honest, MHI'YA's unshakable confidence? It's what we're here for, even if the editing amped up the drama.

Guest Judge & Political Musings 🎵

Jamal Sims gracing us again as a guest judge meant only one thing: fire choreography was on the way (but it was mid). Sapphira's daddy vibes out of drag had me rolling, and Ru's yellow and red ensemble? A vision.

The Verses & Performances 🎤

Morphine's and MHI'YA's verses were a rollercoaster of emotions - the "EQUAL" line becoming an unexpected earworm.

Q's singing? Bless her confident soul. But the real MVP of the rehearsals was the anticipation of how these queens would translate on stage.

Runway & Judging 👠

RuPaul's runway look? Top 20, easily. The performances varied from Dawn's surprisingly chic rap to Q's... let's call it "unique" approach.

Sapphira closing the show was expected, but her execution? Impeccable. As for the outfits, let's just say there were hits and misses, but Sapphira's presence? Unmatched.

Thoughts & Predictions 🤔

The top picks were spot-on, but the episode overall? A snoozer, save for a few gleaming moments of hilarity and Sapphira's lip-sync slayage.

Next week needs to bring the heat because this queen is all about the drama, the fashion, and, most importantly, the entertainment.

And yes, against my better judgment, I kinda dig the "Power" song. 🎶

#RuPaulsDragRace #DragRaceS16 #WerqTheWorld #QueenDrama #TeamSapphira

[stuntchicken]

Shopping Cart Insanity: Hilarious New Year's Shenanigans!! Music By Lantz Lazwell

Shopping Cart Insanity: Hilarious New Year's Shenanigans!! Music By Lantz Lazwell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfSoc1I-LEM Welcome to "Shopping Cart Insanity: Hilarious New Year's Shenanigans!" Get ready to laugh your socks off as we bring you a wild and comical shopping experience like no other. Stunt Chicken Productions presents this uproarious comedy video that will surely brighten up your day! In this sidesplitting adventure, we delve into the madness that unfolds when shopping carts are let loose during the New Year celebrations. Brace yourself for an unforgettable ride filled with uncontrollable hilarity, unpredictable twists, and non-stop entertainment. 🐰🕳📺-Main Full Feature 👉Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road? Extreme Answer (Press Play) SKetch Comedy https://youtu.be/7V1hYFGZpNo Our talented cast of comedic geniuses will leave you in stitches as they navigate through a series of outrageous situations, pushing the limits of sanity with their zany antics. Witness the mayhem unfold as these shopping carts take on a life of their own, creating chaos and laughter at every turn. Music By Lantz Lazwell 👉https://youtube.com/@lantzlazwell?si=p6rwHZy6O9n8XoXR At Stunt Chicken Productions, we pride ourselves on delivering top-notch entertainment that guarantees a laughter-filled experience. This comedy video is no exception, as we combine expert storytelling with impeccable comedic timing to leave you wanting more. So, whether you're in need of a good laugh or seeking a break from the daily grind, "Shopping Cart Insanity: Hilarious New Year's Shenanigans!" is the ultimate remedy. Sit back, relax, and prepare to be entertained by this rollercoaster of laughter that will have you coming back for more. Don't forget to hit that "Like" button, share it with your friends, and subscribe to our channel for more rib-tickling videos. Let us be your go-to destination for laughter and entertainment. Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes glimpses, sneak peeks, and updates on our upcoming projects. Stay tuned because there's never a dull moment with Stunt Chicken Productions! ✅ Subscribe To My Channel For More video's: Stuntchicken.net #NewYearsShenanigans #comedy #HilariousVideo #entertainment #FunnyMoments #CrazyPranks #Insane #Hilarious #NewYearSpecial #FunnyTimes #EntertainmentForAll #ViralContent #CrazyAntics #Holidays2023 #ShoppingcartMadness via Stunt Chicken https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_qXPC5lE0dsdBUMtY-kRQ January 01, 2024 at 04:21AM

#panamaxcrane #craneoperation #heavymachinery #portoperations #industrialmachinery #swingcontrol #horsesofyoutube #equineecstasy #playfulencounter #horseplay #equestrianlife