#2021 Athena Film Festival
Note
Any new favourites in music, movies etc. from the past year?
MUSIC
10 of my faves, in no particular order...
Ginger Root who I got into thanks to my friend @clownpsycho100
Count Basie's "Swing Shift"
"Secrets (Your Fire)" by Magdalena Bay [i listen to hip music too]
this disco recording Cab Calloway made of "Minnie The Moocher"
this rec. of "Something's Gotta Give" from Daddy Long Legs (1955) with 'slurping' saxes in the Billy May style [mighta been arr'd by him, I'm not sure]
this cue from Quincy Jones' score to The Slender Thread (1965) which has been my wakeup alarm for most of the year
Lizzo's "Coldplay"
"Again And Again" - The Bird And The Bee
"When You Love" - Sinead O'Connor
"C'est Si Bon" - Jane Morgan
MOVIES
Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) is really excellent [be prepared to cry]
Glass Onion (2022) is a blast, I've seen it twice now and I'm glad I caught it in theaters during its initial limited engagement.
Spielberg's The Fabelmans (2022) really got into my brain. I'm sure lots of people would find it tiresome, but the whole mid-century coming-of-age and passion for film thing is very up my alley.
saw The Slender Thread (1965) at the 2022 TCM classic film festival and really loved it
watched Athena (1954) for my birthday with @sailor-freddie-mercury - the movie was better than I expected and not bad as lesser MGM musicals go
VIDEO GAMES
Psychonauts 2 (2021)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)
Mafia III (2016)
Grim Fandango (1998)
the 2018 remake/remaster of Spyro The Dragon (1998)
3 notes
·
View notes
Video
vimeo
HEADING SOUTH | 雁南飛 - short film from Yuan Yuan on Vimeo.
8 years old girl Chasuna travels from her home on grassland to visit her father who lives in the big city.
Written & Directed by: Yuan Yuan
25th DGA Student Film Award - Grand Prize of Best Student Film
Hong Kong International Film Festival - Firebird Award Jury Prize
Cannes Lions Young Director Award - Gold Screen Short Film, and Student Film
Palm Springs ShortFest 2020 - Best Student U.S. Film
Aspen ShortsFest 2020 - Best Student Film
Rhode Island International Film Festival - International Vision Award
Hamptons International Film Festival - Student Film Award Winner
Filmschoolfest Munich, Germany - Best Screenplay
The 1.4 Longlist, France - Short Film Gold Award
…
Official Selections
AFI Fest 2020, USA
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Switzerland
OFF Odense International Film Festival, Denmark
Drama International Short Film Festival, Greece
Denver Film Festival 2020, USA
Show Me Shorts Film Festival, New Zealand
Nashville Film Festival 2020, USA
San Diego Asian Film Festival, USA
Urbanworld Film Festival 2020, USA
Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, India
Indy Shorts Film Festival 2020, USA
Diaspora Film Festival 2020, Korea
First Run Film Festival 2020, USA
Chinese American Film Festival, USA
Blue Danube Film Festival, Austria
Youth Image Film Festival, China
Lille International Short Film Festival, France
ALTER-NATIVE Film Festival, Romania
Best Of International Short Films Festival, France
Golden Harvest Awards, Taiwan
Ciné Festival en Pays de Fayence, France
Mosaic World Film Festival, USA
Lublin Film Festival, Poland
Bosphorus Intl' FF, Turkey
16 rue du Général-Dufour, Switzerland
festival Ciné-Jeune de l'Aisne, France
Corti a Ponte festival, Italy
Film Leben Festival 2022, Germany
Seattle Asian American Film Festival, USA
FlickerFest 2021, Australia
Cinequest Film Festival, USA
Atlanta Film Festival, USA
IFVA Awards (Hong Kong Arts Centre), HK
Golden Lotus Award, China
Brussels Short Film Festival, Belgium
Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival, USA
The Meihodo International Film Festival, Japan
BUFF Malmö Film Festival, Sweden
Athena Film Festival, USA
Singapore Chinese Film Festival, Singapore
Cleveland International Film Festival, USA
Festival Internacional de Cine para Niños, Mexico
Lake Travis Film Festival, USA
Cinekid Festival, Netherlands
Seoul Yeongdeungpo SESIFF, Korea
Côte Bleue Short Films Festival, France
20minmax International Short Film Festival, Germany
International Bosphorus Film Festival, Turkey
NOWNESS New Talent Awards, China
Festival Tous Courts of Aix-en-Provence, France
Regensburg film festival, Germany
Festival Court en Scène, France
……
0 notes
Text
Holidays 10.7
Holidays
Ageism Awareness Day
Armed Forces Day (Egypt)
Bathtub Day
Battle of Lepanto Day
Bay Day (San Francisco Bay Area)
BOL Foundation Day (Laos)
Expulsion of Fascist Settlers Day (Libya)
Four O’Clock Flower Day (French Republic)
Ghatasthapana (Nepal)
If At First You Don't Succeed Day
International Day of Peaceful Communication
International Newspaper Carrier Day
International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day
Italian Evacuation Day (Libya)
Lepanto Day (Greece)
Love Your Bookshop Day (Australia)
Nagasaki Kunchi begins (Japan)
National Beat Poetry Day
National Castle Day (Portugal)
National Dark Poetry Day
National Flower Day
National Forgiveness & Happiness Day
National Inner Beauty Day
National Jonathan Day
National LED Light Day
National Mariners Day (Peru)
National Personal Safety Day
National Propane Day
Poodle Day
Teachers’ Day (Laos)
Team Margot Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Registration Day
Territory Day (Christmas Island)
Try To Start An Argument Over Which Is The Best Muppet Day
Victoria, Our Lady of Victories’ Day
World Cotton Day
World Day for Decent Work
World Metropolitan Day
World Zombie Day
You Matter To Me Day
Food & Drink Celebrations
Bacon-Wrapped Scallops Day
Festival of Food
International Chicken and Waffles Day
International Scottish Gin Day
National Chocolate Covered Pretzels Day
National Frappé Day
National Mussel Day (Scotland)
Ripe Pumpkin Day
Ziua Vinului (Wine Day 1 of 2; Moldova)
1st Saturday in October
Bed & Breakfast Inn Mascot Day [1st Saturday]
Cadet Day (Nova Scotia) [1st Saturday]
Cephalopod Awareness Day [1st Saturday]
Dachshund Day [1st Saturday]
Datil Pepper Day (Florida) [1st Saturday]
Digital Scrapbooking Day [1st Saturday]
Inter-American Water Day [1st Saturday]
International Frugal Fun Day [1st Saturday]
Lumberjack Day (Calaveras County, California) [1st Saturday]
Madonna del Lume Celebration (a.k.a. Blessing of the Fleet; San Francisco, California) [1st Saturday]
National Blind Sports Day [1st Saturday]
National Bookshop Day [1st Saturday]
National Bowhunting Day
National Family Fire Drill Day [1st Saturday]
National Healthcare Entrepreneurs Day [1st Saturday]
National Ostomy Awareness Day [1st Saturday]
National Play Outside Day [1st Saturday of Every Month]
Satyr's Day (Silenus, Greek God of Beer Buddies and Drinking Companions) [1st Saturday of Each Month]
Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day [1st Saturday]
Tarantula Festival and Barbecue (Morgan Hill, California) [1st Saturday]
World Card Making Day [1st Saturday]
World Hoop Day [1st Saturday]
Yakima Fresh Hop Ale Festival (Washington) [1st Saturday]
Independence Days
Angyalistan (Declared; 2000) [unrecognized]
Latitudia (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]
Nedland (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]
South Bages (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]
Feast Days
Ereshkigal’s Day (Pagan)
Feast of Ma’at (Ancient Egypt)
Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (Roman Catholic)
Justina of Padua (Christian; Saint)
Henry Muhlenberg (Lutheran Church, Episcopal Church of the USA)
Jean-Paul Riopelle (Artology)
Justina of Padua (Original Date; Christian; Saint)
Long John Tutter (Muppetism)
Marcellus and Apuleius (Christian; Martyrs)
Mark, Pope (Christian; Saint)
Navaratri begins (Hinduism) [thru 10.15]
Nones of October (Ancient Rome)
Odin Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)
Osgyth (a.k.a. Osith; Christian; Saint)
Our Lady of the Rosary (Christian; Saint)
Mozart (Positivist; Saint)
Pallas Athena (Old Roman Goddess of Triumph)
Quob Day (Pastafarian)
Rosalba Carriera (Artology)
Sergius and Bacchus (Christian; Martyrs)
Lucky & Unlucky Days
Fortunate Day (Pagan) [41 of 53]
Lucky Day (Philippines) [54 of 71]
Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]
Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 46 of 60)
Premieres
Amsterdam (Film; 2022)
Arthur (Animated TV Series; 1996)
Bandstand (later American Bandstand; TV Series; 1952)
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Film; 1971)
A Bug’s Land (Disneyland Attraction; 2002)
Canary Row (WB MM Cartoon; 1950)
Cats (Broadway Musical; 1982)
Charmed (TV Series; 1998)
The Code of the Woosters, by P.G. Wodehouse (Novel; 1938) [Jeeves #7]
Don’t Stand So Close To Me ’86, by The Police (Song; 1986)
Everything Will Ne Alright in the End, by Weezer (Album; 2014)
The Flash (TV Series; 2014)
The French Connection (Film; 1971)
The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein (Children’s Book; 1964)
Good Night, and Good Luck (Film; 2005)
Hawaiian Eye (TV Series; 1959)
Hey Arnold (Animated TV Series; 1996)
Howl, by Alan Ginsberg (Poem; 1955)
Imagine: John Lennon (Documentary Film; 1988)
Iron Man, by Black Sabbath (Song; 1971)
Journey by Moonlight, by Antal Szerb (Novel; 1937)
Little Deuce Coupe, by The Beach Boys (Album; 1963)
The Little Lion Hunter (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)
Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (Film; 2022)
Naughty Neighbors (WB LT Cartoon; 1939)
Never Say Never Again (Film; 1983) [James Bond non-series]
Oh, God! (Film; 1977)
Over the Rainbow, recorded by Judy Garland (Song; 1938)
Pillow Talk (Film; 1959)
Pleasures of the Flesh (Album; 1987)
Punchline (Film; 1988)
Save Me the Waltz, by Zelda Fitzgerald (Novel; 1932)
The Sound and the Fury, by William Faulkner (Novel; 1929)
Spotify (Music Streaming Service; 2008)
Stardust, recorded by Artie Shaw (Song; 1940)
The Tin Drum, by Günter Grass (Novel; 1959)
Tom and Jerry: Santa’s Little Helpers (WB Animated Film; 2014)
Touchdown Mickey (Disney Cartoon; 1932)
Voyage of Time (Animated Documentary Film; 2016)
Waiting…. (Film; 2004)
We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You, by Queen (Song; 1977)
We Shall Overcome, by Pete Seeger copyrighted (Song; 1963)
Today’s Name Days
Jörg, Justina, Markus, Rosa Maria (Austria)
Marija, Ruža (Croatia)
Justýna (Czech Republic)
Amalie (Denmark)
Asso, Ats, Atso, Hasso (Estonia)
Birgitta, Pipsa, Pirita, Piritta, Pirjo, Pirkko (Finland)
Gustave, Serge (France)
Denise, Jörg, Justina, Marc, Rosa Maria (Germany)
Bakhos, Polychronios, Sergios (Greece)
Amália (Hungary)
Maria, Rosario (Italy)
Daumants, Denise, Druvvaldis (Latvia)
Butrimas, Eivina, Justina, Renatas (Lithuania)
Berit, Birgit, Birgitte (Norway)
Amalia, Justyna, Marek, Maria, Rościsława, Stefan, Tekla (Poland)
Serghie, Vah (Romania)
Eliška (Slovakia)
Justina, Rosario (Spain)
Birgitta, Britta (Sweden)
Serhly (Ukraine)
Minerva, Miranda, Sargent, Sergeant, Sergio (USA)
Today is Also…
Day of Year: Day 280 of 2024; 85 days remaining in the year
ISO: Day 6 of week 40 of 2023
Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 5 of 28]
Chinese: Month 8 (Xin-You), Day 23 Wu-Xu()
Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)
Hebrew: 22 Tishri 5784
Islamic: 22 Rabi I 1445
J Cal: 10 Shù; Threesday [10 of 30]
Julian: 24 September 2023
Moon: 39%: Waning Crescent
Positivist: 28 Shakespeare (10th Month) [Mozart]
Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 11 of 15]
Season: Autumn (Day 14 of 89)
Zodiac: Libra (Day 14 of 30)
0 notes
Text
Holidays 10.7
Holidays
Ageism Awareness Day
Armed Forces Day (Egypt)
Bathtub Day
Battle of Lepanto Day
Bay Day (San Francisco Bay Area)
BOL Foundation Day (Laos)
Expulsion of Fascist Settlers Day (Libya)
Four O’Clock Flower Day (French Republic)
Ghatasthapana (Nepal)
If At First You Don't Succeed Day
International Day of Peaceful Communication
International Newspaper Carrier Day
International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day
Italian Evacuation Day (Libya)
Lepanto Day (Greece)
Love Your Bookshop Day (Australia)
Nagasaki Kunchi begins (Japan)
National Beat Poetry Day
National Castle Day (Portugal)
National Dark Poetry Day
National Flower Day
National Forgiveness & Happiness Day
National Inner Beauty Day
National Jonathan Day
National LED Light Day
National Mariners Day (Peru)
National Personal Safety Day
National Propane Day
Poodle Day
Teachers’ Day (Laos)
Team Margot Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Registration Day
Territory Day (Christmas Island)
Try To Start An Argument Over Which Is The Best Muppet Day
Victoria, Our Lady of Victories’ Day
World Cotton Day
World Day for Decent Work
World Metropolitan Day
World Zombie Day
You Matter To Me Day
Food & Drink Celebrations
Bacon-Wrapped Scallops Day
Festival of Food
International Chicken and Waffles Day
International Scottish Gin Day
National Chocolate Covered Pretzels Day
National Frappé Day
National Mussel Day (Scotland)
Ripe Pumpkin Day
Ziua Vinului (Wine Day 1 of 2; Moldova)
1st Saturday in October
Bed & Breakfast Inn Mascot Day [1st Saturday]
Cadet Day (Nova Scotia) [1st Saturday]
Cephalopod Awareness Day [1st Saturday]
Dachshund Day [1st Saturday]
Datil Pepper Day (Florida) [1st Saturday]
Digital Scrapbooking Day [1st Saturday]
Inter-American Water Day [1st Saturday]
International Frugal Fun Day [1st Saturday]
Lumberjack Day (Calaveras County, California) [1st Saturday]
Madonna del Lume Celebration (a.k.a. Blessing of the Fleet; San Francisco, California) [1st Saturday]
National Blind Sports Day [1st Saturday]
National Bookshop Day [1st Saturday]
National Bowhunting Day
National Family Fire Drill Day [1st Saturday]
National Healthcare Entrepreneurs Day [1st Saturday]
National Ostomy Awareness Day [1st Saturday]
National Play Outside Day [1st Saturday of Every Month]
Satyr's Day (Silenus, Greek God of Beer Buddies and Drinking Companions) [1st Saturday of Each Month]
Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day [1st Saturday]
Tarantula Festival and Barbecue (Morgan Hill, California) [1st Saturday]
World Card Making Day [1st Saturday]
World Hoop Day [1st Saturday]
Yakima Fresh Hop Ale Festival (Washington) [1st Saturday]
Independence Days
Angyalistan (Declared; 2000) [unrecognized]
Latitudia (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]
Nedland (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]
South Bages (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]
Feast Days
Ereshkigal’s Day (Pagan)
Feast of Ma’at (Ancient Egypt)
Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (Roman Catholic)
Justina of Padua (Christian; Saint)
Henry Muhlenberg (Lutheran Church, Episcopal Church of the USA)
Jean-Paul Riopelle (Artology)
Justina of Padua (Original Date; Christian; Saint)
Long John Tutter (Muppetism)
Marcellus and Apuleius (Christian; Martyrs)
Mark, Pope (Christian; Saint)
Navaratri begins (Hinduism) [thru 10.15]
Nones of October (Ancient Rome)
Odin Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)
Osgyth (a.k.a. Osith; Christian; Saint)
Our Lady of the Rosary (Christian; Saint)
Mozart (Positivist; Saint)
Pallas Athena (Old Roman Goddess of Triumph)
Quob Day (Pastafarian)
Rosalba Carriera (Artology)
Sergius and Bacchus (Christian; Martyrs)
Lucky & Unlucky Days
Fortunate Day (Pagan) [41 of 53]
Lucky Day (Philippines) [54 of 71]
Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]
Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 46 of 60)
Premieres
Amsterdam (Film; 2022)
Arthur (Animated TV Series; 1996)
Bandstand (later American Bandstand; TV Series; 1952)
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Film; 1971)
A Bug’s Land (Disneyland Attraction; 2002)
Canary Row (WB MM Cartoon; 1950)
Cats (Broadway Musical; 1982)
Charmed (TV Series; 1998)
The Code of the Woosters, by P.G. Wodehouse (Novel; 1938) [Jeeves #7]
Don’t Stand So Close To Me ’86, by The Police (Song; 1986)
Everything Will Ne Alright in the End, by Weezer (Album; 2014)
The Flash (TV Series; 2014)
The French Connection (Film; 1971)
The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein (Children’s Book; 1964)
Good Night, and Good Luck (Film; 2005)
Hawaiian Eye (TV Series; 1959)
Hey Arnold (Animated TV Series; 1996)
Howl, by Alan Ginsberg (Poem; 1955)
Imagine: John Lennon (Documentary Film; 1988)
Iron Man, by Black Sabbath (Song; 1971)
Journey by Moonlight, by Antal Szerb (Novel; 1937)
Little Deuce Coupe, by The Beach Boys (Album; 1963)
The Little Lion Hunter (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)
Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (Film; 2022)
Naughty Neighbors (WB LT Cartoon; 1939)
Never Say Never Again (Film; 1983) [James Bond non-series]
Oh, God! (Film; 1977)
Over the Rainbow, recorded by Judy Garland (Song; 1938)
Pillow Talk (Film; 1959)
Pleasures of the Flesh (Album; 1987)
Punchline (Film; 1988)
Save Me the Waltz, by Zelda Fitzgerald (Novel; 1932)
The Sound and the Fury, by William Faulkner (Novel; 1929)
Spotify (Music Streaming Service; 2008)
Stardust, recorded by Artie Shaw (Song; 1940)
The Tin Drum, by Günter Grass (Novel; 1959)
Tom and Jerry: Santa’s Little Helpers (WB Animated Film; 2014)
Touchdown Mickey (Disney Cartoon; 1932)
Voyage of Time (Animated Documentary Film; 2016)
Waiting…. (Film; 2004)
We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You, by Queen (Song; 1977)
We Shall Overcome, by Pete Seeger copyrighted (Song; 1963)
Today’s Name Days
Jörg, Justina, Markus, Rosa Maria (Austria)
Marija, Ruža (Croatia)
Justýna (Czech Republic)
Amalie (Denmark)
Asso, Ats, Atso, Hasso (Estonia)
Birgitta, Pipsa, Pirita, Piritta, Pirjo, Pirkko (Finland)
Gustave, Serge (France)
Denise, Jörg, Justina, Marc, Rosa Maria (Germany)
Bakhos, Polychronios, Sergios (Greece)
Amália (Hungary)
Maria, Rosario (Italy)
Daumants, Denise, Druvvaldis (Latvia)
Butrimas, Eivina, Justina, Renatas (Lithuania)
Berit, Birgit, Birgitte (Norway)
Amalia, Justyna, Marek, Maria, Rościsława, Stefan, Tekla (Poland)
Serghie, Vah (Romania)
Eliška (Slovakia)
Justina, Rosario (Spain)
Birgitta, Britta (Sweden)
Serhly (Ukraine)
Minerva, Miranda, Sargent, Sergeant, Sergio (USA)
Today is Also…
Day of Year: Day 280 of 2024; 85 days remaining in the year
ISO: Day 6 of week 40 of 2023
Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 5 of 28]
Chinese: Month 8 (Xin-You), Day 23 Wu-Xu()
Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)
Hebrew: 22 Tishri 5784
Islamic: 22 Rabi I 1445
J Cal: 10 Shù; Threesday [10 of 30]
Julian: 24 September 2023
Moon: 39%: Waning Crescent
Positivist: 28 Shakespeare (10th Month) [Mozart]
Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 11 of 15]
Season: Autumn (Day 14 of 89)
Zodiac: Libra (Day 14 of 30)
0 notes
Text
Film Review: Mama Gloria ★★★★
Film Review: Mama Gloria ★★★★
Luchina Fisher’s feature documentary Mama Gloria, currently making its New York premiere at the virtual 11th annual Athena Film Festival at Barnard College until March 14th and part of the UK-wide 35th BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival starting next week, tells the captivating life story of Chicago’s septuagenarian Black trans trailblazer and community leader, Gloria Allen.
Mama Gloria ©…
View On WordPress
#11th Athena Film Festival#2021 Athena Film Festival#35th BFI Flare London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival#35th BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival#Athena Film Festival#bfi#bfi flare#bfi flare 2021#bfi flare london#BFI Flare London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival#BFI London Film Festival#bfi london lgbtq+ film festival#Black Trans activist#Black Trans Lives Matter#Black Trans Woman#Black trans Women#Charm#chicago#Gloria Allen#lgbtq#LGBTQ activist#LGBTQ Chicago#Luchina Fisher#Mama Darleena Andrews#Mama Gloria#Mama Gloria film#Mama Gloria review#Sandra Caldwell#The Queer Review#trans charms school
1 note
·
View note
Text
'How it Feels to be Free' Athena Film Festival Review
‘How it Feels to be Free’ Athena Film Festival Review
Lena Horne, ‘How it Feels to be Free,’ directed by Yoruba Richen, Athena Film Festival (courtesy of the film)
Abby Lincoln, ‘How it Feels to be Free,’ directed by Yoruba Richen, Athena Film Festival (courtesy of the film)
Abby Lincoln, ‘How it Feels to be Free,’ directed by Yoruba Richen, Athena Film Festival (courtesy of the film)
The documentary How it Feels to be Free, directed by Yoruba…
View On WordPress
#Abby Lincoln#Athena Film Festival 2021#Cicely Tyson#Diahann Carroll#How It Feels to be Free#Lena Horne#Nina Simone#Pam Grier
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
What is known. {update}
It’s been two months since the original article as written. (you can see it here: https://anotherescsite.tumblr.com/post/636086514686820352/what-is-known) and things have moved around a little bit.
Quick summary: it’s still Rotterdam in the Netherlands to be held on the 18th, 20th and 22nd of May. The hosts are still Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley, Jan Smit and Nikkie de Jager/NikkieTutorials. The venue is still the Rotterdam Ahoy. What we know know is that there will definitely be a song contest in 2021 and that the host country has begun the process of filming postcards featuring a tiny house. There is a new logo too:
It is a variation on last year’s design. Last year, it was the colours of the flags appearing in order of when they began in the song contest and going around like clock. So the premier countries were at 12:01 and last country to join (Australia) at 11:55 on the clock. This year, Rotterdam/the Netherlands is at the centre and the colours of the other countries merge towards it. It continues the tradition of the Dutch Eurovision logo featuring a circle somewhere (except 1958)
What is not known is how the show will be presented. The EBU has provided a chart which shows the scenario for how the show will be performed and who will be in the Netherlands and who will be viewing the show from their lounge room. I’m curious with vaccinations being administered if they can at least get all the performers in the Netherlands for the show? But expect the hosts will be there in the giant arena with no crowd and interval acts.
The same countries as 2020 are sitting out again 2021. There will be no debut entrants either (sorry Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Liechtenstein). So, nothing from Andorra, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Monaco, Slovakia, Turkey, Hungary or Montenegro again.
RETURNING ARTISTS:
The below twenty five of the forty one entrants of Eurovision 2020 have been selected again to represent their country. Will the songs from the new year be better than the last year: unknown?
KNOWN SONGS:
Albania has chosen their song. Festivali i Këngës was held in late December and the winner was Karma sung by Anxhela Peristeri. The song is staying in Albanian.
Cyprus announced that their entrant will be Elena Tsagkrinou with the song El Diablo. The song will be released in late February.
Returning entrant Stefania for Greece will sing the song Last dance. No idea when it will be released at the moment.
Israel chose Eden Adene again for this year. They had a submission period and whittled the list down to three songs. Set me free will be their song.
Destination Eurovision for France was held with a collection of 12 songs. The winner was 'Voila' by Barbara Pravi.
NATIONAL FINALS
All of the below have declined to internally choose their artist and return to their domestic song contest to choose their new song. Fair enough too.
LITHUANIA: Pabandom iš naujo! 2021
The Roop will compete with the song Discotheque which has a guaranteed place in this year’s national final. Semi final has come and gone and there a five other entries competing in the final.
CROATIA: Dora 2021
The Croat music final will take place on 13 February 2021. Damir Kedžo will not be taking part.
FINLAND: UMK 2021
UMK is back and will take place on 20 February 2021. UMK 2020 winner Aksel Kankaanranta has returned with a new song.
NORWAY: MGP 2021
Norway has returned to a multi semi final format with February 20 penciled in as the final date. There 6 pre-qualified artists, four semi finalists to complete the final line up. Ulrikke is not taking part. So far, three semi finals are completed and the last semi final and a wild card are yet to be provided.
PORTUGAL: Festival da Canção 2021
The Portuguese final will be a 20 act, The semi-finals of Festival da Canção 2021 will take place on February 20 and 27. The final is set for March 6. The songs have been released; Elisa is not participating.
ESTONIA: Eesti Laul 2021
Estonia are keeping their traditional final with 2 semi’s on 18 and 20 February, and the grand final on 6 March 2021. Uku Suviste is taking part.
ITALY: San Remo Festival of Italian Music
The San Remo festival has been delayed a month and will be held between 2nd and 6th March. Diodato is not taking part.
DENMARK: Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2021
Denmark’s national final will take place on March 6. Ben & Tan will not be taking part in this national final.
SWEDEN: Melodifestivalen 2021
Usual format of six shows all taking place in Stockholm. Starts February 6 and finishing up March 13. The Mamas have been confirmed as an entrant.
THE REST
Germany has decided against Ben Dolic for 2021, and will be selecting their entrants internally.
Belarus has invited songs for a semi final; but no news further about that.
Athena from Armenia sent a cryptic note about not competing at all, but otherwise, radio silence from them.
The artists from UK and Russia have stated that they have not been selected. Big Little have said they have submitted songs for consideration, The rest is up in the air.
21 notes
·
View notes
Text
March 15, 2021: Clash of the Titans (Review: Part One)
Please. Let me write a Greek mythology movie. I’m tired.
I am SO TIRED of Greek mythology being so...misused. Do y’all realize how much potential lies in an adaptation, a PROPER adaptation of Greek myths? Because it’d be fantastic if done well. Look, I’m not a writer, let alone a script or screenwriter, but I could write a better adaptation of Greek mythology, I swear I could.
Full warning, you might wanna skip this part. It’s gonna be...REALLY long.
So, yeah, this “review” is getting broken up into two parts. The first part here is really just a rant/hypothetical Perseus film that Id make if I had any screenwriting ability. Yeah, it’s basically a fanfic, so feel free to, like, not. Check out the Review here. Read ahead at your own peril.
You might be saying, “OK, bet; how would you adapt the story of Perseus?” Fair question, metaphorical yet judgmental person; how would I do it, exactly? Well, I’d mostly do it straight, to be honest. But you need to make this a cinematic adaptation, right? SO story changed need to be made, I get that. And I think that needs to start with the gods.
First up, you need Zeus, if for no other reason than to father Perseus. I do like the fact that he’s a patron for Perseus throughout these movies, but I don’t like Zeus as a straight-up dad. That’s for various reasons, but I’ll get there. Perseus’ main patron, instead, should be his half-sister: Athena.
Seriously, Athena needs to be a big part of this movie. She’s not exactly one of the biggest patrons for heroes, but she does like them. In the case of Perseus, she should sympathize with him. Perseus, after all, is one of the first major Greek heroes. Yeah, he really should be one of the first, and that needs to be fully acknowledged. Athena, in her LITERAL INFINITE WISDOM, should see the young demigod for what he could become: a bonafide hero. And so, she needs to be a part of this movie. One of her key allies should be...
Hermes should be, well, mercurial. Always moving, never truly still, because dude is CONSTANTLY busy. Not only is he a messenger, but he’s also the god of medicine, AND a psychopomp that escorts spirits to the underworld. Yeah, he wears a lot of winged hats. He’s also another extramarital child of Zeus, giving him sympathy for Perseus as well.
While he’s mostly a neutral god, he could also serve as a messenger from Athena to Perseus, delivering to him the gifts from the gods. He could even be the one who gets the Helm of Darkness from Hades, given his relationship to death and the Underworld. So, he’s gotta be in there as an ally of Athena. Hell, he could even be the one who finds Perseus and tells Athena about him in the first place. OK, Athena and Perseus now have an ally, so what about a villain?
Well, this movie had Calibos and technically Thetis, the 2010 had fuckin’ Hades (because of course they did), but no. Both are the wrong choice. The right choice here, in my humble opinion, is one that MAKES FUCKING SENSE.
Hot take: POSEIDON IS AN ASSHOLE. I realize that this statement has doomed me to a death at sea, but that won’t stop me from hiding the truth. Yeah, dude’s the god of the ocean, and of horses, but he’s also the father of countless monsters, nearly as horny as his younger brother Zeus, and the god of earthquakes. He’s a petty, tempestuous god, as angry and ever-changing as the ocean that he rules. And he’s ABSOLUTELY the right choice for a villain of a Perseus movie.
The movie would begin in the ocean, the source of all of the troubles in this movie. 20 years before the main events of the film, we emerge from the ocean and soar over an island, on which is a beautiful temple. Waves wash over the island, enveloping it. A woman’s scream is heard in the background, as we soar over the island, following an owl that is flying away from the island. As we fly over the ocean, narration tells us that this is a world of gods and monsters, and the owl flies over creatures in the ocean, like hippocampi and other such creatures. The owl flies over another island, which on screen text identifies as Argos. Here, a shower of gold dust flies up from a building. Perseus has just been conceived.
Cut to a day not too far afterwards, where King Acrisius is meeting with an unseen trio of women, in a cave on a mountainside. The king tells them that his daughter, Danae, has become pregnant, although he knows not by whom. The women reveal that Zeus is her lover, and that this will bring great ruin onto the kingdom of Argos, especially onto Acrisius himself. This is a big problem, too, as the kingdom of Argos worships Poseidon as their patron god. Acrisius, see, was planning on saving Danae for Poseidon, as a perverse offering to the god. But Zeus beat him to the punch, which has made Poseidon angry. And so, Acrisius sacrifices his daughter to Poseidon...by putting her in a box, which he casts out to sea.
Poseidon is about to destroy the box and Danae, who is still pregnant with her child. However, Zeus won’t have it, and in a battle between the two gods, a storm with golden lightning rages over the sea, and sweeps the box away, to the safety of an island where it washes up on shore, AWAY from Poseidon’s wrath. Zeus’ protection saves Danae, who has given birth to a son: Perseus. Poseidon, spurned of his revenge against his brother, makes a child of his own. But we only see its shadow beneath the waves. He’ll come back later.
Time passes, and a few things happen. The kingdom of Argos falls, and Acrisius is brought to ruin, as the mysterious prophetesses predicted. They are starved of fish, and the king is blamed, for condemning his daughter to death. He is driven into exile, and Argos is destroyed...by Poseidon’s mysterious child, who is only known by the name Cetus. The city still exists afterward, so that Perseus has a place to return to, but it’s wrecked.
Meanwhile, Perseus grows up, into a young man. He’s not particularly strapping, but he’s still surprisingly strong and hardy for his size. All the while, he’s watched over by a little owl, the same one we saw in the beginning of the film, flying over the ocean. Appearing below the owl is a rooster, which flies up next to the owl. Both of them watch the young Perseus, then look up when they hear the screech of a golden eagle, flying high in the sky above them. They look at each other, as the eagle flies up to the tip of a nearby mountain. The owl and rooster fly off, with the rooster flying higher than a rooster should be able to fly.
We follow them as they pass through the clouds, and they turn into their true forms: Athena and Hermes. They watch the golden eagle fly into a separate grand temple, as thunder and lightning appear. We’re not gonna see Zeus until nearly the end of this movie. Athena and Hermes discuss Perseus in Athena’s temple on Olympus. Hermes is a bit busy, so he’s off in a hurry, but Athena sits and ponders Perseus’ situation.
Perseus, meanwhile, has a different problem: surviving. Poseidon’s been particularly dickish lately, and the fish stock around Perseus’ island is low as FUCK. His mother, meanwhile, is older now, and struggling with her health. An old hermit walks into the village one day, and hears Perseus’ troubles. The hermit tells Perseus that the fish market is good near the nearby kingdom of Aethiopia, which includes a large and prosperous city that may also have medicine to help his ailing mother. Perseus decides to go on the journey there. As he leaves the hermit, we see the hermit’s eye color change to a sparkling electric blue.
Perseus heads onto the seas, with a fishing boat leaving for Aethiopia. The second that boat hits the water, Poseidon senses the blood of Zeus on his ocean. Being the petty asshole he is, he sees his chance to finally exact revenge on Zeus for stealing Danae from him. He sends his child, Cetus, after the ship to sink it. We don’t see the Cetus brings rough water with it. However, Zeus again protects the ship on its journey, and Poseidon’s SUPER butthurt now. He watches Perseus make his way to Aethiopia.
Aethiopia, in this movie, is a city that doesn’t particularly worship any one god. It’s not exactly the least theistic place in the world, though, because its residents will still fear any action that the gods take against them. That’ll come in handy later. Perseus lands there with the boat, and is immediately overwhelmed by the city’s grandeur. Additionally, he stands out here, as the people there are mostly, surprise surprise, black and brown in skin color. BECAUSE IT’S NORTHERN AFRICA!!! YEAH! Andromeda COULD BE BLACK, FUN GODDAMN FACT. Aethiopia was used to describe southern kingdoms below Libya, which was northern Africa! Come on, man!
While wandering blind through the city, Perseus bumps into a young woman, shrouded in plain vestments as she walks through the village. And it’s immediately love at first sight for Perseus, although the young woman seems somewhat nonplussed. This is the beautiful and radiant Andromeda, and YEAH! I’M RIPPING OFF ALADDIN A LITTLE! SUE MEI! See, Andromeda’s trying to explore her kingdom, as she’s been somewhat sheltered throughout her life, protected in the castle by father King Cepheus and shallow mother Queen Cassiopeia.
The two part quickly, but her visage remains in Perseus’ mind, horny Zeus’ kid that he is. He finds out who she is later on, considering what’s about to happen. See, there’s a festival going on, and it’s actually leading up to Andromeda’s 20th birthday. The overly clingy Cepheus honors his daughter unnecessarily, setting up an entire 2-week celebration leading up to her birthday.
During the nightly celebration, which Perseus attends, there’s a great feast. He bumps into Andromeda once again, and the two start talking. Andromeda is kind, if naïve, and wants to be a good queen to her people. However, she feels like a trophy, set aside for any given suitor wanting to win her heart. Perseus sympathizes, and feels a bit guilty, as her beauty was what struck him most at first, but has now begun to appreciate her as a person, over the course of this conversation. Said conversation is watched by Athene, in owl form once again.
The conversation’s interrupted by Queen Cassiopeia, who makes a speech about her daughter, and you know what’s coming here. She says that her daughter is beautiful, moreso than any of the Nereids, or anything that the sea could produce. And everybody laughs, it’s real funny, people agree...and then, we zoom over to a nearby fountain. The water begins to shake, and then, the ground itself begins to shake! Because Poseidon is the GOD OF EARTHQUAKES. COME ON, USE THIS SHIT!
Poseidon, pissed off, manifests from the water of the fountain, and we now see his visage in full for the first time, and it needs to be IMPOSING. He looks at the queen, and at Andromeda herself. He says that for Cassiopeia’s hubris, they are to be punished. Her child will meet one of his, the great Cetus, and then they’ll be able to compare “prowess and beauty”. This is certain death for Andromeda, obviously, and everybody knows it. This is to be done on her 20th birthday, or all of Aethiopia will fall. It’s then that Perseus steps in to defend Andromeda.
Poseidon looks at him, and says something like: “And look! As if to perfect this offering, Zeus’ bastard steps in the save the day! Well, child, do you offer yourself to me, after evading my justice for so long?” Everybody, INCLUDING PERSEUS, if totally shaken by this revelation. See, Perseus had NO IDEA that he was the child of Zeus. But he swallows his surprise, and offers himself in Andromeda’s stead. As Poseidon’s about to kill him there and then, he hears a hoot from the rafters, and sees the visage of Athena overlapping the little owl. Not comfortable with this situation, he offers a deal: if Perseus can complete a task for him, he will spare Andromeda’s life. Perseus accepts IMMEDIATELY, without hearing the task. And that task?
Kill the Gorgon Medusa, and bring her head back to Aethiopia before Andromeda is sacrificed.
Yeah, not good, and definitely unfair. Perseus isn’t exactly a warrior of any prowess, so this won’t end well for him. Poseidon laughs, and disappears into the water of the fountain. Silence befalls the hall, and all eyes turn to Perseus. Athena leaves, and flies up to her temple, angry and frustrated. She then decides that, if Poseidon is going to meddle in the affairs of the mortal world so strongly, then she will do the same. She finds Hermes, and the two start to conspire.
The next morning, Perseus heads out on the journey, although he has no idea what to do. Andromeda begs him not to do it, but he says he has little to lose. King Cepheus, humbled by Perseus’ intentions, promises whatever Perseus wants if he succeeds. Perseus states that he wants little, but will take assistance for his mother and village. It’s done. And Andromeda, to the surprise of her mother, almost offers her hand in marriage to her as well. But she stops short, still hesitant.
Perseus is about to go the distance, when a little owl catches his eye. Something tells him to follow the owl, and he does. Athena reveals herself, and Perseus is struck, not knowing what to do. She tells him to find the Greae, as they will tell him how to get to Medusa. He asks how he will get there, and Athena gives him his first divine item: Hermes’ winged sandals, loaned to him by the messenger god himself. The sandals will guide him to the location of the sisters. And Perseus accepts.
He makes his way to the sisters, the shenanigans with the eye stay about the same (it’s pretty solid in the 1981 film, not gonna lie), and from there, he finds out where to go. In the meantime, Athena’s and Perseus’ deeds are being noticed by the gods, eventually making their way to the three brothers. Poseidon is, of course, enraged at these happenings, considering them dishonorable to him, and also incensed as this is coming from Athena, a long-standing rival of his. Hades seems neutral about it. And Zeus...we’ll come back to him. Hermes, joined by Dionysus, speaks with Athena in Olympus, and delivers something to her to give to Perseus: Hades’ Helm of Darkness. He’s curiously chosen a side, but why isn’t known even to Hermes. Will that reason ever be revealed?
I have my reasons. Dionysus, also inspired by Perseus’ origins (which mirror his own as well), gives to Athena a wine-colored cloak, impervious to harm from all poisons and corrosive items. Inspired by this, Athena thinks on her history with Medusa. And, uh...remember that scream from the beginning? Yeah, Medusa’s “birth” coincides with Perseus’ conception. While Poseidon was...busy...Zeus went for Danae behind his back. And we’re going to sanitize Medusa’s origin...a little. But for Athena’s sake, specifically.
Poseidon raped Medusa. That’s a given. And Medusa was a priestess of Athena, but not a great one. Although Athena was angered at Poseidon’s actions GREATLY, the one who inevitably suffered for it was Medusa. Poisoned by Poseidon’s actions, she was transformed into her current form. And in this case, it’s not made clear whether or not Athena directly caused it...but it’s clear that Athena did nothing to stop it. This can be changed in some ways, but this is how I’m changing it for the movie. If you disagree, entirely understandable, I’m open to suggestions here.
OK, after that flashback, we see that Athena’s kind of ashamed of her actions, but not entirely. I realize that this is a stretch for Athena’s character, but this is a movie for wider audiences, so we’ll go for it. There’s a reason, I promise. Athena delivers the gifts to Perseus, which he finds once he’s left the cave of the Greae. That’s the cloak from Dionysus, the Helm of Darkness from Hades, and Athena’s offering, a mirrored shield. Perseus heads out to slay Medusa.
Poseidon, meanwhile, has his own ideas. He goes to speak with Hera, a shadow antagonist who’ll get her day later on. He persuades her to help take care of Zeus’ bastard son, and she reluctantly gives him permission to use one of her creations. What this is is left a mystery for the time being, but not for long. Perseus is busy flying with the winged sandals, and is thinking on how easy the journey has been. He’s getting a little cocky, in other words. But that’s quickly stopped when he’s blind-sided by something hitting him in the sky. He’s sent flying, and when he focuses up again, he sees what’s hit him.
YUP. HARPIES. Now, at this point, you may be saying: “365, you hypocrite! That never happened in the original story of Perseus! You sonuvabitch!” To that I say:
This is supposed to be a movie, and it’s gotta be a little exciting.
The origin of the harpies is entirely unstated, and Hera loved her some birds, so it makes sense that she would have some. In fact, I kind of want to make them women that Hera punished with this form, possibly for their association with Zeus at some point.
I’m setting something up, just trust me here.
Harpies as a concept are a familiar enemy to most audiences.
They’re cool, and an aerial battle’s even cooler here.
Perseus needs some mortal peril, because of something that’s about to happen.
OK. With that, the Harpies attack Perseus, and Perseus realizes that he doesn’t have a weapon to fight them with. He’s forced aground, on a seemingly desrted island. The Harpies fly off for now, ready to pick Perseus off later. Perseus, now stuck on the island, wanders around. At the same time, Zeus, sees this, and turns into an eagle once again. He flies off to a volcano, as an irritated Hera looks on. At the volcano, he flies into a cave, lined with veins of many metals. This is Hephaestus’ forge.
Hephaestus is another of those gods that I feel like never gets his day in court. There are many reasons for that, to be fair, but I’d like him to have a role in this story. He’s a relatively neutral god, mostly caring about his work at the anvil, moreso than anything else. I also like the idea of having him almost be a running joke in his scenes, in that he always comes up with devices far beyond their time. Like, at a certain point, he offers something for Zeus to give to Perseus, which he calls a “thunderblast”. And it’s a fucking CANNON, YEARS ahead of its time. You also see sketches for smaller versions, which are just straight up guns. But, y’know, eus will refuse that.
Speaking of that, THIS is the first time that we’ll see Zeus’ true face, lit by the light of the forge. And there are a few reasons for this, one of which being that Zeus’ casting should be a big name, and a surprise in marketing. But other than that, Zeus’ really shouldn’t have too much import in the story, outside of Perseus’ creation. However, looking at Hephaestus, who is himself a cast-out and neglected offspring of the gods, Zeus actually manages to eke out a little guilt for his actions for one. He asks Hephaestus to make something for him and Perseus. Hephaestus is hesitant, but agrees upon hearing about Perseus’ origins, because Hephaestus is ALSO HIS HALF-BROTHER...in this movie. Hephaestus’ origin has changed in different tellings, but I want him to be Zeus’ kid. So, yeah, Hephaestus agrees to make something...simple.
Perseus is on the island. There, he’s being watched by YET ANOTHER mysterious figure. Because, yeah, that’s how these people should work. See, there’s another benefactor for him that I want to bring in for various reasons. This island appears to have been inhabited at some point, but was abandoned for unknown reasons. Perseus wanders around, and stumbles upon a ruined Great Hall, open to the sky. He wanders in, nervously. But then, to his surprise, he sees a great feast before him, as a fire roars in the hearth at the end of the hall. He looks at the fire for a moment, and sees a woman tending it. But as the fire bursts, it produces a flash of light, and the woman is gone. Who was she, though?
The LEAST used and talked about goddess in all of pop culture. An unofficial/occasional Olympian, and far less popular than Dionysus, who usually takes her seat. I actually want her to have given Dionysus her seat, as she will be wandering the world, bestowing blessings on the households of those worthy mortals who honor her. To Perseus, she gives this gift, and this hall with maintain this gift in the future. This goddess is Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth and Home.
AND YES I AM AWARE OF HESTIA IN THE ANIME DANMACHA. Doesn’t goddamn count, because that obviously isn’t Hestia. The Greek goddess deserves some respect, as she’s literally the oldest of all of them, and was VERY respected in Greek culture, by LITERALLY EVERYBODY. So, yeah, Hestia’s going to appear here, ever so briefly.
The other reason for this is...well, the Harpies show up, as Perseus eats. They perch on the roof of the Great Hall, and watch him eat. He notices them, and as he reacts, they come down to take the food and attack him. Perseus realizes that the food has revitalized his weary body, and he runs. However, the Harpies prevent egress, and he still has no weapon. Until...
Thunder clashes, and lightning strikes in the middle of the Great Hall! The fire goes out, but light is coming from something in the center of the table, as Perseus and the Harpies look on. With the lightning bolt, there traveled a harpe, a type of sword, which is embedded in the table. But this is no ordinary sword, as it chines silver, almost blue in hue, as electricity arcs off of it. This is a divine sword, forged by Hephaestus on the order of Zeus himself.
But the sword is nameless...for now. Perseus uses the flashes of the sword to fend off the harpies. When one of them lunges at him, he quickly moves in response to it, and strikes it just, slicing off a wing. The other Harpies fly away in fear, but not too far. Perseus takes the opportunity, and leaves the great Hall, maybe grabbing some food on the way. Now armed, he has a way to kill Medusa, and to take her head. He heads to the island, with new purpose.
Meanwhile, in Aethiopia, the people are starting to panic. Remember when I said the city wasn’t particularly religious before? WELL THEY ARE NOW, since they’ve realized that they’ve profaned Poseidon with their arrogance. The vain Cassiopeia is now terrified, for herself rather than for her daughter. Cepheus is terrified for Andromeda, and Andromeda...well, Andromeda is putting hope in Perseus, but she is also prepared to sacrifice herself if necessary. But deep down, she doesn’t believe it will be, because she oddly believes in Perseus.
However, Cepheus won’t be able to hold off the hordes forever, It’s been nearly a week, and Andromeda is to be sacrificed soon. And if Cepheus won’t do it, the newly religious Cassiopeia and the crowd will.
Poseidon realizes that his plan with Hera’s Harpies didn’t work...perfectly. Damn, he’s still alive. Plus, the Harpies won’t get off of the island now, especially seeing that food seems to be magically appearing every night, due to Hestia’s gift. Maybe and island with magically appearing food beset by Harpies will, I dunno...come backcoughcogchJasoncoughcoughArgonautscoughcough. Nevertheless, Poseidon hatches another plan, a back-up plan to get revenge on Zeus and Perseus. He tells a nymph to “find him”. We’ll get to “him” later.
However, this is a problem for Perseus still, because he’s been thrown WAY off course from the island of Medusa. Even with the sandals, he’d be cutting it close to get back to Joppa with Medusa’s head. And that’s if he gets back with the head. Still a big if, that. In any case, he’s headed there to do what he must. He’s already faced the Greae and the Harpies, so, hey! Not too bad so far, right? Just Medusa next, and then a giant sea monster! Hahaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Well...whatever. For Andromeda, and for something else, he’s going to do it. Perseus looks at the sword, and wonders what’s up with the whole “Zeus is my dad” thing yet again, but shakes it off as he continues flying. Above him, an eagle flies. Said eagle is soon joined by an owl, and the two share a look as they follow Perseus. He’s close to the island, and Medusa’s island is prominent on the horizon, shrouded in a dark eerie fog.
Perseus lands on the island, after hovering above it for perhaps too long. This is, unsurprisingly, the same island from the beginning of the film, now in ruins. He gears up, and this includes the Helm of Darkness this time. He creeps into the temple, and is struck by surprise when he sees a Gorgon slithering next to him. OH SHIT
On first glimpse, the invisible Perseus notes that the creature is indeed monstrous, standing 6-feet tall, with snakes for her short hair and fang-like teeth protruding from her mouth. And while there are some details not actually in Greek mythology, I do like some details given in the films. Firstly, this Gorgon is armed not only with her looks and teeth, but bows and arrows, as seen as she takes an arrow, and coats in in poison dripping from her teeth.
Perseus realizes the danger that he’s in, but also doesn’t realize that this ISN’T Medusa. YUP. This is one of the Gorgons, but not Medusa. He approaches the creature, confident in his invisibility. However, he isn’t careful enough, and accidentally kicks a pebble. The Gorgon looks directly at him, into his EYES, and he’s paralyzed! But...he isn’t turned to stone, curiously. This is how he figures out that this isn’t Medusa, but simply another Gorgon. He also realizes how careless he’s being, and takes care to avert his eyes from the Gorgons and Medusa.
He gets over his paralysis eventually, then carefully makes his way to the main temple. On the way, he encounters another Gorgon, completing the trio of Gorgons present in mythology. He walks into the temple, and as he does, a door slams shut behind him. Now the Gorgons up until now have been monstrous and fairly tall women, with snakes for hair and hideous visages, but also with mostly humanoid bodies, with legs that they can walk upon. Medusa, though...Medusa’s different.
As the door closes, Perseus is clearly unnerved. The temple seems empty in front of him, but he also sees statues littered around it, clearly those of mortal men turned to stone by Medusa’s gaze. He walks carefully, and as he does, he hears a voice call out, asking who’s there. She can smell him, sense him, and he is not completely invisible to her. Perseus says nothing, as not to completely give away him position. But he is TERRIFIED, and the audience should be as well. Because we see glimpses of her throughout the temple. You ever see the new version of Disney’s The Jungle Book? Remember how they first showed Kaa?
In the same way, coils of a snake’s body are seen, slithering around Perseus, who’s looking for Medusa. All the while, a hissing voice speaks to him from the shadows. She recognizes that his patron is Athena, her former priestess. She explains her rage, both at Poseidon for what he did, and for Athena for abandoning her and condemning her to this terrible fate. She asks why he’s come, guessing that it’s to kill her. He confirms this, but upon hearing her story, expresses his doubts.
But Medusa...Medusa doesn’t really care. If this is a favored beneficiary of Athena, as she used to be, she wants him fucking DEAD. And she doesn’t care who he is, or what his mission is, or about his feelings. he’s going to turn him into stone, and display him in her collection, so that Athena can see something she loves turned into a monstrous form. And now, we see Medusa in full. And I gotta say, Harryhausen had it right. So did Warner Brothers in adapting it.
Half snake, half woman, with long, LONG snakes for hair, and a long snake body as well. She’s also surprisingly beautiful, as I actually do like the idea of keeping her beautiful, in a way to remind her of what she used to be. She’s armed not with a bow and arrow, but with a stone spear. And she’s BIG in form. Her head is still human-sized, but she was clearly a tall woman when she was human. She uses her body to rear up to terrifying heights, though, and Perseus can only see glimpses of her as she reveals herself.
She attacks him, and Perseus has to think fast. In the original myths, he gets her in his sleep. In the movies, it’s a combination of luck and mirrors. But here...here, it’s going to be different. See, we’re going with the old fallen pillar gag. Perseus enrages her, and tricks her into knocking over pillars of the temple that they’re in. She attacks with the spear, with statues thrown by her snake body, with her snake body, and also with an addition: spitting venom, like that of a spitting cobra.
But he manages to either dodge it, or block it with the corrosive proof cloak. All the while, he avoids her gaze, but his helmet is knocked off in the process. She can see him now, and that’s bad news. But only one more column needs to fall. Perseus tricks her into knocking the temple down around her, and she’s trapped in the rubble.
Perseus escapes, and the other Gorgons outside are knocked out by the debris. However, Medusa’s definitely not dead. He stumbles across her, under the rubble, and still enraged. She’s trapped now, though, and he can kill her easily. She actually asks him to, and he refuses at first. But Athene, in owl form, lands on a still standing pillar, in Medusa and Perseus’ eyeline. They see it, and they know that it’s a sign of what Perseus needs to do. Perseus closes his eyes. And he swings.
The blood washes over the sword, smoking. Now christened in an act of mercy and strength, the blue-silver turns to gold, and a name appears on the blade: Chrysaor (and yeah, I know Chrysaor was a dude, but I am TAKING CREATIVE LICENSE HERE). But Perseus is upset by this, feeling that he wasn’t a great hero at all. But Athena appears, and notes that mercy is also a quality of heroism. Something even the gods could learn (referring to herself, and her actions in reference to Medusa). He looks at her, unsure of what to think.
Not that it matters, since he’ll never get back to Aethiopia in time to save Andromeda. And then...the rubble begins to shake. Perseus arms himself, and he points the sword at the rubble, expecting to fight a Gorgon. But instead, an unexpected creature springs up from the rubble: Pegasus.
YUP. I’M STILL DOING IT! I realize that Pegasus is NOT Perseus’ mount, but he is actually linked to the myth via Medusa. So, yeah, Pegasus is born of Medusa. Perseus looks at Athena, who notes that Pegasus looks swift, and seems to be a way back. Pegasus is also pretty grateful to Perseus, as he’s technically responsible for his freedom. So, yeah...he gets ONE ride.
Perseus puts the head of Medusa in the cloak of Dionysus, and gets on Pegasus. As Perseus takes off with Pegasus and Chrysaor, Athena looks at the body of Medusa. Zeus, as the eagle, looks on, and follows Perseus to Aethiopia. Athena stays behind, and then is joined by Hermes. He notes that he’s here for Medusa’s soul, as Hades has been waiting for her soul this whole time. There’s his ulterior motive. But Athena tells Hermes that she’ll be accompanying them. She will speak to Hades.
But enough of that, because Andromeda’s set to be sacrificed! The angry mob has hit a fever pitch, and it’s day before her birthday! Cassiopeia, now fully in the cult of Poseidon with the rest, brings her daughter to the rocks to be chained up. Cepheus tries to stop this, but the mob stops him instead, imprisoning him on the command of Cassiopeia. Andromeda is also taken captive, set to be sacrificed to Poseidon to gain his favor.
Perseus gets to Aethiopia, and lands near Joppa, the capital city. Pegasus takes off, bidding goodbye to Perseus, who thanks him. Pegasus has a date with a kid named Bellerophon. And Perseus is finally feeling confident. Although, he’s not entirely sure what he’ll do when he gets there. But he’s got the head, so what could go wro-BAM!!!
He’s blindsided, with a hit to the face by a rock! And here, we get a bit of an aside from the myth to add something. See, Perseus wakes up, as he’s been out for a WHILE. As he wakes up, he sees an old man, clearly bedraggled and haggard. The man notes that he’s awake after all, and Perseus notes that he has the sword and Medusa’s head in the cloak. This old man introduces himself as an old banished king. He explains that he is there to kill Perseus, on command from Poseidon. You see, he’s been given a chance at absolution, for offending him via inaction many years ago.
The two have a heart-to-heart of sorts, about the expectations of the gods, and Perseus asks why he hasn’t killed him. The king doesn’t reveal his full reasons, those being that Perseus is, of course, his grandson. But Perseus asks him to let him live, in order to save someone with the item in the bag. Curious, the old king looks in the bag...
Stone. And thus, Acrisus’ prophesied downfall is done. Shocked and saddened by this, Perseus nevertheless takes the head, his sword, and his sandals. and takes off to save Andromeda. More time’s been lost, and Andromeda’s lost her hope in Perseus, as has everybody else. By the time he gets there, Poseidon’s released Cetus, who can look however, but I will say I think the incarnation in the 2010 movie was pretty solid. Cetus heads off to kill Andromeda, under the watch of Cassiopeia and her cult of Poseidon.
But then, Perseus shows up to present the head, and sees Cetus having arrived to devour Andromeda. Instinctively, he presents the head to Cetus, and turns him into stone (because I think that’s a cool way for him to go). Andromeda is saved, but Poseidon is PISSED THAT HIS PLAIN FAILED. He rears up from the ocean, complete with earthquake tremors, ready to kill Perseus himself. BUT ZEUS IS FUCKING DONE WITH HIS BULLSHIT.
He steps in the way of Poseidon, and screams that there’s been enough damage done! At the first full appearance of Zeus, EVERYBODY in Aethiopia reacts. While everyone bows in reverence, Cassiopeia’s so freaked out that she runs away. She’ll be leaving the city altogether, and when she does, she’s watched over by a cuckoo (or a peacock). This is Hera, and as a god of women AND OF MOTHERS...she’s going to be punishing Cassiopeia for her deeds.
Zeus and Poseidon speak, and the two come to tentative peace. This is settled in the courts of Olympus, where everybody involved comes together to speak about this affair. They note that, despite Poseidon’s petty bullshit, something unique has happened. A mortal child of a god, spurned on by their actions, has managed to outsmart and defeat countless obstacles. And now, celebrated for saving Andromeda and the city of Joppa, Perseus is celebrated. Zeus predicts that he will be made king, with Andromeda as his queen. And this pleases Zeus greatly. Poseidon, still angry, is not convinced. But Zeus directs his attention away from Perseus’ celebration, and towards one of his children: Pegasus.
A new age is now dawning in the world of man, and in the world of gods. As Pegasus flies over the oceans, he flies over an island, as Zeus narrates on the nature of this new age of heroes. And as Pegasus lands, we see the city of Corinth in the distance. The narration concludes, as we are introduced to a young man, a prince named...Bellerophon.
Cut to black.
Well...almost. There’s a mid-credits scene, where a newly crowned Perseus goes back to his island with a fleet of ships to see his mother, and bring her to Aethiopia to live happily. And then, there’s an after-credits scene, with Athena. She’s looking at the mortal word, and looking forward to this age of heroes. She sees that some divine intervention may be needed in the land of Boeotia. She asks her attendant to fetch her shield. And Medusa, saved from the Underworld by a penitent Athena, brings her the shield, Gorgoneion, now adorned with the image of Medusa’s former self, as a reminder to Athena to be merciful. And off she goes, to help another burgeoning hero: Cadmus
AND SO THE AGE OF HEROES BEGINS
Alongside a theoretical franchise, of course.
If you read this nonsense, then...wow, why? But also, thank you! Mostly for putting up with my mad ravings. I’ll be putting the the straight-up review of this film later today, but...I really needed this off my chest. Any thoughts? Any ideas? Any criticisms? Any petty insults? I’ll take it, whatever it is! THanks again for putting up with this.
See you in the ACTUAL REVIEW!!!
#clash of the titans#greek mythology#the tale of perseus#perseus#andromeda#perseus and andromeda#cassiopeia#zeus#athena#poseidon#hermes#fantasy#fantasy march#user365#365 movie challenge#365 movies 365 days#365 Days 365 Movies#365 movies a year#gifset#basically a fanfic#I'm sorry#I am so sorry#thanks for reading#thanks for putting up with me#mad ravings#rant#too much typing#writing#screenplay#story
18 notes
·
View notes
Text
Athena Film Festival 2021 Review: Julia Scotti Funny That Way ★★★1/2
Athena Film Festival 2021 Review: Julia Scotti Funny That Way ★★★1/2
Golden Globe nominated screenwriter and playwright Susan Sandler makes her feature documentary directorial debut with Julia Scotti: Funny That Way—available to watch online until March 21st as part of this year’s virtual Athena Film Festival at Barnard College—a tender and heartwarming portrait of the charismatic trans comedian.
If you watch America’s Got Talent you’ll likely already be familiar…
View On WordPress
#11th Athena Film Festival#2021 Athena Film Festival#Athena Film Festival#comedy#documentaries#documentary#documentary review#Female comedian#female director#female filmmaker#female filmmakers#female stories#female voices#James Kleinmann#Julia Scotti#Julia Scotti comedian#Julia Scotti: Funny That Way#lgbtq#LGBTQ comedian#LGBTQ comedy#LGBTQ documenary#LGBTQ documentaries#lgbtq documentary#Susan Sandler#The Queer Review#trans#trans comedy#trans community#trans documentary#trans film
0 notes
Text
LGBTQ+ highlights at virtual 2021 Athena Film Festival
LGBTQ+ highlights at virtual 2021 Athena Film Festival
The 11th annual Athena Film Festival (AFF) at Barnard College, a joint partnership between Barnard’s Athena Center for Leadership and the initiative Women and Hollywood, will take place virtually from March 1st through March 31st 2021. This year’s virtual lineup includes film screenings, in-depth conversations with filmmakers and industry experts, a series of programs that support the pipeline of…
View On WordPress
#11th Athena Film Festival#2021 Athena Film Festival#AFF#Ahead of the Curve#Athena Film Festival#Beth Medow#documentaries#documentary#Jen Rainin#Julia Scotti: Funny That Way#lgbtq film#Mama Gloria#Queer cinema#queer film#The Queer Review#trans#trans community#trans documentary#trans film#trans films#trans history#trans pride#trans representation#trans rights#trans rights are human rights#trans woman#transfilm#transgender#transgender history#transgender representation
0 notes
Text
'End of The Line: The Women of Standing Rock' 2021 Athena Film Festival Review
‘End of The Line: The Women of Standing Rock’ 2021 Athena Film Festival Review
Protestors came from all over, ‘The End of The Line: The Women of Standing Rock,’ directed by Shannon Kring, Athena Film Festival (courtesy of the film)
Protestors came from all over, ‘The End of The Line: The Women of Standing Rock,’ directed by Shannon Kring, Athena Film Festival (courtesy of the film)
LaDonna Brave Bull Allard in ‘End of The Line: The Women of Standing Rock,’ directed by…
View On WordPress
#Athena Film Festival 2021#End of The Line: The Women of Standing Rock#Shannon Kring#Wasté Win Young
0 notes
Text
'The 8th' Athena Film Festival Review
‘The 8th’ Athena Film Festival Review
Vote “Yes” to Repeal the 8th, ‘The 8th,’ directed by Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy, Maeve O’Boyle, Athena Film Festival (courtesy of the film)
The 8th, a superb documentary, now screening at the Athena Film Festival, catalogues up close the last year of the Irish Republic’s Women’s Movement working to repeal The 8th amendment to their constitution. It is a superb historical capsule of how women…
View On WordPress
0 notes
Last Seen Blogs
