#But i dont think its fair to call him a villain. an antagonistic force at most

[06-archive]

I think… people who watched atsv and came to the conclusion that miguel is a villain are a bit stupid. Or maybe theyre not using the right word

[thealmightyemprex]

April Foollishness : Yellowbeard

So in the 80's there were a few Python adjacent projects ,this was Graham Chapmans, a parody of pirate films and its brimming with comedy talent :Written by Chapman and Peter Cook,music by John Morris and a cast including Chapman,Cook,Eric Idle ,John Cleese,Madeline Khan ,MArty Feldman ,Peter Boyle ,Kenneth Mars,Cheech & Chong .....and legendary actor JAMES MASON!!! Now this film should be comedy classic......Why have I barely heard of it though?.....

In this 1983 film After 20 years in prision Captain Yellowbeard (Graham Chapman) is forced to team up with his son Dan (MArtin Hewitt) who has the map to his buried treasure tatooed on his head

OK this film starts off on a good note ,like I said the cast is amazing and most of them are pretty great :Madeline Khan gets som laughs as Yellowbeards wife ,Eric Idle is solid as a secret serviceman ,Peter Boyle is a good antagonistic pirate and its fun to see him and Marty Feldman as a duo(Also this is Marty Feldmans final role ,as he died during production) ,John Cleese as a blind informant is pretty funny ,and by GOD Peter Cook is the funniest thing in this movie as this old aristocrat /surrogate father to Dan ,he barely has to move but the way he carries himself makes him so funny.I also was pleasently surprised by Graham Chapman,I thought id find him iritating but watching the film reminded me "Oh yeah Chapman was a legit great and underrated comedic actor " and he really sells this unpleasent ,insane monstrus pirate ,hes pretty good here .Honestly I was laughing for a good half hour......Then the rest of the film just SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKKKKKKS

I dunno what happens but this went from a pretyy funny movie to garbage as soon as the heroes are forced to join a naval vessel captained by James Mason,(In perhaps his worst performance ,I love James Mason,one of my fave actors ,but he does not look like he wants to be in the film and he isnt even allowed to be funny )Thats also when Yellowbeard kind of dips out of the movie for a bit ,and for movie called Yellowbeard he isnt in it alot .Now to be fair maybe they thought too much Yellowbeard would be exhausting but unfortunately our other lead is Dan who is .....Dull as dishwater.They dont do anything with the fact Dans a thinker or anything substantial with the father son bond .I also think the film suffers from having too many antagonists when Peter Boyle was enough ,and one of the villains is Tommy Chong who.....Is just so miscast as a baddie (Cheech Marin as his assistant however is brillaint ).Theres a love story that comes out of the blue and goes nowhere.My other very big complaint is.....Theres like 10 r*pe jokes ,like more then I expected and they are uncomfortable

Overall,the first half hour works .......But then it keeps going and it doesnt work

@ariel-seagull-wings @theancientvaleofsoulmaking @the-blue-fairie @themousefromfantasyland

@piterelizabethdevries @amalthea9 @countesspetofi @princesssarisa @filmcityworld1

[drink-n-watch]

Hello one and all, it’s once again time for my seasonal dose of adorable underdressed anime fun with Matt! My collaborations with him are my chance to see some shows on the more moe ecchi side of things that I wouldn’t necessarily get around to otherwise so it’s a good way to broaden my horizons. So naturally this season Matt suggested Psycho Pass! I had no objections….

Some more astute readers may know that I (much like a whole lot of anime fans) have a very soft spot for the series. I talk about it a lot and to this day this messy fever dream of a post remains one of my favourites!

But enough about me, Matt what are your thoughts/feelings about the franchise?

Hello Irina, everyone, it’s me. My thoughts on Psycho Pass’s first season? Absolutely excellent, one of my Top 20 anime of all time. Thoughts on the second season? A rushed mess that does a disservice to the events of the previous season.

So season 3… Whenever a beloved series gets a new entry, there’s always a sort of backlash from fans. A weird fear that somehow it can go back in time and change what the original was. It’s counterproductive. Which is probably why Matt warned us on Twitter not to immediately compare it to the original…But Boy did this first episode make that hard! 

There were parallels to the first season Everywhere you looked. The art style is instantly recognizable, and the environments remain almost untouched (aside from the CG but we’ll get back to it). The colour palette is very close, only slightly warmer and the framing and angles are perfectly consistent. The OP was purposefully similar which made the inclusion of that demon-like creature really stand out.

Beyond that though, we saw glimpses of the iconic Syble control room, the dominators in action, Shion back in force (oh hecks yeah) and even just a hint of Akane.  And one of the first scenes was of inspectors Arata and Kei arriving on their very first day at the job, at a rainy crime scene in an opener that directly mirrored season 1’s first episode.

I know you don’t want us to compare the two, Matt, but it certainly seems the show isn’t about to let us forget its roots.

There’s nothing wrong with calling back to things that happened in previous seasons, in-fact they were some of my favourite parts of the episode. The problem is when people dont give a show a fair chance to stand on its own because their too busy holding it up to its predecessors shadow.

There’s something of a deft balancing act done here by making this part sequel and part soft reboot (at least that’s my impression) and I think it pulls off both very well.

To me though, this was an homage, not a rip-off. Tonally, visually and atmospherically it was very reminiscent of Psycho Pass but the character dynamics, faster and grimier corruption storyline set up and quick-fire dialogue are fresh. Not to mention the completely new mind trace gimmick. So far, I like it, but it has the potential of just turning into plot destroying “sci-fi magic”, what do you think?

It’s funny you mention the mind trace “gimmick” because (aside from the visuals) that was my favourite thing about this episode. I don’t know if you’ve seen Bryan Fuller’s ‘Hannibal’ tv series from a few years back but our protagonist in that show has complete empathy which allows him to become other characters which is almost exactly what Arata has (down to the wording) of his trait. So not only was I immediately on board with this but I was excited to see where it would take his character. Oh I vaguely remember it. I was actually thinking of Sherlock myself.

Arata is a light-hearted happy go lucky protagonist. For someone like me, whose favourite character was Kagari, it’s a thrill, but what do you think Matt? And ho do you think audiences will react. It’s a pretty big departure from previous protagonists.

I think a lot of his light-hearted disposition is a coping measure for having to deal with having complete empathy. I enjoyed this kind of protagonist compared to brooding and dour but I still think it’s a bit of a front.

O.k., I’ve avoided it so far but let’s just mention the CG for a bit. I didn’t like it. It wasn’t horrible but the integration was hardly seamless and honestly, it took me out of the moment on several occasions.

Hmm, I have to disagree, I thought it looked wonderful and very dynamic and interesting. I’ve heard streaming things with a lot of small details can look ugly so maybe that was the problem for you? I ~acquired~ a 1080p copy of the episode so maybe that’s why I thought it looked so good? No for me the issue was more that the light and shadow physics where calculated at a very slightly different angle that made the CG pieces sort of stand out in one frame and not the next. Once I noticed I kept on noticing. Also, I disliked the textures but that personal taste. Actually, I got to give it to prime, the quality if their streams are really good!

Overall, here is what I got from the first episode of season 3 of Psycho Pass. The narrative seems to be more action-oriented with hints of humour, rather than dramatic noir. There is a lot more emphasis on tech which leads me to believe we’re going to stray into cyberpunk territory. Political machinations are afoot.

I think it was a necessary change, this felt more like a US crime procedural along the lines of ‘Person of Interest’ so arguably not world’s away from what it was but different enough to feel like it’s carving out its own identity and not resting on everything that it’s previous seasons set up.

There were some red flags. The addition of what seems to amount to incredible psychic powers in Arata is a very tricky narrative element and unless used carefully and sparingly could either render stakes inconsequential or completely undercut and tension in the story. Moreover, the little we saw of the villains did seem a tad too goofball to be taken seriously and, in my experience, this universe really benefits from a strong antagonist.

In the closing scenes, there is a line seemingly spoken by Akane: “We must protect justice even at the cost of a peaceful society”… This was meant as a sort of handoff to a new cast and although a bit heavy-handed still cute. Except that to me, it sort of goes against what Akane stands for and negates some of her most important and powerful character moments (by the way, I’ve seen season 1, the old movie,

Seeing Akane at all was kind of unexpected–the opening monologue and the sort of revelation that she’s still imprisoned (I think that’s what they were going for–its been a while since I watched season 2) hit me harder than I expected.

On the other hand, I pretty much fell head over heels for Mika. Every scene she was in made me smile and glued my eyes to the screen. I always wanted to know more about the tech of Psycho Pass and that seems to be the direction the season is heading in and although we don’t know much about Kei and Arata, I like them both so far.

I like all the characters (both new and returning ones) so far, I quite liked the banter between our two inspectors and their chief–she seems like a pretty understanding woman–hope she doesn’t end up working for the bad guys!

From what I can remember of my very first impressions of the franchise at all, this is pretty much on par. I mean I’m way more excited but I’m bringing that down because a lot is due to fuzzy nostalgia feelings. I didn’t really have any expectations for this episode, all I wanted was a strong narrative and characters set in the familiar future fictional Tokyo of the Psycho Pass universe that I’ve got a lot of fondness for and on that front it absolutely delivered. If I have one complaint it’s that it introduced a lot of characters that didn’t do much (specifically those three mysterious characters who are either politicians or something I’m not quite sure) but there’s still plenty of time to find out what their deal is. All in all, I thought this was an excellent continuation and new beginning for the series.

Psycho Pass s3 ep1 – A New Start Hello one and all, it’s once again time for my seasonal dose of adorable underdressed anime fun with…

[jaykore]

I always wonder whenever I come across someone who ships Jason/Tim, so I just thought I'd actually ask for once: how do you think Bruce would react when he discovered they were in a relationship? I mean, they're not technically related but he does consider them his sons and has adopted them both. Plus, there was the whole time when Jason seemed to hate Tim and even tried to kill him. There's also the possibility of it affecting their vigilantism.

OOF.A fair but loaded question- and you’ve come to the absolute, most inarticulate person on this hellsite. Buckle up friend, we’re going on this journey of discovery together.

Long post under the cut!

I’d like to believe that Bruce would be tolerant and hopefully even supportive. Though to be honest, this is a hard question to really answer easily and adequately, and I’m not just saying that as a cop out.

Which version of Bruce are you asking about? And which versions of Jason and Tim?

For me personally, my headcanons and interpretations of all the characters are a melding of all of the different timelines. Asking questions like, “would Bruce approve” or saying “he has adopted them both” forces them into a singular, static iteration of the character. And I think to form any kind of opinion, we have to either reconcile the different versions or treat them as separate entities altogether (which DC itself is terrible at!)

Let’s touch on the adoptions first since those thoughts are easiest for me to work through.

Were Jason and Tim both adopted by Bruce Wayne? Yes, in the Pre52 verses. Does this legally make them brothers? Perhaps. But we also need to consider (and this is fact), that Jason’s existence in Tim’s life was by reputation only, that they were entirely unacquainted with each other until Jason returned to life. Jason was an idea, and a warning to Tim. I don’t think they perceive one another as a ‘brother’ at all, except that according to documentation they are/were Bruce’s sons. Certainly I would say that Tim and Jay each consider Bruce to be a father, but I truly think its a stretch to say that they consider themselves to be familial. Dick is a closer to a brother to either of them then they are each other, particularly Tim.

In New52 they have a much closer relationship (more brotherly I would say), but they are not brothers -at all-. Jason refers to Tim as “bro” once (in RHatO), though the quotations imply (imo) that this is a sarcastic comment. Tim also notes that Bruce really isn’t Jason’s father due to his death- though there are continuity issues on this point. While Tim states Bruce isn’t Jays father “anymore” Jason notes that Dick and Jason were wards only; implying he was never actually adopted. The one thing that is static in the New52 is Tim himself was never adopted by Bruce Wayne. Hence, at least by this timeline, Jay and Tim and Dick are not brothers regardless of the some of the sloppy writing.

Would Bruce take issue with two people who are not blood relatives, who have never lived under the same roof, who have not shared a last name, who don’t consider themselves ‘family’, and in the case of new52, aren’t even adopted relatives, being together? Maybe not. But I think it would have to do more with how they treat each other and less with him considering them to be his sons. Which brings me to my next point.

To state explicitly that “Bruce would 100% not approve” I would assume would be in a timeline where Jason, Tim and Bruce were on the outs. Where Jason was still ostracized from the Batfamily. Where Tim was brutalized by Jason. Essentially the pre52!Jay who held a vendetta against everyone and launched premeditated attacks against Tim. Would Bruce be okay with a relationship in this timeline? Honestly, likely not. Bruce goes out of his way to warn Tim about Jason much in the same way as he warned Jason about the Joker, implying that he considers Jason to be insane, and a criminal. Although how many times does B give his foes a second chance hm? And I think that’s one of the more interesting things about the Batfam- there’s always room (it seems) for redemption. But I digress.

Tim and Jason’s adoption aside I think a relationship between the two of them, and how the fam would take would be largely affected by Tim and Jason themselves. Personally I love to see Jason working to earn Tim’s trust. I like the friction between the two of them. I like the idea that Jason could ‘heal’ (if that’s what we should call it) from his death, from the pit, from feeling like he’d been abandoned. I like the idea that Tim (who I think is potentially the most Machiavellian of the fam) could help Jay work through that. And…. aside from the anger, the jealousy and the very black and white morality, even in this timeline (Pre52) Jason still comes to respect Tim and his abilities to some degree (going so far as to ask him to join him in taking down the gangs). So we get glimpses of this potential for them to be -more- than antagonists.

Whether or not Tim would/should forgive Jason is a completely different monster... though Tim has often seemed to want to try and see the good in Jay, and get him to change (see “Pre Battle for the Cowl” in particular). Similarly, New52 tries to imply a past friction between the two that has since been on the mend and its insinuated that Tim is perhaps in part responsible (regardless of how Bruce feels). We’re never told to what extent Jason acted negatively towards Tim however- that is completely left up to interpretation (or an assumption that its referring to pre52).

(can we stop and appreciate the sass of this stare for a moment? Tim plz.)

I wouldn’t say that this version of Jason is a complete departure from his former self. Rather it does seem like an effort to try and reconcile his more villainous nature, with an anti-hero who’s ‘doing his best’™. Jason still kills pretty indiscriminately, aside from the instances where Tim calls for his help and while his morals are still very black and white, and don’t fit Bruce’s ideal, he is more tempered and functions on a more even keel. (I feel like Im getting derailed but stick with me).

Fast forward to Rebirth, and Jason is now arguably back in the fold. He’s proven to Bruce that he’s capable of operating as a vigilante without the use of terminal force and we’ve been gifted (hallelujah) with some pretty amazing ‘bonding’ scenes between Bruce and Jason. While Jay and Tim have yet to have any tangible interaction (New52 was definitely the run for jaytim fodder), Jason and Tim both consider each other on different occasions if only to note their aptitude or usefulness.

Either way you slice this, if this a ‘redemption’ for pre52 Jason, or an entire retcon of his character, its obvious that the mania he suffered upon returning from the dead is no longer there and that he is capable of, and would be accepted as being, a member of the “Batfam”. Now... Would this version of Bruce be accepting of this version of Jason and Tim having a relationship? They’re not adopted brothers anymore, there is no apparent lingering animosity (we don’t even know if Jay explicitly attacked Tim), and, there appears to be some modicum of mutual respect… so why wouldn’t he be for it?

As I said early on (and kudos if you’ve made if this far). Which versions are we dealing with? Truthfully I don’t buy into the ‘adopted brothers’ argument because I don’t read them as being familial in any sense. Their relationship therefore hinges on Jasons attitude, his interactions with Bruce, and his treatment of Tim.

If we’re dealing with static timelines… I dont think pre52 JayTim would be OK in B’s eyes. Aside from Jason’s nature being in such opposition to how Bruce operates, he does attack Tim (and Dick), with malice and with purpose. Regardless of how you want to rationalize it (personally I do like the ‘pit madness’ headcanon), it happened. And although Tim seems to be able to move past that, I think there’s is a lot of damage that would not easily be repaired.

In terms of New52 or Rebirth Jason and Tim? Hell yeah… why not? Jason’s relationships are on the mend. He’s shown that he can operate within the bounds of Bruce’s moral code. He and Tim have a respectful and functioning relationship that looks good on them both. I don’t see how one couldn’t read anything from New52 and argue that they don’t compliment each other. They’re the self proclaimed “Black Sheep” of the lot. They’ve both tried (and felt like they’ve failed), to fill their predecessors shoes. They both want to prove themselves and desire to be needed. I could keep going on but this is already long enough.

In summation, would Bruce approve? Yes and No. Depending on which Bruce, which Jason, and which Tim you’re talking about. And if you wanted to brave and try to harmonize the mess that is the DC timeline, you’d have a lot of work taking what is/could be a toxic relationship and molding it into something closer to that of the New52. The question of whether or not you should is something else entirely I won’t touch on here (but to give you an idea on my stance... this is what transformative works and AUs are for yes?).

Oh! And lastly, “would it affect their vigilantism”? How so? In terms of being able to operate and function? I don’t think it would have a negative impact. I think they would operate much the same as we see in New52; with trust, and sass and camaraderie.

Sorry this got so long, but thanks for the opportunity to empty my brain-cage and I hope thats a satisfactory answer for you! : )

I’d love to hear anyone else’s thoughts if you’d like to share, and also if I’ve misinterpreted a fact let me know… these storylines are hard to keep in order!