#but i also kinda love it from cinematography level

[okgee]

Something about how conformity won in the end, proven by how Todd matches Nolan's steps perfectly despite what Keating teached them earlier in the film

[waltricia]

Happy Polin Day!! 💛 I accidentally wrote an essay about the lighting in this two second clip. I guess I found my Roman Empire.

Nicola said in an interview that the theme of the first season was passion, the second was longing, and the third is romance, and I fully agree and believe her because everything about this clip SCREAMS romance.

As perfect as they are, I have to put aside costume, hair, and makeup, and just praise the lighting right now bc it really deserves to be discussed.

Anyone who has ever read a romance novel knows that when the leading man looks at the leading lady ~lustily~, his expression darkens and he has a devilish glint in his eye, while she has a soft, open expression and stars in her eyes. That is EXACTLY what they achieved by angling a single soft fill light on Luke from below, while having him kinda backlit/ side lit by the key light (the moonlight), and angling that harder accent light on Nicola from above and back, while having the full key light on her from the front.

In classic horror cinematography, characters are lit from below because it casts sinister shadows on their faces. Hell scenes often have characters lit by fire from below (because obviously). This kind of lighting is also great for portraying lust (see Kanthony in the library, season 2 ep 4, both scenes). Lustiness and the devil go hand in hand (because religion lol), and that’s why this slightly sinister lighting looks so good here.

Colin is every bit the romantic hero, and the way the lighting portrays that is subtle, but intentional. His eyes are shadowed and he has that glint. No doubt he’s about to do something bold and scandalous. Just the way Colin is approaching Pen pretty clearly indicates his intentions, but I really like that you can also derive those intentions from the lighting because it evokes such freakin classic romantic imagery.

And in the same perfectly subtle way, she is also classically lit, but representing the other side of the coin. As he’s lit from hell, she’s lit from heaven. The yellow (😉) light on her has an angelic effect. It’s also a soft spotlight, like how they would light Old Hollywood starlets.

When you combine that light with the key light (the moonlight) that fills her face and makes her eyes sparkle, you really see her, and she is meant to be worshipped. That’s what Colin is seeing. And, obviously, being seen terrifies our wallflower. Which just adds another layer to the significance of Colin’s lighting because not only does the lighting tell us what’s he’s about to do (😘), it also makes sense to have him in the devilish lighting because she’s scared. But it’s the good kind of scary of course.

And what’s so god damn beautiful about the whole thing, is that the opposition that I’m seeing between the lighting of Colin and Pen in this moment exists so harmoniously with the equivalence that I also see between the characters. The feeling of connection between them is stronger than it’s ever been. And I’m guessing she’s literally on some kind of platform, like a doorstep or something, because their lines of sight are more level with each other. So the contrast between Colin and Pen itself contrasts with the closeness between them.

I just love how wonderfully complex that is. I am so impressed.

And that’s just the lighting y’all.

THAT’S JUST THE LIGHTING

💡🤯👏🙌😍🐝🌼🪞💛🩵💚✨

[ucannotkillmeinawaythatmatters]

im rewatching Moon Knight while I embroider, so I figured why not post about it!! I still haven't unlocked the gif ability everyone on here seems to have, so I'm just gonna have to describe everything without proof. this is gonna be an in depth, long, and rambly post, so you can read the rest after the cut if you'd like!!

episode 1: the goldfish problem

so a lot of this episode is establishing Steven and the situation that he's in. it's kinda sad cuz on the surface level, he has a nice life. he's got a job, a big flat, he calls his mom pretty often. but when you look deeper it gets sadder. the main thing that sticks out is how lonely Steven is

JB doesn't know his name, the only person he can talk to is a statue person that doesn't respond back, his boss is mean. he's so lonely in fact that he accepts a date with a person he doesn't really know to a STEAK HOUSE.

(I have my own theory about how that was Jake who was trying to be nice and get a date for Steven?? maybe?? bc it's highly unlikely that marc, who has a wife, would do that. and even if you tried to argue that marc did it for Steven, why would he then go and make him miss it?? plus, I'm certain he knows that Steven is a vegan. which also makes you wonder why Jake didn't notice that detail, but I digress)

(side note number two, Steven is good with kids and I'll die on that hill. the scene where he's explaining things about mummification to that little girl?? answering her questions patiently and excitedly?? yeah, he's a hit with them, I promise you. and not just when he's talking about his Special Interest. also the foreshadowing of that girl asking him if it sucked to get rejected from the field of reeds?? I'm sickkkk)

and ofc, there's the main issue of steven falling asleep in his bed and waking up in the middle of nowhere without a clue as to how he got there. I'd like to take a second to commend Stevens intelligence here!! anke restraints, sand around the bed, tape on the door?? I would never even think of these things.

either way, none of it works and he wakes up in the middle of goddamn nowhere, injured and hurting at that!! (even if khonshu fixed it, he still sounded like he was in pain for a while there). people are shooting at him, he's so so desperately trying to give this strange man (who he just witnessed kill a woman mind you) the beetle but he can't, and all the while a strange voice is berating him every two seconds. again kudos to Steven bc I could never. I would have been crying the moment I heard the gunshots.

(Jake theory again. I'm so certain that a lot, if not all of the car stuff was Jake. I love marc, but I refuse to believe he could manage those car skills, while shooting at ppl, while on the a narrow road of a fucking mountain. nahhhh that was all my boy Jake)

(also note that when Steven first woke up in the grass after Marc?? jumped and fell fourish stories?? khonshu called him a worm. and then further specified and called him "the idiot." I firmly believe that khonshu calls Steven AND Jake worms/parasites, it's just that Stevens the idiot and Jakes the competent one ig)

and waking up after all of that like nothing happened must have been so frustrating. I know Marc was just trying to protect him, but instead Stevens just being gaslighted and facing psychological warfare. so everywhere he goes he's faced with signs that he might be crazy or he might not be. ex: gus suddenly having one fin, the time being wrong, Marc appearing in the mirror and talking to him completely unhelpfully, khonshu FUCKING TORMENTING HIM FOR NO REASON, but also the burner phone he found, harrow being real, and the dog creature I can't remember the name of!!

so much of this episode was Steven being scared and unhappy and overwhelmed and it makes me sad!! he's so precious and sweet, he doesn't deserve to be going thru any of that.

(also I'm never ever gonna get over the cinematography and thematics of the mirrors in the museum bathroom. first of all mirrors cool. second, the hints at his multiplicity thru the infinite images of the bathroom, but with Marc in only one of the reflections. I'm gonna be fucking sick)

so yeah!! those are most of my thoughts. I know that pictures and gifs are a huge part of making a post Not Boring and I'm gonna use them as soon as I learn how istg

[missanthropicprinciple]

miss anthro’s film recs: May 2021

Jurassic Park 1993: Watched this for the third time in a month today to celebrate it's release 28 years ago. Like most excellent films, it was created by a lucky intersection of talent. The remarkable premise was crafted into a brilliant script by David Koepp and author Michael Crichton; it was tight, clean, fast-paced - no plot holes and unnecessary scenes. Steven Spielberg really did a fantastic job of making a cohesive production and giving it a kind of emotional continuity. The cast is outstanding. I could write an essay about each one. Richard Attenborough brings pathos to John Hammond, the delusional tycoon. Sam Neill is perfect as Alan Grant, a jaded paleontologist who finds deeper compassion. Laura Dern gives a raw performance as the resolute and charming paleo-botanist Ellie Sattler. Jeff Goldblum stars as Ian Malcolm, chaotician and prototype "rock-star scientist." Bob Peck is wonderful as the sensible game warden Robert Muldoon. Samuel L. Jackson works his magic as sardonic chief engineer Ray Arnold. And of course, excellent performances from Martin Ferrero, Wayne Knight, Joseph Mazzello, and Ariana Richards. The special and physical effects are remarkable and most of them remain so nearly three decades later, including the life-sized animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex and just the right amount of CGI. Cinematography by Dean Cundey features god-tier-level use of scale framing. Not to mention great use of color, blocking, sound, costume, John Williams' beautiful score - you name it, this film really has everything going for it. Is this a perfect film? No, but it gets bloody close. Unmissable science-fiction that examines the horror unleashed by the arrogance of mankind. 

The Birdcage 1996: This 25* year old film is a real gem. While the modern viewer (myself included) could find fault with some stereotypes, etc., the classic comedy has aged quite well. There’s a lot of slapstick and hysterically funny and clever dialogue. Williams and Lane are outstanding. There’s a very touching scene between the two of them which is very romantic and sweet. And of course the whole cast is perfect. I’m always impressed by this film when I haven’t seen it in a while.

The Moon-Spinners 1964: You don’t need to be a Disney fan to love this incredible classic. Hayley Mills is well loved but I don’t think she’s given enough credit for being not only a brilliant child actor but also a great actor as she aged. Her performance is stellar. The whole movie is fun and tense, bringing Mary Stewart’s novel to life in the great and beautiful country of Greece. It’s a fun adventure from start to finish with humor and romance.

Fairytale: A True Story 1997: Want to cry your eyes out about the Cottingley fairy hoax of 1917? You may not trust me but I recommend this experience. Honestly, this movie is life-changing. This is a depiction of a real life story involving historical figures. Usually no one gets that quite right but this movie kinda does. Peter O’Toole looks nothing like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but Harvey Keitel looks remarkably like Harry Houdini. Something about the music and what they do with this story gets into your bloodstream. I couldn’t possibly spoil for anyone who knows nothing about it, but I can say that there is some incredible CGI and a scene where someone faces retribution from an unexpected and shocking source.

edit 2023:

*now 27

I found this in my drafts. Clearly, life got in the way and I didn’t continue my recommendation posts (I have the templates drafted in text form.) Also, while drafting this edit I was attacked by a small beetle. I remain unharmed and have released the beetle into its natural environment.

[juneviews]

axelle judges non bl shows > Loneliness Society

summary: Meena rescues the man she has a crush on after a hit and run accident, and his family misunderstands that she is his girlfriend. The problem? She ends up falling in love with his brother.

where to watch: youtube

grade: 7,5/10

pros:

the acting was very good! nune is a very good actress so that wasn't surprising, but I felt SO PROUD of joss for slaying not one, but TWO emotional scenes with tears! until now I felt like that was the one thing holding him back as an actor, so I truly thought he did amazing in this :) jan's performance was also the highlight of the show for me!

a lot of people disliked meena for being a liar & kinda having dubious morals, but I actually really liked that aspect. normally, pretty much every thai series has the male lead be kinda (and often not even kinda) manipulative & toxic while the female lead is pure & innocent until the very end. here, with the roles reversed, it honestly really did bring something new to the table. in addition, meena openly expressing her crush to her best friend & being quite fiesty while being an overall good person was really pleasant & made her more relatable in my eyes!

the story is extremely entertaining, and benefits from being bingewatched imo. it's just pure dumb lakorn goodness which might frustrate a lot of people bc the villains are annoying af, the female lead makes weird & dumb decisions, and the story is very basic, but since I was familiar with all of these tropes already, I enjoyed it & it was an easy watch (FOR ME! this is not for everyone, for sure.)

I liked the world building for this show, with the titlecards at the beginning of every episode, the best koo ekkasit cinematography I've seen & the cute delivery company truck that really contributed to giving the show its own visual language.

cons:

this is a koo ekkasit lakorn, so redemption comes to the shitty characters out of nowhere. to be fair though, it didn't bother me that much when it would usualy frustrate me to death? I felt like even if their change is forced, I was just happy to see than have a happy ending full of love from his family members tbh. the mom & brother can fucking choke, though, and this is probably down to me being SO USED to lakorns now.

similarly, this is a very surface level show. there's nothing deep to it & its interesting points such a than's story are not very explored bc this is meant to be pure entertainment with very little depth. that's why I can't rate this show higher even though I did quite enjoy it!

would I rewatch it: I wouldn't mind it tbh!

This is a classic Thai lakorn type of series, which means it's really not for everyone. Personally, since I'm quite familiar with those tropes, I really quite enjoyed this show! It's nothing out of the ordinary but cute with a great cast :)

[laurenkmyers]

(1/2) Hi, Lauren! Would you recommend me to watch Two Worlds? I'm debating with myself for a few weeks now, watching all these gif sets on tumblr. The things is... I find most of the BLs quite cringy which is a big no for me. Usually I like the BLs you're watching (I've really loved KinnPorsche, Not me, Kisseki, A Tale of 1000 Stars, ...), but there have also been shows you really loved but I wasn't able to finish - main example being Love in the Air (i just wasn't able to get past episode 3).

(2/2) Next shows I've tried but didn't finish are for example: Naughty Babe, Cutie Pie, Pit Babe. Could you advise me on which scale do you think the Two Worlds are? It looks intriguing but I'm afraid of a possible cringe lurking in the background. Looking at the BLs I've loved and the ones I didn't finished, would you be able to guess how I would feel about this one?

---

Helloooo sweet anon! Thank you for your messages!

Firstly, I must say, the bl's you listed that you enjoyed are superior. Well done on your immaculate taste. And the list you provided that you couldn't finish is also hilarious and accurate and I'm agreeing wholeheartedly on your opinions.

In terms of Two Worlds...I'm gonna be honest with you, I only started watching it for Max Kornthas. The man has a hold on me that I can't explain. So I may be slightly biased, however, that doesn't stop me from telling you that the show has surprised me in so many ways. I'm thoroughly enjoying it as a whole and hope more people watch it once it's finished. (Learning that it wasn't a domundi/mandee production also helped massively.)

Where it stands on a kp/notme level vs cutiepie/naughtybabe/pitbabe level, let me try and break it down for you:

Production level isn't quite kinnporsche WOW, but it's also not naughty babe cgi tiger TRAGEDY. It tips more on the kp side of production value. The locations are gorgeous, and the cinematography is pretty as hell. There are some dodgy camera tricks being used, but nothing to worry too much about.

The acting: As a whole I would say it's definitely better than your average thai bl. It's absolutely not Gun Attaphan level good. But I will say that Max is kinda killing it- and I'm not saying that from a particularly bias lens. His acting has improved an incredible amount since cutie pie/naughty babe. Nat, bless him, still has a little ways to go to really impress me, but he's also improved so fucking much I have to commend him. The guy playing the 2nd love interest is definitely the weakest actor of the bunch, but overall the acting is pretty good. No major complaints from me.

The narrative: I think this story in particular is incredibly interesting, it's unique, it's angsty, it's romantic, it's brutal, it's exciting, and a little bittersweet. The pacing can be a bit all over the place at times, but if you just go with it, you'll catch up quickly enough. The one major flaw for me in thai bls in general is that sometimes the story seems way more complicated then they actually are. This story really isn't that complicated if you don't think too hard about the details. Are there plotholes? Ofc there are. But it's nothing too glaringly obvious that I want to rant about it.

Another plus is that there is no quick-how-can-we-promote-this-thing-that-has-no-relevance-to-the-show product placement, which is something I only noticed two episodes ago but am highly grateful for.

The thai bl cringefactor: There are moments where I thought I would be cringing up a storm, but so far it's been pretty tame in terms of typical bl cringe moments. There's no guitars or singing (praying it stays that way), but we have had a few 'oops i tripped and fell into you and now we're staring into each other's eyes' moments, but honestly? They didn't bother me in the slightest. Maxnat pull off the elongated looks very well.

Spice level: We've only had one NC scene so far, it was definitely more on the romance side of the fence than the spicy one, but it lasted 7 minutes long...do with that information what you will. We've got more to come from both Maxnat and our side couple (who I'm also enjoying greatly, btw) Maxnat know how to fucking de-li-ver and from the looks of the trailer, our side couple also get a pretty steamy moment too.

The only potential downside to the show is the hefty trigger warning list. If you want to know them you can message or dm me and I'll make a separate list for you.

This response probably didn't need to be as long as it did, but I wanted to give you the facts. Do I think you should watch it? Yes. Do I think you'll like it? I think so. But is it to the standard of bl you seem to really enjoy? No. Do with this information what you will! And please feel free to tell me if you do start watching it and enjoying it because I'd love to hear your thoughts!

ps. (the CACKLE I let out reading that you couldn't get past episode 3 of LITA was wild because you're so valid. I skipped episodes 1-7 because I also couldn't handle the cringe, but if you did want to try it again- episodes 8-13 are much better- still a little cringe, I won't lie to you- but it's definitely the stronger of the two stories.)

[gregoftom]

Wow yes, the direction on the sticker scene was.. lackluster.

They did breathe life into the characters and elevated the writing, emotionally, to a whole new level.

It also shows that what's on the script is not always how things are actually meant to be, after all its just a part of it, with the acting, cinematography, editing finally making the scene.

I love that cutting it right after that also gives it more weight since Tom basically goes from that to Shiv.

I would love for Greg to be in the car at the end as well.. like can you imagine Shiv's face when Greg gets in the row behind them?? The same face she gives him at the funeral??

Now I'm making myself sad tho cause I can totally see Shiv saying "its him or me" and as I much as I love them, I'm not sure Tom would choose Greg over his baby, he would choose Greg over Shiv (he already kinda did) but not sure he would choose Greg over the baby.

yeah, yeah, exactly. so as i said, i appreciate all the after thought that was put into it and extra work that made the scene really special and resonate with folks.

oh my GOD, that would be. INSANE. holy shit. could you IMAGINE, lmfao. yeah she'd be. man. the tension in that car, unreal. i don't know if any of them would even fucking. speak. not even greg who is known for speaking up in occasions like that. or he might and then tom might be left in the middle right there. oooooh. that would be something alright. good fic fodder.

OUGH. yeah like. i get you. i'm not sure he would do that either but the thing is, greg being an abandoned kid by a father himself... i think he would understand. and i think it wouldn't be like, the end of the world? the be all end all. personally i pray for shivortion GET RID OF THAT THANG but, if we can't have that and this kid Must be brought into the world, i think tom would stay with shiv for a while before divorcing at least. not sure how long. but for some time. but it wouldn't be a goodbye to greg, i don't think, it wouldn't be the end of it all. because i think greg would Know it was for the baby and. understand, and even appreciate, that tom would choose to stay for the kid.

[autopotion]

For the gaming asks: 5, 12, 21 and 40?

5. Most memorable gaming moment?

HMM.... That is such a difficult question, it's really hard to pick! I think my answer to this is going to be an emergent moment, as opposed to a scripted plot event. Also I think I'm going to pick something recent lol, because I'd really have to sit and think about it if I was flipping through my entire video game history. So, how about a couple of little memorable moments from the last month or so?

Here's one. In Gravity Rush 2, I found an NPC busking. I stopped by him and applauded, then I used the sing emote. The guy dropped his guitar and started clapping for me! My jaw dropped, I was like, that was so cute, what a reactive sequence of events! (GR2 is full of pleasant surprises like that, and is my favorite thing about the game.)

I've also had a lot of memorable moments in my current Final Fantasy Tactics challenge playthrough, too. Outside of the hat guy stealing Gafgarion's sword and teleporting everywhere with Silky, I encountered an enemy Oracle in a random battle in Grog Hill, alongside a bunch of monsters. Since this is an invitation-only run, I had my eyes peeled for job classes I didn't already have (I also have the stipulation that any unit I invited has to keep their default job), so this Oracle was very attractive to me. When I got her in my party, I discovered she actually had more levels in Mediator than Oracle--which kinda makes sense, if you think about it on a mechanical level, because Mediator is the job that allows units to talk to monsters. Grog Hill is also located right near the largest battles of the War of the Lions, and we've encountered deserters there before. Zoe and I came up with a little backstory for her that was like, she used to be a Mediator with one of the armies, but got sick of the war and ditched, befriended some monsters in the countryside, and went Buddhist. (I find I'm creating a lot of interesting tiny narratives in my head for my generics in this run.)

12. Favorite game character?

How am I supposed to pick!!! My favorite characters are almost always from video games LMAO. I'll just name a couple.

Protagonist: Sissel (Ghost Trick) or Red & Mr. Nobody (Transistor) Party member: Aeris/th (FFVII & FFVIIR) NPC helper: Leliana (DAI) Antagonist: Tokiko Shigure (AITSF:NI) Of all time probably: Ovelia (FFT)

21. A game you thought you wouldn't like, but ended up loving?

Oh my gosh, I think the obvious answer to this one is also a recent pick, lol. I usually don't play games I'm expecting to dislike, true, but it does happen, especially if I'm just curious to test something out, or if I feel like I have to play it for whatever reason. Crimson Shroud is an example of the latter. Like, as a lover of Yasumi Matsuno and the other usual suspects he works with (like Basiscape), I felt like I owed it to myself to give Crimson Shroud a try, as the entry of his that I knew the least about, and especially because it's genuinely difficult to play it these days, so the game preservationist in me was like You Gotta.

But it seemed like everything I'd heard about it was designed to put me off. The oversexualized teenage girl. The fantasy oppressed ethnic group. The fact that the two main guys are named "Giauque" and "Lippi." The old and tired D&D tropes played completely straight. The fact that it was originally intended as a spiritual successor to Vagrant Story, a game that I admire specifically for its genre bending and cinematography, when Crimson Shroud wasn't doing the first thing, and, as for the latter, its characters are presented as static tabletop models... so I couldn't expect the kind of vibrant staging that Vagrant Story had. The dense mechanics (yes, I know that's a mainstay, but I do also have a habit of bouncing off of his games as well lol).

AND YET. While I still think it's probably Matsuno's weakest entry, it totally charmed me. I mean, you've read what I think about it already, but still. I think it was totally worth the playthrough, and it's got just as much charm as everything else he's written. I appreciated the dense mechanics much more because of the short playtime, and the tabletop figurines were genuinely interesting to look at, in the end. They were staged in amusing ways. YEAH. I DUNNO. I kinda like Crimson Shroud a lot.

Oh! I think another recent one is Misericorde. As someone who was never into visual novels growing up, I've become way more open-minded to them over the years (thanks to Zoe introducing me to Zero Escape tbh) and I was actively interested in the Nun Game, but I was admittedly frustrated when I belatedly realized that there was going to be no gameplay at all, not even basic exploration or a handful of dialogue options, outside of clicking through the text boxes. Partway through I was like "I don't think this is working for me." But after I got to the end, I found I couldn't stop thinking about it. Hedwig in particular really stuck with me. I'm actually extremely excited for the next entry, even if it's "just" reading. I know what I'm getting into this time, so I won't have any false expectations from the start, and I can enjoy it for what it is.

40. Best game cover art.

INTERESTING QUESTION..... Hmm..... I really like the cover for Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, and had a lot of fun trying to figure out who the characters were. Vyce running away in the background is also unintentionally hilarious. Her Story's cover is extremely clever once you figure out what's going on there. Zoe rightly pointed out that the Japanese Switch cover for Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is gorgeous. I also like the covers of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Pyre... I guess for the most part I really like a well-made character ensemble cover??

[sansaorgana]

Is MOTA any good? Is it not like any other war movie/series (Dunkirk, World on fire, etc.)?

Hey! 💕 I kinda don't get the "is it not like any other war movie/series" part; I assume you're not a fan of the genre overall 😂 I might be a bad judge of that because I love the genre (although Dunkirk was boring as fuck 🥱 and I still haven't seen World on Fire S2 but MOTA is motivating me to finally do so lmao)

So, overall, I'll let myself compare since it's from the same producers etc. – so far it is not the Band of Brothers level and I doubt it will be because Band of Brothers is just THE war tv show, you get me, it's SUPREME with its plots, depth, characters etc.

But Masters of The Air is a good TV show as well (I'm saying this now after 3 episodes) and you can see it is Band of Brother's "little brother". Also, cinematography is great and you can see the budget in every single scene.

What kind of bothers me is the fact all the battles take place in the air (obviously) and 1) it's a bit more boring to me personally than normal battles 2) they're mostly wearing masks up in the air and I can only recognize a few characters in them but maybe it will change later 3) I get sick from watching them fly 😂Last year I was on a plane for the first time in my life and turns out I have a terrible motion sickness (which is no surprise because I already have it in the cars and buses) and now I get sick from even watching flying in the movies 😂

As I said, I am a fan of the wwii movies genre so I am not the best judge here, but I recommend giving it a try. It is definitely better than the ones you have mentioned 🙊 And I overall liked World on Fire a lot but it was not near Band of Brothers level while Masters of The Air is aspiring to be (sorry for comparing everything to Band of Brothers but this show is really supreme when it comes to World War II popular tv shows).

[demadogs]

what are the most and least believable byler theories to you? personally i 100% believe dustin’s line about mike complaining about joyce’s job HAD to have been about will bc it’s just too specific for them to bring up again after specifically establishing will being mad mike didn’t call more. on the other hand i feel like the being different/you’re the heart music theory is a bit of a stretch..

i agree that i dont think the music thing is intentional. when i listened to it it didnt sound right together at all.

there are some things that i really wanna believe bc itd be cool as shit but im still on the fence about. like the one of suzies house and the girl on the ground choking and the kid telling his dad “your terror? it looked genuine!” being a parallel to mike’s monologue. visually i completely understand where the theory came from but the dialogue im not sure. the word “terror” throws me off because if thats paralleled to mikes monologue that implies that mike wasnt actually scared for el’s life which isnt true at all. if the kid said something like “your performance looked genuine” then that could have been applied to mike saying he loves her and i’d be more sold.

another one im not sure about but i would love if it is intentional is the pineapple pizza. it is interesting especially that he ended up liking it but i think it also easily couldve just been a comic relief moment to interrupt mike and el’s conversation.

this one is more of production kinda theory than a plot theory but some people think bylers had a significant moment on 1x1, 2x2, 3x3, and 4x4 so theyre expecting something big to happen for the fifth episode of s5. honestly i think this is a coincidence and im not gonna expect anything when i watch 5x5. thats like a taylor swift level easter egg. like taylor is fucking crazy in the song betty at 2:46 she says the line “james get in” and in august at 2:46 she says the line “get in the car”. that kinda reminds me of this theory and honestly i just dont think the duffers would think to hint at byler through episode numbers. i think when its not dialogue or actions they mostly rely on the set design, music, and cinematography.

i also dont consider mikes cliff jump in s1 a suicide attempt. i know the audience was told that no one would survive that but i think mike thought he would survive and he just might get hurt. i also dont think will was on his mind when he did this. he did it to save dustin.

and this one might be an unpopular opinion but i dont really believe anything related to the number 7 being a byler thing. that was mentioned once in the first episode and it was just to show that in dnd will got taken by the demogorgan and foreshadow what happens to will. yes, he told mike and only mike but i wouldnt at all consider that a byler moment, it was just relevant to the plot and i dont think any other unimportant mention of the number 7 is related to byler at all like mike saying in s3 “sorry that made me sound like a 7 year old” or him drinking 7up on the car. i especially dont buy it when people start doing math with episode numbers or something like that.

some i fully believe in are the mlvn parallels to stancy with both mike and nancy not able to say they love them and both heart to hearts with who they actually love on top of a car. (tho i think that wouldve been more impactful if they didnt bring stancy back outta nowhere but i dont think nancy likes steve back.)

another parallel is when jancy was murrayd and murray said to nancy that shes probably afraid to accept herself for who she really is and that she shouldnt return to the safety of steve bc “we like steve but we dont love steve”. that applies perfectly to mike and i think it was intentional foreshadowing mikes future struggle with his sexuality and liking will more than el, especially considering the fact that this was told to both mike and wills siblings… the other version of byler. i also think this was foreshadow for mike because for nancy i really cannot think of anything she was struggling with where she would be given advice to “accept herself for who she really is”. her story that season was grieving her best friend and wanting to give barbs family closure and having relationship issues with steve because she had feelings for jonathan. thats not much of an internal struggle of accepting herself.

theres a lot of theories i see go around that i think are a stretch ngl but there are sooo many things that i do think are intentional so its always fun no matter what to see what other people think and form my own opinions.

[chuuyadelune]

NAVIGATING MY BLOG 🌱

hello and welcome if you’ve come across my page! this is the long overdue introduction + organisation post for this blog (2 years late. but oh well)

ABOUT ME: you can find a more detailed profile on my carrd — but here are the basics.

you can call me jem, i use they/he, and i’m 21. i am currently a music student—if ever i suddenly disappear for like, a month or two, just know it’s because of school, lol.

i can also be found on:

twitter / @ chuuyadelune (where i’m more active)

youtube (i post an edit once every 6 months)

FANDOMS: i mostly engage in bungo stray dogs content, but i’m also a fan of skip to loafer, chihayafuru, moriarty the patriot, mob psycho 100, chainsaw man, yona of the dawn, witch hat atelier and a whole lot more —a more comprehensive list is in the carrd (since i have not updated my MAL in a very long time)

WHAT I POST ON THIS BLOG: beyond reblogging a bunch of fanart/theories, i have posted a variety of things, which include:

manga colourings (i don’t really do these anymore, admittedly)

written theories/analysis on the BSD manga

half-fleshed out analysis of the BSD anime’s cinematography (lighting, composition, etc)

general ramblings about the BSD anime’s music (because i am nothing if not a huge nerd about this sort of thing)

i have tried to organise things via the tags in the past but not all of them show up, so i’m leaving all the links to everything here—alongside the tags i used—for posterity and so i can find things when i want to. everything is below the cut:

WRITTEN THEORIES ON THE BSD MANGA

the tag i use is jems bsd theories, but not all of these show up all the time, unfortunately. so here’s the list:

(a very silly post about) vampire chuuya (chapter 98)

(a very shitty) attempt at breaking down BSD 101

sigma is the key to winning meursault, and the why in relation to the BSD themes

[BSD 113] the fyodor jesus references go crazy ngl (less analysis more a list of things i noticed)

ANALYSIS (KINDA) OF THE BSD ANIME’S CINEMATOGRAPHY

both this section and the one below (music ramblings) can be found under the tag jem rambles, but here are the links for everything anyway:

the use of levels and how it links to ranpo’s character in S4 E2 (untold origins)

the effective use of lighting in yosano’s backstory, S4 E9

visual parallels in the shin soukoku fights, S1 - S5

BSD MUSIC RAMBLINGS

i really like screen mode BSD ops

BSD S5’s opening fucking bangs thank you kisho taniyama i love you

MANGA COLOURINGS

i used the tag jems colourings for this, but some of them don’t show up, so i’m listing everything here.

BSD:

smiley kenji from 100.5

fyodor drowning from 101

hunting dog tachihara from 68

fukufuku (fukuchi and fukuzawa) from 103

chuuya entrance from fifteen manga phase 1

chuuya stopping bullets from fifteen manga phase 2

titan chuuya from fifteen manga phase 3

that’s what makes me love you skk from fifteen manga phase 5

other:

spy x family mission 15 cover page

[lorz-ix]

Japanese nerd stuff

Shin Kamen Rider (2023)

Out of Hideaki Anno's recent projects, I had already seen Shin Godzilla and the last Evangelion movie, and I thought those were amazing, so my expectations for Kamen Rider were positively through the roof. I have now learned a lesson, because those expectations might have been unfairly high.

This is a gorgeous movie, first things first. Some of the computer-generated effects are pretty poor, a letdown for sure since they blemish what would otherwise be peak visuals, but the costume/character design is fantastic, the cinematography is certainly pretty, and the vibes of the Showa era are unmatched here. Really makes me wish they used a lot more practical effects to match the characters and the setting of the original show with just as much love and care.

A highlight that I really liked was the battle against Hiromi, the hornet lady. The special effects weren't bad and the choreography really sold the superpowered, high speed level these characters are fighting at. Easily my favorite fight, if that's what you're looking for.

As for the story itself, you really get the feeling that it's too complicated for its own good, mostly because there's a lot of villains to get through and a lot of exposition to be dumped, so everything feels very rushed and too fast-paced. It's kinda weird that they tried to cram what feels like a short TV series into a cinematic run time, because the structure doesn't entirely feel adequate. At least the second half of the movie has more proper pacing, since by then the main antagonist has already been introduced and the final stretch of the conflict is clearly underway, so it has more time to breathe.

Speaking of said conflict, the morals at the core of this movie, they also let me down a little bit. I love seeing clear, optimistic messages, but coming from Evangelion and Godzilla, I felt that Kamen Rider's message fell flat, feeling a bit vapid, or perhaps rooted in story elements that are too fantastical, so it's a bit more detached from the audience. I'm not sure how to put it into words, I simply thought the other two movies did their stuff better.

In conclusion, it's a fun watch, but probably not as accessible, and not as impressive as other Anno productions.

Shin Godzilla (2016)

I immediately wanted to watch this one again, to sort out my feelings on Kamen Rider, to make sure that I really liked Godzilla as much as I did, and yeah, sure. I still adore it. It's still a very easy top 3 Godzilla flick.

Much more has been said about it much better than I ever could, so I'll be brief. Godzilla is perfectly reimagined as this Anno-esque religious symbol and as a brand new social metaphor that was very relevant for Japan at the time. The political commentary is wonderfully unsubtle, and the message is both clear and grounded. The monster is absolutely terrifying, at points feeling chillingly real. I felt the dread of these events like they could actually happen more than with any other kaiju production, not because I expect a fire-breathing dinosaur to appear anytime soon, but because in here, Godzilla is a very clear embodiment of things that already happen constantly, both because of war, and because of natural disasters, the latter of which being more relevant here.

The one thing that could make this movie "fall off" is that its appeal and commentary are very specific. The movie jumps straight into the action and doesn't tell as much of a dramatic story around people as much as it's trying to say something both critical and inspirational about humanity. Perhaps the fact that it was inspired by the Fukushima disaster will mean it will be less timeless than those inspired by the atomic bomb, but only time will tell.

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Boy am I overjoyed that I got to see this in cinemas before the end of the year. This was very unlike Shin Godzilla, but it's easily at least on the same level, in my humble opinion. Minus One, Shin, and the 1954 original are arguably equally strong contenders to the throne of the best entry in the longest running movie franchise.

Unlike Shin, this is a dramatic story very focused on specific people, while also mantaining an extremely strong message about humanity coming together to overcome adversity. Relatively simple on paper, but the execution has shining moments that had me even crying at times. In post-war Japan, a country humiliated by defeat, the worst has already passed, leaving behind broken people and the hope to rebuild what was lost. The collective trauma of war, loss, and survivor's guilt are all addressed, and then, a massive creature threatens to tear down any hopes for the future and make the country re-live the horrors of war.

As I grow older, I have come to adore media that's able to just speak the message out loud with very little subtlety. Interpretation is fun, I won't dismiss more complicated movies as pretentious, but I am aware of how many people miss, ignore or even misread the morals of many popular movies. So when something comes along with an openly positive message with very little room for interpretation, I kinda love it. The lack of restraint isn't necessarily bad.

That said, there was still some dumbass behind us at the cinema who was mad at the ending because he took the movie completely at face value and somehow still missed what it was trying to say. So leave it to that one smart loser we all know to look like the biggest fool, because they still got it wrong. I don't know.

[bengiyo]

I posted 17,666 times in 2022

That's 14,011 more posts than 2021!

378 posts created (2%)

17,288 posts reblogged (98%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@callipigio

@kandrakelsier

@benkaaoi

@negrowhat

@xagan

I tagged 7,657 of my posts in 2022

#bad buddy - 573 posts

#kinnporsche - 480 posts

#the eclipse series - 439 posts

#not me the series - 302 posts

#love in the air - 290 posts

#star trek - 251 posts

#sarge watches - 228 posts

#bl series - 177 posts

#our flag means death - 172 posts

#thai bl - 164 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#i just don't think you should be surprised when someone falls for you when you shove something into their mouth to show you care about them

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Big Dragon Ep 3 Stray Thoughts

When we last left the Shitty Boys, they were at a pool party with heavy pours, and I questioned the decision to allow so much glass near a pool. For the first time in a while, we reflected on the potential physical realities of overaggressive anal intercourse, and I lamented that BL rarely explores m/m intimacy beyond penetrative sex.

Yes, give us the pool shot again.

For all that I'm struggling a bit with this show, I do want to praise the visual production values from Star Hunter. This show has been very visually pleasing and easy on the eyes. There was a period in 2020 where everything was way too bright and white.

I forgot Mangkorn looked like a lifeguard.

I feel like if he was serious about destroying the phone, he'd microwave it. Also, in the age of cloud storage, the video is definitely not stored on the phone.

Mangkorn: "You're pretty stupid for a villain. Let's fuck again."

Oh, a frank request for consent followed by role-play. It's time to tag @lutawolf in, because the show is going there.

I think I like that the show ended that scene on a joke. I'm also glad that we have more shows presenting fellatio as a quickly-accessible form of m/m pleasure.

These two are so weird about each other.

Can't believe we had a scene where we had a mic'd actor brush his mic repeatedly and then change shirts. Pain.

And now they're on a date??

Oh, hey elder gays. And now this show had joined the call for marriage equality with a sad piano backing track. Add it to the list!

Really loving Thai BL this year being very plain about support for queer issues.

So Mangkorn runs off to buy noodles from a place right near Yai's condo? I mean it's nice since Yai is dealing with discomfort, but it still reads a bit weird to me.

I get that this scene is meant to show them contemplating each other, but I really hope it didn't take Yai hours to eat noodles in the same spot while Mangkorn was working.

I enjoyed Da. Hopefully we see her again.

The communication between Yai and his guards leaves much to be desired.

Another show with ghosts? Well, she's using her powers for good. I wonder how many points that cost her.

Should we start a running tally of damaged phones in this show? Current count: 2

We go from yearning for marriage equality to an arranged marriage only the dads seem into. The whiplash.

88 notes - Posted October 22, 2022

#4

It's been a while since I watched a MAME show. Everyone is very attractive, but I'm always slightly frowning about something.

90 notes - Posted August 20, 2022

#3

180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us Ep 3 Thoughts

I'm still not over the architectural bars in the middle of In's room.

Wang is attractive in a way that feels unusual for Thai dramas I'm used to.

The confidence in the ritualistic way In made that coffee was kinda hot.

The flirting over coffee and speaking between the lines brought me back to 1000 Stars for a moment. It's kinda interesting that Coffee Melody hasn't hit this level of sexual tension over coffee.

It's absolutely captivating watching a show from Thailand where the cinematography feels intentional the entire time. The conversation over breakfast is mostly just A-B cuts, but putting In and Sawimol in one frame highlights the choices they've made as adults that separates them from Wang. Going to the wide shot of the table highlights the gulf between both parties. Then, as soon as Sawimol exits, the two men are reaching across that Gulf over shared purpose. Finally, the overhead shot and pan indicates that they've reached a private accord. I'm gonna lose it.

I think I am glad that Wang apologized to his mom, even if the inherent codependency of their dynamic worries me. I think it's okay for Wang to disapprove of the dated nature of some of her work, but it was indeed incredibly rude for him to deride her the way he did.

In explaining that he doesn't cry by avoiding things that make him sad...while standing next to the cage...is just going to drive me insane. The way he walked away from Wang to the desk frames him such that he retreats behind the bars.

I'm not sure Wang even knows what he wants from In.

I liked the bridge-buiding montage. It seems like Wang did not get much of an experience he enjoyed at his boarding school, so there was probably something enjoyable masculine about the labor.

These two are unsubtle about the way they discuss risk taking. In is set in his reserve, and Wang is firmly opposed.

Oh lord here the Thai boys go again getting their whole pant legs wet around bathing.

In takes a glance, but always walks away from desire when it creeps up with Wang.

There were so many people hired for this surprise.

Oh my goodness I'm going to exit my corporeal form. If my family hired performers to do an almost interpretive dance as they sung happy birthday with a violinist before a guy with a globe-shaped cake exited a giant present box, I would probably just die right there.

This time, when describing the game, the A-B framing puts Wang on the bottom of the frame with his mom. Interesting that the last time we had this, In was presented as more equal. Wang may know what his mom is up to, but he's not really in control.

Man, the constant use of metaphor is something I've missed even in queer cinema. This show is a real treat for me.

Ah, we have a conceit to remove the mom from the story for a few days. Something LGBT is definitely going to happen.

Confirming that In and Siam we're intimate only brings up more questions, like why were they sorry it happened?

Man, this show is just so different from the usual fare. I enjoy BL immensely, but I am a sucker for this particular brand of queer melancholia tinged with hope and exploration.

107 notes - Posted August 29, 2022

#2

I really am just so happy about the end of Minato’s Laundromat. Japan didn’t let us down on that one. We got a solid set of kisses, some great relief flirting, and a very tasteful double-confirmation about sating desires. I really couldn’t ask for more from this particular scenario.

Moreover, Shin never had to sublimate his feelings! He still gets to be a doctor, but he chose to do it near the person he values most.

Hell, even Asuka and Shuu get to work out their dynamic!

I’m in a good mood today.

121 notes - Posted September 14, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I am a gay man sitting on his porch in a robe with a hot cup of coffee observing the behaviors of the winds and birds. I give a small sniff and say, "The lesbians are on the move."

I adjust my radio and listen to the advertisement for Gap one more time and nod sagely before sitting in my rocking chair. "Guess we'll need more plates," I muse before taking a sip as the cries of joy begin to rise in the distance.

(Congratulations on the Gap trailer release!)

253 notes - Posted November 5, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[pastafossa]

falling down the Nope rabbit hole for like the 5th time and I reeeally wanna hear your thoughts/take on the movie

also hope you are starting to feel better!

I'm feeling a little better tonight, thank you! I took yesterday and today off and wound up just spending 99% of it sleeping it off so much for my fanfic catchup list cause damn, that shit hits like a freight train. But we're coming around it now!

And oh my god, listen - I've wanted to see this since I saw the first trailer ages ago. I trust Jordan Peele to make a good movie out of the gate at this point, I'll see his movies without knowing a goddamn thing about them. AND IT PAID OFF, I LOVED THIS MOVIE SO MUCH. I'm going to try and do this without too many spoilers so people can see it.

For anyone reading: if you havent' seen this movie yet, go watch the trailer and then consider seeing it! It's an amazing scifi/horror film!

Like first off, on cinematography alone, this movie is stunning. The shots blew my mind (OJ opening the truck and looking up, the blood rain, Ghost charging across the pasture, the entire horse chase scene), and as someone who grew up in Los Angeles, I also can't easily recall anyone who's so wonderfully captured the dry, barren sort of beauty of the scrub/deserts in the area. It's the perfect place for a freaky scifi horror movie like this because it allows these huge, massive, open, terrifying shots that you can't get with a bunch of trees and buildings in the way. It's a reminder that there is nothing to stop you from falling up into the sky (which you know is relevant in this film).

Second off, something I found hysterical is the number of times your chain gets yanked in this movie. These moments where you're sure you absolutely know what's going to happen because this is what you've been taught by the genre to expect and he just rips the rug out from under your feet. It's a move only someone who loves this sort of film can do because they KNOW you know what should happen and so they're able to play on your expectations before throwing in a twist.

Third: THE HUMOR IN THIS GODDAMN MOVIE OH MY GOD. I did not expect to laugh as much as I did, but holy shit. Angel's a gem, and then the genre aware moments, moments when weird shit is going down where you'd absolutely want to go 'fuck this, not doing this, nope.' Even the HORSES do it. And of course OJ calmly closing that truck door after looking up is one of my favorite moments. I love Daniel Kaluuya to death and back for his expression because this will become a gif staple for me whenever I see a large bug outside.

THE CHARACTERS. I loved our main cast, even if Holst was a dick. OJ was a fucking badass (AND ON HORSEBACK NO LESS), Em was 10 kinds of amazing (and gets an AKIRA MOTORCYCLE SLIDE OH MY GOD), Angel is a precious dumbass bless his heart. Jupe was also a dumbass but like... Jesus it's kinda hard not to understand considering how fucked up he was by what happened to him (also that scene - not the first one, but you know... *waves up* that scene is going to haunt me for a LONG time). BUT I AM STILL MAD AT HIM FOR THE HORSES, FUCK YOU FOR THAT JUPE.

And FINALLY. The message. I love the message of spectacle, exploitation, and how it destroys, and I love how that carries into every part of this movie - OJ and Em's grandcestor, exploited as a black jockey, so much so that people don't remember his name despite him being IN THE FIRST MOVIE EVER. Their chase for fame/fortune is even the most understandable since they're also just trying to survive in a cutthroat business - Hollywood - that is all about exploitation. And an additional level of exploitation - despite Haywood's horses being used in western films, westerns are incredibly whitewashed and lack the true diversity the profession had. Meanwhile, Holt is chasing after the perfect film shot, exploiting the moment, even when it makes no sense. Jupe is over here thinking he can exploit and control the uncontrollable - even after being traumatized by exploitation that leads to literal death (for god's sake, STOP DOING STUPID SHIT WITH WILD ANIMALS). The TMZ reporter - HOLY SHIT the kings of exploitation, being more worried about his CAMERA.

And the beauty of it all - how do we save ourselves? Stop looking. Aka: the one thing humans just can't seem to do whenever there's some train wreck going on, even when it'll get us killed.

Anyway, that's *waves* my review of Nope, I've seen it once and now I'm really desperate for a rewatch and am eagerly awaiting it being available to buy so I can keep it on my metaphorical shelf! I have some things I want to look for in the second go round cause it's definitely a Watch More Than Once movie with all the clues and little things Peele slips in and I know I missed things. But it's now in my top 10 for both scifi and horror. FIVE STARS ANGEL. FIVE STARS.

[the-cat-chat]

September 16, 2023

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hit man John Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin.

JayBell: John Wick is back!!! Everyone knows it. I've said it a thousand times, I love a good action movie. I love long, complicated, extended fight choreography. I love a hidden underworld, secret society. So of course I love the John Wick movies.

Even though this movie makes four, I honestly don't think they decrease in quality at all like so many franchises suffer with. The time, care, and attention to detail surrounding the fight choreography is so easily noticeable as a viewer. It never feels like a simple replication of the previous installments, even though they bring back some of the John Wick staples (a fight in a crowded club/party, fights that utilize stairs, fights with cars and motorcycles, the use of dogs in fights, and of course, the use of stationary products to maim opponents). Even bringing back themes people loved in the last movies, they still find ways to bring them back in creative and new ways.

Compared to the first movie, I can see how much their budget has increased. The quality of the shots, the cinematography, the locations (we're going to Japan, the desert, to France), and even just the level of stunts they can do--all of these little things work to make the movie a step up.

It's not a perfect movie of course. As much as I love Keanu Reeves, I still get caught up on his sometimes stilted delivery of John Wick's lines. But no one else could have made John Wick the character he is other than Keanu, so I can forgive him. I also don't care much for the Bowary King's character. He's just kind of there in a way. I have to admit I was also slightly disappointed that we had another dog as an assistant to an assassin since I felt we already got that with Halle Berry. But some other cool characters like Caine and the Japanese father and daughter made up for it.

My favorite scenes: the Japanese Continental fight, the overhead shot in that one building (really unique), and playing Frogger around the Arc de Triomphe

Hopefully we'll get another John Wick movie in the future. I'm still hoping for a John Wick Goes to the Beach movie (John Wick in Space? jk jk...unless?)

Rating: 7.5/10 cats 🐈

Anzie: Not to be a loser. But even though any John Wick starts at least 6 Cats, I do have to be a loser and say this one might not be my absolute favorite. But it’s hard to beat the first one bc that one was just soo cool and awesome that it’s hard to top that in follow up.

That being said- as usual the lighting and color of scenes and actual set off of the scenes were very cool. The Japanese Continental almost gave like chill rave vibes??? Don’t ask me I don’t know how my brain works either.

And letssss pllssssss talk about Bill Skarsguard. He’s Boss Baby. I said it. And his outfits. Need I say more. No. But the accent. Ugggg. Ya know not like I could do better but it hurt. Like Pepe Le Pew. He just wasn’t giving French boy vibes other than his outfits and his ponies. But I love that he just walks around places all day scheming in between outfit changes.

The tracker guy thooo, too much. A bit of a freak-azoid. But whatever. Like I get why he’s there and he’s got a dog. And a moral??? (Even tho he’s an assassin) bc he needs a specific amount of money blah blah blah. But guy’s a weird one.

The duel was realllly cool and dramatic and it was my favorite of this whole movie. Especially the arrival to the duel. I felt it in my soul and body. I really think it would’ve been a move to have like Tylenol or Advil be a sponsor for this movie.

My biggest peeve- and why I kinda disliked this movie the most from them all- not onlllllly bc of Charon’s fate- but I really feel like I only remember John Wick saying like 2 words. And I get it’s his thing, he’s so quiet and inward and stuff. But like for reals it didn’t feel like he said anything at all in a 3 hour movie. So it just feels like he was less of the main character then in the other movies. But whateverssss. What do I know??

Rating: 7/10 Cats 🐈

[cadyrocks]

"Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" is a bonafide masterpiece. A glorious parody of hagiographic biopics, we follow Al through a fictionalized version of his life and rise to stardom. At every turn, the degree to which it is fictionalized gets weirder and more extreme, until, without meaning to spoil too much, it reaches a glorious extravaganza of action and violence.

The movie was produced in part by Funny Or Die, and I guess they'll live another day, because Weird is very, very funny. Along with the typical silliness and absurdity you'd expect from a movie like this, it's also riddled with hilarious in-jokes and references to Al's career and to famous moments in rock history that provide a deeper layer to the comedy. That said, even if you know very little about those moments, the surface-level jokes more than carry the film. It's a laugh a minute basically from minute one.

The movie uses Al's music in pitch-perfect ways. We get to see (a highly fictionalized version of) him writing and performing some of the big hits of his career, and these scenes are consistently incredible. I took away a new appreciation for every one of those songs - the moment he whips out "I Love Rocky Road" feels downright transcendant.

Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al Yankovic is inspired casting. I didn't get it, and then I saw the movie, and I immediately got it within two scenes of him showing up on screen. He perfectly fits the weird, geeky nature of Weird Al, but has no problem rolling with the punches as the fame gets to him and he spirals wildly out of control. Absolutely perfect for the kind of larger than life vibe this movie is going for. I'm not gonna lie, I'm a sucker for Radcliffe (if you haven't seen Guns Akimbo, you should see Guns Akimbo) but he is impeccable in this. As is Riann Wilson giving an aptly demented turn as Doctor Demento. Evan Rachel Wood's Madonna is another gloriously ridiculous performance.

More generally, name a quirky actor or musician you love seeing in movies, and odds are they have a cameo here. Jack Black's turn as Wolf Man Jack is of particular note, in case you needed a reminder that Jack Black is an extremely sexy man who effortlessly owns every scene he's in. Small part, but the charisma on display... Woof. Also, Patton Oswalt shows up for a cameo. I just love seeing that guy in movies.

The lighting and cinematography also deserves special mention. It's all lit and shot in ways to make things look larger than life and surreal, with bright, flashy colors. It's not realistic, but it's not supposed to be. The overall vibe is incredibly effective.

This isn't a perfect movie. There are plot beats involving Al's family that, while needed for the story arc, don't mesh well with the rest of the tone or pace. The way it handles certain beats, while hilarious, are kinda problematic (most notably, it does Madonna pretty dirty and she was not consulted). But when I think about the movie, I don't think of that. I think of the absurdly funny and cathartic "My Bologna" scene, or how much of an incredible heel Madonna is. I think of Pablo Escobar. I think of the wealth of obscenely funny one-liners.

Weird is a comedy treasure. The end credits song notes that it's "technically eligible for Oscar consideration", and frankly, just give Weird Al Yankovic a fucking Oscar, he deserves it. If you like comedy, Daniel Radcliffe, Weird Al, or classic rock history, you owe it to yourself to catch this one.