#flatliners review

[ratman-rewievs]

FLATLINERS 1990

CONCEPT: 9/10 (but i am just a sucker for reanimation)

CINEMATOGRAPHY: 10/10

STORY: 9.5 /10

PLOT: 8/10

CHARACTERS: 8.5/10

ACTING: 10/10

SCARY: 4.5/10

TMA ENTETY: THE END

OVERALL : 9/10

- really liked the use of black and white

- very interesting cinematography

- really good story telling

Is in my top 10 horror movies. Will definitely wach again

#horror review #horror movies #review #flatliners #flatliners 1990 #horror #horror movie #sillyreview.pdf

[b-a-pigeon]

For this HotU sale, I'm really throwing spaghetti at the wall trying to figure out how to market this book, so I'll have to ask for your patience while I make a different promo post every day or two for the next week 😌

#We got a handful of really positive ARC reviews & a great first week #and then it sort of flatlined in July/August #This is a hard book to market !! But I'm trying my best lol

[brokehorrorfan]

4K Ultra HD Review: Flatliners

While the 2017 Flatliners reboot proved to be dead on arrival, the 1990 original still has life in it. Director Joel Schumacher (The Lost Boys, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin) brings the candy-colored visuals with which he was synonymous to a medical school’s gothic architecture. He and cinematographer Jan de Bont (Die Hard, The Hunt for Red October) use neon blue lighting as a bad omen, while warm colors are reserved for more uplifting emotions; a stark contrast to the reboot's glossy, modern science fiction aesthetic.

In the film, ambitious-to-a-fault medical student Nelson Wright (Kiefer Sutherland, The Lost Boys) convinces four of his brightest classmates - pragmatic atheist David Laccio (Kevin Bacon, Tremors), the brooding Rachel Mannus (Julia Roberts, Pretty Woman), womanizer Joe Hurley (William Baldwin, Backdraft), and the humorously bookish Randy Steckle (Oliver Platt, Lake Placid) - to assist him in a reckless experiment in the pursuit of scientific advancement and fame.

With the aid of his friends, Nelson is clinically dead for one minute “to see if there’s anything out there beyond death” before being resuscitated. It miraculously works, leading them to attempt to outdo one another by going longer and longer before being revived. Although they return in fine physical health, they begin to suffer from nightmarish visions in which physical manifestations of those they wronged in the past come back to haunt them - literally.

Flatliners never quite achieves the full potential of its ingeniously simple premise, although it's not difficult to understand why Peter Filardi’s (The Craft) well-researched spec script caused a bidding war before selling to Columbia Pictures for $450,000. It becomes a tad redundant, but like the characters in the film, a desire to glimpse at the afterlife sustains viewers' intrigue. The compelling story is bolstered by the star-studded cast, kinetic direction, and hyper-stylized visuals.

To make the film more dynamic, Schumacher and de Bont smartly opted to shoot it as if it was an action movie. Schumacher also moved the story from its original setting of Boston to Chicago. On-location filming lent the city's baroque architecture and gritty aesthetic, while Eugenio Zanetti (Last Action Hero, What Dreams May Come) adds salient production design.

Although more of a thriller than a horror movie, Flatliners' genre elements are strong in the visions that the characters experience once revived, occasionally bringing to mind the likes of A Nightmare on Elm Street. But at the core of the story is drama - exploring themes of karma, atonement, and redemption - with a rather life-affirming message. The emotionally resonant score, composed by James Newton Howard (The Hunger Games, The Sixth Sense), traverses between the film’s exploration of beauty and horror in the afterlife.

With all five actors electrifying the screen in the primes of their careers, the ensemble cast feels like an extension of the brat pack. (Sutherland jokingly referred to the film as The Breakfast Club Dies and St. Elmo's Funeral.) Sutherland is as perfectly arrogant as he was in his previous Schumacher collaboration, The Lost Boys. Roberts had already filmed her breakout role in Pretty Woman but it hadn't come out yet (it would release five months prior to Flatliners). Bacon credits the film with reviving his career, as he had a string of underperformers following the success of Footloose.

The supporting players include child actor Joshua Rudoy (Harry and the Hendersons) as the boy who haunts Nelson and Hope Davis (About Schmidt) in her film debut as Joe's fiance, along with Kimberly Scott (The Abyss), Patricia Belcher (Jeepers Creepers), and Beth Grant (Donnie Darko) in small roles. Although not on camera, screen icon Michael Douglas served as a producer on the project; the first effort from his Stonebridge Entertainment.

Flatliners has been newly resuscitated in 4K from the original negative, approved by de Bont, for Arrow Video's new 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray editions. The 4K UHD disc features Dolby Vision and Lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 surround audio options. Schumacher and de Bont were already a perfect pairing, but Arrow's flawless restoration allows their bold visual palette to really shine.

Critics Bryan Reesman and Max Evry contribute a new audio commentary in which they dissect Schumacher's work and examine Flatliners in the context of its contemporaries (which made me eager to double-feature it with Jacob's Ladder). Schumacher passed away in 2020 and the cast members were not available for interviews, but Arrow tracked down a variety of crew members for new, in-depth interviews, offering several rare perspectives that are likely to give viewers a new appreciation for the production.

Filardi details the experience of selling his first movie, being on set during the production, and seeing the final product. De Bont and chief lighting technician Edward Ayer provide a fascinating breakdown of the visuals, with De Bont discussing his approach while Ayer explains how they pulled it off. Howard, orchestrator Chris Boardman, Zanetti, art director Larry Lundy, costume designer Susan Becker (True Romance, The Lost Boys), and first assistant director John Kretchmer each give their unique insight into how they added to the tapestry of the film as well.

The theatrical trailer and an image gallery are also included, alongside a 35-page booklet (exclusive to the first pressing) featuring new writing on the film by historians Amanda Reyes and Peter Tonguette. Reyes provides a historical overview of near-death experiences and how they compare to Flatliners, while Tonguette explores the film's surprising spirituality. The release carries new artwork by Gary Pullin, with the original poster on the reverse side.

Flatliners is available now on 4K UHD and Blu-ray via Arrow Video.

#flatliners #keifer sutherland #kevin bacon #julia roberts #oliver platt #william baldwin #arrow video #dvd #gift #review #article #gary pullin #horror #joel schumacher #peter filardi

[adamjagger]

My “Dream” rifle build

This is going to be a 2 part post. Part 1 I am going to explain the entire build and what all is on the rifle. Part 2 will be after I get some time on the gun and get a decent amount of rounds through it. So I guess I’ll just start with a complete parts list break down.

Receiver set - Geissele super duty set in odg

Handguard - Geissele MK16 13.5” odg

Buffer/tube - Geissele odg tube w/ super42 & H2

Stock - B5 sopmod bravo odg

Castle nut - forward controls design odg

Grip - B5 type 22 p grip odg

Lower parts kit - Geissele ultra duty

Trigger - Geissele ssa-x government

Charging handle - Geissele government odg

Forward assist - forward controls dimpled

Bcg - sons of liberty gun works

Barrel - ballistic advantage 14.5”

Gas block - forward controls design

Muzzle device - surefire closed tine warcomp

Mlok covers - slate black industries

Sling - Flatline Fiber flecktarn padded sling

Magazine pictured - odg Duramag

Not pictured yet

Light - modlite 18650 okw with a surefire cap and the Unity / modlite switch and a arisaka mount.

Optic - odg eotech xps2 on the odg Unity fast riser.

So with a build list like that this should be a pretty damn good rifle. I’m not sure if I’d consider it a “dream” build or more of a I wanted to build a really nice rifle this year type of build. I love the 50 shades of green look the rifle has with all the different green anodized parts on it. At the time of writing this I just placed the order through brownells for the modlite setup. All that will be left after that is the odg eotech xps2. My original plan was to use the forward controls single or double dimple ejection port cover in odg but trying to find one of those is equivalent to trying to find Sasquatch. In the meantime I am planning on grabbing a odg magpul cover when I place my next brownells order. That should do just fine until I can get a fcd one.

Overall I am extremely happy with how this has turned out and I am beyond excited to get it finished and head right out back to the range to send some rounds through it. In part 2 of this I will cover my first thoughts of the rifle, give you some overall weight with everything on it, and let you know my thoughts after putting some rounds through it. Let me know in the comments what you would have done different or what you like about this rifle.

Thanks for reading, and happy shooting!

Adam Jagger gun blog post #5 10/15/22

#brownells #bureauofpropaganda #gun review #gun build #geissele #geissele everything #modlite #eotech #b5 systems #b5 #flatline fiber co #Unity tactical #surefire #slate black industries #ballistic advantage #rifle #ar15porn #ar15build #ar 15 rifle #ar 15s #flecktarn #odg #odgreen #sons of liberty #sons of liberty gunworks

[daisylikesmedia]

Series 8 Episode 9: Flatline

Heyy everyone, today we’re going to be checking out Flatline. Shoutout to my friend who pointed out that when a hospital patient was flatlining in a movie that was “just like that Doctor Who episode”, I’m now stealing that joke for my review thanks 🙂. Let’s go.

So the Boneless are pretty cool huh? Shapeshifters from another world trying to enter ours by manipulating the dimensions of objects. This is used really creatively for the vast majority of the episode, with nervous systems stretched across walls, and sofas and pillows being eaten up into the walls with some really well done effects. Seeing this happen is genuinely spooky, and I think it’s a very well designed threat. My only gripe is their final evolution (into 3d) leads to them just becoming walking zombies and like, surely we can do better than that as a “final form” for the Boneless? Regardless they are super cool tho, and due to them still having a lot of untapped potential I could see a return actually being a good thing for this villain, as long as they aren’t given a personality like what happened with the Weeping Angels.

I also find this a very interesting episode in the context of Series 8, because this is the kind of episode I’d actually expect to see in Series 9 instead. This story is one that shows Twelve at his most empathetic so far. His discussions with Clara about being the Doctor and making those difficult decisions so that he can protect others opens up an emotional core to Twelve we haven’t seen yet, harkening forward to his persona in the finale and forward. This is also where the “Clara’s getting a little too used to acting as the Doctor” arc starts, which is one we’ll see focused on during Series 9 too. In terms of the running themes of Series 8 it feels like it skips maybe a little far ahead, but I’m not going to complain because this is the closest Twelve and Clara have felt in any story so far and I find that really sweet.

Also this episode nails its side characters too. Rigsy is just a really cool dude who gets to go through the “Doctor underestimates the character and then the character shows the Doctor that actually they’re kinda swaggy” test and passes with flying colours. I’m very glad this wasn’t the last we saw of him, and again like Perkins from Mummy on the Orient Express, in another universe I’d have loved to see him in the TARDIS as a proper team member. But whilst on one side of the coin we have Rigsy, on the other we have Fenton, who is shown to be a classist idiot. Though, whilst Fenton isn’t a very nice guy, having that friction/tension being built up within the group as the episode goes on I think actually benefits the dynamic a lot more than it hurts it, leading to a more well-rounded group that challenges Doctor Clara’s leadership skills. 

TL:DR/Overview: Flatline is yet another banger from the amazing series 8. The threat is creative, and is the kind of villain that gets my mind whirring as to the possibilities of its powers. Alongside this, it is series 8 so the character writing is nailed once again, not just for our main cast this time but also the supporting characters too. It’s just another great, tightly written, well-paced, cool-villain-having Doctor Who episode, and for that it goes into S tier.

#daisy reviews media #doctor who #12th doctor #flatline

[khruschevshoe]

Time For Another Underrated Doctor Who Episode: Tsuranga Conundrum

So, I don't understand why people don't like this episode. It's a sincerely enjoyable one and honestly one of my favorite of Thirteen’s episodes.

We get the Doctor solving something while sick and sonicless because they're too stubborn to stop themselves ala regeneration episodes (my favorite dynamic). We get an interesting monster with a fun mystery/character-driven pay off where I genuinely cared about each of the character deaths and it really showed off the show's core principle about the bravery and selflessness of people and how they can make themselves extraordinary when given the chance. We get the Doctor actually admitting that they were wrong for once. We get canon male pregnancy that is treated dead straight and despite the comedic beats, is honestly a really sincere storyline by the end. We get to see Ryan confronting his own daddy issues by helping with the pregnancy and Graham being informed by his past as a former cancer patient to talk to the patients. We get genuine suspense due to the monster and its capabilites. We get the general and her brother and her consort all reaching an understanding with each other after years of being at odds. We get the "Doctor of hope" line that feels like a thesis for the Doctor just as much as "all that pain and misery and loneliness and it just made it kind" did in the Beast Below.

Why don't people like this one? Is it because the Pting isn't intimidating and "too cute" in its design despite the absolutely terrifying premise that actually has a good pay-off? This is the Camp Sci-Fi Show. This is the show with the Adipose and Cassandra the Talking Skin and the farting Iraq war allegory and the invading cubes and graffiti monsters and the emoji robots (all of which I loved, btw).

Like, I understand some of the flaws of the writing and the fact that Yaz doesnt have the most to do (disadvantage of balancing three companions, one of them usually ends up not having much to do), but otherwise this one is a ton of fun. Y’all really don't like fun monsters and ensemble stories, do you?

#the tsuranga conundrum #meta #thirteenth doctor #graham o'brien #ryan sinclair #listen y’all need to appreciate some of the more campy episodes of this show #partners in crime #flatline #slitheen #(this is also my aliens in london/world war three vicarious hype post) #end of the world #new earth #cassandra #power of three #chris chibnall #smile #review #pting #the beast below

[gbhbl]

EP Review: Alive in Barcelona - Flatline (Smart Punk Records)

It’s over way too fast but it really does leave an impact. A quality EP from a band clearly on the rise.

Heavy rockers Alive in Barcelona will release their new EP, Flatline, on November 4th, 2022 via Smart Punk Records. A record that embodies the band’s mission statement: To inspire hope in those that have none. What we have here is an EP that leaves an impression in a short amount of time. Three tracks, three examples of heartfelt and dramatic heavy rock with moments of metal explosivity.…

View On WordPress

#Alive in Barcelona #EP Review #Flatline #Smart Punk Records

[kathaynesart]

sorry if you’ve already answered this (i’m a new replica reader, and LOVING it so far) but how did april, leo, and mikey react the first time they watched donnie’s final recording? (if this is ever gonna come up in the comic then by all means ignore this, i’m just SO curious about the possible angst) anyway, amazing work! <3

No sorry’s needed! Welcome to my little corner of the fandom! We probably won’t see that scene in particular since we gotta keep this train rolling, but I’d be happy to give a brief explanation. TLDR: Leo only managed to watch it once before breaking down, April has watched it many times (as we already knew), and Mikey has decided not to watch it. More below the cut (also Blood TW).

Leo wanted to watch the video right away upon arrival, since all they came home to was a flatline on Dee’s monitor (you see that reaction briefly here).

Mikey's mystic powers ignited and managed to heal Leo, though they both fell unconscious due to energy/blood loss. While they were in recovery, April reviewed the recording to confirm Dee's passing. She was numb to the whole thing, and has worked to keep it together if only for her own sanity (similar to how she responded to the loss of Leo in the movie though with more tears due to her closeness with Donnie and the aftermath of the storm). When the boys came to she confirmed Dee's death. That was enough for Mikey who chose to instead remember Donnie as he was in their final moments, but Leo refused to believe it. Surely there was some hint in the video as to Donnie's whereabouts. He watched it alone and, understandably, had a break down. I think more than anything it upset him how it just didn't make sense. Donnie KNEW that he couldn't escape with his invisi-cloak alone since the Technodrome can track heat signatures. They were supposed to bust their way in as a group, make a scene so Dee could plant the probe, and then use the Donnie pods for a quick escape whether they were successful or not. But Dee instead used his as a simple diversion. It drove Leo nuts with questions he was too fragile to properly answer and he blames himself since he was the one who had made the call to retreat after getting himself nearly killed. He has been unable to watch the video since. April on the other hand has taken it upon herself to review the video with a fine toothed comb in the hopes of coming up with some of the answers that Leo is too overwhelmed to ask.

Sorry for the lengthy explanation. I tend to have a lot of this stuff plotted out in my head even if it's never seen. Have to keep things short and sweet for the sake of the comic where as if it was a Fanfic it would probably be thousands and thousands of extra words haha. Hopefully though most of what I've said has been evident through the character's actions and feelings.

#rottmnt replica #replica #q&a #extra angst

[bess3714]

Batman and Robin #7

Comic Series: Batman and Robin

Issue Number: 07

Title: Cult of Man-Bat: Part One

Writer(s): Joshua Williamson

Artist(s): Simone Di Meo

Colorist(s): Giovanna Niro

Letterer(s): Steve Wands

I’m an endless optimist which is why I’m still reading this series even though nothing ever happens. What exactly is Shush supposed to be doing again? There’s some kind of evil plot, I think? Can’t remember, don’t care.

I’m happy to see Flatline back! I think she’s fun, and a little teen romance is adorable, plus I’m hoping it will inject some much-needed energy into this comic. Unfortunately, the pages of catch-up between Damian and Nika were slow and meandering and, dare I say, boring. It could have been heavily abbreviated.

A gripe I had that was specific to this issue was where Damian and Nika were discussing Damian's relationship with Bruce, and Damian says that "We have had some... rough moments, but it has been good since I moved back in with him." I just wish that we would have seen some actual rough moments, but as I've said before, Williamson has pretty much skipped over anything that could be interesting in favor of making Damian and Bruce get along pretty much from the get-go with very minimal conflict. Their only real argument was over Damian going to school, and Damian ended up wanting to go to school anyway because of Principal Stone, aka Mistress Harsh, aka Shush. I'm back to my old "it's too nice" complaint.

It’s a little funny re-reading my review of the first issue of this series where I gushed about the art, because my opinion has really changed. I still like the jewel tones, but the more I’ve read it, the harder I’ve found it to read. The panel layouts are sometimes confusing, and most of the time there’s just too much going on for your eyes to easily follow the action. The panels on top of a full image page have gotten a little old.

Wow, this was a really pessimistic review. I do like the comic, it's just that the longer I read it, the more glaring the things I dislike get. The addition of Flatline is one I'm excited for, I think she's fun, and the little glimpse at the real reason why she was in Gotham intrigues me.

Why You Should Read This:

If you really like Damian, and you want to see a fun teen romance.

#damian wayne #robin #demon tamer #comic thought bubble #batman and robin #batman and robin 2023 #bruce wayne #batman #ratman and bobin #flittermouse #ongoing #flatline #nika #dc comics

[dandelionrevolution]

I’m not sure how reliably I’ll be able to keep up with it, but I’ve been wanting to start posting weekly or monthly Good News compilations, with a focus on ecology but also some health and human rights type stuff. I’ll try to keep the sources recent (like from within the last week or month, whichever it happens to be), but sometimes original dates are hard to find. Also, all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.

Anyway, here’s some good news from the first week of March!

1. Mexican Wolf Population Grows for Eighth Consecutive Year

““In total, 99 pups carefully selected for their genetic value have been placed in 40 wild dens since 2016, and some of these fosters have produced litters of their own. While recovery is in the future, examining the last decade of data certainly provides optimism that recovery will be achieved.””

2. “Remarkable achievement:” Victoria solar farm reaches full power ahead of schedule

“The 130MW Glenrowan solar farm in Victoria has knocked out another milestone, reaching full power and completing final grid connection testing just months after achieving first generation in late November.”

3. UTEP scientists capture first known photographs of tropical bird long thought lost

“The yellow-crested helmetshrike is a rare bird species endemic to Africa that had been listed as “lost” by the American Bird Conservancy when it hadn’t been seen in nearly two decades. Until now.”

4. France Protects Abortion as a 'Guaranteed Freedom' in Constitution

“[A]t a special congress in Versailles, France’s parliament voted by an overwhelming majority to add the freedom to have an abortion to the country’s constitution. Though abortion has been legal in France since 1975, the historic move aims to establish a safeguard in the face of global attacks on abortion access and sexual and reproductive health rights.”

5. [Fish & Wildlife] Service Approves Conservation Agreement for Six Aquatic Species in the Trinity River Basin

“Besides conserving the six species in the CCAA, activities implemented in this agreement will also improve the water quality and natural flows of rivers for the benefit of rural and urban communities dependent on these water sources.”

6. Reforestation offset the effects of global warming in the southeastern United States

“In America’s southeast, except for most of Florida and Virginia, “temperatures have flatlined, or even cooled,” due to reforestation, even as most of the world has grown warmer, reports The Guardian.”

7. Places across the U.S. are testing no-strings cash as part of the social safety net

“Cash aid without conditions was considered a radical idea before the pandemic. But early results from a program in Stockton, Calif., showed promise. Then interest exploded after it became clear how much COVID stimulus checks and emergency rental payments had helped people. The U.S. Census Bureau found that an expanded child tax credit cut child poverty in half.”

8. The Road to Recovery for the Florida Golden Aster: Why We Should Care

“After a five-year review conducted in 2009 recommended reclassifying the species to threatened, the Florida golden aster was proposed for removal from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants due to recovery in June 2021, indicating the threats to the species had been reduced or eliminated.”

9. A smart molecule beats the mutation behind most pancreatic cancer

“Researchers have designed a candidate drug that could help make pancreatic cancer, which is almost always fatal, a treatable, perhaps even curable, condition.”

10. Nurses’ union at Austin’s Ascension Seton Medical Center ratifies historic first contract

“The contract, which NNOC said in a news release was “overwhelmingly” voted through by the union, includes provisions the union believes will improve patient care and retention of nurses.”

This and future editions will also be going up on my new Ko-fi, where you can support my art and get doodled phone wallpapers! EDIT: Actually, I can't find any indication that curating links like this is allowed on Ko-fi, so to play it safe I'll stick to just posting here on Tumblr. BUT, you can still support me over on Ko-fi if you want to see my Good News compilations continue!

#hopepunk #good news #wolf #wolves #mexican wolf #conservation #solar #solar power #birds #abortion #healthcare #abortion rights #reproductive rights #reproductive health #fish and wildlife #turtles #alligator snapping turtle #snapping turtle #river #reforestation #global warming #climate change #climate solutions #poverty #social safety net #flowers #endangered species #cancer #science #union

[kyoizaki]

"A walk, huh? Maybe I should give that a try the next time I get stuck on something."

AAH. . . The Sekai's empty today , huh ? Well , I might as well get started on a few instrumentals for our upcoming songs . Hmm . . . maybe I should get started on a ballad , something for Ena , perhaps ? Ah , I truly wonder if she's okay , last time I saw her , she seemed rather upset over her art's flatline on social media . Mm , I thought it was rather nice , however . Maybe , I should ask her if she's fine later . . .

KANADE at last slips out of her reverie, knowing that it'd be best if she doesn't worry too much about the brunette. Knowing Ena, she will be over it in a while, yet she can't help but be worried for her acquaintances; most important: friends.

Releasing a quiet sigh, Kanade slips out of the Sekai with the click of her finger, untitled no longer playing. Concurrently, she returns to her seat and leans back into it, the bulky headphones on her desk accompanied by the whirling wind of the air conditioner. Opening NIGHTCORD, she finds a video linked in the chat from 'Amia' as the username beside their avatar shows. Curious at the review Mizuki gave of it, Kanade decided to pass some time by watching the commentary, wiring in her headphones and plopping it on her head, she begins to watch it.

UTC 2023 © kyoizaki only on tumblr abstain from reposting , translating , sharing without credits , or edit and upload .

#kanade yoisaki #mizuki akiyama #mafuyu asahina #ena shinonome #25 ji nightcord de #kanade rp blog #kanade yoisaki roleplay blog #kanade roleplay blog #n25 roleplay #project sekai roleplay #nightcord roleplay blog #roleplay blog #roleplay blogs #n25 roleplay blog #niigo roleplay blog #project sekai colorful stage #colorful stage #project sekai colorful stage featuring hatsune miku #project sekai roleplay blog #project sekai x reader #kanaena #kanade yoisaki x reader #kanade yoisaki scenarios

[behindthesefangirleyes]

Spoiler-Free Review - The Tutor

So I went to see the film with a friend tonight. To set the scene, we were the only ones in the theater. Which was good because we sure were reacting to certain moments obnoxiously LOL. Without giving too much away, I’ll try to review specific qualities of the film.

This is all my opinion. I am not an authority on what makes a good film, and I realize that.

Plot (3/10) - This was honestly the worst part for me. There were many times when things were unclear (i.e.: how did [character] get to this point, why did [character] have such an over-the-top reaction so soon over something so insignificant, why are these extra characters necessary, what is [character]’s current motivation). Which is unfortunate since they had the makings for a solid story. But it was - again, in my opinion - not well-executed. Some of it was due to pacing. Some of it felt like they bit off too much and threw in everything but the kitchen sink (if you’ll forgive the mixed metaphors). It seemed as though there were “twists & turns” for the sake of having them or some type of shock value, but they didn’t land as super shocking. Then when the climactic “twist” happened, it felt super abrupt and contrived. So I understand why Garrett was reluctant to sign on until he read it a few times (personally, I think he should’ve trusted his gut). I also understand what they mean when they said you’re there wondering who’s the actual villain (not at all once you know the conclusion, but as far as the plot goes because it’s just all over the place). There were also lots of moments where they sprinkled in “character history” and it was like, alright you’ve laid the “groundwork”, but maybe you a) should have incorporated the offscreen character rather than this other person or b) just not mentioned it at all. Also, by the end it seemed unclear how any of this was possible. It’s hard to explain without giving away spoilers, but basically nothing is as it seems and as a result, it’s unclear how a 17-year-old would pull it off, even with the help that he did have. All that said, there’s a moment that offered decent foreshadowing that wasn’t too on-the-nose. I still picked up on it as likely being relevant for later. I just couldn’t have guessed how it would be relevant until it happened.

Pacing (4/10) - This sort of improved as the film continued. In the beginning, things were slow. It was like, “Alright, there is a build-up here, but for how long?” This kind of goes hand-in-hand with the plot issues since there were times when I was like, this feels super rushed but of course it does because we’re all over the place with the story. The ending was also not it for me. It simply sort of ... flatlined, I guess is the best way to describe it. It was almost like when you conclude a presentation in school and go, “So ... yeah.”

Acting (7/10) - This was the best part of the film for me. By no means was it a show-stopping performance by any of the leading/supporting actors, but they definitely sold certain emotions. Unsurprisingly, Noah’s best work was with the scenes that required more subtle acting (i.e.: scared looks, teary eyes). I have always found those types of moments more compelling with him than the big reactionary moments (i.e. the preview they showed where he is banging his legs). That’s not to say he didn’t do those moments well to a degree, but the problem for me with them was that the context/pacing was so abrupt that it distracted from his performance. Like I said to my friend, it’s not good if you watch a thriller and see a high-impact moment & all you can do is laugh. One thing that I did enjoy was seeing him tap into certain other qualities that we haven’t seen him utilize before. Like when in the preview Jackson asks Ethan about how he feels knowing his son will be a bastard. Or in the tutor’s quarters preview when he goes from emotional to calm and detached smiling. He was pretty good when it came to turning it on and off like that. It was the same with Garrett. His great acting moment came at the end right at the descent of the climax. Again, it was more of a tight shot that focused on his emotions. As for Victoria, she was fine but it was a pretty forgettable performance. That’s not her fault, as I see it. The role was supporting and didn’t really lend itself to any big moment.

Directing (5/10) - The directing didn’t speak much to me. What went well was perhaps in part due to directing, but I would not doubt was mostly the actors’ own abilities shining through. Where I felt the director could’ve improved was making certain emotional scenes less outrageous. It almost felt like the train temporarily went off the tracks and I get it, it’s a thriller. You’re tapping into a certain amount of twisted emotions and exaggerating them, but it sort of came off as ham-fisted. They could have reigned it in a little more to make the scenes less comical or cringeworthy.

Overall, I would give the film 2 out of 5 stars. The two stars were hard earned by the actors for giving what they could with not a lot to work with for material.

#the tutor #noah schnapp #garrett hedlund #victoria justice #review #no spoilers #film review #amateur review #the tutor film

[the-loststone]

Safir Reactions 1x07

I previously wrote a review of the show up until episode 1x06, please reference that to see my initial impressions.

Welp... the latest episode dropped... I had to take a minute to really process all that. See SPOILERS below.

It was an episode filled with Yaman and Feraya.

Plot: Where the last episodes left off with a resolution that Feraya was ready to run away to Istanbul with her friend and raise her baby alone, because of all the harassment from Yaman, it kind of goes to shit when Yaman chases after her. He's holding onto some last hope that maybe Feraya didn't cheat on him (which she didn't) and that he can confront her about it (I don't know why he thought this time would be different when she hadn't told him before but...). They go to the vineyard where they shared a lot of special moments during their relationship (also where she tried to kill herself in the first episode, but they didn't put flashbacks of that in there, or of him confronting her with a gun when he broke up with her... do I sound bitter?) and have this moment of longing. Where I had hoped for some closure in this encounter, there was none. After she basically reaffirms her previous excuse that she's marrying Ates because they're in love, Yaman becomes very morose, calls Ates and leaves. Ates and Feraya speak (you know, because she dipped after taking money from his mom, leaving him in an uncomfortable position of having to explain and make excuses for her, and also getting blamed by her dad). He offers her an out, basically telling her that if she wants to leave for Istanbul, he'd make excuses for her and she can disappear. Feraya doesn't take the out, and decides to go through with the marriage, although she looks miserable the entire time. Yaman in the meantime makes plans to go to London (which the viewers can clearly tell is not what the actual plan is). Ates threatens everyone (mainly his mom) to stay out of his and Feraya's business and he looks hot doing so. Okan, having seen some liaisons, blackmails his way into learning about Feraya's pregnancy through one of the other characters (Bade), and the reason for her marriage to Ates, but he does not tell this to anyone.

The day of the wedding arrives, Ates gets a text from an ex (who learned of his wedding from his mother), Yaman takes a last look at Feraya and leaves a letter confessing everything for Ates in his room. Then he goes and drives himself into a wall. Feraya, who is his emergency contact, gets called about it and immediately runs to go to him. He's in critical condition when she arrives, flatlining and everything. She's in so much stress that she also collapses.

Some other shenanigans happen but that's secondary plot that I'm not going to get into at the moment.

Characters:

Feraye: I honestly don't have much to say about Feraye right now. She's an emotional mess. The girl is stressed. She's been having cramps the entire episode because of the stress she's under. I'm very sympathetic towards her feelings, but at the same time, this 'bond' that she apparently shares with Yaman is starting to piss me off. Also, I'm super pissed that she decided to go through with the wedding when she so clearly didn't want to. And f*ck Cemile's threats, because that woman does not have the reach she pretends she does. She's so clearly dreading this wedding, although I don't know why because she's marrying a GOAT, and she knows she's marrying a really sweet guy but she's acting like she's being led to her execution. And the way she clutched her chest like she 'felt' Yaman's crash... SPARE. ME! so freaking dramatic. Gross. But I'm being very harsh. The girl, as I've said previously, is still mourning her long term relationship with a guy that has been emotionally (and physically) abusing her since it ended. And now that he's 'backing off' apparently, it's like being abandoned all over again. It's like going through withdrawal almost. And rushing to his side when he's had an accident is also understandable. This is a guy that she's been with for years, has so much history with, is about to have his baby, and now he's on death's door. So I'm not going to be pissed at her for going to him. I will be pissed if she forgives him, stays with him after he's stable, and decides to trust him again, but that's future episodes problem.

Ates: Poor boy was done dirty this episode. Like he says, they are really pushing the limits of his patience here. First he gets scolded by Feraye's father who acts like he did something wrong for her to leave, and he has to find excuses for her family, then he has to deal with his own mother so she doesn't spill the beans to his grandfather that Feraye can be bought off, then he has to deal with Bade who's got some sort of snooping thing in his personal life right now. He's also got to console and reassure Feraye, when any mortal would be super pissed at this point, he is still very patient and kind to her. Now, I'm still firmly on his side, but if he turns out to be a sociopath, I wouldn't be surprised because he's getting remarkably threatening to others. I really want to see what he'd do once he's pushed off the edge of his patience. And we get a little insight into his backstory... he left a girl (Melis) at the altar. So I'm excited to see what drama will emerge with that character when she appears.

Yaman: I have a lot to say about Yaman, and a lot of it won't be good, so don't come at me, I'm giving you a warning. ... ready? okay. This LITTLE SHIT! no. I'm not sympathetic that he tried to kill himself. This jack*ss knew exactly what he was doing. He was being so manipulative, and so selfish. This is an abuser tactic. This mentally that, 'I'm thinking about you and I'm filled with you, so you have to be filled with me.' He tried to kill himself ON HER WEDDING DAY!! Forever, that day will be stained with his death. It's exactly the same thing he did with the wedding rings during the coffee ceremony (telling her "Whenever you see this ring you'll think of me") Yes, as an audience we know that this wedding means nothing to her, but he thought she was moving on, and he believed that his brother honestly loved her. He did this as a way to ruin that for them. And, I'm sorry, but are we even sure this was an honest suicide attempt? The ambulance got there awfully fast for him to be in the middle of no where crashing his car. Did he call them first? I wouldn't be surprised because this guy is an honest sh*t stain. And when did he decide to 'kill himself.'? When he didn't get the answer he wanted out of her. When she said that she is marrying his brother because she was 'caught' with him. (a lie but whatever). He did this specifically to make her feel guilty. This was entirely an abusive move on his part. Abusers do this! They say, 'if you leave me I'll die' (and wasn't that the whole point of the gun in the first episode as well). They have such an unhealthy dynamic where they are so dependent on each other and the minute she tries to move on, he's basically saying, 'look what happens when you try to move away from me. I can't live without you.' IT'S DISGUSTING! He did this just to hurt her. And as for what he's doing to his brother is also gross. He's not thinking about how he's hurting Ates by doing this on his wedding day. It's entirely a statement of 'I had her first and this day (your wedding day) is going to be mine now.' Also, he's having his older brother clean up his mess, after all the sh*t. UGGGH. Now I'm not saying the he wasn't overwhelmed. Yes, the situation is very stressful and he was likely very tired and exhausted of having his life turned upside down, and not getting any respite anywhere he goes. But he had a plan to go to London. He literally could have gone to London and just lived his life free of all of it. His wife would never have to join him or even if she did, he could ditch her anywhere in London. This suicide attempt was entirely about Feraye, not the situation with Okan and Cemile and Aleyna. This was about making Feraye see that he can't live without her. And I'm so grossed out. Massive ick. I hope he lives in the next episode and I hope he gets a massive dose of BOUNDARIES.

Okan: Maybe the real villain of this story is the childlike Okan. He's kind of a sh*t. Actually, scratch the kind of. He is a sh*t. Now, I didn't want him to tell Yaman about Feraye's pregnancy, but the fact that he didn't is a real dick move to the brother he owes a lot to. Also, I'm getting major, it's a creep, vibes from the kid.

Conclusion:

What a frustrating episode. I can't wait for the next one. I really need to see what happens next.

#safir #dizi #turkish dizi #turkish series #ilhan sen #sapphire #ates x feraye #ates gulsoy #yaman gulsoy #okan gulsoy #turkish drama #ozge yagiz #reviews #1x07

[eurotastic]

Eurovision reviews 2023 - Semi final 1

Eurovision week has officially started, and that means it's about time I write my reviews for Eurovision 2023. I went to the London Eurovision preparty in April, and I had the best time, and for that reason, my opinions are partially based on the live performances that I saw there. As usual, I'm primarily basing my reviews on the song quality (do I want to listen to it outside of the competition?), and the preview videos for the staging - The full package that we're getting in the actual show. I'm also taking general fandom opinions into consideration with some of the songs, in case I think the fandom is overhyping or underrating an entry. I feel like I'm overexplaining the way I judge the songs, mostly it's just based on vibes, but the bottom line is that these are just my personal opinions and you're all free to send me anonymous hate mail if you disagree.

Norway: Queen of Kings - Alessandra

It's one of the catchiest pop songs of the year, so it's the perfect song to open the semi final with. I just wish the staging would have been improved from the NF, because right now it's looking cheap and unimaginative. It's a fast paced europop song with some pirate vibes, it has so much potential for camp but we're getting nothing visually. Cute whistle note though.

7/10

Malta: Dance (Our Own Party) - The Busker

I understand what they're going for, I really do. Introverted nerds need party songs too, but the song isn't good just because the idea for the song is good. The guy says "do you wanna dance", but the song is too slow and low energy to dance too, it just flatlines. At least they're giving us a strong staging gimmick, and Eurovision always needs an epic sax guy, so this entry isn't a complete failure.

4/10

Serbia: Samo mi se spava - Luke Black

The instrumental is fantastic, and the singing is… Is he even singing or is he just doing some sexy moaning and breathing into the microphone? This is definitely a case of style over substance, but it looks so good on stage that I don't care if the songwriting is a little weak.

7/10

Latvia: Aijā - Sudden Lights

I respect this song way more than I actually enjoy it. It's obvious that these guys are really competent musicians, but that doesn't matter when the song is this forgettable.

4/10

Portugal: Ai Coração - Mimicat

This feels like something out of the early 2000s, for better or for worse. I like how Mimicat is doing her own Moulin Rouge type of thing, but that's the problem, it's just a cabaret performance. Once the competition is over, it's not something I'm going to keep listening to.

5/10

Ireland: We Are One - Wild Youth

"We might be different, we might be unique" - No you're not, you're the most generic band on earth.

2/10

Croatia: Mama ŠČ! - Let 3

First there's the authoritatian version of The Village People singing about tractors and morons, then Lenin shows up with some missiles, and then they start singing about a "crocodile psychopath"…It's so beautiful I could cry. It's completely ridiculous and stupid, but it's obvious that it was made by smart people just playing stupid. Also, this does a better job denouncing Putin and the war than any world peace song ever could. It's the first truly great troll entry of the 2020s.

10/10

Switzerland: Watergun - Remo Forrer

This song makes me feel like the type of conservative right wing American who gets really intense about supporting the military, and I don't like it. It's 2023, and in case you haven't noticed, a country participating in Eurovision has been forced into a war for survival. At this moment, the Ukrainian military is the only thing keeping the country from getting wiped out of existance. In case you haven't noticed, it's an ongoing attempt at genocide. With all that said, it looks like someone didn't notice, because here's some Swiss bitch getting on his moral high horse singing some cutesy, whiny little song about how he doesn't want to be a soldier because he doesn't want to "play with real blood"…..Guess what, you're from fucking Switzerland, nobody's ever forcing you to be a soldier, unlike the Ukrainians who don't have a choice! It's a completely tone deaf choice for 2023, especially coming from the country that's using neutrality as an excuse to avoid solidarity with the rest of Europe. I'm getting the same vibe from this as the shitty world peace songs that Russia would send in the 2010s. I hate hate hate hate hate hate this.

0/10

Israel: Unicorn - Noa Kirel

At first I thought this song was the most annoying thing in the world, but after hearing it in approximately 500 recap videos on Youtube I think I got Stockholm syndromed into loving this. It's literally phenomenmenmenemnal.

8/10

Moldova: Soarele și Luna - Pasha Parfeni

Nobody does weird better than Moldova.

Nobody does weird better than Moldova.

7/10

Sweden: Tattoo - Loreen

Loreen is the greatest artist in the history of Eurovision and she deserves to be the first woman to win the whole thing twice.

10/10

Azerbaijan: Tell Me More - TuralTuranX

It's refreshing to get something this completely uncompetitive from Azerbaijan. There's a lot of good songwriting ideas here, I like the laidback vibes, but at the same time it's too bland to stand out.

5/10

Czechia: My Sister's Crown - Vesna

This song felt a lot bigger when it was released a few months ago. I love the aggressive rap parts and the defiant attitude in the beginning of the song, but then there's the "we stand for you" parts…This song is trying to be everything for everyone, and think it would have benefitted from focusing on just being angry without any lines about world peace and holding hands and whatever else. The production is incredible though, I can never get enough of this Eastern European folk hip hop thing.

8/10

Netherlands: Burning Daylight - Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper

This is the kind of song that I usually can't stand in Eurovision, since it's basically just a bland easy listening radio song. Somehow I don't mind it, it's very well written despite being basic. I'm definitely not voting for it though.

Finland: Cha Cha Cha - Käärijä

It's crazy, it's party, and it's officially my favorite Eurovision song of all time. I love it more than I love Shum, Wild Dances, Rhythm Inside and whichever other song I have called my all time favorite over the years. My favorite things in life outside of Eurovision are professional wrestling and Rammstein, so the music video alone was enough to make me a huge fan of Käärijä. If I see a guy inside a wrestling ring with a huge Rammstein tattoo, obviously that's the guy I'm voting for. It's my most played song of the year on Spotify, and I feel like this whole thing was created in a lab specifically for me. 11/10

#eurovision #eurovision reviews

[trashexplorer]

BLCD Review: Smoky Nectar

Title: Smoky Nectar (スモーキーネクター)

Author/Artist: Minazuki Akira

Release Date: 2021/07/14

Cast: 

Satou Takuya x Enoki Junya

Komatsu Shouhei

Muro Genki

Taito Ban

Tsuchida Reo

Hasegawa Ikumi

Sugiyama Riho

Kobayashi Kousuke

Okada Sachiko

Kida Tasuku

Synopsis: Writer Hasegawa Mitsuru has been investigating a case that was rumored to be the work of vampires known as “Biters”. His childhood friend, Annaka Yuusei, a.k.a. Anna, warns him not to stick his head into where it doesn’t belong.

Review Proper

Just something about this is weird. The manga’s pretty fluid on its own, but it’s kinda, uhh, choppy? in the BLCD. Although I’m not sure if Smoky Nectar’s a serious manga with some comedy here and there, 50:50 serious and comedy, or is a comedy with some serious moments... it kinda doesn’t work in the BLCD. I mean, SatoTaku and Junya did well during the serious parts, but they seem to stumble during the comedy or the parts that lead to the comedic moments. Maybe the comedy just doesn’t transition well into the audio adaptation. *shrugs*

Let’s jump straight into the voice work, shall we?

I was quite interested in listening to this ‘cause yo??? Juujin bottoms??? If Daath and Kai were in these tones in Kemonohito, I would ship them 100% lmao, but then, uhh, idk, Junya was kind of a mess here. We’ll get to SatoTaku later, but I feel like they didn’t record this together. I do not like how Junya drags his moans on during their bedroom Redcross donations because he sounds very out of sync with SatoTaku’s ministrations (this is only very obvious in the first, though). I think he also has a hard time expressing the deadpan humor Mitsuru has. Sometimes my mind wanders off and starts having thoughts of either Reio, Ban, or Shouhei potentially being a better option for Mitsuru. That might just be my other issue with Junya. He was a bit too low for Mitsuru. I feel like if he was in a higher register, then he would’ve been able to express Mitsuru’s feelings better.

Now, as for SatoTaku, the man wasn’t free of my suspicions either. SatoTaku was a little too smooth to match Anna’s equally deadpan humor. I’m not saying that SatoTaku can’t comedy ‘cause sis you’ve heard Sonna ni, right??? But as compared to Anna, Shinobu’s more dynamic a character. Niyama and Ginger also gave the cast time to prepare before a big change in moods. Huh, I’m starting to think that this is the same thing that went down in Takasaki Bosco’s Torokeru Kuchibiru. I feel like Makonyan or Ono Yuuki would’ve done this better. But I know, I FUCKING KNOW, why Fifth Avenue got SatoTaku for this.

Thanks to Fifth Avenue, I know have my ringtone set to SatoTaku saying “erro” in the Mini Drama on repeat.

Goddamn I fucking flatlined on that one. I wasn’t really expecting much from the Mini Dramas, so thanks. 👍

Anyway, I also have to say that the sound effects as well as the bgms suck balls lmao. FIFTH AVENUE PLS. The main piano bgm also starts and ends in random places. There was also this part where Anna jumps off from a fucking building to the floor on the ground, making a table flip. Like we all know how a table sounds like flipped, right??? It definitely won’t sound like a chair shaking! 😂 I don’t think Fifth Avenue even cared at that point. 

This was actually a pretty decent adaptation despite the many issues I have with it. It’s pretty faithful to the manga too, although I would recommend reading the manga once before ‘cause you wouldn’t know what they were doing in real time without the visual cues. This is an action bl too, after all. If you’re looking for another vampire (the “biter” thing also threw me off a bit, but the “nectar” concept wouldn’t survive without ig) bl, I raise you Yuri Azuru’s Fujitsu de Fumou na Koi no Kami-kon starring Okitsu and Egu. That one’s a little disappointing on the action front, but it was a good vampire bl nontheless. Okitsu’s Lark was also a good comedic/spontaneous type, so that’s good vampire + comedy! 

#blcd reviews #blcd 2021 reviews #smoky nectar #minazuki akira #fifth avenue #satou takuya #enoki junya #komatsu shouhei #muro genki #tsuchida reiou #hasegawa ikumi #sugiyama riho #kobayashi kousuke #okada sachiko #kida tasuku

[wild-at-spark]

With the space bridge open, the pilot of the ship wastes no time; navigating the ship and its precious cargo through the portal. In an instance they are spat out in a completely different universe; on a completely different planet.

A new set of stars greets the arrival of the space craft. The pilot only having co-ordinates to work on while navigating this alien planet’s skies. Even with this limitation, it doesn’t take them long to reach their destination; a lab hidden deep within the dense expanse of a Brazilian Rainforest.

Doing their best to avoid damaging the trees that hide the labs entrance, the Pilot slowly touches down onto the ground. The engines of the ship die down and the sounds of the jungle’s nighttime wildlife take over once more.

The pilot sends a ping with the following message;

:: CBP-01 has touched down, awaiting retrieval of special delivery.:: “Sir the requested subjects have arrived.” A femme states to Flatline.

“Excellent, have them offloaded into the containment unit. Keep them separated as usual. Once you’ve done that I want you to retrieve subject A-135 and subject C-126 from their stasis pods and bring them to me.” Flatline answers, refusing to look at his assistant. Instead he is focused on a datapad, reviewing old notes.

The assistant nods, attempting to leave, just as Flatline clicks his digits for her attention.  “I want the other three armed and spread about the base of operations in areas with multiple security feeds.”

“May I ask why sir?” The puzzled assistant asks. Flatline smirks, letting out a chuckle. “Why? Well because we’re entering the combat testing phase of course. “

“And who’s best to test them out on? Why Subject 001 of course.” He adds, sadistic grin decorating his faceplates.

#event: project eugenesis revived