#ian's stunt double

[rock-me-amadeus-epic-remix]

[cruella1989]

Star Wars Stunt Doubles

McGregoger, Christensen, and McDiarmid with their stunt doubles.

[ablatheringblatherskite]

my thoughts on ep 1 and 2 of the live action ATLA series!

So it is absolutely GORGEOUS. like the visuals??? the costumes?? THE VFX??? OUTSTANDING. CHEF'S KISS. INCREDIBLE. the worst thing is Zuko's scar and like ok whatever nothing we can do about that.

Episode one was fantastic we actually see a lot of great additions, which is COOL! like more of Monk Gyatso, and the actual attack on the Air Nomads... 😭

I'd say writing wise it's not as great as I want it to be. A touch too many monologues for my taste, especially in the first episode, but nothing too bad. Could've been better, but definitely DEFINITELY could've been worse *eyes the movie that will not be named*

You can tell they're trying to squish important plot points together instead of spacing it out across more episodes I mean especially since Netflix decided everything has to be EIGHT EPISODES. but the pacing is actually good considering that LOL

but oh the EMOTIONS. THE EMOTIONS?!?!!

the actor of Aang oh my gosh, Gordon Cormier, OMG. DUDE I NEARLY BAWLED MULTIPLE TIMES BASED ON HIS PERFORMANCE ALONE. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING 😭 HE'S SO GOOD 😭 and he's so cute too he's so baby I'm wjrhwhrhwhdhwhdhwh

I love the actors of Sokka and Zuko whdhwhdhshdsjjdhsjd. Ian Ousley and Dallas Liu? DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

SOKKA WAS HILARIOUS we BURST out laughing SO MANY TIMES, he was so GOOD 😭 the jokes he cracked were genuinely funny wwhdhwhgd and the SARCASM especially. and HIS ACTING THE ACTING HE NAILED IT?? It was so natural and THE EXPRESSIONS HE'D MAKE AND JUST. ALL HIS ACTING CHOICES IN GENERAL WERE SO GOOD. HE WAS HILARIOUS. and other than the funny parts in general he was just so good! HE GETS IT. HE IS SOKKA.

and Zuko was so good too like, we haven't gotten to all the juicy angst yet so I can't fully judge, but so far he's done SO well. Like especially the moments he'd get really angry and also HE'S SO GOOD AT MARTIAL ARTS. SO.

BUT HE'S ALSO RLLY FUNNY TOO??? especially when he gets annoyed with Uncle Iroh LIKE THE BODY LANGUAGE WAS SO SUBTLE BUT IT WAS HILARIOUS. and YES UNCLE IROH WAS GREAT TOO, I LOVE HIM SO FAR. HE IS ALSO HILARIOUS and does seem like Uncle Iroh to me so far!!

Katara hasn't had much to do yet and much like. acting stuff or much to do with her character yet but like that's okay, I'm pretty confident they're still building it up. They haven't gotten to the JUICY bits yet. But she was already so good too.

I'm really interested in some changes, like how they focus more on the Avatar State as a plot point? It's interesting LOL. There was also a shot that showed that in this universe, Katara actually saw her mom die?!?? like omg, that's so gruesome I'm crying.

and it's true that they cut out the sexism arc of Sokka 😭 BUT BUT BUT. IAN OUSLEY. OH HE GETS IT. Like you can see he's really doing his best to keep it a part of the story, like in his acting choices, he's still trying to include the more sexist aspect of his character even if the script isn't supporting it. Like he really truly did his best with what he had and he nailed it, it's the script's fault

And I will say I'm not crazy about some of the stuff they added to Suki? like, I wasn't crazy about the whole "thank you for bringing the world to me" thing, but it's just okay LOL. She's frickin GORGEOUS tho

(also I was really hoping we'd get the scene of Sokka wearing the Kyoshi warrior outfit and makeup but sadly they didn't put it in but it's okay)

OH BUT THE CRUMBS. THE SOKKA AND SUKI CRUMBS. OH THEY'RE SO CUTE. ESPECIALLY THE SCENE IN THE DOJO WHERE SHE'S TEACHING HIM?? OH IT WAS SO CUTE. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. you can tell they're doubling down a bit more on their romance, especially since we know it's already gonna be endgame, but it's making me wonder how they'll tackle Yue 🤔

but yeah. Sokka and Suki stinking adorable I was SQUEALING MULTIPLE TIMES, I LOVE IT I LOVE IT

and the BENDING. THE BENDING IS KRIFFING GORGEOUS. IT'S SO GOOD. THE STUNTS?? THE MARTIAL ARTS?? BEAUTIFUL!! MAGNIFICENT!! PERFECTION!! and the VFX?? HECK YES. AUGH!! I'm definitely not disappointed about it. And I love how dangerous the bending legitimately feels?? like it feels so LETHAL. And there were some really shocking bending moments that were done incredibly well. I loved it.

so YEAH. IN CONCLUSION. so far, judging from just the FIRST TWO episodes... I rate it a 7.5/10

The writing is maybe a 6.5/10, but the acting for sure a solid 9/10. DEFINITELY worth the watch imo, BUT so much more enjoyable with an open mind and acceptance that it's not supposed to be a carbon copy of the show.

[sillyname30]

I just listened to the latest episode of and that's what you really missed on Glee.

Kevin said the recap at the beginnging of the episode was the longest recap in the series. And the main focus is on the neglect of Tina in the past 3 seasons. Jenna said they finally acknowledge they underused Tina. Kevin said it felt like an apology. (One of the guests said the recap was so long, because the episode was a little too short)

Jenna fell into the fountain many time although they had 2 stunt doubles. (I don't understand the logic of that. Jenna had to get wet as Tina and Rachel, but why did she had to fall so many times when they had stunt doubles?)

Kevin felt that (Tina storming out) was all very targeted in a way. Where it's like what happened in real life to Jenna during Michael. Many scenes felt very familiar. Jenna said it felt mirrored. It felt projected.

Ian helped Jenna prepare to be Rachel. She felt like they saw enough of it, that the base was already there. Ian helped her with the song. He gave her a couple of distinctive things that she does.

Jenna had a lot of fun doing the scenes with Lea.

Cringe moment: the way Sue referred to Unique + little people

best dance move: welding + Vocal Adrelanine

best song: Because You Loved Me

performance mvp: Jenna (Kevin), Mark and everybody brought it in (Jenna)

The didn’t mention the body swap of Finn and Kurt. Chris was so good as Finn.

[scarlet-ancunin]

Hello! If you are feeling up to it, no pressure and no strain on your elbow, sweetie! I've had an idea for Ian. What if the Reader leaps? A bit like Ben, they leap without warning anyone and not even their lover Ian. (Maybe they leave a letter behind to explain they wanted to rescue Ben?), and how Ian would react at that. Some angst and heartbreak, and Ian overworking, hehe. (Maybe he'd switch places with Addison whenever he could, to see their lover??)

And eventually they manage to make the Reader leaps back home, and tight hugs and tears, and kisses. :3 Your blog is honestly the greatest!

Oooh i like this kaaayyy

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Come Back Please

It was turmoil, everyone was running about trying to get Magic on the phone calling Addison and Trying their best to locate Ben...... and now you...

You and Ian had been the lead programmers for the Quantum Leap project it was a stressful task but you both done your jobs remarkably well. Did we forget to mention everyone consider you both the power couple and for Ben "big brain couple" because you both had been together for a few years. Almost as long as Ben and Addison.

However when Ben pulled that stunt it was a major setback not only to Ben's memories but also everyone back home. It is a stressful time for all of them working double time to try and get Ben back home.

But a night before as Ian and Y/n was resting, or rather a needed release from their pent up energy Ian held you close to them while you nuzzle them. "I wish i can do more to help bring ben home..." you said sadly.

Ian looked at you for a moment. "I know love, but there is nothing we can do except figure out where he is headed and how we can help bring him home with Ziggy's help." Ian sighs wishing the same thing ignorant to the real plan.

It was something that caught Ian off guard. Opening a letter two days later after they had finished a lovely dinner and playing around turning in for the night Ian wakes up to a letter at thier bed side with your handwriting.

~ "Dear Ian, I am sorry about how things turned out. if you are reading this I have left and more importantly, I mean I leaped, I think I found a way to bring ben home but I'm not sure unless I try to reach them, maybe if I can complete certain leaps it can shorten the time ben has to be out there. I'm sorry love I know you will be mad at me but I truly believe I can help and I know you will help me. ~y/n ~ Ian looked as if they have seen a ghost and they ran to get dressed calling everyone and heading to the facility. Getting there Jenn saw Ian rush towards their computer trying to stay calm typing rapidly and trying to start up ziggy to find you. Addison saw a single tear run down Ian's cheek as they tried to find you. Everything was the same only Ian was slightly dulled working smoothly but everyone knew they were not okay. after some time Addison rushed over to Ian. "IAN I FOUND Y/N" Ian turned and looked at her "it seems once Ben accomplished his mission I was sent to y/n I told them I will be back but I think...Ian, I think you should Guide y/n back home." Ian looked away "w-what if y/n doesn't remember me.." Addison smiled suddenly "I'm sure that will not be the case here Jenn found out y/n put a new code in Ziggy and it seems to be working go see y/n Ian" you were looking around leaping into someone who was a famous model who died in a car crash the mission was to make sure that didn't happen but you needed to know how and what lead to that point and avoid it. "y/n" you turned around and your eyes widen seeing Ian There instead of Addison "Ian...Ian, I'm so sorry" "why didn't you tell me," they said sadly "because I knew you wouldn't let me go" "I wouldn't have you right" you stared at them "have you been sleeping" "I'm fine...you have you stop the crash from happening apparently it had something to do with a rival model becoming jealous of you so start from there." you nod about to say something when Ian looked away "i-i have to go now. please be careful" with that they left and you look down sighing weakly "...." Back at HQ Ian was leaning against the wall and taking shaky breaths silent tears streaming down their face. they felt a pair of arms wrap around them "it's okay Ian they will be okay and will be home like Ben" Ian nods but sniff lightly "I don't understand how you are calm... B-ben isn't here and now y/n i-i can't lose both of them" Addison held them closer and told them it will be okay. After a long while, one day Jenn and Addison along with Magic called Ian quickly while they were troubleshooting Ziggy Jenn was typing fast but when Addison explained what was happening Ian took over typing quickly until they saw the spike once more. They ran to the chamber seeing y/n appear there once walking off you ran to meet Ian halfway hugging them tightly as you both cried in each other's arms sharing a few kisses and you told them how much you loved them. the crew watched smiling some even crying because of this moment. "d-don't leave me again please" they said calming down a bit. "I promise..i-i hope I helped ben come closer" Addison smiles and nods "you did actually, you manage to shorten drastically his leaping process and he may be home sooner rather than later" once close to everyone you hugged them tightly before Magic spoke up "okay you two go home take a break for now and come on Friday just to get ready to come back alright." both you and Ian didn't fight it and left after waving at everyone.

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Taglist: @justaproudslytherpuff , @sherazyjade , @the-masked-scorpio , @sugakookieswithacupoftae16 , @happilydangerousworld , @harlekin6

[watching-pictures-move]

Movie Review | Miami Vice: Freefall (Mayberry, 1989)

Miami Vice in its fifth and final season was a very different show from its heyday. Michael Mann’s name continued to be slapped onto the end credits, but the lightning in a bottle quality of the first two seasons, with their mixture of effervescent aesthetics, defiance of conventions and willingness to leave the audience in violent disconcert, had long since dissipated and the show had become increasingly straightforward, formulaic. Probably the easiest way to demarcate the phases of the show would be the colour schemes. The first two seasons favoured pastels, which provided ironic comment on the edgier subject matter. The third and fourth seasons favoured neons, hinting at a more straightforward idea of cool. And the fifth season shifted to an even darker, high contrast colour scheme, with deep blacks in the interiors and at night, contrasting with the sunburnt daylight hues. And musically, the sometimes complex and layered, sometimes giddy music by Jan Hammer had been replaced by a more conventional hard rock sound by Tim Truman.

There’s an obviousness to this final aesthetic, that brings to mind the laboured style of modern prestige television, which can lean on drab colour schemes and ponderous camera moves to lazily gesture towards seriousness. (I should note that I pretty much can’t stand HBO sheen.) But the overwhelming feeling here is of exhaustion. Episodes increasingly settled matters through shootouts, with a higher gunplay quotient than in previous seasons. The moments of bemusement offered earlier are increasingly scarce. And the personal cost of the job seems to weight increasingly heavily on our heroes Crockett and Tubbs, as their efforts seem to make little difference in the grand scheme of things. (The series is certainly an ‘80s cop show and carries a certain cavalier attitude about law enforcement as one can expect, but it’s been more willing to interrogate those qualities than I expected going in, and has always had a social conscience.)

So there is a certain dulled quality one can expect with the finale, but I must report that I found it an immensely satisfying finale to the series. Like the other two-parters, the narrative is more expansive than usual, although along with the lower number of needledrops, this is an area where the smaller budget for this season shows. The first half has the boys heading down to a Latin American dictatorship to extract a politically friendly despot (modeled after Manuel Noriega, but played by Ian McShane in brownface makeup that makes him look like Muammar Gaddafi). There are shootouts and battles and an exfiltration from the presidential palace, although it rarely feels like they’re actually in Latin America. (The combat footage is recycled from “Stone’s War”, which is one of two episodes to feature the most bananas stunt casting in the show: G. Gordon Liddy as a CIA scumbag.)

But the second half feels like Vice much closer to its peak, setting off a series of double crosses that evoke a violent sense of whiplash, each twist of the plot punctuated with as much blood and gunfire as ‘80s network TV would allow. Crockett’s and Tubbs’ exhaustion turns to rage, leading to a thunderous finale that mirrors the iconic capper to the pilot “Brother’s Keeper”, with the boys heading down to the pier to settle things once and for all. Crockett even dual wields like he did in the pilot. I do think it’s a mistake to not have reused Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight”, although Honeymoon Suite’s “Bad Attitude” isn’t the worst song in the world.

And on a superficial note, it’s nice that both the boys return to wardrobes somewhat similar to the ones they had originally. Back to the pastels for Crockett. No more awful prints for Tubbs. Some of the other regulars are awkwardly integrated. Gina and Trudy barely figure into the episode, and Castillo’s hair in his final scene looks very… unconvincing. (I believe Edward James Olmos as shooting Stand and Deliver around this time, in which he has a combover, so I suspect he’s wearing a wig in the scene.) But at least Switek’s gambling problem, which the season tried so hard to push, finally pays off with something interesting. And there’s no way I can be objective about this, but having spent half a year obsessed with this show, the final scene between Crockett and Tubbs had me tearing up a bit.

[ojcobsessed]

Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Doctor Who and Victoria actress Jenna Coleman have been announced as key cast on Northern England-set action thriller Jackdaw, the debut feature of Jamie Childs, whose drama directing credits include The Sandman and His Dark Materials.

Jackson-Cohen, whose recent credits include Emily, The Lost Daughter, stars as a former motocross champion and army veteran, now caring for his younger brother.

Broke, he agrees to do an open water pick up of a mysterious illegal package in the North Sea. A resulting double cross and his brother’s disappearance set him and his old bike on a violent nocturnal odyssey through England’s northern rust belt.

Anton has fully financed the production with the support of North East Screen and will launch worldwide sales at the upcoming EFM.

The company has released a first look of Jackson-Cohen in the film which was shot in various locations across England’s Northeast coast.

Jamie Childs, who also wrote the screenplay, said inspiration for the film grew out of a desire to create a thriller set in in his home region.

“We see so many American films set in atmospheric towns that don’t tie themselves to local, kitchen-sink stories. I thought, why don’t we do this in Britain?,” he said.

“We set out to push the envelope of what was possible stylistically and tonally in the region. Its clash of pastoral and industrial worlds is the perfect setting for an exciting, pulpy chase thriller,” he said.

The film is produced by Sebastian Raybaud (Greenland, Canary Black) and Callum Grant for Anton, Kate Glover (47 Meters Down, Black Mirror) and Jamie Childs. Childs directs alongside his regular DOP Will Baldy (The Sandman, Willow).

“We’re thrilled to be part of Jamie’s feature debut. The calibre of our cast and crew speaks to the unique quality of his script and commercial vision for the project,” said Grant.

“Like Ridley and Tony Scott, Jamie grew up in the post-industrial heartland of this film and we are paying homage to their early work in Jackdaw. As an action piece, it will take audiences somewhere they haven’t been in contemporary British cinema.”

Stunt work on the film is being designed by industry leaders Dave Judge (Dune, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises) and Ian Van Temperly (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), with production design by Matt Gant (Gangs Of London, Shadow and Bone).

Casting was by Jessie Frost (Triangle of Sadness, Little Planet, Borg vs McEnroe).

Rounding out the cast are Vivienne Acheampong (The Sandman), Joe Blakemore and BAFTA Breakthrough Performer 2022 Leon Harrop.

guess allan mustafah wasn't kidding when he said oliver was playing his carer after all : )

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

The White House tried to flip the script on border security politics, accusing House Republicans of “staging political stunts” and undermining border security ahead of a House Oversight Committee hearing Tuesday that probed the Biden administration’s handling of the US southern border.

In a memo obtained by CNN, the White House counsel’s office spokesman Ian Sams credited a series of new immigration and border security actions by the administration with reducing southern border crossings last month and slammed House Republicans for voting against the omnibus spending bill last year that included billions of dollars in border security funding and accused them of “pushing an agenda that would make border security worse.”

“It is clear that House Republicans are more interested in staging political stunts than on rolling up their sleeves to work with President Biden and Democrats in Congress on legislation to strengthen border security and fix our immigration system that has needed repair for decades,” Sams wrote in the memo. “But beyond their refusal to work constructively to pursue concrete solutions, they and their allies in the states are actually pushing an agenda that would make things worse at the border.”

The memo was distributed Tuesday morning to Democrats on Capitol Hill and other allies, just hours before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee held a hearing with two chief patrol agents of the US Border Patrol.

The committee’s chairman, Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, has accused the Biden administration of igniting “the worst border crisis in American history.”

“Starting on day one in office, President Biden and his administration rolled back deterrent focused policies, halted the construction of the border wall, gutted interior enforcement, pushed amnesty for illegal immigrants – all of which have made it difficult for US Border Patrol agents to secure the border,” Comer said in a statement announcing Tuesday’s hearing, vowing to hold the administration accountable.

Southern border crossings have hit record levels under Biden, making the issue a key political vulnerability that the newly empowered House Republican majority is eager to exploit. But Biden administration officials saw progress last month as daily migrant encounters dropped by more than half on the heels of new policies enacted by the administration.

During that hearing, Republicans slammed the Biden administration over its handling of the US southern border, claiming that the administration is to blame for the uptick in fentanyl being smuggled into the country and doubling down on their intentions to investigate.

“We will investigate. We will reveal the truth. And we will force accountability,” said Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana.

The back and forth between Republicans and Democrats over fentanyl in the over three-hour hearing underscored the highly political nature of the border, including over drug smuggling.

GOP lawmakers repeatedly cited so-called “gotaways” – migrants who evade capture – arguing that the thousands of known “gotaways” are evidence of what lawmakers described as an “open border” policy despite the Department of Homeland Security continuing to rely on a Trump-era border restriction that allows authorities to turn migrants away.

Democratic lawmakers on the committee, meanwhile, frequently cited data that shows fentanyl primarily comes in and is stopped at ports of entry. Republicans pushed back, saying that it’s unclear how many individuals may be carrying drugs into the United States.

“All we’re doing in this hearing is politicizing another issue in this country that doesn’t need to be politicized. We all agree that fentanyl is a problem,” said Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida.

DHS has said it’s false that migrants seeking asylum between ports of entry are bringing fentanyl, which is instead often smuggled via vehicles through ports of entry.

The White House is also putting the spotlight back on GOP state officials who are suing to end Biden administration immigration policies, including most recently a lawsuit by 20 Republican-led states to block the expansion of a program that will allow up to 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Haiti to enter the US each month. Ending those policies “would lead to more unlawful border crossings,” the White House said.

“Why won’t House Republicans stand up to Republican state attorneys general who are trying to create more unlawful border crossings by ending President Biden’s new measures for border enforcement and safe, orderly migration?” Sams asked in the memo.

“House Republicans should join the President in pursuing real solutions, not political stunts – and they should answer for their opposition to funding for border security and their refusal to stand up to Republican officials trying to create more unlawful border crossings,” he added.

[tacanderson]

The Japanese Book, American Movie Connection

It's hard to find many Japanese books translated into English that aren't manga. Nothing against manga, I just wish more novels made their way over here. If you're interested, here's two books worth your time and one that's not Japanese, but you'll see why I included it here.

Bullet Train

Have you seen the movie Bullet Train yet? Great movie. Brad Pitt does an excellent job playing the unlucky (but really lucky), bumbling criminal. (Fun fact: the director, David Leitch (John Wick, Deadpool 2, Atomic Blond) was Brad Pitt's stunt double before he became a director.) When I saw the trailer I looked up the movie and saw that it was an adaptation of a Japanese book. So before I talk more about Bullet Train, I need to talk about a book I first read in 2014 and then re-read this year (yeah, I know, for someone who said he never rereads books, I sure reread a lot this year).

All You Need Is Kill

In 2014 the movie Edge of Tomorrow came out. Interestingly, the DVD release would change the title to Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow. As in most cases, the book usually gets it right and they should have stuck with the original book title, All You Need Is Kill. What a great name. But I can see why they wouldn't think it would work well as a major motion picture movie title.

So, in 2014 Edge of Tomorrow was released and some neighbors came back from seeing the movie (opening weekend, I think) with the above pictured book. Knowing I was interested in seeing the movie and that I was a sci-fi fan, they gave me the book. At first I thought it was one of those movie novelizations, but quickly realized it was the actually the book the movie was based on. First off, how awesome is that?

If I had one Christmas wish it would be that every time a movie was made from a book, the studio would give out free copies of the book with every opening weekend ticket. I can tell you I'd see a lot more movies in the theater if they did that.

So, I read the book and instantly fell in love with it. I went and saw the move and loved it as well. While the movie was different, I felt like they did a good job sticking to the spirit of the book. I wish the movie would have ended about 10 minutes earlier, without the Hollywood ending, so it would have been closer to the book ending, but that's okay. I get it.

So, back to Bullet Train. I had plans with some friends to go see the movie and I quickly read the book before we went. The book was great, but there was one character, The Prince, that really bothered me. He's this psychotic tween who manipulates everyone in the book. That's not actually what bothers me. What I didn't like was he'd have these long internal and external monologues about morality and how he was so much superior to everyone, and blah, blah, blah. Way too much ink was spent on these thoughts of his.

The movie didn't have this and The Prince, gender swapped and played by Joey King, wasn't nearly as annoying. And this is one of these rare instances where I'm going to say that the movie was better than the book. I still enjoyed the book, but the move was way more fun.

But this leads me to my third book.

Shibumi

When we first meet The Prince, she is reading a book called Shibumi. I hadn't heard of this book, but the cover reminded me of the cover to Shogun, which I remember my dad reading when I was a kid. I quickly jotted down the name of the book and looked it up later.

Shibumi may be my favorite new book I read this year. It was definitely the most unexpected. The author of Shibumi simply goes by the name Trevanian. As it says on the cover of my book, Trevanian was the only writer of airport paperbacks to be compared to Zola, Ian Fleming, Poe, and Chaucer.

Upon researching the book and the author, I was very surprised to learn that Shibumi was a best selling book when it was released in 1979 and between 1972 and 1983 Trevanian had five books all sell over a million copies each. Having been born in 1972, its no surprise I hadn't heard of him, but given how good the book is, and how much praise the author gets I'm surprised I hadn't heard of him until now. But I think that's all going to change. I think we're about to have a small Trevanian resurgence.

The book is being adapted into a movie. The screenplay is being adapted by Matthew Orton, who wrote episode one of Moon Knight, and it's being directed by Chad Stahelski, who has directed all three John Wick movies, as well as the upcoming fourth one. But this isn't his first movie adaptation, he also write The Eiger Sanction in 1972, which was adapted into film in 1975 starring and directed by Clint Eastwood.

Through all the success Trevanian had no one ever knew his actual name. It was a lot easier to keep your identity hidden before the internet came along. Trevanian's real name is Rodney William Whitaker. What's even more fascinating to me is that Whitaker didn't stick to one genre, even with his pen name, Travanian, he published under several different genres.

But here's the thing that impressed me. Shibumi is satire. It's such a subtle satire that it frustrated the author because most people didn't get it. I have to admit when I first started reading it I thought, "wow, this is over the top 1970's macho spy stuff." Then after a few more pages, I thought, "that can't be right, this is too well written." The text isn't subtle, but the satire is. If you want a good laugh, read the hundreds of one-star reviews on Goodreads and you'll see just how much people miss the mark on this book.

[ulkaralakbarova]

In Venice Beach, naive Midwesterner JB bonds with local slacker KG and they form the rock band Tenacious D. Setting out to become the world’s greatest band is no easy feat, so they set out to steal what could be the answer to their prayers… a magical guitar pick housed in a rock-and-roll museum some 300 miles away. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: JB: Jack Black KG: Kyle Gass Lee: JR Reed Dio: Ronnie James Dio Open Mic Host: Paul F. Tompkins Lil’ JB: Troy Gentile Security Guard: Ned Bellamy Security Guard: Fred Armisen Car Chase Cop / Gang Leader: Kirk Ward Truck Stop Waitress: Amy Poehler The Stranger: Tim Robbins Satan: Dave Grohl Guitar Center Guy: Ben Stiller Girl: Lara Everly Girl: Brittany Eldridge Girl: Melissa-Anne Davenport Gang Member: John Ennis Gang Member: V.J. Foster Gang Member: Jay Johnston Drunk Frat Dude: Colin Hanks Al’s Bar Waitress: Stephanie Erb Gorgeous Woman: Amy Adams Tattooed Biker: Milos Milicevic Ecstatic Woman: Molly Bryant Poopy Guy: Michael Rivkin Stand Up Comic: Gregg Turkington Exploding Head Guy: Patrick M. Walsh Fainting Woman: Bevin Kaye KG’s Mother: Evie Peck Young KG: Mason Knight Bully: Erik Walker Betty Black: Cynthia Ettinger Billy Black: Andrew Lewis Caldwell Tarot Card Reader: Laura Milligan Frat Boy #1 (uncredited): Jason Segel Bud Black (uncredited): Meat Loaf Sasquatch (uncredited): John C. Reilly Film Crew: Casting: Jeanne McCarthy Executive Producer: Georgia Kacandes Songs: Jack Black Stunts: Jack Gill Executive Producer: Ben Stiller Original Music Composer: John King Makeup Designer: Barney Burman Second Unit Director of Photography: Paul Hughen Supervising Sound Editor: Elmo Weber Stunt Double: Cole S. McKay Visual Effects Supervisor: David D. Johnson Casting: Juel Bestrop Executive Producer: Cale Boyter Stunts: Mic Rodgers Songs: Kyle Gass Writer: Liam Lynch Producer: Stuart Cornfeld Editor: David Rennie Executive Producer: Toby Emmerich Executive In Charge Of Production: Erik Holmberg Second Assistant Director: Heather Grierson Production Design: Martin Whist Sound Effects Editor: Derek Vanderhorst Director of Photography: Robert Brinkmann Executive Producer: Richard Brener Original Music Composer: Andrew Gross Second Unit Director: Rick Avery Supervising Sound Editor: David Bach First Assistant Director: Milos Milicevic Stunts: Doug Coleman Stunts: Tim Trella Stunt Driver: Angelique Midthunder Art Department Coordinator: Mike Piccirillo Stunts: Robert Chapin Set Decoration: Don Diers Costume Designer: Dayna Pink Stunts: Terry Jackson Stunt Double: John Ashker Special Effects Makeup Artist: Toni G Stunts: Tom Elliott Special Effects Makeup Artist: Justin Stafford Special Effects Makeup Artist: Mike Smithson Stunt Double: Rick Miller Stunts: Larry Rippenkroeger Stunts: Sean Graham Art Direction: Maria Baker Stunts: Ian Quinn Script Supervisor: Pamela Alch Stunts: Brian Machleit Sound Effects Editor: Clayton Weber Still Photographer: Zade Rosenthal Stunts: Frank Torres Aerial Director of Photography: David B. Nowell Hair Department Head: Linda D. Flowers Key Hair Stylist: Merribelle Anderson Makeup Artist: Ralis Kahn Hairstylist: Yeşim “Shimmy” Osman Sound Effects Editor: Marc Glassman Visual Effects: Brent M. Bowen Camera Operator: Michael FitzMaurice Sound Effects Editor: Orada Jusatayanond Costume Supervisor: Hope Slepak Stunts: Dean Bailey Stunts: Eliza Coleman Makeup Department Head: Kate Shorter Stunt Coordinator: Scotty Richards Production Supervisor: Ralph Bertelle First Assistant Camera: Thomas Vandermillen Stunt Coordinator: Brian Avery Visual Effects: John Coats Stunts: Kevin Abercrombie Special Effects Makeup Artist: Scott Stoddard Stunts: Joni Avery Stunt Driver: Ed McDermott II Special Effects Makeup Artist: Michael Marino Second Second Assistant Director: Velvet Andrews-Smith Steadicam Operator: Jon Myers Stunt Driver: Jody Hart Stunts: Roger Richman Second Second Assistant Director: Ivan Kraljević Stunts: Danny Wynands Stunts: Jeff Brockton Stunt Double: Tad Griffith Stunts: Buck McDancer Special Effects Coordinator: Andy Weder Stunt...

[hollowwhisperings]

that awkward moment where you re-read a crack post only to find that you accidentally edited out the "crack" part.

i'm sorry hugo weaving: it's not your fault they used the character you played to make drama for "character growth". > _ <

additionally must i apologise to:

Fans of the Live-Action Adaptions, old and new, whose introductions to the Legendarium through said works has undoubtedly gifted us all with new friends to nerd out with.

Fans of the above who met the books first & nonetheless enjoyed the motion picture: adaptions allow us all to better analyze our own, personal readings of "canon" through new perspectives. The Legendarium's uses Adaption (in the form of "Translation" to ENG) as its Framing Device: contesting canonicity is Encouraged within the text itself (which paints itself as "unreliable").

Hugo Weaving, for acting the role as it was written for him (no matter my Opinions on Said Writing): apparently Aragorn & Arwen needed a Direct Antagonist to "grow" from.

the employees of Weta Workshop, who did incredibly meticulous work for Tolkien's Legendarium (& continue to do so).

Sir Christopher Lee, who fully conveyed the Might & Majesty of the Wizard Saruman and wielded fully his Greater Experience (with Tolkien's works, stabbing people & just ~generally~) for the bettterment of LOTR's production. The good Sir rests now in Valinor but is ever One Of Us.

Sir Ian McKellan, for his fearsome & canny portrayal of Middle-Earth's Most Persistent Busybody. He has ever been "Mellon" to Fans & Fandom.

Cate Blanchette, who embodied "Galadriel" in all her beautiful glory: she ascertained the power of the character, subtle and fearsome and ancient. Her Graceful Swooshing of The Big Swishy Sleeves prompted my younger self into gaining an interest in the films at all (& thus Those Books I Forgot I Had). If I ever successfully sit through all three films, I'd gladly argue for her place as an Honary "Great" of Chinese Fantasy Dramas (LOTR isn't xianxia but it certainly resembles it in some parts, at least with its Immortals).

Viggo Mortensen, whose castmates found in him a "Strider" worth following, and who has everafter provided the Tolkien Fandom with its very own Cryptid.

Kiran Shah, for whom we can thank wonders untold in the cinematic Legendarium, in his roles as Frodo and Stunt Actor for all four hobbits. Rightfully was he named "Lord of the Scale Doubles" by his castmates: his laurels are well deserved!

Shah's Fellow Doubles in the LOTR films¹, who have long shared in his obscurity: I have added Footnotes that name The IRL Fellowship in its entirety, as best I could ascertain (corrections welcomed!).

Sophia Nomvete, who suffered first and worst in the Racist Backlash against TROP (her image amongst the very first released in Amazon's Promotions): she is beautiful in the role, even in her beardlessness.

the remaining POC cast of TROP, in its first season & those upcoming: they trailblaze against everything set against them² and I collate them in hope that "Tokenism" become a thing of fable... but mostly because TROP has enough of Us in its cast them to make "namedropping" the work of a paragraph (to which i say: took you long enough, Hollywood).

Alex Tarrant & Kali Kopae: they, amongst others cast as "Numenoreans" in TROP, are the first Polynesian actors to star in Tolkien works with their own faces³. They carry with them the Weight of Legacies, fictional and truthful: may the writing do they & their characters justice.

every & anyone who sets the Legendarium to Song, its "truest" incarnation by a Watsonian's metric. yes, even those responsible for the whole "they're taking the hobbits to Isengard!" meme.

Footnotes below the cut: there I touch on Prejudice & Politick, as found throughout Tolkien works: Racism is the primary focus (Anti-Semitism is tied-therein, made "implicit" because This Is Tolkien afterall) though I make reference also to Ableism.

¹The IRL Fellowship of the Ring: Doubles & All

Frodo Baggins was played not only by Elijah Wood but by Kiran Shah, who doubly served as "Size" & "Stunt" Double for Wood.

Sam was played by Sean Astin (principal), Bhoja ‘BK’ Kannada (size) & Kiran Shah (stunts).

Merry by Dominic Monaghan (principal), Martin Lenisson Gray (size) & Kiran Shah (stunts).

Pippin by Billy Boyd (principal), Praphaphorn ‘Fon’ Chansantor (size) & Kiran Shah (stunts).

(Yes, Kiran Shah was apparently the stuntsman for all of the hobbits: finding this out required my reading of More Recent Journalism, as Wikis only credit their principal actors & size doubles in the roles, with Shah's stuntwork credited only generically in-film & in wikis)

Gimli was primarily played by Brett Beattie but, despite Some Effort from his colleagues to confer co-crediting, only John Rhys-Davies was named in main billing ("movie politics", apparently). Beattie was initially cast for stunt & scaling work, but soon became a full-time "stand-in" for much of principal photography (Davies was Infamously Allergic to the Gimli Prosthetics, which restricted how long he could work).

An Aside: I remain personally ??? at why the production bothered to cast anyone, only to give them a full-face of prosthetics. The prosthetic wig & facial hair? Yes: modern beauty standards made it unlikely that a "fully haired" actor would be found for the role. The prosthetic nose, forehead & [whatever else] too? Those served no narrative purpose save, perhaps, an idea that "dwarves should look Old and [conventionally] Unattractive". This is my conclusion upon recalling the general "effect" of Gimli's changed characterization in the films & PJ's Pointed Rejection of casting "little people" in principal roles to begin with.

Legolas was played by Orlando Bloom (principal), Paul Randall (size) & Morgan Evans (stunts). Though Evans was only credited as Legolas in Fellowship, given that the entire trilogy was shot together, it can be Assumed that Evans retained the role as theirs is the only name that came up.

Aragorn was played by Viggo Mortensen (principal), Paul Randall (size) & Kirk Maxwell (stunts).

Gandalf was played by Sir Ian McKellen (principal), Paul Randall (size) & Basil Chapham (stunts). Chapham was credited as a "riding double" (or otherwise under "stunts"). A photo exists of all three Gandalfs in costume together: it's adorable.

Boromir was played by Sean Bean (principal), Paul Randall (size) & Lance Louez (stunts).

Paul Randall did indeed play as Legolas, Aragorn, Gandalf AND Boromir. Though I could only found him specifically credited as Legolas, interviews & cast photos do indeed name him as a "Stand-In" for all four roles. At 7"1, Randall could be used to scale "Big Folk" into scenes with the principal hobbit actors.

²Hollywood Racism in Fantasy Film Casting: Watch This Space?

We all Cringed at the blatant yellow & brownface of the Live-Action "Avatar the Last Airbender" film. The author of the Wizard of Earthsea series has long battled for its primary protagonist, Ged, to look like himself on book covers: he came to adaptions "pre-whitewashed" (to the great frustration of his creator, writer Ursula K. Leguin).

While there is no Public Ado About TROP from its BIPOC cast, save their grace in the face of Racist Backlash, Amazon's making the series at all was inspired by the success of HBO's Game of Thrones. The nature of Streamed Media is something currently protested: actors & writers own nothing they make, can say nothing of their work nor on its reception, and this has yet to Change for the begger.

Those Aware of how GoT handled its canonically POC characters (the Dornish, the peoples of Essos & the Summer Islands) are likely Aware of its Incredulous Killing-Off of the only black woman in its primary cast (Missandei, adapted to screen as an adult woman). Missandei's actor, Nathalie Emmanuelle, has been Very Diplomatic in interviews on her experiences while filming & later watching the show.

Additional instances of how racism has affected more recent Big Budget Fantasy Productions, "internally" (through casting & writing choices) and "externally" (racist backlash against adaptions & actors) can be found in the Star Wars sequel trilogy (Disney) and the televisation of Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" (Freemantle). Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico, SW) & John Boyega (Finn, SW) have spoken on their respective experiences with both (both went on to work on other Disney projects but Disney is its own Balrog) , while Orlando Jones has spoken of the racial discrimination within the production of American Gods.

The ongoing Writer's Strike is Informative on the limits of speech imposed on those working on Streamed Media such as TROP, writers & actors both. While TROP's 2nd season had already "wrapped" prior to the Strike, its production team & cast are still very much affected it: their speech is policed, by contractual obligations & self-preservation. Many of TROP's cast is "fresh": they do not have the clout to break convention, especially those acting as "trailblazing minorities" & whose continued employment is more vulnerable for it.

³The (Accidental) Diversity of the LOTR film trilogy & its (Deliberate) Othering of its BIPOC

PJ's films are sometimes joked as being (very long) tourism ads for New Zealand: the islands had been "cast" as Middle-Earth, something retained in pop culture ever since.

To fill out the wide landscapes of Middle-Earth required more cast than Hollywood could affordably export: thusly was casting opened to the local populace. This is how PJ's LOTR films' were made Accidentally Diverse.

Much of the Cavalry in the LOTR films (all those extras on horseback) were IRL Eowyns: the majority of the locals with the horsemanship the production required turned our to be female. Given that entirety of Eowyn's Plotline requires gender-exclusion in Rohan's armies? All those female riders in the background were "disguised" with beards.

Lesser known (certainly less publicised) is the quickness of the LOTR production in deciding which local New Zealanders would be cast & in what roles: a myth of whiteness in "New Zealand as Middle-Earth" was actively chosen at every opportunity.

Tolkien's Imperialist Guilt kicked in, eventually, for his depicting the Enthralled Armies of Sauron as... IRL peoples traditionally colonized (in many cases enslaved) by European Powers. He'd accidentally-on-purpose written "reverse racisn" into Middle-Earth. He'd also depicted & decribed orcs with much of the dehumanizing rhetoric used against peoples of African. This prompted both White & Catholic Guilt in his personal writings (...that never made it into printings of the Legendarium).

Decades later, when filming a big budget live-action adaption to Tolkien's Legendarium, the Production (Peter Jackson definitely included) decided that all their visually BIPOC extras should be cast exclusively as... Orcs and Foreign Invaders of Middle-Earth. Y'know: the very same Enthralled Armies of Sauron that had so troubled the Professor (very belatedly) for the Blatant Racism of it all.

Amongst those Visually BIPOC persons cast as Foreign Invaders? Just about everyone who was Maōri: Maōri, the very people native to "Middle-Earth", and a country that was very much colonized by European Powers (there were also some Attempted Conquest, though "there were no New Zealand Wars" was still the "historical canon" taught during LOTR's filming: mayhaps that explains how the Irony went unrealised).

I will note that it's been twenty-ish years & several more films yet we're still waiting on PJ to have his Belated "Crisis Of Conscience" RE: Racism. TROP, at least, cast its Maōri actors as Proper Numenorean Conquerors so... progress?

[smoshers-comment]

▶ I Had A Breakdown (Smoffice)

In all seriousness though, good therapy does help a lot of people!

[scarlet-ancunin]

idk I'm feeling really angsty for some odd reason so can you do an Ian x Reader where the reader gets a call from work that Ian's been hurt or maybe the reader is literally in another section of the facility and hears the commotion. omg thank youuuu

Oop okay. Hm i can put my new gif i made to.... but we need happy ending sooo~

Btw Request are open :)

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Never Letting Go

it started with an argument, something small that escalated more than it had to. something stupid really.......really, really stupid.

"Why can't you just put a damn bag in the garbage can once you take it out I keep forgetting and end up having to do more work to clean it," you said annoyed looking at Ian who was sipping their coffee. "what is the big deal it's just a bag besides why not double it so if I do take it out one would be in there already," Ian said annoyed now because it was too early for this and they was already stressed out with the stunt Ben pulled.

it could have ended there really but you hated being wrong or even told something that was actually accurate and you hated that you couldn't think of that solution before this which caused you to snap once more. "for you being a genius you sure don't know how to take your own damn suggestion why can't you do it" you spat.

Ian placed the coffee cup down glaring at you now "why should I, i have things to do, WE have things to do half of the time you sit there in the living room sometimes and do nothing" Ian regretted what they said because there was a reason you had to sit down since you had recently found out you had to take it easy since you were the leader Technician in charge of the Technology part of the Facility both you and Ian were working at. you may have slipped and landed hard on your back.

you glare at them "you know why i have to sit and do nothing at times after work because of what happened to me. What about you, you should have known What ben was up to and now they are leaping and we are no where closer to finding him!" you regretted that because they looked away clenching their jaw and turning away.

"Ian Wait- I'm-" you were cut off "just save it.." they would say leaving the house and you look down.

everyone knew you both were in a bad mood because you both used every opportunity to avoid each other. When you tried to talk to them they would say I'm busy and walk away or if they tried you glared at them repeating the same thing "I'm busy"

However, you felt something was wrong you were walking to your office spotting someone that just didn't look right. As you walked over to your office you saw the security camera for a moment to watch in horror Ian pulling Magic out of the way and getting shot watching them stumble back into the desk and collapse.

You didn't see the last part because you were already running there watching Jenn and another security guard dragging the man away. magic was calling an ambulance Addison held their head up.

you slide across the floor to grip their hand calling them over and over "L-love please open your eyes don't you dare g-go" you said gently holding their face in your hands while Addison held the wound to try and stop the bleeding you saw them trying to focus having their eyes open looking up at you they try to mumble something but it was incoherent and blood spilled a bit from his mouth and you cried.

"I'm so sorry I promise ill be a better lover I'm sorry Ian please don't leave me I can't lose you now please." you cried even as they pry your hands off of Ian and placed them on a stretcher and quickly took them away Magic following and Addison grips you close as you cried against her shoulder. "it's going to be okay" she would say to calm you but it wasn't working.

Jenn rushed back seeing both her friends on the floor with one crying covered in Ian's blood. you ended up hyperventilating and passing out against your friend.

~

You woke up looking around shouting Ian's name only for Jenn to clamp her hand over your mouth. "Shh calm down... Ian is okay they lost a lot of blood but they managed to save them and now they are recovering, we pulled some strings and they gave us a private room come on we can see Ian now they are not in surgery anymore.

"h-how long was I out" "you were out for a few hours.." Jenn said walking with you towards the room she didn't specify that you were out for the remaining of yesterday and the morning of today. once they open the door you saw Magic and Addison there but your heart beat fast seeing Ian look over seeing you ball your eyes out right there and rush towards them.

you cling to them carefully but you were crying against their shoulder feeling them wrap their arms around you weakly saying softly "shh it's okay, I'm here...I'm okay" you mumbled over and over I'm sorry and they said they were sorry to and you look at them and kissed them deeply "i-i love you, I love you so much" you said and they blush lightly but smile brightly "I love you to Y/n"

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Taglist: @justaproudslytherpuff, @sherazyjade, @the-masked-scorpio, @sugakookieswithacupoftae16, @happilydangerousworld, @harlekin6

[h50europe]

#REPOST h50eddie IG Just hanging out with the gang on an exceptionally hot and humid day - hold on tight Eddie!

[cusickgallery]

We have a fun BTS pic of Ian with his stunt double, Matt Reimer, thanks to TV Guide Magazine!! Great picture TV Guide!!

[wine-dark-seashells]

Sharing my favourite LotR trivia off the top of my head just cause I can and it makes me feel happy

1. gandalf hitting his head on the beam in bag end was not scripted. ouch. poor ian mckellen

2. viggo mortensen got arrested once bc he was walking home after filming and was swinging a sword around still dressed as aragorn. this was not a smart decision on his part.

3. because he was afraid of flying in a helicopter, sean bean climbed a MOUNTAIN every single day they were filming caradhas to get to the set. it took him about two hours each way iirc.

4. to help make galadriel look more mysical and elf-like, they put fairy lights in front of cate blanchett so they reflected in her eyes. this was supposed to show that she'd seen the light of the two trees in valinor. i love it.

5. the scene in FotR where aragorn deflects a knife in from an uruk-hai was not supposed to happen. the stunt double was not supposed to let go of that knife. viggo almost died y'all.

6. i'm fairly sure viggo also broke a tooth at some point. not sure when tho

7. when the three hunters (legolas, aragorn, and gimli) were filming those panoramic shots running through rohan, every single one of them was injured. orlando bloom had like two broken ribs, viggo had broken his toes, and brett beattie (the size double for gimli) had two dislocated knees. they were given a bag of candy and told to run whenever they saw the helicopter coming. how is everyone involved with these movies not dead yet.

8. obligatory VIGGO BROKE HIS TOE IN THAT SCENE WHERE HE KICKED THE HELMET

9. a good percentage of the rohirrim on horses (the "men" of rohan) were actually women with beards bc they couldn't get enough men and there were many women with horses available

10. possibly the most cursed one on this list. andy serkis drank what he liked to call his "gollum juice" while on set. it was actually a mixture of lemon, honey, and ginger and was supposed to soothe his throat after talking himself hoarse while acting. gollum juice.

11. for that scene where the witchking of angmar is lifting his mace threateningly, peter jackson kept insisting it be bigger to look more threatening. the final product was so insanely heavy that there was someone helping lawrence makoare lift it bc he just,, couldn't. this person was lying on their back to do this. yes the outtakes are fucking hilarious.

12. i've seen this one making the round on social media but here it is anyways. when peter jackson was telling christopher lee how to act after he'd been stabbed, lee stopped him and just, oh so casually, informed the director that no, that's not what someone getting stabbed sounds like. christopher lee knew this because he'd been an intelligence officer in the RAF in world war 2. this is also your daily reminder that christopher lee was a fucking badass.

13. this is the last bc thirteen is a lot and i'm tired lol. the land where they filmed a bunch of the battle of pelennor fields was actually a testing ground for the new zealand army and just slightly filled with unexploded ordinance. they had to get special permission to film there. why there specifically? because it was the only place in new zealand that looked enough like a desert. again, how is everyone involved with these movies not dead yet???

anyways lmk if u want me to do a part two or whatever or even one for the hobbit. even tho i have my issues with the hobbit movies themselves, the behind the scenes trivia is funny lol.