#The Archies Review

[afabstract]

The Archies Review - Frothy Teen Musical

Archie is torn between Betty and Veronica, but the friends have bigger problems than romantic rivalries in Zoya Akhtar's "The Archies". Read our review of the teen musical starring Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja & Dot

⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 3 out of 5. Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram) “Archie, Archie, you can’t just live your life for kicks. Archie, Archie, everything is politics.” Archie Andrews might be the lead vocalist of his band, but he learns a thing or two from his friends through the power of music in Zoya Akhtar’s teen musical, “The Archies.” Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor and Suhana Khan play leading trio…

[pricelesscinemas]

[saltburnupdates]

Saltburn reactions from Fantastic Fest’s secret screening🎥

[mean-vampyre]

Riverdale’s gay gene

Okay so, the riverdale gay gene theory goes something like this: just like the serial killer gene, sexuality is inherited in the riverdale universe, mainly from parents to children, but in some cases (like cheryl and toni) from the most prominent ancestor featured in the show so far (season 6). How does it work? idk, it’s riverdale but my theory is that 1bi/gay parent = 1bi child, and 2bi parents = 1gay or 1bi children.

The Cooper-Smith family: in season 6 Betty is confirmed bisexual and that implies that one of her prominent ancestors is gay, which could point to Bitsy Smith from 06x05. HOWEVER the storyline of Abigail-Poppy-Cheryl being immortal is not within the continuity of season 6, and Bitsy and Betty are not related (also confirmed by Madelaine Petsch). Therefore Betty gets her bisexuality from either her father or her mother, but most likely her mother Alice since she is also the one who gave the serial killer gene to her and Charles, who has the gay gene too. 

The Smith-Jones family: Charles gets either his gay gene from Alice or FP, but (see above) most likely is from Alice or both of them if we go by the theory that 2bi parents are needed to produce 1gay child.

The Jones family: by the 2bi=1gay formula theory, FP is bi (unconfirmed), which makes Jughead bi. Nevertheless, he would remain bi even if we don’t go with the gay formula and FP is not bi, since Gladys aka jugmom is most likely bi because if riverdale writers love something it is metatextuality and references to other media, and what is gina gershon (jugmom) known for? Bound (1996), where she plays a lesbian icon. By metatextuality rules Jugmom is, then, bisexual (also have you seen her? leather jacket and string choker? she is definitely fucking women).

The Andrews family: Mary is a bisexual icon that got straight and gay divorced, that makes Archie bisexual (+all the times he has kissed men??? and all that stuff that he has said that is straight out of the 2003 atlanta-based play archie's weird fantasy?? my boy is bisexual).

The Topaz-Fogarty family: now this confirmed the gay gene theory, since both Toni and Fangs are bisexuals who have a child, baby Anthony, who is confirmed queer (undisclosed whether he is gay or bisexual). And going back in time, Tony’s only on-screen relevant relative is Thomasina, who is also confirmed bisexual (or perhaps lesbian, it is never stated), creating a direct line of the gay gene inheritance from Thomasina to Baby Anthony.

The Blossom family: it’s not confirmed that queen of serving cunt and evil Penelope is queer, although it was implied, BUT it could also be Abigail, Cheryl’s most direct ancestor (aside from Nana Blossom), the one who gave her the witch gene and the lesbian gene.

The Keller family: is Tom bi? perhaps anything is possible in Riverdale, but most likely the evidence points to either his unnamed mom who never even lives with them (like Mary did with Archie’s dad, before she got a divorce to marry a woman). But it’s also possible that gay kevin is just spontaneously gay, which would explain the fact that his whole personality is being gay.

The Mason family: Marcus (Moose’s dad) is most likely gay, but got therapy conversion at the sister’s of quiet mercy, but he could be bisexual and only they only scared away the gay part, and passed on the gene to Moose, who is bisexual.

In conclusion, only in riverdale you get the serial killer gene and the gay gene.

[howifeltabouthim]

Saltburn: Bonkers, Balls-to-the-Wall Brilliance

It would be no exaggeration to say that Saltburn is the craziest film of the year. I've never seen anything quite like it; it's distinctive in the best possible way, even while being rich with references to other iconic works. Emerald Fennell's sophomore feature is an exploration of class differences and a comedy of wickedly bad manners. It also morphs into a surprising, devilish thriller. It's the kind of film where you can’t look away, even when (perhaps especially when) you can’t believe what you’re seeing onscreen.

Saltburn begins with Oliver Quick newly arrived at Oxford. He's a fish out of water on campus as a scholarship student. He comes from the wrong background, he doesn't wear the right clothes, and he doesn't possess the right affect to fit in with the posh students that surround him. When he does a kind turn for Felix Catton, the popular student he's admired from afar, things start looking up and he's ushered into a world of partying and camaraderie. That summer, Felix invites Oliver back to his family estate, Saltburn, and things escalate amid decadence, debauchery, and class tensions.

Saltburn is a lush cinematic experience, composed of fresh, original, shocking images. So many shots feel like discrete works of art, the kind that wouldn't seem out of place in a gilt frame on some illustrious wall, reminiscent of the artistry of Kubrick's Barry Lyndon. At the same time, they all meld together to comprise a masterpiece. The startlingly potent sensuality practically drips from the screen, catching one up in a fever dream of desire and deviancy.

Barry Keoghan plays Oliver, and really proves himself as a leading man. I’ve been following Keoghan’s career with intense interest since his one-two punch of Dunkirk and The Killing of a Sacred Deer in 2017. And boy, is he realizing his potential. He blew me away with his heartrending performance in last year’s The Banshees of Inisherin. He excels at the humorous and the harrowing, sometimes in the same scene. He’s the kind of actor who can genuinely make you laugh and break your heart. He goes all in. You feel his pain, and I know I find myself rooting for his characters even when I probably shouldn’t.

My favorite kind of performance is an unhinged performance, and Keoghan delivers an all-timer in that category. His Oliver is comparable to Mia Goth’s turn in last year’s Pearl, for sheer emotional and eccentric abandon. The extreme emotion and behavior Keoghan exhibits as Oliver is thrilling to watch. Saltburn is such a great star vehicle star for this highly unique, unusual performer who has really been given his time to shine. He commands attention and the camera captures him perfectly here: his intensity and subtlety and those arresting blue eyes. Keoghan is a truly fearless performer. If there's any justice, he'll be nominated for an Oscar for this incredible performance.

This is a great ensemble cast, which includes Jacob Elordi as Felix and Alison Oliver as Venetia, Felix's sister. Carey Mulligan provides a disarmingly sweet and funny turn in a small role. Paul Rhys is chilling as Saltburn's imperious butler. Archie Madekwe is deliciously vicious as Felix's snobby cousin, Farleigh. Richard E. Grant is on point and hilarious as the Catton patriarch. Besides Keoghan, I felt Rosamund Pike was the standout and that this was her best role to date. The part of Elspeth Catton, lady of the manor, seemed tailor-made for her. Saltburn definitely deserves to be nominated for a SAG for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. The actors all play off each other beautifully.

I’m in awe of writer/director Emerald Fennell’s artistry and uncompromising vision. I love how she lets scenes go on uncomfortably long sometimes (like in the infamous climax of Promising Young Woman) to get her point across. She’s not hemmed in by conventions of how long a disquieting scene “should” go on. She doesn’t compromise for anyone or adhere to conventional tastes.

Saltburn is told through a great framing device of Oliver recounting the events of his pivotal year at Oxford and Saltburn to an unknown listener. It keeps you guessing as to who he's relaying this tale to. There are echoes of Wuthering Heights, Brideshead Revisited, The Go-Between, and Call Me by Your Name. In other words, timeless stories that will always resonate in the culture for good reason: they’re primal and get to the heart of the human experience. Yet Fennell's narrative veers in wholly unexpected directions. To watch her pull off the trick of this narrative is a privilege indeed.

Saltburn is a sterling example of bold, unapologetic filmmaking. Emerald Fennell is a cinematic visionary and a canny provocateur. And in case all this rhapsodizing wasn't enough, just know that this movie is HOT. It's fierce and feral and it demands to be seen. Viewers are in for a sick and sexy thrill ride. It's disturbing, deliciously demented, devious, nasty, and wonderfully messed up. Please go see it in theaters: let’s help wild, invigorating, conversation-starting cinema continue to get made and theatrically released.

[zo1nkss]

I finished the episodes at a snail pace because I can't do anything at normal human speed and here are my brief thoughts post-binge:

ep1 > Honestly terrified me. I love seeing Ed in his evil era but I hated watching all my beloved crew suffer for it.

Will say I'm so fucking excited about Archie. Not sure I feed into the "TealOranges breakup" it honestly feels more like an open type thing. Like there aren't a lot of expectations idk. That's just my interpenetration of what we've got so far tho!

ep2 > Truly so much happened this episode that it's hard to condense my feelings into something digestible. Like I do feel bad for Izzy, but he's right in ep3 when he says he and Stede caused this and I think that's about where I stand on things. I do think he fucked around too close to the sun and now he's finding out how hot it can burn, but it still sucked to see Ed acting that way no matter who was getting the short end of the stick. I don't want to preemptively invent discourse that doesn't exist but I'm nervous about how yt ppl will react. Going to enjoy Ed getting to be a villain for five minutes tho because he rlly got his moment to be an absolute royal fucking bitch about a breakup. He got the rampage montage and that's awesome rock on man.

ep3 > what can I say? HANDS. MERMAID STEDE. Stede literally called Ed back from death. He literally led him back and Ed chose life because Stede was waiting for him. Stede wanted him around. I'm so not okay rn.

[shrouded-mystery30]

unpopular opinion :

I actually thought ki Archies was that not bad of a movie or maybe I'm easily entertained

acting kuch Khaas nhi tha

music was okayish

I liked the side characters more (Reggie,Dilton & Jughead)

didn't mind the dialogues so much

plot was nice for a one-time watch

aesthetically pleasing movie

loved the way Dilton says "thank yewww" and everyone repeating it everytime

learned a new way to say sorry (by a knock-knock joke)

tbh, it's a time-pass movie and I usually prefer to watch a feel-good movie with no substance movie after exams and this movie fulfilled that purpose ig

P.s I don't understand why everyone is comparing this movie to aitraz. like aitraz is a movie about sexual harassment and archies is inspired by a comic book.

[spookytuesdaypod]

spooky tuesday is a (now not so new!) podcast where we’re breaking down all of our favorite slashers, thrillers, monster movies and black comedies on the new scariest day of the week.

is this week a fifth tuesday? is saltburn (2023) a horror movie? spookies, those questions are more for you than for us — but we do have a lot to say this week. like, A LOT. somehow, without really meaning to, we accidentally talked for almost three whole hours about emerald fennell’s newest film (and actually, if you count the bits that we cut out, we really talked for even longer). but, hey, if you’ve heard anything at all about the 2006-era flick starring barry keoghan and jacob elordi, then you know that conversation is just one of the many things it provokes. on our latest spooky tuesday, we’re discussing our first impressions, the gossip girl of it all, and that killer soundtrack, plus so (so so) much more.

give spooky tuesday a listen on apple podcasts, spotify, iheart radio, or stitcher

[thecomicsnexus]

TMNT ADVENTURES: THE FOREVER WAR (kind of FAN MADE)

April 2024

By Steve Murphy, Chris Allan, Andrew Modeen, Artem Tsarkov, Arseniy Dubakov, Egor Prutov , Jon D'Agostino, Dmitry Bobrovnik, Yuri Kochin, and Jim Lawson.

The Shredder finally succeeds at erasing the Turtles from history and conquering the world. But the Turtles and Splinter will try to defeat him and ensure their existence in this conclusion of the iconic Archie series.

SCORE: 8

You'll have to forgive the lack of images, but it is very hard to scan this book (I'll see what I can do for the video review, but I may need to work with photos of it). In any case, this is another of those fan projects by Arseniy Dubakov and Andrew Modeen... but with some interesting twists in its genesis.

You probably remember that this saga was announced in 1995 before the Archie adventures were canceled, and fans have been speculating forever about how the story ended.

In 2009 we almost got the conclusion by the original team (Steve Murphy and Chris Allan), but the turtles were sold to Viacom and the plans never materialized. In any case, Murphy couldn't remember where he was going with the story, so it would be fair to say that it was never going to be the same arc.

More recently, Chris Allan met Arseniy and the two got together to make this project happen. The first chapter (which was made public at some point in the past few years), was mostly recovered from 1995, but it had been colored and edited by the new team.

As far as I know, the second chapter was plotted by Steve Murphy, and I can say that the two first chapters feel the most like the original book... with some annoying differences.

After that, the book does its job, and the story works very well. The project was promoted as "closing all open plots" of the original series, but fortunately, it only tried to solve a time paradox that has always been a problem in that book. I applaud the restrain of the writers from bringing up every single plot point just to let readers know they read the book (as is usually the case with these projects).

The art is probably the most spectacular aspect of the book. It's an updated look for the Archie adventures that for the most part, looks like a continuation of the story. There are some stylistic differences when it comes to inking after chapter one, but you get used to them after a while.

The book comes with two back-up stories. One penciled by Jim Lawson that tries to make sense of the convoluted Archie timeline (specifically about which Shredder you were looking at in each adventure). The second backup is some sort of epilogue to Forever War that will leave you with more questions than answers.

For me, the weakest point of the book is the "overwriting" from Andrew.

It's hard to explain, but Andrew goes into these long narrations directed at the reader that just feel overproduced and underproduced at the same time. There is an overuse of "Modeen" expressions that can be said by any character at any time. Perhaps because he is not doing the writing/plotting alone, this is his best story yet. We know Andrew is a fan, an we know he can write. But it would be nice if he could work on his dialogues and... I'm going to call it now... think twice before adding an unnecessary celebrity quote at the beginning of each chapter.

I am not sure if this was in the original plot, but some elements in this story were even darker than the original series (like slashing a classic character in two). I get that we all grew up and we can take it, but this should be a continuation of that book, and I feel that it wasn't this bloody (most of the time).

But again, this story worked for me, it didn't bring up characters and plots just for the sake of it, and the turtles were front and center.

Should we consider this an ending for the Archie series? Well, just like it happened with Volume 3 before Urban Legends came out, this is all we can get. It's technically just the story, and not a proper ending, so you could still consider "Year of the Turtle" the final story (I assume that it not being referenced was intentional). There is one reference to "TMNT: Odyssey" (because for some reason, all these projects need to share the same multiverse), but it can be easily ignored... I think.

Maybe one day IDW will decide to do their own version of Forever War, but I don't think Chris Allan would go through this ordeal again... I think it could be published as is (fourth-wall monologuing included). Perhaps censoring some of the blood, to keep it consistent with Archie guidelines.

Now, let's take a look at those spoilers after the break...

You guessed it, most of the chapters take place in an alternate timeline. This allows for familiar characters to return even if they were already dead. And also introduces Carter to the Archie universe... and he may be British... I don't know.

Most characters show up to die... which isn't unusual on alternate timeline stories, but feels like a waste. Carter and Claire had very little time to do anything, and Claire being April's sister is an interesting twist... but I wonder what caused it? It is implied that they may have been separated at some point, but the existence of the same photograph without her suggests there wee further alterations to that timeline.

The Mutanimals play the bad guys... probably for the better. I wonder if the reason they didn't undo their deaths, or brought back Cherubae, was so that it could all tie into "TMNT: Odyssey"? Whatever the reason was, I appreciate it.

Perhaps the biggest reveal was that Chet was the Rat King. While this is a fun twist, some things are a bit too convenient. Why did he choose the H'antaan name? And why didn't he ever mentioned this to anyone in the original timeline? (Apart from the flashback in this book).

Overall, Shredder's plan makes sense (for once), although he somehow recreated all the mutants from the original series, even the ones that weren't mutants (like Katmandu)... perhaps he and Al'Falqa simply joined the cause.

There isn't much characterization for the turtles, but I think is in line with the original book as well. And to be fair, the main focus is the story.

The Jim Lawson back-up also introduces another problem, a Shredder that finally remember everything (this may be the one in "Year of the Turtle"). Mr. Null decides to share all of this, searching for the Turnstone (a "TMNT: Odyssey" plot). I don't like these fan-projects being all connected, but I appreciate the long explanation of the Shredder paradox in the Archie adventures. It also officialized that Armaggon created the Archie universe.

I would have appreciated a Mr. Null origin story... but I guess that would have clashed with "Odyssey" (and this is why I don't like them being connected).

I may sound negative, but my nitpicks only took two points from the overall score. I am happy with the results, and I think we can now stop wondering what it could have been.

Although... can you imagine what it could have been in 1995?

That my friends... is the forever war.

[Include some super serious celebrity quote here]

[isys777]

Riverdale is... watchable again?

So.

I’ve watched the last two episodes of Riverdale (episodes 1 & 2 of season 7) because I am a proprietor and collector of unassuming, under the radar, not quite enemies to potential lovers ships like the dairs, the bamons, and of course, the jeronicas. Though I left Riverdale in my rearview mirror seasons ago, I can’t help but always have an eye out for how my favorite raven haired Riverdale duo is doing. Of course when the promo for season 7 dropped the hints that something may happen there, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to tune in. And I was very pleasantly surprised!

This isn’t a post about Jeronica but instead about how much I enjoyed the first two episodes, the second one especially. I don’t fully understand how the cast got pushed back to the past as 30 year old teenagers despite that gorgeous black girl who’s name I forgot telling me last episode, it doesn’t really matter. Whatever genius in the writer’s room came up with that as the beginning of the end for the show was truly inspired. Going back to the basics is exactly what a show that got as outlandish as this one did needed.

The problems are simple and relatable, the villains aren’t otherworldly, it’s intolerant and judgmental adults inserting themselves and their views on a bunch of kids just trying to figure everything out. It’s the expectations the characters are putting on themselves as well as their own demons, not literal this time, that they have to fight. The 50′s dialogue is cheesy but in an endearing way, and the actors are really given something to work with.

Camila’s performance as Veronica as well as Madelaine’s performance as Cheryl in particular are really standing out to me. Instead of Veronica just being a bunch of quips and a large persona, she’s clearly holding onto a lot of insecurity and puts up a wall and puts on a mask that Camila allows genuine emotion to break through at the best times. And Madelaine does very similar work with Cheryl, which makes the moment of pure joy when she was dancing with Toni, for just a moment, all the more charming, and everything all the more sad in her last scene.

All of the actors are able to add dynamic to their characters that hasn’t really been there. I really appreciated Archie’s moments with his mom in regards to his father and how much weight that holds in every part of their lives. And KJ’s performance of Archie is so endearing I just wanna wrap him up in a blanket. I didn’t mention some other performances but everyone is really putting their all into this and I really appreciate it. Even the directing has been very dynamic, I really appreciate the use of mirrors and negative space in some of the shots. As I was watching I couldn’t help but feel like this should have been the show from the very, very beginning.

I know this won’t last, even in the last moments I was getting the sense of the spectacle and exaggeration that Riverdale is known for. As well as the overindulgence of unnecessary sex scenes that was hinted at for the next episode. And I know eventually things will reset and we will likely go back to what Riverdale is known for. But for the moment, I appreciate where they took the show, and if all I get before the chaos is just those two episodes, I’m glad I took the risk and was able to enjoy them.

[nerdyhuntress]

OFMD S2 Spoilers (Review of Episodes 1-3)

LOVED that dream sequence in episode 1! Poor Izzy though :( I knew it was a dream LOL but it was so sweet how they ran to each other on the beach!

Ed's descent into madness and suicidal ideation was terrifying to watch tbh :( I didn't think the show would get that dark! Also him trying to kill Izzy like WTF and sailing the ship into a storm?? Damn, no wonder they tried to kill him via mutiny!

Good for Swede for staying with Spanish Jackie lol this crew was too much for him

THE PIRATE QUEEN! Zheng is everything to me <3 She's incredible and I loved seeing her talk down that pirate captain into joining her :) Love how she fell for Olu (who wouldn't? LOL)

Archie was also hilarious to watch on screen! She fits right in with the crew!

Izzy saving them from the storm by shooting Ed?? ASLDKJFSD I'm proud of him for standing up for his crew and trying to save them!

Took me a while to realize the "Innkeeper" was Ed LOL and it was a shock that the whole thing with Hornigold was just a hallucination, since he was between life and death!

Finally, that ending!!!! I sobbed and ugly cried my eyes out and now my eyes hurt :( Edward saying he has nothing to live for, because nobody's waiting for him AHHH MY BABY!

Stede's voice bringing him back from death while Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work" plays?? Ed's vision of Stede as a merman?? OK I WAS SOBBING AND THAT MONTAGE???

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! What a rollercoaster ride of emotions AHH too much information to process until next week!

[pricelesscinemas]

[saltburnupdates]

Saltburn reactions and reviews from it’s London Film Festival screening, Oct 4th⚜️

[mandoreviews]

📽️ Catherine Called Birdy (2022)

This movie was absolutely bonkers, and I loved it! It actually addressed some important themes while being funny at the same time. I will be the first to admit that this movie is not for everyone, but it is definitely my kind of movie. Bella Ramsey did a great job as Birdy, and Billie Piper and Andrew Scott were amazing as her parents. This movie is great!

Sex/nudity: 3/10 (a few references to sex, Birdy walks in on her parents but nothing is shown)

Language: 1/10 (not much that I remember)

Violence: 1/10 (Birdy gets hit on the hands with a stick)

Overall rating: 9/10

[shaddytheguyislazy]

New video! Tonight, we inch closer to the end of our second cour of Archie Sonic, and some people get poisoned.

[milliondollarbaby87]

Gran Turismo (2023) Review

Based on a rather unbelievable true story about turning gamers into race car drivers, could it be done? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Continue reading Gran Turismo (2023) Review