#wonderfully done and it’s seamlessly executed

[arcane-machine]

To Be Hero X is releasing episodes weekly until September 🤩🤩🤩

[panncakes]

oh no bad buddy is the type of show thats going to lead to dumb essay writing on my dumb blog lmao

anyway, here’s what i like about bad buddy; everything feels earned. it feels like they understand that for a story to be good and have a strong foundation but also have good pacing every scene needs to push the plot forward and add to the character arcs. you can have cute and soft scenes, you can have over the top fight scenes, you can even have ridiculously obvious ads but if you don’t use them to put things into motion they just feel arbitrary (and it’s so prevalent in bls to just throw in a shippy or music or angsty moment and have them mean nothing for the overall picture because they don’t seamlessly work into the story or the characters). they are also incredibly good in showing not telling; the exposition dumps don’t feel as forced or needless as they do in some other shows.

the established feuds both in their families and faculties are ridiculous but they make sense for the story because they use time in the series to show us rather than simply tell us and it’s used very well to move the plot when it needs to. the pull between pat and pran feels genuine because they show us how it has always been there even as kids and that in turn is used to move the plot forward and build upon to have them reach a new understanding. them growing closer feels genuine because we are shown why they grow closer other than ‘two hot guys have tension and look at each other’s lips sometimes’. of course pat is interested in getting to know pran better and hanging out with him aside from them trying to keep their faculties from getting in trouble; they were sort of friends once! they have been a constant in each other’s life since before they were born! they have literally been brought up to pay attention to each other and surprise! they actually kind of work really well together! of course that is intriguing and fun; but we don’t just get them instantly hanging out and being buds; we get pat actively working to be friends with pran and because of that we get to see why pran is in love with pat. it’s not just because the story demands it; they put actual time and effort in showing why they work well together and why someone like pran would fall for someone like pat.

and it leads to the angst in the last episode feeling earned as well. i dislike the ‘girl in bl means drama’ trope because it is always handled so stupidly; i hate a lot of angst in bl because it always comes down to bad communication without valid reason just for an excuse to be dramatic and have a sad boy moment. but again it makes sense here because they took the time to lay the proper foundations and move them forward to get them to this point. it’s heartbreaking to watch pran so crestfallen; but damn if it isn’t done wonderfully and satisfyingly so. we understand his emotions because they’ve been shown to us; we are also given the time to understand and see that neither pat nor ink are malicious or bad people and it makes it all hurt that much more. and you bet your ass that this isn’t just a ‘bump’ in the road to half-assedly overcome and never to look back upon; it’s going to be another thing to propel these characters forward further into their arcs and since this is a very character driven plot it will undoubtedly move the plot as well.

idk i just like good story telling even in silly shows; it makes the wonderful genuine acting so much more satisfying to watch. it’s not a perfect show by any means; but it’s really very good and the characters feel real and it takes all these tropes and doesn’t necessarily turn them on their heads but executes them the way they should be executed instead of using them for dumbass attempts at nothing.

[five0mcdanno]

10x21 reactions

Over all I really enjoyed this episode. A lot of what Steve is going through right now I relate strongly too so I might have a different opinion than most people. I’m looking forward to seeing where the finale takes us.

Spoilers under the cut.

What an entrance for Lincoln! Holy shit! 

I love that Danny tracked Steve down because he wasn’t answering his phone and he got worried about him. 

Proud of and not surprised by Steve for not wanting to deal with anymore of his mother's bullshit. You don't have to follow her cryptic clues anymore babe. Its okay.

It’s infuriates me that Doris is still messing with Steve even from beyond the grave. She’s dead and he still can rest. I don’t care what this cypher says because it can only hurt Steve and I’m glad Steve is done with her and her shit (even though we know he’s gonna try to figure it out let’s be real)

God 10 years. It’s been 10 years. I'm shocked by that fact too Danno. Wow.

Aww poor Steve. He's so tired and lost right now. I don’t blame him. It’s been a hard year for him. 

I love when Steve stars down scary guys like its nothing. This dude is giving him his biggest murder face and Steve is just  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ooooh Tani sees Danno’s worry face and now she’s worried. I love that Tani knows to go to Steve’s husband tho. Danny's got his boy.

Okay I love this new view of Iolani Palace. It’s quite beautiful and I love getting different glimpses/perspectives of headquarters. Imagine the talks and breaks spent at this balcony though. 

It’s interesting hearing them talk about Steve being burned out and how Danny’s seen it happened to many cops. Danny saying  "I never thought it would happen to Steve" is interesting. They basically gave Steve Alex’s story line and I kind of love that? Cause it’s makes sense that Steve is burned out from all of this. And yeah everything from the last ten years makes you think that Steve could do this forever but no one can do this forever. This year just proved to be too much for Steve and now Danny is starting to see that.

I hate that Tani is questioning if  Steve will still have their back in the same way. What the fuck? Steve will always have their back, be the back up they can rely on. Screw that Tani. 

Chuck Norris! Ha!

Whoa. Lincoln is sort of a badass. Wish he could have been introduced before the show only had two episodes left. I like him and would have liked to see more of him. 

Tani has always had this weird infatuation with Steve and you can see it again here with her talk with Junior and it just kind of rubs me the wrong way? Idk. There’s being worried about him and there’s whatever it is Tani is doing. And having Junior talk to him wont help, hun. Especially because Danny just told you he’d take care of it. Let Danny handle it. Hes the only one who can because anyone Steve would deflect like crazy. He’d only be open with Danny on this. 

Oh Lincoln. I'm so sorry for what you've been through. That’s horrible. Steve’s right babe you don’t have anything to atone for. It wasn’t your fault. You did what you could.

Completely side note here but Danny is so fucking hot. I know everyone loves Steve and so do I but I find Danny sexier. Look at his stance in the interrogation room when he gets Steve. He’s sexy. So is Steve but I just love Danny so much. 

That is such a cool transition from the work area to Steve’s office!!! I love that!

Ha Danny and Steve immediately play the “I don’t know what you’re talking about” game. They know each other so well.

I’m kind of surprised Steve gave in so easily? Like normally he’d fight it or find a loop hole but he just straight up gave in with no alternate plan and with lives on the line. 

Of course Lincoln escapes. He’s got Steve’s chutzpah.

This shoot out is so cool! Look at how badass everyone is! Junior’s sniper shot, Lincoln’s badass moves, Danny and Steve working wonderfully together, Quinn making that split second shot and saving Adam while Adam takes out the guy. I love it. It’s great.

Danny: “I think this guy might be crazier than you Steve: “I think you’re right” hahaha!!

Can I just say real quick that I love how EVERYONE is in this episode. No one was missing. Steve, Danny, Lou, Adam, Tani, Junior, Quinn, Noelani. Everyone is there. I love that. Wish we had more episodes like that.

ALSO, I love that there is ONE plot. ONE. So many episodes have like 3 plots woven in and that takes away time away from making sure each plot is executed fully. But this episode has one plot. If anything, the side plot is Steve’s existential crisis and Doris but it’s woven in so seamlessly with the main plot that it works. Why couldn’t the past few seasons be this good?

Ahh there’s the pulling strings Steve we know so well. He was just waiting for the right moment to do it. Now Lincoln is free.

If this decoder friend Lincoln knows is Catherine I will shit a brick. DON’T BE CATHERINE! Not that there’s any clues to it there, just a thought I had, but if it is I will be so upset.

"I’m not replacing you, you're my my Danno"  asdshgjksdk STEVEN!!! I LOVE THIS!! I LOVE THESE TWO IDIOTS SO MUCH!!!!

This talk. Oh Steve. Hun. I don’t blame you for feeling this way. I understand it so much but god I don’t want you to go. I want you to live with Danny forever. But I understand it. See my thoughts on it all here.

Danny telling Steve to go to Jersey is the best! Yes Steve! Go to Jersey! You and Danno should go to Jersey together. Charlie can come. And of course Danny would suggest it because he kind of did the opposite? Danny left Jersey and came to Hawaii and gained perspective on his life. Maybe he thinks Steve leaving Hawaii to go to Jersey could get him the clarity he wants. It’s kind of cute.

Oh shit oh shit oh shit is this it? Danny’s going into the house. Alone. Is this it? Is this when Danno gets taken!?

BAMF DANNO IS MY FAV!! THIS FIGHT IS INCREDIBLE!!! KICK HIS ASS (I'm saying that to both Danno and to the burglar because I like Danny whump lol)

Steve is freaking out here hearing the sounds of a fight coming from his house which Danny just went into. Look at his face, look at him running towards the house in fear and confusion. 

Okay.....he didn’t get taken. I was so sure he was gonna be taken at the end of the episode. And he wasn’t. Whaaaat.

Concerned about Danny Steve is my favorite Steve.

I love the new views of Steve’s house. I like seeing the layout and all of the knicknacks and such. Helps with my mental picture. I like detail maps of characters homes.

I AM VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES!!! How Danny gets taken, how they save him, what the cypher says, why Mrs. Wo Fat wants it, how they end the show. It’s gonna be interesting. I hope it ends happily.

[mavikokanumutlar-blog]

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[macaroni-rascal]

L/L Rhythm Dace

throw the whole thing in the trash / dislike it / neutral / like it / love it / i have decided to stan forever

Bless whoever you are that sent this, I have been quietly and loudly ranting about my love for this program all season, and now finally I can gather all my thought in one place.

Best rhythm dance of the season, fight me about it.

There is nothing like a good opening pose, and they have the perfect one. Marjo’s face is everything, her position, his position, they stand still and hold power, and that is such a cool quality in skating. It opens excellently, so musical, their movements are fast, precise and so well executed.

Also let’s take a moment for their outfits, Marjo’s dress is everyting and Zack rocks the vest, dark blue is his colour, as the free also shows.

LOVE the twizzles, I’m a little sad they took out the cool leg position change on their first set, it’s such an interesting variation and in real time, it’s so interesting, subtle yet dynamic. 

However, I am 100% okay with it because they had some issues with those, they changed them and at worlds they had a perfect set of twizzles. I also love how their arm movements and how it fits the music perfectly.

Second set, and I love how they throw their arm back out of the twizzle right on the “HUH” of the music, again, it’s one of the wonderfully subtle musical moments that just heighten the whole program.

Last set, perfectly on time to the music, ending on beat and with a lovely and cool lunge with excellent arms that they will call back to in the midline step. Genuis.

Speaking of the midline. (And the fact that they actually do a full midline since its not a requirement anymore which is terrible and a total tragedy, and so we stan)

They easily have my favourite no touch midline step since vm, its starts so awesomely with that knee lift when the music clicks, the “essaaa”, and then right into it with lovely speed, excellent movement, synchronicity, and musicality. Plus the face both of them are giving is wonderful, they’ve both grown a lot and it shows. Shout out to my favourite part, the double lunge and how they stop and the movements right after are so seamlessly integrated. It’s at that point for them where it doesn’t look like choreography.

The transitions into the midline are all done in hold and one of my favourite parts of the program, such perfect movement to match the music, that moment when Zack circles around and they have their arms out is my favourite thing, Marjo’s little three step run to the music is so cool, its all just brilliant choreography, Romain you did so good, so so good. 

Their argentine tango is really good too, they got 7/8 key points at jr worlds, the most of all the teams, their free legs were well matched, they added that cool moment where they break their hand hold to emphasize a beat of the song, their toes are pointed, their edges are nice, I would like to see them skate a little bit closer, their hips were far apart on a few spots, but I want all teams to skate closer together, so it’s nitpicking. It’s also the most musical of all the tango’s the flick of their legs and arms match the flicks in the music perfectly. 

I especially like how their steps here go with the music, it’s a wonderful highlight and really makes the steps look and feel like a dance, not just a pattern.

I love how basically all of their transitions are done in hold besides the midline, and this very cool transition they also do in their free that they added mid-season. Everything-ish else is in hold. We LOVE that.

The transitions after the midline, still in hold, are so cool. Then there is that moment when they their hands let go but their arms are around each other and they circle around to the building music until their hands join back, I just love that moment so much, I can’t explain why. It just really lifts the program up and right into the rotational lift. The entrance is right on a flick of the music and it does match the tempo, I’m not the biggest fan of the type of lift, but they do it so fast, the entrance and exit are cool and musical, so it fits the program, and I dig it.

Excellent strong end pose, their frames and posture are gorgeous and before they even bow I’ve already gone back to the beginning because I want to watch it one more time.

Cannot wait for them to be seniors next year, it’s going to be so fun. Rise babes, rise.

[oosteven-universe]

Killswitch #1

Killswitch #1 Action Lab Danger Zone 2019 Written by Jeffrey & Susan Bridges Illustrated by Walter Geovani Coloured by Brittany Peer Lettered by Simon Bowland     In a future where clairvoyant Augurs are used for their powers but feared, held captive, and persecuted, a disaffected military major is shocked into action by the grim realities of the Augurs' treatment. She puts her life and career on the line to help them attempt a daring escape from captivity.     It continues to surprise and amaze me how many new creators and story's we seem to getting on such a consistent basis. I always fear that after reading something that I really like the next one I read is going to let me down somehow. This one however keeps that excitement level high and shines a light on Action Lab (Danger Zone) and why I am such a fan of their books. There is something about this an the way that it is being told that really appeals to me and how the science fiction seems to blend seamlessly with classes you find in role playing games. The concept, the way this is being told and the overall excitement that I get from this is sensational.     While I will say this the opening here isn't what I was expecting and it doesn't have that flashy attention grabbing moment to it and instead it does that in this subtle way. As we are introduced to Major Marcella Regula and the Augurs we begin to wonder what is going on here and the more the read to find out the more intrigued we get. Then suddenly the issue is over before you realise it. It really is a clever, clever way to gain the readers' interest and attention.     The story & plot development that we see here is really well done and the way that the information is revealed. I touched on the cleverness a moment ago and it is true and I personally have never seen it manifest itself in this manner and for me to say this that's saying something. The character development is phenomenally well done and a true pleasure to see. To say that they are being fleshed out as well-rounded individuals even at this early stage is an unexpected treat. When the pacing is factored into this and the twists and turns are revealed things begin to take a much different turn than I was thinking it would.     Now these are computer generated interiors if I am not mistaken. For being what they are I am a little underwhelmed at times but on the whole they look alright. There are times they look like they belong on adult swim, though the good kind and in the back of the book that two page city spread is one that I wish we'd see, though that looks like pencil. Regardless there are those moments where what we see is rather striking and the negative moments are a real wow factor. Of all things that we see here the colour work is the real standout in my humble opinion. The neon style lighting and the way we see the light sources utilised to create the shading and shadows is magnificently done. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkable eye for storytelling. I always wonder why , if this is computer assisted art then why are backgrounds so hard to fit in? ​     While I may nitpick about things the overall experience is really something special. From the concept to it's execution it is such a wonderfully done book. The characters designs and their characterisation, the premise that we glimpses of unfold and how this society functions all are compelling components which make this work. I look forward to seeing what this will bring.

[badchoosey]

Perfect Match, Book One. Chapter 1: True Love, Guaranteed

You walk down a bustling Brooklyn street, the sounds of the city humming all around you. 

Karma: (Hope I’m not late!)

Soft music plays as you step into the hip venue of an upscale art show. 

Karma: Nadia! Hey!

You spot your cousin, Nadia, among the crowd. Her face lights up as she approaches with arms outstretched and wraps you in a tight hug!

Nadia: Karma! I’m so happy you made it!

Karma: Are you kidding? The opening of your new art collection? I wouldn’t miss it for the world. 

Nadia: Honestly, I have no idea how it blew up. But who am I to argue with the review of an art critic?

Karma: You mean glowing reviews from dozens of art critics?

Nadia: Oh, shush! Anyway, that’s not what I was excited about. 

Karma: Then what is it?

Nadia: I want you to meet my boyfriend!

Nadia waves over to a handsome man from across the room…

Nadia: Steve! Come say hi to my cousin!

Steve: Hey! You must be Karma! I’ve heard so much about you. I’ve been dying to meet you for weeks, but I’ve been busy at the animal shelter. 

Karma: Oh! Do you work there?

Nadia: Steve’s an investment banker. But he volunteers at an animal shelter. Amazing, right?

Steve: Ah, it’s nothing. I’m just a guy who likes to do some good in his free time. Nadia here is the amazing one. The way her art makes me feel… It’s indescribable. 

Nadia: Aww, sweetie!

Steve: Now, if you’ll excuse me, Karma, I’ve got to replenish the hors d’oeuvres. We’ll talk later! My mini-quiches are going fast!

Steve gives Nadia a kiss on the cheek and hustles off. Nadia sighs, beaming. 

Nadia: Did I mention he bakes? He bakes. So… What do you think?

Karma: No one is that perfect. I’m calling bull. How much are you paying him?

Nadia: Ha, ha. Don’t be mad that I’ve found the ultimate boyfriend!

Karma: Really though. Where did you find this guy?

Nadia: I met him through a matchmaking service. They asked me some questions, then found the perfect man for me! They’re very exclusive. Super selective with their clientele. But I’m sure they’d accept you in a heartbeat!

Nadia reaches into her purse and hands you a business card. 

Nadia: You should try them out!

Karma: True love, guaranteed? I’ll believe it when I see it!

Nadia: That’s not a nooo…

Karma: I mean… What the hell? I’ll give it a shot. You’ve piqued my curiosity.

Just then, a voice calls to you from the crowd… 

Damien: Don’t tell me Nadia has got you drinking this ‘matchmaking’ service Kool-Aid too, Karma. You of all people don’t need some fancy matchmaking service. 

Your good friend Damien saunters over, seamlessly switching his empty champagne glass with a fresh one from a server’s tray. 

Karma: I’ll take that as a compliment. But you can’t argue with the results. Steve seems like a catch. 

Damien: Yeah, I talked to Mr. Perfect on the way in. Haven’t found any flaws or dark secrets yet. But give me time. 

Nadia: Really, D? We’ve known you for like, four years. I thought you would’ve dropped the tough, cynical act by now. 

Damien: I’m a private investigator. I catch liars and cheaters for a living. ‘Cynical’ is basically my job. 

Nadia: Don’t listen to him, Karma. He’s like the Grinch when it comes to love. Eros is the best matchmaking service ever! I’ll schedule you an appointment for a consultation!

Damien: Yeah! A vague, secretive company providing little to no contact information… What could go wrong? Just keep your guard up, Karma… Maybe bring pepper spray, or hold your keys like claw. 

Nadia: Ignore him. It’ll be amazing! I know you’re gonna find someone perfect for you!

Karma: Can’t wait!

Later that week, you arrive outside the address Nadia gave you. A sleek, unlabeled complex towers above you…

Karma: (Okay, this is a little weird. Not so much as a logo on the door. But the address looks right…)

You push through the glass doors to enter a warm, inviting lobby. A stunning woman strides gracefully across the room, the steps of her heels echoing through the halls. 

Cecile: Karma Park? My name is Cecile Contreras. I’m the Head of Matchmaking here at Eros. Welcome! You got here on the J train, didn’t you? I hope getting to the new Quincy Station wasn’t too much of a hassle. 

Karma: Uh, thank you… How did you know--

Cecile: We’ve done our homework. Eros has been expecting you, after all. Your cousin Nadia gave you a glowing referral. I’m excited to begin. Please, follow me. 

You follow Cecile through the pristine halls of Eros Incorporated…

Karma: I’m still a little overwhelmed by this whole thing. How can you guarantee true love?

Cecile: A good question. Love is a complex thing. But here at Eros, we’ve used the latest in behavioural science and technology to devise the most sophisticated matchmaking system in the world. 

Karma: So you think you’ve got people figure out… with some algorithm?

Cecile: Your personality, your wants, your needs… All of that makes you unique, like a puzzle piece. But somewhere out there is a piece that fits flawlessly with you. An exact complement. A perfect match. Our technology helps sort through the pieces to find yours. Simply put, the human heart is precisely out expertise. 

Karma: Sounds like a sales pitch. I’m not so easily won over by the slogans and buzz words. 

Cecile: Touche. But we stand by every claim. Give us a chance to convince you, and I promise you’ll be satisfied. 

Karma: Well… I’m already here. 

She leads you into a peaceful, softly lit room. A sweet, floral aroma and calming music fill the space around you. 

Cecile: Welcome to our consultation room. This is where we’ll be conducting our Perfect Match questionnaire. 

Karma: Is this the part where I tell you my middle name, my hobbies, and where I went to high school?

Cecile: Nadia sent us the personality profile you filled out, so we already have the basic information we need. Today will be all about finding out what you’re looking for in a match. 

Karma: Oh… Okay… So why does this place look more like a day spa than a quiz room?

Cecile: Oh, I assure you, our questionnaire is more than just a quiz. It’s a comprehensive interview, monitoring not just your words, but your biorhythms, your excitement, your emotional engagement… As such, we want you to be perfectly at ease. 

She invites you to sit on a reclining chair in the middle of the room, and instantly your mind drifts as you sink into the shockingly comfortable seat. Cecile sits on a chair beside you with a tablet in hand. 

Cecile: Simply place your hand on the palm scanner, and we can begin. 

You place your hand on the smooth surface of the chair’s arm. It hums and glows, and soon a soft chime sounds in sync with your own heartbeat. The lights in the room dim as your mind drifts, peacefully… 

Cecile: Now, relax. Close your eyes… focus on the sound of my voice… and speak from your heart…

Cecile taps on her tablet. You hear her voice from a distance as your eyes close… 

Cecile: I have twelve brief questions. Please answer as honestly as you can. 

You’re on a first date. Which makes you want a second:

Talking for hours about everything?

Being intrigued and left wanting more?

Karma: Being intrigued and left wanting more. 

Cecile: When traveling abroad, your perfect match would rather take you:

To explore ancient ruins, just the two of you

To a lively festival, bustling with locals

Karma: To explore ancient ruins, just the two of you

Cecile: You’re transported into a fantasy novel. Which character is more attractive?

A magnetic ruler, leading and inspiring the people

A silent, formidable warrior, fighting evil from the shadows

Karma: A silent, formidable warrior, fighting evil from the shadows.

Cecile: Your favorite childhood playground is being torn down. Your perfect match:

Takes you there for a farewell picnic

Steal you a piece of it to keep forever

Karma: Steals me a piece to keep forever. 

Cecile: Who do you imagine your partner hung out with in high school?

A close-knit group of friends

A rowdy bunch of outcasts

Karma: A rowdy bunch of outcasts

Cecile: Your match appears in a dream with an animal companion. What kind is it?

A fierce, wild hawk

A loyal, noble golden retriever

Karma: A fierce, wild hawk. 

Cecile: Complete the sentence. My perfect match can always:

Makes me laugh until I cry

Say the right thing to comfort me when I’m down

Karma: Say the right thing to comfort me when I’m down

Cecile: What would your ideal partner sing during a karaoke date?

A love song dedicated to you

A ridiculous theme song, just to tease you

Karma: A love song dedicated to me

Cecile: Your perfect match has just defeated a supervillain. What do they do next?:

Righteously condemn the villain’s actions

Spout a witty catchphrase

Karma: Righteously condemn the villain’s actions

Cecile: Your travel plans have fallen through. What does your partner do?

They point blindly to a map, and plan a new adventure on the fly

They have you covered no matter what, backup plan and all

Karma: They have me covered no matter what, backup plan and all.

Cecile: How would your partner clear out a building full of zombies?:

They devise a brilliant plan and execute it flawlessly

They charge in, guns blazing!

Karma: They devise a brilliant plan, and execute it flawlessly.

Cecile: You’re at a casino, and your partner is winning big. Why is that?

They take big risks, and it pays off

They’re savvy and calculating, and play the odds

Karma: They’re savvy and calculating, and play the odds. 

Cecile: You’re doing wonderfully, Karma. We have enough to find you a suitable match, but first, I’d like to ask if there’s anything in particular you’re looking for… I’m going to list a few traits that your potential match may possess… Let me know if any of them resonate strongly with you. For those who prioritize physical intimacy, we have many candidates with massage skills. We can refine our search to animal lovers and pet owners, who are often compassionate and kind. If you’re drawn to creative, artistic souls, we can match you with musicians. Last but not least, many people seek the culture and intelligence of someone who speaks many languages. Which of these appeals to you?

Karma: I’m looking for someone with a magic touch. 

Cecile: An excellent choice. Would you like to distinguish your preferences further? Remember, there’s no shame in being picky when it comes to love. You’re absolutely worth it. 

Karma: I’m fine with my selection. 

The lights in the room brighten, and you are suddenly aware of your surroundings again. Cecile looks up from her note-taking and smiles warmly at you. 

Cecile: That concludes the questionnaire. Not so bad, was it? Based on your responses, we’ll determine which of our sixteen personality types best describes your Perfect Match. I’ll have your results in a moment…

Cecile taps on the tablet before turning it to show you the display… 

“Your perfect match is an Activist… - mysterious, rebellious, sincere, logical - … Someone with passion, drive, and vision, an Activist fights to change the world… and will fight just as hard for you!”

Karma: Wow. Just like that? Are you sure this type is the match for me?

Cecile: Skepticism is completely understandable. But I encourage you to trust the system. I think you’ll find that our system may surprise you. 

Karma: Well… I guess I could give it a shot. So… What next?

Cecile: Next? Simply leave the rest to us. We’ll find the most compatible partner for you in our database and arrange your first date. You’ll be hearing from us soon!

Karma: Sounds like a plan. And what happens after that?

Cecile flashes you a wink. 

Cecile: Why, true love, of course. 

You step out of the Eros building into the brisk night air, the New York City skyline towering above you. 

Damien: Made it out of the Mystery Company in one piece, huh?

Karma: Damien? What are you doing here?

Damien leans against his old muscle car, pulling his jacket tight against the cold. 

Damien: Check your phone, lovebird. I called you a couple times. Wanted to make sure you hadn’t joined a cult, or bought a timeshare or anything… And also offer you a ride home. 

Karma: You just wanted the dirt on this Mystery Company, huh?

Damien smiles. 

Damien: Wow… You know me too well, Karma. Come on. 

Soon, you’re watching the city lights streak by through the passenger window of Damien’s car as you catch him up on your day. 

Damien: So, really… this Eros thing. You’d think you’d just swipe left and right like other apps. No, you know, go to a day spa for a fancy interview. 

Karma: Maybe it’s a little… unconventional, but it seemed legit to me. 

Damien; Unconventional is an understatement. But hey, whatever makes you happy. 

Damien pulls the car to a stop outside your apartment building.

Damien: … I actually mean that too. I want you to be happy. 

Karma: Oh, really? No sarcasm this time? No snarky retort?

You catch Damien’s eye as a slight smirk spreads across his face…

Damien: Despite my unflappably cool facade… I do have the capacity to care about someone. Occasionally. 

Karma: Don’t get sappy on me now, Damien. 

Damien: Wouldn’t dream of it. 

One afternoon that weekend, you’re lounging in your apartment when a knock sounds on the door. You open it to find… 

Nadia: Karma! I’m guessing you haven’t left your apartment today. 

Karma: What makes you say that?

Nadia: Because if you stepped outside, you would have noticed this on your doorstep!

Nadia hands you a pristine display of flowers with an envelope attached! You open the card inside…

Karma: It’s from Eros! ‘Dear Karma, True love awaits! We’ve found someone special for you, and have already arranged your first date. At the end of the night, we’ll survey you both separately. If you both feel a connection, you’ll be declared a Match! You need only come with an open heart… and leave the rest to destiny.’ 

Nadia: Well, I came here hoping to ask how your appointment went, but I guess I have my answer! I remember when I got my letter from Eros… I was so excited! This is gonna be amazeballs! Right?!

Karma: I think there better be a money-back guarantee. 

Nadia: Ugh, you’ve been hanging around Damien too much. Let yourself be hopeful! This match they’ve found is going to be great for you!

Karma: Let’s hope so. The details on the card say that Eros has scheduled our first date… For tonight!

Nadia: Wait, what? We’ve got to get you ready!

Soon, Nadia is leading you on a last-minute shopping trip. She pores over the card from Eros as you browse through outfits. 

Nadia: Tonight could be the start of your beautiful, perfect love story, Karma! You’ve got to make a good impression! Luckily, Eros has you covered!

Karma: What do you mean?

Nadia This card from Eros includes some style suggestions based on your Perfect Match’s taste! Perfectly tailored to impress him!

Karma: They can do that?

Your cousin pulls an outfit from the rack…

Nadia: This one! It fits the suggestion perfectly! Try it on!

Karma: I think I’m just going to go as I am…

Nadia: Well… if this person really is your perfect match, they should love you regardless! I trust in the system!

As the afternoon goes on and the sun starts to set, you finish prepping with Nadia… When a sudden knock at the front door sounds! You hurry over to the living room with Nadia in tow!

Nadia: Ohmygod, ohmygod… He’s here. Answer it, quick! Tonight will be the start of your beautiful storybook romance!

You try to calm your cousin as you open the door…

Karma: Relax, Karma. It doesn’t have to be a ‘storybook romance’. No one is expecting this night to be--

Hayden: Hi, I’m Hayden. You must be Karma….

Karma: I… um… wow.

[headlineawards]

Additional Fiction Winners

Additional Fiction Awards

The Little British Award  [Best one-shot short]

Winner - Full Moon by DHW “Full Moon is the perfect short story. The characterizations are spot-on. We particularly adore that, for Giles, the important question is “Who are you?” and not “Why are you naked in my library?” Hee, that’s so fun! The humor in here runs the gamut. Some of the humor is blatant. Wuffles. His name is Wuffles. And then his synonyms for pants; each one is priceless and delightful. Some of the humor is subtle. When Giles responds “What?”, Wuffles takes it as the question he suggested while it’s more likely that Giles is expressing surprise at the turn in the conversation. I love that. And, of course, that last line cracks me up each time I read this story. Wonderful work.”

Runner-up - Drip Dry by Quaggy “One of the hallmarks of the series is the relationship between Buffy and Giles. While the pairing of Watcher and Slayer in a romantic sense is an acquired taste, there is much to this story that can be enjoyed by all. The snarky banter and stuffy argument between the two characters ring true and it lends a refreshing air to have them behave in so believable a way. At the close of the story, even the simultaneous realization of attraction is handled in a way that the reader can easily see these characters reacting in that way.”

The Epic Award  [Best long-fic/series]

Winner - The Watcher Watch Diary '98 by Gilescandy “We were in complete agreement that "The Watcher Watch Diary '98" by Gilescandy should be the winner in the Epic category.

The concept is unique and creative, and the execution rises to the technical challenges of the format.

The characterization is on point. We think the author nailed everyone from Snyder to Angelus, and the Scoobies, of course -- we felt so fond of them. It's so vivid and believable, I felt like I got to see canon continue before my eyes. And this is a fantastic point in canon for a missing scene fic. This story gives us what canon writers neglected when they focused on Buffy in the transition between s2 and s3. Acknowledging that all the Scoobies, especially Giles, needed to heal after the events of s2 is so good, and we feel like this story really helped mus understand "Dead Man's Party" better and hate it a little less. And DMP needs all the help it can get in this department, so thank you.

This story was super adorable, but it was not only that. It has RANGE. We gasped and laughed and even teared up a little.

While Xander/Cordelia and Oz/Willow have some lovely moments, the platonic relationships really carry this story. It's such a beautiful testament to the love and support in the Scooby family.

We feel that this story has added something permanent and wonderful to our perception of canon, and we're so happy we got to enjoy it.”

Runner-up - Something to Hold by Littleotter73 “This epic has the feels of a love story that you get to experience over and over again. An older post-canon Buffy and Giles get into a misunderstanding, which was well thought out by the author, that starts the journey of their romantic relationship. The first story worked for us on an emotional level because they seemed to have something real and important to argue about. The heavy focus on partnership, understanding each other, working towards the same goals, gave more weight to the smut.

But the crown jewel of the “Something to Hold” series is the final story ‘All of Him’. Although Amnesia fic has been done before, using the trope to explore Giles' decisions and feelings in season 6 and kind of heal that part of Giles and Buffy's relationship was a good idea. Recording his life with Buffy and her pregnancy in diaries was also a very Giles thing to do! The judges agreed that the concept was smart and original. Characterization in the story was excellent, and we especially enjoyed the mature post-chosen Willow and Xander. We also enjoyed getting a deeper glimpse into Giles UK life.

It is also with great joy and respect that we want to acknowledge the author's decision to be fair to romantic rivals and avoided full-on Spike-bashing while acknowledging that season seven Giles legit felt Spike should die.

The small details and atmosphere in the entire series was on point and really helped set the mood. This author did not over-look anything. Lastly, how can you not fall in love with Thomas? The child was beautifully written.

The return of Giles' memories was well done.

The smut was sweet.

There were kittens.

Thank you LittleOtter for sharing such a wonderful read.”

The Mystical Convergence Award  [Best crossover]

Winner - Marked Men by firefly124 “Youth can be a "dark age" for many, and the marks of youthful misdeeds can follow a person like a shadow through all the years of their life, marring the future with the stains of the past.  In Firefly124's "Marked Men" (in which the Buffyverse blends seamlessly into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) a young Rupert Giles and Severus Snape are only beginning to feel the weight of reckless choices that will leave them both forever scarred.”

Runner-up - The Trouble With Modern Art by OneBadRat “This crossover with Being Human is a wonderfully believable scrap of life from the perspective of both series. Characters were skillfully drawn - particularly Olivia, who doesn’t appear anywhere near as often as she should in fic - and it had a satisfying ending.”

The Hydra Award  [Best multi-ASH]

Winner - The Eye of the Storm by DHW “What a wonderful glimpse into just one weird and twisted afternoon that could have happened on the Hellmouth.  DHW gave us just enough to see what’s going on, but offers no explanation as to how or why.  Not knowing only adds to the story, and a weary Giles’ and Buffy’s willingness to just accept it happened and move on is so very in character.  We grinned all the way through as we watched Giles deal with the multiple versions of himself, each one being so true to the character.  It turned out to be a fun little storm.”

Runner-up - Headlines: Resurrection by Protoneromantic “Wow.  Giles and Willow are stuck in the world of Dominion.  Not only does this well-written story show how both characters would cope in such a world, but we also see what living in it has done to the Buffy and Xander that belong there.  A lot of angst and anticipation is built up here in a lead up to a clash of ASHes when Giles finally comes face to face with David Whele.”

[chooseywoozy]

Perfect Match, Book One: Chapter 1 - True Love, Guaranteed

(NOW PLAYING AS KARMA)

You walk down a bustling Brooklyn street, the sounds of the city humming all around you.

Karma: (Hope I’m not late!)

Soft music plays as you step into the hip venue of an upscale art show.

Karma: Nadia! Hey!

You spot your cousin, Nadia, among the crowd. Her face lights up as she approaches with arms outstretched and wraps you in a tight hug!

Nadia: Karma! I’m so happy you made it!

Karma: Are you kidding? The opening of your new art collection? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Nadia: Honestly, I have no idea how it blew up. But who am I to argue with the review of an art critic?

Karma: You mean glowing reviews from dozens of art critics?

Nadia: Oh, shush! Anyway, that’s not what I was excited about.

Karma: Then what is it?

Nadia: I want you to meet my boyfriend!

Nadia waves over a handsome man from across the room…

Nadia: Steve! Come say hi to my cousin!

Steve: Hey! You must be Karma! I’ve heard so much about you. I’ve been dying to meet you for weeks, but I’ve been busy at the animal shelter.

Karma: Oh! Do you work there?

Nadia: Steve’s an investment banker. But he volunteers at an animal shelter. Amazing, right?

Steve: Ah, it’s nothing. I’m just a guy who likes to do some good in his free time. Nadia here is the amazing one. The way her art makes me feel… It’s indescribable.

Nadia: Aww, sweetie!

Steve: Now, if you’ll excuse me, Karma, I’ve got to replenish the hors d’oeuvres. We’ll talk later! My mini-quiches are going fast!

Steve gives Nadia a kiss on the cheek and hustles off. Nadia sighs, beaming.

Nadia: Did I mention he bakes? He bakes. So… what do you think?

Karma: He’s too good to be true… what’s the catch? Comeon. Be honest. There’s gotta be something wrong with him. Secret criminal past? Crippling gambling debt?

Nadia: No! Nothing like that!

Karma: Then what’s your secret?

Nadia: I met him through a matchmaking service. They asked me some questions, then found the perfect man for me! They’re very exclusive. Super selective with their clientele. But I’m sure they’d accept you in a heartbeat!

Nadia reaches into her purse and hands you a business card.

Nadia: You should try them out!

Karma: True love, guaranteed? Sounds amazing. Sign me up!

Nadia: Yes! I was hoping you’d think so!

Karma: Are you kidding? It sounds great!

Just then, a voice calls to you from the crowd.

Damien: Looking good, Karma. Next time warn me when you plan to show up dressed like a celebrity. I would’ve brought my good suit.

Karma: Not so bad yourself, Damien.

Your good friend Damien saunters over, seamlessly switching his empty champagne glass with a fresh one from a server’s tray.

Damien: And don’t tell me Nadia has got you drinking this ‘matchmaking service’ Kool-Aid too. You of all people don’t need some fancy matchmaking service.

Karma: I’ll take that as a compliment. But you can’t argue with the results. Steve seems like a catch.

Damien: Yeah, I talked to Mr. Perfect on the way in. Haven’t found any flaws or dark secrets yet. But give me time.

Nadia: Really, D? We’ve known you for like, four years. I thought you would’ve dropped the tough, cynical act by now.

Damien: I’m a private investigator. I catch liars and cheaters for a living. ‘Cynical’ is basically my job.

Nadia: Don’t listen to him, Karma. He’s like the Grinch when it comes to love. Eros is the best matchmaking service ever! I’ll schedule you an appointment for a consultation!

Damien: Yeah! A vague, secretive company providing little to no contact information… What could go wrong? Just keep your guard up, Karma… Maybe bring pepper spray, or hold your keys like a claw.

Nadia: Ignore him. It’ll be amazing! I know you’re gonna find someone perfect for you!

Karma: Can’t wait!

Later that week, you arrive outside the address Nadia gave you. A sleek, unlabeled complex towers above you…

Karma: (Okay, this is a little weird. Not so much as a logo on the door. But the address looks right…)

You push through the glass doors to enter a warm, inviting lobby. A stunning woman strides gracefully across the room, the steps of her heels echoing through the halls.

Cecile: Karma Park? My name is Cecile Contreras. I’m the Head of Matchmaking here at Eros. Welcome! You got here on the J train, didn’t you? I hope getting to the new Quincy Station wasn’t too much of a hassle.

Karma: Uh, thank you… How did you know--

Cecile: We’ve done our homework. Eros has been expecting you, after all. Your cousin Nadia gave you a glowing referral. I’m excited to begin. Please, follow me.

You follow Cecile through the pristine halls of Eros Incorporated.

Karma: I’m still a little overwhelmed by this whole thing. How can you guarantee true love?

Cecile: A good question. Love is a complex thing. But here at Eros, we’ve used the latest in behavioural science and technology to devise the most sophisticated matchmaking system in the world.

Karma: So you think you’ve got people figured out… with some algorithm?

Cecile: Your personality, your wants, your needs… All of that makes you unique, like a puzzle piece. But somewhere out there is a piece that fits flawlessly with you. An exact complement. A perfect match. Our technology helps sort through the pieces to find yours. Simply put, the human heart is precisely our expertise.

Karma: Really? Sounds like exactly what I need!

Cecile: So glad you feel that way! I can assure you, we’re just as excited as you are to help you find your match.

She leads you into a peaceful, softly lit room. A sweet, floral aroma and calming music fill the space around you.

Cecile: Welcome to our consultation room. This is where we’ll be conducting our Perfect Match questionnaire.

Karma: Is this the part where I tell you my middle name, my hobbies and where I went to high school?

Cecile: Nadia sent us the personality profile you filled out, so we already have the basic information we need. Today will be about finding out what you’re looking for in a match.

Karma: Oh… Okay… So why does this place look more like a day spa than a quiz room?

Cecile: Oh, I assure you, our questionnaire is more than just a quiz. It’s a comprehensive interview, monitoring not just your words, but your biorhythms, your excitement, your emotional engagement… As such, we want you to be perfectly at ease.

She invites you to sit on a reclining chair in the middle of the room, and instantly your mind drifts as you sink into the shockingly comfortable seat. Cecile sits on a chair beside you with a tablet in hand.

Cecile: Simply place your hand on the palm scanner, and we can begin.

You place your hand on the smooth surface of the chair’s arm. It hums and glows, and soon a soft chime sounds in sync with your own heartbeat. The lights in the room dims as your mind drifts, peacefully.

Cecile: Now, relax. Close your eyes… focus on the sound of my voice… and speak from your heart…

Cecile taps on her tablet. You hear her voice from a distance as your eyes close…

Cecile: First, some general questions. I’m going to show you six images. Tell me, which of these most closely resembles your preferred look in a match?

(Look 1)

Cecile: Wonderful. Next I have twelve brief questions. Please answer as honestly as you can…

One - When traveling abroad, your perfect match would rather take you… To a lively festival, bustling with locals.

Two - On a road trip with your partner, you’d prefer someone who… Trades anecdotes and engages in lively conversation.

Three - You’re transported into a fantasy novel. Which character is most attractive… A magnetic ruler, leading and inspiring the people.

Four - Who do you imagine your partner hung out with in high school… A close-knit group of friends.

Five - Your match appears in a dream with an animal companion. What kind is it… A fierce, wild hawk.

Six - Your partner is facing an unbeatable enemy. What strategy do they use… Fight dirty.

Seven - You have to be apart for a few months. Your perfect match… Sends you memes.

Eight - Your perfect match has just defeated a supervillain. What do they do next… Righteously condemn the villain’s action.

Nine - What would your perfect match give you for your birthday… Something they noticed you wanted but hadn’t asked for.

Ten - Your date orders cocktails for you at a bar. Which do they choose… A trendy new menu item that food critics are buzzing about.

Eleven - Your travel plans have fallen through. What does your partner do… They have you covered no matter what, backup plan and all.

Twelve - How would your partner clear out a building full of zombies… They devise a brilliant plan and execute it flawlessly.

Cecile: You’re doing wonderfully, Karma. We have enough to find you a suitable match, but first, I’d like to ask if there’s anything in particular you’re looking for… I’m going to list a few traits that your potential match may possess. Let me know if any of them resonate strongly with you. For those who prioritise physical intimacy, we have many candidates with massage skills. We can refine our search to animal lovers and pet owners, who are often compassionate and kind. If you’re drawn to creative, artistic souls, we can match you with musicians. Last but not least, many people seek the culture and intelligence of someone who speaks many languages. Which of these appeals to you?

Karma: The animal lover. My match must love animals.

Cecile: An excellent choice. Would you like to distinguish your preferences further? Remember, there’s no shame in being picky when it comes to love. You’re absolutely worth it.

Karma: I would like them to possess all of those qualities. Why settle for anything less?

The lights in the room brighten, and you are suddenly aware of your surroundings again. Cecile looks up from her note taking and smiles warmly at you.

Cecile: That concludes the questionnaire. Not so bad, was it? Based on your responses, we’ll determine which of our sixteen personality types best describes your Perfect Match. I’ll have your results in a moment…

Cecile taps on the tablet before turning it to show you the display…

Your perfect match is a… Leader - Outgoing, rebellious, sincere, loyal.

Brave, perceptive, and confident, the Leader is often turned to in times of crisis. As a romantic partner, this perfect match’s charisma can inspire in even the most challenging of times.

Karma: Wow. Just like that? This is just my type! I’d love to find someone like this.

Cecile: Glad to see that the system is working as intended!

Karma: So… What next?

Cecile: Next? Simply leave the rest to us. We’ll find the most compatible partner for you in our database and arrange your first date. You’ll be hearing from us soon!

Karma: Sounds like a plan. And what happens after that?

Cecile flashes you a wink.

Cecile: Why, true love, of course.

You step out of the Eros building into the brisk night air, the New York City skyline towering above you.

Damien: Made it out of the Mystery Company in one piece, huh?

Karma: Damien? What are you doing here?

Damien leans against his old muscle car, pulling his jacket tight against the cold.

Damien: Check your phone, lovebird. I called you a couple times. Wanted to make sure you hadn’t joined a cult, or bought a timeshare or anything… And also offer you a ride home.

Karma: Oh, really? You just wanted the dirt on this Mystery Company, huh?

Damien smiles.

Damien: Wow… You know me too well, Karma. Come on.

Soon, you’re watching the city lights streak by through the passenger window of Damien’s car as you catch him up on your day.

Damien: So, really… this Eros thing. You’d think you’d just swipe left and right like the other apps. Not, you know, go to a day spa for a fancy interview.

Karma: Maybe it’s a little… unconventional, but it seemed legit to me.

Damien: Unconventional is an understatement. But hey, whatever makes you happy.

Damien pulls the car to a stop outside your apartment building.

Damien: … I actually mean that too. I want you to be happy.

Karma: Oh really? No sarcasm this time? No snarky retort?

You catch Damien’s eye as a slight smirk spreads across his face…

Damien: Despite my unflappably cool facade… I do have the capacity to care about someone. Occasionally.

Karma: Don’t get sappy on my now, Damien.

Damien: Wouldn’t dream of it.

One afternoon that weekend, you’re lounging in your apartment when a knock sounds on the door. You open it to find…

Nadia: Karma! I’m guessing you haven’t left your apartment today.

Karma: What makes you say that?

Nadia: Because if you stepped outside, you would have noticed this on your doorstep!

Nadia hands you a pristine display of flowers with an envelope attached! You open the card inside…

Karma: It’s from Eros! ‘Dear Karma, True love awaits! We’ve found someone special for you, and have already arranged your first date. At the end of the night, we’ll survey you both separately. If you both feel a connection, you’ll be declared a Match! You need only come with an open heart… and leave the rest to destiny.’

Nadia: Well, I came here hoping to ask how your appointment went, but I guess I have my answer! I remember when I got my letter from Eros…. I was so excited. This is gonna be amazeballs! Right?!

Karma: I think it’s going to be great!

Nadia: You’re right! It is! Positive thoughts, Karma! Send that out into the universe! This match they’ve found for you is your destiny!

Karma: Let’s hope so. The details on the card say that Eros has scheduled our first date… For tonight!

Nadia: Wait, what? We’ve got to get you ready!

Soon, Nadia is leading you on a last minute shopping trip. She pores over the card from Eros as you browse through outfits.

Nadia: Tonight could be the start of your beautiful, perfect love story, Karma! You’ve got to make a good impression! Luckily, Eros has you covered!

Karma: What do you mean?

Nadia: This card from Eros includes some style suggestions based on your Perfect Match’s taste! Perfectly tailored to impress him!

Karma: They can do that?

Your cousin pulls an outfit from the rack…

Nadia: This one! It fits the suggestion perfectly! Try it on!

Karma: Alright, alright…

Nadia: Ugh, slay, Karma!

Karma: I’m guessing that’s a good thing?

Nadia: Good? No. That outfit is perfect!

As the afternoon goes on and the sun starts to set, you finish prepping with Nadia… when a sudden knock at the front door sounds! You hurry over to the living room with Nadia in tow!

Nadia: Ohmygod, ohmygod… He’s here! Answer it, quick! Tonight will be the start of your beautiful storybook romance!

You try to calm your cousin as you open the door..

Karma: Relax, Nadia. It doesn’t have to be a ‘storybook romance’. No one is expecting this night to be--

Hayden: Hi, I’m Hayden. You must be Karma…

Karma: I… Um… Wow.

Thoughts on the episode…

Okay well first of all… creepy and suspicious as hell. I can’t believe Damien was the only one who was like… ‘what on earth…’ Everything about this screams dodgy. How did Nadia even find Eros in the first place? I mean, for our MC, sure - we have Nadia’s results convincing us to do it (even though Steve is a freaky robot and we can tell straight away,) but what did Nadia have? She just went for it.

Speaking of Nadia, annoying. I would love to just cut her out of the story completely. She’s too BLLURGGHHH, you know? So enthusiastic about absolutely everything. I can’t imagine what her art looks like. Probably really cheesy, basic stuff like Thomas Kinkade. Nothing edgy or cool. You could definitely buy a snowglobe with Nadia’s artwork in it.

I know that Hayden is a robot, but defo gonna smash. Like. He’s our perfect match, wiring or not. I mean, I know that Damien is there too and as soon as we get the option to seduce I shall absolutely be doing that because he is a fine piece of cartoon ass, but… where’s the fun if I can’t doodly do with the robot?

Also, shoutout to Cecile who is the hottest character at first glance I have ever seen from Pixelberry. I mean, I know she’s probably an evil lunatic hell bent on destroying us once we uncover Eros’ secrets, but still. I’m shallow and she’s hot.

Fave Character of the Chapter: Damien

Least Fave Character of the Chapter: Nadia

[history-rover]

Fic Writers Week (Day One): Words of Validation

Day 1: Words Of Validation - Fic Readers, take some time to leave new comments / Fic Writers, share some of the comments that stuck with you the most.

First and foremost, every single comment that has ever been left behind on any one of my fics means a great deal to me, and I can’t even describe how happy they all make me! Seriously, you all make my day! I’d like to put every single one of them into this post, but I don’t want to clog up peoples’ dashes, so even if you don’t see your comment here, just know that it is in this post in spirit.

One Available Copy

aaaaaaAAAAAAAA this is amazing??? i love this so so much asdfghjkl. Your characterization was on point and I literally laughed out loud a bunch of times. Thank you so much for sharing with us!! 

This was so lovely, sweet, funny and i can't really cope right now :D Your characterisation was spot on and this au in general was so good! And the thought of Kirishima and Bakugou sharing their assigned reading is doing funny things to my heart! 

This is so so so so cute!! I just love the progression of their relationship from emailed library notifications to post its to face to face talking and texts.... it's just so so adorable. Plus the idea itself is genius! And I've never seen a college AY that talks about library stuff like this and it's just a really cool concept and a really good idea...!Also, all the tiny details you wove into this really made it as good as it was: the inclusion of so many characters, Tsuyu's livestreams, Endeavor and Monoma's humiliation, the humour, the tododeku making out between the shelves and literally not giving a single fuck.... everything was funny and cute and the ENDING!! The ending was super well executed and wonderful and cute and I absolutely loved it. All of it. Thank you so much for writing this because it's seriously hecking amazing <3 Oh my gosh this is my favorite college AU fic! I really love everything about it. Your characterization of Bakugou especially was on point, very good, A+ LOVED IT 

Oh my goodness this was so freaking cute? Bakugou's attempts at flirting going right over kirishima's head is so in line with these two boys I'm yellinggggg thank u sm for writing this fic!!! u really made their college feel like a real living breathing place especially with the addition of all the meme pages!! 

I wrote One Available Copy (OAC) with the goal of making people laugh and smile, and to hear that I had done that made more happy than I could have imagined! I’m always second-guessing myself on characterisation as well, so these comments meant a lot to me, and I can’t thank people enough for them! Also, to hear that I had made the world feel alive and real...thank you all so much!

Wedlock

WHAT. A. FIRST. CHAPTER!!!

I am so excited for this AU omg?? I love that they're in an established relationship already and omg the playfulness? Flirting?? YES, MY BOYS, GO OFF AND START A SCANDAL. I AM ROOTING FOR YOU!

And magic!! Oh my gosh I love the incorporation of magic in this era and the fighting--the fighting. It's amazing. Intense. I love it.

Thank you as well for the superb attention to detail. I can tell a lot of research went into representing the era accurately and it makes your world all the more vivid and fascinating! (the sweets, i am remembering the sweets hahahaha)

I'm definitely looking forward to more of this AU! Great job!!!

Special shoutout first of all to @todorokishouts for this giant comment, after having to deal with my sobbing of research woes for this fic, and cheering me on through it, and consistently being the first person to comment on every new update along with @dystopiansushi! And yes, never forget #sweetgate2k17

I really loved how many cool elements of the time you included, it shows such an amazing deal of research!

Holy shit I'm loving this fic already!! Their established relationship is so playful and sweet, I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes next in their schemes!Also, your attention to detail in the setting while still managing to seamlessly infuse magical elements is really impressive! You've got me wanting to learn more about this world :DI hope to see more soon!! Thank you so much for this great fic :DD

Wow this is great so far! :D. I thinks it's really cool how much research you've done too, the accuracy of everything is awesome :0. Can't wait for the next chapter

I already love this and I can't wait to read more! I love how much research and knowledge you put into this au because it just shows how much you care about writing and the characters. A truly incredible first chapter with all the romance, humour and action any good story has. I loved it!

Did I mention that Wedlock is the most research-intensive fic that I’ve ever done? I swear I did the same amount of research (and still am doing research) for this story, as I did for my thesis, and to know that it wasn’t for nothing, and that people appreciated it, made me weep with joy. 

So this is fantastic. Like, excellent start. Established Tododeku? Awesome magical period romance? Actual Magic Frog Tsuyu? Appearances from numerous lovable minor characters? You are on a roll, my good sir. So I've noticed this trend in most fantasy and royalty AUs that feature Tododeku, and that is the trend of Commoner/Servant!Izuku being shipped with Royalty!Shouto. In light of that, can i just say that it is SO refreshing to see a story where they don't have to get around a weird societal imbalance of power in order to properly fall in love? It's beautiful and wonderfully uncomplicated, while still having the court politics that make stories like these so delightfully intriguing.But yeah, you've started really strong and I went back through your stuff to realize that I also read and loved your college AU, so needless to say, I'm super excited for this fic! Izuku and Shouto's dynamic is so wonderful in this, and I can't wait to see where it goes!

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL OML THIS IS ONLY CHAPTER 1 AND I CAN'T STOP SCREAMING ALREADY!!! THIS IS SO REFRESHING IN SO MANY WAYS LIKE: TODODEKU (all of it) FANTASY AU (it is always refreshing in a way) DAD MIGHT (ADOPTED IZUKU) CLASS 1-A & EVERYONES COMMENTS (they are easily the best) URARAKA AND TSU FIGHTS!!!AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: THE WAY YOU WRITE EVERYTHING FROM THE CHARACTERS TO THE ENVIRONMENT IS BEAUTIFUL. I'M HYPED!!!

PitViperofDoom messaged me yesterday with a link and one word- "READ"And boy howdy am I glad I did! This was fantastic! I love the historical aspect of it mixed with magic and quirks and the romance was just. So good. I died with the cord thing very nice 11/10, perfection! I think you really stayed true to characters while giving them interesting influence from the setting and your writing skills are just amazing. I could really see every moment playing out. And the plot! Scheming boys and scandals, oh my! Great job. I can't wait to read more!

These three comment made me collectively die of happiness on the spot, to the point where my mother actually ran into my room asking me what I was screaming about. I think that pretty much sums up why these comment stood out to me.

Path of the Wind

I love this. I'm so happy I got to be the first to read through it; I love the premise, I love your Izuku, I love your Inko and your cryptid All Might, I think the whole thing is a fantastic and original idea and I absolutely can't wait to see how you continue it <3

None of this would have been possible without my beta reader @dystopiansushi, so thank you so much!

All aboard the hype train - whoop whoop! I'm an absolute sucker for fantasy/mystery/supernatural-esque AU content, with a side serving of Tododeku, so here I am! I'm excited to see how this plays out!

I’ve never written anything in the realm of the supernatural/fantast type before PotW, so to hear this was a big boost in confidence for me!

Whoah, I love your attention to detail here. The potholes especially caught my attention. It's something people think about, but most wouldn't think to describe distance like that. I'm excited for this!

I’ve always been a sucker for big detailed scenes, and I was so happy to find out that people enjoyed them as well, and that they didn’t take away from the story like I had been worried about.

Todo sure left an impression, poor boy Also I'm SO ON for how supportative and cute momma Inko is? Fuck, I love everything about your writring and I don't know how to describe what I like more and susbsusbsjs You're amazing

holy shit i cannot get enough of this story. it’s so well written, and extremely intriguing.i love how amazing the characters are?? just their mannerisms, midoriya’s mumbling, kirishima’s touchiness, and todoroki’s bluntness are so on-spot. also your Iida is perfect i love him!!im hardcore relating to midoriya right now, just itching to know the town’s secrets haha (as well as todoroki’s cause damn that kid is mysterious)

This is such a good update! You have such a soft way to write, I like it so, so much 

*crying emoji* thank you so much for complimenting my writing, and my writing style, and for validating me!

My Neighbour Totoro? I think you mean My Neighbour Todoroki (I'll walk myself out). Hums loudly at the mention of glinting eyes watching Midoriya enter Yuuei Academy. Who could that have been? All Might isn't really size appropriate to be slinking around there after all. And just what is Todoroki up to? Midoriya has a lot of interesting questions, thats for sure. I hope he gets the answers to all of them, because they're making me wonder too. Having the Todoroki's as the fire department will certainly link Shouto to finding the necessary evidence Midoriya's searching for in regards to the old Yuuei fires where All might was spotted, and I bet Endeavour has a huge role to play in that too. I wouldn't be surprised if the fire was instigated in an attempt to successfully lure All might out, although I may be stretching the theory bar a little on that one. I just hope Endeavour hasn't forced Todoroki the impossible task for trying to track All Might down once and for all. But, he seems genuinely scared of Midoriya's "haunted" place, or maybe he's just scared of Midoriya? What's going on Todoroki, communicate with us here. I hope Midoriya doesn't get lost trying to track shouto home. Good luck boys! Until next time!

'Somewhere in the distance, there's the sharp trill of birdsong, followed closely by the frantic flapping of wings, the sounds a concert accompanied by the occasional whisper of a breeze rattling the leaves and branches of the forest, and his own discrete pants for air.' Okay just gotta say that line is absolutely gorgeous and I can picture it perfectly in my head. There are so many descriptions throughout this chapter that are just SO PRETTY!!! FIRST CONTACT WITH THE CRYPTID AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! This was adorable?!?! All Might is a sweetheart through and through! And Izuku fanboying? Oh my dear boy. (Izuku concerned for Shouto? oh my aching heart. BUT IZUKU THINKING ABOUT HOW PRETTY SHOUTO IS IS THE BEST THING EVER OKAY) Inko! Please take care;;;;;; don't worry your mother too much Izuku!Now, onto Aizawa. He cares a lot about his students, yeah........ but is that all? Hmmm? Do you know more than you let on, Aizawa? *eyes emoji* Could there be more teachers behind the scenes, helping All Might out? The plot thickens.

That would require finding said clearing, Shouto, and all things considered that sounds like quite the challenge. People often don’t remember directions well when rushing around.I wonder why Shouto wants to meet All Might so badly. Is his home life anywhere near as bad as it is in canon? Perhaps hopes All Might will help rescue his mom from wherever Enji stashed her.

AND TOTORO MAKES HIS APPEARANCE - i mean All Might. He's like the local friendly bigfoot. Bless him and his accident-selfie. Midoriya had such a rough tumble - it sounded both super painful and really dangerous - I'm glad he got saved in time. Todoroki ironically lead Midoriya to the clearing by running away from him to begin with - I see you trying to benefit yourself and your goals in this invitation. I worry Midoriya won't be able to find the clearing since he woke up there and was carried away from there - without a definitive route. Todoroki might not be as patient when he realises Midoriya can't find it for him. Aizawa's behaviour concerns me. Is he in contact/affiliation with All might? I feel like he knows. Until next time!

I honestly did not expect to get this initial comment, much less speculation about PotW, so I was absolutely floored, when the speculation began to come in with later chapters, and I must say that it gave me so so much motivation to keep on writing!

Man so much of this is so Ghibli; Izuku leaning out of the window, the tiny house on the edge of a giant forest, Shouto appearing in the dusk to give an ominous message, only to retreat to his mansion home across the moor (okay the moor is Gothic lit but STILL WHAT A MOOD). He has the biggest combo of San & Haku going on and I dig it so hard.

You write EXACTLY as a Ghibli movie is animated and just Wow It’s gorgeous

This is absolutely gorgeous. You capture the atmosphere so well. I’ve always wanted a regular high school au for these kids and while it isn’t the main focus, I really enjoy that aspect of the story. The plot so far is amazing, just the right combination of Ghibli and BNHA that it creates a new story entirely its own. I love every moment of this and am excited to see how Todoroki and Midoriya’s relationship evolves.

Studio Ghibli is one of the biggest influences in my life in terms of media, and I desperately wanted to do justice to it through PotW, so these comments literally made me cry from happiness.

Wow, this got really really long, and I wholeheartedly apologise to anyone reading this on mobile, and I just wanted to say once again, to everyone who has ever read my fics, to everyone who has ever read my fics and commented, thank you so so much! Your comments, reblogs, and supports give me so much motivation, and sometimes they’re the only things that get me through a tough time!

[zenosanalytic]

Atomic Blonding(Because Of Course I Would)

I just saw Atomic Blonde yesterday and l wanted to write about it. I’ve seen a few people call it a “Bond Film”. I don’t agree; maybe if they’re comparing it to the Daniel Craig generation of Bond films, but it(like Craig’s run) is miles better than any of them from before him.

To explain that, and eventually get to what I LIKE about Atomic Blonde, this is going to have to turn into a critique of Bond films for a short time. To put it simply, Bond films are aesthetically spy movies, but there’s no actual “spying”, or any of the larger themes universal to “Spy” as a genre, involved in them.

In a Bond film(excluding Craig’s, which are an absolute sea-change), you know who the “good guys” are and who the “bad guys” are; it’s obvious, declared at the very start, and the villains act like mustache-twirling matinee stereotypes(and often with asinine racial, national, and sexual stereotypes thrown in as well). There’s no feeling of paranoia, or awareness of your own ignorance, or sense of unpredictable, ever-present malice, or unpredictable and lethal violence. In a Bond movie you know, exactly, what’s going on, and the plots aren’t just simple but obvious and predictable down to the sort of things Bond and his enemies are likely to say in any situation. There are some surprises, but they’re only there for flavor and affect; they have nothing to do with the plot or with characterization(which is equally flat and boring. And declared by their names). Bond’s enemies aren’t people with lives, agendas, objectives; they’re voiceless mooks and elemental forces that the Orderly World cannot, for some reason, touch. They are monsters for him to slay with his miraculous techno-gifts, handed down from the inscrutable yet affable Q. Bond’s a modern Perseus eternally repeating his quest to slay mythic beasts, minus the parental issues(until, as always, Craig). Most “Spy” protagonists are not unknowable, face-changing monster-slayers, silently defending the world from platonic Evil: they’re flawed, stressed-out, morally-compromised, sympathetic and charismatic yet ultimately unlikeable, human beings.

Nor are there secrets to uncover or unravel for either the protagonist or the reader; merely banal details of execution to some monomaniacal, over-large plan to be thwarted. There are no allies to wonder at the loyalty and agenda of. There are no unforeseen, soul-crushing and lethal betrayals to barely, painfully, survive. There is no oppressive sense of danger, or the constant stress of artifice and the fear of discovery, or the dramatization and exploration of dissociation that instills. There is no desperate need to know what others know, to know their motivations, and to trust them in a situation where knowledge and trust will kill you quicker and more surely than anything else. There is no invitation to the internal life of the protagonists and their incidental victims; no reason to wonder why they are doing what they are doing, or what it has done to them. In short there’s no mystery, and mystery is fundamental to the spy genre and characterization in it.

Then there’s institutions. In Bond whether Good(the Cold War world-order and its Alphabet-Bureaus) or Bad(SPECTRE and, oddly enough, the global capitalist-aristocracy, which is synonymous with world-threatening crime in Bond films, which I consider a definite +), institutions are fundamentally trustworthy; providing missions, divine gadgets, information, and support to their agents, and playing little role beyond that. In the spy genre they are monolithic, unknowable, disloyal, and fundamentally compromised by the nature of their work, their objectives, and by the individuals that make them up. They are, simultaneously, forces of immense personal destruction, chewing people and their lives up and spitting them out with no consideration or care for the damage they do, and fecklessly helpless before the personal venality of their staff, and the political expediency of their managers and governments. The ultimate fate of every Spy protagonist is to be betrayed by the very institutions they’re working for in one way or another and so Betrayal lies at the heart of the genre. For instance Smiley, probably the most famous protag in the genre, has his life utterly destroyed by The Circus numerous times and his friends repeatedly killed and publicly ruined by it, is constantly doing things he finds morally repugnant in its service, is thus led into self-betrayal by it, and never once gets an apology or thank you for any of it. There is no Betrayal in Bond; at best, only femme fatales sent to trick the protagonist into danger with their bodies and his own horniness(which, of course, Bond is always completely Aware of and Prepared for, because he is a male competence-fantasy on top of everything else).

Bond Films are action Travelogues and sexed-up Boy’s Life fantasies about “the high life” of gambling, girls*, gadgets, glamour, tourism, and lazy wealth, with Patriotism, Guns, Murder, and ~Exotic Adventure in Foreign Locales~ thrown in for spice. They’re petty-trifles; dime novels; Basic misogynistic colonialist twaffle.

Atomic Blonde, on the other hand, does manage to fit into the Spy genre while also being an effective, not-too-deep, entertainment-focused action flick, much like the Craig Bond films(particularly the first one; they go down-hill fast) and The Man From U.N.C.L.E(2015). It is Motherfucking Both Things.

It is a solid, competent action flick with REALLY GOOD, substantive, driving, fighting, and chase choreography. These scenes are weighty and believable and not distractingly choreographed or fakey. It’s really hard for an action protagonist in a fight-movie to be completely 100% believable because what they are doing is fundamentally unrealistic(one person cannot fight a dozen people, and cannot predict with total accuracy what numerous other people will do in a fight simultaneously, dancing out of the way of attacks seamlessly), but Atomic Blonde and Theron’s performance comes as close as you can get, much closer than Bourne or anything else I’ve seen in Western cinema(The Raid is another good example, and a handful of older Hong Kong action flicks), and there is an extended combat sequence in the denouement that, I would say, pretty much achieves “fight realism”. They really paid attention to verisimilitude, it shows, and it’s entertaining as hell. When people get hit, it looks and sounds painful. Injuries have lasting, visible consequences. Knives and Guns are presented as the horribly dangerous, incredibly lethal, and fundamentally untrustworthy(anyone can use them. They will always let you down when you need them most) things that they are, and they are given the focus they deserve by the characters. Cars are terrible engines of humiliating pain and abrupt death. When Charlize Theron hits that man in the throat with her stiletto heel(not a spoiler it was in the trailer) it is Satisfying and winceworthy all at once, as is what follows it(it’s great, A++ Recommended, go see it). At the same time, there are also chances to see and appreciate the artistry of fundamentally unrealistic film fight choreography(like the apartment fight). But it doesn’t stop at being just a great action movie(which it is).

Atomic Blonde is a paranoid movie: from the very beginning it is about Trust, the emotions that create it, the betrayal of it, and the toll of establishing it, having it, and breaking it.

It is a mysterious movie: from the very beginning it is obsessed with what people know and want to know, spins along on what they don’t, and is fueled by lies, misdirections, and manipulations. What its characters(and the audience) know, want to know, think they know, want to believe, say they are doing, and are actually doing, are all pivotal to it and one’s engagement with the film.

It is a movie about characters: I would not call it an “internal” movie because it is fast-paced and doesn’t dwell on or explore psychology, but it DOES focus and turn on the question of who its characters are, what they believe, what they feel, and what motivates them. The “central” plot objective, a genre-traditional mcguffin, takes a backseat to exploring the characters, is absent from most of the film, and is only questionably important to its resolution; the characters, their relationships, and the action they undertake are what draw you in and connect you to the story. Which isn’t to say its characters and what they do are all there is to it(like, say, Smokin’ Aces). While character-driven, I’d argue it’s also a story about narrative and how narrative defines and obscures self, and there’s some rich meta-dirt to dig into as a result.

I wouldn’t say it’s a movie about institutions, but they certainly play a central and heavy role. Their stability, how they change, their interest and objectives, the loyalty they demand, their fundamental disloyalty(anyone can use them. They will always let you down when you need them most), their impact on individuals and sense-of-self, and the monolithic threat they can pose to the individual; all are part of the backdrop, motivation, and plot-engine of the film which the characters are responding to. But the individuals living in them, how they do it, and their fundamental ability to undermine, confuse, manipulate, and escape them is, like I said above, even more central; both as the film’s action and as how it engages the audience. Maybe it would be more accurate to say it is a movie about people dealing with institutions? But lightly: it doesn’t dwell on this or beat you over the head with it.

So, in my opinion, Atomic Blonde is NOT a Bond movie: it is an action-oriented, character-driven, Spy Movie. It’s fun, engaging, and immediate. I definitely wouldn’t call it “cerebral”, but it wants to engage you on many fronts at once and it Respects the Forms of the many genres it sticks its toes into. Also, it’s wonderfully cast, beautifully shot, and effectively directed. And the romances in it are very light without being poorly done, and impactful to the protagonist. There’s a sex scene but it didn’t come off as voyeuristic, objectifying, or insulting to me and it creates a real, sustained personal connection, friendship, and intimacy, which I appreciate.

My one complaint, and this is the only really spoilery bit of this review because its unavoidable so stop reading here and skip to the next para if you don’t want to be spoiled for the movie, is how the partner in that relationship, Delphine, is written. As a character she’s fine, and she isn’t superfluous to the story or anything, but I just didn’t see WHY she was involved in espionage to begin with, or why her gov would put someone so inexperienced(or so the movie tells us) in such a dangerous place, and with zero apparent support from the French government. The lack of any French presence in the debriefing, when they had lost what appears to be their only agent in Berlin during this mission, was also peculiar, especially given the CIA’s presence. Delphine also dies. I didn’t find her death particularly out of step with the movie; the character who kills her had previously killed someone with improvised, if faster, methods, and the movie itself doesn’t present violence in a sanitized or glorifying way. But I do feel like it wasn’t necessary. I mean, the story beats leading to it are clear and sensible, even inevitable; her death follows genre conventions to a T. But it doesn’t really change anything for anyone. That might be the point though: the movie even comments on this by having the protag, Lorraine, say “you didn’t have to kill her” which is absolutely true. So, as a character beat showing the audience the dark side to Percival it makes some sense; by having him kill Delphine, the audience is more likely to approve of his killing later. And Lorraine’s anger about it shows us something about her as well, even if she was going to kill him anyway. Given all of this part of me wonders if Delphine was even real or just an invention of Lorraine to confuse her debriefers and help build her case against Percival, but that’s a different discussion. The point is that, while I wasn’t turned off of the movie by her death, I can def understand others finding it senseless and offensive.

Ok so, Wow, I had a lot more to say about this than I first thought I did. Hope everyone who read it enjoyed it, and I def rec this film owo

[thesymphonyoflife]

2018 Favorite Movies

It’s been a while since I’ve made one of these lists. This year was filled with great foreign films and documentaries, as (spoiler alert) you will see many of below. As always, I have not seen every movie of the year, but I think I have gotten better over the years at understanding what kinds of movies I would find interesting, and what directors I will always look out for, so in that regard, I think I have been as exhaustive as I can to make this list.

Honorable Mentions:

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: I’ll watch anything the Coen’s do, and if history suggests anything, I’ll probably like it. This is one of the most unique formats I’ve seen a Coen film (anthology), but I’m glad I got to see their take on this film format, because I do enjoy films like this (Paris, Je’Taime, and Wild Tales are two of my favorites). This film did a good job of keeping with the overall western theme they were going for, even if some of the stories were more engaging than others. The timings were a little uneven as well, as some stories were (and felt) longer than others, which kind of threw off the pacing and rhythm of the film. If I know the Coen’s though, they might not be done exploring the genre of the Old Western.

Green Book: One of the more “meh” best picture winners of the past several years, maybe since The Artist. Viggo Mortenson did a great job and the chemistry between him and Mahershala Ali felt authentic, but I wish there wasn’t so much cheese spread across the film. I wish I could have a caution sign that pops up in front of a director’s eyes before they shoot a scene, reading: “Does this scene require this much drama (cheese) to effectively move the plot or build upon the character(s) in an appropriate manner? If it is not a resounding YES, please RECONSIDER altering the scene to be more authentic!!” I’m rambling and may be piling on this movie for the shortcomings of a lot of Oscar “bait,” but I (and many others) see it every year and every instance of it gets more and more frustrating.

They Shall Not Grow Old: War documentaries are nothing new, but I was thoroughly impressed by this take on the documentary format by Peter Jackson. I highly recommend sticking around to the very end of the film (after the credits) to see a mini-documentary on how they made the film and their thinking behind the structure, layout, and overall design of the film. The amount of work they put into the project is even more apparent after seeing that, and it just underscores the grand scale a world war was. 

Minding The Gap: This documentary does a great job of utilizing time to its advantage. I’m not talking about run time or pace, but rather telling a fluid story about several people over a period of several years. It felt very natural and allowed you to take a journey with these people and understand their story even more. It’s a documentary that is easy to empathize with, not just for the struggles the characters deal with but more so the journey the film takes us through, and how we can relate to the themes of childhood, family, community, friends, dreams, escapes, our future, mortality, and many other heady themes. 

Cold War: There’s a lot to unravel when watching this movie, from the shot compositions, to the juxtaposition of the music, to the journey of the relationship between Wiktor and Zula. I love the way music is used as a storytelling device, and the beauty of the minimalist style of music plays perfectly with the beautiful cinematography (black and white never looked so colorful). A lot was done well, but the pacing and the ending kept it from being an even better film.

10. Burning

I admit I needed to be aided in terms of figuring out what all happened in this film exactly. But once I started delving into what other people had to say about the film, I think that’s exactly what was supposed to happen. I love how even as slow prodding of a film this is, it still manages to simultaneously leave time for you to think and not at the same time. For as many times as I felt like I was going to fall asleep, I still feel like the pacing of this film was done as best as it could have been. This is a film where ambiguity is the end goal, and that’s perfectly ok, especially with how the film is laid out and shot. 

9. Eighth Grade

The passage of time is never kind to us. Even with the most positive outlook on life, and a happy childhood or upbringing, there is just something about reflecting on a period of time in your life (i.e. nostalgia) that brings about an inherent sadness. Not because the memories may be sad or because you wish you could go back to that time in your life, but because there is this huge amount of pressure we give ourselves when assessing our impact through the lens of time. A time capsule is the perfect representation of this concept. I have done this many times now (it is ever so easy to do now in the age of the internet. Hey, even this blog is basically a time capsule!) and each time it makes me feel like I have not grown or accomplished as much as I (maybe unfairly) should have in that time period, however long that may have been. I think it is just incredibly difficult to gauge how much we will actually change or “accomplish” in a given amount of time, or at a specific age. There is this pressure that comes naturally with time that hits everyone, whether or not it is fair or not. It is that constant reminder of the competitiveness in the world, and the brutality of time that may be wasted, which is one of the scariest and worst feelings anyone can have.

Rambling aside, I thought this film did an excellent job of encapsulating this thought in the eyes of the main character. It felt odd being so disconnected but also connected at the same time with the tribulations of the main character, as the setting and environment was so different from my childhood, but the fundamental change we all go through during that time period was very much the same. It’s tough to capture a specific time frame in our lives (especially in our formative years), just because nothing is ever static during our lives, we are in constant dynamic shifts. But this film was brutally funny and sad at times, which, if anything, encapsulates so much of what life at that time (and all others too) is all about.

Oh and I thought the music was outstanding (content and timing).

8. Roma

Professional filmmaking. That is one thought I had after coming out of this movie. As much as the story felt heartfelt and authentic (because it was), the film really showcased a director (Alfonso Cuaron) who knows his style, how to compose shots, and how to invoke authentic emotions. I go back and forth debating whether I think going with black and white was truly needed, but one thing is for certain in that it helps give the film a “timeless” feel to it. One that I know he thought about when making it, in that I believe he did not want to simply capture a snippet in time, but rather focus on the story and characters at hand, one which generations to come would relate to in their own way. 

7. Shoplifters

This was another foreign film that had a timeless feel to it. It’s always nice to watch foreign films, for a multitude of reasons, but in particular to be immersed in another culture for a brief period of time. That is certainly the case in this film, as the production design and sets do an outstanding job of putting you right into this world and help establish the atmosphere which helps understand the characters motivations and story a little more. The film had a unique plot and great acting, and the pacing felt very natural and thought out. 

6. If Beale Street Could Talk

I love the way dialogue is shown in this film. The composition of the shots, the intensity of the delivery, everything is heightened when there is dialogue in this film. And it is imperative that this be the case, as this is what drives the fairly simplistic plot along. This is certainly a film that shows more than it says, but Barry Jenkins does that extremely well in this case as he does a good job of portraying the themes in subtle ways that give the audience just the right amount of room to interpret themselves. It is always a difficult balancing act, in dialogue heavy films, to spell things out too much or show too little leaving audiences lost. Another aspect this film does well is the music. The score is imperative in setting the mood in atmospheric, melancholic movies such as this one, and Nicholas Britell does a fantastic job creating a nuanced, rich, and evocative score, and implementing at opportune moments throughout the film. There are some directors that just “click” when watching their films. Barry Jenkins is starting to become one of them.

5. The Favourite

One of the best part of watching movies (or art in general) is when you see something truly unique that it changes your perspective on what you like or how it can be portrayed. For Yorgos Lanthimos, his films have changed my perspective on comedy and how I feel it can be portrayed. His films have the shell of a distinguished drama, but the core of a slapstick comedy. I never knew comedy could be so funny and portrayed so differently than how he does it, in particular here in The Favourite. The acting, writing, and plot all work seamlessly together to create genuinely hilarious moments all while advancing the story, developing strong characters, and establishing strong themes that lead to a wonderfully crafted ending, wrapping up the film in a beautiful way. I can’t say enough good things about this film, and am in awe at how someone can craft a style and execute it so brilliantly in such a short amount of time (just 3 films to date). He’s certainly made the list of “directors I will see films they release no matter what unless they make 3 bad movies in a row.”

4. Spider Man: Into The Spider Verse

I have admittedly been far behind on my superhero movies, but I got a recommendation to see this one and I am extremely glad I did. I hope, when we look back at this decade of films, this one is the example of how much animation has grown over the years. The colors, the creativity, and even the technicality of it are all showcased in this film, but what makes this film so great is that it does not rest on just this alone. The characters, even with the high amount of them, are all relatable in some way, contribute to the story in their own unique way, and help establish this film as one different than any other superhero movie. The film does an excellent job of crafting a story truly fit for anyone, and it is a great film to discuss with others because they will certainly have a different way to relate to the story/characters. So that is a not so subtle suggestion to not only watch this film but tell others about it and talk about it with them!

3. Isle Of Dogs

This list is just starting to sound like an expose on my favorite directors, but it is hard not to talk about the director for this film, because it is so inherently Wes Anderson-ian. I find it incredible that he can utilize his techniques and creativity in similar ways for such nuanced and unique stories. Characters are always at the root of his stories, and there are no shortage of good ones here. He has an uncanny ability to write and craft characters around the voice actors as well, as it is so seamless in the way the voice acting portrays the characters in this film. His writing style never ceases to garner guffaws throughout the film, and I am always impressed with the amounts of twists and turns the story takes. It is a craft he has certainly mastered and one that makes it easy to just sit back and enjoy everything that unfolds before your eyes. The film does a great job of being topical as well, with underlying satire that is tastefully done and never over the top. Wes Anderson’s movies are always so dense that it’s so easy to watch over and over again and find new things to fall in love with. It’s one of the reasons why he’s one of my favorite directors and also on the list that I mentioned above, although I’m starting to think it’s pretty unlikely he’ll make a movie I dislike.

2. Free Solo

After the initial shock you have when trying to comprehend the magnitude of the athletic feat Alex Honnold is trying to accomplish, you start to shift your attention to the filmmaking. And that is almost (ok, not really) as impressive. The shots need to do the scale justice, and I think they did an excellent job of not only crafting a well shot film but also immerse you in this world many of us cannot even comprehend. I think they also do a good job of outlining this as much of a character study than anything, because it really is imperative to showcase the reasoning behind his actions, just for us mere mortals to understand a little better. And it turns out, in my eyes, he is just a supremely motivated individual seeking perfection and solitude. And as a result it is easy to come out of the movie exhilarated, energized, and motivated to accomplish any goals you may have. It’s a mark only a true story could do. Even if everything he does is so hard to believe.

1. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

“If you want to truly do a bio-pic justice, just make a documentary.” 

I made that statement after watching Bohemian Rhapsody, but the juxtaposition between that film and this one even more so justifies that statement. I won’t get into my thoughts on Bohemian Rhapsody, but I will just say that the documentary medium is really the only way to do Fred Rogers’ story justice, just so that you can show audiences, in this day and age, someone like that really did exist.

I will preface by saying I did not watch Mr. Rogers very often as a kid growing up. I knew when it was on, but I was more into Arthur and Wishbone on PBS. I also think the timing was everything, as there was a limited window to watch TV (cough I mean do homework) after school before my parents came home. And that’s ok, for his story does not need to be fully appreciated by watching him as a kid. Sure, I would love to go back to my childhood and sit down and watch him through the eyes of my inquisitive, imaginative young self, but I think no matter how or when you digest his story or listen to his words, you will wholeheartedly appreciate who he was and what he stood for. 

I really started to take a deeper dive on him in high school, when he had just passed away and there were news stories on him. I watched some youtube videos and gained an appreciation for what he did, but it was only when I was thrust into a situation where I had an impact on another kid did I feel like his story was more pertinent and important than ever. I mentored an elementary school kid through the national honor society for 2 years during high school, and as an introvert, that terrified me. What scared me more was that these kids were there for a specific reason, either hardship at home or just needing someone there in their lives. I did not know how to communicate to people older than me, let alone people younger than me. I didn’t know what to do. So I remembered what Mr. Rogers would do. He would talk to kids like his equals. And I did just that. I would play games, run around in the snow making snowmen, make arts and crafts (many of which his was better than mine), and just try to take his mind off of things. If I felt like it was appropriate, I would ask him how things were going. He wouldn’t always answer at first, which was fine, but once he got more and more comfortable with me around, he would open up a little bit at a time. And believe me, just that little bit was some of the most rewarding moments I have had in my life. It wasn’t a normal feeling of success or accomplishment either. It was a feeling of unparalleled joy by seeing someone else happy and growing as a human being. 

Joey, if you’re reading this, just know that I miss you, hope you are doing well, and I hope you continue to instill the values that Mr. Rogers had on others around you as well.

That was the power of Mr. Rogers. The power of being an inherently good, kind individual was a weapon we could use in times of struggle or hardship. Being a decent, respectful individual has gotten me more than any textbook or class ever did (not to say those aren’t important). It’s just that life is made up of all the relationships you have with people. The memories you have. The friendships. The laughter. The fights. The adventures. All made better by people at your side, and all made better (and easier) by living it with kindness in your heart. 

They say that a mark of success is to leave an impact on society. Well I would say that Mr. Rogers did that and much more, as he will hopefully force society to to teach the next generation to be better, which in turn will teach the generation after to be even better than the one before. It’s the best pyramid scheme ever invented.

Even as I grow older, I will always refer to him as Mr. Rogers. I will always look up to him, and I don’t know if I could ever duplicate what he did at that grand of a scale which his accomplishments were. But if I just impact a few people in my life, and live it with joy, imagination, kindness, and respect, I think even he would say that’s a job well done. 

The word neighborhood has always had a positive connotation in my life. Growing up, that meant friends, sports, sleepovers, endless summer nights, and no worries. Now, I associate that word with childhood, friends, kindness, respect, and joy. 

And Mr. Rogers.

Thanks, Mr. Rogers.

[themusicenthusiast]

Friday, March 22nd, 2019 – Nothing More Hits Dallas with the ɥʇnɹʇ, Thoroughly Exploring ‘The Stories We Tell Ourselves’ and Delivering an Explosive Performance at South Side Ballroom

Photos by Jordan Buford Photography It had been well over a year since Nothing More had last properly rocked Dallas with a headline set, though the rigorous touring schedule the San Antonio-based outfit keeps had brought them to town on a couple of occasions since they toured supporting other acclaimed artists or partaking in a festival. Those tireless efforts to continue to connect with and expand upon their fan base seemed to be rewarded on this picturesque spring day as NoMo brought the penultimate show of the ɥʇnɹʇ Tour to South Side Ballroom for their largest headline show to date in the city of Dallas. The extensive run they had been on had been one of the most successful of their careers, selling out plenty of shows in advance, the Dallas one not being much different, the massive South Side Ballroom pushing capacity by the time the band of the hour hit the stage. That was only after promising up and comers like Palisades and Badflower rocked the place, while veterans Of Mice & Men finished setting the stage, getting things pretty heavy in the process. The entire lineup of bands was topnotch, ensuring the ɥʇnɹʇ Tour at least be considered for one of the best tours of 2019, and that was even before Nothing More had demonstrated to everyone what they had cooked up for this round of shows. Patrons were eager to discover just what that was. Rather the focus was their current release, The Stories We Tell Ourselves (out via Better Noise Records) or the older self-titled record seemed to be irrelevant. New and old fans alike were just ecstatic to get to see the band again, the mood being electric as they anticipated the musicians’ arrival on stage, cheering as the lights dimmed before realizing there were still minutes to go. The intro music was deafening once it kicked in at 9:35 (and caused more than a few people to jump as it caught them off guard); lights hitting the sheet that concealed the stage to reveal the silhouettes of Jonny Hawkins, Daniel Oliver and Mark Vollelunga. Hanging onto a ladder like structure attached to the auxiliary drum kit, Hawkins rang what sounded to be an air raid siren. It heralded their arrival and alluded to the dynamic display that was about to unfold.

No warm-up phase was required, the quartet barreling out of the gate with a fury, as if they had something to prove from the get-go and they were going to do everything in their power to accomplish it. The curtain dropped to reveal them already in the midst of “Let 'em Burn”, which got things off to a riveting start, the high-energy, politically charged anthem acting as a rallying cry for the supporters who were instantly enthralled by it. That was evident at a few different moments when Hawkins – whose torso was mostly covered in black paint mixed with streaks of red -- abruptly thrust the microphone out towards the spectators, silently imploring them to sing along, fans collectively shouting the next few words back at them. It was a staggering display of raw energy, particularly from the frontman as he darted about the stage with ease and determination. His movements were somewhat chaotic yet highly refined, executed with immense precision and it was evident that he was totally committed to their performance. He was careful to pay equal attention to people on either side of the venue as well, making everyone feel involved as they all worked to pump up the crowd in hopes that they could get the onlookers to feel the same rush of adrenaline that was fueling them.

Thanks to “Christ Copyright” it was a one-two punch, Vollelunga moving to center stage, launching them into that number -- the first of a handful of offerings that would be heard from Nothing More -- by shredding on his guitar. It was the first of several great song pairings, those two arguably being the most conducive of the intensity that helps define a Nothing More show. If nothing else they’re some of the most pulse pounding in their arsenal; and in succession like that there was no denying their potency. The barrage continued with “Don’t Stop”. Coming from a record that saw Nothing More pushing their musical and creative boundaries -- even redefining themselves to a certain extent – well… I must confess, it’s a song that has never grabbed me when listening to The Stories We Tell Ourselves. However, in the live environment, its ferocity was undeniable. The beats that Ben Anderson unleashed from behind the drum kit were sonorous and you felt it in your chest and coupled with Oliver’s bass the rhythm section was a true force to be reckoned with. They were immersed in the zone by that point, that track further elevating the group even from where they had started at, and they would perpetually push themselves for the duration of their 85-minute long set. Upon finishing that one Hawkins formally addressed the concertgoers, welcoming them to the show and thanking them for coming out while expressing how elated they were to be back in the Lone Star State. “…We’ve been waiting on the Mexican food,” he quipped, earning some laughs. “It’s just not the same anywhere else.”

Scattered about the set where some of the gems – the slightly deeper cuts – that The Stories We Tell Ourselves has to offer. Songs that fans might like to hear, but would assume the chances of that happening were slim. “Funny Little Creatures” was one of those, Hawkins prefacing it by stating that it was one song they had never done live until this tour. It was clearly a fan favorite, though, practically being written for the live environment; while “Go to War” was brimming with emotion and held on to be one of the most impassioned songs of Nothing More’s set. Poignant and incredibly open and honest, it wonderfully depicts the division that can arise in relationships, loathing yet still somewhat loving someone all at once. All of that was palpable as they tore through the track; a line from the final chorus being turned over to the audience who enthusiastically shouted, “Screaming at the ones we love, like we forgot who we can trust…” “Do we feel safe?” As Hawkins quietly repeated that closing line the lights gradually dimmed as a near absolute silence fell across South Side Ballroom. The vocalist halted the fanfare before it could erupt, kindly hushing the crowd who was left to anticipate what was next. The momentary pause lasted but a few seconds, though it seemed to stretch on and on before he finally broke it by asking, “DO YOU REALLY WANT IT?!?”

The next sensational pairing came with “The Great Divorce” and “Still in Love”, much like listening to the record. The intricacies and forcefulness of Vollelunga’s guitar playing were on prominent display during the former, the guitarist extraordinaire shifting between the various styles with ease; while the searing passion heard throughout “Still in Love” made the song overwhelming. “I'm still in love with you!” It was like a mournful cry as Hawkins shouted that out, frustration, sadness and defeat all mingling together as he reflected on and worked to come to terms with what led a relationship to its end, seemingly still struggling with it even at that precise moment. Heartbreaking in a way, it was also astounding and it certainly struck a chord with the listener. Seamlessly transitioning into the next number, Hawkins hopped atop his drum set, crooning “I want my MTV,” alluding to what was coming next. Separating the songs was an electrifying instrumental piece; Oliver triumphantly holding his bass high in the air before getting back to fiercely striking it, the gusto displayed leading one to believe that they were still merely getting started. “Alright, alright, alright! Are we ready?!?” Hawkins roared moments before “Mr. MTV” officially got underway, the spectators sounding more fervent than ever as they cheered and applauded. To call it their most explosive song up to that point would be saying a great deal, though it certainly was, being nothing short of seismic as the full throttle number allowed the four-piece outfit to cut loose even more, their keen showmanship and primal approach being magnificent.

In the home stretch, they took a momentary breather, Hawkins calling attention to a young kid who sat atop the shoulders of one of his parents. “This kid in the back is just going crazy!” he remarked, calling him the new “standard” that everyone else had to live up to before inviting them up closer to the stage. Attention then turned to a couple organizations they had partnered with for this run, HeadCount and To Write Love On Her Arms, elaborating on the missions of both. The latter of those was appropriate for what was next, Hawkins acknowledging that many of their songs place a spotlight on various forms of illness, such as addiction. “…It’s not a pretty song, but it’s honest,” he stated, adding, “It’s about my sister, Jenny.”

Something of a surprise hit from Nothing More, that honesty is what allowed “Jenny” to resonate so well with those who heard it. And the way most everyone was heard singing along to it, it’s still just as impactful as ever. It even felt like a personal favorite of the musicians as well, Vollelunga joining Oliver on stage left as they approached the second chorus, the two standing back to back and jamming together. “Tunnels” acted as an all too appropriate follow-up to it, going from a song about being in the throes of addiction to one about rising above whatever inner conflict one is faced with. “…I will make it through this. There's a time to die and a way to live. I'm not going out like this.” That refrain is immensely encouraging, the hope that it exudes radiating from the stage an infecting and uplifting everyone who was packed into the venue. To top it off they tacked on the chorus from “Here’s to the Heartache”, which meshed well lyrically and added immensely to the emotional weight of it.

The band had a few more left, treating onlookers to both a new and old favorite, along with a couple twists. Never much of a band for covers, they did include what amounted to a mash-up of a couple of songs that are polar opposites. It began with a partial rendition of Skrillex’s “First of the Year (Equinox)” which ultimately was segued into “We Will Rock You”, the intro of that classic from Queen truly catching the audience off-guard, but in the most delightful way. The way they melded them together was brilliant. Despite the clashing sounds they made it all flow and complement one another. Not only that, it sounded exceptional and was just fun. “Is everyone still alive?!” bellowed Hawkins, pumping everyone up for whatever was left.

They took time to thank one of the most integral members of their team, though one seldom seen, mentioning the veteran of the D-FW music scene, Paco Estrada, who co-writes most of their songs, and invited him up on stage for a moment. Afterwards, Hawkins took a hand count of how many in attendance had seen them in the past before inquiring if anyone was getting their first Nothing More experience this night. A surprising amount of hands raised into the air in response to that second question, but thus proved that they are continuing to attract new listeners and subsequently convert them to fans. For those unaware he went on to explain their stance on encores. “They’re fake… and they’re fake.” Their idea: just leave it all on the stage at once and they promised to give their closing song everything left in their bones. A decade out from the release of The Few Not Fleeting and one song from that record has managed to hold on and continue to be a mainstay of their live performances. Not just a fan favorite but one near and dear to their hearts. A partial rendition of “Salem” capped things off, complete with a percussion break after the first chorus. Hawkins took a spot behind his drum kit and tore it up while Oliver and Vollelunga each grabbed the floor tom that sat off to the side of each of them. Approaching Hawkins, he added those drums to the mix, alternating between all three as Vollelunga and Oliver tossed around and re-positioned the drums. That’s been a staple stunt of theirs for what seems like forever, since around the time or shortly after that album was released, yet it’s still every bit as amazing now as it was upon first seeing it. It’s so unique and truly one-of-a-kind; and once it was complete, they jumped back in at the final verse, finishing strong before leaving everyone with a sincere, “Thank you, Dallas!”

So much of this performance was absolutely stunning. There was the fact that Hawkins, Oliver, Vollelunga and Anderson were so relentless, never seeming to tire. Not for one second did they ever let up, instead digging in and tapping into a well of seemingly limitless energy, constantly demanding more from themselves and doing everything within their power to achieve that. You had to marvel at it, as it can’t be easy to maintain that pace for nearly an hour and a half, making it appear effortless in the process. Adding to that, they made the performance so enthralling. They truly helped one forget about the concept of time for a bit. It didn’t seem as if they had been on stage any time once they got to the tail end, and it was shocking to see it was already close to eleven o’clock. Nothing More has come a long way from the band that could pull maybe a couple dozen people out to see them when they would visit the clubs of North Texas, gradually winning over new fans and eventually doubling or tripling that number. And they’ve risen to meet the new expectations of them.

I’ve seen some acts play venues like South Side Ballroom or even larger spots and while they’re popular enough to fill the seats, the performance fails to fill the venue. That certainly wasn’t the case with Nothing More this night. They didn’t stop, dedicating everything they had to entertaining the audience and giving them the concert experience that they deserved, commanding the crowd for every second that they had the stage. A spacious stage that allowed them to better strut their stuff. They benefited from having ample room to roam about, being more aggressive and in-your-face than I had ever seen them before. Frankly, I didn’t know that was possible. Everyone was transfixed by them; and even though they were performing to upwards of a couple thousand people, they still injected the gritty feeling of a club show into this performance. Furthermore, they did all of that on their own merits. Some cool lighting accompanied the songs, and there was a large elevated platform at the back of the stage that mostly ran the length of it, Hawkins occasionally walking up on it, though that was the extent of any, shall we say, theatrics. Other than that, it was just four guys on stage relishing getting to do what they are so passionate about, putting every fiber of their being into it, while being grateful that they were able to share it with people who appreciate the music they’ve created. So, in essence, the ideal concert experience, especially since they strove to build a genuine and deep rapport with all of the patrons.

This marked my twenty-fifth time seeing Nothing More, and overall, it was unquestionably the most phenomenal. Still in touch with their roots, remembering every inch of the arduous road that finally led them to where they’re at now, they’ve made sure to refine and challenge themselves at every turn in order for the band to be the best version of itself that it can possibly be. Because of that they are one of the most extraordinary rock bands currently in existence, being more than deserving of every bit of recognition they’re receiving. They paid their dues and then some to get to this point and have certainly earned all the success they’re enjoying. Always innovating and working to evolve, there’s no doubt that Nothing More will continue to push their own boundaries, finding new ways to dazzle fans; and after seeing the caliber of performance they gave this night, it’s quite easy to envision them packing out arenas in as little as a few short years from now. The U.S. leg of the ɥʇnɹʇ Tour has concluded, with Europe set to get a taste of it from mid-April through early May, Nothing More supporting Papa Roach for several shows before doing some headline gigs in Switzerland, Germany and Denmark. A full list of their upcoming events can be found HERE; and check out The Stories We Tell Ourselves or any previous release in iTUNES or GOOGLE PLAY. Set List: 1) “Let 'em Burn” 2) “Christ Copyright” 3) “Don't Stop” 4) “Funny Little Creatures” 5) “Go to War” 6) “Do You Really Want It?” 7) “React / Respond” 8) “The Great Divorce” 9) “Still in Love” 10) “Mr. MTV” 11) “Jenny” 12) “Tunnels” (with “Here’s to the Heartache” outro) 13) “Fade In/Fade Out” 14) “Ocean Floor” 15) “This Is the Time (Ballast)” 16) “First of the Year (Equinox) (Skrillex cover) and “We Will Rock You” (Queen cover) -- mash-up 17) “Salem”

[doomonfilm]

Thoughts : Let the Right One In (2008)

In the canon of scary monsters, few have the established lore or vast range of stories comparable to that of the vampire.  There are literally scores of vampires movies out there to be discovered, but many of them tend to follow a familiar, similar formula.  To find a take on vampires that is new and unique is a refreshing experience.  Of recent memory, one of my favorite alternative takes on the vampire narrative (that still stays true to the established rules and legends) is Let the Right One In. 

Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) is a shy 12-year old living with his mother Yvonne (Karin Bergquist) in a small, tight knit Stockholm community around the early 1980s.  Oskar often finds himself the target of bullying by Conny (Patrik Rydmark) and his group of friends, and therefore spends most of his time alone in his room or in the courtyard of his apartment complex.  Meanwhile, a pair of mysterious neighbors move in next door to Oskar : Eli (Lina Leandersson), a young girl who seems reluctant to interact with anyone around her, and Hakan (Per Ragnar), her older and extremely protective caretaker.  Upon meeting Eli, Oskar is intrigued, but Eli warns him to keep his distance... despite the warning, the two develop a strong friendship bond.  Meanwhile, members of the community begin to notice an increase in missing people, discovered bodies and gruesome crimes, all due to Hakan and his quest for blood to provide to Eli in order to keep her alive.  During one of these expeditions, Hakan is discovered, and in an effort to protect Eli, disfigures himself.  Eli visits him in the hospital, feeds off of him, and assists him in committing suicide, meaning she is now forced to survive on her own.  Due to her bond with Oskar, which has helped him find a confidence he did not know he had, she turns to him for help, changing the course of both of their lives forever.

The way this film balances its narrative threads to tie together one overarching story is brilliantly executed.  Oskar alone has 3 strong storylines that could dominate films in their own right : his love story (and coming of age) with Eli, the mysterious new neighbor; his attempts at dealing with, and eventually overcoming, the torment of his bully Conny; and, his attempts at coming to understand his family dynamic, with a mother that loves him but hovers and will not allow him to grow, and a father that is equally loving but in a relationship that Oskar is not mature enough to understand.  The town is going through its own story, with a string of violent crimes suddenly occurring in an otherwise quiet location that rock the entire dynamic of the town and its inhabitants.  And, of course, we have the story of Eli and Hakan, a vampire and her caretaker, attempting to follow the rules it takes to keep Eli alive while going undetected.

Let the Right One In, in the regard, is an extremely unique take on the vampire narrative.  To my knowledge, it does a great job of perpetuating most of the vampire mythos established in history and pop culture, including needing to be invited in, deadly reactions to sunlight, sleeping in a coffin (even if it’s a makeshift one), feeding on blood, and a violent reaction from cats.  The way that these elements are integrated into the narrative, and the way it also helps establish that feeling of paranoia that prevailed in the 1970s and 1980s when it came to the nature of crime changing, helps make the story both easy to relate to and fluid in the way it carries itself forward.  There are no wasted moments in this film, as anything that does not serve to move the narrative forward either gives us emotional information or insight into one of our leads.

Despite the winter-heavy location, there is a sense of color to this film that gives it life and hope in what would otherwise be a bleak setting.  The way that the 1980s is mixed into the production design is subtle but highly effective, giving us the sense of it being a period piece without having to broadcast so.  The look is definitely there, but it’s the feel of the times that this film does a great job in portraying.  The horror elements are measured and used wisely, especially the ones concerning Virginia, which not only show you some of the more spectacular parts of the vampire narrative that many probably wanted to see, but it makes you think about all that Eli has done to survive by comparison, adding weight to an otherwise already heavily textured world.

Kare Hedebrant gives an incredibly compelling lead performance for a young actor, managing to show how an isolated young man keeps himself sane, allowing range for love and validation, and still being vulnerable enough to show fear.  In comparison, Lina Leandersson is equally compelling, allowing a wisdom and sense of presence that would emanate from a seasoned veteran actor flow through her, and completely selling the savage side.  Per Ragnar not only is a fearful presence in the film, but the shades of love he shows for Eli make us forgive his actions in his final moments.  Peter Carlberg transitions seamlessly from the life of the party to a broken man, especially paralleled with Ika Nord’s powerful performance in her final moments.  Patrik Rydmark is wonderfully persistent and offbeat in his role as Oskar’s tormentor.  Appearances from Henrik Dahl, Karin Bergquist, Karl Robert Lindgren and Pale Olofsson also stand out.

I would definitely recommend Let the Right One In to fans of horror and vampires, but I would not limit my recommendation to just those qualities.  Outside of it’s obvious veneer, the movie holds up as an all around strong film, and while it executes those horror elements quite well and uniquely, to limit it to just that realm would be shortsighted.

[bcwallin]

Isle of Dogs (2018)

Wes Anderson’s latest production, Isle of Dogs, is his ninth feature film and a comfortable fit within his unique sense of cinematic style. Anderson, an American director, is known for his use of symmetry, meticulous design, paced dialogue and a steadily growing ensemble of actors.

The story, written by Anderson along with Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman and Kunichi Nomura, tells of a boy in search of his dog after an executive decree in the fictional and futuristic Megasaki City banishes all dogs to Trash Island due to an outbreak of Snout-Fever and Dog-Flu.

Anderson famously plans everything in his films down to the tiniest details, with exact storyboards and animatics planning out each shot before shooting begins. This is especially evident in the fact that Isle of Dogs is stop-motion animation, requiring every decision to be rigorously planned out ahead of time, so it can be captured precisely, one frame photographed at a time. This is Anderson’s second stop-motion film, following Fantastic Mr. Fox. Producer Jeremy Dawson noted that the film, not originally planned for this animation style, was filmed in this manner to deal with challenges the film’s design posed.

Anderson delivers a film full of wonderful little moments, especially when it comes to linguistics. Dogs’ barks are rendered into English, while most humans speak in Japanese, but there are still translators and signs that help English-speaking audiences.

The affectations of the translators and the little parentheses around translations are pleasant comedic touches. The words on headbands marking the pro-dog and anti-dog citizens come in a similar vein, as does language like the reference to an “acceptable level” of government corruption.

The plot of Isle of Dogs revolves around a pack of five dogs that decides to help Atari Kobayashi, ward to Mayor Kobayashi, find his dog Spots, who has been brought to Trash Island. The dogs — Chief, Rex, Duke, Boss and King — are not all leads in the film, but the writing team and the voice actors did good work to distinguish each of them from the pack.

Edward Norton plays Rex, the de facto leader of the group of dogs that operates democratically. Norton’s voice stands out with its straight-faced yet comic delivery. Jeff Goldblum and Bill Murray provide impeccably timed lines as Duke and Boss, respectively, while Bob Balaban’s voice entertains in King’s sparsely delivered, high-pitch comments. Bryan Cranston emotionally anchors the film as Chief, the surprise protagonist who professes simply, “I bite.”

There are too many names to attribute praise accordingly, but Greta Gerwig’s performance as foreign-exchange student Tracy Walker is one of the most memorable. F. Murray Abraham is also a praise-worthy addition to the film, as he rightly returns from his role in The Grand Budapest Hotel with his deep, rich voice, providing some stellar narration and filling the role of the wise dog, Jupiter.

The production design is excellent. In the simpler sets, there is the beautiful use of lines that come out of cables that run across Trash Island, carrying rotten food, captured dogs and dangerous drones. Megasaki City is too dense to notice everything in a single viewing, chock-full of little details as it is.

The Town Hall is wonderfully designed, playing off Citizen Kane imagery, mixing menace with bureaucracy for an interesting combination.

Andy Gent, the film’s head puppet maker, said, “I always say that making a stop-motion film is like working in a world that is 12 times smaller than anything you’ve ever seen but 200 times more complex than anything you’ve ever done because we have to make every single thing.” The sentiment is readily felt through the intricate design of the film.

Paul Harrod, one of the production designers, cited the classic Japanese films of Akira Kurosawa and the kaiju films — a Japanese film genre that features giant monsters — of Ishiro Honda as references for Isle of Dogs’ visuals. The Japanese style of woodblock print permeates the film as well, as the history of an animosity for dogs is told through the distinct images.

The film’s score works similarly. Composer Alexandre Desplat seamlessly integrated Japanese music into the score and an opening sequence of taiko drums composed by Kaoru Watanabe is especially riveting, as heard in the film’s trailer.

Still, some took issue with the film’s depiction of Japanese culture. Viewers would do well to read Justin Chang’s review of the film in the Los Angeles Times, which explores sensitivity issues in the film.

Anderson’s film will work for a particular audience. Those who have seen his previous films and judged for themselves whether or not they care for the director’s peculiar tastes will have a fair assessment of whether or not Isle of Dogs is for them. Still, the film’s story is universal and its message of care and love is one that would do well to be heard.

The film’s climax comes, not in a battle to the death, but in a haiku. Isle of Dogs is a special film, melting hearts with the basic emotions caused by a boy and his dog.

Originally published in Baruch’s The Ticker

[colinreviewsmovies]

January 27, 2018

The Shape of Water

Woah! Double feature movie day!

Right off the bat, I have to disclose that this was not the best movie going experience for me when I saw this movie. Unfortunately I have not quite achieved the status of a revered movie reviewer and as such I have to go a theater just like every one else to see a movie. Such is life. When I saw this movie, there were two sets of couples talking throughout it and that angers me to no end and as a result, I kept getting distracted from the movie. So please know that ahead of reading my review.

The Shape of Water, written by Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor and directed by del Toro leads all movies with 13 total Oscar nominations this year. In my personal opinion, del Toro is an over-rated director. Pacific Rim was a flop, Crimson Peak, despite a very good cast, wasn’t very good. And I really didn’t care for Pan’s Labyrinth. Despite that, here he has crafted quite a movie. I use the word crafted deliberately. At the risk of sounding highfalutin, I do think there is a different between making a movie and crafting one. I don’t place one or the other in a higher regard, I simply recognize the difference. And the difference is this; it is evident that del Toro meticulously planned and executed every single shot. There are movies that exist where directors only do one or two takes and move on. I doubt it’s because they don’t care, but I think it is their goal to just get it done. In the case of The Shape of Water, the final product is raised to a work of art. I have yet to see Lady Bird or Phantom Thread, but I have seen Dunkirk and Get Out (with The Shape of Water being the 5 movies nominated for Best Directing), and I would not be surprised if del Toro wins it.

Next, it will surprise no one that the performances of the actors in the movie are outstanding. Octavia Spencer, nominated for Best Supporting Actress, is nothing short of delightful. In fact, everything I have seen her in is made better by her presence (I highly recommend Hidden Figures and Gifted). Richard Jenkins, nominated for Best Supporting Actor, gives a wonderfully poetic performance as an artist in a time when it is very hard to be who he is. Michael Shannon is one of the best villains. For me, the mark of a great villain is how easy it is to root against him and let me tell you, Shannon makes it a cake-walk. Sally Hawkins is nominated for Best Actress and she deserves every bit of recognition she gets for her role as Elisa. I want to connect to the characters when I see a movie. The emotional arc of a character and being drawn in to their lives is what I love about seeing a movie. For Sally Hawkins to do so while playing a mute character is beyond impressive. She was extraordinary. The race for the Best Actress Oscar is very close this year.

The only place the movie falls short for me was the plot. It was pretty predictable and I blame that on the trailers. I have a love-hate relationship with movie trailers. Each year they are getting better and better, but movie theaters are facing declining audience numbers. As a result, trailers are being made to be more and more exciting. That boils down to a lot of trailers showing you way too much about the movie. A good trailer should draw you in and leave you with questions, not spoil the movie for you. I don’t think any of the trailers for The Shape of Water spoiled it, but I think they gave you enough to not be surprised by the plot.

Where the movie makes up for this though is with some very cleverly written scenes, quite good comedic timing, and a thoroughly rich world set in the early 1960′s. Del Toro fuses fantasy, romance, and social commentary seamlessly into one story. And amazingly, none of those threads would work without the others.

My recommendation: go see this on a Tuesday afternoon when everyone is at work and you won’t be disturbed. But see it soon.