#madalen mills

[tani-b-art]

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

[costumeloverz71]

Journey (Madalen Mills) Purple coat, red vest & red striped shirt.  Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020).. Costume by Michael Wilkinson.

[munkedupmusic]

Finally! After what feels like a year I finally got this song pitched correctly. This song was solely created for Jenna's AU version of Alvin. Alvin 2.0!

If you know of him, you'll understand why!

[thewomanwhowatchedchristmas]

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

I want to open this review with a disclaimer. I think that this film is absolutely necessary for the representation it gives to people of color. I will not discuss race further than that because I am white, so I don’t have anything to add to that larger conversation here.

The framing of this story is a popular trope of Grandmother (Phylicia Rashad) is telling a story to her grandchildren. I don’t think the framing is necessary here, so I’m not sure why it’s included. But this is also a film that is not intrinsically about Christmas, it just takes place during Christmas. So, maybe that was to make it more Christmas-like?

I do understand why the story starts where it does- with everybody considerably younger. Jeronicus Jangle (Justin Cornwell) and his wife Joanne (Sharon Rose) run a toy shop or boutique or something. What the shop sells is not clear, but they are all his inventions. His apprentice Gustafson (Miles Barrow) and his daughter Jessica (Diaana Babnicova) are also there, both trying to invent things with him. Jeronicus finally invents his “greatest creation,” a sentient matador doll named Don Juan Diego (Ricky Martin). Don Juan doesn’t want to be mass produced though, so he convinces Gustafson to steal him and all the plans, and they start their own toy company. I think it’s toys anyway. Jeronicus is devastated and loses his spark of invention, and when Joanne tragically dies, he sinks into a deep depression, pushing Jessica away.

An indeterminate number of years later, Jessica (Anika Noni Rose) has a 10 year old daughter named Journey (Madalen Mills) who is obsessed with the idea of her grandfather and tricks Jessica into sending Journey to meet him by herself. Sending children long distances to see family you haven’t seen for years is another trope I find very strange. Like it’s convenient for the plot, but how often do people really do this? Journey finds Jeronicus (Forest Whitaker) grouchy and running his pawn shop. A local boy Edison (Kieron Dyer) helps him around the shop, and my personal favorite, Ms. Johnston (Lisa Divina Phillip), the mail lady, shamelessly hits on him as much as possible. Jeronicus is convinced that he has lost the magic of invention, but Journey is determined to help him find it again.

Meanwhile, Don Juan is bullying Gustafson (Keegan-Michael Key) because he has run out of things to produce from the plans they stole years ago. Gustafson tries to use his own invention, but it doesn’t work. Don Juan tells him that Jeronicus has to have something hidden, so Gustafson sneaks around to find something good. Introducing Buddy 3000 (Tobias Poppe)! An interactive robot that only works if you believe he is will! Gustafson steals it, but his buyers don’t believe in him, so the robot won’t work. Journey and Edison steal it back, but Gustafson won’t go down without a fight.

This is a musical, and I was very impressed with the score and the dance numbers in this film. They were the best part of the whole movie (except that the lip syncing in the first song broke my suspension of disbelief for a bit). I also really loved the costuming and hair for this story- the bright colors and unique styles really added to the complexity of the story. Overall, I give it 3.5 stars.

[ratasum]

No, don't underestimate me I don't need a hero to come and save me Just 'cause I'm small don't mean that I can't kiss the clouds I might not be there yet But I'll get there, bet on it 'Cause I'm already three feet off the ground - Madalen Mills, "Square Root of Possible"

[simonimonim]

Took a nap and dreamt up fancasting for a show based on The Broken Earth triology by N.K. Jemisin and here's what I came up with

Khleo Thomas as Hoa

Queen Latifah as Ykka

Madalen Mills as Nassun

Matthew Gray Gubler (my dream described him as rhat white boy from Criminal Minds y'all love) as Schaffa

Laverne Cox as Tonkee (I don't know many trans actresses, but I do know she would slay as an eccentric researcher a la Professor Von Drake)

Coco Jones as Syenite

Lupita N'Yongo as Essun (my brain original cast Whoopie Goldberg and I was like that hoe is 70 ain't nobody gonna believe she had a baby in the last 3 years)

Coleman Domingo as Jija

John Boyega as Lerna

Daniel Kaluuya as Alabaster (giving my brain huge sideeye with this one idk)

[alvinmichaelmurphyseville]

“The totally STUPENDOUS Alvin 2.0 mixtape.”

1. Let Me Make You Proud- Jeremy Jordan (Tangled the Series)

2. I’m Just A Kid- Simple Plan

3. Think!- Aretha Franklin (Adam Lambert cover)

4. Rebel Rouser- The Sweet

5. Man In The Mirror- Michael Jackson (but the Glee Cover)

6. All Star- Smash Mouth (official AATC cover)

7. Problem Child- Simple Plan

8. Make Em Laugh-Donald O’Connor

9. Freedom- George Michael (official AATC cover)

10. Alvinnn! Medley feat All About The Act, Turn The Page, Somebody Like Me, Switch It Up, I Don’t Care, and Know Your Energy

11. Somewhere Over The Rainbow- Judy Garland (Glee Cover)

12. I Refuse- Simple Plan

13. Scream- Zac Efron (HSM 3)

14. White and Nerdy-Weird Al (parody of Ridin’ Dirty)

15. Lucid Dream- Owl City

16. Weird Science- Ooingo Boingo

17. Faster Than The Sun- Alvin and the Chipmunks original

18. Nobody’s Perfect- Hannah Montana (Cover by Cameron Sanderson)

19. Don’t Stop Me Now- Queen (Glee Cover)

20. I Can See Clearly Now- Jimmy Cliff (Josh Groban cover)

21. The Roses Of Success- Sherman Brothers (official AATC cover)

22. The Square Root Of Possible- Madalen Mills (Jingle Jangle movie)

Google drive link:

Link to Classic Alvin’s mixtape

[cressida-jayoungr]

Coeli's Picks: Multicolo(u)r, part 1

(Multiple movies listed left to right)

One Dress a Day Challenge

Anything Goes December

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020) / Madalen Mills as Journey

Murdoch Mysteries ("In the Company of Women," s13 e16) / Hélène Joy as Dr. Julia Ogden

"Julia wears a striking outfit: periwinkle skirt, dusty pink blouse, short jacket of black with pink and blue ribbon stripes, and a blue hat with a pink band.  She also has a lovely mauve ensemble later in the episode, but it was the multicolored one that really caught my eye."

Feast of Love (2007) / Erika Marozsán as Margaret Vekashi

2046 (2004) / Faye Wong as Wang Jing-wen

The Road to Bali (1952) / Dorothy Lamour as Princess Lala

Funny Lady (1975) / Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice

In the Mood for Love (2000) / Maggie Cheung as Su Li-zhen

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Les Parapluies de Cherbourg) (1964) / Catherine Deneuve as Geneviève Emery

Coming 2 America (2021) / Gladys Knight as herself

"Lots of amazing costumes in this one - see also:"

The Nanny (s5 e6) / Fran Drescher as Fran Fine

[shakespearefreak]

American Girl Christmas Movies

I've been thinking about Christmas movies, and which ones each of my dolls would like (this assumes each of them has her canon personality, but the historical dolls obviously having an anachronistic knowledge of television). So here's what I think each of their favourite Christmas movies would be:

Samantha Parkington: Mrs. Santa Claus (1996)

Starring Angela Lansbury as the titular character, this lesser-known TV movie tells the story of Santa's wife tiring of being ignored and venturing out into the world, and winding up stranded in 1910 New York City the week before Christmas.

This movie would really speak to Sam for multiple reasons. For one, of course, it's set right near her time period, and I also think she'd relate strongly to the feminist themes. One of the major storylines involves a factory whose child workers strike for better working conditions, and another involves the suffragette movement, both of which are issues that feature heavily in Samantha's stories. Also, one of the main characters is a young Irish immigrant who reminds me a lot of Nellie.

I think she'd also really like A Christmas Carol (1951), which is arguably the most faithful retelling of the Dickens story (I've decided one of her favourite books is Christmas Carol, because it fits with her personal values very well... aaand maybe because it's my favourite book, haha).

Makena Williams: Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

Set in a fantastical world where science is magic, robots are powered by Belief, and the Square Root of Possible can be expressed in a mathematical formula, Netflix's Jingle Jangle is about brilliant toy inventor Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker), who falls into despair after his trusted assistant Gustafson (Keegan-Michael Key) steals all his blueprints and uses them for his own ends. Years later, Jeronicus' granddaughter Journey (the stellar young Madalen Mills) tries to restore his faith with her cleverness and optimism.

I think one of main reasons this movie would appeal to Makena is that it's all about celebrating Black excellence and Black joy; there's a lot of representation in the cast, without focusing on racism and suffering. She'd also really love the costumes, which are a gorgeous mix of traditional African colours/patterns and Victorian-era styles; all the thought, detail, and talent that went into the costuming would inspire her fashionista heart.

Evette Peeters: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (1985)

This stop-motion TV special, based on the book by L. Frank Baum (the author of The Wizard of Oz), was created by Rankin/Bass, the same team that made the famous Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman specials we all grew up watching. It's a unique take on the legend of Santa Claus where an abandoned baby is found by a kindly Wood Nymph and raised among the fairies. As Claus grows up, he moves to the human world and, dismayed by the suffering he sees there, he begins making toys for nearby children, hoping to bring light and joy to them, and ends up at odds with the Awgwas, evil creatures that influence children to do bad things.

I only just got Evette, and she's not even out with the rest of my girls right now, since I'm saving that as a Christmas surprise for Makena, but I feel this one pretty strongly. For one, I think the cottagecore/forest visual themes would really appeal to her. Also, I headcanon Evette as pagan, and one of my pagan friends once told me they loved this movie because it was the only Christmas movie that dealt with the world of the Fae in a way that aligned with their beliefs.

The only one I'm not sure of is Josefina. Someone suggested Christmas on Mistletoe Farm (2022) for her; we watched it together, and she enjoyed it, but I’m not sure it’s her favourite. Any other suggestions?

[mortemoppetere]

NO DEVIL // AN EMILIO CORTEZ PLAYLIST

track list under the cut !!

devil like me // rainbow kitten surprise

seven nation army // the white stripes

arsonist’s lullaby // hozier 

novocaine // the unlikely candidates 

what sarah said // death cab for cutie

david // noah gunderson

immigrants (we get the job done) // K’NAAN, snow tha product, riz ahmed, residente

blood on my name // the brothers bright

seven devils // florence + the machine

i’m gonna do my thing // royal deluxe

the saine of lost causes // justin townes earle

drop for every hour // amigo the devil

god’s gonna cut you down // johnny cash

the punisher main title // tyler bates

the hunter // adam jensen

little lion man // mumford and sons

just add water // cavetown

a burning hill // mitski

better ways to fry a fish // amigo the devil

sinners // barns courtney

tribulation // matt maeson

sidelines // phoebe bridgers

bury me face down // grandson

how villains are made // madalen duke

there’s nothing left for you // mitski

fire in the sky // the ghost of paul revere

punisher // phoebe bridgers

barton hollow // the civil wars

when my time comes // dawes

the curse of the blackened eye // orville peck

it’s ok i wouldn’t remember me either // crywank

you should’ve seen the other guy // nathaniel radcliffe

breathe me in // jared & the mill

ledges // noah gunderson

will of the scribes // darren korb

wander. wonder. // the arcadian wild

false confidence // noah kahan

heavy // birdtalker

oh death // noah gunderson

still learning // halsey

things that hide away // the dear hunter

damn these vampires // the mountain goats

hell’s comin’ with me // poor mans poison

a sadness runs through him // the hoosiers

old number seven // the devil makes three

short change hero // the heavy

northern attitude // noah kahan

no devil // san fermin

how (feat. brandi carlile) // marcus mumford

elizabeth // the airborne toxic event

kill a man // james and the shame

fairly local // twenty one pilots

to hurry things along // goodnight, texas

anti-hero (country version) // josiah and the bonnevilles

that funny feeling // phoebe bridgers

through me (the flood) // hozier

some rotten man // the taxpayers

[trendfilmsetter]

Holiday Movie Screening of the Day: 🎄🍿

JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY (2020)

Directed by David E. Talbert. Starring Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose, Phylicia Rashad, Lisa Davina Phillip, Ricky Martin, and Madalen Mills.

[nerdsagainstfandomracism]

Genius toymaker Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker) abandons his calling after his apprentice Guftofson (Keegan-Michael Key) runs off with his inventions and his wife dies suddenly. It’s only years later, when his granddaughter Journey (Madalen Mills) comes to visit, that he finally attempts to rekindle his spark and rediscover the joy of creating wonders…

The film's musical score includes songs by John Legend and Philip Lawrence.

  Premiere date: November 13, 2020 on Netflix.

[logray]

ELM HILL, NORWICH as seen in STARDUST (2007) dir. Matthew Vaugh, and JINGLE JANGLE: A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY (2020) dir. David E. Talbert

[cinemastills]

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey | David E. Talbert | 2020