#this scene will never stop being iconic dazzling amazing

[1kook]

commercial break ; THREE

this is a netflix & chill drabble kook’s pov during their argument in d&b !

summary; But Jungkook loves the sun. warnings; post-fight, drinking, heart ache :( miscellaneous; everyone say thank u kim namjoon 🤩 word count; 1.5k

notes; a lot of people wanted to know his thoughts during the iconic d&b fight scene so here’s the closure we all needed </3 

He knows he’s said the wrong thing the second the last syllable departs from his lips.

Jungkook doesn’t mean it, that much he knows right away, but even still… there’s a silent moment of shock between the two of you, one where even he is surprised by his own tongue.

You move first, phone whipping across the room.

Now Jungkook has seen a lot of scary things in his life. He’s seen horror movies and walked through a cemetery at night once. He’s come home way past curfew and had to face the wrath of his normally lenient father. He’s sat front row in his first ever college seminar. Yet none of that fear, that anxiety, that dread, compares to the level of emotion he feels wrap around his throat the moment you get up.

“___, wait,” he calls out frantically, hands shaking the further and further you get. He has to tell you he doesn’t mean it, that he would never mean it. But how do you follow up a statement like that? Even when he catches your eyes, beautiful irises colder than the bottom of the ocean, he doesn’t know what to say. He stutters through an excuse he wouldn’t have believed himself and watches you slip further away.

Jungkook can’t let you leave, not when you’re so hurt and he’s so confused, but what else can he say? He doesn’t know, and when you angrily send him back inside he feels every bit the scolded child. Funny how that works.

He calls and calls until he realizes the muted hum from upstairs is the phone you left behind. He’s crazy and in love, desperately scouring through your social media accounts for a sign you’re safe and home. (You were on Twitter three minutes ago, so that’s a relief.) But even then he can’t relax, turning his own words over and over in his head.

Jungkook values a lot of things in your relationship. There’s a beautiful understanding that comes with being in love, a new sense of comfort he’d never felt before. You make him feel warm and in love, keep him grounded when the world threatens to swallow him beneath its surface. You care for him and he for you.

Where those thoughts had come from, he didn’t know. All he knew was that one minute you were picking at the edges of his patience, and the next he was shooting a dagger into your chest.

Self-reflection, Namjoon had always said, the key point to understanding oneself. Usually, that’s followed by some tips on yoga, on calming the mind, but his leg won’t stop bouncing and there’s a boa constrictor wrapped around his throat so that zen mentality will have to wait for now. A harsh exhale, foot thumping against the floor.

Carefully, he unscrambles his thoughts.

There were times you were childish and, for the most part, Jungkook didn’t mind. You brought out the most beautiful things in life with just your laughter alone. You roped him into doing things he never could enjoy growing up, which made him rekindle his love for old hobbies. If sunshine was a person, Jungkook is sure it was you.

You were bright and ever-burning, always with a mission in your head, even if it was something as small as cleaning your windows that day. A star, he thinks, except your smile alone garners the power of ten supernovas combined. The amount of joy and euphoria you’ve brought him this past year was immeasurable. You made him smile, even when you were tired, rising every morning and setting every night dutifully just like the sun.

But too much sunshine could be hot, scorching even.

His mom had mentioned it once, very early into your relationship, how you were a little too childish for Jungkook. He had angrily defended you, stormed out of his parents' house like he was ready to leave them all for you. (Would he? He likes to think so.) But a mother’s advice always haunted one the most.

Yes, your youthful outlook made his life colorful and bright, but there were times he found himself wondering what it would be like to have someone… not as outgoing.

Someone plain and always collected. Someone who would gently remind him of his deadlines, and watch all his favorite documentaries with him. Someone like him, he supposed, who matched his interests perfectly.

It sounds awfully boring.

It sounds terrible to be damned to such a dull life, especially now that he’s had a taste of you. You, who brings laughter and sunshine everywhere you go, his amazing other half. He’d hate it if you always did what he wanted— he loves when you pick at everything he likes because you let him do it back! Jungkook’s head was a never-ending spiral— that much he’s known from a young age. But with you in his life, it became fun and exhilarating. Gone was the dark tunnel and in its place was a twisty slide with loops and turns that defied all laws of gravity. It wasn’t a scary place anymore and it was all because of you.

You, who he might possibly lose forever. His own negligence was to thank, an inability to voice small issues until they piled up and became this big, warped monster that no longer pertained to his original frustrations. It was an ugly thing, so twisted and vile, taking the thoughts he seldom had and weaponizing them against you.

Was that it? Had those mindless thoughts been the root of today’s brash decisions. Jungkook wants to blame it on that, but part of him knows it’s his own inability to share his feelings that led to that spontaneous outburst. There were obviously some things he still needed to work on, but pinning it all on you, his dazzling ray in the sky, was the worst move he could have made. Self-reflection, he repeats to himself.

His heart is still pounding in his ears, drumming obnoxiously loud as if it wants to torture him for his actions. His phone rings across the room and Jungkook lunges for it, hoping and praying it’s you.

It’s not.

It’s just Namjoon calling to wish the two of you a happy anniversary. “You two having fun?” he teases before Jungkook can get so much as a greeting in.

“Hyung,” he chokes out hoarsely, glancing down at the ground. “I-I said something to ___,” he whispers even though there is no one here to hide from but his own crippling thoughts. “And I don’t think she’s coming back.”

His voice cracks a little. He hides it with a gulp so dry it hurts. “What?” Namjoon asks. “What do you mean?”

Jungkook sighs, running a hand over his eyes. “Are you busy right now?”

—

“You need to go to bed,” Namjoon tells him, ambling the two of them up the stairs. Jungkook snorts, sliding against the entire wall on the way up.

“I refuse,” he announces. He has to pause on the next step because he’s pretty sure there’s about four of the same step whirling before his eyes. Beside him, Namjoon sighs. “Hyung, I can’t see.”

Namjoon rolls his eyes, deciding the stairs are too much of a hassle and guiding them back to the living room instead. “Couch,” he informs him before rather carelessly dumping him onto it. “Listen,” he begins, crouching down beside Jungkook. “It’s like, 4 AM… and I have work tomorrow. So I’m going to leave,” he says, slowly pointing in the direction of outside. Jungkook nods, even though Namjoon is definitely pointing upside-down backward. “Okay, JK?”

“That’s me,” he agrees, letting his head slump back against a throw pillow. Namjoon groans.

“That is you,” he concedes. “And you need to sober up before you try talking to ___ again.”

The mere mention of your name turns a switch on inside him. “Can’t,” he whines, features twisting up together. “She hates me. Will cut my balls off.”

Namjoon goes to protest but eventually stops himself. “Yeah, well. Probably.” Jungkook wails at his friend’s poor attempt at consoling him. “Sleep a little and then head over to hers, okay?” He pats him on the cheek once before finally making his exit.

Jungkook can’t believe this. How embarrassing. If you saw him right now, you’d clown him for getting this drunk off wine. But he truly understands it now. It was the devil’s drink, so sweet and cooling only to suddenly slap him across the face with his own insobriety. Oh, his head was going to ache badly later.

Well, that was a problem for later’s Jungkook, he decides as he slinks off the couch and back into the kitchen. There’s a new box of cherry vodka he’d bought just for tonight—or last night, technically—because he knows it’s your favorite. And well. He misses you so much he’ll do anything to feel close to you again.

He’s not sure how long he sits on the floor, swing after swing going down his throat until he’s got three extra fingers and a new middle name. Just that when the sun finally filters through, so warm and bright, he finds himself missing you again. His feet take him out the door before he can think twice.

The morning rays bring with them a wicked headache that almost has Jungkook throwing up into his bushes. Part of him, the last droplet of reason, tells him he should change. He’s wearing the same clothes from yesterday and they reek. Furthermore, the sun is hellbent on soaking up every inch of his black clothing.  

He should change if he doesn’t want to suffocate in this heat, under this blazing sun in the sky.

But Jungkook loves the sun.

He walks on.

—

Copyright © 2020, 1kook on tumblr. absolutely NO reposts allowed.

#goldenclosetnet #bangtanhq #jungkook fic #jjk fic #mine

[knchins]

Sex Tapes - Todoroki Shouto

Summary: Billionaire playboy Todoroki Shouto has a secret collection of personal sex tapes and tonight he plans on adding to his stash.

Pairing: Celebrity!Shouto x Idol!Reader

Rating: E+

Word Count: 4k

Bingo Prompt: Sex Tapes

Warnings: Vaginal sex, hair pulling, unprotected sex, hidden cameras, filming without permission, mild dirty talk, pull-out method

Notes: I was supposed to finish this last Saturday but life just has to get in the way sometimes. Well, here it is and I hope it was worth the wait. This was for @bnhabookclub​ NSFW weekly prompt "celebrity x celebrity". In this reader is a rising idol star that had just gotten her big break while Shouto is a young billionaire. I hope he's not too OOC! I may make this into a short series but haven’t decided.

 Todoroki Shouto adjusted his Windsor knot while looking at his reflection in the mirror. In just half an hour he’d be making his grand entrance at one of Japan’s largest charity balls that beckoned only the most famous of the country to attend. It was always considered one of the highest honors to be invited, a decree of one's success during the previous year.

 This was his sixth one, having become Japan’s youngest billionaire at the age of eighteen through risky business decisions and investments that all paid off in the end. Being a man of money and status had its perks. Women fell at his feet, he always got the best service in restaurants, and he could afford anything in the entire world that his mother may dream of having. Not that she ever asked for much, but he spoiled her all the same.

 A smirk pulled across his lips as he looked over his reflection. He never went home empty handed after one of these things. Young celebrities wanted nothing more than to climb the social ladder by riding his dick. He thought that his taste was impeccable when it came to...well, everything. Dates, food, cars, houses, he only wanted the best of the best and he was sure to get it.

 Every year Shouto had a tradition that none of his late night partners knew about. Hidden in the lavish bedroom in his penthouse were three small cameras and one well placed microphone. He quite enjoyed the secret tape collection he had. They were ordered by year and last name in a locked down file folder on his computer. Hard copies were kept in a secret safe. You never knew when you needed to cause a good scandal to take the eyes off of something that was maybe more sinister.

 He checked his ruby and diamond watch, the bejeweled face matching his iconic two-toned hair. Right on time, he mused as he checked himself over one last time before departing for the penthouse’s elevator. He made it down to the valet where a white limo had been waiting for him.

 The driver opened the door as Shouto said nothing. He entered, not even bothering to marvel at the red interior. The first few times he had ridden in his custom limo, it had amazed him at how well the designers were able to make his wishes come to life. Now it just seemed all the same to him. If you’ve ridden in one, you’ve ridden in them all. Painting it a different color only made it interesting for a short amount of time.

 When he arrived, there was a sea of expensive cars and limousines as far as he could see. He was silently thankful that large crowds like this didn’t bother him. While being with a big group of people wasn’t what he preferred, it also didn’t give him any kind of negative feeling such as anxiety or nervousness. It probably helped that he was great at working a room no matter how many were inside of it.

 The valet opened the door for him and he stepped out onto the long red carpet. Cameras were flashing as paparazzi stormed the limo, wanting to get a glimpse of his sharp white tux with bright red accents. His hair in perfect placement, having just gotten his undercut touched up that morning just for the event. He gave the cameras a sinful smirk that had all of the ladies sighing dreamily. If he were into small fry then maybe he’d take a few home and make them into stars. But no, he was after a much bigger fish tonight.

 He took his time walking to the building, enjoying the attention from the photographers and journalists. He entertained a few by doing some quick interviews about the event and his outfit. He praised his designers and stylists that worked hard to make him look the best, and that was probably the only honest thing he said to them.

 After nearly an hour, he ascended the stone staircase into the science museum where the ball was held. More people had arrived by this point and the place was filling nicely. He figured he was almost to capacity by the time he finally went inside.

 His mismatched eyes ran over the crowd, looking for one guest in particular. He knew from her social media that she would be here tonight and he was more than eager to start baiting her to get her to go home with him. He didn’t think it would be particularly difficult. It never was for him.

 Shouto’s gaze fell onto a beautiful young woman dressed in a tight dark blue dress with a long slit up the left side, exposing a fair amount of leg. He grabbed two glasses of champagne as he strode towards her at an even pace, not wanting to risk showing any sort of excitement.

 “Miss Y/L/N, how nice to finally meet you in person.” He said to the idol star in front of him. Her cheeks dusted pink in a light blush as she took one of the glasses from him. Everyone who was anyone knew who Todoroki Shouto was.

 She had just recently broken into the scene of stardom, having formerly been a member of a popular idol group. She started her solo career about a year ago and was finally a big name all on her own. The attention from other powerful people was still relatively new to her, her inexperience served as a kind of amusement for Shouto. If she  really   wanted to be a star, then he’d make her a star.

 “Mr. Todoroki, it’s nice to meet you.” She said, trying to hide her nerves. If she somehow spurned the young billionaire then she could ruin her own career. The mere thought had her walking on eggshells.

 He gave her one of his famous, dazzling smiles. “Please, call me Shouto. Mr. Todoroki is my father.” He teased and she chuckled lightly at the joke that admittedly wasn’t very original. “You look very lovely tonight, perhaps you’d like to dance with me later?”

 She looked up at him, blinking slowly as she processed the request. An excited smile crossed her soft lips, “I would love to Mr-” She stopped, “Shouto. Perhaps after I finish my drink?”

 Shouto nodded, sipping at his glass. They continued to make small talk, mostly about business and her rise to fame. When she asked him about his personal life he deflected, turning the conversation back to her. She didn’t seem to notice that he was doing this, which worked out better for him.

 As the night went on, he noticed her face flushing more and more, giggles spilling from her any time he teased her. They danced, ate  hors d'oeuvres  , and drank more of the bubbly alcohol than either of them probably should have. Shouto found himself becoming increasingly handsy as the time passed, first her upper back, then down to the gentle curve of her spine, her hips, and finally as they were slowly dancing he chanced to grab a handful of her ass.

  The idol star leaned into his toned chest, resting her head on his shoulder so that her breath fanned against his neck. She didn’t protest his touch, sighing softly instead of pulling away. The champagne had put her nerves around him at ease, and by now she was feeling as if she’d known him for years. In a way she had, always reading about him in magazines and seeing him on TV talking about his latest business ventures. He always found a way to stay in the spotlight.

 “Would you like to see how the rich live?” He asked, keeping his tone light in a way to show her that there was no pressure if she didn’t feel comfortable. Despite being such a playboy, Shouto never forced a woman to come home with him. That included heavy persuasion to get them into his bed. He had too much respect for the opposite sex to coerce them into doing anything they didn’t want to do.

 She looked up at him, blinking in time with the downbeat of the music playing. “Your place?” She asked, not bothering to be coy about it. She just wanted clarification for what he was asking of her before she agreed to anything.

 He simply nodded his head, a few red hairs daring to dip in front of his eyes. She reached up and brushed them back into place without much thought, “I’d love to.” She responded, suddenly feeling breathless by how close they were. Typically she didn’t do things like this, however they had such a profound connection that she decided to cave in to her wants for once.

 Typically she lived a very rigid lifestyle, adhering herself to strict rules to stay on top of her game. She had already broken several rules of her diet tonight and would more than likely regret it in the morning. However, Shouto’s presence seemed to make her forget about all of that. All she wanted was to spend more time with him, and thoroughly enjoy herself in the process. Maybe the calories burned through some extracurricular activities would help equal out all of the champagne she drank and pastries she ate. One could only hope.

 As the night wound down, and after Shouto did a grand display of his wealth by buying a few very expensive art pieces at the charity auction, the two wound up in his custom limo. The young star was not above throwing herself at him, his light touches across intimate areas throughout the night had her wanting him more and more. It was obvious what his intentions with her were, and she was completely on board.

 After marveling the beautiful interior of the luxury car, she turned to the side so she could face him. A gentle hand found his face, cupping his cheek as his two-toned eyes stared her down. Behind them was a lustful fire burning brightly, ready to explode. He stopped hesitating for the first time that night as he leaned in and brought their lips together at last.

 A needy whine left her, passing through her resolve with ease as her lips parted for his eager tongue. The kiss was sensual and greedy, hands aimlessly pawing through each other’s clothes as they wanted nothing more than to be closer.

 Shouto pulled away, knowing he had to wait for the main action. He didn’t have any recording devices within the limo, which in hindsight felt like a huge mistake. The night started as a simple conquest, but after talking to her and getting to know his little idol, the desire blossomed into something much more intense. This was no longer a simple catch for him. He wasn’t just going through the motions, he was actually putting in effort and if he hadn’t been inebriated then it probably would have frightened him.

 She looked at him with enlarged pupils, wondering why he pulled away. The playboy chuckled at the expression and a blush lit up her entire face. “I can either be a gentleman or we can do this here, I don’t believe I can do both.” He admitted, only adding fuel to her embarrassment. It clearly wasn’t rejection, however it did somehow feel that way just the tiniest bit.

 As they rode back to the building that housed his penthouse, he put an arm around her shoulder, tips of his fingers brushing the bare skin there. Even though it was light, it still seemed to set her ablaze. She shifted so that their sides and legs were touching, needing the closeness as she squeezed her thighs together. Something about him just made her so incredibly turned on that it was hard to keep her hands to herself (or off herself?) while they waited.

 When they finally parked out front, her hand darted for the door handle. Shouto let out another laugh as he reeled her back to him. “Hold on, sweetheart, I pay someone for that.” He couldn’t stop the amused look from crossing his features as a pout made its way onto her soft lips.

 A moment later the door opened. She took the hand that was outstretched to her and let it guide her out of the vehicle. A bright flash of light caused her to wince, though she was temporarily blinded she could hear the shudder of a camera. They just never give up, she thought bitterly as they called out to her, asking what she was doing with Todoroki Shouto at this time of night.

 Shouto appeared beside her, obviously unaffected by the paparazzi. He’d dealt with them for most of his life now, his father also being quite famous. They were just little insects that didn’t deserve his attention.

 He put an arm around his prize, his palm on the small of her back as he took her inside. The building security kept the onlookers at bay, not allowing them to come too close to the doorway. “Just ignore them.” He murmured into her ear, “they thrive on attention.”

 She nodded her head as they went through the glass doors. They went far back into the building, through a maze of corridors to a private elevator that could only be called when activated by his key. She tried not to marvel at the grandiose decor of the bottom floor. So far she couldn’t imagine what his penthouse would look like.

 Shouto inserted a silver key into the lock, turning it before pressing the call button.He removed his key and a few seconds later there was a high pitched chime before the gold doors opened. They went inside and he pressed the button for the top floor.

 They stood in a comfortable if not pleasurable silence as Shouto’s hand drifted downwards to her ass again. She acted as if she didn’t notice, though there was a tinge of pink on her cheeks as he gave her ass a small pat when the doors opened to reveal his lavish penthouse.

 She walked inside, awestruck at the expensive decor and beautiful open layout. It was even more magnificent then what she had expected, though in all honesty she wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Despite her celeb status, she wasn’t nearly wealthy enough to have anything bigger than an upper class apartment. It was a comfortable living, but it was nothing like this.

 Shouto wasted no time in guiding her into the large master bedroom. The king sized bed was adorned with silk sheets and a plush duvet. “Strip for me, sweetheart.” He murmured into her ear in a low voice, “dance for me like you do on stage.”

 He moved away from her, loosening his tie and shedding his jacket and vest as he sat on the edge of the bed. The singer stared at him before slowly starting to dance to an inner beat, unzipping her dress in the process and letting it fall to the floor.

 She expertly stepped out of it before smoothly taking off her heels. Keeping her pace slow and deliberate, she removed her stockings, only stopping when she was reduced to nothing but a pair of bra and panties.

 The billionaire was captivated by everything about her. Her rhythmic dance, the soft and bare skin, and the sensual expression that graced her face. He was slowly unbuttoning his shirt, leaving it open for her to take in his sculpted chest and abs.

 Her tongue came out to wet her lips, moving to straddle his lap. She rolled her hips against him, grinding her sex against his thighs. Shouto grabbed her upper legs, forcing her even closer as he captured her mouth with his own in a kiss that was a whirlwind of lips, tongue, and teeth.

 Shouto changed their positions so that he was on top of her, devouring her with his mouth as he moved his hips against hers. He quickly finished taking off his shirt. The only thing separating them now was their underwear and his pants. This didn’t stop her from feeling his hard shaft press against her pussy, his movements stimulating her clit slightly. It was enough of a sensation to make her whine needily for him, taking a fistful of his multicolored hair into her hand to force the kiss to go even deeper.

 He growled, tearing off her bra in order to fondle her breasts, tweaking the soft nipples until they were hardened peaks. His mouth ripped from hers and left a trail of smoldering kisses down the small expanse of her neck, nipping the flesh at the most sensitive points that had her gasping for some kind of release.

 Her hands moved to his pants, managing somehow to get them off without being able to see them. He kicked them out from around his ankles, enjoying the smaller amount of resistance against his straining erection.

 His fingers caught the elastic of her thong, sliding it downwards off her legs, making her untangle them from around his waist. Once she was completely nude he pressed a thumb against her engorged clit, eliciting a whimper from his conquest. He moved the digit in slow, agonizing circles that had her panting and keening for more. She had never felt so untouched in her entire life.

 “S-Shouto,” She rasped, “P-please!” She wasn’t sure how much more of his taunts she could take. His mouth had found the swell of her breasts, leaving purpling hickies across both of them. His eyes flickered up to look at her face, seeing the desperation infiltrating her features. He felt like he had hardly even touched her yet. He chalked it up to inexperience, she wasn’t known to go on many dates or have a steady partner.

 “Do you need my cock that badly, Y/N?” He asked quizzically, pulling his face from between her breasts. “Your body hasn’t stopped begging for me since the limo.” At the end of his statement, he pinched the delicate bundle of nerves to get his point across. The action caused her to buck her hips in a feeble attempt to try to get out of his grip, but Shouto merely laughed in response.

 He stood away from her and slid down his thin boxers. Instantly her teeth sunk into her lower lip as the sight of his hardened member, the tip nearly touching his belly button. There was a thin trail of multicolored hair connecting the small divot in his stomach to his groin, the colors split perfectly down the middle the same way as they were on the top of his head.

 “I’m going to need you to do something for me first, doll.” He said as he climbed onto the bed and settled back. There was a smirk plastered on his face now, “Before I fuck you, I want you to give me a little taste.”

 He watched as she sat up, her entire body flushed as she crawled to sit between his legs. One tentative hand reached out to stroke his shaft as her soft tongue lapped at the pre-cum glistening on his head. Shouto bit back a moan as he watched her, his eyes flicking to one of the several hidden cameras and giving it a wink.

 The singer didn’t notice him, too busy concentrating on the task at hand. Her tongue swirled as she slowly led him into her mouth, hollowing out her cheeks in an attempt to elicit some kind of sound from him. “That’s it,” He cooed, his hand finding its way into her tresses, “suck my dick like a good little idol.”

 She kept her eyes closed, too embarrassed to look up at him as she moved her head faster, hand still giving attention to the part of his length that wouldn’t fit within her mouth. After a few minutes, Shouto let out a small sigh of content before wrenching her off of him by tugging on her hair.

 He was smiling as she caught her breath, maneuvering them so she was on all fours in front of him. He aligned himself up to her soaking cunt, running his tip along her folds. “Wow, you’re really dripping for me, aren’t you?” He asked, voice sinfully deep. Before she could give him any kind of coherent answer, he slammed into her.

 Keeping his grip on her locks, he pulled her head back so that she had to arch her spine. A gasp rattled her throat as she was forced to quickly acclimate to his large size, walls stretching painfully at first before relaxing once more. She was so small compared to him that he felt like he was being suctioned inward, the feeling so powerful and overwhelming that he couldn’t stop the moan that came out of him.

 He continued to thrust his hips at an intense speed, the sound of his scrotum hitting against her skin bounced off the walls it was so loud. The up and coming music star was nearly screaming for him, her moans so loud that he wondered if the whole building could hear her. He imagined someone who always looked so innocent on stage sounding so positively lewd. Shouto felt so incredibly powerful for reducing her to nothing but a fuck toy.

 Shouto tilted his head back, groaning at how amazing his dick felt wrapped inside of her pussy. It was like she was made for him, perfect in every conceivable way. After all, no one had the level of dirt on her that he now had. It was such an addictive feeling, knowing he could do anything with the video. He had the power to ruin her career if he wanted to, though of course he really had no reason to.

 He was pulled from his thoughts at the sensation of her walls fluttering around him as she came so hard that she was silent for a full thirty seconds. When she finally started to descend from her high, she gasped out for air as if trying to mentally grab any oxygen she could find. He pulled her back by her hair, making her stand up on her knees. A muscular arm wrapped around her body and a strong hand captured her throat.

 She was silent again as he deprived her brain of blood and oxygen. Shouto found himself toeing the line between orgasm and not, holding himself back as much as he could for the time being. His other hand also snaked around, releasing her hair finally so he could stimulate her clit. Another few seconds he released the hold on her neck and she came a second time with the rushing sensation of blood racing through her brain once more, drinking in air in loud gulps.

 Shouto quickly pulled out and released his seed across her lower back and ass, easing her down onto her stomach as he caught his breath. She lay in a puddle on the massive bed, unable to form any sort of coherent thought as her mind was a tornado of emotions.

 After catching his breath, the playboy retrieved a warm wet cloth and dry towel. He cleaned up the mess he had made gently, careful not to touch any place that may be overstimulated. There was a sincere smile on his lips and a warmth within him that he hadn’t recalled ever feeling before.

 Once he was done cleaning her up, he tossed the towels into a laundry chute and pulled the sheets back. He climbed in next to her after turning out the light and covered them with the silk threads. His hand lightly moved up and down her back until she was fast asleep. As he listened to the light sounds of her breathing, regret began to sweep over him.

 He stood, frowning at the small whine she gave when he left. When he was sure that she hadn’t actually awoken, he padded to his laptop and unlocked it. He cut the feed to the video and promptly deleted the file before crawling back into bed and holding her once more in his arms.

Masterlist || Bingo Masterlist || Bingo requests open!

Tag list: @gallickingun​, @dabi-hates-fish​, @hawksward​, @sadistiks​

#bnhabookclub #todoroki shouto #todoroki x reader #shouto x reader #bnha #mha #bnha smut #todoroki shoto #mha todoroki #bnha todoroki #todoroki smut #no quirks au #celebrity au #bnha bingo #bnha oneshot #todoroki shouto imagine #bnha imagine #mha imagine #todoroki imagine

[tirorah]

Road to Berlin – The Strike Witches Magnum Opus?

Hello! It’s been a long time. I don’t plan on returning to Tumblr long-term—it simply stole away too much of my time and energy, and I had to do what was best for myself. However, I thought I’d pop in for a very special message.

You see, Strike Witches’ third season, Road to Berlin, has now reached its halfway point. And I need you to watch it.

“Strike Witches?!” I hear you say. “That weird show about girls with no pants that you’re obsessed with for some reason?”

Yes, exactly! Hold on, don’t run away yet! Sit with me for a spell and allow me to explain my boundless love for this silly, emotionally gripping show. Allow me to tell you why it might affect you in the same way, and why Road to Berlin may be the best offering yet.

Welcome to the 501st Joint Fighter Wing

If you’ve heard of this anime, you’ve undoubtedly heard of (or witnessed) its rather infamous claim to fame: a group of teenage soldiers fighting strange creatures in an Alternate Universe World War 2 Europe, flying around with guns and magic-fueled leg machines, and none of them are wearing any decent trousers.

That takes some getting used to, doesn’t it? I’m not going to deny that. But while Strike Witches’ rather peculiar design decisions are inescapable, there’s one thing you need to take into account: Season 1 aired all the way back in 2008. And over those thirteen years, it’s evolved into an experience unlike anything its roots would suggest.

Strike Witches has always been a strange beast. It has a large cast and divides its activities evenly between (light) war drama and slice-of-life shenanigans. And there’s fanservice, lots and lots of it! But the show’s emphasis on risqué camera work, and how that camera work is handled, highly depends on which entry you’re watching.

You see, Strike Witches is strangely ambitious. It could’ve easily taken its bizarre concept and pushed that to its limits, bringing in as much fanservice as possible and playing a simple story in the background as window dressing. But it was never satisfied with just that. Even early on in Season 1, the show deals with heavier themes like pressure, trauma and loss.

And then there are the characters, the undisputed stars of the show. Twelve strong and all with different backgrounds and personal quirks, they may at first seem like TV Tropes come to life. And certainly, sometimes they are. However, as the series progressed, things started to change. Even Season 2, arguably the lightest and silliest of all entries, featured material that built on character development and character growth earned in its predecessor.

With the movie and a trio of OVAs to round out the cast a bit more, the stage was set for Road to Berlin.

The Difficult Road Ahead

When this season was first announced back in 2018, two things stood out to me. First of all, the key visual and promotional video released along with the announcement were much more similar in style to the movies and the OVAs, featuring serious-looking characters and stormy clouds. Secondly, for the first time in Strike Witches history, an entry received a subtitle. Yes, the OVAs were named Operation Victory Arrow, but that was merely wordplay to spell out “OVA.” It wasn’t wholly serious.

Road to Berlin, however, is deadly serious.

Let’s start with an overall theme. The vaunted 501st Joint Fighter Wing has had some major victories, but much of the continent is still under occupation by the Neuroi. The Hive over Berlin is the Wing’s new target, but the journey there is fraught with obstacles. Plans are thwarted and delayed by Neuroi more powerful and far craftier than their 2008 counterparts.

And as the opening song tells us: “We all have flaws.” The Road to Berlin isn’t an entirely literal road; it’s also a metaphorical one. The push to Berlin is their hardest battle yet. Victory can only be achieved if the characters face and overcome their weaknesses. But they’re not alone.

Friendship Is Power

As the characters have long since been established, there’s greater room for growth not just in one character, but also in how that character interacts with others. Road to Berlin chose the best possible route and decided to emphasize character dynamics. Episodes don’t focus on a single character anymore; they focus on relationships, and those relationships are at their peak here.

There’s a newfound maturity to the writing in Road to Berlin, a gentle touch that allows the characters to breathe and be more than their foremost traits. You get a sense that the characters have grown from their experiences; they feel different, more well-rounded, but they still behave exactly as they should. This is difficult to get right, and while I’m sure there might be a few eyebrow-raising moments here and there, the overall result is a cast that continues to improve every week.

Chekhov’s Gun

Underpinning the character work is a highly intriguing execution. Road to Berlin delivers subtle setups and satisfying payoffs in every episode. The pacing is also seriously tight. No moment is left unused, every opportunity for additional development is taken. Even the script itself doesn’t like to waste time; it explains things here and there, but it rightly assumes you know who the characters are and what everything means, so it doesn’t bother with many unnecessary lines.

On top of all that, this season is reaching new heights in confidence and sheer audacity, and it uses that to deliver something truly special. There are interactions here that I never could’ve imagined, twists that genuinely caught me off-guard, moments where I had to sit back and digest what I’d just witnessed.

Not a single episode has been predictable thus far; I’ve had more surprises than I can count. In fact, before I started watching I made a bingo card on a whim, filling it with trends and running gags I’d spotted over the course of the series. Some of those bingo spaces have already been proven wrong, and others are in question. Road to Berlin has done such a spectacular job at simultaneously defying and exceeding my expectations that I honestly have no idea where this journey will take me.

The Fault in Our Stars

Okay, hold up, stop the hype train! I admit, I’m a massive sucker for Strike Witches. One could say this somewhat clouds my judgement. Shocking, I know. So, to make this enthusiastic recommendation fairer, let’s dig into something that I hope to see an improvement on.

There is some terrible imbalance in screen time going on here. I know I said earlier that the cast is great, and it is amazing, but some characters have definitely been favored over others. Yoshika is the main character, of course, so it’s not unreasonable for her to have a large role. Similarly, characters like Minna, Gertrud and Shirley have more experience and higher ranks than the others, which means they have an easier time fitting into scenes.

So, who’s gotten the short end of the stick?

Let’s start with Lynne. She hasn’t had as much of a presence as I’d hoped. The primary reason for this is Shizuka, who’s taken up the role of newbie to the squadron and is often paired with Yoshika because they’re working together. As each episode focuses on the relationships between a select few characters at a time, the others are often relegated to minor roles, and poor Lynne hasn’t had an episode to highlight her yet. I’m sure her moment will come eventually.

I don’t know if the same thing applies to Minna. She’s mostly stuck behind her desk again, it seems, and while she’s definitely had some scenes, her role as Wing Commander hasn’t allowed her as much wiggle room as some of the others. What I want to see from Minna is more time to be a nurturing mom to her girls. The thing is, I’m not sure how they’d accomplish a Minna-centric episode. I suppose they could pair her up with Mio, but even then, I’m uncertain where to take her. It seems redundant to have her be worried out of her mind over Mio again, and she seems to be keeping it together pretty well so far anyway.

In a trend so merciless it’s almost comical, Sanya and Eila seem forever doomed to the peanut gallery. They started out with few lines and have pretty much remained in the background since. Of course, a big factor to it all is their role as the night patrol, which naturally separates their activities from everyone else’s. It’s my current prediction that their relationship is next in line to be showcased. The quality of that episode will likely hinge on how their personalities are tuned, but there’s potential for something great.

And most shocking of all, Mio—She Who Has Practiced Plot Armor Ten Thousand Times—has had the most infinitesimal role of all. I’m of two minds on this. It appears that Road to Berlin has realized that having Mio fly into battle without a shield or Striker Unit is silly, and this is good. On the other hand, Mio is an iconic and beloved character. She deserves some screen time as long as she doesn’t overshadow the others. For now, she seems to be relegated to strategizing and logistics, although I have a hunch that a way to circumvent her newfound vulnerability has already been set up. Time will tell if this ends up being utilized.

Journey’s End

In closing, Road to Berlin highlights the best of what Strike Witches has to offer. It’s striding boldly forward, eager to dazzle us with its animation and audio, grinning as it challenges our preconceptions about where its characters can go and what they can do.

The path to this greatness can be tough. Watching Strike Witches means accepting a number of strange concepts, which can give quite a few viewers a rough start with the series. However, if you made it all the way here and haven’t given Strike Witches a try yet, I sincerely implore you to make the attempt. If you allow the characters to sweep you off your feet, then Road to Berlin could be the apex of a most satisfying viewing experience.

Especially if its second half is as impressive as the first. I, personally, have high hopes. There’s no sky this show can’t conquer.

#strike witches #road to berlin #anime #yes I made a bingo card in Excel #I'm a passionate fangirl with ample Microsoft experience #oh right #I should point out that I changed my name from NeandaFFnet to TirOrah #as I don't use that old handle anymore #sorry for any confusion caused

[theeasterlymedia]

A Normative Discussion on Andrei Rublev

Meghnad Mukherjee 

While watching Rublev, I couldn’t help but think about Béla Tarr and his The Turin Horse. Tarr developed his distinctive style over time, and so one should presume Rublev was a stage in Tarkovsky’s development towards perfecting his almost magical cinematic philosophy that we admire today. In this essay we will be discussing only some of the scenes (and a short general discussion) of this three hours long masterpiece otherwise the obvious following rant would not have stopped.

Holiday, 1408, June

The scene opens with the greatest of all Russian Icon painters Andrei Rublev and his crew of apprentices and helpers on their way to a job in the once-powerful feudal fortress city Vladimir in June of 1408. It is probably the evening of June 23, St. John the Baptist Eve, which falls immediately after summer solstice, the end of spring. The Kliaz'ma River rises north of Moscow, flows between Moscow and the Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery and eastward past Vladimir.

Gathering firewood, Andrei gets caught up in a village pagan ritual. We should notice the sounds of nightingales and of ritual bell percussion.Some would say he seeks a way to join his high spiritual calling and art to the real soil of Russian folk experience, his "civilization" to his "culture". One way to describe the linkage of Christian "civilization" with Russian pagan "culture" is dual faith. Andrei is about to have a "dual faith" experience himself, and so are you if you let the film have its way.The making of a straw effigy and the burning of it are documented features of peasant ritual on St. John's Eve. The sexual license portrayed here is characteristic of peasant spring and summer rituals. Andrei stands over a smoldering camp fire and his monkish robes catch fire. Fire and water are central to the pagan rituals of St. John's Eve (they are also central to Tarkovsky's own personal film imagery). The men and women are performing a characteristic ritual of St. John's Eve. Also don't miss the scene downstream from the two lines of naked folk---a white horse comes into view and begins to thrash the river's surface as the ritual boat approaches.

Andrei is captured and bound in a stable by villagers who do not want him to interfere with their dear ritual. Marfa approaches him and plants an earthly kiss: physical contact of native paganism with highly refined and civilized Christianity. Notice the necklace she wears. Also notice how Andrei sheds his monkish cowl (identifying "uniform" of the black or monkish clergy) as he decides to melt into the woods and rejoin the village fest. As the next morning follows someone has squealed on the village revelers. The local landlord and his ruffian men-at-arms on horseback appear, accompanied by clerical enforcers, all bent on doing their official Christian duty. They hope to run down participants in last night's ritual. Sure enough, here comes Marfa and her significant other, chased by authorities. He doesn't get away, but she swims toward the middle of the river, immediately past the boat carrying Andrei, but he will not look at her. She splashes bravely out to deep waters.

Raid, autumn, 1408

Now we jump ahead a few weeks to the fall of 1408 and the outskirts of the city Vladimir. This army is led by a Russian prince who is a rival of his own brother for power in Vladimir. A tatar Khan’s army and his one will join up at a difficult river ford in preparation for an attack on Vladimir. As the two armies link up, the Khan and the Russian prince vie with one another to see who is faster. The Russian prince recalls an event in the previous winter in which the church tried to reconcile him with his rival brother. The wintry church is the great in Vladimir, built in 1194-1197. You can just barely make out the remarkable animal, vegetable and human figures carved in relief in the white stone outer walls of this ancient cathedral. These figures are taken to be themselves representatives of the combination of old pre-Christian "Scythian" motifs with Biblical themes.

Two times later in this section of the film, the Russian prince flashes back to this treacherous "kissing of the cross" which he and his Tatar ally are now about to betray. The second flashback occurs as the Russian prince witnesses the Tatar humiliation of the captured prince's brother and family and receives from the Tatars the vestments of the now deposed brother's power. The sounds of the Orthodox mass can be heard again, now in the courtyard as the Tatar khan nervously walks his war horse back and forth in anticipation of breaking into the church. A dying horse comes down a stairway and falls to the ground, bleeding to death. This is a disturbing and powerful scene. We may be more touched by this cruel death than by all the other film portrayals of human death. As the horse stumbles to its death, from the church we hear the most characteristic phrases from the Russian mass: Hospodi, pomilui, Hospodi, pomilui... [Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy...].

Soon, we see inside the cathedral being rammed by the Tatar army.We spy Andrei again. He is with a young blond woman. The actress is Tarkovsky's wife, and she is playing a paradigmatic Russian cultural role: the holy fool. She is a "durochka", not able to take care of herself, but in her naive simplicity representing something very dear to Russian tradition. Andrei has made himself her protector in earlier scenes, and now they are trapped together as the cathedral door breaks open. What a scene, as the Tatar khan paces his horse around inside the cathedral, asking the Russian prince taunting questions about the holy images on the walls, most now burning. The brave and defiant Foma is tortured, molten lead is poured into his mouth, and he is dragged to his death by a stallion stampeded through the devastated streets of Vladimir.The traitorous prince is beset with deep misgivings about this destructive adventure. Large white geese float from cathedral rooftops to the disordered streets below, all in slow motion. Andrei and Durochka are still in the church and try to come to terms with what has just transpired.

Tatar's Wife

The final scene I have selected is four years later, the winter of 1412. It is a hard winter, and famine stalks the land. Andrei is heating large stones and trying to transfer them to wooden casks to heat water. Durochka is eating an old apple. The Tatar khan rides into the monastery with several of his warriors. They are in a playful mood. The khan feeds frozen meat to quarrelsome dogs. Durochka wants some too. What follows is one of the most intriguing "falling-in-love" scenes in all of filmdom. Andrei tries to intervene, but this situation is beyond his or just about any imaginable power to change. As the khan sweeps Durochka up behind his saddle and he and his warriors gallop out of the monastery courtyard through a roofed gateway, our time is up.

Some commentary or rather a casual discussion --

Tarkovsky created a film about faith in a time when there were no films about religion, apart from satire or anti-religion propaganda. At the same time, people who were religious have tended to view film as a profane medium, inappropriate for religious topics. Andrei Rublev was a 15th-century monk regarded as Russia’s greatest icon writer. While his work is well known and celebrated throughout Russia, little is known of his life except for the handful of icons he left behind. Tarkovsky invented life for Rublev. It is then not an investigation into the painter’s life, but Tarkovsky’s response to what the filmmaker saw and felt by looking at Rublev’s icons.

Moving through ‘a sequence of detailed fragments’ in which Rublev is sometimes present, sometimes only an observer, the film works toward difficult questions: how is experience related, and how can it be communicated? How can art be true to its subject and its audience?How do you paint the trinity without just reducing it to the sum of its parts?

At once humble and cosmic, Rublev was described by Tarkovsky as a “film of the earth.” Shot in widescreen and sharply defined black and white, the movie is supremely tactile—the four classical elements appearing here as mist, mud, guttering candles, and snow. A 360-degree pan around a primitive stable conveys the wonder of existence. Such long, sinuous takes are like expressionist brushstrokes; the result is a kind of narrative impasto.The film’s brilliant, never-explained prologue shows some medieval Icarus braving an angry crowd to storm the heavens. Having climbed a church tower, he takes flight in a primitive hot-air balloon—an exhilarating panorama—before crashing to earth. Fifteenth century Russia was a tumultuous country, never really at peace, and Tarkovsky shows this in particular in the latter half of the film. The theme of conscience is present throughout the film.Tarkovsky plays here with sound and silence, almost deafening silence.

Shooting the entire movie in black and white, Tarkovsky finally dazzles the audience with close-ups of Rublev’s works, revealed for the first time during the movie in all their brilliance and colour. After more than two hours of sombre and austere imagery, the beauty of the frescoes amazes the viewers. The art, born from the endeavours and aspirations of the artist, is presented to the audience in all its grandeur, rising over the everyday like the man on the balloon at the beginning of the movie. This universal quality of the artist and his work makes the historical period irrelevant, performing a spiritual sweep, casting an ethereal spell on the audience.

Andrei Rublev is itself more an icon than a movie about an icon painter. (Perhaps it should be seen as a “moving icon”) This is a portrait of an artist in which no one lifts a brush. The patterns are God’s, whether seen in a close-up of spilled paint swirling into pond water or the clods of dirt Rublev flings against a whitewashed wall. But no movie has ever attached greater significance to the artist’s role. It is as though Rublev’s presence justifies creation.

#world cinema #film #cinema #andrei rublev #andrei tarkovsky

[neoduskcomics]

Ranking All 10 Star Wars Movies

The final installment in the Skywalker Saga (as it is now retroactively being christened) is upon us, and so I’ve decided to do a bit of a retrospective on all the films leading us here.

The purpose of this personal ranking is not to put down any particular films or to invalidate anyone else’s opinions. In fact, I will be focusing largely on what I like about each movie, rather than what I think was wrong with it. I’ll still touch on criticisms of each film, but know that even if I don’t think they’re all objectively amazing films, I still like every single one of them, and have watched each one numerous times.

The fandom, as it always has been, is so weighed down with hatred and lashing out and segregation, that it overshadows the unabashed joy and love that many still hold for that galaxy far, far away. And so, I’d like to put that anger away for a second, and just talk about why each of these movies holds a special place in the Star Wars saga.

10. The Phantom Menace

Chronologically the first film in the series, and also the first on this list. I saw this movie when I was pretty little, and I have to say, it’s the first Star Wars film I ever saw that I actually enjoyed. When I was a kid, I never cared for the original trilogy. Those movies bored and, to be honest, kind of frightened me. But Phantom Menace was replete with colorful visuals, whacky humor and loads of CGI action. That appealed to me quite a lot.

Yes, in retrospect, the plot is contrived, the characters are incredibly bland and pacing is all over the place, but it was my gateway drug into the magic that the rest of the franchise had to offer. And I’m gonna say it -- Jar Jar Binks was probably half the reason the movie kept my attention for as long as it did. All the other characters were so stuffy and stoic, and all they talked about was an overly complicated plot of political intrigue; Jar Jar added some much needed humor and levity for my childhood self to stay interested. It’s heavily flawed for sure, but I can’t rag on this movie too much when I have it to thank for the love that I have for the series now. Besides, Darth Maul kicks ass, right?

9. Attack of the Clones

Is it controversial to rank this above The Phantom Menace? My reasoning is twofold: 1) The movie has an actual emotional throughline to follow, that of Anakin being frustrated with his feelings of fear, resentment and love; and 2) There’s a lot more action. The Phantom Menace was my first step into the shallow side of the Star Wars pool, but this movie is what got me to dive in headfirst.

Is the dialogue embarrassingly terrible? Yes. Is it 75% CGI fluff? Yes. And as a kid, I ate all that stuff up. Plus, honestly, the movie’s not all bad. People started liking Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan with this movie, as the charming, dry-humored, slightly exasperated mentor. We got a load of lightsaber fights, and chases through cityscapes and asteroid fields. There was a ton to think was cool about this movie. Sure, it’s still messy and awkward, and it’s loaded to the brim with outbursts of teenage angst, but this is the film that really got me to think lightsabers, starships and bounty hunters were just the most awesome things ever. You can bet I had a few specific items on my Christmas list that year.

8. Solo

I saw Solo a second time this year, and on a re-watch, I actually enjoyed it quite a lot more. It’s fun and frantically paced, there’s loads of Star Wars fanservice, and the lead actor actually does a pretty good impersonation of a young Han Solo. The supporting cast is pretty likable, too, and the dialogue is always snappy. The action sequences were exciting, and while the movie does go out of its way to try to answer every single question about Han-related trivia, I still think it’s fun to see how things unfolded.

Sure, the movie is pretty hollow when it comes to its themes. Han doesn’t get a very solid character arc in the movie, and we definitely don’t see a very cohesive transformation from relatively altruistic kid to completely self-centered nerf-herder -- and that’s a real shame. But honestly, as a Star Wars side story and blockbuster action film, I think it’s a pretty solid couple hours of entertainment. If you shrugged this movie off when it came out or weren’t impressed and haven’t seen it since, I say maybe give it another chance. You might still not like it, which is totally fair, but maybe tempered expectations and a slightly more lenient attitude will allow you to enjoy it a bit more this time around.

7. Rogue One

Now, as much as I enjoyed Solo as a relatively shallow but fun Star Wars action movie, it is not my favorite Star Wars movie of that brand. That honor goes solely to Rogue One. This movie is pure Star Wars fan service. You got X-wings, TIE fighters, stormtroopers, AT-STs, AT-ATs, star destroyers, new ships and infantry armor, and let’s not forget Darth Vader. That scene with him at the end of the film is one of my all-time favorite scenes in any Star Wars movie. I got chills watching that sequence. It was everything I’d ever wanted from a Darth Vader cameo.

Now, Rogue One might be almost nothing but action and fanservice -- most of the main cast of characters is not terribly interesting or memorable -- but that’s okay. This is a lot of people’s new favorite Star Wars movie, and I don’t think it’s hard to see why. It’s basically everything fans loved most about the prequels -- the spectacle, the new worlds, the new weapons, the new soldiers, while still trying to keep true to the spirit of the franchise, and making nods to its roots. The characters can be bland, and some of the fights drag on a bit, but it’s still a thrilling ride. Also, K-2SO is probably the funniest character in any Star Wars film.

6. The Last Jedi

This movie has some of the greatest, most powerful moments in the entire franchise. Rey’s relationship with Kylo Ren and their confrontations with Luke were an incredible emotional foundation to the story. Many of the visuals were dazzling, and not all but many of the jokes landed pretty well. Luke was provided with a realistic and interesting character arc that gave room for actual growth and depth and struggle -- not simply making him another wise old Jedi Master with a padawan who turned to the dark.

This movie took a lot of risks, and not all of them panned out for sure. I disagree with a lot of the narrative choices in this film, especially when it comes to how Kylo Ren and Rey’s relationship ends up by the end of the movie, and what they did with Poe and Finn. However, I cannot understate how great I think other elements of the story were. This is the movie that made me actually start to feel like Rey was a more fleshed-out character, and it made Kylo Ren my new favorite character in the sequel trilogy (also I really like the fight with the praetorian guards, which I guess is a controversial opinion?). While the movie is deeply flawed, it also has a lot in it that is deeply good, and that is definitely worth something.

5. Return of the Jedi

It was very close for me between this movie and The Last Jedi, but I settled on placing episode 6 higher because, to me, it just presents a more elegant narrative with a more cathartic resolution. Return of the Jedi gives us a strong and satisfying conclusion to Luke’s story, and is probably full of more heart and love than any other installment in the series, showcasing bonds between Han and Leia, Leia and Luke, and a reforged bond between Luke and his father. The team is reunited, and it feels so good.

That being said, the movie does have its share of flaws, many of which are in common with The Last Jedi. A lot of the movie feels like needless padding and sort of wasted screentime for the main characters, aside from Luke, who didn’t get much of a meaningful role in the story. However, I feel that it’s counterbalanced by the fact that this film also has some of the most powerful drama in the series. Luke’s confrontation of Vader and the Emperor is wonderfully tense and exciting, and it comes to a stirring conclusion. Plus, Han, Leia, Chewie, C-3PO and R2-D2 are all still their lovable selves, bantering away and getting in way over their heads. It’s kind of hard to not find the film charming. All in all, a great way to wrap up an iconic trilogy.

4. Revenge of the Sith

I remember when this film came out, some critics even went so far as to say it was “better than the original trilogy.” While that’s certainly up for the fans to debate, I do think this movie demonstrated a sense of clarity that was lacking in either of the other prequels. It’s a story all about one thing -- Anakin wants to stop his wife from dying a certain death, and will do whatever it takes to make that happen. The resulting story is filled with incredibly potent pain, fear, anxiety, suffering and darkness, as Anakin fights and eventually gives into temptation.

Okay, yeah, the dialogue is still mostly terrible, and the acting can still feel forced and awkward, but I think if you’re able to look past that, you’ll see what it easily the strongest narrative in the prequel trilogy. It also has a lot of things that the other two prequels were missing: humor (the entire beginning sequence is a fun and largely comical ride not found in the other prequels), memorably dramatic scenes (“Did you ever hear of the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?”) and the wickedly over-the-top Emperor finally taking the spotlight with his cackling and pontificating. It may not be the most gracefully crafted movie in the series, but it does have one of the most powerful stories to tell, and I think that’s what ultimately shines through.

3. The Force Awakens

I love this movie. The action, the effects, the characters, the humor -- it is a cavalcade of blockbuster science-fantasy wonder. Abrams did an outstanding job retooling the original trilogy to suit a modern audience, with new, creative takes on the faceless, nameless stormtrooper, a Darth Vader stand-in who knows he’s a stand-in and hates it, and a burgeoning hero doesn’t run toward adventure but away from it. There is an energy, a sort of vitality, to this film that I don’t think you can find in any other installment in the series. It’s dazzling, powerful and full of spirit.

And yes, it has its own fair share of flaws. The political situation is weirdly under-explained, the movie heavily relies on the original films as a template for the plot’s structure, and Rey could’ve used more coherent development as the protagonist of the film. However, I wholly and heartily believe that the movie more than makes up for all of that with its unique and charming cast of original characters. I loved Poe Dameron, Kylo Ren, Finn, and the returning Han and Chewie in this story. They all did wonderful performances with snappy dialogue, great performances and thrilling fights. It would’ve been great if the studio had tried to stray from the norm more, sure, but The Force Awakens, in my eyes, is still an exhilarating, warm and entrancing entryway into the territory of a new era for the franchise.

2. A New Hope

This one was tough to place. If I’m being completely honest, I think I probably actually like The Force Awakens more as a film, but it just doesn’t sit right with me to not give priority to the original. And I think credit should be given where credit is due: this movie, for better or worse, revolutionized cinema. It’s the movie that started it all, defying all odds and expectations. It’s the ideal archetype of the hero’s journey; a boy from humble beginnings meets with an old mentor who shows him a much bigger, brighter, and scarier world that he must face for the good of the world he lives in. Along the way, we meet some of the most iconic and memorable characters in the history of film -- Han Solo, Princess Leia, C-3PO, R2-D2 and the ever-lovable Darth Vader.

Now, has this movie been overly mythologized? Yes. Has it in many respects aged poorly? Sure. It totally has. The dialogue can be goofy, the action can look hokey and the pacing can feel terribly slow. But a lot of people will throw statements around like “It’s only famous because it was the first” when looking at movies like the original Star Wars, or the characters contained within. But I think that line of reasoning is misguided. Cheesy sci-fi features, space operas, action movies, roguish characters, princesses and humble heroes were not invented by Star Wars or George Lucas, just as people with superhuman abilities were not pioneered by the creators of Superman. And yet, this movie stood out in all of moviemaking history, proving that it had accomplished what no film like it had before. It is not a beloved film simply because it was the first. It’s the first because it was beloved.

Honorable Mention: The Clone Wars

Not the movie, the series (because the movie was basically just the pilot to the series that honestly shouldn’t have been shown in theaters). It doesn’t technically qualify for this list, but I just have to mention it (honorably). This series took a look at the prequels, for all their flaws, and said “I can make people like this era of Star Wars.” And you know what? They succeeded. The versions of Obi-Wan, Anakin and the many clone troopers featured in this series are now often the versions people think of when remembering the Clone Wars era of the saga. It was a rollercoaster of a series, with surprisingly dark and dramatic stories, as well as shockingly good action and visuals.

Sure, there were a lot of subpar episodes, but those aren’t what people remember. People remember a version of Anakin that made him a likeable hero, a new Jedi padawan for the audience to identify with, new stories that deepened and expanded upon the lore of the universe, and some really cool warfare that honestly blows a lot of what we saw in the actual prequel films out of the water. If you haven’t seen it yet, get a free trial of Disney + and start binging.

1. The Empire Strikes Back

Okay, okay, yeah, we all saw this coming. Not exactly an original opinion, is it? Still, I can’t deny that I solidly believe The Empire Strikes Back to be the best-made Star Wars film. It may not have the razzle-dazzle of the prequels or the sequels, and it may not have the satisfactory finality of Revenge of the Sith or Return of the Jedi. But what this film does have is care. It’s a movie that feels like it was carefully crafted from top to bottom, with every scene, every narrative throughline, every theme and every line of dialogue.

This is where we got “Do, or do not. There is no try.” This is where we got “I am your father.” This is where we got “I love you/I know.” This is where Vader really cemented himself as the end-all-be-all big bad of the Star Wars galaxy. This is where Han and Leia became the cinematic couple of a lifetime. This is where we really learned about the Force, the Jedi and what sorts of trials Luke would have to face were he to take on that legacy. It’s a magical film, full of wonder, hope, darkness, tragedy and love.

I won’t say it’s a perfect Star Wars movie, because it’s not. No Star Wars movie is. But that’s the beauty of the franchise. Everyone values something different about Star Wars. Everyone has their own favorite movie or series or book or comic or even theme park ride. It’s a phenomenon that spans generations, each one looking back fondly on the era that came before. There were people who grew up on the original trilogy, and now we have people who grew up on the prequels. And in just a few short decades, we’ll have people who grew up with BB-8, Kylo Ren and Rey, and that, to me, is just fantastic.

I know many of you have already written off Star Wars, or at least the new movies, but I am both nervous and excited to see where this all goes in seven days. And I know that there are many of you out there still celebrating Star Wars, holding it dear to your hearts, and not forgetting the feeling it gave you whenever you first fell in love with the franchise. I hope that feeling stays with us, and that it cuts through all the hatred and shouting and derision.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to watch today’s episode of The Mandalorian.

#star wars #ranking

[jokerasylum91]

Aladdin (2019) thoughts *Minor spoilers*

Growing up Aladdin was one of my favourite disney movies behind Beauty and the Beast, I loved the action, the comedy and of course the music. Not to mention the iconic robin williams performance as the genie.

My earliest memories of going to the movies was actually the orginal, yes for shame i was one of those kids that wouldn't sit still, but my parents always said when genie was on screen my eyes were definitely fixed on the screen, i was captivated by this blue force spouting jokes i wouldn't get til i was older but was mesmerized all the same.

With the disney live action remake phase in full swing, the four i was most looking forward to was Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King (which is next) and the eventual little mermaid one, and of course aladdin, i thought it would look dazzling in live action as the costumes in the original and the set pieces are so iconic. I'll try not to go into major spoilery details too much but i do want to give thoughts on the new additions and the characters compared to their originals.

Aladdin - I thought Mena was great in the lead role, i loved his sincerity and charm, definitely lived up to the story arc of being a diamond in the rough, whose worth lies far beyond what is on the surface, I liked the slightly different direction they went with his character, as in the original he was still confident and cool being more 90's based (he was designed after tom cruise) i thought he was better written in the remake as he wasn't as confident and cool, at times being really awkward, he still has those cool moments and charm but the story of aladdin was being confident in yourself and being yourself rather than being an act which i thought they did better with the prince ali section here. Mena's singing was great too, he really emulated brad kane's voice and vocal performance. I loved his relationship/bond with abu who was also adorable.

Jasmine: Wow, just wow, thats all that i can say to describe how much i enjoyed Naomi Scott as Jasmine from her dazzling costumes, to her amazing singing performances. I always liked Jasmine because i felt she like belle wasn't after the traditional tropes of finding a handsome prince, Jasmine wanted to forge her own path and not have her life decided for her. She was confident and determined to marry for love and not just because of the established laws. In the remake they take a slightly different turn where she wants to live up to the standard set by her mother and do what is best for the people, she reaches a point where like the original where she is fed up with having her voice not be heard  which leads into a powerful new song called "Speechless" that i cannot stop gushing over. A message that everyone can relate to, her performance was definitely a gamechanger and i look forward to seeing what she does next. I loved the addition of her handmaiden Dahlia aswell who provided genuine laughs. Nasim Pedrad had great chemistry with the other cast members.

Genie: The biggest question was how Will Smith would do in the shoes of Robin Williams, i think he did great, i mean its a different take so he doesn't do as many impressions as Robin did but in saying that, the original was written with robin's standup in mind, so genie in the original was as much robin as he was their genie. Will brings what makes him Will Smith he had the same heart that the role needed while also being fresh, i definitely saw a bit of the broadway version in his performance while also being will's own take. Like he has been a genie for 10000 years and served so many masters that he has his craft down to a T, I think the only thing i was expecting was more references to other disney movies, i like Will's comedic timing and playing the straight man to the awkward humor scenes. I thought his performance of "Friend Like Me" was great, it was one of the scenes i was looking forward to the most cause obviously his singing was a big part of my childhood with fresh prince, men in black and wild wild west. Will was cool, charming, sarcastic, but also charming, likeable with lots of heart.

Jafar and Iago: This is where i think it will devide alot of viewers because this is a different take on Jafar compared to his manic incarnation by Jonathan Freeman. In the remake he is more of a dark version of aladdin, brought up on the streets as a thief but corrupted by power. He wasn't the wise,  manipulative man he was in the original, he was impulsive  and arrogant overstepping his role and driven by this desire to not be second best. He is of course flanked by his sidekick parrot Iago (Not voiced by Gilbert this time but by voice actor and all around amazing Alan Tudyk) he doesn't speak full sentences like he does in the original but he does give off the impression he is highly intellegeant offering sarcasm, wit, one liners and piecing together plot elements by being Jafar's eyes and ears in the castle. While i was disappointed there was no giant snake (Seriously disney how could u miss that) showdown, i thought the final act was satisfying while still working with what had been established. Like i said a differnt take on Jafar but i think it worked for this movie as his motivations/ideals for leadership clash with Jasmine's which creates a powerful moment for Jasmine.

The Music: One section where the remake absolutely shines was the music, all the classics are here and they sounded amazing, i love how each of them have more arabic sound to them, Alan Menken really outdid himself with the instrumentals, it gives all the songs more weight, my favourites were "One Jump Ahead" and obviously "A Whole New World", Naomi was born to sing that. I loved Arabian Night's update as i never really liked the original lyrics, like i get it was a product of the time but still change is good. Speaking of which i did like the little tweaks to the lyrics, just subtle changes to them but still keeping what made them classic.

The Costumes: The costumes were fabulous, i loved the respect shown and the delicate nature of the costumes, Jasmine's in particular were amazing.

Final Verdict: I think people will be pleasantly surprised, i know through the marketing it was very ho hum but i do feel like this is a good update to a movie that is a classic to so many.

Even if you were cynical about seeing it give it a try, like the lamp itself it is more than what it seems on the outside.

#Aladdin #disney #Mena massoud #naomi scott #alan tudyk #marwan kenzari #will smith #genie #princess jasmine #iago #jafar #guy ritchie aladdin

[lgbtqiahistoricalromance]

YA & School Love in LGBTQIA+ Historical Romances

First off, I’m glad to say that the YA novels of today are teeming with LGBT characters, many of them MCs. That said, this is just a taste of a few that I really enjoyed or by authors you might not be aware of yet. @lgbtqreads is an excellent resource for more exhaustive lists, and also companies like Book Riot.

All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages. Short story anthology of LGBTQIA teenagers throughout history, from across the spectrum. Ed by Sandra Mitchell

- Take a journey through time and genres to discover stories where queer teens live, love and shape the world around them. Seventeen young adult authors across the queer spectrum have come together to create a collection of beautifully written diverse historical fiction for teens. From a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in war-torn 1870s Mexico featuring a transgender soldier, to two girls falling in love while mourning the death of Kurt Cobain, forbidden love in a sixteenth-century Spanish convent or an asexual girl discovering her identity amid the 1970s roller-disco scene, All Out tells a diverse range of stories across cultures, time periods and identities, shedding light on an area of history often ignored or forgotten.

Hayden Thorne novels are being reissued. She specializes in YA LGBT romance novels, many with fantasy elements, but all of them well constructed and inventive. I’ve read almost all of her novels in this genre, and several are mentioned elsewhere on this blog. Just, please, check out this amazing author’s work for some very creative takes on some of your favorite tropes, and ideas I’ve never read anywhere else.

A Place for Wolves by Kosoko Jackson

- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe meets Code Name Verity in this heartbreaking and poignant historical thriller. (YA!!)

James Mills isn’t sure he can forgive his parents for dragging him away from his life, not to mention his best friend and sister, Anna. He’s never felt so alone. Enter Tomas. Falling for Tomas is unexpected, but sometimes the best things in life are. Then their world splits apart. A war that has been brewing finally bursts forward, filled with violence, pain, and cruelty. James and Tomas can only rely on each other as they decide how far they are willing to go—and who they are willing to become—in order to make it back to their families.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee (Review)

- A young bisexual British lord embarks on an unforgettable Grand Tour of Europe with his best friend/secret crush. An 18th-century romantic adventure for the modern age written by This Monstrous Thing author Mackenzi Lee - Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets the 1700s.Henry "Monty" Montague doesn't care that his roguish passions are far from suitable for the gentleman he was born to be. But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quests for pleasure and vice are in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family's estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.So Monty vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty's reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.Witty, dazzling, and intriguing at every turn, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue is an irresistible romp that explores the undeniably fine lines between friendship and love.

Don't miss Felicity's adventures in The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, the highly anticipated sequel!

Pantomine by Laura Lam (Micah Grey Trilogy Book 1)

- In a land of lost wonders, the past is stirring once more . . .

Gene's life resembles a debutante's dream. Yet she hides a secret that would see her shunned by the nobility. Gene is both male and female. Then she displays unwanted magical abilities - last seen in mysterious beings from an almost-forgotten age. Matters escalate further when her parents plan a devastating betrayal, so she flees home, dressed as a boy.

The city beyond contains glowing glass relics from a lost civilization. They call to her, but she wants freedom not mysteries. So, reinvented as 'Micah Grey', Gene joins the circus. As an aerialist, she discovers the joy of flight - but the circus has a dark side. She's also plagued by visions foretelling danger. A storm is howling in from the past, but will she heed its roar?

Ash by Malinda Lo

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted. The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Their friendship, as delicate as a new bloom, reawakens Ash's capacity for love--and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love. Entrancing and empowering, Ash beautifully unfolds the connections between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

The Unbinding of Mary Reade by Miriam McNamara

- A clever, romantic novel based on the true story of a girl who disguised herself as a boy to sail with the infamous pirates Anne Bonny and Calico Jack—and fell in love with Anne Bonny.

There’s no place for a girl in Mary’s world. Not in the home of her mum, desperately drunk and poor. Not in the household of her wealthy granny, where no girl can be named an heir. And certainly not in the arms of Nat, her childhood love who never knew her for who she was. As a sailor aboard a Caribbean merchant ship, Mary’s livelihood—and her safety—depends on her ability to disguise her gender.

At least, that’s what she thinks is true. But then pirates attack the ship, and in the midst of the gang of cutthroats, Mary spots something she never could have imagined: a girl pirate.

The sight of a girl standing unafraid upon the deck, gun and sword in hand, changes everything. In a split-second decision, Mary turns her gun on her own captain, earning herself the chance to join the account and become a pirate alongside Calico Jack and Anne Bonny.

For the first time, Mary has a shot at freedom. But imagining living as her true self is easier, it seems, than actually doing it. And when Mary finds herself falling for the captain’s mistress, she risks everything—her childhood love, her place among the crew, and even her life.

Breathlessly romantic and brilliantly subversive, The Unbinding of Mary Reade is sure to sweep readers off their feet and make their hearts soar.

Deviant Desire by Jackson Marsh (Just came out March 7th!)

- The Victorian East End lives in fear of the Ripper and his mission to kill rent boys. Silas Hawkins, nineteen and forging a life on the streets could well be the next victim, but when he meets Archer, his life changes forever. Young, attractive and rich, Archer is The Viscount Clearwater, a philanthropist, adventurer and homosexual.When Archer suspects the Ripper is killing to lure him to a confrontation, he risks his reputation and his life to stop the madman's murders. Every man must play his part, including Silas.A mashup of mystery, romance and adventure, Deviant Desire is set in an imaginary London of 1888. The first in an on-going series, it takes the theme of loyalty and friendship in a world where homosexuality is a crime. Secrets must be kept, lovers must be protected, and for Archer and Silas, it marks the start of their biggest adventure - love.

The Prince and The Dressmaker by Jen Wang

- Set in Paris, this graphic novel follows Sebastian, a prince with a secret. By day, Sebastian laments his parents' fervent search for his bride-to-be, but by night, Sebastian transforms into fashion icon Lady Crystallia! Sebastian's best friend and dressmaker, Frances, has kept his secret, but when the secret becomes too hard to keep, she may risk their friendship and Sebastian's trust for her own shot at the spotlight.

A Light Amongst Shadows (Dark is the Night series Book 1) by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood

This whole series is gold, but here is the information on the first novel...

James Spencer is hardly the typical troubled youth who ends up at Whisperwood School for Boys. Instead of hating the strict schedules and tight oversight by staff, James blossoms, quickly making friends, indulging in his love of writing, and contemplating the merits of sneaking love poems to the elusive and aloof William Esher. The rumours about William’s sexuality and opium reliance are prime gossip material amongst the third years…rumours that only further pique James’ curiosity to uncover what William is really like beneath all that emotional armor. And, when the normally collected William stumbles in one night, shaken and ranting of ghosts, James is the only one who believes him. James himself has heard the nails dragging down his bedroom door and the sobs echoing in the halls at night. He knows others have, too, even if no one will admit it. The staff refuses to entertain such ridiculous tales, and punishment awaits anyone who brings it up. Their fervent denial and the disappearance of students only furthers James’ determination to find out what secrets Whisperwood is hiding…especially if it prevents William and himself from becoming the next victims.

Originally, this list was going to include professors too, but they were already on a list and May/December romances will be on the list for May.

Adding a link for a list of best LGBT fantasy romances in the YA genre, because they have several novels with historical themes that I know friends/fellow readers I know, have enjoyed.

#lgbt romance #historical romance

[buzzdixonwriter]

Chillin’ With Netflix (2018 edition)

LOST IN SPACE

Really well done, family friendly space opera.  Top notch production values, good / smart writing, superlative cast.

And despite all this, it couldn’t keep my attention past episode 4.

I put the blame on me, not this new series by writers Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless.  

As a preteen, I was in the prime target audience for the original Lost In Space back in the mid-1960s, and that series -- despite its wildly varying tone -- created an iconic show that, try as they might, every subsequent re-make struggles to overcome.

Seriously, it’s like trying to remake I Love Lucy only without Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley.

Yeah, it can be done, but why bother?  Use that talent and energy to do something in the same vein but different.

That being said, I deny no one their pleasure.  If you haven’t seen / loved the original, try this version; you might very well like it.

. . .

THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE

Excellent production / writing / cast / performances.

I started out really liking it.

That enthusiasm faded.

I ended up enjoying this new retelling of The Haunting Of Hill House but came away feeling it fell short of 1963’s The Haunting, the first and still best adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s classic ghost story.

First off, a definition of terms (which will explain my enthusiasm fade):  In order to work, a ghost story must take place in the audience’s head.

That is to say, the reader / viewer must be left with two equally possibly yet mutually exclusive possibilities:  There are such things as ghost, or the haunting is purely psychological in the mind/s of the character/s.

Even in stories such as the original novel or the 1963 film where the possibility is presented that at least one of the characters is mentally unstable and is either imagining / causing the manifestations, the book / movie / series must never come down concretely in either camp.

To make it purely psychological turns it into a drama about mental illness, the make it supernatural moves it from the realm of “ghost story” into “monster movie” where the monster happens to be a ghost.

A ghost story doesn’t have to be scary, simply…haunting.  Portrait Of Jenny is a bitter-sweet romance that despite a lack of spookiness remains a bona fide ghost story.

(Ghost comedies such as Topper, Blythe Spirit, Ghost Busters, etc. are a different genre entirely akin to leprechaun / alien comedies where a fantastic being disrupts the lives of the human protagonists.)

This version works well, even though it doesn’t maintain the high level it starts with.  The family dynamics are well done, the performances excellent.

For the first couple of episodes the series tries to walk the line, raising the possibility and eventually confirming that mental illness runs through the family that moved into Hill House, but the moment the ghosts begin manifesting themselves, it paradoxically stops being a ghost story and becomes a booga-booga story).  Virtuosity for the sake of virtuosity also works against the production, occasionally dragging audiences out of the story to admire how clever the film makers are.

It also gets a little too convoluted and overly melodramatic towards the end, however (ghost stories work best at their simplicity.

And it is not an upbeat ending but a really horrific one as the family in question literally consumes itself.  

This version inhabits a godless universe, and the apparent “good” ending is really a terrible one of eternal damnation (albeit not in the Christian sense).

I recognize and appreciate the level of craftsmanship that went into this, and recommend it to people who like scary stories.

But it ain’t what I’d call a ghost story, and it sure ain’t what Jackson would call one, either.

. . .

SHE-RA AND THE PRINCESSES OF POWER

I'm not the target audience for She-Ra in either incarnation.

That being said, I watched episodes 1-3 and 12-13.

It looks good to me.  The story was familiar, but like old B-Westerns it's the kind of genre where familiarity breeds affection, so no complaints there.

Pacing seemed slow, but the design and animation was good, voices top notch. Clearly a heavy anime influence.

Really liked the wide range of physical types and acknowledgement of LGBT characters. Lots of fun with the various interpersonal relationships and characterizations, especially Swift Wind, the smartass flying unicorn.

They did a really good job with this show and the characters seemed more like real teens than the previous incarnation.

. . .

THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS

Well, this one I can recommend whole heartedly and without reservation.  

Joel and Ethan Coen have shown a remarkable penchant for period films and a strong affinity for Westerns in the past, and this anthology film offers a dazzling grab bag of good / off beat stories that range from the ridiculous to the realistic, though a couple of them are Westerns by location only as they don’t really rely on any of the themes that define the Western genre. 

The stories are:

“The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs” -- a hilarious send up of old Hollywood Western clichés starting with the quintessential sing cowboy trope and spiraling into full bore craziness from there.

“Near Algodones” -- a would-be bank robber has a really bad day.  Despite its dazzling editorial style, one of the more conventional stories -- and yet it manages to evoke both classic Buddhism, the crucifixion, and the ultimate sardonic joke all in the last 30 seconds.

“Meal Ticket” -- a Twilight Zone-ish story about a backwoods impresario and his limbless performer, told almost entirely silently except for quotes from poems and dramatic works and the occasional song.  While it makes good use of its Western locale, there’s really nothing in the story to tie it to the West; it could just as easily occur on a Mississippi riverboat, the back alleys of White Chapel, or the slums of Mumbai.

“All Gold Canyon” -- based on a story by Jack London, it’s a look at how hard and demanding a prospector’s life could be (with a virtually unrecognizable Tom Waits as the grizzled old prospector).  The Coen Brothers use their location to the fullest advantage, recreating the feel of what such land must have felt like before the first settlers moved in.

“The Gal Who Got Rattled” -- the longest, most realistic, and most bitter-sweet of the stories, set on a wagon train heading to Oregon, and focusing on a young woman who is definitely not the sort who should be making such a trip.  While we can look back from our safe vantage point in the 21stcentury and recognize the Indian Wars were the direct result of rapacious land grabbing by Western settlers, this story does an excellent job of showing just how terrifying it would be to sit on the receiving end of a tribal attack.  The ending is a morally complex one, well worth pondering, and especially ambiguous given the nature of the story’s framing element.

“The Mortal Remains” -- weakest of the stories, but salvaged by strong performances.  Another Twilight Zone style story, and if you didn’t guess the ending by the one minute mark I’ve got a bridge in Florida made of solid gold bricks I’d like to sell you.

. . .

AMERICAN VANDAL

Yowza!  This is one of the best series I’ve ever seen, and it’s perfect in damn near every way.

On the surface it’s a parody of various true crime documentary series, especially Netflix’ own Making A Murderer.  It’s told from the point of view of two students in their high school’s audio-visual club who make a documentary about an act of vandalism directed at the school’s teachers and the student who is blamed for it.

Of course, as they investigate, they turn up evidence that the accused student did not commit the vandalism, and in their pursuit of the truth uncover several more secrets on their way to the big reveal.

At first blush, the makings of a solid show.

But what co-creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault manage to pull off with this is nothing short of astounding, a fun parody of a genre that raises interesting questions about both the genre they’re parodying and the issue of truth and guilt, while on top of that adding an incredibly complex yet easy to follow overlay of conflicting characters and emotions.

They get every single detail right, and even seemingly throw away lines / scenes / characters get fleshed out in amazing and unexpected ways (for example, one extremely minor character, with no significant dialog, who appears only briefly on camera as comic relief in one or two early episodes is later revealed to be severely alcoholic, and in recalling his earlier appearances, one realizes the character must be suffering through a genuinely hellish existence).

Dylan, the accused student, starts out as a character of fun and amusement, a high school goofball of Spicoli proportions, only to come to a sad and ultimately terrifying end as he realizes just how dumb and dead-end his life is.

I cannot praise thise series enough.  Very rarely will I look at someone else’s work and say “I wish I had done that.” American Vandal is one of the rare exceptions.

The series has two seasons, the first involving Dylan and the vandalism of the teachers’ cars, the second involving a food poisoning incident at a private school the original two students are invited to investigate.  Season two is very strong but lacks “the shock of the new” that season one provided; it’s high quality and entertaining, but not as compelling as the original.

. . .

© Buzz Dixon

#television #media #comedy #Netflix #Coe Brothers #Lost In Space 2018 #The Haunting Of Hill House 2018 #She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power #The Ballad Of Buster SCruggs #American Vandal

[citygossip-blog1]

it’s your favorite bitches, @pixilated and @laprincessa here and ready to rock your world.  we don’t care if you read it or not, the rest of the world already has. 

The Red Carpet Review with @pixilated 

While some went unnoticed (I can’t tell if those were intentional or not), there were definitely some looks. With every celeb on the red carpet dying to make an impression, some unfortunately are destined to miss the mark-- the Carrington’s Gala was no exception. Now, I present to you last weekend’s best and worst dressed.

WORST: Sarah Park

No one would disagree with us when we say that Sarah looked like absolute literal trash, and sweetie, she can’t even challenge us on this one. We get it, you love the environment. Showing up to the red carpet in a dress made of trash was a power move, Ms. Park. There’s something fishy about this whole demonstration, but I’ll let @laprincessa tell you all about that. This dress didn’t even last the whole night, so structurally it was not sound. We applaud you for having the balls for wearing this as your red carpet look, I don’t think anyone else could have pulled it off.

BEST: Tyler Henry

Not a big surprise here, with all the money this girl has we expected nothing less. We’re almost positive that this dress costs less than the rock on her finger anyways. Henry also wore a stunning shade of green with her tiff toward Ms. Duffy and quite possibly a slightly different shade of green later that night due to her consumption of champagne-- eight or nine glasses would definitely make me sick. Thankfully for Ms. Henry, pink and green are complementary colors, so there’s no need to call the fashion police on this one.

WORST: Drew Koenig

*Yawn* Guess we should have seen this one coming considering the Koenig’s past with their money loss, maybe they are just trying to be more fiscally responsible, who knows. However, we know some better ways to be fiscally responsible-- especially for an underwear model. Showing up in #hiscalvins would have been a look, but instead we’re left with this lackluster appearance.

BEST: Willa Duffy

Time and again, Willa Duffy does not fail to impress-- it’s no wonder she’s continuously at the top of everyone’s radar. She dazzled everyone at the gala with this blue and gold number, Ms. Duffy you truly looked like a princess. Flora and Merryweather probably fought less than @laprincessa and I did on who was best dressed -- pink or blue! We just couldn’t settle on Ms. Duffy or Ms. Henry for the title, we’ll let them settle that in their own time, we just wanted to add a little more fuel to the fire between those two.

WORST: Charlie Carrington

Oh Carrington, it seems like a cop out to just get a handkerchief to match your girl. Maybe Ms. Henry was too indecisive about her look that you settled for something simple. Your name wasn’t even on the invitation, little Charlie, and your suit didn’t make you standout either.

@laprincessa: Que decepción, I honestly expected more of you Carrington, especialmente cuando your fiance is a fashion icon, tsk tsk communication is key darlings!  Let me take this time to express my utter disappointment with men in high society always showing up in the same old somber tones, in the same old boring suits. The fashion world is always moving forward and you have the money to really show up and represent. Explore with colors, patterns and textures! Floral is not just for the ladies, gentlemen-- the more vibrant the color the more impressive you stand out. Stop boring me to tears with the same old suit and tie.

BEST: Jared Caldwell

That brings me to the best dressed guy, which goes to New Money Caldwell. Let me just fangirl about this this man for a second, can you tell that I just absolutely love him. Sure no one really knows who he is and he’s just a nerdy guy who made the hottest app, but if he ghosted me I would be heartbroken. I can see why Martha was all over this man, look at that t e x t u r e. Boys, you need to take a few notes in your book from him. THIS is how you rock a gala look.  

WORST: Victoria Sparks

There’s nothing awful about this look, in fact the only one who really swung and missed was Ms. Park, but there’s nothing that really stands out either. I think we were all on the edge of our seats to see if your date would be your mother. I wonder if you’re feeling well, with your dreamy, far-off look and your nose stuck in a book-- what a puzzle to the rest of us is well, Ms. Sparks. I should have expected this from New York’s Sweetheart who has been flying under the radar, but we’re dying to know why your personality is still missing when you are back in the big apple with mommy dearest.

BEST: Juniper Winslow

Such a classic look from Ms. Winslow, it brings me back to the Juni: Princess of the Galaxy days! You really were a star. Thank goodness you didn’t have a fashion disaster tonight, but it’s such a shame your ex-mans was at the gala too. You really seemed on edge, Juni. The class the dress brought definitely compensated for the mess that followed.

BEST: Sarah Park

Hats off to you Ms. Park for not only receiving worst dressed, but also receiving the best dressed. While it wasn’t your red carpet look, you definitely turned some heads with this one too. Your transition from the trash in our ocean to your sandy sparkly look was not only touching, but inspiring. Congrats from your two faves-- oh and tell your bestie that #TimesUp on the fashion trend she tried to bring to the gala.

No Me Digas! con @laprincessa

Now you all know we love our fashion opinions, but what we thirst is more than what our fellow socialites were wearing. We thirst for the knowledge of what they are doing and subsequently hiding. Good thing is... we know all, we see all and my, my, my! What juicy content do we have to share.

While so many of you flew under the radar, stuck to the walls or hidden in the corners, some of you truly saved this gala from being a total snoozefest. I for one, was ready to post some secrets just to have a reaction from all those in attendance, but early on it was easy to spot that things were bound to get interesting.

Let me start with the ever so fabulous Tyler Henry. Mija, you were a total mess. The woman who has everything-- the wealth, good genes, the rock on her finger with the handsome man at her side-- started guzzling down champagne like it was water. What could possibly warrant Ms. Henry to act impulsively on the night of her soon-to-be family’s gala?  My sources say that daddy dearest broke a promise and the Henry’s wholesome family unit was minus one. The night just kept getting better as Ms. Henry decided to up the ante and get into not one but two major confrontations.

The First: #theAutocrat vs #theVisionary

While we agree that Ms. Sarah Park was a total eyesore in that, for lack of a better term-- trashy dress, was it really necessary to ruin it? Now before all you Tyler-stans get all defensive here are the facts. The two ladies were spotted having a quarrel, it wouldn’t surprise me if the camera crew got all the juicy details of what was said. All I know is that the back-and-forth reached the point where Ms. Henry was seen pulling in the Carrington’s guest speaker real close, and not for the steamy reasons we’re all hoping for,  and as Ms. Park pulled away... oops! Her dress was falling apart and Tyler was left with plastic in her hands. Seems pretty incriminating to me. In the end I feel like I should thank Tyler, Sarah was forced to change and I ended up getting a delectable view of her banging body.   

@pixilated: Hey! #TeamTyler over here and I wouldn’t say that miss-horny-for-change can get away without pointing a few fingers at her. No one would believe it, but rumor has it Ms. Park could have had a few tricks up her sleeve and wanted Ms. Henry to rip her dress all along. Hell, I’d want that dis-gus-ting thing off of me too. Tyler did warn her never to call her by that godforsaken nickname. Seems like she was set-up to have the perfect alibi, but that’s just my cup of tea.

Since @pixilated has already revealed herself to be in #TeamTyler I guess I can go ahead and reveal that while I’m not on any teams yet,  I do have a soft spot for Sarah Park. She had the guts to embarrass herself in front of all the who’s who of New York because her love of activism ran stronger than the need to look good. She’s constantly using her privilege for the greater good and I can’t help but admire that. Not even a wardrobe malfunction could slow her down. Ms. Park was right on time to perform her speech and the outpouring of support confirmed what we all know, this girl is on fire. Was it just me or did any of you notice how her speech even used her dress falling apart to her advantage? Ms. Park is one smart cookie, good thing she seems like she wants to help the world and not ruin it. And as Selena Gomez always said, “everything is not what it seems.” *queue theme song here*

The Second: #theAutocrat vs #theModel

You’d think I would be so over the drama between these two, but I can’t help it! They are my guilty pleasure and they always indulge me. I wonder whatever compelled Tyler Henry to approach Willa Duffy in the first place? Was Willa enchanting too many guests? Was she taking too much of the spotlight? Or was it because Willa was looking a little too cute laughing up a storm with Charles Carrington himself? Whatever the reason was, Ms. Henry was seven drinks too many in and confronting Willa Duffy in front of the whole gala!! Scandalous! I know I felt a shiver of excitement when I saw that showdown happening. These queens of New York were both so formidable with their consistent, calculated clapbacks, but it was apparent that the Queen Bee, Ms. Henry, stung Ms. Duffy one too many times. It's amazing to imagine how they could rule the whole city if they only joined forces once again. I know, I know, never gonna happen! It's the dreamer in me I can’t help it. Anyways, much like Tyler’s first confrontation, Willa left the scene first and while in many instances that would be a win. Is it really a win to act like a drunken fool in front of all your fiance’s family and esteemed guests? So who’s the real winner here? We are of course! We would like to thank Charlie for quite literally making the whole Tyler drama sweeter by removing her from the premise to grab a scoop to forget her stand-up dad.

So much time spent on Ms. Henry it’s safe to say she’s our Scandal of the Week. But there are so many who also caught our interest never fear!

Ms. Duffy where is your shadow? Consider us shocked at not seeing the Duffy twins attached at the hip. We know he was there or did he bail out before the party even got started? Perhaps it’s a good thing, we can’t imagine you would have charmed as many guests with your demon of a brother at your side.

Drew Koenig, your foolish, misogynistic attempts to win over Bella De La Rosa Lopez did not go unnoticed. You might like your women like you like your drinks, “sweet and a little spicy,” but I’ve heard Bella likes her men how most people like their wine. Luck for us, Ms. De La Rosa ended her night dancing with Ms. Duffy and not with the likes of you.

@pixilated: Some advice for Charlie Carrington, if you want people to respect your relationship with Tyler Henry, you best not be seen chatting it up and getting comfortable with her sworn enemy. Maybe he’s just trying to keep their enemies close.

My girl here has a point, we’ve been told that the Duffy’s and the Carrington’s have been friends for years but there is such a thing as loyalty to your loved one no? On the other hand there is something so cute seeing two friends laughing up a storm. The real truth here is that I’m a messy bitch and I live for this drama.

@pixilated: And one final word to the wise-- the Marthas of the world better throw caution to the wind and watch their back, I’m tryna steal your mans <3

I don’t know pixie, Jared seems pretty enamored with the one, the only, Willa Duffy, are the Marthas of the world the real threat here?

@pixilated: I don’t care who you are, if you have heart eyes for Jared Caldwell, I suggest wearing shades so I can’t pick you out of a crowd.

This concludes our honest review. If you didn’t see yourself mentioned don’t get comfortable, either you didn’t do anything worthy of a mention which *yawn* or we’re biding our time to comment on all the messy things you do. Both options make me want to spill all your deep dark secrets but my partner says waiting is key to ultimate satisfaction.

Until next time, 

xoxo

#carrington gala. #an honest review. #review. #sarah. #tyler. #drew. #willa. #charlie. #jared. #victoria. #juniper. #bella. #i spent more time on this than i have for any of my assignments all semester tbh #AND WE WORKED SO HARD #WE HOPE YOU LIKE IT

[vacationsoup]

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Things To Do In Orlando [Florida] With Videos – Bucket List Guide

Our Things To Do In Orlando Guide

Ever think about taking a trip to The Theme Park Capital of the World?

Things to do in Orlando, Florida

Surely enough, when talking about Orlando, Florida, the first thing that comes to mind would be the bevvy of amusement parks that attract millions of tourists every year.

Disney World, Universal Studios, Seaworld, it seems that Orlando’s got a theme park to suit every every man, woman and child. But who’s to say that that’s all the city’s got to offer?

This guide gives you the full rundown of what to see and do…

Quick Navigation

Where is Orlando

Theme Parks

Food & Drink

  Activities

Where Is Orlando?

Orlando is a city in Florida, USA., the heart of the Orlando metropolitan has a population of over 2 million and still growing.

Orlando is given the moniker “The City Beautiful”, and it is easy to see why. Its official symbol is the equally beautiful fountain at Lake Eola. The city is also called the “Themepark Capital of the World” because of the numerous amusement parks that can be found there.

Being one of the world’s most famous and top tourist sites, Orlando’s well-known attractions form the foundation of the city’s tourism industry. Two of the major attractions in Orlando are Walt Disney World, started by the Walt Disney Company in 1971, and located estimated 21 miles (34 km) southwest of Downtown Orlando in Bay Lake; and the Universal Orlando Resort, which opened in 1999. Most of the most significant attractions are located beside International Drive with one of those being the iconic Orlando Eye.

Orlando is also one of the busiest cities in the USA for conferences and conventions, as the Orange County Convention Center, the second-largest convention facility in the United States, can also be found in Orlando.

The Weather In Orlando

Orlando has a warm climate like much in the south of the United States. There are two basic seasons in Orlando: hot and rainy.

The rainy season lasts from May until late September, and a warm and dry season that lasts from October through April. The city’s warm and humid climate is caused by its low elevation.

Where is Orlando

Theme Parks

Food & Drink

  Activities

Bucket List Things To Do In Orlando

(Theme parks)

Disneyworld

Epcot

Universal Studios

Gatorland Orlando

Seaworld

Animal Kingdom

Disneyworld

Disneyworld – Orlando, Florida’s ultimate bucket list attraction

The very first Disneyland park ever opened still offers a unique variety of thrills and laughs for every generation of Disney lover.

Aside from meeting larger-than-life-sized Mickey and his troupe of friends, for a hundred bucks US you can enjoy dazzling nighttime fireworks displays behind the legendary Cinderella Castle (featured prominently as THE Disney logo), stroll down any of the park’s SIX different ‘lands’ (Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, Main Street and Liberty Square), eat a bunch of Mickey-themed food and be a part of the Disney magic.

It definitely is true when they say that at Disneyworld, everyone is a kid at heart: reminiscing your childhood (or enjoying it as one) will never be simpler.

Our Fav Rides

To know which rides to hop onto first, here are the top 5 you would not want to miss:

Pirates of the  Caribbean

A landmark achievement in theme park storytelling, it is a pitch-perfect attraction with perhaps the coolest theme park ride song ever.

. The burning city scene was so realistic; the Anaheim Fire Department was initially concerned about the ride’s safety. But of course, it is safe.

Little kids might not enjoy this ride, though, as it has mildly frightening images and small splashdowns.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

It is a contemporary classic Disney theme park attraction that incorporates a breathtaking free fall ride, amazing effects, and a familiar storyline.

The “fourth dimension” sequence, in which the ride vehicles move horizontally through the ride building is just plain incredible.

Star Tours: The Adventure Continues

Launch to a Star Wars galaxy far, far away in this cool, modernized adaptation of one of the first motion simulator rides. The technology behind the attraction, which allows multiple possible story lines, is justly astounding. , which will bring two new attractions and a allegedly surprising level of detail and immersion is set to open in the Studios park in 2019.

Splash Mountain

Disney combines the classic log drop ride to an animatronics-filled dark ride themed to the Uncle Remus characters from “Song of the South.”

You’ll won’t be able to hum “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” until after you get back your composure from this thrill ride!

Where Is Disneyworld?

Opening hours

Magic Kingdom Park – open from 9.00 AM to 10.00 PM

Top Tips For Visitors

https://youtu.be/kviHYkow8_Qhttps://youtu.be/ixWtJXFtTp4 Money Saving Tips For Disneyworld

Universal Studios

The other famous amusement park is another giant of the entertainment industry, boasting movie franchise-themed attractions for Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Transformers, Minions (Despicable Me by extension), E.T. and many more.

Universal Studios Orlando, Florida

You could take a tour bus to explore the whole park, eat thematic food, go space bowling, as well as engage in such mundane, everyday activities as hanging out with Velociraptors, getting your own magic wand at Ollivander’s.

Or you could listen to Bob Marley’s music, watch Animal Actors, reading along with The Cat in the Hat, fidget with Men in Black style architecture or meet the Simpsons… the place has got it all.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

This is not only the best attraction at Universal Orlando, it arguably one of the top theme park rides in North America. When the first Hogwarts simulation experience launched in 2010, its vivid detail and high level of immersion caused the Potter fans’ hearts to soar, and J.K. Rowling proud. The highlight of this attraction is the wild romp which includes a exit through the Hogwarts Castle, an airborne Quidditch match, terrifyingly close encounters with Death Eaters, and more wizarding world experiences.

Revenge of the Mummy

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This mummy ride will definitely have you screaming for your mommy!

Revenge of the Mummy presents a marriage of a dark ride with remarkable computer graphics and special effects and a remarkable, launched roller coaster experience.

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

Showing the cheeky, jesting humour from the films, Minion Mayhem is both hiarious and irreverent.

It is the third attraction to be offered in the park’s ride in film theatre. With its high-def resolution and appealing story, it is by far the best of the three.

Where Is Universal Studios?

Click for prices

Seaworld

Seaworld Orlando

Some people say that the ocean is as mysterious and incomprehensible to humankind as outerspace itself; you never know what secrets are yet to be uncovered in the vastness of the depths, what incredible sights and creatures we are yet to uncover.

If you’re more of a nature and water lover, Seaworld offers the curious visitor a taste of what we DO know, and then some. Check out vast underwater tunnels while sharks and manta rays swim overhead, see vibrant corals and billowing kaleidoscopes of exotic fish, watch orcas and dolphins do unbelievably intelligent tricks, and even feed penguins in polar-themed exhibits.

Then there are the rides..

Seaworld Orlando Sesame Street 2019

Where Is Seaworld

The Epcot Center

The Epcot Center

Disney Epcot Center is one of 4 theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort that measures around 300 acres.

It is twice the size of Magic Kingdom Park, and is divided into two parts: Future World and World Showcase.

The Future World is a zone dedicated to all things scientific, and it is divided into different subsections such as: agriculture, automotive safety, fossil fuels and geography.

Future World also serves as the center’s main entrance and it showcases the park’s iconic landmark, Spaceship Earth, a large geodesic sphere formation which holds a themed attraction inside.

The current attractions in Future Word include: Spaceship Earth, Innoventions, Mission: Space, Test Track: Presented by Chevrolet, The Seas with Nemo & Friends (Turtle Talk with Crush), The Land (Soarin’ and Living with the Land: Presented by Chiquita), Imagination! (Journey into Imagination with Figment), and Festival Center (Seasonal operation) (formerly Wonders of Life).

The second zone is the WORLD’S SHOWCASE.

This part will allow you and your family the chance to travel around the world and stop in friendly countries:United States of America, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, and Italy.

Circling a 40-acre lake, the 1.3 mile stroll will take you to eleven national pavilions which are filled with native entertainment, food and merchandise, brimming with each county’s culture.

If you are going to Epcot this video is a must watch as it really does share some great tips from rope drop to where to watch the fireworks from (and everything in between).

https://youtu.be/UPK0OD5Q3Rchttps://youtu.be/vcqvHUjtqpQhttps://youtu.be/Z3977KTcXwU

We found discount tickets for Epcot… Just click on the buy now button below

(We are not associated with the company, we’re just sharing the love)

Epcot discount tickets

Gatorland Orlando

Gatorland Orlando, Florida

Aside from the amusement parks, what makes Florida so unique amongst all of the USA’s 50 states would be the Everglades, a vast swampy region which serves as home to countless species of flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth.

Of course, this natural habitat is home to the American Alligator, a large and rather dangerous creature in its natural habitat, so it is best to leave Mother Nature undisturbed and head out to Gatorland Orlando, where you can see these humungous reptiles in action from behind the safety of the stands.

If you’re really raring for a taste of the life-threatening, head to the zipline, where you’ll zoom across alligator infested waters. Definitely NOT for the faint of heart!

Prices and opening hours – Open 10am to 6pm from the 26Th of May

Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Orlando

Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened its gate to tourists and guests in April 22, 1998. It is the biggest of the 4 theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park is brimming with rides, attractions, adventures and entertainment that reflect Walt Disney’s commitment to nature preservation and conservation. The park pilots in animal care and research for a truly unique and memorable experience that combines learning with fun. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to more than 1,700 animals from 250 species and  are spread across 500 acres of lush landscape.

It is divided into 7 zones: The Oasis; Discovery Island; Africa; Asia; Rafiki’s Planet Watch; Dinoland USA; Pandora—The World of Avatar.

Africa Zone

In the Africa zone, guests get to ride on the Kilimanjaro Safari which will take them through the African Savannah. It also offers the Wild Africa Trek, a package that offers up-close views of the animals, lets them walk on a rope bridge over hippos and crocodiles and have a sumptuous lunch in a private safari camp on the savannah.https://youtu.be/gpdwDVfKJF0

Asia Zone

A major growth of the park came after the opening of the Asia zone. The most notable attraction here is the Maharajah Jungle Trek, a walking tour that features bats, komodo dragons, bats, deer, and birds.https://youtu.be/eIM1g1Vja1c

Dinoland

The Dinoland USA boasts of the famous attraction Dinosaur, a fast-paced and rough ride that’s not advised for those with back/heart conditions.https://youtu.be/WPi3-KH9ZNM

Pandora

Pandora—The World of Avatar opened in May 27, 2017.

It is an exceptionally immersive zone that lets guests to walk into the world of the Na’vi. This park area, which was breathed into life from James Cameron’s film Avatar, has Flight of Passage, an exhilarating ride that allows guests to fly on the back of a banshee as they soar around Pandora.

Flight of Passage Avatar ride

The majority of your experiences here in Disney’s Animal Kingdom are related to nature conservation. This is an ideal  place to visit to have fun with the whole family while instilling in the children a genuine love and care for  nature and wildlife.

Here are some tips for making your visit to Animal Kingdom the best day out possible…

https://youtu.be/Nn-4ue14PFghttps://youtu.be/RJ_PqFPHZ7I

Where is Animal Kingdom

Where is Orlando

Theme Parks

Food & Drink

  Activities

More Things To Do Around Orlando

Kennedy Space Center

Wekiwa Springs

Golf

Shopping

Orlando Eye

Orlando Magic

  More Things To Do In Orlando

Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center

More of a museum than a theme park or space station, this piece of history serves as NASA’s launching pad for America’s travails into outer space.

It has served as the base for, among others, the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs. For the curious visitor it features many relics of space travel, both successful and otherwise, such as the Apollo Saturn V rocket.

There are also virtual simulators that can take you to outer space, minus the stress of actual travel of course!

Admission starts at $47 for children (ages 3 – 11) and $57 for adults (12 years and over). You can even have lunch with an astronaut for $15.99 (child) and $29.99 (adult).

Full details on pricing and packages here https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/info/tickets

Orlando Magic

Orlando Magic

Aside from the theme parks and attractions that Orlando, Florida houses, it has also become a household name because of the NBA team Orlando Magic. The Magic started in 1987 when NBA granted them franchise, along with Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves.

However, they had two wait until two years after before being given the chance to play on the hard court. The very first game they played was on October 13, 1989 against the then champions Detroit Pistons, which The Magic won. Even though they won a lot of other games after that, history changed when The Magic picked their first star player—yep, you guessed it, the big man Shaquille O’Neal.

Orlando Magic – Dwight Howard

More things to do in Orlando…

The Magic once again became the NBA’s most improved franchise, as they were better by 20 games. Shaq-o-Macwas the first rookie to be voted an All-Star starter since Michael Jordan in 1985.Stuff the Magic Dragon has been the Magic’s mascot since 1987. Its name is a pun on Puff the Magic Dragon and the alternative name for slam dunk, “stuffing.”

Miss Stuff already?

No worries, the Orlando Magic has pre-season upcoming games at the start of October all the way to April of next year.

Tickets range from $14 to $540 for the best seats available. You may book tickets on the NBA site here:  https://www.nba.com/magic/schedule

Wekiwa Springs

Wekiwa Springs has been welcoming tourists and visitors since half of the nineteenth century, making it one of the oldest attractions and tourist site in Orange County.

The emerald waters and lush greeneries in this unique park are a sight for sore eyes if you’ve been hopping from theme parks to theme parks and malls to malls in Downtown Orlando. It provides 13 miles of hiking trail that’s begging to be explored.

The trail is ideal for biking, horseback riding, or just easy strolling to observe the abundant wildlife and lush hammocks that the park offers. The river also presents opportunities for canoeing and kayaking, while the spring for cooling off on a hot summer’s day.

https://youtu.be/CXBC5eVqWb0https://youtu.be/38Yl-LUCRTw

Wekiwa Springs also offers camping options, which include a full facility campground and primitive camping areas.

All in all, the park is the best place to go if you are seeking a quiet sanctuary and want to enjoy Orlando in a natural setting.

Orlando Eye

The Orlando Eye

If you are looking for more things to do in Orlando then the Orlando Eye is right up there , literally.

Orlando Eye or ICON Orlando is truly the ride of iconic proportions.

It is the highest observational wheel on the North American east coast.Atop the ICON, you get to enjoy breathtaking views (literally if you are acrophobic) from 400 feet up that include Orlando attractions, downtown, and the East Coast and Cape Canaveral.

It has a total of 30 Unique Air-Conditioned Capsules, with a capacity of 15 people per capsule. Hence, you can enjoy an intimate moment with a glass of wine or champagne while sightseeing with your date, or have fun and take Instagram-worthy panoramic pictures with your friends.

Getting into one of Orlando Eye’s capsules into one of Orlando Eye’s capsules costs $20, with a whole bunch of other package options available (such as flex passes, special occasions, groups etc).

Address: 8375 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819-9309 Phone number: [phone] Opening Hours: Sun – Thu: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Fri – Sat: 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM

Golf In Orlando

Bay Hill Club

Waldorf Astoria Golf

Orange County

Champions Gate Golf

Reunion Golf and Spa

Disney’s Magnolia

Playing golf around Orlando

More things to do in Orlando…

You could say that Florida is the golf capital of the world with over 1,250 courses (just don’t tell Scotland). If you are staying in or around Orlando you will find just under 100 courses to choose from.

Here are six of the top golf courses in the area.

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lounge

Bay Hill Club’s famous 17th hole

The Bay Hill Club and Lounge used to be the late Arnold Palmer’s headquarters. Hence, it follows that this course is as lavish and luxurious as his lifestyle was.

The United States PGA Tour for Arnold Palmer Invitational is held here annually, and the players compete against each other on this three nine-looped course. Bay Hill’s rippled terrain adds favourable elevation changes to many of the holes, which is a bit uncommon for Floridian golf courses.

The tranquil ponds, albeit beautiful, pose a threat at the risk-reward par-5 16th, par-3 17th, and superb par-4 18th. These brilliantly crafter holes provide challenge from the novice golfer to the pro players.

9000 Bay Hill Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

[phone]

Pricing: $275, golf cart included

Orange County National

Panther Lake

Orange County National or Panther Lake Course is one of Orlando, Florida’s golfing gems.

It boasts of two first-rate Championship courses (Panther Lake and Crooked Cat) and an excellent practice facility. This tough and visually appealing course has plenty of water in the form of lakes and ponds.

The landscape of the Panther Lake course was designed to provide a hilly feel.

16301 Phil Ritson Way, Winter Garden, FL 34787, USA

[phone]

Pricing: Monday – Wednesday: $135; Thursday/Sunday: $145; Friday/Saturday: $155,

golf cart included

Reunion Golf and Spa Resort

Tradition course

The Reunion Resort has three excellent layouts, with the Jack Niklaus designed Tradition course being the best of the three.

The two other courses, The Legacy and The Independence, have more distinct elevation shifts, but The Tradition is characterized by softer undulations. It also has its own clubhouse, so it’s definitely the top choice.

Among many very expertly crafted holes, the par-4 14 is a masterpiece. It has an elevated tee, vast sandy waste area, and waters along the green field, so it is as stunning as it is challenging.

The Tradition course, inarguably, is one of Jack Niklaus’ design legacies.

7593 Gathering Dr, Kissimmee, FL 34747, USA

[phone]

Waldorf Astoria Golf Club

Waldorf Astoria Golf Club

Waldorf Astoria Golf Club is close to Walt Disney World’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

This golf club is a newcomer, but it has handsomely made its way to the top golf course list because of the expert design by Reese Jones. It boasts of many challenges adorned with hazardous but stunning waters, and fancy bunkering.

14224 Bonnet Creek Resort Ln, Orlando, FL 32821, USA

[phone]

Pricing:Monday-Thursday: $195; Friday-Sunday: $215

Champions Gate Golf

ChampionsGate golf, Orlando

The magnificently crafted setting of the ChampionsGate Golf Club is home to two equally superb gold courses: National and International.

This course has an authentic British feel to it. Unlike many British links layout, though, the ChampionsGate Golf Club has a vast expanse of water around many of the holes.

The par-5 3 resembles the par-5 14 at England’s Royal St. Saint George’s.

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Greg Norman designed this course with a wide array of golfing challenges, in a setting unlike most of its Floridian peers.

8575 White Shark Blvd, Davenport, FL 33896, USA

[phone]

Pricing: Monday-Thursday: $137; Friday-Sunday: $147

Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course

The famous Mickey Mouse bunker

Who says anything Disney is only for kids?

Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course is a delight to novice and professional golfers alike. The excellently manicured links are adorned by beautiful Magnolias, with no housing in sight.

The layout is in natural setting, trees lining the perimeter of the course with some parts dense, some parts sparse.

Joe Lee designed this beauty with some water hazards, undulating greens, and several golfing challenges.

1950 Magnolia Palm Dr, Orlando, FL 32830, USA

[phone]

Pricing: $35-$129 plus tax

Shop Till You Drop in Orlando

Shopping in Orlando

Orlando, Florida receives annually receives around 68 million tourists with their wallets brimming with cash.

After splurging on theme parks and attractions, their next favorite locations are the malls, and The City Beautiful also provides them with a lot of shopping options to choose from. The biggest of these malls is the Florida Mall, which draws around 20 million visitors to its more than 250 fashion, hardware, and electronic shops.

Of course, Disney World that made Orlando famous also gets some retail action with their souvenirs that tourists can’t resist. Nevertheless, here are our top shopping picks in Orlando:

Orlando Premium Outlets

Orlando Premium Outlets

Orlando Premium Outlets is the Holy Grail of discount lovers (hey, who doesn’t like big discounts, right?), which makes it one of the top shopping destinations in Orlando.

The mall offers discounts from 25% to a whopping 65% on designer brands like Victoria’s Secret, Hugo Boss, Diesel, Levis, Nike, Adidas, Quicksilver, Ralph Lauren, and 150 more.

This doesn’t look like your typical mall, though, because it doesn’t have outlets, but rows of shops all outdoors. The outlets are divided into several categories: ‘Designer Fashions & Sportswear’, ‘Fine Leather & Luggage’, ‘For Children’, ‘Gifts & Specialty items’, ‘Shoes’‘Accessories & Jewelry’, and ‘Food’.

The outlet also has an Outlet Marketplace Center, which houses a few more stores. Orlando Premium Outlets has 180 stores in total.

New Parking Options At Orlando Premium Outlets

Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00 daily

Address: 4951 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819

Tel: [phone]

Mall at Millenia

Mall at Millenia

If you are looking for luxury brands and you do not care much about discounts (Wow, you’re a rare kind of species), then the Mall at Millenia is the place for you.

This upscale shopping center has big brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Chanel, Jimmy Choo, and so much more.

Nowhere else in Orlando ever comes close to the Mall at Millenia. You can find this mall just south of Downtown Orlando, near major theme parks like Disney, Universal, and Seaworld.

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 23:00 (close 00:30 on Fri & Sat)

Address: The Mall at Millenia, 4200 Conroy Road, Orlando, FL 32839

Tel: [phone]

The Florida Mall

The Florida Mall

The Florida Mall is the biggest mall in the whole of Orlando.

It houses 250 stores and caters to 250 million visitors yearly. It covers around two million square foot of space and its shops range from small boutiques to designer brands. Moreover, it also has gadgets, electronics, home decor, DIY, accessories and health and beauty shops.

Aside from hundreds of shopping options, The Florida Mall also has its own hotel with 510 rooms. It’s also just a few minutes away from Disney World and Universal.Latest renovations have also included a 105,000 square foot ‘Dining Pavilion’ to the mall complex, as well as more shops, a bigger seating area and free Wi-Fi all over the mall.

It also has other facilities like foreign exchange service, valet parking, taxi stands, and children’s playground.

Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00 daily

Address: 8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809

Tel: [phone]

Shopping At Disney Springs

Shopping At Disney Springs

No Disneyland experience is complete with nothing else but pictures to show for it.

Hence, the Disney Springs in Orlando is the destination to buy souvenirs and other theme park –related merchandise. But don’t get us wrong, there is something here for everyone, and you can easily spend the day enjoying everything they have.

A lot of those shops are specialty and novelty boutiques and specialize in a particular theme, such as Disney’s Days of Christmas, The Candy Cauldron and Pin Traders.

The biggest and most famous shop is World of Disney, where you can find clothes, accessories, house ware, gifts, and toys in the largest collection of Disney theme park products Disney World has to offer.

Opening Hours: 09:00-24:00 daily

Address: Downtown 1486 East Buena Vista Drive, Downtown Disney Boat Dock, Orlando, FL 32830

Tel: [phone]

Winter Park Orlando

Shopping at Winter Park Orlando

Winter Park in Orlando is a quaint upscale village that is brimming with cultural and historical attractions.

Aside from that, it is also a place for some retail therapy. The shops and alleys will remind you of authentic European boulevards that marry history, art, and specialty shops under a long line of oak canopy.

The area offers apparel options as well as brilliant art collections. Aside from the several museums nearby, Grace Gallery Fine Art has an impressive collection by top artists, and Scott Laurent Collection has a selection of modern art and home decorations. Also, hundreds of artists exhibit and sell their art at the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in mid-March and the Autumn Art Festival in mid-October.

Eating Out In Orlando

All tastes can be catered for in Orlando

Take a Bite of Their Gastronomic Paradise

The theme parks and other charming sights aren’t the only things that made Orlando, Florida a top tourist destination; food is also one of the reasons why this city has been called “The City Beautiful”.

We have rounded up our top picks on where to grab your grub when you’re in Orlando, so you know exactly where to go:

Without further ado, here are the top restaurants in Orlando

Kres Steakhouse in Orlando

Main Dining Kres Steakhouse in Orlando

Kres Steakhouse in Orlando dishes up sumptuous steaks and seafood for the family. This steakhouse is voted as the top restaurant in Downtown Orlando by several prominent publications.

Foodies visiting Orlando shouldn’t miss Kres Steakhouse, as they only use in-house prime aged beef, and fresh local Floridian seafood on their menu.

Some of their bestsellers are beef Wellington, Porterhouse steak, and their delicious Lobster bisque. Their food servings are impressive too, so even the largest of appetites would find it a challenge to finish their three-course meals. They also have a bar, which gave a nice, fancy touch to their restaurant.

Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 11:30 – 00:00, Sat 17:00 – 00:00

Address: 17 W Church St, Orlando, FL 32801, USA

Tel: [phone]

Victoria and Albert’s, Orlando

Lamb Loin Rainbow Carrots Banana Curry

Fine and fancy dining isn’t new around the Disneyworld compound, but all the others pale in comparison with Victoria and Albert’s.

Their prix five seven-course meal is nothing but a top-of-the line, crème de la crème dining experience. Meals here are not only food; they are an event worth remembering, whether they’re served in the chic dining room, or even on the Chef’s table. Victoria and Albert’s is most likely just reserved for special occasions, but the food and their top-notch service will surely create memories that will last for lifetime.

Onion Ash Dusted Wild Texas Boar

Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday – 5:30PM – 7:30PM

Address: 4401 Floridian Way, Orlando, FL 32830, USA

Phone: [phone]

Chatham’s Place, Orlando

Chatham’s Place has been the impressing the fine-dining foodies of Orlando, Florida since 1988.

It is one of the most notable restaurants in and around Orlando because of their excellent food, wonderful ambiance, and unbeatable service. Their Cajun Crabs, Filet Mignon, and freshly-caught Floridian Grouper is a favorite on the menu.

Their menu is not that broad, but you wouldn’t really need a lot with the superb choices that they have.

Their service is also attentive, but not intrusive, so you can enjoy an intimate meal with live piano accompaniment, which makes it a top choice for client dinners and romantic dates.

Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday – 5:30PM – 9:00PM

Address: 7575 Dr. Phillips Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

Phone: [phone]

Beth’s Burger Bar

Beth’s Burger Bar, Orlando

Beth’s Burger Bar didn’t earn their approval stars for nothing; they offer a customizable, build-your-own-burger menu, local and international beers, and delicious wines.

They also have a ton of available board games, beer pong, bingo nights, and daily specials to satisfy the kid within us.

Create your own burger at Beth’s

Their burgers are made only from fresh black Angus beef for optimum quality.

If meat isn’t your thing, they also have succulent veggie burgers and tasty chicken sandwiches. Their beer special is only $2 all day, every day.

The prices here at Beth’s Burger Bar are reasonable, and their service quick, so make them a first choice when you’re looking for a place to grab some fast bites.

Opening Hours:Monday-Saturday: 11AM – 10PM, Sunday: 10AM –10PM

Address: 9938 Universal Blvd #120, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

Phone: [phone]

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop is a dessert place second to none.

It is said to be a chocolate heaven, and they even give you choco samples when you are there. The only downside to this shop is the long line that you can expect every day.  But hey, when you want the best, you gotta go get the best.

This is by far, the best ice cream shop in the whole of Orlando.

Another top seller in Ghirardelli’s is their warm brownies with fresh vanilla ice cream on top, with melted chocolate, chopped almonds, and a succulent Maraschino cherry on top. They have a wide array of luscious ice cream flavors, different drinks, and many MANY chocolates. This is definitely an outstanding ice cream shop that’s more that what meets the eye.

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain – Nom nom

Opening Hours: Monday-Wednesday and Sunday: 9:30AM – 11:30PM,

Friday-Saturday: 9:30AM –12AM:

Disney Springs, Buena Vista Dr, Orlando, FL 32830, USA

Phone: [phone]

Where is Orlando

Theme Parks

Food & Drink

  Activities

Orlando Florida definitely earned its nickname “The City Beautiful” with the plethora of theme parks, upscale malls, excellent golf courses, and fancy dinner date destinations it boasts of, and the magnificent sights and sounds it offers.

But Orlando has more than just wizards, marine wildlife, and the iconic mouse. It is also a haven of artists and performers, of artisans and entertainers. It also has a rich historical past that is still reflected in its structures and architectures.

The beauty of The City Beautiful goes beyond skin deep; there is more to Orlando than the attractions that puffed up its reputation for everything fun and dandy. But whether you’ve come to the city for fun or a deeper exploration of its culture and arts, you will never run out of things to do in Orlando, Florida.

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